RBCT Chapter 135 The Rich Man's Henchman Rejects Xu Ke
Chapter 135 The Rich Man's Henchman Rejects Xu Ke
Chapter 135 The Rich Man's Henchman Rejects Xu Ke
For the next week, Jiang Yu completely transformed himself into Liu Yifei's "exclusive accessory".
These words were spoken by a young script supervisor in the crew, and they quickly spread among the staff.
Every morning at 6:30, Jiang Yu would appear in the hotel lobby without fail, always carrying a different kind of breakfast.
The dim sum from Lin Heung Tea House, the steamed milk from Australia Dairy Company, and the clear broth beef brisket noodles from Kau Kee Beef Brisket House were all packaged in insulated containers, with the soup and noodles packaged separately – very refined.
The two girls at the hotel reception make a bet every day, guessing what Jiang Yu will bring each day.
The loser buys afternoon tea. After a few days, the two have each won two rounds, resulting in a tie.
"Mr. Jiang carried a Yung Kee paper bag today!" Chen, the girl on the early shift, said excitedly to Zhen, the girl on the late shift.
Ah Zhen glanced at her watch: "It's only 6:20, Yung Kee shouldn't be open yet, right?"
"So he must have made a reservation yesterday!" Xiao Chen said with envy. "Miss Liu is so lucky. Where can you find a man like that?"
Just then, the elevator dinged, and Liu Yifei stepped out.
She wore a blue suit with a black shirt underneath, and her hair was loosely hanging to one side, looking as fresh as an elf emerging from the morning mist.
"Good morning." She nodded to the receptionist, her eyes crinkling with laughter, and headed straight for Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu naturally took the small backpack from her hand. Liu Yifei had recently become obsessed with mini bags. They were cute, but they couldn't hold much. Her phone, wallet, and cosmetics were all kept with Jiang Yu.
"Today we're having roast goose pastry and congee with preserved egg and lean pork." Jiang Yu handed over the paper bag. "The roast goose pastry should be eaten while it's hot."
Liu Yifei opened the paper bag, and a rich aroma immediately wafted out.
She took a deep breath and squinted her eyes in satisfaction: "It smells so good! How did you know I wanted something salty today?"
"You mentioned roast goose twice yesterday." Jiang Yu smiled and pulled out a handkerchief—yes, a handkerchief, pure cotton, light gray, neatly folded. "Wipe your hands. Shall we eat in the car or here?"
"I'll eat it in the car!" Liu Yifei couldn't wait to pick up a roast goose pastry and take a careful bite.
As the pastry flakes fell, she quickly caught them with her hands, looking so adorable that Jiang Yu couldn't help but ruffle her hair.
Liang Jiahui happened to be downstairs buying cigarettes when he witnessed this scene.
The veteran actor raised an eyebrow and strolled over slowly: "Jiang Sheng, you're both a driver and a nanny, you're quite the good boyfriend."
"Good morning, Teacher Liang," Jiang Yu greeted with a smile. "It's only right."
"Should be?" Liang Jiahui shook his head. "When I was dating my wife, I wasn't as meticulous as you. Young man, you've set such high standards, it's making things difficult for us old men."
Liu Yifei felt embarrassed by what was said and gently tugged at Jiang Yu's sleeve: "Teacher Liang is joking again."
"I'm not joking," Liang Jiahui said seriously, "I'm genuinely praising you. Yifei, you've found a good boyfriend. He's caring and has good taste. I heard you're quite the investor?"
The last question was directed at Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu said modestly, "It was just good luck."
"Luck?" Liang Jiahui laughed. "I know a few friends who are in the investment business. They said that Chasing Light Investment not only didn't lose money during last year's financial crisis, but actually made a fortune. That can't be explained by luck."
The three of them walked out of the hotel while talking.
Two cars were parked at the entrance: one was the crew's nanny van, and the other was Jiang Yu's Mercedes-Benz van. He said it was convenient because he could handle his work in the car while Liu Yifei was filming, without taking up space on set.
"I'll ride with you guys today," Liang Jiahui suddenly said. "I'd like to talk to Mr. Jiang about investment."
Thus, a peculiar combination was formed: driver Master Wang, Liu Yifei's assistant Xiao Yang in the passenger seat, and Liang Jiahui, Liu Yifei, and Jiang Yu in the back.
Liu Yifei sat in the middle, with her boyfriend on her left and the movie star on her right. She ate her breakfast in small bites, listening intently to their conversation.
"What are your thoughts on the Hong Kong property market, Mr. Jiang?" Leung Ka-fai asked directly. "I'm thinking of buying a bigger house recently, but I'm not sure when to do it."
Jiang Yu thought for a moment: "If it's for your own residence, you can buy it anytime. If it's for investment... I personally suggest you make your move now."
"Oh? Why?"
Jiang Yu analyzed, "Although the European and American markets are still undergoing a round of adjustments, Hong Kong, as an international financial center backed by the mainland, will not be significantly affected, and the market is expected to rebound quickly after the correction."
He explained things in a simple and easy-to-understand way, and even Liu Yifei, who didn't understand economics, could understand him.
Liang Jiahui nodded repeatedly, "That makes sense. I'll go home and discuss it with my wife."
The topic then shifted to film investment.
Liang Jiahui lamented, "Making movies these days is increasingly risky. Investments often run into the hundreds of millions, and a poor box office performance means total loss. Mr. Jiang, what are your recent plans for Light Chaser Pictures?"
"We mainly focus on high-quality projects," Jiang Yu said. "We don't pursue quantity, we pursue quality. We have a science fiction project in preparation for the second half of the year. If you're interested, Professor Liang, I'll send you the script another day."
"Science fiction?" Leung Ka-fai became interested. "Hong Kong films rarely make science fiction films."
"So we wanted to do something different."
The two chatted more and more congenially, and Liu Yifei listened from the side, feeling a sweet warmth in her heart.
She liked watching Jiang Yu work diligently, listening to him analyze problems clearly and logically, and admiring his calm and confident aura.
Upon arriving at the film set, I learned that I had a lot of scenes to film today.
Liu Yifei had to film a crying scene in the rain, which involved a wide range of emotions and was a test of both her physical strength and acting skills.
In the dressing room, Jiang Yu helped Liu Yifei check her equipment, whether her waterproof makeup was secure, whether she was wearing thermal underwear properly, and where to apply heat packs for maximum effectiveness.
He was like a seasoned stagehand, so meticulous that even professional makeup artists would be ashamed of their own work.
"Did Mr. Jiang work on a film crew before?" makeup artist A-Lin asked curiously.
"No," Jiang Yu said, his hands still moving, "but I know Yi Fei is afraid of the cold. This rain scene will take two hours to film, so we have to do a good job of preparation."
Liu Yifei sat obediently as he did as he pleased, feeling as warm as if she had a little sun inside her heart.
.
After Jiang Yu finished his work, she suddenly grabbed his hand and whispered, "I love you."
"Silly girl," Jiang Yu lowered his head and kissed her forehead, "Go and get ready. I'll be right there on the monitor. Call me if anything happens."
Once filming began, the artificial rain system was activated, and a curtain of cold water poured down.
Liu Yifei stood in the rain, soaked to the bone, running, falling, and crying repeatedly as required by the script.
Jiang Yu stood beside the monitor, his brows slightly furrowed.
The director yelled "Cut" three times, not because of Liu Yifei's performance, but because of other details that were not up to par. This meant that Liu Yifei would have to stand in the cold rain for an extra half hour.
When they were about to start filming for the fourth time, Jiang Yu suddenly raised his hand: "Director, could you wait five minutes?"
Luc Besson turned to look at him: "What's wrong?"
"Yifei's lips are turning a little purple," Jiang Yu said calmly but firmly. "I'll make her a cup of ginger tea to warm her up. It'll only take five minutes and won't delay the progress."
The French director glanced at the close-up of Liu Yifei on the monitor and saw that she did indeed look unwell.
He nodded: "Okay, let's hurry."
Jiang Yu immediately turned around, poured out the ginger tea he had prepared in advance from the thermos, and jogged over to deliver it to Liu Yifei.
He also brought a dry towel and quickly dried her hair.
"Have some to warm up." He held the cup to Liu Yifei's lips.
Liu Yifei's teeth chattered from the cold as she held the cup and sipped the drink slowly.
The warm liquid flowed into her stomach, and she finally recovered, looking up at Jiang Yu with a grateful smile.
"You really are..." She wanted to say something, but in the end she just laughed again.
Filming resumed five minutes later.
This time, Liu Yifei was in exceptionally good form and nailed it in one take.
"Perfect!" Luc Besson stood up excitedly. "Liu, that look in your eyes just now was fantastic! A glimmer of hope amidst despair—exactly the feeling I wanted!"
Liu Yifei, shivering, walked to the monitor to watch the playback, wrapped in a thick blanket handed to her by Jiang Yu.
She did portray herself with depth in the video, and even she was satisfied with it.
"Jiang," Luc Besson suddenly said to Jiang Yu, "your interruption just now was very timely. Sometimes directors get too focused on the visuals and neglect the actors' physical limits. Thank you for reminding me."
Jiang Yu politely replied, "Of course. The director is only doing it for the good of the work."
There were many similar details throughout the day.
At lunchtime, Jiang Yu magically produced Liu Yifei's favorite Typhoon Shelter Crab, which of course was takeout from a famous restaurant.
During a break in the afternoon filming, he somehow managed to get a massage chair and let Liu Yifei lie down for fifteen minutes to relax her back. When they finished work in the evening, he even prepared a hot water bottle and brown sugar water because Liu Yifei had secretly told him that her period was coming soon.
The entire crew witnessed this and began to discuss it extensively.
"Isn't this spoiling them a bit too much?" Xiaomei, the clothing assistant, muttered to her colleague. "Is a billionaire really this considerate?"
"The key is that they're not just putting on a show," said Li, a veteran lighting technician. "Look at those details; you wouldn't think of them if you weren't paying attention."
"If my boyfriend were even half as attentive as this, I'd marry him immediately!" the young makeup artist sighed.
These words occasionally drifted into Liu Yifei's ears. She pretended not to hear them, but inside she was overjoyed.
Back at the hotel that evening, she lay on the bed, swinging her legs, and called her mother: "Mom, Jiang Yu was again... oh well, he's always so nice to me..."
Hearing her daughter's excited voice on the other end of the phone, Liu Xiaoli couldn't help but laugh: "Look how happy you are. But Qianqian, if someone is good to you, you should be good to them too, okay?"
"I know!" Liu Yifei said coquettishly, "I'm not being unreasonable."
After hanging up the phone, she jumped out of bed and ran to the other room in the suite to knock on Jiang Yu's door.
The door opened, and Jiang Yu, who was in a video conference wearing headphones, gestured for her to wait a moment.
Liu Yifei nodded obediently, tiptoed inside, and sat on the sofa to wait for him.
The meeting ended ten minutes later.
Jiang Yu took off his headphones, walked over, and sat down next to her: "What's wrong? Can't sleep?"
"No," Liu Yifei tilted her head to look at him, "I just suddenly wanted to see you."
Jiang Yu smiled and reached out to pull her into his arms.
The two nestled together quietly, the Hong Kong night view outside the window sparkling like a galaxy.
"Jiang Yu," Liu Yifei suddenly spoke, "you're so good to me, I'm almost scared."
"What are you afraid of?"
"I'm afraid that one day when you're gone, I won't be used to it." Her voice was soft, with a rare vulnerability.
Jiang Yu tightened his arms around him, his tone serious: "I won't be gone. Unless you don't want me anymore."
"I would never leave you!" Liu Yifei retorted immediately, but then blushed, realizing she had been too blunt.
Jiang Yu chuckled softly, resting his chin on the top of her head: "Then it's settled, neither of us is allowed to let go."
On the morning of April 30th, Jiang Yu unusually did not accompany Liu Yifei to the film set; the crew was filming some supporting roles that day, so Liu Yifei could rest for half a day.
"You really don't want me to go with you?" Liu Yifei asked for the third time at breakfast.
Jiang Yu chuckled and pinched her cheek: "I'm going to work, not to play. You should rest well today, sleep in, and watch a movie."
"Alright then," Liu Yifei pouted, "You need to come back early this afternoon."
"Definitely," Jiang Yu promised. "I'll take you out for a nice meal tonight, you can choose the place."
"I want to eat at a street food stall!" Liu Yifei's eyes lit up. "The kind that has a real, down-to-earth atmosphere!"
"Okay, street food stall." Jiang Yu smiled indulgently.
At nine o'clock in the morning, Jiang Yu, accompanied by his assistant Wang Wei and two bodyguards, arrived at the CITIC Tower in Central.
Wang Wei wore a professional suit today, her hair was neatly styled, and she was holding a laptop and a folder, looking every bit the elite assistant.
"President Jiang, Chen Liang and the others are already waiting downstairs," she reported.
"Okay." Jiang Yu nodded and stepped out of the elevator.
Chen Liang stood in the lobby with four senior executives and immediately came to greet Jiang Yu.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the group took a private elevator directly to the 12th floor.
The Hong Kong office of Chasing Light Investment occupies approximately 500 square meters and is decorated in a modern minimalist style, with black, white and gray as the main colors, adorned with green plants and artwork.
The office area has an open-plan design, and the traders' computer screens display real-time data from markets around the world.
"Hello, Mr. Jiang!" The employees stood up to greet the boss as he entered.
Jiang Yu smiled and nodded, indicating, "Everyone, please continue with your work. Don't worry about me."
Under Chen Liang's guidance, Jiang Yu toured the entire office area and even made a special trip to the tea room; there was a freshly ground coffee machine, various teas and snack shelves, and the refrigerator was filled with drinks and fruits.
"The employee benefits are good," Jiang Yu praised.
Chen Liang smiled and said, "It's all done according to headquarters standards. Everyone is under a lot of work pressure, so logistical support must keep up."
7
The presentation officially began in the conference room.
Chen Liang was well-prepared, and his PPT was professional and clear.
"As of the closing bell on April 29, our holdings in BYD were valued at HK$29.2 billion, with a floating profit of HK$14.7 billion, representing a return of 102%," Chen Liang said, pointing to the chart. "Our Tencent holdings were slightly flatter, but still yielded a 78% return."
Although the executives present already knew these figures, they couldn't help but show excitement when Chen Liang formally reported them.
Jiang Yu was satisfied, but his expression remained calm: "What about risk control?"
"We will strictly follow the rules you set," Chen Liang said, switching pages. "The position in a single stock will not exceed 40% of the total assets, the maximum daily drawdown will be controlled within 5%, and all trades will have stop-loss lines. In addition, we have fully isolated the connections between our 20 accounts, so they will not attract regulatory attention."
"Very good." Jiang Yu nodded. "Greed is the worst enemy in the financial market. Remember, surviving is more important than making money quickly."
Next, Chen Liang reported on the office's personnel, daily operations, and future plans.
Jiang Yu listened attentively, asking questions from time to time.
When he heard that two employees wanted to be transferred back to the mainland because of their children's schooling issues, he immediately said, "This should be resolved first. Contact the human resources department at headquarters to see if there are suitable positions in the Shenzhen or Shanghai branches. If not, they can be allowed to work remotely for a while until their children's schooling issues are resolved."
"Okay, Mr. Jiang!" Chen Liang quickly wrote it down, feeling even more admiration for the young boss's kindness.
After the report, Jiang Yu suggested, "I'll treat everyone to lunch today; you can choose the place."
A small cheer erupted in the conference room, and several young traders exchanged knowing glances and mouthed "Michelin."
.
Chen Liang asked cautiously, "Mr. Jiang, there's a Michelin three-star restaurant nearby, but the price..."
"That's the place," Jiang Yu said readily. "Tell everyone, eat as much as you want today, it's on me."
When the news reached the office area, it immediately caused an uproar.
The young traders excitedly discussed what to wear. They usually dressed casually in the office, so the sudden decision to go to a fancy restaurant caught them a bit off guard.
A young man named Xiao Li, born in the 85s, looked distressed: "I only brought two shirts. One I spilled coffee on yesterday, and the other has a torn cuff..."
"Wear mine," said Lao Zhang, a veteran trader sitting next to him, in a hearty manner. "We're about the same size. I have an Armani suit; you can borrow it."
"Thank you, Brother Zhang!" Xiao Li said, tears of gratitude streaming down his face.
Another girl, Xiao Zhou, was struggling with her makeup: "Michelin three-star restaurant, do I have to wear a full face of makeup? But I can only do light makeup..."
"I'll do your makeup!" Xiao Mei from the administration department volunteered. "I brought a full set of cosmetics; I guarantee you'll look beautiful!"
The office was filled with a festive atmosphere all morning.
Work efficiency not only didn't decrease, but actually increased. Everyone wanted to finish their work as soon as possible so they could enjoy the feast.
At noon, three minivans arrived on time to pick them up.
Jiang Yu made a point of arranging for the ladies to sit in the front car and the gentlemen in the two cars behind, demonstrating his gentlemanly manners in every detail.
The waiters, dressed in tuxedos, were very polite and guided everyone to their seats.
The long dining table was covered with a snow-white tablecloth, and the silver cutlery gleamed under the light.
The appetizers were French oysters and caviar, the main courses were Australian Wagyu beef and French blue lobster, and the dessert was a freshly made soufflé with vanilla ice cream.
Each dish was paired with a corresponding beverage, from champagne to red wine to dessert wine, everything was provided.
When Jiang Yu raised his glass to give a speech, he made a point of speaking in both Mandarin and Cantonese, a detail that made the local employees feel very welcome.
"This toast is to everyone's professionalism and hard work." He looked around the room, "But what I really want to say is that investing is a marathon, not a sprint. Today we celebrate a stage victory, and tomorrow we will continue to fight side by side. I hope that many years later, when everyone looks back on their careers, they will be glad that they were once a member of Chasing Light Investment."
The applause was enthusiastic, and many employees had tears in their eyes; in the cold and ruthless financial industry, it is truly rare to encounter such a humane boss.
During the meal, Jiang Yu took the initiative to go to each table to offer toasts and chat.
He has an amazing memory; he can call everyone by name and describe their work highlights.
"Xiao Zhou, I've read your analysis report on the Hong Kong Stock Connect from last month. It's very well written, especially the risk warning section, which is very professional."
"Manager Li, I heard your mother's surgery was very successful. Congratulations. Please feel free to ask if you need any assistance from the company."
"Director Zhang, we've already established a position in the US stock you recommended, and it's recently risen by 15%. You had a good eye for investment."
The employee who was called out was both surprised and delighted, not expecting that the boss would remember even such details.
The meal lasted two and a half hours. When the bill came, Wang Wei was secretly astonished. It was nearly seven figures in Hong Kong dollars. Jiang Yu signed the bill without even blinking.
On the way back to the company, Chen Liang sat next to Jiang Yu and said with emotion, "President Jiang, today's meal was more effective than any bonus. It warmed everyone's hearts."
Looking at the traffic outside the window, Jiang Yu smiled and said, "Managing a company, in the end, is about managing people. When people's hearts are warmed, things can be done well."
At 3 p.m. sharp, Jiang Yu appeared at the long-established tea restaurant in Central.
Xu Ke and Shi Nansheng were already waiting. They sat by the window, each with a cup of milk tea in front of them.
"Sorry to have kept you both waiting." Jiang Yu walked over quickly.
"No, no, we just arrived too." Xu Ke stood up and shook hands.
Today he wore a stylish black Chinese-style top, paired with skinny jeans and loafers, exuding an artistic vibe.
Shi Nansheng wore a classic Chanel suit with a pearl necklace, looking both elegant and capable.
She smiled and handed him the menu: "Mr. Jiang, please see what you would like to eat. The pineapple buns here are absolutely amazing."
The three of them ordered the classic set meal: pineapple bun, egg tart, and Hong Kong-style milk tea.
While waiting, Jiang Yu took a look at this golden duo from the Hong Kong film industry.
Memories of a past life resurface, followed by divorce proceedings years later, and gossip about Xu Ke, now over sixty, falling in love with a younger girlfriend...
At this moment, they still appear to be a well-matched couple and partners.
Shi Nansheng naturally straightened Xu Ke's collar, while Xu Ke pushed her favorite egg tarts in front of her.
These subtle interactions don't lie; at least for now, there's still affection between them.
"Mr. Jiang, let's skip the formalities," Xu Ke said, getting straight to the point. "We've revised the budget for the 'Flying Swords of Dragon Gate' project, cutting it down to 250 million. That's the limit; any further cuts will affect the quality."
Shi Nansheng cooperatively handed over the thick budget sheet, which Jiang Yu took and quickly flipped through.
It must be said that this budget is quite professional, with detailed justification for every expenditure, and even market price lists attached as support.
"Director Xu, Producer Shi," Jiang Yu closed the file, leaning forward slightly, "I'll be frank: spending 250 million on a 3D martial arts film is still a huge gamble in the mainland market. Currently, the highest-grossing film of the year in mainland China is less than 400 million, which means that the film would have to win the annual box office to barely break even, not even counting marketing and distribution costs."
He paused, looking at the two of them: "Do you think that with Director Tsui's star power and 3D special effects, we can break box office records?"
Xu Ke and Shi Nansheng exchanged a glance, both seeing the uncertainty in each other's eyes.
Xu Ke pondered for a moment: "To be honest, I'm not 100% sure. Jiang Sheng, sometimes you can't just think about the economics of a movie. This is the first true 3D martial arts film in Chinese-language cinema. If it succeeds, it will be a milestone for the entire industry."
"I understand your artistic pursuits," Jiang Yu said gently but firmly. "Light Chaser Pictures is a commercial company and has to be responsible to its shareholders. I can personally invest a portion as support for Director Xu's artistic exploration, but at the company level, this project is too risky."
The atmosphere became somewhat tense for a moment.
Shi Nansheng coughed lightly, changing the subject: "What about special effects collaboration? We know that our lighting and digital technology is top-notch in China."
"We can discuss this in more detail," Jiang Yu immediately chimed in. "In fact, I was just thinking of talking to Director Xu about technical cooperation."
Light & Shadow Digital has recently developed a new motion capture system that may be helpful for action design in martial arts films...
Xu Ke's eyes lit up immediately when the topic of technology came up.
He is a well-known tech enthusiast in the industry, with a passionate interest in new technologies.
The two chatted about everything from 3D photography to post-production rendering, from motion capture to virtual shooting, and found themselves getting along very well.
"Ms. Jiang, your ideas are so ahead of their time!" Xu Ke said excitedly. "Especially the virtual filming part, Hollywood is just getting started, how did you come up with this?"
Jiang Yu couldn't possibly say it was based on past life experience, so he could only vaguely say, "Light and Shadow Digital has always paid attention to technological development and believes that this is the future direction; moreover, most of the patents in the market are in the hands of Light and Shadow Digital."
Seeing the two chatting enthusiastically, Shi Nansheng interjected at the opportune moment: "So, what's the specific plan for the special effects collaboration..."
"How about this," Jiang Yu thought for a moment, "Light & Shadow Digital can take on the special effects production for 'Flying Swords of Dragon Gate' at a discounted price, and at the same time, we can contribute our technology as equity, taking a certain share of the special effects work. If the movie makes money, we'll share in the profits."
If we incur a loss, we'll only charge the cost price.
This plan is fair. Xu Ke and Shi Nansheng exchanged a glance and nodded.
"I'll have Mr. Jiang handle the specific contract details with you," Jiang Yu said. "Also, if Director Xu is interested in other projects, we can discuss collaborations. Light Chaser Pictures has a sci-fi film project planned for next year, and I think your imagination is a perfect fit."
"Science fiction?" Xu Ke became even more interested. "What kind?"
"It's about time travel," Jiang Yu explained simply, "somewhat similar to 'The Butterfly Effect,' but with a core of Chinese culture."
The three chatted for another half hour. When it was time to part, Xu Ke held Jiang Yu's hand and said sincerely.
"Ms. Jiang, although we weren't able to fully collaborate on 'Flying Swords of Dragon Gate' this time, it's my good fortune to know an investor like you. I hope we can truly collaborate on a film in the future."
"I definitely will," Jiang Yu replied sincerely.
After seeing Xu Ke and his wife off, Jiang Yu checked the time and immediately took a taxi to Liu Yifei's favorite dessert shop.
He knew she was off today and had probably spent the whole day watching movies in her hotel room; now she was craving something sweet.
Sure enough, when he returned to the hotel with mango pomelo sago and mango pancakes, Liu Yifei was curled up on the sofa, hugging a pillow and watching "Friends," laughing so hard she was doubled over.
"I'm back," Jiang Yu said softly.
Liu Yifei immediately pressed pause and ran over barefoot: "Why are you so late? Did things go smoothly?"
"It went smoothly." Jiang Yu handed over the dessert. "I brought it for you."
"Wow! These are all my favorite foods!" Liu Yifei's eyes crinkled into crescents. "Have you eaten?"
"Not yet, I ate a lot at lunch, I'm not hungry." Jiang Yu took off his suit jacket and loosened his tie. "What about you?"
"I ate the room service, it wasn't good." Liu Yifei pouted, then scooped up a large spoonful of mango pomelo sago and put it in her mouth, squinting her eyes in satisfaction. "This is much better!"
Seeing her childlike appearance, Jiang Yu's heart melted.
He walked over and sat down next to her, naturally pulling her into his arms.
Liu Yifei leaned on his shoulder, and the two watched Friends together.
Outside the window, Hong Kong's lights gradually come on, and Victoria Harbour begins its nightly light show.
In the room, only the flickering light of the television and the warmth of the two people snuggling together could be heard.
At 7 p.m., the two changed into "invisibility gear": ordinary T-shirts, jeans, baseball caps, and masks.
Liu Yifei even wore a pair of non-prescription glasses, making her look like a pretty college student.
"You shouldn't recognize me now, right?" She twirled in front of the mirror.
Jiang Yu smiled and adjusted her hat brim: "Let's go, the food stall adventure team is off!"
Temple Street Night Market is not far from the hotel; it only takes ten minutes by taxi.
Temple Street comes alive in the evening, with neon signs lighting up one after another, enticing aromas wafting from various stalls, and a bustling atmosphere filled with the unique local flavor of Hong Kong.
"I want to eat egg waffles!" Liu Yifei said, pointing to the first stall as soon as she entered the night market.
Jiang Yu immediately went to buy it, and even asked the shopkeeper to add extra sugar.
The freshly baked egg waffles were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, sweet and delicious. Liu Yifei took a bite and her eyes narrowed with happiness.
"So delicious! Better than BJ's!"
"That's because you're hungry," Jiang Yu said with a smile, naturally reaching out to wipe the sugar crumbs from the corner of her mouth.
The two ate as they walked, and Jiang Yu's hands were soon full of various snacks.
Curry fish balls, shark fin soup, pan-fried stuffed three treasures, fried large intestine... Liu Yifei wanted to try everything, but only ate a bite or two of each, and the rest went into Jiang Yu's stomach.
"Look at that claypot rice!" Liu Yifei suddenly pointed to a stall not far away, where a long queue had formed and the air was filled with the aroma of cooking. "It smells so good!"
"If you want to eat, go and queue up." Jiang Yu pulled her over.
While they were in line, the older woman in front of them turned around, glanced at them, and suddenly said in Cantonese, "Young man, your girlfriend is so pretty!"
Although Liu Yifei couldn't understand Cantonese, she could guess the general meaning and shyly hid behind Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu replied in fluent Cantonese, "Thank you for the compliment, Auntie."
The older woman immediately became interested: "Are you a local? You don't seem like it."
"I'm from Beijing, and I can speak a little Cantonese."
The two chatted in Cantonese. The auntie enthusiastically recommended the best pairings for claypot rice and told Jiang Yu which dessert shop had the best desserts.
Liu Yifei listened from the side. Although she couldn't understand what she was saying, she smiled along with Jiang Yu and the older woman as they chatted happily.
Finally, it was our turn to get a table. We ordered their signature claypot rice with preserved meat and claypot rice with tender chicken.
Sitting on a simple plastic stool, holding a steaming hot pot, Liu Yifei excitedly rubbed her hands together: "It looks so delicious!"
Jiang Yu mixed the rice for her and carefully scraped off the crispy rice crust, which was the essence of claypot rice.
Liu Yifei took a bite and sighed contentedly, "This is the best claypot rice I've ever eaten!"
"That's because you're hungry." Jiang Yu repeated the same sentence, but the doting look in his eyes was undeniable.
The two shared the food, taking turns feeding each other.
Liu Yifei picked up a piece of sausage and brought it to Jiang Yu's mouth. Jiang Yu naturally opened his mouth to take it, and then scooped up a spoonful of rice with crispy bits at the bottom and handed it to him.
Such intimate interactions are common among couples in love, and their personalities and good looks attracted a lot of attention.
However, everyone was busy eating and drinking at the night market, so no one paid much attention.
until...
"Isn't that Liu Yifei?" A young man wearing glasses nudged his companion from a short distance away.
His companion looked in the direction he was pointing, squinting, "Looks like...who's that guy next to him?"
"Is it her wealthy boyfriend? I saw his picture in the newspaper."
"Quick, quick, where's the camera?"
The two entertainment reporters, who were actually interns at a gossip magazine, had only come to the night market to find material, but they unexpectedly stumbled upon a big fish.
The two frantically pulled out their cameras and, using the crowd as cover, began to secretly take pictures.
Jiang Yu noticed it immediately; almost the instant the shutter clicked, he looked up in the direction of the reporter.
"What's wrong?" Liu Yifei asked.
"There are reporters," Jiang Yu said in a low voice, slightly shifting his body to block her from the camera. "Should we leave first?"
Liu Yifei glanced at the noisy crowd around her and suddenly laughed: "Fine, let them take pictures. We didn't do anything wrong, we were just having a normal meal."
She even took off her mask and continued eating her claypot rice openly.
Jiang Yu paused for a moment, then smiled and took off his hat and mask.
"You're right, there's nothing to hide about dating normally."
The scene that followed was: Liu Yifei happily eating night market snacks, while Jiang Yu looked at her tenderly, occasionally wiping her mouth, handing her water, and peeling shrimp shells for her.
The two occasionally exchanged a smile, their natural sweetness making even the paparazzi feel like a third wheel.
Having taken enough footage, the two reporters prepared to leave.
Before leaving, the younger one hesitated for a moment, but still went over.
"Ms. Liu, Mr. Jiang, I'm sorry to bother you." He was a little nervous. "We're from Star Weekly. We just took some photos... If you don't want them published, we can delete them."
Liu Yifei and Jiang Yu exchanged a glance.
Jiang Yu asked, "How are you planning to write it?"
"Let's just... report it normally," the reporter said honestly, "night market dates, sweet interactions, things like that. Our weekly magazine may be gossipy, but we're not completely shameless..."
Jiang Yu thought for a moment and said, "The photos are fine, but don't exaggerate too much. Also, don't disrupt the film crew's normal shooting schedule."
"Definitely, definitely!" The reporter nodded repeatedly, surprised that they were so easy to talk to.
After the reporters left, Liu Yifei tilted her head and looked at Jiang Yu: "Aren't you angry?"
"Why should I be angry?" Jiang Yu retorted. "You don't mind being photographed, so why should I? Besides, it's good this way. It lets everyone know you're taken, so no one will try to take advantage of you."
"What?!" Liu Yifei pushed him away, her face flushed, but she felt very sweet inside.
The two strolled around for a while longer and bought some trinkets; Liu Yifei took a fancy to a handmade woven keychain, and Jiang Yu bought it for her; Jiang Yu liked a vintage toy sold by an old man, and Liu Yifei insisted on paying for it.
Around 9 PM, the night market became increasingly crowded, and the two decided to head back.
While waiting for the bus, Liu Yifei suddenly said, "Jiang Yu, you're so kind."
"How can it be good?"
"You're willing to eat at street food stalls with me, willing to be photographed, willing to...do all these things that ordinary couples do." She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling in the night. "I know you could actually take me to a fancy restaurant, book the whole place, clear the room, but that wouldn't be the point. I like it this way, real, down-to-earth."
Jiang Yu felt a warmth in his heart and lowered his head to kiss her forehead: "Silly girl, everything is meaningful when I'm with you."
The car arrived, and the two got in hand in hand.
On the way back to the hotel, Liu Yifei leaned on Jiang Yu's shoulder and hummed a song softly.
Jiang Yu held her hand, feeling a deep sense of security.
The next day, sure enough, the front page of Star Weekly featured a photo of the two on a date at the night market.
The headline was fairly polite: "Liu Yifei and her billionaire boyfriend have a sweet date in Temple Street, enjoying simple food and happiness."
When the newspaper was delivered to the film crew, it caused a small sensation.
"Wow, Sister Yifei, you're on the front page!" Assistant Xiao Yang ran over with a newspaper.
Liu Yifei took the photo and saw that it was pretty good. She was smiling as she held a fish ball to Jiang Yu's lips. Jiang Yu bent down to take it, and their eyes met, filled with sweetness.
"It's a great shot," she commented.
Liang Jiahui walked over with a newspaper, deliberately reading the headline aloud: "Ordinary people's food can also bring happiness..." Tsk tsk, Jiang Sheng, you're really going to stick to your "good boyfriend" persona.
Jiang Yu was helping Liu Yifei organize her script when he heard this. He looked up and smiled, "Teacher Liang, please don't make fun of me."
"I'm not making fun of you, I'm envious," Liang Jiahui said earnestly. "If I had been this attentive to my wife when I was young, she wouldn't be nagging me every day now."
The staff around them all laughed.
Luc Besson also came over to look at the newspaper and nodded, saying, "This photo could be used as a movie promotional photo; it has a very lifelike feel to it."
Liu Yifei was surrounded by good-natured teasing all day long.
She appeared shy, but was secretly delighted.
Jiang Yu continued to do his job as Liu Yifei's "follower" as always, but during Liu Yifei's breaks from filming, he would deliberately pick up a newspaper and read out the exaggerated subheadings in a serious manner.
"Look at this sentence: 'A billionaire becomes a lackey for love, feasting with his girlfriend at the Temple Street night market...'" Jiang Yu shook his head. "That's too exaggerated. I didn't 'become a lackey,' I've always been your lackey."
Liu Yifei was amused and chased after him to hit him. The two laughed and joked on set, and the staff took many behind-the-scenes photos of them.
Several more days passed like this, until Jiang Yu's schedule could no longer be postponed.
Meanwhile, the film "Black Swan" was already completed, and Searchlight Pictures had urged him several times to watch the film and give his feedback.
The North American branch also had a backlog of tasks that required his personal attention.
"Two weeks at most, I promise," Jiang Yu said to Liu Yifei at dinner.
Liu Yifei poked at the rice in her bowl, looking sullen: "Do I really have to go?"
"Yes," Jiang Yu nodded, "There are some things I have to handle personally. But I can promise you, we'll video chat every single day, without fail."
"So... how long will you be gone?"
"About two weeks. I'll come back after the film's release and once I've taken care of some urgent matters."
Liu Yifei stopped talking and continued poking at her rice.
Jiang Yu knew she was reluctant, but that's how the adult world is—with sweetness comes responsibility.
That evening, Jiang Yu was packing his luggage in his room when Liu Yifei came over with a pillow.
She was wearing pajamas, her hair loosely draped over her shoulders, and her bare face looked exceptionally pretty under the light.
"Let me help you pack," she said.
"Okay." Jiang Yu stepped aside.
Liu Yifei squatted down in front of her suitcase and began to carefully organize her clothes.
She folded the shirts very professionally, aligning the edges perfectly and meticulously. Jiang Yu leaned against the wall watching her.
"Should I bring this suit?" She held up a dark gray suit.
"Yes, you should wear it to the banquet."
"And this one?" It's another casual jacket.
"Bring it too, you can wear it anytime."
The two engaged in a question-and-answer session, creating a warm atmosphere.
Halfway through tidying up, Liu Yifei suddenly stopped, lowered her head, and remained silent.
Jiang Yu walked over and squatted down in front of her: "What's wrong?"
"It's just... I suddenly don't want you to leave." Her voice was soft and nasal.
Jiang Yu's heart tightened, and he reached out to pull her into his arms: "Silly girl, it's not like I'm not coming back. Two weeks will pass quickly. You film a few scenes, I take care of a few things, and it'll be over."
"But in the past two weeks, no one has brought me breakfast in the morning, no one has brought me ginger tea while I'm filming, and no one has had late-night snacks with me..." Liu Yifei became more and more aggrieved as she spoke, and her eyes reddened.
Jiang Yu felt both sorry for you and amused: "Okay then, I'll have the hotel send you breakfast every morning. I'll make a list and have them take turns. I'll have my assistant, Xiao Yang, prepare the ginger tea; she learned the recipe from me. As for late-night snacks... you have to eat them properly and not go hungry. I'll check up on you every day."
"Like coaxing a child." Liu Yifei smiled through her tears.
"You're like my child." Jiang Yu lowered his head and kissed her eyes. "So when I'm not around, take good care of yourself, okay?"
"Okay." Liu Yifei nuzzled his neck. "You need to take good care of yourself too. Don't just focus on work and forget to eat and sleep."
"Yes, Teacher Liu."
After packing my luggage, it was already past 11 p.m.
Liu Yifei showed no sign of leaving, sitting on the edge of the bed swinging her legs.
Jiang Yu noticed and asked softly, "Are you sleeping here tonight?"
Liu Yifei blushed and nodded.
The two lay side by side on the bed, the lights were off, and only the city lights outside the window shone in.
Liu Yifei snuggled closer to Jiang Yu, finding a comfortable position.
"Jiang Yu, will you miss me?"
Yes, every moment.
"Me too," she whispered. "I've already started missing you even before you left."
Jiang Yu tightened his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head.
The two embraced quietly, listening to each other's breathing and heartbeats.
The tranquility of this moment is more moving than any sweet words.
After some time, Liu Yifei said softly, "Let me sing you a song."
"it is good."
She cleared her throat and began humming an old English song, "Can't Help Falling in Love."
The voice was soft, and it was off-key in some parts, but Jiang Yu thought it was the best-sounding version in the world.
After singing the last line, Liu Yifei looked up at Jiang Yu in the darkness and said, "This song is what I wanted to say."
Jiang Yu's heart burned with passion, and he lowered his head to kiss her.
"Wait for me to come back," he whispered in her ear.
"Okay, I'll wait for you."
The next morning, Jiang Yu still had to get up early to catch his flight.
Liu Yifei insisted on taking him to the airport, and Jiang Yu couldn't refuse her, so he had to agree.
At the airport, both of them wore masks and sunglasses, but their height and demeanor still attracted a lot of attention.
Liu Yifei held Jiang Yu's hand tightly and refused to let go until they reached the security checkpoint.
"Call me when you arrive," she instructed.
"it is good."
"We need to video chat every day."
"it is good."
"You're not allowed to look at other girls."
Jiang Yu laughed: "You're all I see, I can't see anyone else."
Liu Yifei smiled too, then suddenly hugged Jiang Yu and buried her face in his chest: "Come back soon."
"Definitely." Jiang Yu gently stroked her hair. "You need to be careful while filming, don't push yourself too hard."
"Okay."
The announcement came over the loudspeaker that it was time for Jiang Yu to go inside.
He gave Liu Yifei a final hug before turning and heading towards the security checkpoint.
After taking a few steps, he turned around and saw Liu Yifei still standing there, waving at him.
Jiang Yu waved, then turned and strode away.
As the plane took off, he looked out the window at Hong Kong receding into the distance, his heart filled with longing.
When he opened his laptop and saw the screen full of to-do items, he immediately got back into work mode.
Love is important, but responsibility is equally important.
He needs to become stronger so that he can better protect those he wants to protect.
On the ground, Liu Yifei looked at the contrails of the planes in the sky and silently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
She took out her phone and sent Jiang Yu a text message: "I'll focus on filming and wait for you to come back."
After sending the text message, she took a deep breath and said to her assistant, Xiao Yang, "Let's go back to the set. We still have three scenes to shoot today."
She needs to work harder and can't always rely on Jiang Yu's company and protection.
The best kind of love is when two people each shine in their own way, while supporting each other.