Huayu: Starting from retirement, sweeping across the domestic entertainment industry

Chapter 215 The Leaky Little Cotton-padded Jacket

When Li Ran walked out of the airport arrival gate, it was already quite dark.

As he walked out of the airport, he immediately spotted his Lamborghini.

Tian Xiwei leaned against the car door, wearing a light-colored sweatshirt, her hair tied in a low ponytail, holding a mobile phone in her hand, the light from the screen reflecting on her face, flickering.

She looked up and saw him. She didn't smile or wave. She simply put her phone in her pocket, opened the car door, and got into the driver's seat.

Li Ran walked over, got into the passenger seat, leaned back in his seat, and let out a long breath, as if exhaling all the fatigue of the day.

Tian Xiwei did not drive immediately.

She turned her head to look at him, her big eyes glaring at him, and demanded, "You said you were with Xiaopingban, but you went to celebrate Lu Yuxiao's birthday instead?"

Li Ran turned his head, looked at her, and casually said, "Isn't it all the same?"

He didn't explain or make excuses, then lowered his head and took out his phone.

The screen displayed several messages from Lu Yuxiao, appearing intermittently.

The last post read, "What should I do if I can't take these plush toys with me?" It was accompanied by a photo of a room full of plush toys crammed together, like a group of cartoon characters having a party.

Li Ran looked at the photo, a slight smile playing on his lips, and typed a few words: "If you can't take it with you, just leave it. Someone will take care of it."

After sending the message, he put his phone in his pocket, looked up, and stared at Tian Xiwei.

I'm hungry.

Tian Xiwei glanced at him, said nothing more, started the car, and slowly drove out of the parking lot.

"Let's go home and eat. I stewed some pig's trotters for you this afternoon." Tian Xiwei looked straight ahead, her tone indifferent.

Li Ran leaned back in his chair, turned his head, and looked at her profile.

The light from the streetlights slid in through the car window, flickering across her face and softening her features with warmth.

He suddenly realized that this woman had changed.

She's no longer just a jealous girlfriend, but more like a wife who knows how to be considerate of her husband.

"it is good."

It was already late at night when I got home.

Tian Xiwei parked the car, and the two went upstairs.

The door opened, and she went out first, changed her shoes, and then went straight into the kitchen.

Li Ran followed behind, leaning against the kitchen doorway, watching her restart the fire. The pig's trotter soup simmering on the stove had cooled down, and a thin layer of oil film had formed on the milky white soup surface. She stirred it with a spoon, and the oil film dispersed, revealing the rich soup underneath.

The flames were lit, and the soup in the pot soon began to bubble and boil. The pig's trotters were stewed until they were tender and the meat was almost falling off the bone. The aroma filled the air, mixed with the smells of scallions, ginger, and garlic.

"Go wash your hands first, it'll be quick." She didn't turn her head, her voice half-covered by the hum of the range hood, but Li Ran could clearly hear the certainty and gentleness in her tone.

He smiled, turned around, and went to the bathroom.

After washing her hands, Tian Xiwei had already prepared two bowls of pig's trotter soup and placed them on the dining table.

She sat opposite him, resting her chin on her hand, looking at him with a hint of expectation, a hint of nervousness, and a hint of urging him to "try it."

"No dipping sauce, just eat the broth as is." She said casually, as if she were talking about something very ordinary.

Li Ran nodded, picked up the bowl, and took a sip of soup.

Scalding hot soup slid across his tongue, making him hiss. He frowned, his features scrunched up, and his expression became comical, like he was performing a silent film.

Tian Xiwei glared at him, her eyes seeming to say "you deserve it," but the curve of her lips was impossible to hide.

He chuckled awkwardly, blew on it, and took another sip.

"It tastes good."

Tian Xiwei's lips curved slightly, a tiny, almost imperceptible smile, yet it was there. She lowered her head, picked up her bowl, took a sip, then put it down, looking at him.

"The male lead for 'Qingqing's Daily Life' has been decided; it's Bai Jingting." She spoke as if it were something unimportant, but her eyes remained fixed on him, waiting for his reaction.

Li Ran nodded. "It's good. Her acting skills and popularity are both quite good. She won't steal your spotlight or hold you back."

Bai Jingting was originally the male lead in "Qingqing's Daily Life" in the original timeline.

The premiere of "The Beginning" early next year will bring him a lot of attention, which will also benefit "Qingqing's Daily Life".

He knew all of this, but he didn't say anything; he just nodded in agreement.

Tian Xiwei looked at him, a hint of doubt in her large eyes, "You seem to know him very well?"

"It's alright, I've seen his dramas." Li Ran said casually, "The 'Qingqing Daily Life' project is a good opportunity for you, do your best in it."

His tone became more serious, as if he were explaining something very important.

In the original timeline, Tian Xiwei was practically unknown before "Qingqing's Daily Life" aired.

But things are different now. "So Cute Us" has brought her considerable attention, unlike in her previous life when she was simply recognized by the audience as a talented actress.

Add to that the real and fake rumors about her relationship with him, and her own online presence is already quite large.

The drama "The Sword and the Brocade" is about to air, and although Yu Youwei's role is small, she should still gain a lot of fans.

The main focus is still on "The Legend of Canglan," which was a hugely popular historical romance novel in my previous life. With him joining the project, it should become even more popular.

Perhaps with the addition of "Qingqing's Daily Life," Tian Xiwei could be propelled to the top of the 95-generation actresses next year.

He knew all of this, but he didn't say it.

"You seem to care a lot about my career," Tian Xiwei said softly, as if she were talking to herself.

Li Ran looked at her for a few seconds, then said, "Your business is my business."

Tian Xiwei rolled her eyes at him, her eyes wide and round, with a hint of reproach, "You're getting more and more mushy with your words these days."

Her tone was disdainful, but the curve of her lips was impossible to hide, like a flower blown open by the wind, unable to close even if it wanted to.

Li Ran smiled, did not refute, picked up the bowl and took another sip of soup.

Tian Xiwei rested her chin on her hand, looking at him with a hint of curiosity in her big eyes, "Did you come down here to film your autobiography?"

""

Li Ran was speechless, his brows furrowing slightly. "What do you mean, my autobiography? It's clearly an e-sports promotional video."

Tian Xiwei chuckled. "Pretty much the same. It's not like I haven't read the script. How is it different from your experience?"

Li Ran was surprised, his brows furrowed even more, and he leaned forward, getting closer to her. "How come you've read the script?"

"The script has been sent to the company, and my aunt asked me to bring it back for you," Tian Xiwei explained. "I just took a look at it, and it's in the bedroom now."

As she spoke, she gestured towards the bedroom with her lips, her large eyes conveying a calm "don't make a fuss" attitude.

Li Ran didn't expect it to happen so quickly.

He thought he would need some time to prepare, at least until the end of the year or the beginning of next year.

It now appears that Director Zhang's team is much more efficient than he had anticipated.

Tian Xiwei looked at him, waited a few seconds, and then asked, "Should we have that 'green tea b*tch' play the female host who has a romantic storyline with you?"

Li Ran nodded without hesitation, "The current market can't be without romance."

Tian Xiwei frowned. "Will her current situation have any impact?"

Li Ran thought for a moment and shook his head. "Probably not, since the earliest it can air is the end of next year."

He paused, then added, "Besides, Cunzi's situation isn't that bad, is it?"

Tian Xiwei looked at him without saying anything more, but she knew in her heart that because of these things, Liu Haocun might have no hope of getting a certain position at all.

It was already late at night when Lu Yuxiao got home.

The streetlights in the neighborhood cast a dim, yellowish glow, making her shadow long and trailing on the ground like a hazy gray line.

She held a Rena Belle in her arms, its pink fur gleaming softly in the light, and carried several gift bags in her other hand, which swayed back and forth, making a soft rustling sound as they bumped against her legs.

She walked to the entrance of the building, stopped, and took a deep breath.

She was alone in the elevator. The wall lamp cast a dim yellow light, projecting her shadow onto the mirror. She looked at her tired face in the mirror and suddenly smiled, though she didn't know what she was smiling about.

-

She took out her keys and opened the door.

She froze the moment the door opened.

The living room lights were still on, casting a warm yellow glow that made the whole room feel warm and bright.

Her parents sat on the sofa, one on the left and one on the right, with an empty seat between them.

She stood at the doorway, paused for two seconds, then slowly walked in, hugged Lina Belle in her arms, and lowered her head like a child who had done something wrong, not daring to look them in the eye.

"Mom and Dad, why aren't you resting yet?" Her voice was soft, with a hint of guilt.

Lu's mother looked at her and smiled gently. She patted the sofa next to her, gesturing for Lu Yuxiao to sit down.

"Isn't today your birthday? Did you have fun with your friends?"

Lu Yuxiao walked over, sat down next to her mother, placed Lina Belle on her lap, and unconsciously stroked its furry ears with her fingers.

She nodded, her lips curving into a smile, her eyes crinkling, as if her whole being had been illuminated. "I'm so happy, we went to Disneyland together."

Aunt Lu reached out and gently touched her head.

Her fingers slid from the top of Lu Yuxiao's hair to the ends, carrying a tender, unconditional love that only a mother possesses.

"Whatever makes you happy."

Mr. Lu sat opposite him, holding a teacup. He put down the teacup, cleared his throat, and his eyes shone brightly under the light, with a hint of scrutiny.

"Did you stay at your friend's house last night? Was it a boy or a girl?" His tone was casual, but his eyes were fixed on Lu Yuxiao, waiting for her answer.

Lu Yuxiao pursed her lips, lowered her head, and twisted her fingers around Lina Belle's ear, back and forth, as if she were twisting an unsolvable knot.

"Didn't I tell Mom yesterday? Didn't I tell you? My good friend from the film crew." Her voice grew softer and weaker.

Her guilty expression was impossible to hide, like a drop of ink on a blank sheet of paper that could never be wiped off.

Lu's mother smiled, reached out and patted Lu Yuxiao's hand gently, reassuringly saying, "Alright, your dad was just asking. You've had a long day, go and rest."

Lu Yuxiao looked up at her mother and said sweetly, "Thank you, Mom."

As she spoke, she stood up, picked up Lina Belle, took the gift bag, and walked briskly towards her room.

She stopped at the door and looked back.

Dad was still sitting on the sofa, holding a teacup in his hand, his gaze fixed on the window, seemingly looking at something.

Mom was tidying up the coffee table, picking up the fruit plate and putting it down again, her movements very gentle, as if she didn't want to disturb anyone.

She looked away, pushed open the door, and went into her room.

Only Mr. and Mrs. Lu remained in the living room.

Mr. Lu leaned back on the sofa and sighed, "Looks like my little darling is going to be kidnapped."

His tone was slightly sarcastic, but the loneliness in his eyes was impossible to hide.

Aunt Lu smiled, put the teacup away, and placed it on the tray.

"Xiaoxiao is not young anymore, it's time for her to start dating."

Mr. Lu looked out the window and sighed again. "I'm just afraid she'll be scammed."

Aunt Lu walked over, sat down next to him, and gently patted his knee.

"No, Xiaoxiao is a smart child, she knows what she is doing."

Lu's father did not say anything more.

His daughter is growing up and will have her own path to walk. All he can do is stand behind her when she needs him and wait for her to turn around.

In the next room, Lu Yuxiao lay on the bed, holding Lingna Belle in her arms, burying her face in its furry belly, and chuckled softly.

She remembered the expression on her father's face when he asked "boy or girl," her own guilty look, and the gentle look in her mother's eyes when she came to her rescue. Suddenly, she felt a lump in her throat.

She rolled over, lifted Lina Belle up to her eyes, looked at her round eyes, her pink fur, and her ever-smiling mouth.

"Do you think I should tell them?"

Lina Belle did not answer, but simply smiled, always smiling.

The following afternoon, sunlight streamed in through the French windows, casting a warm glow on the carpet.

Tian Xiwei was curled up on the sofa scrolling through her phone, wearing Li Ran's old T-shirt and her hair casually tied up.

The bedroom door opened, and Li Ran came out after changing her clothes, heading straight to the entryway to change her shoes.

Tian Xiwei looked up at his retreating figure, her brows furrowing slightly: "Where are you going?"

Li Ran didn't even look up, and slowly said, "Go to Cunzi's place."

-

Tian Xiwei put down her phone, got up and walked over, standing next to him and looking down at him.

"Just got back last night, and you're going out again today?"

Li Ran tied his shoelaces, straightened up, smiled helplessly, and reached out to pinch her cheek.

"What are you thinking about? I have dinner with Director Zhang tonight."

Tian Xiwei snorted. "So, are you coming back tonight?"

Li Ran shook his head. "I'm not coming back."

"That's different." After saying that, Tian Xiwei also started changing her shoes, moving even faster than him.

Li Ran looked at her with a puzzled expression. "Back to your side?"

Tian Xiwei tilted her head and smiled mischievously.

"No, I'm going to see a woman too." She paused. "I made plans with Sister Tong. I was going to ask you to come along, but you had something to do, so never mind."

Li Ran asked, "Should I give you a ride?"

"No need, I can drive myself." Tian Xiwei picked up the small black Lamborghini key from the entryway, twirled it in her hand, and asked, "Can I drive your Lamborghini?"

"Whatever, drive whichever one you want."

Tian Xiwei reached out and gently patted his chest before opening the door and walking out.

The door closed behind me.

Li Ran stood there, shook his head, and took out his phone to send a message to Liu Haocun: "I'm going out, I'll be there in a bit."

The other end replied instantly: "Waiting for you."

He put his phone in his pocket and went out the door.

After going downstairs, he didn't see Tian Xiwei. She must have gone home to change her clothes first.

Li Ran shook his head and walked in another direction.

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