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

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New Year's Eve in Beijing.

At 9 p.m., the last roadshow finally came to an end.

After leaving the cinema, Li Ran and Liu Haocun declined Director Han's invitation to dinner and drove directly to the restaurant they had booked.

My assistant, Xiao Chen, is reliable. He booked a private restaurant hidden deep in a hutong (alleyway), with a quiet and secluded environment and private rooms, which is perfect for today's occasion.

When Li Ran pushed open the door, everyone had already arrived.

Tian Xiwei sat by the window, twirling her phone in her hand, looking utterly bored.

Zhou Ye and Hu Lianxin were huddled together looking at their phones, their heads close together, seemingly engrossed in something.

Zhang Jingyi was whispering with Zhang Ruonan when she saw Li Ran come in, and her eyes crinkled into a smile.

When Li Ran saw Zhang Ruonan next to Zhang Jingyi, his expression subtly changed.

She was clearly brought by Zhang Jingyi, and at this moment she was trying to minimize her presence, pretending to be just a quiet background figure.

His gaze swept across everyone's faces before he took his seat at the head of the table.

The waiter began serving the dishes.

Li Ran spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Today is New Year's Eve, so no fighting or arguing is allowed."

His gaze fell on Hu Lianxin, lingering for two seconds: "Especially you, Xiao Hu, you've really been a bit too presumptuous lately. I'll talk to you about the premiere later."

Hu Lianxin pursed her lips and didn't say anything.

But in her heart she thought: So what if she gets beaten up? She's not afraid at all!

The dishes were served one after another, and the group started eating. The atmosphere was fairly harmonious.

Li Ran looked at Zhou Ye: "How's your action scene practice going?"

Zhou Ye paused with his chopsticks, then mumbled, "It's... alright, I guess."

Hu Lianxin chuckled to herself.

Not bad? Is that really okay? I almost cried from being scolded by my mentor.

Li Ran frowned: "If you don't perform well, I can't protect you. You should go fight the Japanese!"

Zhou Ye immediately glared at him: "You said we shouldn't fight on New Year's Eve! Then what gives you the right to say that to me...?"

Li Ran was speechless. Was this the same thing?

"Then I'll talk to you again in a couple of days."

He also noticed that since the last fight, Zhou Ye and Hu Lianxin had become fearless and a bit reckless.

Zhang Jingyi glanced at Li Ran, then at Zhang Ruonan beside her who was trying to make herself as inconspicuous as possible, and said softly, "Brother Li Ran, Ruonan is also auditioning for 'Snow in the City.' Could you give her some advice?"

Zhang Ruonan was about to put a piece of food into her mouth when she heard this and stopped.

She looked up and met several pairs of eyes that were simultaneously fixed on her. Tian Xiwei, Zhou Ye, Hu Lianxin, and Liu Haocun, the four women, were all staring at her, the only "outsider" on the scene.

Zhang Ruonan was so embarrassed that she dug her toes into the ground.

She looked at Zhang Jingyi with a look of utter despair.

I told you I didn't want to come, but you insisted. Fine, I'll just have a quiet meal and maybe eat some watermelon...

But sister, why did you have to trick me like this?

Li Ran noticed her embarrassment and stepped in to ease the tension: "Which role are you playing?"

He genuinely didn't know; aside from the roles he arranged for a few women, he hadn't inquired about the other casting choices.

Zhang Ruonan whispered, "That... Your Highness, Pei Nanwei."

Li Ran was stunned for a moment.

Pei Nanwei?

He subconsciously glanced at Zhang Ruonan; her sweet appearance, gentle temperament, and her eyes crinkling when she smiled…

This is inappropriate!

But he didn't say much.

This person was probably brought in by Enlight Media, and the casting couldn't possibly be completely faithful to the original work. Moreover, Zhang Ruonan's "Your Wedding" will be released next May Day, and it will be quite popular, which will also benefit "Snowy Mountain".

Before he could even speak, Tian Xiwei laughed: "Isn't it just bed armor?"

She looked at Li Ran with a strange expression and said leisurely, "This is the one who made the young master have to lean against the wall to get out."

Li Ran: "..."

Zhang Ruonan looked bewildered: "What's a bed armor?"

Tian Xiwei asked, "Haven't you read the original novel?"

Zhang Ruonan shook her head: "I just read the character script, and I've only read a little bit of the novel."

Li Ran really didn't want to explain such an awkward situation. He coughed lightly and said, "Well, it's alright, it's fine."

He didn't know what to say anymore.

Zhang Ruonan asked, "Really? I've never acted in such a big IP before. Even though it's a small supporting role, I'm still afraid I won't do a good job."

Li Ran smiled and explained calmly, "None of them have acted before! Just relax, you'll be fine."

Zhang Jingyi looked at her and added, "Don't be nervous, Brother Li Ran has already decided on you."

Zhang Ruonan then realized what Li Ran had said, her eyes lit up, and she gave Li Ran a grateful smile.

That smile was sweet, gentle, and bright.

Li Ran stared at that face, suddenly feeling a little dazed.

Zhang Ruonan's smile is indeed the kind that "captivates men".

It's no wonder she has so many male fans, but this has also limited her development. Male fans won't vote for her or boost her data, so her commercial value has always been lower than that of other actresses of the same period.

While both are sweet girl styles, Tien Hsi-wei's is more refined, exuding a vibrant and energetic sweetness.

Zhang Ruonan is gentler and more tender, perfectly embodying what the "white moonlight in a boy's heart" looks like.

Zhang Ruonan felt a little embarrassed by his gaze and lowered her head.

Zhou Ye kicked him from the side: "What are you grinning about?"

Li Ran snapped out of his reverie and gave an embarrassed laugh: "I was thinking about something and got distracted."

Hu Lianxin pursed her lips, thinking to herself: "He's daydreaming? I bet he's got his eye on her."

Tian Xiwei leaned close to his ear and asked in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Between her and me, who has a prettier smile?"

Li Ran immediately gave him a look that said: You look good!

Tian Xiwei withdrew her gaze with satisfaction.

Zhang Jingyi watched this scene, then glanced at Zhang Ruonan beside her who was looking down, and her heart stirred slightly.

Could it be that Li Ran... has taken a liking to Zhang Ruonan?

However, she quickly calmed down.

On the way here, Zhang Ruonan had fiercely denounced Li Ran's scumbag behavior, saying he was a womanizer, greedy, and not a good person.

Someone like that probably wouldn't be with Li Ran.

Liu Hao put down his chopsticks and looked at Li Ran: "You all acted in 'Snowy Mountain,' but I didn't."

Li Ran looked at her: "Weren't you going to film Director Zhang's 'Cliff Walkers'?"

Liu Haocun pouted: "Then I'll take a cameo role."

Li Ran thought for a moment: "Will you play the maid?"

"No," Liu Haocun immediately refused.

She paused, then her eyes lit up: "I've read the original novel, and I want to play Wang Chudong."

Zhang Jingyi immediately said, "No way! Wang Chudong is my character."

Liu Haocun thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll play Lu Chengyan."

Li Ran was speechless: "Lu Chengyan wasn't in the first season."

Hu Lianxin curled her lip beside her: "Even if it were possible, I wouldn't let you play the role. You little green tea, you want to be the official wife?"

Li Ran glared at her.

Hu Lianxin now criticizes Liu Haocun whenever she sees him; the grudge between the two runs deep.

He looked at Liu Haocun and said, "Let me see if there are any suitable ones. There are still many female roles to be played. If not, you can act in the second season."

Liu Haocun nodded.

She just didn't want to be left behind; if they could all act, she wanted to act too...

It was almost eleven o'clock when we finished eating.

Tian Xiwei asked, "Where are we going to celebrate New Year's Eve? Going to karaoke?"

Zhou Ye immediately chimed in, "Great! Li Ran, I want to sing too!"

Li Ran felt a chill run down his spine when he recalled Coconut's lark-like song.

He shook his head decisively: "I've arranged everything, let's go!"

……

Li Ran looked at the girls: "Cunzi, Jingyi, Zhang Ruonan, the three of you get in my car."

He then handed Tian Xiwei a car key: "Take Coconut and Xiao Hu with you and follow behind."

Tian Xiwei nodded.

Zhou Ye immediately objected: "Why should we ride in Stitch's car?"

Hu Lianxin chimed in, "That's right, we want to ride in your car too."

Li Ran ignored them and said indifferently, "Don't want to go? Then you two can go home."

Zhou Ye choked for a moment, then muttered softly, "Why...why not go?"

The two cars drove out of the city one after the other.

Li Ran drove very steadily, with Tian Xiwei following closely behind.

The lights outside the window are becoming increasingly sparse, and skyscrapers are gradually being replaced by open fields.

Upon arriving at our destination, we found that even the streetlights had disappeared, and the surroundings were pitch black, with only the car headlights illuminating an open space.

The car was parked on a small hillside.

Several people got out of the car and stood on a high place. There were scattered lights in the distance, but it was pitch black nearby.

Liu Haocun looked at Li Ran with some confusion: "Li Ran, we're already out of the capital, and we don't have anything here! What are we doing here?"

Li Ran glanced at the time; there were only a few minutes left until the New Year.

He smiled and said, "New Year's Eve! Of course, it's... setting off fireworks."

Zhou Ye looked around at the dark wilderness, feeling a little guilty: "Fireworks? Where can we watch fireworks?"

Hu Lianxin looked around but saw nothing.

"Wait, it'll be here soon!"

Li Ran went to the trunk, took out some sparklers, and distributed them to the group...

At exactly twelve o'clock, Li Ran spoke: "Look ahead..."

The first firework burst through the deep night.

It wasn't a noisy explosion, but rather a gentle, brilliant bloom, with golden-red sparks spreading out, as if someone had crushed the entire Milky Way and gently sprinkled it upon the world.

One after another, they spread out layer by layer on the inky sky, red like fire, gold like stars, green like jade, and purple like a dream.

The girls looked up at the dazzling display of colors filling the sky, their eyes sparkling.

"So beautiful..."

Li Ran looked at them and said softly, "Happy New Year."

……

The fireworks continued.

Several girls held thin sparklers, tracing golden trails in the night sky.

Zhou Ye held up two sticks, twirling around and laughing like a child. Hu Lianxin took pictures of her from the side, exclaiming, "So pretty! So pretty!"

Zhang Jingyi and Zhang Ruonan stood together, gently waving sparklers to create circles of light.

Tian Xiwei held two sticks and deliberately lit Liu Haocun's. Liu Haocun screamed and dodged, then chased after her.

Laughter drifted away on the night breeze...

Li Ran stood to the side, watching this scene, and suddenly felt a little dazed.

We can still celebrate the New Year together this year.

In the future, we may only be able to see each other through screens at various TV station galas.

It's a pity Sister White Porridge isn't here...

Just then, his phone rang; it was a video call from Wang Churan.

Li Ran answered the phone, and her face appeared on the screen. She must have just finished showering, as her hair was loose...

"Li Ran! Happy New Year!"

Her voice was clear and bright, "What are you doing? Have you missed me?"

Li Ran smiled and said, "Watching fireworks."

He turned the camera around and aimed it at the distant sky. Fireworks continued to rise, one after another, illuminating the entire night sky.

"Wow...so beautiful!" Wang Churan exclaimed.

Then she noticed something.

"Wait, why am I hearing a girl's laughter over there?"

She brought her face closer to the screen, squinting as she looked closely: "Who are you with right now?"

Li Ran said calmly, "Everyone is here except you."

Wang Churan paused for a second, then asked, "You gathered them all together?"

Her voice rose a little: "Why didn't you tell me? I wanted to see the fireworks live too!"

Li Ran said helplessly, "You're not even in the capital."

Just then, Zhou Ye's voice came from the side: "Li Ran... come over and take a picture of me and Xiao Hu."

Tian Xiwei walked over and took the phone directly from Li Ran's hand: "You go ahead! I'll chat with Wang Churan."

Li Ran looked at her with some surprise.

These two people are so close now?

But he didn't ask any more questions. He handed her his phone and turned to take pictures of Zhou Ye and Hu Lianxin.

Tian Xiwei smiled at Wang Churan on the screen: "Happy New Year."

Wang Churan smiled and said, "Happy New Year."

……

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