EFB Chapter 128 Who else could it be but her?
Chapter 128 Who else could it be but her?
Chapter 128 Who else could it be but her?
At 6:30 a.m. the next morning, before the mist had completely dissipated by East Lake, warm lights were already on in the kitchen of the Jiang family villa.
Zhou Huiwen, wearing a floral apron, was busy at the stove.
White steam billowed from the steamer, carrying the unique aroma of steamed buns and meat; in another pot, hot dry noodles tumbled in boiling water; on the counter, four exquisite bento boxes were neatly arranged, each containing braised beef, cucumber salad, candied tomatoes, and her special chili sauce.
Jiang Jianguo walked in from the backyard, holding freshly picked mint leaves in his hands: "The mint by the door has grown like crazy, so I picked some to make tea for the kids to drink on their way home, to keep them alert."
"Just put it there, I was just thinking about it." Zhou Huiwen didn't even look up, her hands deftly packing the food. "That kid Xiaoyu, he forgets to drink water as soon as he starts working, and Yifei is the same. Actors' schedules are all so irregular—"
Before the words were finished, footsteps came from the stairs.
Jiang Yu walked down the stairs wearing light gray loungewear, her hair still a little fluffy, clearly having just woken up.
"Mom, you're up so early again." He looked at the mountain of food piled up in the kitchen, feeling both helpless and touched. "There are only three of us, how can we possibly eat so much?"
"Take it home and eat it slowly if you can't finish it." Zhou Huiwen turned around and carefully looked at her son. "Look at you, you've lost weight again. No matter how good the food is at work in Beijing, it can't compare to the taste of home. These buns were made by Yifei yesterday, and I steamed them this morning; this hot dry noodles are made with the 'Old Wuhan' recipe, you can't find this authentic in Beijing; I simmered this soup for two hours, it's Yifei's favorite—"
She kept talking nonstop, her hands never stopping.
Jiang Yu walked over and gently hugged his mother from behind: "Thank you, Mom, I love you so much."
Zhou Huiwen's body stiffened, and then her eyes became a little hot.
Her son has grown up and is now a capable entrepreneur, but in her eyes, he will always be the child who needs to be taken care of.
"Don't thank me, I'm your mother." She patted her son's hand. "Go wash up, Yifei and the others will be here soon."
At seven o'clock sharp, the doorbell rang on time.
Liu Yifei and Liu Xiaoli stood at the door, each carrying a large bag or two.
"Good morning, Auntie. Good morning, Uncle." Liu Yifei wore a polka dot dress with light blue jeans today, her hair hanging loosely to one side, looking as fresh as a gardenia in the morning dew.
She handed over the paper bag, saying, "These are mung bean cakes and sesame cakes I bought at 'Cao Xiangtai' on my way here, for you and your uncle as refreshments."
Zhou Huiwen took it, her eyes crinkling with laughter: "You silly child, you came all this way and even brought something. Come in, breakfast is just ready."
Liu Xiaoli also handed over a gift box: "Huiwen, this is Pu'er tea that a friend brought from Yunnan. Try it when you have time."
The three women exchanged pleasantries at the door, while Jiang Jianguo and Jiang Yu carried the luggage into the car.
The black Land Rover had been polished to a shine, gleaming warmly in the morning light.
"Dad, you've maintained this car really well." Jiang Yu put the suitcase into the trunk.
"Of course." Jiang Jianguo patted the hood with a hint of pride. "I cherish the birthday present you gave me. I wash it every week and get it serviced every 5,000 kilometers. It still looks brand new."
The atmosphere at the breakfast table was so warm and inviting that it was hard to leave.
Zhou Huiwen kept piling food onto Liu Yifei's plate: "Eat more. You made these buns, try them and see how well they're steamed; these vines were picked fresh this morning, when they're at their tenderest; have some soup, it's been simmering for three hours—"
Liu Yifei's bowl was piled high with food, and she said somewhat embarrassedly, "Auntie, this is too much, I can't finish it—"
"If you can't finish it, let Xiaoyu help you eat it," Zhou Huiwen said matter-of-factly. "He has a big appetite."
Jiang Yu smiled and took half a bun from Liu Yifei's bowl: "Mom, are you using me as a dumping ground?"
"How dare you talk like that!" Zhou Huiwen glared. "It's your good fortune that Yifei gave you what she left over."
Everyone laughed.
Morning light streamed through the restaurant's floor-to-ceiling windows, casting warm dappled patterns on the mahogany dining table, while the air was filled with the aroma of food and cozy laughter.
Liu Xiaoli was filled with emotion as she watched this scene.
It's something my daughter never dared to dream of before—that she could find such a home and have such a family to marry into.
The Jiang family is simple and sincere. They have not become arrogant because of their wealth, but instead cherish the warmth of family even more.
After lunch, it's time to set off.
Zhou Huiwen explained each item of the packed food clearly: "This thermos contains soup, for lunch; this lunchbox contains vegetables, which can be heated in the microwave; this bag contains fruit, which has been washed—"
Liu Yifei's eyes were a little red, and she hugged Zhou Huiwen tightly: "Auntie, thank you. I—I will come back often."
"Good girl, come often." Zhou Huiwen patted her back. "Auntie will cook you something delicious."
Jiang Jianguo had already started the car.
The group got into the car, and Zhou Huiwen stood at the door waving until the car turned out of the community and disappeared from sight.
Wuhan was quiet in the early morning, with few cars on the road.
Jiang Jianguo drove very steadily, with soothing music playing from the car stereo.
Liu Yifei leaned on Jiang Yu's shoulder, watching the street scene outside the window slowly recede into the distance.
"If you're sleepy, take a nap," Jiang Yu said softly. "It'll take forty minutes to get to the airport."
Liu Yifei nodded, then suddenly remembered something, "I'm not sleepy. By the way, how did I do with those steamed buns yesterday? Auntie said I've improved a lot, but I know myself, a lot of them were obviously flawed—"
"I ate all the ones that had the filling spilled out," Jiang Yu laughed. "Actually, the ones that had the filling spilled out tasted even better; the filling soaked into the dough, making them more flavorful."
"You're just trying to coax me," Liu Yifei said, but her eyes curved into crescent moons.
In the front row, Liu Xiaoli and Jiang Jianguo were also chatting.
"Brother Jianguo, Xiaoyu is such a lovable kid, the more you look at him, the more you like him," Liu Xiaoli exclaimed. "He's capable, but doesn't flaunt it; he's opinionated, but listens to advice."
Jiang Jianguo glanced at the two people snuggling together in the back seat through the rearview mirror and smiled. "Yifei is great too. Sensible, considerate, and not spoiled. Xiaoyu is lucky to have met her."
"The best thing is when two children like each other and help each other succeed."
Liu Xiaoli said, "Huiwen told me yesterday that after they get married, she will move to Beijing to help take care of the children. I said that wouldn't work, as you two are used to living in Wuhan and wouldn't be used to the climate in Beijing. She said that she would adapt to anything for the sake of her grandchildren."
Jiang Jianguo laughed: "She's just eager to have a grandson. But Xiaoyu is still young, and his career is on the rise, so there's no rush."
"I'm not in a hurry," Liu Xiaoli said. "The children have their own plans, and as their elders, we just need to support them."
As the car entered the airport expressway, the scenery outside the window opened up.
Liu Yifei leaned on Jiang Yu's shoulder and gradually became sleepy.
Jiang Yu adjusted his position to make her more comfortable, then took out his phone to check his emails.
Wang Wei has already sent today's schedule and important notes.
Upon seeing the post about "reporters staking out the airport," Jiang Yu frowned slightly and replied, "As planned, I'll use the regular lane, while Yifei and her mother will use the VIP lane. Are the security personnel in place?"
The reply came almost instantly: "They're here. Six men, all veterans of special forces, very experienced."
"it is good."
Putting down his phone, Jiang Yu looked at the scenery rushing past the window, feeling very calm.
Let it be made public; it was bound to happen sooner or later.
It's just that Yifei has to suffer and face more attention and discussion.
We've arrived at the airport.
Jiang Jianguo parked the car and insisted on taking them to the security checkpoint.
"Dad, don't come down, we can go in ourselves," Jiang Yu said.
"That won't do." Jiang Jianguo got out of the car, opened the trunk, and said, "If you're going to help someone, help them all the way to the security checkpoint. That's the rule."
The group entered the terminal building.
Since it was still early, and given the deterrent effect of yesterday's lawsuit against Sohu by Zhuiguang, there were indeed no reporters waiting in Wuhan.
Only a few scattered passengers recognized Liu Yifei, and they all politely took photos from a distance without disturbing her.
After checking in, there was still an hour before boarding.
Jiang Jianguo and Liu Xiaoli sat down in the rest area, while Jiang Yu pulled Liu Yifei to stroll around the airport.
"Would you like something to drink?" Jiang Yu asked. "I remember you like that mango smoothie from that place."
"Okay," Liu Yifei nodded, "but I want a small cup, I ate too much this morning."
After buying their drinks, the two sat down in the rest area at the entrance of the bookstore.
The bookstore window was filled with bestsellers, and Liu Yifei's eyes were drawn to a beautifully covered photography collection, "Sunrises Around the World".
"Look at this," she said, pointing to the sunrise photo of Mount Fuji on the cover. "It's so beautiful."
Jiang Yu glanced at the price and said directly to the clerk, "Wrap this one up."
"What are you doing?" Liu Yifei grabbed him. "I'm just looking, I don't need to buy anything."
"Buy it if you like it." Jiang Yu had already taken out his wallet. "Keep it at home, you can watch it anytime you want. And—"
He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "When we're old, I'll take you to see sunrises all over the world."
Liu Yifei blushed, but her heart was filled with sweetness.
It's time to board.
At the security checkpoint, Jiang Jianguo hugged his son tightly and patted him on the back: "Work hard, but don't overwork yourself. Health is the foundation of everything."
"Dad, you too," Jiang Yu said. "Smoke less and get regular checkups. My mom said if you don't quit smoking, she'll move to Beijing and live with me."
Jiang Jianguo laughed: "She's just saying. Alright, go ahead."
While going through security, Liu Yifei suddenly turned around and waved vigorously: "Goodbye, Uncle! Next time you come to Beijing, I'll make you steamed buns, and they'll definitely be better than these!"
Jiang Jianguo's eyes narrowed into slits with a smile: "Okay! I'll be waiting!"
The plane soared into the sky, and Wuhan gradually became a small dot on the map.
Looking at the sea of clouds outside the window, Liu Yifei suddenly said, "My childhood dream was to one day fly in an airplane and see the world."
"Is it done now?" Jiang Yu asked.
"I've achieved it, but I have a new dream now." Liu Yifei turned to look at him. "My dream now is to see more and more beautiful scenery with you."
Jiang Yu felt a warmth in his heart and squeezed her hand: "Yes, we will. After we get through this busy period, we'll go on a trip. Where would you like to go?"
"Skiples, to see the Northern Lights!" Liu Yifei's eyes sparkled. "And Iceland, I heard their glaciers and volcanoes are especially spectacular. And—"
She counted them one by one on her fingers, and Jiang Yu listened with a smile, silently memorizing them.
He wanted to take her to all these places.
During the two-hour flight, the two talked a lot.
From travel plans to future life ideas to career planning.
Liu Yifei said she wanted to try producing films, and Jiang Yu immediately said he could set up a studio for her.
Jiang Yu felt a surge of pride as he looked at her earnest expression.
This is the girl he loves—not just beautiful, but also thoughtful and ambitious.
The plane began its descent, and the horizon of BJ appeared outside the window.
Jiang Yu opened his phone, and a text message from Wang Wei popped up: "Boss, there are more reporters than expected, about thirty media outlets, all blocking the exit. The VIP lane has been arranged, and the car is waiting over there."
He showed his phone to Liu Yifei: "You guys go through the VIP area, I'll go out and deal with the reporters."
Liu Yifei asked with some concern, "Will they make things difficult for you?"
"No," Jiang Yu smiled. "The more open I am, the less they'll have to write about it. Besides, we have to face it eventually, so I might as well make things clear once and for all."
Liu Yifei thought for a moment and nodded: "Then be careful, don't argue with them."
"rest assured."
The plane landed, taxied, and came to a stop.
The three split up.
Liu Yifei and Liu Xiaoli were guided through the VIP channel by the flight attendants, while Jiang Yu straightened his suit and headed towards the regular exit.
Sure enough, they were surrounded as soon as they came out.
Long lenses and short lenses, flashes of light everywhere, questions flooded in like a tide.
"Mr. Jiang! Can you respond to the relationship rumors?"
"Mr. Jiang, how far have things progressed between you and Liu Yifei?"
"Mr. Jiang, did you provide Liu Yifei with those Hollywood opportunities?"
"Mr. Jiang, are you living together? When are you getting married?"
The airport exit was completely blocked, and passengers turned their heads to look. Some recognized Jiang Yu and started taking pictures and videos.
Jiang Yu remained calm.
He even smiled slightly, then raised his hand and made a "quiet" gesture.
Surprisingly, the reporters did quiet down a bit, perhaps intimidated by his aura, or perhaps out of curiosity about what he would say.
"Everyone, please be patient, let's take it one at a time." Jiang Yu's voice was calm but clear. "Blocking here is disrupting airport order. How about this: I'll answer three questions, then everyone can disperse, okay?"
The reporters looked at each other and nodded.
Jiang Yu looked around and pointed to a reporter from Sina: "You ask first."
The reporter's voice trembled with excitement: "Mr. Jiang, are you and Ms. Liu Yifei dating? Is she your girlfriend?"
Jiang Yu looked at him and smiled.
The smile was open, natural, and even tinged with sweetness: "Who else could it be but her?"
There was a moment of silence, then everything erupted.
The sounds of camera shutters clicking, exclamations, and murmurs mingled together.
Reporters were frantically taking notes, and some had already started sending out their stories via mobile phones.
The second reporter eagerly asked, "So, how far have things progressed in your relationship? Are you living together? When are you getting married?"
As Jiang Yu walked out under the protection of bodyguards, he replied, "Didn't you all see the news? As for the rest—"
He paused, glanced at the reporter, and smiled with a hint of mockery. "Personal matters are best left unsaid. Okay, third question."
The third reporter quickly asked, "Mr. Jiang, was Liu Yifei able to get the lead roles in 'Black Swan' and 'Lucy' because of your connections?"
This was a pointed question, and the room fell silent instantly as everyone stared at Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu stopped, turned around, faced the camera, and his expression turned serious: "Liu Yifei won these two roles through a formal audition, relying on her own abilities. The casting process at Light Chaser Pictures is completely transparent and professional, with the director and producer making the decisions together. I don't participate in the specific casting process; I'm only responsible for investment and strategy. If you doubt her abilities, you can wait until the film is released and let her work speak for itself."
His voice wasn't loud, but every word was firm and resonant.
After saying that, he nodded: "Okay, I've answered all three questions. Everyone, please make way, I need to go back to work."
The reporters wanted to follow, but the six bodyguards Wang Wei brought had already formed a human wall, politely but firmly separating them.
Jiang Yu walked towards the parking lot under the protection of his guards, leaving behind a buzz of discussion.
After getting in the car, Jiang Yu immediately called Liu Yifei: "Was it all right?"
"Smooth sailing, we're on the bus without running into any reporters," Liu Yifei's voice came through. "How about you? Did they give you any trouble?"
"No, they just asked three questions," Jiang Yu said casually. "They admitted to the relationship, clarified the issue of resources, and didn't say anything else. How's it going on your end?"
"My mom's phone's been ringing off the hook," Liu Yifei said helplessly. "Brands, media, friends—even my kindergarten teacher asked around. And my best friends, Shu Chang, Zhang Liangying, Yao Beina, they've all called. Shu Chang even said she'd organize an interrogation," wanting me to explain the details of my relationship.
Jiang Yu laughed: "Shall I treat you to dinner tonight to celebrate going public?"
"Okay," Liu Yifei laughed, "but we need to find a completely secluded place. Right now, we're the center of attention."
"Don't worry, I have a place."
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yu asked Wang Wei, "How's it going at the company?"
"Everything is normal, except the media's phone lines are ringing off the hook."
Wang Wei reported, "As instructed by you, the public relations department has issued a unified response stating that we cannot comment on President Jiang's personal matters; please focus on company business." Additionally, Sohu's apology statement was featured on the homepage this morning and will remain so for three consecutive days. The compensation has been received, and the finance department is processing the donation procedures.
"Very good." Jiang Yu nodded. "What about the reporter?"
"He was fired, and his press card was revoked. We found that the 200,000 yuan in his account came from a film and television company, and we are investigating the background of that company."
Jiang Yu's eyes turned cold: "Investigate to the end. I need to know who's behind this."
"clear."
The car entered the city.
Looking out the window at Beijing, Jiang Yu suddenly felt a strange sense of relief.
It's out in the open now, no more hiding.
Although there will be a lot of attention and discussion, as long as he is with Yi Feixin, he is not afraid of anything.
Back at the headquarters of Chasing Light Holdings, the receptionist's eyes lit up as soon as she entered the building, but she hesitated to say anything.
The employees I met in the elevator all suppressed their laughter, their eyes full of curiosity and well wishes.
Jiang Yu remained expressionless as he walked to his office on the top floor.
I had just sat down when the internal phone rang.
It's Zhou Mu.
"President Jiang, you're something else!" Zhou Mu's voice was full of teasing. "You won over the fairy-like beauty without a sound! When did this happen? How come there wasn't a whisper of it? The guys in the tech department were all betting on when you two got together, and I won the bet—I won a barbecue!"
Jiang Yu laughed and scolded, "You tech geek, when did you become so gossipy? Have you finished testing the real-time rendering system before you start chatting like this?"
"The test is done, it's even better than expected." Zhou Mu immediately switched to work mode. "But seriously, congratulations. Liu Yifei is great. When are you bringing her to 798 for a spin? Everyone wants to meet the boss lady. Xiao Wang from the design department said he'd be willing to work overtime for a month if he could get an autographed photo."
"Let's wait for a chance," Jiang Yu said. "Let's get down to business first. Nvidia sent me the agreement; there are a few clauses that need to be changed—"
After finishing her work conversation with Zhou Mu, Wu Na called again.
On screen, Wu Na remained as capable as ever, a smile playing on her lips: "President Jiang, congratulations. It's causing a stir in North America too. The Hollywood Reporter ran a headline: 'A Romantic Story Between a Chinese Tycoon and a Movie Star.' Warner Bros.' Barry Mayer even joked about making a biographical film about you guys."
Jiang Yu was both amused and exasperated: "These people—where's the real business?"
"The important thing is that the finished film of 'Black Swan' is out, and the internal screenings have received better-than-expected feedback." Wu Na became serious. "Fox suggested increasing the investment in publicity. They even suggested that after the film is released, they could do a cover interview with you and Liu Yifei and publish it in Time magazine."
"That's something we can consider," Jiang Yu said. "The focus must be on the film itself, not on using the romance for publicity."
"clear."
I had just finished my work when my phone rang again. This time it was Liu Yifei.
"Jiang Yu, I just received a call from my agent saying that my schedule is completely full for the second half of the year." Liu Yifei's voice sounded somewhat helpless. "Endorsements, magazines, interviews—and three scripts have come my way, all big productions. One of them is an audition for the female lead in Zhang Yimou's new film."
"This is a good thing," Jiang Yu said. "Many people would love to work on Director Zhang's films."
"I know, but I'm a little—" Liu Yifei paused, "a little panicked. So many opportunities all of a sudden, I'm afraid I won't be able to handle them."
Jiang Yu said gently, "Yifei, you've worked so hard for so many years, and this is the best reward for you. Don't panic, take it one step at a time. Ask me if you don't understand anything, tell me if you have any difficulties. I will always be by your side."
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, then Liu Yifei's soft voice came through: "Okay. I understand."
"What do you want to eat tonight? I've made a reservation; it'll be secluded."
"I want to eat hot pot," Liu Yifei suddenly said. "I suddenly really want to eat spicy hot pot."
Jiang Yu smiled: "Okay, hot pot it is then. I know a place that's quite private."
Jiang Yu's candid admission at the Capital Airport, "If it's not her, then who is it?", was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.
It spread to every corner of the network within half an hour.
Sohu, Sina, NetEase, Tencent—all the major portal websites' entertainment sections all featured the same headline: "Jiang Yu Admits: Liu Yifei is My Girlfriend!"
The accompanying photos all showed him smiling openly when surrounded by reporters at the airport.
This is not finished.
Editors at major websites were working overtime, as if they were on steroids, to produce various special reports.
From Wuhan to Beijing: A Complete Record of Jiang Yu and Liu Yifei's Romance
Billionaire and National Goddess: A Modern-Day Prince and Princess
Unveiling the Man Behind Liu Yifei's Hollywood Resources
Jiang Yu's Business Empire and His Love Story
Each feature included a detailed timeline, photos of the two together in the past (most of which were photoshopped), and so-called "insider revelations."
One report even claimed: "According to an unnamed insider, Jiang Yu began pursuing Liu Yifei two years ago. In order to make his sweetheart famous, he spared no expense in investing in Hollywood and insisted that Liu Yifei play the leading role."
This statement immediately sparked heated debate.
Although Weibo has not yet been born, Tianya Community, Tieba, and Douban Groups have already been in an uproar.
In particular, Liu Yifei's official Baidu Tieba forum has been in a state of complete chaos since last night.
A fan with the ID "Protect Sissi for Life" posted a long pinned post titled "To all Faye Wong fans: Our attitude should be to offer our blessings."
The post read: "Sisi is only 22 years old this year, the perfect age for dating. She's not our property; she has the right to pursue her own happiness. Jiang Yu is young and promising, and he's good to Sisi; we should wish him well—"
The post received over three thousand replies, almost all of which were insults.
"Congratulations my ass! I'm unfollowing you!"
"Dating at 22? Does she even know she's an actress? Does she know how many fans only believed in her because of her?"
"Who does Jiang Yu think he is? He just has a few stinking bucks. Does he even deserve our Qianqian?"
"+1 to the comment above! Sisi belongs to all of us, and no one can take her away!"
"Account deleted. Goodbye."
"I'm deregistering too. My heart is broken."
In just half a day, the number of followers on Liu Yifei's official Baidu Tieba page dropped visibly.
Backend data shows that at least 50,000 accounts have chosen to cancel or unfollow. These are the so-called "sex fans" who regard Liu Yifei as their dream girl and cannot accept the fact that she is in a relationship.
Even more extreme, some people began organizing a campaign to "boycott Liu Yifei's works".
A QQ group called "Heartbroken Alliance" quickly gathered thousands of people. The group announcement read: "From today onwards, we will not watch any of Liu Yifei's works, nor will we buy any of her endorsements, until she is single again."
Of course, there are also rational voices.
In Douban's "Rational Discussion" group, a veteran film critic posted an analysis titled: "Why did Liu Yifei's relationship cause such a huge uproar?"
"Liu Yifei is 22 years old this year. For an ordinary girl, this age is when she has just graduated from college and is starting to date. In the entertainment industry, especially for an actress of her caliber, going public with a relationship at 22 is almost like ruining her career."
"China's entertainment industry is still immature, but its idol culture has developed abnormally. Fans treat idols as private property, especially male fans who have an almost pathological possessiveness towards female idols. Liu Yifei's national popularity is too high. Her roles as Wang Yuyan in 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils' and Zhao Ling'er in 'Chinese Paladin' made her the 'white moonlight' for countless men." Now that her "white moonlight" has been taken away, it naturally causes a strong backlash.
"But we must ask: Aren't actresses human beings? Can't they have normal emotional needs? Jiang Yu is 26 years old and built his empire from scratch. In terms of looks, talent, and character, he is worthy of Liu Yifei. Why do fans feel she's not good enough? Ultimately, it's a deep-seated inferiority complex. They know they can never reach Jiang Yu's level, so they can only vent their impotent rage by unfollowing him."
This post was quickly shared on various forums, sparking even wider discussion.
Some agreed, some disagreed, and the online debate intensified.
However, the situation within the entertainment industry at this moment is quite different.
In a high-end coffee shop in Beijing's BJ World Trade Center Phase 3, several real estate agents are holding an "emergency meeting."
"It's been confirmed. Liu Yifei is indeed with Jiang Yu."
A female agent wearing wire-rimmed glasses said, "And it's not a recent thing, it's been at least half a year. Huayi Brothers blacklisted her two years ago, and it was Jiang Yu who stepped in to smooth things over."
"How did you settle it?" another short-haired agent asked.
"I don't know the specifics, but Huayi Brothers quickly stopped mentioning the ban. Then Liu Yifei received an audition invitation for 'Black Swan.' As you know, the original lead actress for 'Black Swan' was Hollywood Cinema, but because of Light Chaser Pictures' investment, the production company agreed to change her."
A collective gasp filled the coffee shop.
A young agent gasped, "This Jiang Yu is too—"
"Too much? Too much pampering?" The agent with gold-rimmed glasses pushed up his glasses. "If I were Liu Yifei, I would also choose Jiang Yu. Young, handsome, talented, rich, and devoted. Do you know how much Zhuiguang Holdings is valued at now? At least 50 billion RMB. Jiang Yu's personal wealth exceeds 30 billion. And he's only 26 years old, his future is limitless."
"The key is that he's genuinely invested in Liu Yifei," the short-haired agent remarked. "It's not just a fling. The moment their relationship was exposed yesterday, he sued Sohu within ten minutes, and today he made Sohu apologize on its homepage for three days straight, paying a million yuan which he donated to a children's foundation. What do you call that? That's called protecting one's own. With a man like that protecting her, Liu Yifei can practically do whatever she wants in the entertainment industry."
"She's more than just walking sideways." Another middle-aged agent, who hadn't spoken until now, said, "Liu Yifei is only 22 years old. With Jiang Yu's resources, her future is brighter than all the artists we've managed combined."
Silence fell over the coffee shop, and each agent wore a complex expression: envy, jealousy,感慨 (a sense of感慨, mixed feelings), and a hint of helplessness.
This is the reality of the entertainment industry.
You can be hardworking, talented, and beautiful, but sometimes, you really need a bit of luck, or rather, you need to meet the right person.
Meanwhile, in the editorial department of a Hong Kong gossip magazine, the editor-in-chief was slamming his fist on the table and yelling at people.
"Look at the reports from the mainland! How sensational! How detailed! And what about us? We're still writing about which rich guy gifted which female celebrity a house? How outdated!"
A reporter whispered, "Editor-in-chief, it's not that we're not trying hard enough. It's just that Jiang Yu is too mysterious. We can't find any information about his family background. All we know is that he's from Wuhan, graduated from Communication University of China and USC, and started from scratch. That's all—we really can't find anything else."
"If you can't find out, then find a way!" the editor-in-chief roared. "Hong Kong audiences love this kind of drama where a young tycoon pursues a female star. And look at Jiang Yu's actions—he provides resources and money, and openly protects her. This is completely different from Hong Kong's tycoons. When Hong Kong tycoons pursue female stars, they might give them cars, houses, or jewelry at most. Who would invest tens of millions of dollars in Hollywood just to make someone famous?"
Another reporter chimed in: "Editor-in-chief, I think this is the difference between the new generation of wealthy people in mainland China and the old-school wealthy people in Hong Kong. Jiang Yu started from scratch and built his empire himself, so he can do things more freely. Moreover, he is young and may still have fantasies about love, unlike those old men who treat female celebrities as playthings."
"That makes sense." The editor-in-chief stroked his chin. "Then let's write from this angle. The title will be—'The Romance of a New-Style Tycoon: Jiang Yu Spends a Fortune for Love, Liu Yifei Becomes the Biggest Winner.' The focus should be on highlighting the difference between Jiang Yu and other tycoons, and it should be written in a romantic, dreamlike way. Hong Kong's wealthy wives love this kind of story."
"clear!"
Similar discussions also took place at the recording of entertainment programs in Taiwan.
In the dressing room of "Kangxi Lai Le", Little S is rehearsing her lines with Cai Kanyong.
"Brother Kangyong, just how much does Jiang Yu really love Liu Yifei?" Little S asked while touching up her makeup. "He invested in Hollywood for her, sued the media for her, and now he's publicly acknowledged their relationship. It's unbelievable in the entertainment industry."
Cai Kangyong adjusted his glasses: "I think this might be a characteristic of the new generation of entrepreneurs in mainland China. They are more confident and less concerned about what others think. Moreover, Jiang Yu's wealth was created by himself, not inherited, so he has the right to be willful."
"But Liu Yifei is only 22 years old," said Little S. "Is it really okay for a 22-year-old to go public with a relationship in the mainland entertainment industry? I remember that the mainland is quite strict about female celebrities dating."
"That was before," Cai Kangyong said. "Times have changed. And with a boyfriend like Jiang Yu, who cares about those rules? I heard that Liu Yifei's work schedule is already booked until the year after next, all top-tier resources. Brands that were previously hesitant are now scrambling to have her as their spokesperson. That's reality; when you have a billionaire standing behind you, all the rules will change for you."
"I'm so envious!" Little S sighed dramatically. "When will I ever meet a man like that?"
"You," Cai Kangyong laughed, "you should settle things with your husband first."
The two laughed together, but they both knew in their hearts that Liu Yifei's story was destined to become a legend in the entertainment industry.