Huayu98: Starting with mentoring pop divas

I rushed back to Boston, uploaded the footage, and communicated with my cousin to start their online promotion.

Then I rushed over to meet with Director Wang Ying.

The original plan was to discuss the film festival participation plan after finishing the post-production editing.

I'm thinking that I might still have to go back and forth with independent publishing companies like Artisan and Artiz Studio.

But now that the system has suddenly given Time Warner this "luxury car," what more could he possibly want?

However, after sincerely thanking Director Wang Ying for his help in the early stages, I didn't say much and just politely took my leave.

Watching Natalie and her hurried backs, Director Wang wondered to himself: Weren't they supposed to be discussing the film festival and distributors? Where were they rushing off to? Could it be... the film flopped, and they've given up?

With time running short, Li Shuo quickly discussed it with Natalie and booked a flight to New York.

First class.

Natalie leaned back in the large chair, watching the clouds drift by outside the window, feeling somewhat dazed.

Logically, with filming wrapped, her employment relationship as a "high-priced assistant" should have come to an end.

But when Li Shuo said, "Book two first-class tickets," she accepted the arrangement as naturally as she had done in the past two weeks as an assistant.

She didn't think too much about the reasons behind it; in short, she just followed him and set off.

New York, John F. Kennedy International Airport.

"I know New York well, I'll book the hotel!"

Upon landing, Natalie instinctively switched into assistant mode again.

"Wait a minute, I'll make a phone call."

Li Shuo recalled the full-page headline in First Class magazine: "The Peninsula Hotel in New York reopens after a $4500 million renovation."

He took out his phone and dialed the number of Robert Chan, the exclusive butler at The Peninsula Hong Kong.

"Hello, may I ask who you are?"

"My name is Li Shuo, and I have something to ask you."

"Mr. Li? It's a pleasure to serve you!" Robert Chen's voice immediately became professional and friendly.

Li Shuo explained that he was in New York and inquired about the newly renovated Peninsula Hotel.

Without hesitation, the other party replied, "Mr. Li, the Peninsula New York has indeed just completed its renovation. I'll coordinate with my colleagues there to arrange things for you right away. You are one of our most distinguished VIPs, and your exclusive privileges will certainly continue."

He then switched to a slightly apologetic tone: "Mr. Li, please wait a moment while I go and confirm the details."

Li Shuo checked the time; it was a little past three in the afternoon.

"It's alright, you go ahead and make the arrangements. I'll go grab a bite to eat first."

After hanging up the phone, he walked back to Natalie's side.

"The hotel is all set; the car will pick you up later. Now, what would you like to eat? You choose."

Natalie answered almost without hesitation.

"I still want Chinese food! Is there anything I haven't tried yet?"

Li Shuo laughed.

"Then there are so many foods you haven't tried! Chinese cuisine is available from all over the country, enough to keep you eating something different for at least a year."

"Is it really that exaggerated? You actually do that?"

Natalie's eyes lit up, but then her face fell again.

"But you can't do it now."

"You wish! I'm not going to cook for you every day."

Li Shuo smiled as he picked up his luggage.

"Why don't you try your luck in Chinatown? You're less likely to be recognized there, haha!"

Stunned by the phrase "cooking every day," Natalie, who was wearing a mask as soon as she got off the plane, suddenly paused, her cheeks flushed, and a strange thought popped into her mind: "It seems... not so bad, huh?"

"Come on, what are you thinking about?"

Li Shuo, who had already walked a few steps, turned back and called to her.

"The airport is quite a distance away; we need to hurry and get a taxi."

The two got into a yellow New York taxi, drove through Queens, and into Lower Manhattan.

When the car finally stopped at the bustling intersection of Chinatown, a wave of sound and a complex aroma wafted towards us.

Neon signs were stacked on top of each other, traditional Chinese characters and English were interspersed, and laughter in Cantonese and Mandarin mingled together.

This is a vibrant and lively little world in the East.

Natalie, who had never explored Chinatown so thoroughly before, found everything fascinating.

Shop windows displaying glistening roast ducks, small stalls with signs for "herbal tea," and stalls selling jade and strange herbs lined the roadside.

Li Shuo explained everything to her one by one, and even bought her snacks like licorice candy and dried tangerine peel plums that she was curious about. But after taking a bite, she frowned.

They eventually squeezed into a popular and well-known restaurant called "Lumingchun".

Natalie was standing outside the store, looking at the pictures of xiaolongbao and shengjianbao on the display menu with great curiosity.

Li Shuo simply led her into the store, found a seat, and expertly ordered a few of the signature dishes.

Natalie made a mess of eating the first xiaolongbao... Li Shuo said it was too hot, and since she didn't know how to use chopsticks, she tried to use a fork, which resulted in the soup splashing out.

Just as she was in a flurry of activity, she noticed a beautifully sculpted Chinese-American girl at the opposite table staring at her with wide, unblinking eyes.

Instead of being annoyed, Natalie found it amusing and made an exaggerated face at the little girl.

The little girl was amused and giggled.

"Xixi, it's very impolite to laugh like that."

The elegant and beautiful woman accompanying her gently reminded her in Chinese, then leaned forward and apologized to Natalie in fluent English: "I'm sorry to have disturbed your meal."

Li Shuo turned around when he heard the noise.

When the little girl saw him turn his head, her long eyelashes fluttered, and she blurted out, "Wow! Handsome guy!"

Li Shuo looked at the little girl and felt that she looked somewhat familiar, but he didn't think much of it and politely returned her a smile.

"Thank you for the compliment. You're beautiful too, like a fairy."

The little girl's eyes crinkled into crescents with joy when praised by such a handsome older brother, who also spoke with his long-lost Beijing accent.

The beautiful woman's smile became even more genuine upon seeing that the man was from the same Chinese community.

"I'm sorry, the child just transferred from China and got first place in math, so he's a bit too proud and causing a fuss."

Li Shuo chuckled upon hearing this. It's a traditional skill for Chinese children to excel in math in the US.

He waved his hand to indicate that it was alright, and even gave the little girl a thumbs up before turning around to continue eating.

As the meal was drawing to a close, a light drizzle suddenly began to fall outside the window.

Li Shuo's phone rang too; it was Robert Chen.

"Mr. Li, everything is arranged. The limousine will depart shortly. May I ask your current location?"

After Li Shuo gave Natalie the address, they paid the bill and waited for their car under the eaves of the restaurant.

Coincidentally, the mother and daughter also came out at the same time, waiting for the rain to stop or for a car.

The rain curtain shortened the distance between strangers.

The beautiful woman had actually recognized Natalie Portman earlier and was also surprised that this woman was so familiar with the young actress.

The Chinese teenagers who came to Chinatown to eat at the small restaurants were full of curiosity.

She has always valued connections and has high hopes for her daughter's upbringing, vaguely hoping that she can reach a broader stage in the future.

I vaguely overheard the boy talking to Natalie about making movies, Time Warner, and studio negotiations.

She then decided to get to know him.

Seeing this rare opportunity, they took advantage of the rain shelter to naturally strike up a conversation.

"What a coincidence, we've met again. My name is Liu Li. Actually, I recognized Ms. Portman in the store earlier, but it was crowded, and I didn't want to bother her. My daughter, Sisi, really likes your movies. Would you mind signing an autograph for her?"

Natalie readily agreed.

She then took out her daughter's workbook and pen from her bag.

Taking the notebook, Natalie kindly asked the little girl, "What's your name?"

Seeing that his daughter was still staring blankly at Li Shuo, she wondered...

The woman quickly answered, "Her name is Liu Yifei. Qianqian, quickly tell your sister how to sign."

Liu Yifei.

Li Shuo, who was gazing at the rain, turned his head in surprise upon hearing this name!

Take another closer look at the little girl who was being led by her mother and was obediently waiting for an autograph!

Those eyebrows and eyes? That spirited look... and then add that picturesque quality to it!

I was wondering why it looked so familiar!

This... isn't this "Fairy Sister"? Wait, no! ...

Is she the "Fairy Sister"?

No way! No way! I ran into her while having a meal?! Huh? That's quite a rhyming couplet!

Natalie Portman readily signed an autograph for Liu Yifei.

Liu Li then took the opportunity to ask Li Shuo for his contact information, since they were both Chinese. She also politely offered to treat him to a meal in the next couple of days to thank him for giving her daughter the opportunity to get Natalie's autograph.

After thinking about it, Li Shuo decided to exchange numbers with her.

However, he politely declined the invitation.

"I've been busy with some things in New York lately, so the timing isn't sure. We'll see when the time comes. I'll definitely take the opportunity to meet you."

He thought to himself that Liu Yifei was still a long way from her debut, and the system was quiet at the moment, which meant that this "good fortune" could not hold her back at the moment.

We're not old friends yet, so let's see how things go later.

Just then, two cars arrived almost one after the other, interrupting the casual conversation while they were taking shelter from the rain.

...A jet-black, gleaming, and exceptionally long limousine was elegantly and calmly parked on the street in the rain.

The driver, dressed in a crisp uniform, got out of the car with an umbrella and very respectfully came to pick up Li Shuo and Natalie.

The umbrella clearly displays the emblem of the Peninsula Hotel in New York, which is currently being widely publicized for its recent major renovation and reopening.

At the same time, a middle-aged man carrying an umbrella hurried over from the other side to pick up Liu Li and her daughter.

Li Shuo looked up and saw...?

Wow, isn't that Chen Jinfei?

They exchanged a brief nod in greeting through the rain before getting into their respective cars.

Liu Li, holding her daughter's hand, glanced at the latest third-generation Lincoln Town Car and the driver's respectful attitude, and became even more curious about the family background of the boy she had just met.