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

The following morning, the sun shone brightly.

Zhang Jingyi stood by the carpet, looking down at the valuable hand-woven rug, lost in thought.

Her legs were still a little weak, and the faint, unsteady feeling when she walked reminded her of everything that had happened last night.

The carpet lay there crumpled, bearing some unspeakable marks.

She turned her head and glared at Li Ran, who was leaning against the wall with a wicked grin.

She said coquettishly, "It's all your fault! Now tell me, how are we going to put this rug away?"

Li Ran walked over with a smile, gently picked her up, and placed her on the sofa.

"Okay, I'll help you collect it."

Watching him squatting in front of the carpet studying it, Zhang Jingyi couldn't help but say, "Even if you fold it up, it won't fit in a suitcase."

Li Ran looked up and smiled.

He got up, walked to the locker, opened the drawer, and took out a pair of scissors.

"Just cut it open."

Zhang Jingyi's eyes widened: "Isn't this too wasteful? This carpet must be very expensive!"

Li Ran shook his head casually, "It's only twenty or thirty thousand. It's nothing."

He paused, looked at her, and his gaze softened: "After all, last night, you gave me your most precious thing."

Zhang Jingyi was stunned for a moment, and then a sweet warmth welled up in her heart.

A slight smile played on her lips as she stood up from the sofa, walked over to him, and took the scissors.

She said softly, "I'll do it myself. It's not good for you boys to do this."

Li Ran didn't insist; he simply stood by and watched her quietly.

"You're quite superstitious."

Zhang Jingyi squatted down, carefully cutting the carpet, and said without turning her head, "What do you know? This is called respect. There's nothing wrong with believing this kind of thing; what if it's true?"

She looked up and glared at him.

Li Ran chuckled awkwardly and said nothing more.

He thought that he was from another world, and some things were hard to say whether you believed it or not.

"If someone on the street says that your forehead is dark and you're going to have a bloody disaster, and that you need 10,000 yuan for a ritual to help you pass on, would you still give them 10,000 yuan?" he teased her on purpose.

Zhang Jingyi thought for a moment, then looked up with a mischievous smile on her lips: "I'll punch him first, then give him ten thousand yuan for medical expenses."

Li Ran chuckled and shook his head: "Then take your time, I'll go cook."

Zhang Jingyi nodded and called out to him, "I want to eat stir-fried carrots and shredded pork!"

Li Ran paused in his steps toward the kitchen, then turned back to look at her: "You're really easy to please."

Zhang Jingyi lowered her head and continued cutting the carpet, saying softly, "Actually, what we eat isn't important. What's important is who makes it."

The next morning, Li Ran and Zhang Jingyi arrived at the filming location for "Lighter and Princess Dress".

The location is Shanghai Lida College.

The campus has been decorated for the opening ceremony, with red backdrops, flowers, and photography equipment—everything is ready.

The area outside the venue was already packed with people.

There were fans holding up light boards, students with their phones, and many paparazzi carrying long lenses and cameras.

The crowd was bustling and lively, like a festival.

Li Ran and Zhang Jingyi's car stopped at the edge of the crowd. The moment the car door opened, screams surged out like a tidal wave.

"Li Ran!"

"Zhang Jingyi!"

"The blond god is so handsome!"

"Li Anran! Li Anran!"

Some people are calling out the name of the character Zhang Jingyi played in "The Sky of Wind and Dogs".

The drama premiered on September 24 and has been quite popular, which has earned Zhang Jingyi many fans.

Li Ran smiled and waved to the crowd, then took Zhang Jingyi's hand and walked quickly inside.

His blond hair shone brightly in the sunlight; he wore a white T-shirt and black pants, simple yet striking.

Zhang Jingyi was led by him, jogging to keep up with his pace, her face beaming with an undisguised smile.

This scene was captured by countless mobile phones and cameras.

The CP fans in the crowd went completely crazy.

"The Cycle of Fate!"

"My heart is set on fire!"

Two CP names were mentioned one after the other.

The former is the character couple name in "Lighter and Princess Dress", while the latter was chosen by fans based on the real names of Li Ran and Zhang Jingyi.

The two quickly walked into the venue, leaving the noise behind for the time being.

Li Ran turned to his assistant, Xiao Chen, and said, "Go order some milk tea and drinks, and have the staff distribute them to the fans."

Xiao Chen nodded: "Okay, Brother Ran, don't worry."

After saying that, he hurriedly went to prepare.

Li Ran then looked at Zhang Jingyi, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment: "Are you alright?"

Zhang Jingyi shook her head, her eyes crinkling with a smile: "I rested all day yesterday, so I'm not so sore anymore."

She paused, then said with a hint of excitement, "Brother Li Ran, I actually have fans now! They even came to the event to cheer me on."

Seeing her so happy, like a child, Li Ran couldn't help but laugh: "You'll only have more fans in the future. I feel like you'll gain a huge wave of fans after this show airs."

Zhang Jingyi nodded seriously: "Of course! After all, we filmed it together."

She paused, then added, "And current idol dramas are very popular."

Li Ran nodded.

That's true; most of the actresses born in 95 emerged from modern and historical romance dramas.

Didn't the legendary "Poet Immortal of the Tang Dynasty" also start with the Legend of Sword and Fairy series?

The opening ceremony officially began.

The process was the same old routine: the main cast members took turns offering incense and praying for blessings, and the director and producer lifted the red cloth covering the camera.

But this time there was an extra element: a lion dance performance.

Two colorful lions leaped and tumbled to the beat of the drums, finally spitting out two red banners that read "Good luck on the start of filming" and "Soaring ratings".

There was thunderous applause.

Li Ran and Zhang Jingyi were invited onto the stage, where they publicly showered each other with affection.

This is a staple of idol dramas; viewers come for the sweet romance. If they don't shower us with sweetness now, when will they?

This scene wasn't in any of the dramas Li Ran had filmed before.

"The Young Dragon" is an inspirational drama, "So Cute Us" was a reshoot, and "A Little Red Flower for You" is about fighting cancer; none of them are suitable for being sweet.

But this time is different.

This is a modern romance, a love fairy tale written for young people.

The media interview segment begins.

As always, the microphone was handed to Li Ran first.

A female reporter stood up and asked directly, "Li Ran, what are your thoughts on working with Zhang Jingyi this time? The audience is really looking forward to the pairing of you two, senior and junior. Are you really together?"

Li Ran picked up the microphone, her expression calm.

"I don't have any particular feelings. Maybe it's because I've known Jingyi for so long that it just feels like a normal job."

He paused, then continued, "As for those couples that fans ship, I can only say that you'll have to see for yourselves and discover them."

He looked at Zhang Jingyi beside him, a smile playing on his lips: "If you want him to be real, he is real. If you want him to be fake, he is fake."

"Now that I'm an actor, my natural job is to bring good works to the audience."

While he was speaking, Zhang Jingyi stood to the side, tilting her head slightly and looking at him with a smile.

Sunlight streamed in from the side, casting a soft glow on his blond hair.

Her gaze lingered on his face, as if drawn by something, and she couldn't look away for a long time.

This scene was captured by countless cameras.

The microphone was turned towards Zhang Jingyi.

Another reporter stood up, asking an even more pointed question: "Zhang Jingyi, did you feel pressured working with Li Ran? When Li Ran was being interviewed just now, was your adoring gaze deliberate, or a genuine expression of your feelings?"

Zhang Jingyi's hand holding the microphone trembled slightly.

"I...I'm still...under some pressure."

Her voice was hesitant and stuttering, as if she had been caught off guard by the sudden question.

Li Ran turned his head to look at her.

Then he reached out and gently patted her shoulder.

Just like he did when she was too nervous to speak on stage at the high school New Year's Eve party.

Zhang Jingyi paused for a moment, then turned to face him and gave him a sweet smile.

She took a deep breath, and when she spoke again, her voice was much more steady: "There is pressure, after all, it's a collaboration with Brother Li Ran."

"I'm a little worried that I won't act well, but I will try my best, and Brother Li Ran takes good care of me."

She paused, looked at the reporter asking a question from below the stage, and said with a hint of playfulness, "As for that look in your eyes just now..."

"Today, the sunlight made Li Ran's blond hair quite dazzling, and I couldn't help but take another look."

Good-natured laughter erupted from the audience.

At the end of the interview, the main creators bowed in gratitude.

The crew began clearing the set in preparation for filming the first scene.

Li Ran and Zhang Jingyi walked side by side towards the filming area.

She walked beside him and whispered, "You scared me to death just now."

Li Ran smiled and said, "Not bad."

She looked up at him, her eyes shining: "Because of you."