EFB Chapter 117 GP Partner Xiao Liu Gets Criticized
Chapter 117 GP Partner Xiao Liu Gets Criticized
Chapter 117 GP Partner Xiao Liu Gets Criticized
On the 18th day of the first lunar month, at 7:30 in the morning, the sky over Beijing was not yet fully bright.
When Jiang Yu was woken up by the sound of his phone vibrating, Liu Yifei was still fast asleep in his arms.
Her long hair was spread across the pillow, with a few strands clinging to her fair cheeks, rising and falling slightly with her breath.
Jiang Yu carefully pulled out his arm, which was a little numb from being used as a pillow, and picked up his constantly vibrating phone from the bedside table.
It's Chen Jingming.
"Boss, are you awake?" The voice on the other end of the phone was energetic. "Shen Lanpeng from Sequoia China just called and wants to meet us at 10 a.m. From what he said, he wants to invite Light Chaser Animation to become a partner at Sequoia China!"
Jiang Yu instantly regained his senses.
Shen Lanpeng, founder of Sequoia Capital China, is a legendary figure in China's venture capital industry.
Sequoia Capital entered China in 2005, with Shen Lanpeng at the helm. In just four years, it invested in a series of star projects, including Ctrip, Home Inns, New Oriental, and Alibaba.
In the investment world, Shen Lanpeng's name is a golden brand; being invited to meet by him is itself a form of recognition.
"Where shall we meet?" Jiang Yu sat up, trying not to wake Liu Yifei.
"The Park Hyatt Hotel in Yintai Centre is Shen Lanpeng's usual residence," Chen Jingming said. "He said he had prepared the finest Wuyi Mountain Da Hong Pao tea, and wanted to have a good tea tasting and discussion with General Manager Jiang."
"Okay, see you at the company at 9:30, let's go together."
As Jiang Yu was about to get out of bed after hanging up the phone, a fair arm reached out from under the covers and wrapped around his waist.
"What time is it?——" Liu Yifei's voice was still sticky from just waking up, like a lazy cat.
"It's 7:30, you can sleep a little longer." Jiang Yu turned around and kissed her forehead, gently brushing away the stray hairs on her forehead with his fingers. "I have an important meeting this morning, but I'll have dinner with you tonight."
"What? So early?" Liu Yifei opened her eyes halfway, her eyelashes casting fine shadows in the morning light.
"Shen Lanpeng from Sequoia China wants to meet with me," Jiang Yu said softly. "It's probably related to financing."
Liu Yifei snapped out of her daze, her eyes widening: "Sequoia? That incredibly powerful investment firm? I heard they've invested in so many internet companies—"
"Yes, it's that Sequoia." Jiang Yu smiled and pinched her cheek. "If you're interested, I'll take you to meet these big shots in the investment world next time and broaden your horizons."
"Forget it." Liu Yifei shrank back under the covers, only half her face showing. "I can't connect with them. All they talk about are price-to-earnings ratios, valuation models, and exit mechanisms. It makes my head spin. Acting suits me better. Memorizing lines and figuring out characters is so much simpler."
Jiang Yu's heart melted when he saw her lingering in bed.
Only in front of this girl does Mr. Jiang, who is a master strategist in the capital world, let down his guard and reveal such a gentle side.
At 8:10, Jiang Yu finished washing up and picked out a custom-made dark gray Zegna suit from the wardrobe.
Before leaving, he returned to the bedroom, where Liu Yifei was already asleep again, her breathing even and deep, curled up in the blankets like a kitten.
He quietly closed the door, went downstairs, and drove off to his car.
During last year's financial crisis, Light Chaser Capital made nearly $20 billion in global market profits by accurately buying at the bottom.
Part of this money was invested in core holdings such as Tencent, Apple, and Google, while the rest was kept in a cash account for liquidity management.
At 9:30, Jiang Yu arrived at the Chasing Light Capital office on the 35th floor of Wanda Plaza on time.
Chen Jingming was already waiting, wearing a royal blue three-piece suit today.
His hair was neatly combed, and he had changed his watch to a Vacheron Constantin Patrimony series, clearly intending to make a good impression in front of an investor of Shen Lanpeng's caliber.
"Boss, I asked around," Chen Jingming said while organizing documents. "Sequoia China is currently raising its second fund, with a target size of $10 billion. Shen Lanpeng contacted us, probably to try and get Light Chaser to become a larger LP."
(Limited partners) might also want us to become their general partners (GPs).
"LP or GP?" Jiang Yu walked to the window and looked at the endless stream of cars below.
"I bet it's GP." Chen Jingming's eyes lit up as he walked over to him. "Shen Lanpeng has a really sharp eye. He must have thoroughly researched Light Chaser's investment performance over the past few years and wants to leverage our expertise and resources. Think about it, Light Chaser's compound annualized return over the past five years has exceeded 350%, which is top-tier globally. Sequoia wants to bring us on board; a powerful alliance would be a win-win situation."
Jiang Yu nodded, "That's possible."
In the investment world, performance is the most important thing. The track record of Light Chaser is so impressive that it's impossible for a big shot like Shen Lanpeng not to notice it.
"However—" Chen Jingming changed the subject, "If we really are allowed to be GPs, then we'll have to participate in fund management and investment decisions. We're already too busy with our own direct investment business, let alone managing a fund—"
"This is a problem, but also an opportunity." Jiang Yu turned and walked back to his desk. "If the cooperation model is designed well, we can participate in Sequoia's fund without affecting our main business. The key is what conditions Shen Lanpeng offers."
"So what's our bottom line?"
"First, investment decision-making power cannot be completely relinquished; second, the core team of Light Chaser cannot leave; third, cooperation cannot affect our existing investment strategy," Jiang Yu said, counting on his fingers. "As long as these three points can be upheld, everything else is negotiable."
Chen Jingming quickly jotted it down: "Understood. Shall we set off now?"
"Let's go, don't keep President Shen waiting."
At 9:50, the two arrived at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Yintai Centre.
Shen Lanpeng booked the innermost private meeting area of the executive lounge.
He was younger than Jiang Yu had imagined, in his early forties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, a light blue shirt, and gray trousers. He looked very refined, with sharp, eagle-like eyes.
"President Jiang, it's an honor to meet you!" Shen Lanpeng stood up to shake hands, his smile sincere and infectious. "This must be President Chen, right? It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Mr. Shen, you're too kind." Jiang Yu shook hands with him. "I've long heard of Sequoia China's reputation, and today I finally have the opportunity to learn from them in person."
"I wouldn't dare to ask for your advice; let's learn from each other," Shen Lanpeng said modestly, leading the two to their seats.
The waiter brought out a complete tea set, and Shen Lanpeng personally brewed the tea.
He boiled water to warm the teapot, added tea leaves to smell their aroma, and poured the tea from a height. Every movement was skillful and fluid, clearly showing that he was a master of tea ceremony.
"Wuyishan Dahongpao, a second-generation grafted variety from those mother trees," Shen Lanpeng said as he poured the tea. The tea soup was bright orange-yellow and had a fragrant aroma. "The yield is extremely low, only a dozen kilograms a year, and it is all controlled by the Rock Tea Association."
Mr. Jiang, please have a taste.
Jiang Yu picked up the white porcelain cup, first observing its color; the tea soup was bright orange-yellow and crystal clear. Then he smelled its aroma.
Finally, take a small sip, let the tea linger in your mouth for three seconds, and then slowly swallow.
"Excellent tea," he exclaimed sincerely. "It has a strong rocky character; it is indeed authentic Wuyi rock tea."
"Mr. Jiang knows about tea?" Shen Lanpeng's eyes lit up.
"I know a little bit," Jiang Yu said modestly. "My father loves to drink tea, and I've been drinking it since I was a child, so I've been influenced by him from a young age."
"Then we have something in common." Shen Lanpeng smiled even more warmly. "Tea is like life; it should be savored slowly."
The same applies to investing; you can't rush it or be impatient.
After several rounds of tea, the atmosphere gradually became more harmonious.
Shen Lanpeng put down his teacup and got to the point: "President Jiang, I'm a straightforward person, so I won't beat around the bush."
The reason I invited you here today is to formally invite Light Chaser Capital to become a partner of Sequoia China.
really.
Jiang Yu and Chen Jingming exchanged a glance, both seeing the "I knew it" look in each other's eyes.
"Mr. Shen, you are too kind." Jiang Yu said calmly, his fingers gently stroking the warm teacup. "However, Light Chaser mainly focuses on direct investment right now, and we don't have much experience as a fund partner. Sequoia is a top investment institution in China, and we are worried that our lack of experience might hold us back."
"Experience can be accumulated, but foresight is key." Shen Lanpeng leaned forward slightly, his tone sincere. "Mr. Jiang, to be honest, I had my team thoroughly research every investment made by Chasing Light over the past four years. From building a position in Apple in 2005, to heavily investing in Tencent in 2006, and then buying at the bottom during last year's financial crisis—every single move was terrifyingly precise. What surprised me even more was that you heavily invested in Tencent, Apple, and..."
And then there are the cloud computing companies that have only recently become popular —
He paused, his tone filled with undisguised admiration: "This foresight, this ability to grasp trends, I, Shen Lanpeng, am ashamed to admit my inferiority. To be honest, in my more than ten years in the industry, I've met countless investors, but you, Mr. Jiang, are the first person who can always see the future half a step ahead."
That's a very strong statement.
"Mr. Shen, you flatter me." Jiang Yu remained humble. "We were just lucky and hit a few right spots."
Investing is 70% about foresight and 30% about luck; we were probably just lucky with that 30%.
"Once or twice is luck, but being right every time is skill." Shen Lanpeng shook his head. "Mr. Jiang, I won't beat around the bush with you. Sequoia China's second fund is $10 billion, and we've already raised 90% of it. I want to leave the rest entirely to Light Chaser, not as an LP, but as a GP, to manage this fund with us."
He took a sip of tea and continued outlining the terms: "The specific cooperation model can be flexibly designed. LightChaser can send its core team to Sequoia to participate in project due diligence, evaluation, and investment decisions; Sequoia will also fully open its project portfolio, resource network, and post-investment management system to LightChaser. In addition, if LightChaser's existing investment portfolio needs to exit, Sequoia can help connect it with the best buyers to ensure maximum exit returns."
The terms were very tempting.
Jiang Yu pondered for a moment, then tapped his fingers lightly on the table: "President Shen, how much does it cost to provide the lighting?"
"US$1 million," Shen Lanpeng said, "which accounts for 10% of the fund's total size. As the GP partner, Light Chaser can share 10% of the fund's profits."
Jiang Yu picked up his teacup and sipped slowly, his mind racing.
Becoming a GP partner at Sequoia China signifies that Light Chaser has officially entered the core of China's top investment circle.
It will be much easier to invest in projects, connect with resources, and get in touch with talent in the future.
The Sequoia brand is the best stepping stone.
This also means that Light Chaser's investment strategy needs to be coordinated with Sequoia Capital.
"Mr. Shen, I have a question." Jiang Yu put down his teacup and looked directly at Shen Lanpeng.
"Speaking."
"If Light Chaser becomes a partner, are there any restrictions on our investment directions? For example, are we still allowed to invest in sectors that Sequoia Capital has already invested in? If we encounter a particularly good project, must we invest through a fund, or can we invest directly ourselves?"
"Good question." Shen Lanpeng smiled. "That's exactly what I wanted to emphasize. Sequoia and Light Chaser are equal strategic partners, not subordinate to each other. You are perfectly free to continue your direct investment business; we will not impose any restrictions. It's just that we need to coordinate decision-making on projects managed by the fund. And—"
He paused, then said meaningfully, "I trust Mr. Jiang's judgment. If Light Chaser identifies a particularly promising project, Sequoia will prioritize co-investing, and may even lead the investment with its fund. What we need is Mr. Jiang's vision that can see into the future."
This statement clearly indicates that Shen Lanpeng values Jiang Yu's investment capabilities and forward-looking vision, and wants to leverage his judgment to improve the fund's overall return.
Jiang Yu understood the situation. He looked at Chen Jingming, who nodded slightly, his eyes saying, "We can talk."
"Since Mr. Shen is so sincere, it wouldn't be appropriate for us to refuse." Jiang Yu smiled and extended his hand. "1 million US dollars, Light Chaser has it. Let the team refine the specific details of the cooperation."
Shen Lanpeng's eyes lit up, and he immediately grasped Jiang Yu's hand: "President Jiang, you're so generous! Come, let's have tea instead of wine to wish for a successful cooperation!"
The three raised their glasses and clinked them together, the crisp sound of the porcelain echoing in the quiet reception area.
For the next hour or so, the two sides had in-depth discussions on the specific details of the cooperation.
Shen Lanpeng, as expected of a seasoned veteran in the investment world, demonstrated precise and comprehensive control over the terms, showing sufficient sincerity while safeguarding Sequoia's core interests.
Jiang Yu was equally assertive, fighting for every right he could and making concessions with grace and composure.
The final agreement framework is as follows: Light Chaser will invest US$1 million to become the GP partner of Sequoia China's second fund, holding a 10% stake and sharing 10% of the profits.
A three-person team from the Light Chaser faction is stationed at Sequoia Capital to participate in investment decisions, but their personnel relationships remain with Light Chaser.
Sequoia Capital has fully opened its project database and resource network to Light Chaser Anchor Group, and the two parties hold a joint investment decision meeting every quarter.
Sequoia Capital has priority to co-invest in any of Light Chaser's existing investment projects.
The two parties jointly host two investment forums each year to discover high-quality projects.
After discussing business, the atmosphere became much more relaxed.
The meeting concluded at noon in a pleasant atmosphere.
After seeing Shen Lanpeng off, Jiang Yu and Chen Jingming stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows in the lobby of the Park Hyatt Hotel, looking at the snowflakes falling outside and smiling at each other.
"$1 million for the GP partner status of Sequoia China," Chen Jingming exclaimed. "Boss, this deal is incredibly worthwhile. The Sequoia brand endorsement alone is worth the price."
"More importantly, it's about resources and connections," Jiang Yu said. "Shen Lanpeng has been operating in the investment circle for over ten years, and his accumulated resource network is unfathomable. In the future, when we want to invest in a project, having Sequoia help with due diligence and resource connections will be much more efficient."
"Who should we send?" Chen Jingming asked. "The three people who are stationed at Sequoia must be our core members."
Jiang Yu thought for a moment: "Let Zhou Shouzi lead the team. He's just arrived and needs to quickly build industry knowledge and connections, so training at Sequoia is the best option. We can also pair him with two promising young analysts to learn from him."
"Xiao Zhou is indeed suitable." Chen Jingming nodded. "He worked at DST before, has an international perspective, and is young and eager to learn. After a year at Sequoia, he will be able to stand on his own when he comes back."
"Go talk to him later and see what he's willing to do." Jiang Yu glanced at his watch. "What are the plans for this afternoon?"
"At 2 o'clock, Guangying Cloud has a technical review meeting, and Wang Jian wants to report on the progress of distributed storage." Chen Jingming flipped through the schedule. "At 4 o'clock, we will have a video conference with Tencent's contract team to finalize the investment details for Guangying Video."
"I won't go to the tech conference; you can go in my place," Jiang Yu said. "I'll attend the Tencent meeting. Yifei has a dinner party with her girlfriends tonight, and she wants me to come along."
Chen Jingming laughed: "Oh, so you're officially integrating into your girlfriends' circle. Boss, your relationship is getting more and more down-to-earth."
"Stop being so cheeky." Jiang Yu laughed and punched him lightly. "Let's go back to the company."
At 7:40 p.m., at a private restaurant in Xitucheng.
The storefront is small, but the decor is extremely elegant.
White walls and gray tiles, wooden lattice windows, and two red lanterns hanging at the doorway, exuding warmth in the snowy night.
Pushing open the heavy wooden door reveals a completely different world: a small bridge over a stream, artificial hills and bonsai, with the melodious sound of a zither, like a miniature Suzhou garden.
Shu Chang's private room was at the very back, and when she pushed the door open, it was already bustling with activity.
Shu Chang was wearing a bright red cashmere sweater, which made her skin look as white as snow. She was arguing with Zhang Liangying about the behind-the-scenes manipulation of a recent music variety show.
Zhang Liangying still had that cool demeanor, wearing a black leather jacket and ripped jeans, holding a glass of red wine, and speaking with great enthusiasm.
Yao Beina sat in a grand chair by the window, wearing a light blue Chinese-style cheongsam with a white knitted cardigan, looking down at her phone.
Jing Tian arrived the earliest and sat next to the main seat. She wore a Chanel tweed suit, her hair was carefully styled, and her makeup was exquisite.
She looked a little reserved, with her hands on her knees, like a primary school student waiting for the teacher to call her name.
Seeing Liu Yifei enter, her eyes lit up, and she immediately stood up: "Sister Yifei!"
"Sweetie, you're here so early." Liu Yifei smiled as she walked over and naturally took off her down jacket and hung it on the hanger.
She wore a beige turtleneck sweater underneath, paired with black slim-fit trousers, a simple and elegant look.
Then, everyone's eyes fell on Jiang Yu, who was following behind Liu Yifei.
Shu Chang was the first to react, her eyes widening in surprise: "President Jiang? What are you doing—"
Zhang Liangying was also stunned, and almost spilled the red wine in his hand.
Yao Beina looked up, adjusted her glasses, and looked a little confused.
Jing Tian was the most shocked. Her mouth was slightly open as she looked at Jiang Yu and then at Liu Yifei, her brain clearly working at high speed.
Liu Yifei blushed, but quickly regained her composure and took Jiang Yu's arm: "Um—let me introduce you, this is my boyfriend, Jiang Yu."
The private room fell silent instantly.
Three seconds later, various sounds erupted.
"What?!"
"Boy friend?!"
"Liu Yifei, you've kept this a secret for a long time!"
Shu Chang was the first to rush over, punching Liu Yifei on the shoulder with a light but dramatic punch: "You, Liu Yifei! I asked you out for the New Year, and you kept saying you were busy, making plans one day and postponing the next. Turns out you were on a date! You value romance over friendship! You're a heartbreaker!"
Zhang Liangying also walked over, looking Jiang Yu up and down. "President Jiang—no, now you should call me brother-in-law. Not bad, you won over Yifei without making a sound. When did this happen? How did you pursue her? Confess!"
Yao Beina smiled gently, stood up and walked over: "Congratulations. Yifei should have been in a relationship a long time ago. We've all been worried about her being single all these years."
Jing Tian was still in shock, muttering to herself, "President Jiang—and Sister Yifei? My God, I never expected this! If this gets out, it'll be the biggest news of the year in the entertainment industry—"
Jiang Yu was a little embarrassed by the scene, but quickly regained his composure and smiled as he nodded to everyone: "Hello, ladies, I'm sorry to have disturbed your girls' gathering today."
"No problem, no problem!" Shu Chang quickly said, having recovered from her shock and switched into gossip mode. "It's our honor to have President Jiang here! Quickly, take a seat in the head seat! Waiter, bring another chair!"
After some back and forth, Jiang Yu was still forced to sit in the main seat, with Liu Yifei sitting next to him.
Shu Chang, Zhang Liangying, Yao Beina, and Jing Tian sat down in turn, the five girls surrounding Jiang Yu like stars around the moon.
The waiter began serving the dishes.
All are exquisite Jiangnan dishes: Crystal shrimp dumplings have thin skins and generous fillings, and you can see the tender pink shrimp inside through the translucent skin; Honey-glazed char siu has a bright red color and a perfect balance of sweet and salty; Steamed sea bass is cooked to perfection, and the fish is as tender as tofu; Baby bok choy in broth has a clear broth and crisp bok choy hearts.
There were also several creative dishes, presented so beautifully they resembled works of art.
Shu Chang was the most enthusiastic, picking up her glass: "Come on, the first glass, to celebrate our Yi Fei finally finding a boyfriend! She kept it a secret from us for so long, she deserves to be punished!"
Liu Yifei pleaded, clasping her hands together: "I was wrong, okay? It's just that we haven't been dating for very long, and we wanted to stabilize things before going public."
"How long is 'not long'?" Zhang Liangying pressed, his eyes shining like a detective's.
"Two months," Liu Yifei said softly.
"Two months?!" Shu Chang's voice rose eight octaves. "You call that not long? Liu Yifei, you're really not being fair! Two months! We were all kept in the dark!"
"No, no—" Liu Yifei quickly explained, "It's just that Jiang Yu is too busy with work. We don't actually see each other very often, and we're mostly apart, so we don't feel it's time to go public yet—"
Jiang Yu picked up the conversation, raising his glass: "It's my fault; the company has been really busy lately. This is a toast to everyone, thank you for taking care of Yifei. I will definitely spend more time with her in the future, and I ask for your continued support."
After saying that, he drank it all in one gulp.
The liquor was strong, but he remained unfazed.
The girls exchanged glances and then smiled.
Shu Chang said, "President Jiang, seeing how protective you are of Yi Fei and how sincere your attitude is, we are relieved."
Come on, everyone, let's have a drink together and wish Yifei and President Jiang all the best!
"Blessings, blessings!"
"You must be happy!"
May you have a son soon!
The last sentence was spoken by Jing Tian, and she blushed as soon as she finished speaking.
Everyone laughed, and the atmosphere instantly became relaxed and pleasant.
After a few drinks, the girls loosened up and started chatting about all sorts of gossip in the entertainment industry.
Who's secretly dating whom? Who's fallen out with whom over a role? Whose new drama flopped in the ratings? Whose look was criticized by netizens?
What are considered secrets by outsiders are everyday topics of conversation among them.
Jiang Yu listened quietly, occasionally serving Liu Yifei food or whispering a few words in her ear.
The unspoken understanding and intimacy between the two was obvious to everyone; with just a glance from Liu Yifei, Jiang Yu knew what she wanted to eat; when Jiang Yu's glass was empty, Liu Yifei would naturally refill it for him. That kind of unspoken cooperation could only be found between truly intimate people.
Jing Tian suddenly asked, her eyes sparkling, "Sister Yifei, when did you and President Jiang start dating? Who pursued whom?"
As soon as the question was asked, everyone fell silent and turned to look at Liu Yifei, even stopping the act of picking up food with their chopsticks.
Liu Yifei blushed again, looking like a ripe apple under the lights: "It was during the filming of 'Black Swan'."
Jiang Yu is the producer. He went to visit the set, and we—”
"And then they hit it off?" Shu Chang chimed in, her tone exaggerated. "Sure, love blossomed on set, how romantic! Like something out of a movie!"
"It wasn't because of the drama," Liu Yifei corrected, but a sweet smile played on her lips. "We gradually got to know each other after filming wrapped. He treated me to dinner, we chatted, and discovered we had a lot in common—"
Zhang Liang smiled and raised his glass: "That's about right. But Mr. Jiang, I have to say something fair; Yifei is a good girl, simple, kind, and without any guile. It's not easy to maintain that in the entertainment industry, which is a big melting pot. You must treat her well and not bully her."
"Definitely." Jiang Yu said earnestly, turning to look at Liu Yifei with tender eyes, "Meeting Yifei is my good fortune."
Yao Beina said softly, her tone tinged with emotion, "Seeing Yifei find happiness makes me truly happy for her. In our industry, it's not easy to meet someone genuine. Many people are either after fame, fortune, or just experiencing a fleeting infatuation. It's so rare to find someone like you, who slowly get to know each other, gradually build a relationship, and ultimately end up together."
That's a bit sad to say.
Yao Beina's own love life has been quite bumpy, with several relationships ending without a trace, so she especially understands how precious it is to find a true love.
Liu Yifei held Yao Beina's hand and said sincerely, "Beina, you will also meet the right person. You are so good and so outstanding, there will definitely be someone who knows how to cherish you."
"Let it be." Yao Beina smiled, but a fleeting look of melancholy crossed her eyes.
Jiang Yu looked at Yao Beina, and his heart tightened.
We need to come up with a clever solution.
As they chatted, the topic turned to work.
Shu Chang said with gratitude, "President Jiang, thank you for giving me the opportunity to write 'Love Like a Bouquet'."
I read the script and really liked it. I've been thinking about the character these past few days.
"You're perfect for this role," Jiang Yu said gently. "Director Shen Ao may be young, but he's very insightful."
"If you act well and bring the character to life, there will be more opportunities to work together in the future."
Jing Tian also said earnestly, "President Jiang, thank you so much for giving me this opportunity regarding the Disney project. I know my skills aren't quite there yet, and I still have a gap compared to Sister Yifei, but I will work hard. These past few days I've hired an acting coach and have been taking lessons every day, and I've also found an English teacher to improve my spoken English."
"You have your advantages," Jiang Yu said sincerely. "You're young, have international experience, and a good image. Acting skills are built up gradually; you can't rush them. Make the most of this opportunity and learn and practice as much as you can. The Disney team is very professional; you can learn a lot working with them."
Liu Yifei watched from the side, feeling a warm glow in her heart.
Jiang Yu was so kind and respectful to her friends, which made her feel especially happy.
She knew that some people would look down on "actors" once they had money and status, but Jiang Yu never did; he genuinely respected everyone.
The meal took more than three hours.
It was almost 11 o'clock when we finished.
Shu Chang suggested going to the KTV next door to continue the party, but Jiang Yu had to get up early for a meeting the next day, and Liu Yifei was also tired, so they declined.
Stepping out of the restaurant, the snow was still falling, and a thin layer had already accumulated on the ground, making a squeaking sound when you stepped on it.
Several girls said goodbye at the door.
Shu Chang hugged Liu Yifei and whispered in her ear, "Be so happy. President Jiang is a good person; I can tell he genuinely cares about you. If he dares to bully you, tell me, and our sisterhood will back you up."
"He won't," Liu Yifei smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.
Zhang Liangying said to Jiang Yu in a tone like that of a family member: "President Jiang, I'm entrusting Yifei to you. She seems strong and independent, but she's actually very soft-hearted and needs to be cared for. It hasn't been easy for her to work hard all these years on her own."
"Don't worry," Jiang Yu solemnly promised, "I will take good care of her."
Yao Beina and Jing Tian also said their goodbyes.
Before getting into the car, Jing Tian turned back and said, "Sister Yifei, President Jiang, let's get together again next time! It's on me!"
After the girls left, Jiang Yu and Liu Yifei got into the car.
The driver had turned the car's heater on full blast beforehand. Liu Yifei leaned back in her seat, her face flushed from the alcohol, her eyes shining like stars.
"Are you happy today?" Jiang Yu asked, helping her fasten her seatbelt.
"I'm happy." Liu Yifei turned to look at him, her smile bright. "It's just that I was a little embarrassed by all the questions they asked. Shu Chang has such a big mouth, she dares to ask anything."
"They care about you." Jiang Yu held her hand; it was soft and a little cool. "Having such best friends is a blessing. There aren't many true friends in the entertainment industry; cherish them."
"Hmm." Liu Yifei nodded, then remembered something, "By the way, have you noticed Sister Bina's body?"
She seems to have lost weight again. I asked her, and she said she's been preparing an album lately, staying up all night writing songs, which is why she's lost weight. I always felt—she didn't look very well.
Jiang Yu's heart tightened.
Of course he noticed it.
Yao Beina's complexion looked alright, but her thinness was abnormal; it was a thinness that came across as tired and sickly.
If I remember correctly, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011. Now it's 2009, so she may already have early symptoms, but they just haven't been detected yet.
"Yifei," he said softly, his tone serious, "Have you ever advised Bena to have regular comprehensive medical checkups? Especially—women's health checkups?"
"I tried to persuade her, but she said she gets a routine check-up every year," Liu Yifei said, a little confused. "What's wrong? Did you find out something?"
"It's nothing." Jiang Yu decided to wait for a more suitable time to bring it up, as it would be too abrupt now. "I just feel that she's working too hard and needs to take care of her health. People who make music often stay up late and have irregular schedules, which can easily lower their immunity. Remind her more often when you have time that health is the foundation of everything."
"I know," Liu Yifei sighed. "That's just how she is. She forgets everything when she starts making music. Last year, she stayed up for three consecutive nights to record an album and eventually collapsed in the recording studio. We couldn't persuade her to stop."
Jiang Yu felt even heavier.
This level of work intensity, coupled with any pre-existing health problems, is simply adding insult to injury.
The car drove slowly through the snowy night.
The city of Beijing outside the window is covered in a blanket of snow, as beautiful as a fairy tale.
The streetlights cast halos of light through the snow, and occasionally, late-night pedestrians hurried by, leaving a trail of footprints in the snow.
Liu Yifei suddenly said in a soft voice, "Thank you for being so kind to all my friends."
She leaned on his shoulder, her hair brushing against his neck, tickling him a little. "Shuchang, Liangying, Beina, Tiantian—your attitude towards them today really touched me. There was no perfunctory attitude, no condescension, just a sincere chat and genuine help. They'll definitely go back and say that Liu Yifei found a great boyfriend."
"It's like loving someone because of their love for them," Jiang Yu laughed, putting his arm around her shoulder. "Your friends are my friends. Besides, they are all outstanding girls who deserve respect."
Liu Yifei closed her eyes, a smile playing on her lips.
At that moment, she felt incredibly happy.
With a lover, friends, and a career, what more could one ask for in life?
Unbeknownst to her, Jiang Yu was plotting something else entirely.