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

As night deepened, the evening breeze of Beijing, carrying the lingering warmth of late summer, seeped in through the cracks in the car windows.

Li Ran drove Hu Lianxin home.

The two had dinner outside, and the meal was relatively peaceful. Hu Lianxin didn't press Wang Churan about it, and Li Ran didn't bring it up either.

The car was parked downstairs at her house.

Hu Lianxin unbuckled her seatbelt but did not get out of the car immediately.

She turned her head to look at Li Ran, her eyes exceptionally bright: "Are you busy tomorrow?"

Li Ran nodded: "I made an appointment with a friend."

"Male or female?" she asked quickly, then laughed at herself.

"Never mind, it's definitely a woman. Who? Do I know her?"

Li Ran gave an awkward laugh.

He discovered something: these girls were all incredibly smart.

It seems that Coconut, with her little head, is always cheerful and naive compared to them.

"Zhang Jingyi," he said, "we made plans yesterday."

Hu Lianxin was silent for a few seconds, then nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

"Okay, I'll come see you the day after tomorrow."

Li Ran nodded.

……

It was almost 10 o'clock when I got home.

As Li Ran was changing his shoes in the entryway, Taxue came running over excitedly, circling around his feet, her little tail wagging like it was powered by a motor.

"Alright, alright, I know you're hungry." Li Ran bent down, rubbed its head, and went to add some dog food for it.

After changing into his pajamas and lying on the sofa, he picked up his phone, where several unread messages lay on the screen.

Liu Haocun was the first to jump out.

Why was no one home when I went to your house this afternoon?

Sending time: 4 PM.

Li Ran smiled and typed a reply.

[I went to the company this afternoon. What's wrong? You come over for meals every day, and you can't stand not coming for a day?]

Liu Haocun replied very quickly.

[Just so you know!!!]

By the way, tell me your house password so I can just go in next time and save myself the trouble of waiting.

[And by the way, they might even give you a little fairy tale about the Snail Fairy (cute head tilt)]

Li Ran's lips twitched as he looked at the words "The Snail Girl".

【980214】

The other end replied almost instantly: 【???】

[It's my birthday! I should have tried it today! (crying)]

Li Ran chuckled, then thought for a moment and sent a voice message: "Alright, I'll be away from home tomorrow."

She also sent a voice message, her tone sly: "Then I'll go to your house and steal your dog."

Li Ran looked down at Ta Xue, who was chewing on a teething toy.

It seems like there's nothing wrong with stealing this dog.

"Steal as much as you want, just remember to feed it."

Liu Haocun sent a long voice message: "Then I'm going to empty your house, take all the ice cream from the fridge, and all your Coke. Oh, and can I take your TV?"

Li Ran looked at her boyish voice, leaned back on the sofa, and smiled slightly.

The two chatted for a while longer until Liu Haocun said he was going to take a shower, at which point the conversation ended.

Li Ran put down her phone and was about to take a shower when the screen lit up again.

It was Zhou Ye's video call request.

He answered the call, and Zhou Ye's face immediately filled the entire screen.

She must have just finished work; her hair was still a little messy, and her makeup wasn't completely removed, but her eyes were bright. She leaned close and asked, "Li Ran! Did you miss me?"

Li Ran smiled and said, "I've thought about it."

"Really?" Zhou Ye narrowed his eyes, giving him a "don't lie to me" look.

"real."

"Hmph, I'll believe you this once."

She turned the camera to show him her hotel room, "Look, I got a bigger room today. You can stay here next time you come to visit the set!"

Li Ran listened to her rambling on about the film crew, occasionally responding with a word.

When Ta Xue heard the voice on the phone, she ran over and grabbed onto his leg, reaching up. Li Ran picked her up and showed her to Zhou Ye.

"Ta Xue! Mommy's little darling!" Zhou Ye waved vigorously through the screen. Ta Xue tilted her head and looked at it for a while, then stuck out her tongue and licked the screen.

"Hurry up and bring your little one to visit me on set!" Zhou Ye announced.

"Okay, I'll go in a few days," Li Ran said.

After chatting for another ten minutes or so, Zhou Ye reluctantly ended the video call because he had to film a movie the next day.

Li Ran put down his phone, leaned back on the sofa, and closed his eyes.

Before he could even get up, his phone vibrated again.

This time it's Tian Xiwei.

Tian Tian looks up: [What are you doing?]

Li Ran glanced at the time; it was almost eleven o'clock.

The older brother stopped there: [Getting ready to take a bath and go to bed.]

The video call rang, and Li Ran answered it.

Tian Xiwei was already lying on the hotel bed. She looked at Li Ran, her big eyes scrutinizing the background behind him.

Li Ran smiled, knowing what she was looking at, and turned the camera around so she could see everything.

"I'm at home, all alone."

Tian Xiwei snorted coldly, "Who needs your explanation? I'm just taking a look."

Li Ran pouted, "I'll visit you on set in a couple of days, remember to send me the address."

"Alright, I know, time for bed. You should go to sleep early too."

"Okay, goodnight."

"Good night."

After hanging up the video call, Li Ran thought for a moment, then found Zhang Jingyi's WeChat. The messages were still the ones she sent at 8 p.m.

Brother Li Ran, remember to pick me up tomorrow morning.

Around nine o'clock?

Is it too early?

If you can't get up, it's okay if you stay up a little later.

[Let's leave at nine o'clock then, the earlier we leave, the more time we can play.]

Looking at the message, Li Ran could imagine how carefully she considered it before sending it.

He typed back: 【Okay, nine o'clock.】

The reply came almost instantly: 【Okay! See you tomorrow!】

Goodnight, Brother Li Ran.

【Good night.】

After posting this, he could finally go take a shower.

When I came out after washing, Ta Xue was already asleep in her doghouse, her little body curled up in a ball, occasionally kicking her legs, probably having some sweet dream.

Li Ran turned off the light and returned to the bedroom.

I had just closed my eyes when the video call rang again.

Li Ran reluctantly reached for the phone and saw that it was Wang Churan.

He answered the video call and said impatiently, "What? Sister Baizhou."

Wang Churan rolled her eyes, her tone sarcastic, "Look what you and your mistress are doing!"

"How did I interrupt your good time?"

Li Ran sighed helplessly, "If you have something to say, say it. If not, I'm going to sleep."

"Oh! Why didn't Young Master treat anyone to braised pork today?" Wang Churan asked in surprise.

"I have things to do tomorrow. What, you want to eat braised pork offal?"

"It's only twelve o'clock, let me take a look!"

"You're a pervert!" Li Ran said with a smirk.

"Yeah, I'm a pervert..."

Li Ran was a little confused. He remembered that Xiao Hu had said that.

……