This director only directs blockbusters.

The air conditioning in the mall was really strong. As soon as I entered, all the heat disappeared. It felt like a completely different season from outside.

Deng Chao ran the fastest and plunged headfirst into the area selling electronic products.

Hu Jun called after him to slow down, but Deng Chao didn't even turn his head, his voice so loud the whole floor could hear: "Brother Jun! Come and see! There's the latest CD player here!"

Nicholas Tse and Chen Wei walked at a leisurely pace, stopping in front of an outdoor equipment store and chatting about the hiking backpacks and windbreakers displayed in the window.

Yang Ning stood in the open space in the middle of the mall and lit a cigarette.

The security guards were scattered around, and Paul followed behind with two other people, keeping a distance that made them look no different from ordinary shoppers.

Old Xu strolled over: "Yangzi, why don't you go in and take a look?"

"Wait a minute."

Yang Ning's gaze swept over the crowd coming and going.

Li Binbin and Gao Yuanyuan separated after entering. One went to the left, and the other to the right. Neither looked at the other before parting, but Yang Ning knew in her heart that the two of them were waiting.

Let him go to which side first.

He flicked off his cigarette ash.

I once saw a saying online: "A bag can cure all diseases."

At the time, I thought it was just a joke, but now that I think about it, it might actually make some sense.

He took out his phone and sent Paul a message: "Keep an eye on people for me, don't let them get separated."

Then he stubbed out his cigarette and walked to the left.

On the left is a store selling designer bags.

Li Binbin was standing in front of a shop window, staring at a light gray bag inside. The design was quite simple, with a thin strap.

She didn't go in; she just stood outside and watched.

Yang Ning walked over and stood next to her.

"You've got your eye on it?"

Li Binbin turned around and saw it was him, a little surprised, then smiled.

"What are you doing here?"

"Just taking a walk."

She didn't ask any further questions, and pointed to the bag: "This style is quite nice."

"Shall we go in and give it a try?"

Li Binbin hesitated for a moment, but still followed him inside.

The shop assistant was a Black woman with a slight accent, but her smile was incredibly warm: "Welcome! What would you like to see?"

Yang Ning pointed to the bag in the shop window.

"Could you please take a look at this?"

The shop assistant took it down and handed it to her with both hands. Li Binbin took it, touched the leather, and tried it on. She looked at herself in the mirror.

"It looks pretty good," Yang Ning said.

Li Binbin looked at him in the mirror: "Really?"

"Um."

She put the bag back on the counter and glanced at the price tag. Thirty-two thousand rand, which is about thirteen thousand yuan.

"Too expensive." She shook her head.

Yang Ning didn't reply, but directly took out the card from his pocket and handed it to the clerk.

"This is it, wrap it up."

Li Binbin was taken aback for a moment: "Director Yang, this..."

"Take it if you like it." Yang Ning looked at her. "Why are you being so polite with me?"

She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

The shop assistant quickly packed the bag and handed it over with both hands. Yang Ning took it and stuffed it directly into Li Binbin's hand.

"Take it."

Li Binbin looked down at the exquisite bag and suddenly smiled.

"Director Yang, do you know what makes me happiest today?"

"Um?"

"It's not because of this bag." She looked up, her eyes sparkling. "It's because you came to keep me company while I shopped for a bit."

Yang Ning remained silent.

She smiled again: "Alright, go ahead. I know you have other places to go."

Yang Ning glanced at her.

"Are you really alright?"

"It's really nothing." She gently nudged him. "Go on, don't keep them waiting."

Yang Ning nodded, turned and left.

After walking about ten steps, he looked back.

Li Binbin was still standing there, holding the bag in her hand, looking at him. When he turned around, she smiled and waved.

Yang Ning turned his head and walked to the right.

The area on the right also sells bags, with brands that appeal to a younger demographic.

Gao Yuanyuan was in a shop, looking at a row of bags, undecided. She didn't notice Yang Ning coming in until he walked up to her.

Which one do you think is better?

She was startled, turned around and saw it was him, her face immediately turned a little red.

"Director Yang? What brings you here?"

"Just wander around." He repeated the same thing.

Gao Yuanyuan smiled and didn't expose her.

"Which one have you taken a fancy to?" Yang Ning asked.

She pointed to a small white bag with a white strap, which looked very delicate.

"This one seems pretty good."

"Try it on your back."

The shop assistant took it off, and Gao Yuanyuan took it and put it on her back. She looked at herself in the mirror from left to right, feeling a little embarrassed.

"Won't it look too young?"

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-two."

"That's perfect."

She smiled, looked at herself in the mirror again, and then glanced at the price tag. Twenty-eight thousand rand, a little over eleven thousand yuan.

"It's a bit expensive..."

Yang Ning handed the card directly to the clerk.

"Wrap it up."

Gao Yuanyuan was stunned: "Director Yang, I can't..."

"What, you don't like what I'm giving you for the first time?" Yang Ning looked at her.

The words stuck in her throat and she couldn't say them.

The shop assistant quickly wrapped it up and handed it over. Gao Yuanyuan took the bag, looked down at it, and then looked up at him.

"Yang Ning".

"Um?"

"I love so much."

Yang Ning nodded, preparing to leave.

She suddenly reached out and grabbed his sleeve.

"Wait a moment."

Yang Ning turned around.

Gao Yuanyuan tiptoed and quickly kissed him on the cheek, then immediately stepped back, her face flushed.

"Um... thank you for coming to keep me company." Her voice was very soft. "You should go back to what you're doing. I know you have other things to do."

Yang Ning touched his cheek, smiled, and turned to leave.

For the next hour or so, Yang Ning ran back and forth in the mall.

I bought Li Binbin a black dress, and she looked completely different in it. I bought Gao Yuanyuan a pair of white shoes, which perfectly match her new bag.

I bought Li Binbin a set of skincare products because she said the South African sun is strong and her skin is dry. I bought Gao Yuanyuan a bottle of perfume; it's a scent she mentioned liking before.

I bought Li Binbin a watch; the strap on her watch was worn out. I bought Gao Yuanyuan a thin necklace with a small star pendant.

Paul followed behind him, running back and forth between the two stores, carrying more and more bags.

Finally, Paul couldn't help but whisper, "Director Yang, you... you've talked to two?"

Yang Ning glanced at him.

"no."

Paul paused for a moment, then smiled.

"I understand, I understand."

He stopped asking questions and obediently continued carrying the things.

For lunch, everyone gathered at the restaurant on the top floor of the mall.

They put together a long table, and a dozen or so people sat together. Deng Chao bought a whole bunch of things: CD players, game consoles, sunglasses, sneakers, which piled up in a small heap at his feet.

Hu Jun bought a few outdoor clothes and was telling Nicholas Tse about it. Nicholas Tse didn't buy much himself; he just accompanied Chen Wei shopping.

Li Binbin and Gao Yuanyuan sat at opposite ends of the table, with Deng Chao and Hu Jun in between.

Both of them changed into new outfits.

Li Binbin was wearing that black dress, her hair was down, and her neck was bare—she wasn't wearing the new necklace she had bought.

Gao Yuanyuan was wearing newly bought white shoes, her ankles were slender, and she wasn't wearing the new watch on her wrist.

They both noticed the changes in each other.

But no one said a word.

Yang Ning sat in the middle, eating with his head down.

Deng Chao was completely oblivious and was still showing off how amazing his new game console was.

Hu Jun responded casually, his eyes sweeping between Yang Ning and the two women, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Xue Kaiqi sat in the corner, looking around, then suddenly asked in a low voice, "Director Yang, did you buy things for Sister Bingbing and Sister Yuanyuan?"

After these words were spoken, the table fell silent for a few seconds.

Deng Chao stopped picking up food with his chopsticks. Hu Jun's smile widened. Nicholas Tse lowered his head and drank his soup, pretending not to hear.

Li Binbin and Gao Yuanyuan both looked up at Yang Ning.

Yang Ning swallowed the food in his mouth.

"Yeah," he said. "Filming has been tough lately, so this is a little encouragement."

Xue Kaiqi said "Oh" and didn't ask any further questions.

Li Binbin glanced at Yang Ning, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

Gao Yuanyuan glanced at him, then lowered her head and continued eating.

Deng Chao broke the silence: "Director Yang, what about my encouragement?"

"What kind of encouragement do you offer?"

"I've worked hard too! Haven't I?"

"Yes."

Deng Chao laughed and continued to gnaw on his chicken leg.

After dinner, everyone continued shopping.

Yang Ning returned to the middle of the mall, lit a cigarette, and watched them disperse to different places.

Old Xu leaned over: "Yangzi, you must have spent a lot this morning, right?"

"good."

"Those two..." Old Xu lowered his voice, "Have they been taken care of?"

Yang Ning glanced at him.

"They weren't making a fuss in the first place."

"Then why did you buy it?"

Yang Ning did not answer.

Old Xu thought about it for a moment and then smiled.

"I understand."

"What do you know?"

"That's enough." Old Xu patted him on the shoulder. "Yangzi, your hand is pretty good."

Yang Ning ignored him.

In the distance, Li Binbin and Gao Yuanyuan emerged from different stores, each carrying several shopping bags. They kept a distance from each other, neither looking at the other, but both wore smiles.

Looking at them, Yang Ning suddenly remembered that sentence again—

It can cure all diseases.

It may not actually solve any problems, but it can at least make people feel better for a while.

Many things in this world just pass by temporarily once you're in a good mood.

He stubbed out his cigarette.

"Let's go, let's continue our stroll."

Old Xu followed.

Paul walked behind, carrying more than a dozen bags.

The air conditioning in the mall was very strong, and the sunlight shone down from the glass ceiling, making it warm and cozy.

Yang Ning suddenly realized that the money he spent today was well worth it. It turns out that the purpose of money is to solve problems and bring happiness. It seems that he needs to work hard to earn more money.