Huayu: Returned Overseas Chinese

Chen Jingming doesn't actually have a big need for directors. This chance encounter, as he himself said, was just to get acquainted with the director.

Chen Jingming positions Hongyuan Film and Television Company as a producer-driven company, which differs from the traditional director-driven system in China.

In the early 2000s, most domestic films bore the distinct personal styles of their directors, such as Jiang Wen, Zhang Yimou, Stephen Chow, and Feng Xiaogang. Those in the know could instantly recognize a film's director from its visuals.

Chen Jingming wants to become a producer because he doesn't need to make award-winning films; his only path is to cultivate the commercial film industry. As long as Hung Yuan Films can produce a few high-quality films, as long as they are labeled "produced by Hung Yuan," the public will feel that the ticket price is worthwhile, regardless of who the director is.

Before he even reached his dorm, his phone rang in his pocket. Chen Jingming pulled it out and saw the caller ID, which made him smile immediately.

"Hello, who is this?"

When Liu Yifei heard the voice she had been longing for, she was met with such a cold response, and she felt extremely wronged. She pouted and remained silent.

Hearing the breathing coming from the receiver, Chen Jingming immediately knew the girl was angry. He stopped teasing her and asked directly, "Yifei, why aren't you saying anything when you call?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yifei immediately lost her composure: "Oh, so you knew it was me, were you just deliberately trying to make a fool of me?"

"Haha." Chen Jingming laughed, then explained, "I was just kidding. By the way, you should be in class at this time, how come you have time to call me?"

"Don't laugh!" Liu Yifei shouted immediately upon hearing Chen Jingming's laughter, her voice both cute and fierce. Hearing this, Chen Jingming quickly moved the phone further away, otherwise he feared his ears would be filled with her angry shouts all night.

"Feed? Feed?" Liu Yifei didn't hear Chen Jingming's voice and thought the signal was bad, so she called out "Feed" twice. Only then did Chen Jingming put the microphone back to his ear and say with a smile, "I'm here."

"Jingming, you're so mean," Liu Yifei muttered, then added, "I'm going back to China the day after tomorrow, I'll come find you then."

"Going back to China?" Chen Jingming responded with a hint of doubt, then asked, "Why do you suddenly want to go back to China? What about Aunt Liu? Is she coming back with you?"

"Mom and the others aren't coming back; they're going on vacation. I don't want to go; I just want to go back to China. What, you don't want to host me?" Liu Yifei pouted and said softly.

"Of course I'd like to. But I'm planning to go back to my hometown during the National Day holiday. Would you like to come with me?" Chen Jingming didn't hide anything and asked directly.

A week ago, Chen Jingming contacted the Jiangsu Provincial Overseas Chinese Affairs Office to prepare to go back and visit his grandfather, and also to choose a burial plot for him, so that his grandfather could be moved back next year. After all, his grandfather's last wish was to return to his roots, and this matter had to be fulfilled.

"Going back to your hometown?" Liu Yifei asked, puzzled. "Which hometown?"

"It's my grandfather's hometown," Chen Jingming explained the situation. Liu Yifei nodded in understanding, then asked, "Is Jiangsu Province fun?"

"I don't know, I've never been there, but the Jiangnan region has always been quite nice," Chen Jingming said honestly. Although he had struggled for several years in Jiangsu Province after his previous life, and had been to many places, that was after 2010, and many things had not yet developed.

Upon hearing that it was Jiangnan, Liu Yifei thought for a moment and realized that there were indeed many lines in ancient poems describing the misty rain of Jiangnan. She then said, "Then I will reluctantly accompany you back for a walk and to see the scenery of Jiangnan."

"Okay," Chen Jingming replied, then asked, "Have you bought your plane ticket? Do you want me to arrange a flight back to pick you up?"

"No need, my mom has already bought it for me. You can just pick me up at the airport," Liu Yifei declined. Chen Jingming smiled and said, "Okay, call me before you board the plane, and I'll time it to pick you up."

The two chatted for a few more minutes before hanging up. Chen Jingming put away his still-warm phone and continued walking towards his dormitory, feeling like he'd forgotten something, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Two days passed in a flash. Chen Jingming stood at the international arrivals gate, looking at the information on the display screen; Liu Yifei's flight had already landed.

He was wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans, quietly watching the exit. Then a slender figure emerged, pushing a suitcase almost as big as herself, and came into view. Chen Jingming's lips curled into a smile, and he quickly walked over.

"Have we arrived?" Chen Jingming looked at Liu Yifei, who was wearing black sunglasses, and said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yifei couldn't help but roll her eyes behind her sunglasses—what kind of talk is that? The person is standing right in front of you, and you're still asking "Have we arrived?"

Seeing Liu Yifei standing there in a daze, Chen Jingming also came to his senses and quickly said with a smile, "Are you tired? The hotel has been booked for you. Let's go."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yifei reached out and gently patted him, playfully scolding, "Jingming, you've changed. You've only been back in the country for a little over a month, and it seems like all the chemistry between us is gone."

"No way," Chen Jingming immediately retorted, then explained, "I was just worried you'd get tired, so I wanted you to rest first to adjust to the time difference so you'd have the energy to explore Beijing tonight."

"Really?" Liu Yifei's eyes were filled with doubt. She felt that Chen Jingming was just giving her a perfunctory answer, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong.

"Really, really, let's go." After saying that, Chen Jingming quickly took the suitcase from Liu Yifei and walked out.

Liu Yifei watched his retreating figure, a slight smile playing on her lips, before quickly composed herself and followed behind with a stern face, as if Chen Jingming owed her a million dollars.

Chen Jingming walked ahead, his heart pounding with anxiety. The girl he was looking at was only thirteen years old, and the way he had coaxed her just now was like he was coaxing an angry girlfriend.

Xu Hu stood by the car and saw the two of them approaching. He stepped forward, took the suitcase from Chen Jingming, nodded to Liu Yifei behind him, and then opened the trunk to put the luggage in.

Chen Jingming opened the car door and gestured for her to enter. Liu Yifei snorted coldly as she passed by him before silently getting into the back seat.

Chen Jingming gently closed the car door, walked to the other side, opened the door, and carefully sat down, not daring to make a sound.

After Xu Hu got into the car, it slowly started moving, but the interior was unusually quiet. Chen Jingming's eyes darted around, wanting to say something but not knowing where to begin. He could only pick up the juice from the car, gently unscrew it, and hand it to Liu Yifei.

Liu Yifei looked at the Mochi peach juice in front of her and couldn't help but swallow—it was the taste she often drank in her childhood. Chen Jingming knew she loved it, and in their phone calls over the past month, she would occasionally mention food in detail, so he had prepared a lot in the car for this airport pickup.

But Liu Yifei didn't reach out to take it; instead, she turned to look out the window. Her black sunglasses obscured her eyes, and Chen Jingming was momentarily flustered.

"Cough cough." Chen Jingming coughed forcefully. Liu Yifei looked out the window and her ears twitched. Seeing that Liu Yifei did not react, Chen Jingming coughed a few more times. Perhaps he was coughing too hard, because he started coughing for real.

As Liu Yifei gazed at the receding scenery outside the window, she heard Chen Jingming cough and burst out laughing. She then turned her head and looked at the man who was bent over, coughing desperately, with a bewildered expression.