EFB Chapter 119 Because I got wet in the rain, I used an umbrella.
Chapter 119 Because I got wet in the rain, I used an umbrella.
Chapter 119 Because I got wet in the rain, I used an umbrella.
Tuesday, 6:40 a.m.
The sky over Beijing is not yet fully bright. It snowed lightly last night, and the world outside the window is a tranquil, silvery-white expanse.
When Jiang Yu was awakened by the vibration of his phone, his consciousness was still on the edge of a dream.
He fumbled for his phone on the bedside table; the cold light from the screen was glaring in the dimly lit bedroom.
The caller ID displayed "Lu Zheng".
When the call ended, the voice on the other end sounded hoarse from staying up all night and filled with deep frustration: "President Jiang, we've found out."
Jiang Yu sat up, moving as gently as possible so as not to wake Liu Yifei, who was still fast asleep beside him.
She lay on her side, her long hair spread out on the pillow, rising and falling gently with her breath, like a docile cat.
"Who?" Jiang Yu asked in a low voice.
"A young woman in our company's finance department named Li Mei graduated from the University of International Business and Economics last year."
Lu Zheng sighed on the other end, his voice full of exhaustion. "Her boyfriend is an editor at Sohu Entertainment Channel. The night before last, after their date, they went back to her apartment—and after that...you know...they were chatting in bed. She let slip that Zijing used that $500 million. She probably wanted to brag, saying she handled Zijing's international remittance—"
Jiang Yu remained silent for a full five seconds.
"So," Jiang Yu's voice was eerily calm, "just because of a young couple's casual conversation in bed, they leaked all the project's trade secrets, Jing Tian's future, and Zhui Guang's reputation?"
"It's my responsibility, I admit it." Lu Zheng's tone was sincere, but you could tell he was barely suppressing his anger. "Li Mei was fired this morning, and HR is processing the paperwork. I also contacted my friends at Sohu about her boyfriend; I heard he was dismissed as soon as he got to work today. But the news has already spread, and it's too late to fix it. President Jiang, what do you think is the best way to salvage this situation?"
"Make amends?" Jiang Yu sneered, his voice soft but chilling. "Now the entire internet knows that Jing Tian's role was bought for 500 million US dollars. How do you think you can make amends? Tell netizens it was an 'international promotion resource exchange fee,' used for her global marketing and promotion, not for buying the role? Do you think anyone will believe that? Netizens will only see the keywords '500 million US dollars' and 'female lead,' and automatically conjure up a story of capital manipulation."
There was silence on the other end of the phone, only heavy breathing could be heard.
Jiang Yu rubbed his temples, feeling a slight headache.
He threw back the covers, got out of bed, walked to the window, and pulled back the curtains a little.
Outside, the sun shone brightly on the snow after the snowfall, reflecting a dazzling white light.
"Mr. Lu, this will have the biggest impact on Jing Tian," Jiang Yu continued, his tone softening. "She's only in her early twenties, her acting career is just starting, and she's already been labeled a 'capital-backed' or 'resource-backed' actress. Her future will be much harder. Audiences will have preconceived prejudices, her peers will openly and subtly ostracize her, and the media will scrutinize her every move. You have to find a way to minimize the negative impact."
"I understand, I understand," Lu Zheng said repeatedly, his voice filled with regret. "I've already contacted several media outlets with which we have good relationships and prepared press releases emphasizing that this is a normal international business collaboration, a resource exchange by the Chinese investors to promote Chinese actors, and it's in line with industry practice—"
"Those press releases are useless," Jiang Yu interrupted him. "Netizens don't care about the truth; they only believe what they want to believe. Public opinion has already settled things: Jing Tian rose to power through capital. No matter how you explain, in the eyes of netizens, it's all just whitewashing, a cover-up."
"Then—what should we do?" Lu Zheng was really panicked.
Jiang Yu looked out the window. The cleaning staff had already swept the path, revealing the bluish-gray paving stones.
"The only way now," Jiang Yu said slowly, "is to overshadow this news with another, even bigger story. We need to divert public attention and get netizens to discuss new topics."
"Bigger news?" Lu Zheng was taken aback. "What news? Do we need your star-studded collaboration?"
"You don't need to worry about that," Jiang Yu said. "Just do your job and manage your people. As for Starlight Brilliant, keep your mouths shut. The finance department needs to be reorganized, and the management process for classified information needs to be revised. If there's a next time, this cooperation is over. I mean what I say."
"Understood, understood!" Lu Zheng quickly assured him, "There will absolutely be no next time! I'll call a company-wide meeting right now to emphasize the importance of confidentiality!"
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yu leaned against the window, watching the city gradually awaken outside.
Leaking trade secrets is a major taboo in any industry, but it is especially so in the film and television industry.
This time it's Jing Tian, next time it might be a different actor, a different project budget, or a different set of cooperation terms.
If we don't keep things confidential, who will dare to cooperate with Light Chaser in the future?
There was a rustling sound coming from the bedroom; Liu Yifei woke up.
She sat up, rubbed her eyes, her hair was messy, and there were still sleep marks on her face.
"What's wrong? Who called?" Her voice was soft, still a little groggy from just waking up.
"Lu Zheng." Jiang Yu walked back to the bedside, sat down, and briefly explained the situation, "We've found out who leaked the information. It was a young woman in the finance department of Starlight Brilliant who let it slip to her boyfriend."
Liu Yifei snapped out of her daze, her eyes widening: "What about Tiantian? She must be so upset right now. I texted her last night, and she said she was too scared to go online and had turned off her phone."
"I'll figure something out." Jiang Yu patted her back. "You can sleep a little longer, it's still early."
Liu Yifei couldn't sleep. She sat on the bed, hugging her knees, her brows furrowed, biting her lip, clearly deep in thought.
"Jiang Yu," she suddenly spoke, her voice soft but firm, "I have an idea—it might not be fully developed, but you can listen to it."
"Go ahead and say it," Jiang Yu said, looking at her.
"Since we're going to divert attention, why don't we—" Liu Yifei took a deep breath, "Why don't we make my story public? Use my news to overshadow Tian Tian's news."
Jiang Yu looked at her: "You mean—to go public with our relationship?"
"No, it's not related." Liu Yifei shook her head, her eyes clear. "It's my next movie. Isn't the press conference for 'Lucy' about to start? Sister Jiang originally planned for early March, so why not move it forward to these next few days? A Chinese actress starring in a Hollywood blockbuster directed by Luc Besson, with a budget of 5000 million US dollars—that news should be enough to attract everyone's attention, right?"
Jiang Yu pondered the suggestion.
"Lucy" is an action science fiction film directed by renowned French director Luc Besson. The actual investment was $4200 million, but it was publicly claimed to be $5000 million.
Liu Yifei is the absolute female lead, co-starring with international actors such as Tony Leung Ka-fai and Morgan Freeman.
The original plan was indeed to hold a press conference in early March and start filming in May.
If it happened a few days earlier, it could certainly create a huge buzz.
It's already rare to see Chinese actors starring in A-list Hollywood productions, and female actors are even rarer.
Once this news breaks, it will indeed instantly ignite the entire internet and overshadow the topic of "Jing Tian's $500 million investment".
"Are you ready?" Jiang Yu looked at her seriously. "Once it's announced, you'll become the target of everyone's criticism. Everyone will be watching you, questioning why you got this role. The media will dig deep into our relationship, writing all sorts of speculative reports, saying you got it through Light Chaser Pictures, saying our relationship isn't simple. Netizens will dig up all your previous roles, saying your good resources are because you have connections. Can you handle all that pressure?"
Liu Yifei was silent for a few seconds. During those few seconds, Jiang Yu could clearly see the hesitation in her eyes, which eventually turned into determination.
"I can." She raised her head, her eyes clear and firm. "They'll find out sooner or later anyway. Rather than letting them speculate and spread rumors, it's better for us to announce it proactively. At least that way, we're in control. Besides, Tian Tian is so upset right now, it's a good thing that I can help relieve some of her stress."
She paused, then continued, "As for our relationship—if the media wants to write about it, let them."
I will perform my roles well and let my work speak for itself.
Jiang Yu looked at her, and a complex mix of emotions welled up inside him; there was pride, heartache, warmth, and gratitude.
This girl, even though she herself was in the eye of the storm, thought of helping others share the burden; she could have stayed behind, but she chose to stand up and face everything.
"Are you sure?" he asked, taking her hand.
"I'm sure." Liu Yifei nodded, squeezing his hand in return. "With you here, I'm not afraid. You'll protect me, right?"
"Of course." Jiang Yu pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead. "I will always be by your side."
"Alright, that's settled then. I'll have Jiang Xuerou prepare immediately; the press conference will be held tomorrow."
"Mmm." Liu Yifei leaned against him and whispered, "Thank you, Jiang Yu."
"Silly girl, I'm the one who should be saying thank you." Jiang Yu ruffled her hair. "Thank you for being so kind and brave."
February 18, 9:30 a.m., at the headquarters of Chasing Light Films in China World Trade Center.
The press conference hall, which can accommodate 100 people, was already packed.
Media reporters from all over the country arrived early and secured the best spots.
The back area was filled with cameras and microphones, while photographers squatted at the front, all pointing their lenses at the empty podium.
The reporters whispered among themselves: "Have you heard? There's big news today."
"Nonsense, would the Light Chaser Foundation be in such a hurry to hold a press conference if there wasn't any major news? The announcement was only released yesterday afternoon."
"I suspect it's related to the Disney project; maybe there are still some shares left?"
"Impossible. I heard the share allocation was gone the day before yesterday. I guess it's for a new collaborative project."
"Could it be related to Liu Yifei?"
"It's possible—"
At 9:50, the staff began to test the equipment.
The backdrop lit up, displaying the logos of three companies against a deep blue starry sky background: a watercolor-style design from Light Chaser Animation Studios, the classic logo of 20th Century Fox, and the red letter "E" from EuropaCorp. In the center was the film title, *Lucy*, in a futuristic silver font.
A commotion arose from the audience.
Reporters quickly snapped photos and began speculating: "Fox? EuropaCorp? Is this a co-production?"
"Lucy? There's been no news about this project since the beginning of the year; I thought it had been shelved."
"EuropaCorp? Is that what Luc Besson's company is called?"
"Holy crap, it can't be—"
At 10:00 AM sharp, the side door of the stage opened, and Jiang Xuerou was the first to walk out.
Today she wore a smart white suit with a light blue shirt underneath, her hair was styled in a neat low ponytail, her makeup was exquisite, and she exuded a powerful aura.
Following behind her were Chen Ming, representative of 2000 Century Fox China, and Pierre Duval, producer from EuropaCorp.
The three of them sat down, and the entire room fell silent instantly, with only the clicking of camera shutters remaining.
"Hello everyone, friends from the media." Jiang Xuerou spoke into the microphone, her voice clear and steady. "Thank you all for coming in such a short time. I am Jiang Xuerou, President of Light Chaser Pictures. Today, Light Chaser Pictures is here to announce an important collaboration."
She paused, her gaze sweeping across the entire room.
Every pair of eyes was fixed on her, and every recording pen was held high.
"Light Chaser Pictures will co-produce a Sino-US-French action sci-fi film, 'Lucy,' with 20th Century Fox and EuropaCorp."
As soon as he finished speaking, a murmur of gasps rippled through the audience.
The reporters took notes quickly, their fingers flying across the laptop keyboards.
Jiang Xuerou continued: "The film has a budget of 5000 million US dollars and is directed by the famous French director Luc Besson. The main creative team will start training next month, and filming will officially begin in May. It is expected to be released globally simultaneously next summer."
"This is a female-centric film," she emphasized the words "female-centric," adding, "The lead actress has been confirmed as Liu Yifei."
"Whoa!!!"
The entire audience erupted in uproar.
The reporters stared in disbelief, exchanging bewildered glances, thinking they had misheard.
Liu Yifei? It's Liu Yifei again?
Having just won the lead role in "Black Swan" last year, she's back in another A-list Hollywood production this year?
Is it still the absolute female lead? Or is it a Luc Besson film?
After a brief moment of shock, there was an even more frenzied recording and photography.
The flashes of light from the cameras illuminated the podium brightly.
Ignoring the commotion from the audience, Jiang Xuerou calmly continued: "Other leading actors in the film include Hong Kong actor Leung Ka-fai, American actor Morgan Freeman, and French actor Amor Walcott, among other internationally renowned actors. The film will be shot in China, France, and the United States, making it a true international co-production and the first time a Chinese actress has played the leading role in a Hollywood A-list production."
She then went on to introduce the production team, filming plans, market expectations, and so on, but many reporters were no longer interested in listening carefully.
Everyone's minds were racing, considering the explosive nature of the news and the possible hidden stories behind it.
During the Q&A session, the first person to raise their hand was a senior reporter from Entertainment Weekly. He practically jumped up: "Mr. Jiang, how did Ms. Liu Yifei get this role? Was there a public audition? Or was she directly appointed by the production company?"
Jiang Xuerou smiled calmly: "All the actors were selected through a rigorous professional evaluation. Ms. Liu Yifei passed the personal interview with director Luc Besson, who believes she is the most suitable candidate for the role."
In fact, before casting Liu Yifei, we and the director team evaluated many actresses worldwide, and ultimately unanimously agreed that Liu Yifei's temperament, acting skills, and versatility best suited the role.
"Then why wasn't the casting process made public?" a reporter from *Movie World* pressed. "There was absolutely no prior information, and the lead actor was announced right away. Isn't that unusual for Hollywood productions? Usually, for projects of this caliber, the casting process is very transparent."
"Lucy is a co-production between China, the United States, and France, and its production process incorporates the characteristics of each country."
Jiang Xuerou responded calmly, "The casting process has been conducted discreetly to avoid unnecessary interference and excessive exposure. Now we feel the time is right, so we are officially announcing it to the public. Moreover, this has always been director Luc Besson's casting style; actors he chooses do not need to go through a lengthy public competition."
"Mr. Jiang," a male reporter wearing black-rimmed glasses stood up. He was a reporter for *Star News*, known for his sharp questions, "There are rumors that Liu Yifei has a close relationship with Mr. Jiang of Light Chaser Animation Studios. Is this the reason she got Hollywood roles like *Black Swan* and *Lucy*? Would you call this preferential treatment in terms of resources?"
The question was direct and pointed, and the room fell silent instantly. Everyone pricked up their ears, waiting for Jiang Xuerou's answer; some reporters even held their breath.
Jiang Xuerou's smile remained unchanged, but her eyes sharpened slightly: "My friend, the only criterion for casting at Chasing Light is whether the actor is suitable for the role. I believe everyone will soon see Ms. Liu Yifei's performance in 'Black Swan.' As for personal relationships, that's the actor's privacy and has nothing to do with work."
If we choose actors based on personal relationships, it would be irresponsible to the director, the project, and the audience.
She paused, her tone becoming even more resolute: "If you believe that an actress can only get roles through personal connections, that reflects your prejudice and underestimation of the industry and of female actors. Ms. Liu Yifei's professionalism, work ethic, and international perspective are evident to the directors, producers, and crew members she has worked with. We believe that after the film's release, the audience and the market will give it the fairest evaluation."
"But such a concentration of resources inevitably raises certain associations—"
"My friend," Jiang Xuerou interrupted him, her tone still gentle but carrying an undeniable force, "if you've ever been to Hollywood, you'll know it's an absolute battleground of merit. Director Luc Besson has worked with the world's top actresses; if he doesn't think Liu Yifei is suitable, no one can force him to use her."
A director's reputation is more important than anything else. Therefore, please respect the director's choices and the actors' hard work.
She glanced at her watch: "Time is limited, one last question."
A female reporter raised her hand: "Mr. Jiang, what does this film mean for Liu Yifei's career? Will she completely shift her focus to Hollywood because of this? Will she still act in domestic films in the future?"
"Ms. Liu Yifei is a Chinese actress, and her roots are in China."
Jiang Xuerou said earnestly, "Lucy is an important international collaboration and a milestone in her career, but it will not change her focus. She will continue to balance her work at home and abroad, and will continue to star in excellent domestic film and television works, bringing more great roles to Chinese audiences. Going international and staying rooted in China are not contradictory."
"This concludes the press conference. Thank you everyone."
Jiang Xuerou stood up, shook hands with representatives from Fox and Europa, and then left the venue surrounded by staff.
The reporters were left behind, still processing the information, and the editors were already frantically writing their articles.
Ten minutes later, the news had spread across the entire internet at the speed of light.
Baidu's trending topics list was instantly dominated by related topics:
#Liu Yifei stars in Luc Besson's new film# (Breaking news)
#Lucy's $5000 Million Investment# (Breaking News)
#Liu Yifei wins another Hollywood leading lady role# (Trending)
#Chinese actress's first leading role in a Hollywood film# (Trending)
#Luc Besson and Liu Yifei# (Hot)
Major portal websites pushed headlines and entertainment sections were filled with news and photos from the "Lucy" press conference.
The SMS messages on QQ and 51qs were instantly flooded, and various SMS groups were buzzing with discussion.
The topic of "Jing Tian's $500 million" was indeed pushed off the trending list. Although people were still discussing it, the popularity had clearly decreased, and all the attention had shifted to Liu Yifei.
The center of this media storm has quietly shifted.
The crew of "Chinese Paladin 3" at Hengdian World Studios, Zhejiang.
At 12:30 pm, the film crew had lunch.
Because of the tight filming schedule, the lead actors ate boxed lunches on set, and after eating and resting for a while, they would continue filming the afternoon's scenes.
Yang Mi, Liu Shishi, and Tang Yan squeezed into Yang Mi's nanny van.
The car was warm with the heater on, but the atmosphere was a little awkward.
After the assistant brought the boxed lunches, she left, leaving the three girls alone.
Tang Yan opened her lunchbox while habitually scrolling through her phone.
Suddenly, she cried out "Ah!" and almost dropped her chopsticks.
"Look everyone! Liu Yifei has landed another Hollywood movie role! It's Luc Besson's 'Lucy,' a $5000 million film, and she's the lead actress!"
Yang Mi paused for a moment with her chopsticks, her face expressionless, and continued to pick up food with her head down.
Today's meal was Kung Pao Chicken, but she didn't have much of an appetite and just mechanically put the food into her mouth.
Liu tried to peek at Tang Yan's phone. The screen showed a push notification from Sohu Entertainment: "Liu Yifei confirmed to star in Luc Besson's new film 'Lucy,' with an investment of 5000 million US dollars. She will co-star with Tony Leung Ka-fai and Morgan Freeman, and will be released globally next summer."
"It's her again—" Liu said softly, his tone complex, a mixture of envy, surprise, and a hint of barely perceptible bitterness.
Tang Yan sighed enviously, abandoning her meal to focus on browsing the news: "Their resources are truly incredible. Last year it was 'Black Swan,' this year it's 'Lucy,' both Hollywood leading roles, and big productions at that. We're still filming period idol dramas in Hengdian, while they've already broken out of Asia and gone global."
Yang Mi put down her chopsticks, picked up a tissue to wipe her mouth, and said in a flat tone, "Everyone has their own path, there's no point in envying them."
Let's eat; we have several scenes to film this afternoon.
"Mi Mi, are you close with Liu Yifei?" Tang Yan looked up and asked. "Didn't you two act in 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' together? What was your relationship like back then?"
"We're not very familiar. In The Return of the Condor Heroes, I was just a minor supporting character, while she was the female lead."
Yang Mi said casually, her gaze drifting out the car window, "We didn't interact much while filming. She played Little Dragon Girl, and I played Guo Xiang, so we had very few scenes together."
She was telling the truth, but not entirely.
When they filmed "The Return of the Condor Heroes" in 2005, both of them were newcomers. Yang Mi was 18 years old and Liu Yifei was 17 years old. They were both full of aspirations and enthusiasm for their acting careers.
Back then, they would chat together during breaks, discuss their roles, complain about how bad the food on set was, and dream about the future.
Yang Mi remembers Liu Yifei saying that she wanted to play different roles and didn't want to be typecast.
Several years have passed, and their career trajectories have diverged dramatically.
After filming "The Return of the Condor Heroes," Liu Yifei signed with William Morris Agency and went to Hollywood to film "The Forbidden Kingdom." Although the film received mediocre reviews and box office returns, it at least opened the door to the international market.
Then came "Black Swan" and "Lucy," taking one step at a time, steadily rising, following an international, high-quality route.
And her? She's still working in the TV drama industry, appearing in shows like "Dream of the Red Chamber" and "Chinese Paladin 3"—although she's known as one of the "Four Little Actresses," she's still very, very far from the big screen and the international stage.
She takes on many roles, but the quality varies greatly; she has high exposure, but lacks a significant representative work.
This disparity left her with an indescribable feeling.
"I think she must have a connection with the boss of Light Chaser Animation Studios," Liu said softly, his tone certain. "Otherwise, how could she keep getting such good resources? Wang Zhi is an artist signed with Light Chaser Animation Studios, and she's still filming 'The Man from Nowhere' in China, isn't she? In terms of closeness, Wang Zhi should be closer."
Tang Yan nodded and lowered her voice: "I think so too. It's rumored in the industry that Jiang Yu has been pursuing her for a long time. Last year, when they were casting for 'Black Swan,' there were rumors that Liu Yifei had been chosen for the role. Several top actresses approached him at the time, but he declined them all."
Yang Mi didn't reply. She took out her phone, unlocked it, and opened the news.
The top five trending topics were all related to Liu Yifei and the movie "Lucy".
Clicking on the first one reveals photos from the press conference. Liu Yifei was absent, but Jiang Xuerou calmly answered questions on stage, with the huge "LUCY" lettering on the backdrop standing out starkly.
She scrolled down to see netizens' comments: "Liu Yifei is awesome! She's brought glory to the country!"
"A historic breakthrough: a Chinese actress's first leading role in a Hollywood film!"
"Luc Besson has a keen eye; Liu Yifei definitely has that cool and mysterious aura."
"She's just a 'resource-backed' actress; without Light Chaser Pictures, she's nothing."
"What's with the sour grapes? If you're so capable, why don't you go and get the lead role in Luc Besson's film?"
"Am I the only one who thinks she won't be a big star in Hollywood? 'The Forbidden Kingdom' flopped."
All sorts of voices—praise, doubt, ridicule, defense—that's the entertainment industry; every move is scrutinized under a magnifying glass.
Yang Mi turned off her phone, the screen went dark, revealing her own face; young, with a face that had been edited, and a hint of weariness and confusion in her eyes.
"Eat quickly, the food is getting cold," she said to Tang Yan and Liu Shishi. "We have a performance this afternoon, don't be late."
""
The car fell silent again, with only the buzzing of the air conditioning vents and the faint sound of chewing.
The three of them, each lost in their own thoughts, silently ate their already somewhat cold boxed lunches.
At another studio in Beijing, the crew of "Sophie's Revenge" is busy filming.
This is Zhang Ziyi's first film as a producer, and she has put a lot of effort into it.
It was lunchtime, and she was sitting in her private rest room, closing her eyes to relax.
The non-stop filming left her somewhat exhausted, but more so under mental pressure. This was a crucial step in her transformation, and she could only succeed, not fail.
Assistant Xiao Chen, holding her phone, tiptoed in and saw Zhang Ziyi resting. She hesitated whether to wake her up.
"What is it?" Zhang Ziyi didn't open his eyes, but he knew someone had come in.
"Sister Ziyi," Xiao Chen whispered, "Light Chaser Animation held a press conference. Liu Yifei got the lead role in Luc Besson's new film 'Lucy,' which has an investment of 5000 million US dollars."
Zhang Ziyi opened his eyes and took the phone.
The screen displayed a push notification from Sina Entertainment with the headline in bold: "Liu Yifei confirmed to star in Luc Besson's 'Lucy,' making history for Chinese actresses."
She stared for a few seconds, her expression unchanged, but her eyes darkened and her fingers unconsciously tightened.
"Liu Yifei————" she murmured the name softly, her tone complicated.
When casting for "Black Swan" last year, her team also made contact and even contacted an agent in the United States to communicate.
Light Chaser Animation gave a polite but clear reply: the role has already been decided, and the director has someone in mind. At the time, she wondered who could snatch the Hollywood leading lady from her. Now she understands, it's Liu Yifei, and behind her stands Light Chaser Animation and Jiang Yu.
"It's so good to be young." Zhang Ziyi chuckled self-deprecatingly, handing the phone back to her assistant. There was a hint of weariness in her voice. "With powerful backers and resources, everything goes smoothly."
Xiao Chen whispered, "Sis, should we have the team release a press release? To congratulate them? After all, they're both Chinese actors."
"Congratulations?" Zhang Ziyi glanced at her assistant, her eyes sharp. "Congratulations on what? Congratulations on getting the role? Or congratulations on finding a sugar daddy?"
Xiao Chen was so frightened that he dared not speak.
Zhang Ziyi leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes again, and frowned.
She has worked in Hollywood for many years, appearing in films such as "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "The Knight," but these were all supporting roles with limited screen time and influence.
It's rare to have a great project like "Black Swan," a psychological thriller with a strong female lead. Director Darren Aronofsky is a genius, and this is definitely a contender for awards.
As a result, it was taken by a girl who was eight years younger than her and had much less experience.
It would be a lie to say I'm not upset, and it would be a lie to say I'm not jealous.
After all, she's a woman who's seen it all. She's been in the entertainment industry for over a decade, what kind of situation hasn't she witnessed?
What kind of grievances haven't I suffered?
She quickly adjusted her mindset.
When he opened his eyes, his expression had returned to calm, even with a hint of a professional smile.
"Have the team prepare a congratulatory press release. The wording should be appropriate and dignified," she told her assistant. "Emphasize that this is a breakthrough for Chinese actors and a demonstration of the international influence of Chinese films. Don't mention any personal emotions; just stick to the facts."
"Understood." Xiao Chen quickly wrote it down.
"In addition," Zhang Ziyi added, "we should contact Light Chaser Animation Studios to see if there's any possibility of collaboration. Liu Yifei's ability to land roles in both 'Black Swan' and 'Lucy' demonstrates that Light Chaser Animation Studios has deep resources and connections in Hollywood. We should express our interest in collaborating and perhaps arrange a dinner with Jiang Xuerou."
"Okay, I'll take care of it right away."
After the assistant left, Zhang Ziyi was left alone in the lounge.
She walked to the mirror and looked at herself.
She's thirty years old, which isn't young for an actress.
Although her face was well-maintained, the fatigue in her eyes was undeniable.
She needs to transform, needs new opportunities, and needs more substantial works to solidify her position.
She took out her phone and found Liu Yifei's short number.
I added them at an event two years ago, but we've never chatted.
After thinking for a few seconds, she typed: "Yifei, I saw the news. Congratulations! You're a source of pride for Chinese actors. Let's have dinner together sometime."
send.
The reply came quickly: "Thank you, Sister Ziyi! You flatter me. I still have a lot to learn from you. We'll definitely get together when you have time."
Polite, proper, and impeccable.
Zhang Ziyi put down his phone and smiled.
That's how this circle is; on the surface, everything seems harmonious, but underneath, there are turbulent undercurrents.
The necessary superficial projects still need to be done.
Jiang Yu left the office and took the elevator downstairs.
He was the only one in the elevator, and there was a subtle tenderness in his eyes.
He took out his phone and sent a text message to Liu Yifei: "The press conference is over, and it went very well. The whole internet is talking about it now."
Let's discuss you and *Lucy*.
The reply came quickly: a cute bunny emoji followed by the text: "I saw the news. The reporter asked such a sharp question—when are you coming over?"
"Almost there, in twenty minutes. What would you like to eat?"
"You decide, I'm fine with anything. But—I'd like some soup, warm soup. It's a bit cold today."
"Okay, I know a Cantonese restaurant that makes excellent soups; their American ginseng stewed black chicken is a must-try."
"Okay, I'll wait for you."
Jiang Yu put down his phone and smiled.
She is like a quiet harbor; no matter how fierce the storm outside, returning to her brings peace.
The elevator reached the underground parking garage, and he had just stepped out when his phone rang again.
This time it's Liu Yifei's mother, Liu Xiaoli.
Jiang Yu answered the phone, speaking respectfully, "Hello, Auntie."
"Xiao Jiang, I saw the news." Liu Xiaoli's voice was gentle, but you could hear the excitement in it. "Yifei has landed another Hollywood movie role, and it's directed by Luc Besson. Thank you for giving her such a great opportunity."
"Auntie, you're too kind. It's Yifei's own excellence that's why she was chosen. The director thought she was suitable, so he selected her. I just provided the opportunity; whether she can seize it depends on her own ability."
"I know, I know," Liu Xiaoli smiled. "I still want to thank you. Yifei is sometimes too strong-willed; she shoulders everything herself and doesn't say a word even when she's wronged. With you taking care of her and supporting her, I feel much more at ease."
"I will take good care of her, don't worry."
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yu got into the car and fastened his seatbelt.
The car was parked in front of the Cantonese restaurant.
This is a long-established brand. It has a small storefront, elegant decor, and a very good reputation.
Jiang Yu got out of the car and walked into the restaurant.
The waiter led him to the reserved private room.
Pushing open the door, Liu Yifei was already there.
She was wearing a black blazer today, her hair was loosely draped over her shoulders, she had no makeup on, wore black-rimmed glasses, and was looking down at her phone.
Hearing the sound, I looked up and smiled.
"I'm here," she said softly.
"Have you been waiting long?" Jiang Yu sat down opposite her.
"No, I just arrived." Liu Yifei handed him her phone. "Look, Shu Chang and the others are congratulating me in the group chat."
Jiang Yu took the phone; it was a QQ group for her and her girlfriends, called "Fairy Gathering Place".
Shu Chang, Jane Zhang, Yao Beina, and Jing Tian were all there, and they flooded the chat with a bunch of "Congratulations," "Awesome," and "Envy, jealousy, and hatred" emojis.
Jing Tian also made a point of thanking her: "Sister Yifei, thank you. I know you did this to help me—thank you so much."
Liu Yifei replied: "What are you talking about? It should have been announced anyway. You focus on preparing for your Disney project and don't let it affect you. Let's get together again when you come back from Hollywood."
The following is Shu Chang's complaint: "Liu Yifei, you're not being fair! You didn't even tell me about something this important beforehand! You have to treat us! And eat the most expensive food!"
Jane Zhang: "+1, I have to treat you."
Yao Beina: "Congratulations Yifei, take care of yourself and don't overwork yourself."
Jiang Yu handed the phone back to her: "How is Jing Tian's mood?"
"She's much better," Liu Yifei said. "Her agent gave her two days off to adjust her mindset. President Lu also personally called her to apologize, saying that he would definitely manage her strictly in the future and that this kind of thing would not happen again."
"That's good." Jiang Yu picked up the menu. "What kind of soup would you like? We have American ginseng stewed black-boned chicken, sea coconut stewed lean pork, and cordyceps flower stewed pigeon—"
"Let's make ginseng and black-boned chicken soup, the one you recommended," Liu Yifei said. "You've been working so hard these past few days, you should nourish yourself."
After ordering, the waiter left, leaving only the two people in the private room.
Liu Yifei looked at Jiang Yu and said softly, "Were the reporters' questions difficult today? Sister Jiang must have had a hard time dealing with them, right?"
"It's alright." Jiang Yu smiled, taking her hand. "Jiang Xuerou is someone who has seen a lot of storms; this little problem won't stump her. You don't need to worry; all of this was expected. But you, are you ready to face the storm ahead? The media will be watching you, netizens will be discussing you, and your colleagues will be paying attention."
"I'm ready." Liu Yifei nodded, her eyes resolute. "I had to face it sooner or later anyway. This time, I got the role fair and square, based on my own ability. I'm not afraid of their questions, I'm not afraid of them poaching me."
"Okay." Jiang Yu squeezed her hand. "I'm here, don't be afraid."
"Mmm." Liu Yifei smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. "With you here, I'm not afraid."
The soup arrived, and its aroma was irresistible.
Liu Yifei scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and carefully drank it down.
"It's delicious," she said.
"Drink more if you like it." Jiang Yu put food on her plate. "Eat more, you've lost weight recently."
The two ate and chatted like any ordinary couple, talking casually and sharing their daily lives.