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

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At six o'clock in the evening, Yuelu Mountain was bathed in a warm red glow from the setting sun.

Li Ran drove his car slowly along the winding mountain road into a top-tier villa area.

Each villa here is nestled among lush trees, offering privacy and tranquility. The security system at the entrance automatically allows entry after recognizing the license plate, and the car drives straight to Villa No. 1 at the deepest part of the villa.

Zhang Jingyi sat in the passenger seat, her palms already slightly sweaty.

She looked out the window at the scenery passing by: the neatly trimmed lawn, the meticulously arranged garden, and the Xiangjiang River faintly visible in the distance.

My heart is beating faster and faster.

"Brother Li Ran..." she whispered.

Li Ran turned to look at her and smiled: "Nervous?"

Zhang Jingyi nodded, then shook her head, and finally said honestly, "A little."

Li Ran reached out and gently took her hand, which was resting on her knee.

"It's okay, my mom is very easy to talk to."

Zhang Jingyi took a deep breath and nodded.

The car was parked in the garage.

Li Ran opened the trunk and took out the case of Feitian Moutai that Zhang Jingyi had bought.

Zhang Jingyi quickly picked up the carefully selected box of Da Hong Pao tea and followed behind him.

The moment I pushed open the door, a warm feeling rushed out.

The living room is spacious and elegant, decorated in a Chinese style with mahogany furniture and several landscape paintings hanging on the wall.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows is a private garden, and the afterglow of the setting sun shines through the glass, spreading a warm glow on the floor.

There was only one elegantly dressed woman in the living room.

She wore a simple off-white knit sweater, her hair was neatly styled, and her features were gentle, with a resemblance to Li Ran in her eyes and brows.

Hearing the noise, she looked up, her gaze first falling on Li Ran, then turning to Zhang Jingyi behind him, a gentle smile curving her lips.

Li Ran put down the wine and walked over: "Mom, where's Dad?"

Zhang Jingyi quickly stepped forward, bowed deeply, and said in a slightly tense voice, "Hello, Auntie!"

Li's mother looked at her, her gaze gentle as she appraised her, then smiled: "Hello, Jingyi, right?"

Zhang Jingyi straightened up, her cheeks slightly flushed, and said softly, "Yes, Auntie. I'm Li Ran's...girlfriend, my name is Zhang Jingyi."

Li Ran looked at her legs and saw that they were indeed trembling slightly.

He took the tea gift box from her and handed it to Li's mother: "Zhang Jingyi knew you liked tea, so she bought this especially for you. It's top-quality Da Hong Pao."

Li's mother took the gift box, looked at it, and then looked at Zhang Jingyi, her smile deepening: "Thank you, Jingyi."

She stepped forward and took Zhang Jingyi's hand.

Zhang Jingyi's hands were icy cold, and her fingertips were still trembling slightly.

Li's mother sensed it and gently patted the back of her hand: "What's wrong, are you nervous?"

Zhang Jingyi paused for a moment, then nodded honestly, then shook her head, looking somewhat dazed.

Li's mother was amused by her appearance and pulled her towards the living room: "Come, sit here."

She turned to look at Li Ran: "Alright, put your things away and go help your dad in the kitchen. I'm going to chat with Jingyi."

Zhang Jingyi subconsciously looked at Li Ran, her eyes filled with a hint of pleading.

Li Ran gave her a reassuring look, then picked up the wine and tea and headed towards the storage room.

In the kitchen, Li's father was wearing an apron and preparing a fish.

He heard footsteps but didn't turn around: "You're here? Perfect, you can handle the fish."

Li Ran walked over, took the fish and knife from his hand, and skillfully began to scale and remove the gills.

He glanced into the kitchen; the nanny wasn't there, and only Li's father was busy at work.

"Where's the nanny? Why is the boss cooking himself?"

Mr. Li glared at him: "Still so talkative. Knowing you were bringing a girl, the nanny even gave your mother the day off. It's just you and your mother today."

Li Ran laughed: "Is it really necessary?"

Mr. Li sighed: "Who knows what your mother is thinking?"

He paused, watching Li Ran's skillful movements, a slight smile appearing on his lips.

Fortunately, because of the old man, the men in the Li family were not spoiled.

Although Li Ran didn't grow up around them much, he knew everything he was supposed to know.

"Alright."

Mr. Li said, "I thought you wouldn't be coming until tomorrow. Since you're here today, you'll be the head chef."

Li Ran nodded: "Okay."

Li's father leaned against the stove, watching him prepare the fish, and suddenly asked, "Your mother said you slept with six at once? Which one is this?"

Li Ran paused in his movements.

Six?

He froze for a moment.

How did Mom know there were six? Even if Auntie told Mom about Hu Lianxin, there were only four: Zhou Ye, Tian Xiwei, Hu Lianxin, and Zhang Jingyi.

Wang Churan and Liu Haocun, even my aunt doesn't know!

Something's not right! Something's definitely not right.

But he didn't ask any further questions, and Li's father probably didn't know the specifics either.

He began to explain, "Zhang Jingyi is my high school classmate. Mom told you about her, right?"

Mr. Li shook his head: "She didn't say. I thought it was that Tian Xiwei. I knew your mother chatted with her all the time."

Li Ran smiled helplessly: "So you don't know anything at all?"

Li's father looked at him, a hint of seriousness in his eyes: "Then tell me, which one do you really want to marry? Although our family can afford to support both, you can only marry one, right? Also, you should ask the girls what they think..."

Li Ran interrupted him: "Dad, why are you even more annoying than Mom?"

Mr. Li glared at him: "If the old man finds out, you'll be sorry."

Li Ran chuckled: "Dad, have you forgotten? If I make a mistake, Grandpa will punish you, he won't bear to hit me."

Mr. Li choked.

He was speechless.

Because that seems to be the case.

He sighed and waved his hand, "Alright, you do it yourself! I'm going out to check on that girl."

The atmosphere in the living room was much more relaxed than before.

Li's mother held Zhang Jingyi's hand and chatted about everyday things like any ordinary mother and daughter.

"Is Jingyi also from Changsha?"

Zhang Jingyi shook her head: "Auntie, I'm from Shaoyang. But I grew up in Changsha."

Li's mother nodded and then asked about her family, studies, and filming.

Zhang Jingyi answered each question one by one. Although her voice was still a little nervous, it was much more relaxed than when she first entered the room.

She found that Li Ran's mother did not have the aloofness of a wealthy lady she had imagined. On the contrary, she was very kind, spoke gently, and asked questions that showed the concern of an elder for a younger generation.

She's not the wicked mother-in-law from movies and TV dramas.

Zhang Jingyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

As the two were chatting, Li's father came out of the kitchen.

Zhang Jingyi quickly stood up and bowed again: "Hello, Uncle!"

Mr. Li nodded with a smile.

Li's mother looked at him and asked, "Why did you come out?"

Mr. Li smiled and sat down next to her: "We only see each other a few times a year, so what's wrong with having him cook a meal so that his father can taste his cooking?"

"I'll make it for you when I have time. Your precious son isn't around very often these days."

He paused, a hint of melancholy creeping into his voice: "When he was little, we were too busy to see each other. Now, things are better; he's busy again."

He sighed, "If I had known it would turn out like this, I would have been less busy and spent more time with him, and things wouldn't have turned out this way..."

Li's mother interrupted him, "Alright, why bring up these past events in front of the child?"

"Why don't you go back in and help Li Ran?"

At this moment, Zhang Jingyi stood up and said, "Auntie, let me go! You and Uncle can rest."

Li's mother looked at Zhang Jingyi, knowing she was nervous here, and said gently, "Alright then! Thank you for your help, Jingyi."

Zhang Jingyi nodded: "It's no trouble for you, Auntie."

After saying that, she tiptoed toward the kitchen.

After she walked away, Li's father asked, "Li Ran said this was his high school classmate?"

Li's mother nodded: "After Li Ran recovered, he attended Tongshenghu Experimental Middle School, which was nearby, for his senior year of high school. Jingyi was his classmate one year below him at that time."

She paused for a moment, then continued, "Later she also went to the Beijing Film Academy, but your son went to play professionally around that time."

Mr. Li looked at her suspiciously: "How do you know so much?"

Li's mother smiled and said, "Do you think I'm as indifferent to my son as you are?"

She picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said, "I have my own way of doing things."

Mr. Li nodded, then looked towards the kitchen: "This girl is quite nice. She seems quiet and well-mannered."

Li's mother remained silent for a moment.

Then she sighed, "I still prefer Xiaotian. I had my own reasons for asking Li Ran to take her to see the old man during the New Year."

She paused, then continued, "But you saw it yourself. Li Ran didn't say anything, but this time he brought the girl home directly, didn't he?"

Mr. Li was taken aback for a moment: "No, are you two playing mind games here? Could it be that Li Ran simply likes this girl? After all, she's the first one he's met."

He thought to himself, what man doesn't have a first love from his student days that he cherishes for the rest of his life?

Li's mother smiled and said, "You still don't understand your son. In the end, it depends on his own thoughts."

Mr. Li waved his hand: "Why worry so much? If he wants to marry, he can. It's not like we can't afford to support him. I earn so much money just for him, right? As long as he's happy, that's all that matters."

He paused, a hint of expectation in his voice: "Just give me a grandson or granddaughter."

Li's mother glanced at him and sighed, "You knew it. Li Ran wants a child now?"

……

In the kitchen, Li Ran was cooking.

Standing beside him, Zhang Jingyi watched the dishes bubbling in the pot and whispered, "Let me help you!"

Li Ran turned to look at her: "How did your chat with my mom go?"

Zhang Jingyi nodded, a slight smile appearing on her lips: "Just some everyday things, Auntie is a very nice person."

……