EFB Chapter 99 Keeping a Mistress in a Golden House? He Confessed His Love by Holding Hands!
Chapter 99 Keeping a Mistress in a Golden House? He Confessed His Love by Holding Hands!
Chapter 98 Keeping a Mistress in a Golden House? He Confessed His Love by Holding Hands!
July 6, Los Angeles.
Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the automatic curtains, playfully dancing on Jiang Yu's face.
He groggily turned over and buried his face in the Egyptian cotton pillow. The smell of his new home mingled with the faint waxy scent of the solid wood flooring and the refreshing lemon essential oil from the air purifier.
10:03.
Jiang Yu stared at the ceiling for a full minute before he was fully awake.
This isn't his apartment with a view of the Hollywood sign; this is his new home in Beverly Hills, a Spanish-style villa he snagged at a 30% discount during last year's financial crisis.
We left the renovations to air out for six months before officially moving in after New Year's Day. Last night was our third night living here.
"It's so quiet," he muttered as he sat up.
The bedroom is big enough to play badminton, and the ceiling height is at least four meters.
He hired a minimalist designer to do the interior design, with the main colors being sophisticated gray and ivory white, accented with walnut furniture and a few vintage ornaments he found at a flea market.
The overall effect is a kind of understated luxury that "looks expensive but doesn't flaunt it".
I got out of bed barefoot, my toes sinking into the thick cashmere carpet.
Jiang Yu walked to the floor-to-ceiling window that covered the entire wall and pressed the switch.
The curtains slid open silently, letting in the blazing winter sun of Los Angeles.
The front yard features a lawn trimmed like green velvet, with a shimmering blue infinity pool nestled in the center.
In the distance, through the meticulously manicured olive groves, one can glimpse the blurred skyline of downtown Los Angeles.
Further away, the Santa Monica Mountains are faintly visible in the morning mist.
"This is what life is all about." Jiang Yu stretched out a big yawn, his joints making a satisfying click.
He strolled leisurely into the master bathroom, a place big enough to host a party.
The bathroom features a double sink, a mirrored cabinet with built-in anti-fog and lighting, a shower room that can accommodate three people at the same time, and a separate bathtub with a view.
As Jiang Yu brushed his teeth, he stared at his sleepy reflection in the mirror, his hair sticking up in the wind. Suddenly, he felt a sense of unreality.
Four years ago, he was still taking the subway in Beijing, eating jianbing guozi (Chinese crepes) at roadside stalls, and staying up all night working on his graduation thesis.
Now, he owns a villa in Beverly Hills, has his own company in Hollywood, and the movies he invests in are box office hits worldwide.
The phone rang in the bedroom.
Jiang Yu returned with a toothbrush in his mouth; it was David.
"Boss, are you awake?" David's voice rang out.
"Hmm, just woke up. What's wrong?" Jiang Yu asked vaguely, almost dripping toothpaste foam onto the floor.
"The Koreans are here." David's disdain practically spilled through the airwaves. "CJ Entertainment, President Lee Mi-jung is leading the team herself, along with a female celebrity, Jun Ji-hyun. They're sitting in the company's reception room right now, saying they want to meet with you to discuss a collaboration. They brought a translator, an assistant, and—"
'
He paused, as if needing courage to say what he was going to say next, "Kimchi. A whole box of kimchi, packaged like a luxury item."
Jiang Yu almost swallowed the toothpaste: "Kimchi? Really?"
"I saw it with my own eyes! There was ginseng, ceramic handicrafts, and a photo book autographed by Jun Ji-hyun." David's voice rose eight octaves. "Boss, what did they think this was? A Korean restaurant opening ceremony?"
Jiang Yu couldn't help but laugh: "Alright, let them come over. I don't want to go to the office today, so I'll just have to test the new house's hospitality features."
"Are you sure? These people know how to play the game. They bow like clockwork, and their smiles are so perfect they look like they came off an assembly line."
"Come on, you're free anyway, bring them over."
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yu quickly took a shower. The water temperature was just right, and the water massaged his shoulders and neck.
He chose a dark gray cashmere sweater, the same color as the scarf Liu Yifei had given him: paired with light-colored casual pants and soft-soled loafers.
He wandered around the house with a mug in his hand.
Three floors, eight bedrooms, three living rooms, a professional-grade home theater, a fully equipped gym, a temperature-controlled wine cellar, and this home office overlooking the entire backyard.
Besides the swimming pool and barbecue area, there was also a small vegetable garden in the backyard, left by the previous owner. Jiang Yu planned to plant some herbs and cherry tomatoes.
"This is what life is all about," he sighed again, then heard the doorbell ring.
David walked in with four Koreans, his face saying, "I tried my best, but this is really ridiculous."
Li Meijing walked at the front. She was in her early fifties, and her makeup was so exquisite that she could be featured in a cosmetics magazine. She wore a Chanel suit, a Hermes handbag, and her smile looked like it had been measured with a ruler.
Behind her followed Li Zhongzhu, the production representative, who was in his thirties, wore gold-rimmed glasses, and carried several beautifully packaged gift boxes.
Behind her was a young female assistant carrying a file folder.
Finally, there's Jun Ji-hyun. She wore a beige coat, had her black hair down, and was bare-faced but her skin was glowing. She was indeed beautiful, with a cool and aloof air about her.
"Annyeonghaseyo!" Lee Mi-jung bowed first, at a precise 45-degree angle.
The three people behind them bent over in unison, like dominoes falling in unison.
Jiang Yu responded with one of the only two Korean phrases he knew: "Annyeonghaseyo. Welcome, please come in."
David stood in the entryway, arms crossed, his expression a failure to control himself, giving off a "I'll just watch your show" vibe.
The group was invited to sit in the living room.
Outside the panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, the swimming pool gleams like diamonds in the sunlight.
Lee Mi-jung looked around, her eyes brightening, and said in English with a distinct Korean accent, "Mr. Kang's house is very beautiful, a true Beverly Hills mansion. The decorating style... is it modern minimalism?"
Very tasteful.
"Thank you. We just moved in and are still getting used to it." Jiang Yu gestured to the maid to pour tea for the guest. "Tea or coffee, please?"
After some polite refusals, Li Meijing ordered green tea, and the others followed suit.
After exchanging pleasantries, we got down to business.
Li Meijing began with a ten-minute-long compliment, praising Jiang Yu's achievements over the past few years, from Light Chaser Pictures' strategic vision to Light & Shadow Digital's technical strength, from the global success of "The Witch" to the significance of "Twilight".
Her Mandarin was halting but she tried hard, occasionally mixing in English words, and her assistant was always ready to translate.
"Mr. Kang is young and promising, and he is the pride of us Asians," Lee Mi-jung said sincerely (or at least appeared to be sincere). "CJ Entertainment is a leading company in South Korea. We own 45% of the national cinema market share, and we also have a very well-developed distribution network in Asia."
She gestured for Li Zhongzhu to hand over the exquisite catalog, "More importantly, we hold a 17% stake in DreamWorks and have a long-term, in-depth cooperative foundation with Hollywood."
Jiang Yu flipped through the catalog and nodded: "I've heard of CJ's capabilities. I wonder what specific collaboration you'd like to discuss during this visit?"
Li Meiqing cleared her throat and got to the point: "First, we have high hopes for director Lu Yang's 'The Lone Agent.' The South Korean market has a strong demand for hardcore action films, and we believe this story is very suitable for localization."
We want to buy the South Korean remake rights.
"Secondly," she continued, "we noticed that Light Chaser Animation has registered a script in South Korea called 'The Thieves,' about a group of international master thieves. We'd like to collaborate with Light Chaser to make it a South Korean-American co-production for the global market. We can handle the Asian production and distribution, while Light Chaser will handle the European and American portions."
"Thirdly—" She paused, looking at Jun Ji-hyun, who promptly offered a polite smile, "We've heard that Mr. Kang is preparing for Luc Besson's film *Lucy*, a rare opportunity for an Asian actress. Ms. Jun Ji-hyun is one of Korea's top actresses, with representative works such as *My Sassy Girl* and *Memoirs of a Geisha*, and international renown. She speaks fluent English, has excellent acting skills, and extensive experience in action scenes. We hope she will have the opportunity to audition for this role."
Jun Ji-hyun added in English, her voice softer than on screen: "Mr. Kang, I admire your work, especially your portrayal of female power in 'The Witch.' If I have the opportunity to participate in 'Lucy,' I will give it my all and will not let you down."
Jiang Yu slowly took a sip of coffee.
Goodness, three requests in one go, from remake to co-production to top-tier resources, their appetite is enormous.
David, standing nearby, mouthed to Jiang Yu, "Do they think this is a buffet? They can take as much as they want?"
"President Li," Jiang Yu put down his cup, his tone calm and direct, "Regarding the remake rights for 'The Man from Nowhere,' this part of the business is entirely handled by Ms. Jiang Xuerou, our president in Beijing. You need to go to Beijing to discuss the specific terms with her."
Li Meijing's expression froze subtly for 0.5 seconds before she quickly regained her professional smile: "Of course, we plan to visit President Jiang in Beijing next week. We will prepare a detailed cooperation plan."
"As for 'The Thieves'," Jiang Yu leaned forward slightly, "the script is indeed in our hands, and it's a good project. Light Chaser can license it for collaboration, but we won't provide any funding; we'll take 40% of the global revenue share, including all channels. Furthermore, Light Chaser retains the final cut rights and a veto right over the casting of the main characters."
Upon hearing this, Li Zhongzhu gasped, his glasses nearly slipping off his face.
A 40% stake with no investment, yet still so much control – such a condition is unheard of in the Korean industry.
"Mr. Jiang, this proportion—" Li Meijing tried to negotiate, beads of sweat forming on her forehead, "CJ will cover all production costs, estimated to be over $2000 million. Is 40% acceptable—"
"This is the bottom line." Jiang Yu smiled, his eyes leaving no room for compromise. "If you think it's acceptable, you can discuss the specific details with David. If you don't think it's suitable, that's fine too. We can find partners in Japan's Toho or China. We have high hopes for this script, and we won't have trouble finding collaborators."
David straightened his back at the opportune moment, cleared his throat, and adopted a "take it or leave it" attitude.
Li Meijing and Li Zhongzhu quickly exchanged glances, their lips moving slightly as they communicated silently for over ten seconds.
Finally, Li Meijing gritted her teeth and nodded: "Okay, we can continue our discussion based on this framework."
"Finally, 'Lucy'." Jiang Yu looked at Jun Ji-hyun, who immediately sat up straighter, her hands elegantly folded on her knees, her eyes full of anticipation.
"We're sorry, the female lead has been basically chosen. The casting process was led by director Luc Besson's team, and as the production company, we respect the director's creative choice."
The light in Jun Ji-hyun's eyes visibly dimmed, like a candle that had been blown out.
She maintained her perfect professional smile, even nodding slightly: "I understand. I hope to have the opportunity to work with Mr. Jiang in the future."
For the next two thousand minutes, Li Meijing was basically promoting other cooperation possibilities with CJ: joint investment, artist exchange, technology cooperation—Jiang Yu listened patiently, nodding occasionally, but making no further specific promises.
Before leaving, they left a gift.
When David took the beautifully packaged box of kimchi, his composure completely crumbled, and his lips twitched as if he had been electrocuted.
After seeing the guests off, David closed the door and let out a long sigh of relief: "Finally gone! Boss, are you really going to cooperate with them on 'The Thieves'? Koreans are notoriously difficult negotiators; they can haggle for three days and three nights over a mere 0.1% share."
"That's why I sent you to negotiate," Jiang Yu said with a smile, patting his shoulder. "You're better at handling these kinds of situations than I am. Remember the bottom line: 40% share, with control in our hands. They need the Hollywood brand to elevate the project's prestige, and we need Asian production experience and distribution channels. It's a win-win situation."
"What about the kimchi?" David looked at the bright red box with disdain.
"Keep it; you might want to try Korean food someday," Jiang Yu thought for a moment. "Or you can take it home; I heard it goes well with barbecue."
"I'd rather eat shoe soles," David muttered, but still tidied up the gift box. "By the way, Jun Ji-hyun is even more beautiful in person than in the movies, aren't you even a little bit tempted?"
"There are plenty of beautiful people out there." Jiang Yu walked towards the kitchen. "What would you like to drink? I have some good whiskey in my cellar."
"It's working hours, boss," David said, but his body language betrayed his words as he followed.
Jiang Yu never expected that this ordinary business meeting would turn into a transnational absurd drama 24 hours later.
On the morning of January 7, he was reviewing documents in his home office.
Chen Jingming sent DJI's final equity investment agreement from Beijing, with Chasing Light investing 30 million RMB for a 3000% stake and commissioning DJI to develop professional-grade aerial photography equipment.
The progress report shows that the prototype has been completed, the test results exceeded expectations, and its stability is 15% higher than that of similar products in the United States.
"Well done." Jiang Yu signed the document electronically, feeling pleased.
Just then, the phone rang; it was Jiang Xuerou.
Her voice had a strange tone: "Mr. Jiang, congratulations, you're on the front page of the national news."
"What headline?" Jiang Yu asked, completely bewildered. "Domestic box office predictions for 'Twilight'?"
"No, it's your personal headline." Jiang Xuerou sent several news links. "Although there are no photos of your face, the descriptions are vivid. The accompanying picture is of David greeting and seeing off the Koreans at the villa entrance, and Jun Ji-hyun's face is clearly visible."
Jiang Yu clicked on the link, his eyes gradually widening.
South Korean actress Jun Ji-hyun secretly meets with Hollywood upstart Kang Woo for three hours at his Beverly Hills mansion.
Subtitle: Is a cross-border romance emerging, seemingly paving the way for a role in "Lucy"?
"Is Jiang Yu Keeping a Mistress? Unveiling the Private Life of Hollywood's Youngest Billionaire"
Jun Ji-hyun's low-key trip to the US and photos of her intimately chatting with Kang Woo by the pool have been released.
The content is extremely exaggerated: it says that Jun Ji-hyun specially canceled all her schedules in Korea and secretly flew to Los Angeles to meet Kang Woo-shin in his Beverly Hills mansion for three hours, during which there was "constant laughter" and "an ambiguous atmosphere"; it says that the two met in Hollywood because of the "Memoirs of a Geisha" party and have been dating in private for several months; it says that Jun Ji-hyun is very likely to win the female lead in "Lucy" because of this relationship; there is even a "villa staff member" who revealed that he saw the two "closely together and behaving intimately" by the pool.
The accompanying photos consist of only two images: one is a distant view of David greeting them at the door, with Jun Ji-hyun's profile clearly visible; the other is a photo taken from a distance with a telephoto lens, in which several figures can be vaguely seen in the living room, which has been interpreted as "intimate conversation by the pool."
Jiang Yu laughed angrily: "Three hours? They only stayed forty minutes in total, including the time it took to enter and leave! Poolside? That was just the reflection of the pool light and shadow from the living room's floor-to-ceiling windows!"
"I know." Jiang Xuerou finally couldn't help but laugh out loud on the other end of the phone. "The Korean media reports are even more exaggerated. I had the translation team compile a few points, listen to them—"
'
She read aloud, "Kang Yu oppa is a true global elite! He graduated from a top Chinese university, built a Hollywood film empire from scratch, invested in blockbusters like Avatar and Iron Man, is only 26 years old, 180cm tall (actually 178cm), and his company is valued at over $60 billion—he's Jun Ji-hyun unnie's (older sister's) ideal type!"
"And this one: Is their marriage a business arrangement? CJ Entertainment and Light Chaser Entertainment are joining forces, and Jun Ji-hyun and Kang Woo's relationship will be a bridge between the entertainment industries of South Korea, China, and the United States!"
Jiang Yu sighed, "How did they know my height, weight, and net worth? And 'Oppa'? I can't even speak Korean!"
"Netizens have already given you a nickname, 'Kimchi Prince.'" Jiang Xuerou laughed even harder, "because the news mentioned that they brought kimchi as a gift."
Jiang Yu:
After hanging up, Jiang Yu called David, his tone turning cold: "Did you see the news?"
"Just saw it!" David roared on the other end of the line. "I'm contacting CJ! These guys are filthy! Using this kind of publicity stunt!"
"Make them clarify this immediately, right now. If they don't want to lose the opportunity to work with 'The Thieves,' they need to clear their names. Also, find out who took the photos, which media outlet, and I'm going to sue them until they go bankrupt."
"I understand! I suspect it's a Korean paparazzi following Jun Ji-hyun, but CJ must have tacitly approved it or even provided clues, otherwise it wouldn't have escalated so quickly, with even 'intimate photos by the pool' being fabricated."
Ten minutes later, David called back: "It's all settled. Li Meijing personally apologized, saying they didn't expect to be photographed without their consent. The photos were taken by a Dispatch reporter and have already been sent back to China. They will immediately issue an official statement to clarify and will pursue legal action against Dispatch."
"Send me the statement before you send it out. The tone must be strong, expressing my anger."
"It's already being written. Furthermore, Jun Ji-hyun's manager contacted her privately, saying that Jun Ji-hyun herself is very sorry, she was completely unaware of the situation, and is currently under a lot of pressure, with Korean netizens criticizing her for trying to get close to him."
At 2 PM, CJ's official statement was released, with strong wording: "A solemn statement regarding the false reports by some media outlets today:"
1. Ms. Jun Ji-hyun's trip to the United States was for routine business negotiations with senior executives of CJ Entertainment, and to discuss potential film collaboration projects with Mr. Jiang Yu of Light Chaser Pictures.
2. The meeting lasted only 40 minutes and took place in the living room of Mr. Jiang Yu's residence. Other staff members were present throughout the meeting, and there was no private relationship between them.
3. The photos of what some media outlets called "intimate conversations by the pool" are actually distorted images taken with a telephoto lens, which seriously mislead the public.
4. CJ Entertainment reserves all rights to pursue legal action against Mr. Jiang Yu and Ms. Jun Ji-hyun for any distress or reputational damage caused by the false reports.
5. The collaboration between Light Chaser Animation and CJ Entertainment will continue to be based on professionalism and mutual respect.
Jun Ji-hyun's personal statement was simpler: she posted a photo of Los Angeles scenery on Instagram with the caption, "Work schedule. Thank you for your concern. Please support the actor's work instead of speculating about their private life."
The statement caused a shift in public opinion. Rational netizens began to analyze: "I knew it! If Jiang Yu were really dating Jun Ji-hyun, why would he choose to meet at his own home?"
"A collaborative project can be discussed in forty minutes? That's incredibly fast."
"I zoomed in on that poolside photo, and it's just a reflection from the glass. How do these people have eyes?"
The gossip is still going strong, especially with "kimchi gifts" becoming a new meme: "So, is kimchi actually good? Has anyone reviewed it?"
"I see now, this was a failed honey trap." They even offered kimchi, yet Jiang Yu didn't fall for it.
"Jun Ji-hyun is really pitiful. She's being used as a pawn by the company, and now she's being scolded."
Jiang Yu thought about it and, since he had nothing to do today, decided to visit the set of "Black Swan".
The movie wraps up filming next week, so he should go check on the progress and, incidentally, explain things to the audience.
The filming location was a studio converted from an old theater in downtown Los Angeles.
When Jiang Yu arrived, they were filming a duet dance scene with Liu Yifei.
Two figures dressed in black ballet tutus twirled, leaped, and entangled in the dim light, like two struggling swans.
The air was thick with the smells of dust, sweat, and anxiety.
Darren Aronofsky sat behind the monitor, his brow furrowed.
The entire venue was silent, save for the slight hum of the camera and the rustling of dance shoes on the floor.
"Cut!" Darren shouted, his voice echoing through the empty theater.
The staff instantly came to life, offering water, touching up makeup, and adjusting the lighting.
Liu Yifei collapsed onto the floor, panting heavily, her chest heaving, her forehead covered in sweat.
Jiang Yu then walked over.
"Jiang! You're here!" Darren saw him and gave him a rare smile, standing up to hug him. "Come see your leading lady? She's in great shape today."
"Let's check on the progress and learn something along the way," Jiang Yu said, his gaze unconsciously drifting towards Liu Yifei.
She had already seen him; her eyes lit up, like a candle suddenly lit in the darkness.
The light dimmed the next second, and she turned her head to wipe her sweat with a towel, her face turned to him.
Not right.
Jiang Yu's heart skipped a beat.
He chatted with Darren for a while about the filming process.
Darren praised Liu Yifei highly: "CrystaI is a surprise. At first, I thought she was just a pretty oriental doll, but her hard work and understanding exceeded my expectations. Look at that scene just now, her emotional layers, from jealousy to imitation to collapse, the transition was very natural. And she danced very well, really, I didn't expect a non-professional dancer to reach this level."
After their conversation, Jiang Yu walked towards Liu Yifei.
She was sitting on a folding chair, her head down, tying the straps of her ballet shoes, her movements slow and careful.
Her hair was wet and clung to the side of her neck, and her black dance dress made her skin appear translucent white.
"How did the filming go?" Jiang Yu sat down on the chair next to her.
"It's alright." She didn't look up, her voice indifferent.
"Darren just complimented you."
"oh."
"Tired?"
"A little."
"Want to have dinner together tonight? To celebrate your filming wrapping up soon."
"No need, I want to rest early." She finally raised her head, looking at him with distant eyes, as if veiled by a layer of mist. "Besides, Mr. Jiang must be very busy lately, receiving foreign guests and making headlines."
Aha.
Jiang Yu understood immediately: she had seen the rumors and was jealous.
He suppressed a laugh and deliberately sighed, "Yeah, I'm swamped. Yesterday, the Koreans cornered my house, and today I have to deal with all this messy news."
Liu Yifei's fingers paused, her movements slowing as she tied her shoelaces, but she remained silent.
"They brought kimchi as a gift, can you believe it?" Jiang Yu continued, his tone exaggerated. "David's face turned green. He said, 'Boss, are they insulting us?'" There was also a female celebrity who barely spoke the whole time, just smiling and nodding, like an AI. And today she's on the front page, saying I had a three-hour poolside rendezvous with her. I calculated it; they were only there forty minutes in total, including ten minutes of compliments."
Liu Yifei's lips twitched slightly, but she quickly pursed them again: "Really? But the news report was written in great detail."
"The news said I'm 182cm tall. If I were really 182cm, I would have gone to play basketball back then." Jiang Yu took out his phone and showed the photos David had secretly taken of the meeting; five people were sitting upright in the living room, the atmosphere as serious as a United Nations meeting. "Look, does it look like a secret meeting? Does it look like a romantic date?"
Liu Yifei leaned over to take a look.
In the photo, Jiang Yu is sitting on the main single sofa, while David stands beside him with a stern face like a door god. Across from them, four Koreans sit in a row, their postures respectful.
Jun Ji-hyun sat on the far side, and she was indeed beautiful, with a standard business smile on her face.
Indeed—there was absolutely no hint of ambiguity.
"And look at this," Jiang Yu zoomed in on the corner of the photo, "this is that box of kimchi, sitting on the coffee table like an offering. Who gives kimchi as a gift when they're dating? Shouldn't they give flowers or chocolates?"
Liu Yifei finally burst out laughing, though she quickly covered her mouth with her hand, the frost in her eyes melting away and rippling with emotion.
"So, you really turned down Jun Ji-hyun's audition for 'Lucy'?" she asked, her voice softening.
"I declined. The female lead has basically been cast; we're just waiting for the director's final confirmation." Jiang Yu looked at her. "What, are you worried she'll steal your role?"
"I'm not worried at all." Liu Yifei raised her chin, but the tips of her ears turned red. "I do think she is quite famous, has a great influence in Asia, and her acting skills are also good."
"No matter how famous you are, being suitable is more important." Jiang Yu stood up, extended his hand to her, "Let's go eat. I know a newly opened Italian restaurant that's pretty good. Their tiramisu is the best in all of Los Angeles. I'll ask for leave for Darren."
Liu Yifei looked at his hand, hesitated for three seconds, and then placed her own hand on it.
Her hands were small, with thin calluses from years of dance practice, but they were warm.
"Then—I'll go change my clothes."
"I'm waiting for you."
The restaurant is located on the Santa Monica coast and is decorated like a Tuscan farmhouse, with wooden beams, brick walls, and olive oil bottles as decorations.
There weren't many people; it was quiet, and each table had a candle.
Liu Yifei changed into a simple white sweater and jeans, her hair was loosely tied up, and she wore no makeup, only a little lip balm on her lips.
In the candlelight, she looked much softer than on set, as if she had taken off her armor.
"This place is really nice." She looked out at the sea. "How did you find it?"
"David recommended it. He said the head chef is his ex-girlfriend's current boyfriend, and the food is so delicious it makes you forget all your hatred."
Liu Yifei laughed: "David's story is always so dramatic."
The appetizer was burrata cheese with tomatoes and basil, and the main course was handmade pasta and grilled sea bass.
They ate and chatted, and the conversation gradually shifted from anecdotes from the set to more personal topics.
"So you really didn't waver?" Liu Yifei asked casually as she cut the fish. "Jun Ji-hyun, she's the goddess of so many people."
"Goddesses are human too; they need to eat and use the restroom." Jiang Yu took a sip of red wine. "To be honest, that kind of overly refined, overly perfect beauty actually makes me feel distant. It's like an oil painting in a museum; you can admire it, but you wouldn't want to take it home."
"So what kind of thing do you want to bring home?" She regretted asking as soon as she finished, her face turning red instantly. "I mean—aesthetic preferences."
Jiang Yu looked at her flushed cheeks and smiled: "Real. You cry, laugh, and get angry; you have strengths and weaknesses, like a living, breathing person, not a mannequin in a shop window."
Liu Yifei lowered her head to eat, her eyelashes casting small shadows on her cheeks.
"However, this scandal isn't entirely without its benefits," Jiang Yu changed the subject. "At least it made more people aware of how sought-after the casting for 'Lucy' is. Jiang Xuerou said that she received more than twenty new audition applications today alone, including several top-tier actors that I didn't expect to be interested in."
"Who are they?" Liu Yifei asked curiously.
"If I tell you, you'll get nervous again."
"I won't!"
"Zhang Ziyi and Michelle Yeoh's teams have officially contacted us. Shu Qi's team has also submitted their information. There are also several actors from Hong Kong, and even one from Singapore."
Liu Yifei's fish fell back onto the plate from her fork: "—So much?"
"So you see, Jun Ji-hyun is just one of them." Jiang Yu poured her some more wine. "The final decision rests with the director. Luc Besson is coming to Los Angeles next week, and we'll discuss whether or not to audition. You have an advantage; you're making a film about his good friend Darren, and you're making it very well."
"Darren really praised me?" Liu Yifei's eyes lit up.
"He praised her so much I'm jealous. He said this girl will win an Oscar someday."
"He really said that?" Liu Yifei's face turned even redder, this time with excitement.
"Why would I lie to you?" Jiang Yu raised his glass. "Come on, let's celebrate the wrap-up of 'Black Swan' in advance. No matter how 'Lucy' turns out, you've already proven yourself to be a good actor."
The cups clinked gently together.
Liu Yifei looked at Jiang Yu, the candlelight flickering in his eyes like tiny flames.
"Jiang Yu," she said softly, "thank you."
"What are you thanking me for?"
"Thank you for visiting the set, thank you for saying all this, thank you—you rejected her."
Jiang Yu smiled: "Then shouldn't I thank you too?"
"What are you thanking me for?"
"Thank you for not believing those rumors, or at least not completely believing them."
Liu Yifei smiled too, her eyes curving into crescents: "Actually, I believed it for five minutes. When I saw the news, I was thinking, 'Ah, sure enough, how could a man like him—'"
'
"What could this be?"
"How could I have fallen for..." She spoke the last few words very softly, but Jiang Yu heard them.
The air was still for a few seconds.
The sound of waves could be faintly heard outside the window.
"Liu Yifei," Jiang Yu looked at her earnestly, "do you know how good you are?"
She was stunned.
"You're beautiful, not in an empty way. You're hardworking, relentless, and ruthless with yourself. You're innocent, but not naive. You can sulk over a rumor, or your eyes will light up with joy at a compliment."
He paused for a moment, then added, "Most importantly, I really like people like that."
Liu Yifei was suddenly stunned. She quickly lowered her head to eat her tiramisu, her spoon trembling.
"This tiramisu—it's really delicious," she said in a hoarse voice.
"Right? David's ex-girlfriend's current boyfriend is quite capable."
They both laughed, the subtle emotions from before dissipating with their laughter, but something was different now.
After the meal, Jiang Yu escorted Liu Yifei back to her hotel.
Before getting out of the car, she suddenly said, "I'm wrapping up filming next week."
"I know."
"Then—I have a week off, and then I have to go back to my home country."
"Hmm. Ms. Liu, may I invite you to dinner before you return to your country?" Jiang Yu smiled. "Hmm—Good night."
"Good night."
Liu Yifei got out of the car and walked through the hotel's revolving door.
Jiang Yu watched her disappear into the elevator before driving away.
The car stereo was playing an old song, Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight".
Jiang Yu hummed along, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel to keep time.
David's phone vibrated: "Boss, CJ has sent over the draft of the 'Thieves' Alliance' cooperation agreement. The terms are even better than we expected. Looks like they're really scared."
Jiang Yu replied, "You handle it. Remember the bottom line."
"Understood. Also, Luc Besson's assistant confirmed the meeting time: next Wednesday at 3 PM, in your office."
"it is good."