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

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Fireworks were still blooming sporadically in the distance, with the occasional one rising into the sky with a long trail of flame, exploding into a dazzling burst of light against the night sky.

Li Ran was dragged to take pictures by Zhou Ye and Hu Lianxin. The two of them each held a sparkler and insisted that he stand in the middle. The three of them squeezed together and laughed hysterically at the camera.

Tian Xiwei leaned against the car door, video chatting with Wang Churan. She occasionally chuckled and glanced at the distant fireworks, her expression relaxed, as if she were chatting with an old friend.

Liu Haocun stood alone to the side, twirling the burnt-out sparkler in his hand.

She looked at Zhou Ye and Hu Lianxin, who were best friends. They were huddled together, examining photos on their phones, their heads close together, very intimate.

She then looked at Tian Xiwei, who seemed to know Wang Churan quite well as well...

Only her.

She turned her head to look at the other side.

Zhang Jingyi and Zhang Ruonan were standing not far away, taking pictures of the fireworks. Zhang Ruonan held up her phone, and Zhang Jingyi leaned over to look at the screen. The two were chatting and laughing.

Liu Haocun pursed his lips.

She hesitated for a moment, but still went over.

"Jingyi," she said softly.

Zhang Jingyi turned her head and looked at her.

"Could you take two photos for me?" Liu Haocun held up his phone.

Zhang Jingyi paused for a moment, then nodded: "Okay."

She took the phone, stepped back two paces, and carefully focused and composed the shot.

Standing against the backdrop of fireworks, Liu Haocun tried to put on a natural smile.

"alright."

Zhang Jingyi handed her the phone. "What do you think?"

Liu Haocun took the phone and looked at it carefully.

In the photo, she stands in the night, with fireworks filling the sky behind her. The lighting is just right, and the composition is excellent.

"Jingyi, you're a really good photographer!" she said sincerely.

Zhang Jingyi smiled and said, "I'm glad you're satisfied."

Then she turned back and continued chatting with Zhang Ruonan.

Liu Haocun stood there, holding his phone, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

If Zhang Jingyi hadn't brought Zhang Ruonan today, she could have talked to Zhang Jingyi a few more times.

But now, with Zhang Ruonan beside her, she couldn't get a word in edgewise.

She turned to look in Li Ran's direction.

He was being pulled along by Zhou Ye and Hu Lianxin, and the three of them were making a ruckus.

Zhou Ye said something, and Li Ran smiled and flicked her forehead. Hu Lianxin started making a fuss beside them, but was glared at by Li Ran.

Liu Haocun looked over there, his expression somewhat forlorn.

Zhang Ruonan noticed Liu Haocun's change. She turned her head slightly and lowered her voice to ask Zhang Jingyi, "Is she being isolated?"

Zhang Jingyi glanced in the direction of her gaze.

Zhang Ruonan continued, "I thought you two would get along very well, aside from arguing and bickering?"

Zhang Jingyi shook her head: "How could it be harmonious? It's New Year's Eve, they're probably just giving Li Ran face."

"Do you guys know how to fight?"

Zhang Jingyi thought for a moment and said, "I don't know. Besides Wang Churan, I've only met Liu Haocun once before. I wasn't with Li Ran-ge yet back then."

She paused for a moment: "She probably wasn't like that either. She wasn't like this back then... she was quite cunning."

The two lowered their voices, but Liu Haocun still heard them.

She stood not far away and heard those words clearly.

She took a deep breath and walked over again.

When Zhang Ruonan saw her coming, she quickly nudged Zhang Jingyi with her elbow.

Oh no, they overheard me talking behind my back.

Zhang Jingyi looked at Liu Haocun calmly.

Liu Haocun walked up to her and said softly, "Jingyi, I want to talk to you."

Zhang Jingyi nodded: "What do you want to say? Go ahead and say it."

Liu Haocun glanced at Zhang Ruonan: "I'd like to talk to you alone."

Zhang Ruonan immediately understood and smiled, "You two talk, I'll go play by myself for a while."

As she spoke, she walked towards the platform railing.

In the distance, the fireworks continued.

Zhang Ruonan stood by the railing, gazing at the dazzling display of colors, and silently wondered: How much does this cost?

……

Zhang Jingyi looked at Liu Haocun: "What do you want to talk about?"

Liu Haocun didn't beat around the bush.

She spoke directly: "Since you already know about Li Ran's relationship with us, you should also have realized that Zhou Ye and Hu Lianxin have joined forces."

Zhang Jingyi's eyebrows twitched slightly.

Liu Haocun continued, "The two of them are now an ironclad alliance. They fight together, argue together, and stand together on everything."

She looked at Zhang Jingyi: "Aren't you worried?"

Zhang Jingyi was silent for a second.

Then she shook her head: "I don't need to worry about anything."

Her voice was calm: "All I need is for Li Ran to be with me. Whatever you want to fight over is your business, whether it's Li Ran himself or anything else..."

She paused, then said, "But you need to understand that what Li Ran gives you is truly yours; what he doesn't give you, you can't get even if you fight for it."

After listening, Liu Haocun shook his head.

"I'm not trying to fight for anything, I just want a helper."

She looked at Zhang Jingyi: "You haven't had any contact with them. A few days ago, I got into a fight with Zhou Ye and Hu Lianxin...the two of them teamed up to beat me up."

Zhang Jingyi frowned.

They actually fought? During dinner, she thought Brother Li Ran was exaggerating on purpose.

……

Li Ran patted Zhou Ye's head and said, "Alright, Coconut, you and Xiao Hu can take pictures yourselves! I'll go check over there."

Zhou Ye and Hu Lianxin were huddled together examining photos on a phone when Zhou Ye hummed in agreement without looking up.

Li Ran smiled and turned to walk in the other direction.

Tian Xiwei was still leaning against the car door, video chatting with Wang Churan; it was unclear what they were talking about...

Zhang Jingyi and Liu Haocun were standing not far away, talking about something.

Li Ran's gaze swept over them, then landed on the railing further away.

Zhang Ruonan stood there alone, gazing at the fireworks in the distance.

She had her back to everyone, her figure appearing somewhat lonely, the night wind ruffling her hair...

Li Ran walked over.

Zhang Ruonan did not notice him.

She rested her hands on the railing, tilted her head slightly, and watched the fireworks that occasionally rose in the distance. The light from the fireworks reflected on her face, flickering and making her eyes shine brightly.

Li Ran stopped beside her.

"Is it pretty?" he asked softly.

Zhang Ruonan was startled.

She turned her head sharply and saw that it was Li Ran. The panic on her face slowly turned into embarrassment.

She nodded gently: "Very beautiful."

Li Ran stopped looking at her and gazed at the distant fireworks.

"Happy New Year," he said.

Zhang Ruonan also looked at the fireworks: "Happy New Year."

The two remained silent for a few seconds.

Li Ran suddenly spoke up: "You should know about my relationship with them, right?"

Zhang Ruonan was taken aback for a moment, then quickly turned to look at him, her voice tinged with nervousness: "Don't worry, I won't say anything."

Li Ran turned his head and looked into her eyes: "Do you think I'm a really jerk?"

Eyes facing each other.

Zhang Ruonan nodded hastily, then quickly shook her head: "I...that's not what I meant..."

Li Ran's lips curled up slightly.

Her flustered appearance was actually quite cute.

"It's nothing."

He continued, "That's just how it is! I'm not angry."

Zhang Ruonan remained silent for a while.

Then she looked up at him and asked, "Do you really like them, or are you just... having fun?"

Li Ran countered, "Why do you ask that?"

Zhang Ruonan thought for a moment, trying to organize her thoughts: "Someone like you..."

She carefully chose her words: "When playing esports, he was the best. Transitioning to an artist, he immediately received top-tier treatment. And he's the... crown prince of a company like Wajijiwa Entertainment."

She glanced at the fireworks in the distance: "Just like today, on New Year's Eve, so many fireworks were set off just for one surprise."

She smiled and said, "It's been more than half an hour."

Li Ran interrupted her: "What does this have to do with whether I like them or not?"

Zhang Ruonan shook her head: "It's okay. But I just feel that someone like you should..."

She didn't finish speaking.

She came from an ordinary family, where there was even a preference for sons over daughters. Before her debut, she was a Taobao model. She simply couldn't understand the thinking of someone like Li Ran.

Li Ran looked at her: "You don't understand, do you?"

Zhang Ruonan nodded.

If you say he loves you, he's a jerk; if you say he doesn't love you, he cares about everyone.

Li Ran looked at the fireworks in the distance: "There's nothing strange about it. Humans are inherently emotional."

He paused, then continued, "Feelings aren't black and white, there's no right or wrong. When they come, everyone..."

"Li Ran, here's your phone."

Tian Xiwei's voice came from behind.

Li Ran turned around and saw her walking over with her phone in her hand.

"What are you talking about?" she asked.

Li Ran took the phone: "What did you and Chu Ran talk about again? Why did it take so long?"

"Then don't worry about it." Tian Xiwei smiled.

Seeing this, Zhang Ruonan quickly said, "You two chat, I'll go check on Jingyi."

She left quickly.

Tian Xiwei watched her retreating figure, then turned back to look at Li Ran.

"What, you're looking for someone else again?"

Li Ran chuckled awkwardly, "What are you thinking? You were all chatting just now, and seeing she was alone, you came over to chat with her."

"Did you know her before?"

Li Ran nodded: "We had dinner together once before. Oh, it was Jingyi with us too."

Tian Xiwei looked at him: "Li Ran, I hope she's not next."

Li Ran chuckled awkwardly, "I don't have that in mind. The six of you are arguing every day now."

He paused for a moment and then asked, "Are you guys starting to pair up?"

Tian Xiwei scoffed, "How would I know? But isn't it obvious which is better, the tablet and the fox?"

Li Ran shook his head and didn't reply.

In the distance, the last firework rose into the sky, exploding into a giant golden chrysanthemum before slowly dissipating into the night.

"Alright, let's go back!"

Li Ran said, "The fireworks are all over."

Tian Xiwei nodded, and the two walked back together.

2021 is here...

Don't miss this exciting chapter: Chapter 121, "Hopefully She's Not the Next" [Bonus Chapter for Alliance Leader Qianzai Nanfengli] Full version available, click here.