Huayu: I rely on hit-movie tactics to interweave...

Chapter 84 Unexpected Encounter

The invitation to the Golden Eagle Awards was delivered to Liu Yu's office on September 15th.

When Zhong Lifang walked in carrying the envelope with the gold lettering, her expression was subtle, like a smile but not quite a smile, with the corner of her mouth turned about fifteen degrees to the right.

"Boss, this is from Hunan TV, inviting you to be a guest at this year's Golden Eagle Awards ceremony."

Liu Yu put down the editing schedule in his hand, took the envelope, opened it, and took a look.

The invitation was polite and well-written, and its gist was "We cordially invite Director Liu Yu to attend the 6th China Golden Eagle TV Art Festival Awards Ceremony and serve as an award presenter."

The document was stamped with the official seal of Hunan TV, and next to it was a line of handwritten text that read, "We're all family, so let's not stand on ceremony. Come on over."

Liu Yu recognized the handwriting; it belonged to a deputy director of Hunan TV, who was in charge of arts and entertainment programs. Liu Yu had interacted with him a few times when he was interning at Hunan TV.

This person speaks and acts with the warmth of someone from Changsha. He seems carefree, but he is actually very thoughtful. He knows how to slip a casual remark into a formal document so that people feel it would be inhumane to refuse.

Liu Yu placed the invitation on the table and leaned back in his chair. "Sister Zhong, what do you think? Should I go?"

Zhong Lifang sat down opposite him, crossed her legs, and twirled a pen in her hand. "Whether you go or not, you already know in your heart. I'm just confirming. You interned at Hunan TV, your sister worked there, and your mother used to work there too."

"Family members of the staff. They even wrote 'We're family, no need for formalities' in the agreement. If you don't go, you won't dare go into that noodle shop next time you're in Changsha."

Liu Yu laughed at her words, "You're better at making excuses for others than I am."

Are you going or not?

"Go." Liu Yu folded the invitation and put it back in the envelope. "The Golden Eagle Awards are at the end of October, which coincides with the start of the promotional period for 'The Witch.' Going to Hunan TV will also be a good way to promote it. Sister Zhong, could you help me arrange my schedule? I'll stay in Changsha for two days, one day for the event and one day to rest."

"Okay. I'll coordinate with Hunan TV to confirm the specific procedures and rehearsal schedule." Zhong Lifang stood up, took a few steps, then turned back. "By the way, you know about the 'Golden Eagle Goddess' segment at this year's Golden Eagle Awards, right? It's the first one."

Liu Yu was taken aback. "Golden Eagle Goddess? I've never heard of this segment before."

"This is a new position established this year. Apparently, Hunan TV hired an actress as their image ambassador to increase buzz," Zhong Lifang said, leaning against the doorframe. "Guess who it is?"

"Just tell me directly."

"Liu Yifei." When Zhong Lifang said this name, her tone carried a hint of "as expected of you" in her smile. "Hunan TV contacted her team last year, and it was officially finalized this year. She's the first Golden Eagle Goddess. The connection between you two is truly unbreakable. The movie just finished filming, and you're going to meet at the same event again."

Liu Yu watched Zhong Lifang walk away, picked up the water glass on the table and took a sip; the water was cold.

The title of the first Golden Eagle Goddess vaguely lingers in my memories from a past life.

When Liu Yifei appeared in that gold dress, she was indeed the biggest topic of the night.

He never expected that he would become a pawn in that same game, laid out on the same table.

In late September, the weather in Changsha was neither too hot nor too cold.

When Liu Yu walked out of the airport, the familiar smell of dampness hit him. He dragged his suitcase toward the exit, his mind still rehearsing the process.

He's presenting the Best Television Series award, and he needs to prepare a short introduction that's no more than two minutes long. The script has already been sent to his email, but he hasn't looked at it in detail yet.

He was in the boarding line when a young mother was in front of him, holding a child who looked about two or three years old. The child was sleeping soundly on her shoulder, drooling all over her shoulder.

Liu Yu looked at the child and thought he was sleeping quite soundly.

After boarding, Liu Yu found his seat and sat down.

I was seated by the window, in the first row of business class, with my legs fully extended.

He had just fastened his seatbelt when he caught a glimpse of several people walking in through the cabin door. The figure at the front made him pause for a moment. He was wearing a baseball cap with the brim pulled low, a loose gray hoodie, and black sweatpants, looking like he was going to buy something at a convenience store next to the airport and would be back soon.

Behind her followed a middle-aged woman also wearing a hat and two young men who looked like assistants. Liu Yu recognized her at a glance: Liu Yifei.

He remained seated, watching her walk down the aisle. As she approached his row, she looked up and glanced at the seat number, her eyes meeting his.

She paused for a moment, then smiled, a small smile, as if unsure how much of a smile she should show when encountering an acquaintance in public.

"Brother Liu? What are you doing here?"

"I'm going back to Changsha for the Golden Eagle Awards rehearsal." Liu Yu leaned back in his seat to make some space for her. "What about you?"

"Me too." She turned to the side, as if hesitating whether to continue the topic. "My agent said I have to arrive a day early for rehearsals and makeup tests."

Liu Yu watched her walk to the back of the cabin and sit down in the second row by the window.

Liu Xiaoli sat next to her, turned her head and said something to her. She nodded, then took out a pair of headphones from her bag, put them on, and leaned back in her chair, as if she was preparing to sleep the whole way.

Liu Yu looked away and glanced at the safety instructions on the back of the seat in front of him.

He never expected to meet her on the same flight, just as he never expected to stand next to her at a weekend market in Bangkok watching her pick out a mango soap.

After the plane took off, Liu Yu scrolled through his phone for a while, then leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes to rest.

About half an hour later, he felt someone gently touch his shoulder. He opened his eyes and saw Liu Yifei standing next to his seat, holding a bottle of water.

"I see you're not asleep, come chat for a bit." She sat down sideways on an empty seat across the aisle, facing him, her legs slightly curled up.

Where's your mom?

"She's asleep. She falls asleep as soon as she gets on the plane, without fail." She unscrewed the cap and took a sip of water. "Brother Liu, what are you doing at the Golden Eagle Awards? A presenter or a judge?"

"Award presenter. Best TV series award. And you? What kind of role is the Golden Eagle Goddess?"

"I heard that you have to wear a formal gown, stand in the center of the stage, and then all the lights shine on you." She chuckled as she spoke. "It sounds very grand, but it's really just a ceremony. I tried on the gown during rehearsal. The skirt is very large, and you need someone to hold you while walking, otherwise you might trip. I told my mom that the designer of this dress probably never thought that the person wearing it would have to walk."

Liu Yu imagined the scene, "Then you'd need someone to help you walk on the red carpet."

"The organizers said they'd arrange for someone to help out." She paused after saying that, then added, "Brother Liu, will you be walking the red carpet?"

"Probably. The organizers have arranged for me to walk the red carpet, but I don't plan to walk for too long. I'll just walk over, sign my name, and that's it."

She nodded, then, as if remembering something, asked, "By the way, are you going home this time?"

"My parents are in Changsha, so I'll definitely go back. I'll stay home for a day after the rehearsal and have a meal with them."

"That's great. I haven't been back to Wuhan for several months. After filming 'Lucy,' I've been busy with various promotions and events, and I'm flying to Shanghai the day after tomorrow."

It was already evening when the plane landed at Changsha Huanghua Airport.

When Liu Yu got off the plane, he was a few steps behind Liu Yifei. He saw her say something to Liu Xiaoli at the entrance of the arrival hall, and then stand there waiting for him.

Liu Xiaoli also stopped, turned around, and saw Liu Yu walking over. She had a gentle smile on her face. "Director Liu, what a coincidence, we're on the same flight."

"Hello, Auntie, what a coincidence!"

"Sisi said you're also here for the Golden Eagle Awards? So you've been in Changsha for the past few days." Liu Xiaoli spoke in a very casual tone, as if discussing a trivial matter. "Which hotel are you staying at?"

Liu Yu gave the name of a hotel, and Liu Xiaoli nodded. "Then we're not staying at the same one. The organizers have arranged for us to stay at another one, which is closer to the studio."

Liu Yifei stood to the side listening to their conversation without interrupting.

Her gaze fell on Liu Yu's hand that was dragging the suitcase, the blue bracelet on his wrist faintly visible under the airport lights.

She noticed it, her lips twitched slightly, but she quickly returned to normal.

The four people were standing and talking when Liu Yu's phone rang.

He glanced at the screen, answered the phone, and Zhang Yan's voice came from the other end, "Son, have you arrived yet? I'm outside the arrival hall, near Exit A. You'll see me as soon as you come out. I'm the one wearing the green coat."

"Mom, I've arrived. I'm talking to a friend. I'll be right out." He hung up the phone, turned to look at Liu Yifei and Liu Xiaoli, "My mom's here to pick me up, she's outside."

Liu Yifei glanced at Liu Xiaoli, her eyes showing a hint of hesitation.

Liu Xiaoli seemed to suddenly remember something, smiled at Liu Yu, and said, "Director Liu, since your mother is here, why don't we go and say hello together? We're both at the airport anyway, so it won't take up much time."

Liu Yu was taken aback, not expecting her to bring this up. "Auntie, you're too kind. There's no need for that."

"No trouble at all. Sisi has worked with you for so long, and we met at an awards ceremony. It's fate. It's only right to greet an elder." Liu Xiaoli said casually, her tone conveying a sense of "since we've met, let's not miss the opportunity," making it impossible for anyone to refuse.

Liu Yu had no choice but to lead them outside. When they reached Exit A of the arrival hall, they saw Zhang Yan in the distance. She was wearing a dark green light jacket, and her hair was shorter than when they last met, making her look more energetic.

She was standing on tiptoe, peering inside, when she saw Liu Yu come out. She waved to him, then noticed several people following behind him. She paused, her gaze lingering on Liu Yifei's face for a moment before returning to Liu Yu.

"Mom, this is Liu Yifei, the actress I mentioned to you before, who worked with you on 'Lucy'. This is her mother, Aunt Liu Xiaoli. We met on the plane." Liu Yu stepped aside to let her pass.

Zhang Yan's expression quickly shifted from surprise to the warmth characteristic of a Changsha auntie. She smiled and took two steps forward, first shaking hands with Liu Xiaoli, "Oh my, this is Yifei's mother? You look so young, I thought you were her older sister. Yifei is such a beautiful girl, even more beautiful than on TV."

She then turned to look at Liu Yifei, her gaze lingering on her face for a moment, with the gentle warmth of an elder looking at a younger person. "Yifei, you and Liu Yu must have worked hard filming together. He works day and night, has he caused you any trouble?"

Liu Yifei laughed at Zhang Yan's series of words, "Auntie, Director Liu is not troublesome at all. He is very organized when filming. On the contrary, I sometimes do not do well and cause him trouble."

"If he dares to say you're troublesome, tell me, and I'll criticize him for you," Zhang Yan said seriously, while Liu Xiaoli laughed out loud beside her. Liu Yu stood to the side, watching his mother skillfully turn a chance encounter into a situation where "it seems like we've known each other for a long time," and he didn't know whether to admire her or feel helpless.

After exchanging a few words with Liu Xiaoli, Zhang Yan suddenly asked, "Since we've bumped into each other so coincidentally, do you have any plans for tonight?"

If you're free, how about we come over for dinner? It's just south of the city, a twenty-minute drive. I bought groceries; I was thinking of cooking a nice welcome-back meal for Liu Yu, the more the merrier.

Liu Xiaoli was clearly surprised by the invitation. She glanced at Liu Yifei, as if asking for her opinion.

Standing next to her, Liu Yifei paused briefly after being glanced at by her mother, then quickly composed herself and smiled slightly at Zhang Yan, "Auntie, am I being too intrusive?"

"No problem, no problem! It's just me and Liu Yu's dad at home, it's usually quite quiet. The food tastes better with more people around." Zhang Yan said, already pulling out her phone. "I'll call Lao Liu first and ask him to cook a couple more dishes. He cooks better than me. Yifei, what do you like to eat?"

Liu Yifei was taken aback by her question, "Auntie, I—I'm not a picky eater."

"No, you have to say one. What's your favorite dish?"

"Uh—stir-fried vegetables are fine, nothing too spicy. And—boiled fish?"

Zhang Yan clapped her hands. "Boiled fish is great! Liu Yu said the boiled fish I made last time was even better than the ones in restaurants. Let's add another boiled fish to the menu."

She had already dialed the number and walked a few steps to the side to make the call.

The remaining four people stood at the entrance of the arrival hall, and the scene became somewhat awkward.

Liu Xiaoli had a look of surprise mixed with amusement on her face. "Director Liu, your mother is so hospitable. Is it really convenient for us to come here so abruptly?"

"Is it convenient for you? She's already made the call." Liu Yu glanced at Zhang Yan, who was gesturing over the phone about how much chili to put in boiled fish. "If it's inconvenient for you, I'll cancel it for you."

Liu Yifei suddenly spoke up, "It's convenient. Auntie is so enthusiastic, it wouldn't be good to refuse." After saying that, she turned her head and glanced at Liu Xiaoli, "Mom, what do you think?"

Liu Xiaoli looked at her as if confirming something, and after a while nodded, "Then go and bother them."

On the way home from the airport, Zhang Yan sat in the passenger seat and chatted with Liu Yifei in the back seat.

Liu Yu was driving, and he could see her sitting in the back seat by the window in the rearview mirror. Occasionally, she would turn her head to answer Zhang Yan's questions. Sometimes, when asked about the details of filming, her answers were short but sincere.

Liu Xiaoli sat next to her, listening most of the time, occasionally interjecting a word or two in a calm tone.

It was already completely dark when the car drove into the residential area.

The streetlights were on, casting shadowy images of the osmanthus trees along the roadside, and a faint fragrance of osmanthus wafted in the air.

Liu Yu parked the car, and Zhang Yan had already gotten out first, opening the back door. "Come on, we're here. The house is a bit messy, don't mind."

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