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

I highly recommend "Hua Yu: Starting from Retirement, Sweeping Through the Domestic Entertainment Industry"! Go straight to the exciting parts.

The plane landed at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport at 3 p.m.

Li Ran and Zhang Jingyi emerged from the VIP passage, wearing masks and hats, and discreetly made their way through the crowd.

The assistant had already collected their luggage and was waiting for them at the exit.

"Brother Ran, the car is ready." Xiao Chen came up and took the suitcase from Li Ran's hand.

Li Ran nodded and looked at Zhang Jingyi: "Let's go home and put our things away first."

Zhang Jingyi was taken aback: "Go home?"

Li Ran smiled but didn't explain.

The car drove out of the airport, through the bustling city center, and finally stopped in front of a high-end apartment building.

Zhang Jingyi got out of the car and looked up at the modern glass curtain wall building in front of her, feeling somewhat dazed.

Located on the banks of the Huangpu River, this is an excellent location and clearly not an ordinary apartment.

"This is..." She looked at Li Ran.

Li Ran said, "Oh! My house in Shanghai, I'll stay here for the next couple of days."

Zhang Jingyi was stunned for a moment, then followed him inside. The elevator went straight to the top floor, and when the door opened, there was a spacious entrance hall.

Li Ran entered the password and pushed open the door.

"Come in."

Zhang Jingyi walked in, and then froze.

A full-length window faces the Huangpu River.

The evening sunlight slanted in, spreading a sheet of shattered gold across the river.

Across the river, skyscrapers line Lujiazui, including the Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower, and Shanghai World Financial Center—all iconic Shanghai landmarks—are right before your eyes.

She slowly walked to the window, gazing at the magnificent cityscape, speechless for a long time.

She turned her head, her eyes wide open. "Li Ran... is this your own house?"

Li Ran put the suitcase aside, walked over and stood next to her: "Yeah. I bought it when I was playing professionally."

He paused, then added, "But I didn't stay there for more than a few days; I spent most of my time at the base or in the hotel."

Looking at the huge floor-to-ceiling window and then at the simple yet sophisticated decor of the living room, Zhang Jingyi couldn't help but ask, "How much did this cost? Were you paid this much when you were a professional gamer?"

Li Ran smiled and said, "The salary from playing professionally isn't enough. My parents bought it."

In his first year at RNG, a club that was sanctioned by the league for unpaid wages, how much salary could they offer?

I had to use my family connections to terminate the contract back then.

However, this also prevented Ah Shui from having a "one-day trip" with RNG.

Later, when Li Ran went to IG, Principal Wang was indeed generous, but that amount of money was just pocket money for him.

Seeing Zhang Jingyi's puzzled expression, he explained, "Professional players earn much more than ordinary people, but still much less than celebrities."

"A top-tier player like me, who is at the very top of the pyramid, only earns a salary similar to that of a celebrity."

"The average player earns a few hundred thousand a year, while a better one earns one or two million."

He paused, then said with a touch of wistfulness, "And some celebrities earn two million a day."

Zhang Jingyi's eyes widened: "Who is it? Such a high salary? I don't even earn that much for one film..."

Li Ran realized that the "white moonlight" was still safe and sound, and these things had not yet been exposed.

He smiled and said, "I've only heard about it. But the difference between the two is indeed quite significant."

Zhang Jingyi looked at him and asked curiously, "How much did you earn when you were a professional player?"

Li Ran thought about it for a moment. He hadn't been playing professionally for the money, so he hadn't really calculated it carefully.

"In 19, it was tens of millions after tax."

Zhang Jingyi's mouth dropped open. "So many?!"

Seeing her shocked expression, Li Ran couldn't help but laugh: "This is the highest salary in the league. And the bulk of it comes from the championship skin revenue share and commercial endorsements. The base salary is only 15 million."

Zhang Jingyi was silent for a few seconds, then whispered, "When will I be able to earn that much money...?"

Li Ran looked at her with gentle eyes: "Take it slow, you've only aired one show, 'The Wind Dog'."

Zhang Jingyi looked up and glanced at the luxurious apartment again: "Then you should be able to afford a house here."

Li Ran shook his head: "This house costs over 90 million. Even if I could afford it, I wouldn't buy it."

He paused for a moment, then added, "Besides, it was bought in 17."

Zhang Jingyi was stunned for a moment.

Seventeen years ago, that was four years ago.

How old was Li Ran back then? Eighteen or nineteen?

His family could easily come up with nearly 100 million yuan to buy him a house, and he hadn't even lived there for more than a few days.

She looked at him, her gaze complex: "Li Ran, so you're still a rich second-generation heir!"

Li Ran smiled and said casually, "My family is just barely making ends meet."

Zhang Jingyi didn't say anything.

Looking out at the dazzling cityscape, she suddenly felt a strange mix of emotions.

"Li Ran," she suddenly spoke, her voice softer than before.

"Um?"

"Do your family members... dislike me?"

Li Ran turned his head and looked at her.

She stood by the window, her eyelashes drooping slightly, making it impossible to discern the emotions in her eyes.

Why do you say that?

Zhang Jingyi remained silent for a few seconds.

Then she raised her head and looked directly into his eyes: "The 'barely there' you're talking about is definitely not something an ordinary family like mine could ever come into contact with."

Her voice was soft but clear: "In 17 years, they could easily spend so much money to buy you a house, and you haven't even lived there for more than a few days."

"And I don't know how many years I'll have to work to afford a house here, and they'll all be small apartments."

She paused for a moment, then continued, "Besides, it seems like marriages in wealthy families are all arranged. I'm just an ordinary new actress..."

Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.

Li Ran looked at her.

There was a light shining in her eyes, but she stubbornly held it back, refusing to let it fall.

"I thought that if I worked hard in acting and became famous, I could get closer to you."

She said softly, "But now I realize that the gap between us is too big... it can't be bridged at all."

Li Ran remained silent.

He simply reached out and gently pulled her into his arms.

Zhang Jingyi didn't struggle; she simply buried her face in his chest, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Why think about these things?

His voice came from above, deep and gentle, "My family doesn't have those ridiculous rules."

He lowered his head and kissed the top of her head:

"I see... the crew is going to Changsha to film later, right? I'll introduce you to my mom then."

Zhang Jingyi's body trembled slightly.

She lifted her head from his embrace, her eyes red, and looked at him: "Really?"

Li Ran smiled and reached out to wipe away the tears from the corner of her eyes: "Really."

Zhang Jingyi looked at him, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed: "Li Ran, am I... being a little annoying?"

Looking at her like that, Li Ran's heart melted completely.

"Won't."

He said softly, "In my eyes, you've always been that silly girl who secretly slipped breakfast into my desk."

Zhang Jingyi paused for a moment, then smiled.

She buried her face in his chest again and whispered, "Li Ran, today I can..."

She didn't finish speaking, but Li Ran understood.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the lights on both banks of the Huangpu River gradually come on.

The city was shrouded in night and illuminated by neon lights. The lights of thousands of homes were reflected on the river, and cruise ships slowly sailed by, leaving long trails of light in their wake.

The room was dark, with only the city lights streaming in through the window casting hazy shadows on the walls.

Zhang Jingyi was very shy.

Her voice was soft, trembling slightly, and filled with an undeniable nervousness.

……

Li Ran jungles, securing first blood...