Huayu: A master director who debuted as a singer

Chapter 118 Maybe I miss home too!

Back in the suite at the White Swan Hotel, as soon as the door closed, Fan Binbin immediately clung to him without hesitation.

That phrase, "Whether it's an office or a home, we'll save you a place," was enough to shatter all her defenses.

The city of Guangzhou outside the window was bathed in a golden glow from the setting sun, while inside the suite, clothes were scattered all over the floor.

The exhilarating workout didn't gradually subside until after 5 p.m.

Zheng Hui sat up in bed, picked up the phone in the suite, dialed the catering department's number, ordered several Cantonese dishes, and asked them to deliver them directly to his room.

After hanging up the phone, he leaned against the headboard, and Fan Binbin moved closer, pressing half of her body against his firm chest. She reached out and fiddled with Zheng Hui's buttons, her face still flushed.

"These past few days have exhausted me."

She muttered softly, her tone tinged with coquettishness: "The interviews that Brother Zongming arranged for me, one after another. In each one, I had to pretend to be a pitiful person who had been driven to the brink of despair by powerful figures and had lost everything. I cried until my eyes were almost swollen."

Zheng Hui gently stroked her shoulder: "You acted well. Public opinion is almost unanimously sympathizing with you now. Your former employer is in a very difficult position."

"Do you know how quickly I burst into tears when I was facing those reporters?" Fan Binbin asked, looking up.

"What? You don't actually carry eye drops with you, do you?"

"No, I didn't." Fan Binbin shook her head, tracing circles on Zheng Hui's heart with her finger. "I brought my Walkman. Whenever I put on my headphones and listen to the songs from your new album, I feel like crying."

Zheng Hui raised an eyebrow: "My song is that tear-jerking?"

"Yes." Fan Binbin sighed, his eyes becoming somewhat complicated: "Listening to your songs reminds me of my parents back in our hometown in Shandong, working hard from dawn till dusk to run their small business."

"I've painstakingly saved up most of my life's money, a full 200,000 yuan! Just because I signed the wrong contract, I lost it all to someone else."

She bit her lower lip, her voice tinged with bitterness: "That 200,000 yuan was originally their retirement money."

Just thinking about the look in their eyes when they handed that deposit slip to the lawyer, and then listening to the lyrics in your song, the tears just fall without me having to force them.

Zheng Hui listened quietly; he could sense the girl's genuine emotions at that moment.

In this day and age, 200,000 RMB is indeed a huge burden for an ordinary family.

"Forget about that. Money is worthless; we can earn more if we spend it."

Zheng Hui said confidently, "Just focus on filming and don't worry too much. Zongming and I will take care of everything for you."

He described the inevitable blueprint: "In the future, you will have the money you earn from making movies, the fee you receive for a GG endorsement—two million, or even twenty million."

By then, the money you earn will be enough to cover all of your parents' houses in Shandong.

Fan Binbin was stunned.

Two million? Twenty million?!

These figures sound like a fantasy, and for an actress who has just lost 200,000 yuan and hasn't even had a proper leading role yet, it's simply an unrealistic pipe dream.

"Stop trying to fool me."

Fan Binbin chuckled and playfully punched his chest: "Twenty million? Do you think I run a money printing factory? How many celebrities in all of China can afford to take on a twenty million dollar deal?"

Although she said she didn't believe it, taking it as Zheng Hui's way of showing concern for her and trying to make her happy, her peach blossom eyes uncontrollably sparkled with longing.

She couldn't help but drift into that fantasy. What if it were true? What if one day, she, Fan Binbin, could really earn twenty million...

Seeing the shifting look in her eyes, Zheng Hui didn't continue the conversation. Time will tell; for Fan Binbin in the future, 20 million will just be a starting price.

He threw off the covers, got out of bed, walked to the suitcase in the corner of the living room, and unzipped it.

He pulled out several unopened CDs from under some clothes.

This is a special non-sale collector's edition CD of "Half a Lifetime" specially made for him by Universal Music.

These rare editions are not available on the market at all. He took a few with him, intending to give them away as gifts.

Zheng Hui took out a card, walked back to the bedside, and handed it to Fan Binbin.

"For me?" Fan Binbin took it.

"This is a special collector's edition made by Universal Music. The sound quality is much better than the cassette tapes you usually buy on the street. Take it and listen to it."

Fan Binbin forced open the outer plastic film, ran to the White Swan Hotel's stereo in the living room, put the CD in, and pressed play.

After a few seconds of silence, the accompaniment slowly flowed through the suite.

Fan Binbin leaned back on the sofa, listening quietly.

Perhaps it was because she had just experienced a release, or perhaps it was because the 20 million future that Zheng Hui had painted for her was too sweet.

This time, as she listened to the lyrics that had once brought her to tears, she didn't cry.

In her heart, there was only an unprecedented sense of peace and tranquility.

"Ding-dong"

The doorbell rang at just the right moment.

"Delivery service," came the polite voice of a waiter from outside the door.

"I'll go open the door." Zheng Hui put on his coat, walked out of the bedroom to the door, opened it, and stepped aside to let the waiter in.

A waiter pushed a food cart in and placed plates of exquisite dishes on the table.

"Mr. Zheng, please enjoy your meal." The waiter bowed slightly and left the room.

"Dinner's ready," Zheng Hui called out.

Fan Binbin came out of the bedroom and sat down at the dining table. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the lights on both sides of the Pearl River were already on, and the neon lights were reflected in the water, shimmering.

The two were eating, while the collector's edition CD played on a loop from the stereo.

"Zheng Hui," Fan Binbin suddenly spoke.

"Hmm?" Zheng Hui picked up a piece of steamed grouper and put it into her bowl.

"There's something I've always been curious about," Fan Binbin said, staring into his eyes, "You're only nineteen, so how can you write such great lyrics?"

She pointed towards the speakers: "Sometimes when I listen to your songs, it feels like I'm listening to someone who has wandered for most of their life telling a story."

Zheng Hui paused for a moment as he picked up some food.

He was silent for a moment, then his voice was somewhat low: "Maybe—because I've always been alone away from home, and I miss home too."

When he said this, his face showed a melancholy that was beyond his years.

The feeling was like that of a stranger standing in a noisy crowd, where everything around him was both related to him and unrelated to him.

Fan Binbin noticed the change in his mood, and she wisely refrained from asking any further questions, silently placing a piece of pork rib in his bowl.

Eat more.

Over the next few days, Zheng Hui finalized all the details of the property purchase in Guangzhou.

On the morning of May 14, in the VIP room of the Yuexiu branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.

"Mr. Zheng, the provincial bank's approval has been completely approved! All you need to do is sign these transfer documents and the transfer authorization form, and the building, along with the land ownership, will be entirely yours!"

Zheng Hui took the pen and signed his name.

As the bank system entered the transaction, 25 million yuan in cash was transferred from Zheng Hui's company account. The property transfer will take some time, and Chen Jianguo will handle it.

That afternoon, at Baiyun Airport.

In the VIP lounge of the departure hall, Zheng Hui sat on the sofa, flipping through the newspaper in his hand.

Standing behind him, besides his bodyguard Lin Dashan, was a young man who looked rather refined.

This is the assistant Li Zongming recruited for Zheng Hui, named He Yan.

The young man used to work as a errand runner for several newspapers in the south. He was not only quick and efficient, but also had a good ability to read people.

During the past few days of working alongside Zheng Hui, she has handled miscellaneous tasks such as serving tea and water and coordinating schedules in an orderly manner.

"Boss, the boarding pass for Changsha is ready, first class. Brother Dashan has already checked in the luggage." He Yan handed the boarding pass and ID card to Zheng Hui.

"Okay." Zheng Hui took the boarding pass and put it in his jacket pocket.

On the other side of the sofa, Fan Binbin, wearing sunglasses and with most of his face covered by a mask, was looking at Zheng Hui with reluctance.

Her assistant, Xiaoyun, sat in a corner at a distance and wisely refrained from disturbing her.

"The flight to Beijing should be boarding soon, right?" Zheng Hui closed his newspaper and turned to look at her.

"Twenty minutes left." Fan Binbin's voice came through his mask.

"Don't be nervous when you get to the capital." Zheng Hui said as if he were instructing a student about to take an exam: "Li Zongming has already spoken to the 'Swordsman' production team."

"Your audition for the role of Yue Lingshan was just a formality, to make an impression on Zhang Dahuzi."

"The company will pave the way for you in terms of resources and money, but you have to prove yourself in terms of acting skills."

Fan Binbin nodded vigorously: "I know. I will definitely not let you down."

She looked around and, seeing that not many people in the lounge were paying attention to her, she boldly moved closer and gently rubbed her cheek against Zheng Hui's through his mask.

"You're filming a show in Changsha, where the food is really spicy. Eat less of it and take care of your voice."

She lowered her voice, her tone filled with longing: "After my audition, I'll go to Beijing to find the position you promised me."

"Go ahead." Zheng Hui patted her shoulder.

The announcement for the flight to Beijing came over the loudspeaker. The two parted ways at the crossroads in the VIP lounge. Fan Binbin led Xiaoyun toward the northbound boarding gate, while Zheng Hui, along with Lin Dashan and He Yan, boarded the flight to Changsha, the capital of China.

The plane flew through the clouds for more than an hour before landing at Changsha Huanghua Airport.

At this time, Hunan TV was in the early stages of a period of rapid expansion in the national entertainment landscape. The ratings for "Happy Camp" were soaring, and it was beginning to take shape as the number one entertainment variety show in mainland China.

Hunan Province has given great importance to the arrival of Zheng Hui, a rising star who is now popular across mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, and whose third album sold over 800,000 copies in just two days.

As soon as Zheng Hui stepped out of the VIP passage, he saw an assistant director from the "Happy Camp" program team waiting there with two other people.

After a warm greeting, the convoy took them directly to the Huatian Hotel in downtown CS for check-in.

The next day, Saturday.

Zheng Hui met He Jiong and Li Xiang, the two main hosts of "Happy Camp," in the dressing room of the broadcasting center.

"Hello Zheng Hui! I've heard so much about you! I'm a big fan of yours!" He Jiong said enthusiastically, extending his hand.

"Hello, Teacher He, hello, Sister Xiang." Zheng Hui shook hands with the two of them one by one.

Li Xiang smiled and looked Zheng Hui up and down: "You're even more handsome in person than on TV! A lot of the young ladies in our station have been talking about meeting you for a long time."

The recording of the "Music Never Stops Concert" this morning went very smoothly.

Zheng Hui performed three songs with very different styles: "Stubborn", "Because of Love, So I Love" and "The Wind Rises". His solid singing skills and steady stage presence drew screams from the fans in the audience.

The afternoon recording of "Happy Camp" was more relaxed and lively.

In an era before the many fancy games of later generations, the program was relatively simple, mainly consisting of interactive games like guessing song titles and playing telephone.

Zheng Hui is very outgoing and has a great sense of variety show humor. His witty remarks and humorous reactions made the audience laugh heartily.

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