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

On the table.

Liu Haocun picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in his mouth.

The chunks of meat, with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, were stewed until tender and flavorful, with the dark brown broth clinging to the meat, giving it a glossy sheen.

She chewed, her doe-like eyes slightly narrowed, and a satisfied expression appeared on her face.

Then she picked up another chopstick of rice, stuffed it into her mouth, and kept chewing with her little mouth, like a happy little hamster.

"Your braised pork is still the best."

She swallowed her food, looked at Li Ran, and said, "I've tried making it myself, but it's always too greasy or a bit dry."

Li Ran smiled and explained, "You need to stir-fry it first to remove the excess oil, and then add some vinegar so it won't be greasy."

Liu Haocun curled his lip: "You need to add vinegar too?"

Li Ran nodded, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "Cunzi, were you born in 00 or 98?"

Liu Haocun paused for a moment, then looked up at him with a puzzled expression: "Why are you asking this?"

Li Ran explained, "Coconut's birthday is also May 20th. If you were also born in 1998, then you two would be born on the same day, month, and year."

Liu Haocun pursed his lips, lowered his head and continued eating, saying casually, "I was born in 00, not the same year as her."

She took a bite of rice and added, "But the date on my ID card is 98. My parents added two years to my birth year so I could go to school."

Li Ran nodded: "I see. But we didn't really care about these things before. Some parents even misspelled their children's names when registering their information, and we just changed the names."

When Liu Haocun heard him talk about "registering the child's household registration," he suddenly put down his chopsticks.

She looked up and stared intently at Li Ran.

"Li Ran, I have a question for you."

Her voice was a little heavier than before. "Answer me seriously."

Li Ran casually asked, "What is it?"

Liu Haocun looked at him and said, word by word, "If we have a child, how do you plan to register it?"

Li Ran was stunned for a moment.

He looked up, meeting her earnest, doe-like eyes, and paused for a second: "How old are we? And you're already thinking about having children?"

Liu Haocun didn't laugh; she just looked at him expressionlessly.

A moment later, she suddenly laughed.

The smile came suddenly, like ice and snow melting, or like someone deliberately trying to hide something.

"Just kidding."

She said in a lighthearted tone, "Look how nervous you are."

Li Ran looked at her, knowing she wasn't joking. After thinking for a moment, he slowly said, "It depends on what you want. You can register your household here or on your side."

Liu Haocun understood.

She gave a soft "hmm," nodded, then lowered her head and continued eating.

Sunlight fell on her, making her eyelashes appear translucent. She lowered her head, eating bite by bite, her expression unreadable.

But Li Ran noticed her low spirits.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found that he couldn't say anything.

There is no way around it.

He couldn't possibly marry all of them.

He hadn't even considered getting a marriage certificate with Tian Xiwei. Although his family wanted Tian to join them, it would be too unfair to the others.

So he simply decided not to marry anyone.

However, we cannot give that answer yet.

Liu Haocun had no idea what he was really thinking.

All she knew was that Li Ran wouldn't register their marriage. If they did, their child would definitely be registered under the same household registration as both parents, instead of having to choose between them.

She recalled some things Director Zhang had told her before... about Li Ran's family, and about some of the rules in that industry.

She was actually prepared for this all along.

But she still wanted to compete for that position.

Even if we fail, that's all; it won't change anything.

But if it succeeds...

She was the first wife of the Li family.

Always strive to be superior to others.

But now, Tian Xiwei has already moved ahead.

She lowered her head and ate her meal silently, but her thoughts drifted far away.

……

After finishing his meal, Liu Haocun stopped dwelling on the earlier issue.

The two snuggled together on the sofa and watched TV for a while. Liu Haocun leaned against him, occasionally shifting her position like a lazy cat.

At one o'clock in the afternoon, the doorbell rang.

Assistant Xiao Chen brought over the luggage that Li Ran would need for tomorrow.

A large suitcase containing a change of clothes, daily necessities, and some other items that might be needed for filming a variety show.

Li Ran took the luggage and said to Xiao Chen, "Leave the car here, you can take a taxi back."

Xiao Chen nodded, glanced at Liu Haocun who was curled up on the sofa, and wisely left without asking any questions.

Li Ran put her luggage in the entryway and turned to Liu Haocun: "Let's go to Director Zhang's place."

Liu Haocun nodded, got up from the sofa, and changed into his outdoor clothes.

The two went downstairs together, got into the car, and drove out of the residential area, merging into the traffic.

Liu Haocun leaned against the passenger seat, watching the street scene rushing past the window, and suddenly whispered, "Li Ran."

"Um?"

No matter what, I will never leave you.

Li Ran turned his head and glanced at her.

She didn't look at him, but gazed out the window, her profile soft yet resolute.

He looked away and continued driving.

"I know."

……

When Li Ran and Liu Haocun arrived at Zhang Yimou's studio, it was already 2:30 pm.

The studio is located in an inconspicuous old building. It looks ordinary from the outside, but once you go inside, you'll find it's a hidden gem.

The walls were covered with movie posters and concept art, the bookshelves were filled with various trophies and books, and the air was filled with the faint aroma of coffee and tea.

The young woman at the front desk recognized Liu Haocun, greeted him with a smile, and then told them some unfortunate news...

Director Zhang had to leave temporarily and may not be back for a while.

However, Zhou, the producer in charge of the e-sports film and television project, was there. Upon hearing that Li Ran had arrived, he immediately came out to greet him.

"Li Ran, I've heard so much about you!"

Teacher Zhou warmly shook Li Ran's hand: "It's so great that you could come. We were just worried about not being able to find someone knowledgeable in this field."

Li Ran smiled and said politely, "Teacher Zhou, you're too kind. I just came to take a look at the script."

"That's perfect, that's perfect."

Teacher Zhou led the two inside, saying, "The first draft of the script just came out, and we were just looking for feedback! If you're asking who in the entertainment industry knows the most about e-sports right now, it has to be you!"

The three entered the conference room, and Li Ran, without any formalities, took the script and began to read it.

Liu Hao sat down next to him, not disturbing him, and just watched quietly.

She noticed that when Li Ran was focused on something, his expression would become a little serious, his brows would furrow slightly, and his eyes would look very earnest.

Strangely enough, this serious demeanor actually made him look even more handsome.

She rested her chin on her hand, staring at him intently.

Teacher Zhou was also observing Li Ran's expression.

As he watched Li Ran's brows furrow deeper and deeper, his heart pounded with anxiety and unease.

After reading about half of it, Li Ran put the script down.

Teacher Zhou's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly asked, "Li Ran, what do you think of this script?"

Li Ran chuckled awkwardly: "Do I need to tell you the truth?"

Teacher Zhou already had the answer in her heart, but she still smiled and said, "Director Zhang invited you here, so naturally we want to hear your honest opinion. Please speak frankly."

Li Ran nodded and pondered for a few seconds.

"Then I'll just say it directly."

He opened the script and pointed to a few pages: "The script itself is well written. The characters have character arcs and the plot has ups and downs. As an ordinary story, it is excellent."

He paused for a moment: "But the problem is that e-sports elements only make up about 30% of it."

Teacher Zhou was taken aback.

Li Ran continued, "If you just want to make an idol drama, that's perfectly fine, and it should be quite popular. But if you want to make a real e-sports themed work, this direction might not be right."

Teacher Zhou nodded thoughtfully: "Then how do you think it should be improved?"

Li Ran smiled and said, "I can see that. The protagonist is based on me. That's fine; it fits current aesthetics, and the audience will love it."

He then changed the subject: "But the problem is, it's too mythical."

He turned to another page of the script: "Here, the protagonist single-handedly carries the entire team and saves the team. This kind of plot is almost impossible in reality."

"Even if the main character carries the whole team, the other teammates should not be accessories or even drags the team down. A champion team player may have weaknesses, but there will always be corresponding tactics to make up for them."

"Instead of relying on individual strength to save the day."

"League of Legends is a team game, and the latest chapter is set to explode with excitement! Stay tuned. The spotlight shouldn't be on just one person."

Teacher Zhou seemed to be deep in thought.

Li Ran continued, "Another issue is the excessive focus on romance. I understand that the mainstream market enjoys watching the male and female leads fall in love, but if e-sports is just a backdrop, why don't we just make an idol drama?"

He paused, then seemed to remember something: "There's a line in 'The King's Avatar' that Ye Xiu said really well—'Glory is not a game for one person.'"

He looked at Teacher Zhou seriously: "Esports is a game for five people. The opponents are also worthy of respect. They are not villains, but dream chasers."

Teacher Zhou murmured to himself, "Dream chasers..."

His eyes lit up, as if he had been enlightened by something.

"Li Ran, I think I understand what you mean."

Li Ran smiled and nodded, then added, "Also, we don't necessarily only film from the perspective of the successful people."

He leaned back, his tone becoming somewhat wistful: "The tragedy and regret in esports are also what audiences enjoy watching. Even though Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, failed, isn't he still remembered by the world?"

Teacher Zhou nodded repeatedly and quickly jotted something down in her notebook.

"Do you have any other suggestions? Let's have a proper talk."

Li Ran thought for a moment: "When writing the script, we can learn about current e-sports players. Their stories are all very interesting; wouldn't that be the best source of creative material?"

He added, "Moreover, this 'esports player' doesn't necessarily have to be a League of Legends player; it can be someone from other sports. Every sport has its own story, and they all deserve to be seen."

The two became increasingly engrossed in their conversation, discussing everything from esports to life, and from life to dramatic conflicts, completely losing track of time.

Liu Haocun sat next to him, initially trying to listen, but later realized he couldn't understand a word...

It was like a foreign language to her.

She pursed her lips, listlessly took out her phone, and started scrolling through short videos.

Occasionally, I would glance up at Li Ran and see him still chatting enthusiastically with Teacher Zhou, so I would lower my head again and continue scrolling.

Later, at some point, Zhang Yimou finally returned.

As soon as the old man entered, he saw Li Ran and immediately walked over with a smile: "Oh, Li Ran, I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting! Something came up and I really couldn't get away."

Li Ran quickly stood up: "Director Zhang, you're too kind. We just arrived not long ago."

Zhang Yimou glanced at the script and notes on the table, then at Professor Zhou's enlightened expression, and smiled: "Looks like the conversation went well?"

Teacher Zhou nodded excitedly: "Director Zhang, Li Ran's suggestion is so insightful! Our previous direction was indeed problematic and needs a major overhaul!"

Zhang Yimou became interested and sat down next to him: "Really? Tell me about it."

Then the three of them started a heated discussion.

This conversation lasted for more than an hour.

As darkness fell completely outside the window, Liu Haocun glanced at the time and finally couldn't help but speak.

"Director Zhang," she smiled helplessly, "I'm so sorry, Li Ran has to go to a variety show recording tomorrow morning, so what do you think..."

Zhang Yimou paused for a moment, then glanced at the time and laughed out loud: "Oh dear, it's already this late! Okay, okay, that's enough for today."

He looked at Liu Haocun, then at Li Ran, and teased with a smile, "Alright, alright, your little wife is jealous. We can talk about it later."

Liu Haocun blushed slightly: "Director Zhang, you're making fun of me..."

Zhang Yimou waved his hand, laughing even more heartily: "I'm praising you! Li Ran, you've found a good girlfriend; she knows how to care for someone."

Li Ran smiled but didn't say anything.

Liu Haocun's face turned even redder, but the corners of his mouth subtly curved upwards.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Li Ran and Liu Haocun took their leave.

When I stepped out of the studio, it was already completely dark outside.

Liu Haocun took Li Ran's arm and whispered, "Are you tired?"

Li Ran shook his head: "Not bad, how about you?"

"I'm fine," Liu Haocun said, "it's just that my butt hurts a little from sitting so much..."

Li Ran smiled and said, "I'll massage it for you when we get back..."

Liu Haocun shook his head: "No way, you big color basket..."

The two were still a short distance from where they had parked when night had completely fallen, and the streetlights cast a dim yellow glow overhead.

Liu Haocun suddenly stopped.

Li Ran turned to look at her, but before he could speak, he saw her suddenly leap forward and soar into the air...

"shelf!"

She precisely pounced on his back, her two slender arms wrapping around his neck and holding him tightly, her legs climbing up his waist, hanging on like a koala.

"I want to ride a horse!"

Her voice was close to his ear, filled with an irrepressible smile and a touch of playful naivety.

Li Ran staggered forward a small step due to the sudden weight, but quickly regained his balance.

He instinctively reached back with both hands, supporting her knees and gently lifting her up to a comfortable position.

"How old are you to still be riding a horse?" He turned his head, his tone carrying a helpless smile.

Liu Haocun rested his chin on his shoulder, his cheek against his ear, and said matter-of-factly, "Twenty years old! So what? Can't a twenty-year-old ride a horse?"

"able."

Li Ran laughed, her voice low, "Why not?"

He suddenly quickened his pace, then abruptly turned around...

"ah……!"

Caught off guard, Liu Haocun let out a scream, instinctively tightening his arms and pressing his entire body tightly against his back.

The wind whistled past her ears, and the light and shadow of the streetlights spun rapidly in her vision. In the midst of the dizziness, she only had time to see the outline of Li Ran's profile and the barely suppressed smile on his lips.

a circle.

Two laps.

Three laps.

When Li Ran stopped, Liu Haocun was still dizzy, panting on his back, his fingers gripping Li Ran's collar tightly.

"Are you dizzy?" he asked, his tone carrying a hint of glee after successfully pulling off a prank.

Liu Haocun paused for two seconds, then suddenly burst out laughing, gently bumping his forehead against the back of Li Ran's head: "Li Ran, how childish are you!"

How could Liu Haocun, who has a background in dance, possibly get dizzy after just two laps!

She simply enjoyed the feeling of being with Li Ran.

"Didn't you want to ride a big horse?"

Li Ran grinned mischievously, "Can't you run on a big horse?"

As he spoke, he suddenly started running again.

Liu Haocun was jolted by the jolt and quickly hugged him tighter, still yelling, "Slow down, slow down! We're going to fall! We're going to fall!"

"It won't fall."

Li Ran's voice, tinged with laughter, mingled with the night breeze, "I'm holding it up."

Streetlights swept past one by one, casting long shadows of the two people that overlapped, separated, and then overlapped again on the concrete ground.

Liu Haocun lay on his back, able to smell the faint scent of incense on his clothes, mixed with a hint of night coolness.

Her heart was still pounding from the spinning, and she couldn't tell if it was from dizziness or something else.

"Li Ran," she suddenly spoke.

"Um?"

Are you tired?

Li Ran didn't stop walking, but just chuckled, "It's only a few steps?"

Liu Haocun buried his face in his shoulder and let out a muffled "oh," but a smile quietly crept onto his lips.