Great Power Reclamation

In April, the Los Angeles sun is always so generous, with an almost undeniable brightness.

Ye Guigen stood at the door of a modern villa in Beverly Hills, his palms slightly sweaty as he pressed the doorbell.

The girl who opened the door was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with an Asian face, but her demeanor was completely American.

She had wheat-colored skin, long black hair with a few strands of gold highlights that were casually draped over her shoulders, and wore a cropped T-shirt and ripped jeans. She was barefoot. She was chewing gum and looking Ye Guigen up and down.

"Are you Ye Guigen?" she asked in English, with a California accent.

"Yes, I am. Are you Ye Yini?"

“Nina,” the girl corrected, “only my parents call me by my Chinese name. Come in.”

The villa's interior features a modern minimalist style, with large floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the swimming pool and the Hollywood Hills.

Several abstract paintings hung on the wall, and Ye Guigen recognized one of them as an authentic work by Zao Wou-Ki.

"Mom's upstairs having a video conference." Nina—Ye Yini—slumped onto the sofa and turned on the TV.

"What would you like to drink? There's cola and juice in the fridge, or would you like some tea? Mom has a lot of good teas in her collection."

"Water is fine."

Ye Yini raised an eyebrow: "Really? I thought all Chinese people loved drinking tea."

"I've been living in China for a long time and I'm used to drinking green tea," Ye Guigen said. "I just don't boil it."

She tossed him a bottle of Evian and opened a can of Coke for herself: "So, Dad sent you to Los Angeles to 'learn'? Learn what? How to pick up girls in Hollywood?"

Ye Guigen laughed: "Learn how to run an entertainment empire. After all, Brothers Group Entertainment Company was built by your mother."

“Oh, that.” Ye Yini shrugged. “Mom is always so busy, I never see her. I don’t want to learn that stuff, it’s so boring. I want to do music.”

She pointed to the guitar in the corner: "I formed a band called 'Moon Shadow'. I'm the lead singer and guitarist. We have a show on Venice Beach next month."

A reality TV show was playing on television, featuring a group of young people competing on an island. Ye Yini watched with great interest, occasionally offering her comments.

Ye Guigen observed his half-sister. They were only a few months apart, but their upbringings were worlds apart.

He grew up in the military reclamation town, attended a technical school, and experienced life and death; she grew up in Beverly Hills, attended a private school, and played in a band. Their only thing in common was that they both had the surname Ye and were both children of Ye Feng.

Footsteps came from upstairs. Yuanfang came down.

Compared to Ye Guigen's memory, Yuanfang has hardly changed—in her forties, well-maintained, wearing a well-tailored suit and skirt, her hair neatly pinned up at the back of her head.

She has an aura of authority that commands respect without anger; she's the kind of person who can command the entire room in a conference room.

"Welcome back to your roots." Yuanfang hugged him. "Was the journey safe?"

"It went very smoothly, thank you, Mom."

"Sit down." Yuanfang sat down on the sofa and said to her daughter, "Nina, turn off the TV. We have important things to discuss."

Ye Yini pouted, but still turned off the TV.

“Your father told me about your plans,” Yuan Fang said bluntly. “The ‘Cornerstone & Wings’ fund focuses on early-stage innovation investments. It’s a good idea, but do you know why he had you come to Los Angeles first?”

Ye Guigen shook his head.

"Because the entertainment industry is the place that needs innovation the most, but also the one that resists innovation the most."

Yuan Fang said, "Hollywood has a century-long history and a mature system, but it has also become rigid. Brothers Entertainment has been able to gain a foothold here not because we copied their model, but because we brought something new—Eastern stories, Eastern aesthetics, and Eastern values."

She picked up a document from the table: "This is a project we are currently preparing: the 'Silk Road' film series. Not a historical film, but a science fiction film—imagine a future Silk Road connecting East and West, unfolding in interstellar space."

Ye Guigen opened the document and was awestruck by the conceptual design. It wasn't a simple piling up of Chinese elements, but a true fusion of cultures—

Tang Dynasty costumes are combined with cyberpunk, Dunhuang murals are interwoven with holographic projection, and guqin music is mixed with electronic music.

"What we need to do is not to show the East to the West, but to create a new world that both East and West can agree on."

Yuan Fang said, "That's innovation. But in Hollywood, innovation means risk. We need to convince investors, convince studios, and convince audiences."

She looked at Ye Guigen: "Your father can provide funding, but what truly impresses Hollywood is not money, but vision. This is the first lesson you need to learn: how to make innovation convincing."

Over the next few days, Ye Guigen followed Yuanfang to various occasions—script meetings at production companies, luncheons with investors, and private screenings with directors.

He saw the operating mechanism behind Hollywood's glamour and how Yuan Fang navigated this system with ease.

She was always impeccably dressed and spoke with elegance, but her eyes were sharp as knives. At the negotiating table, she could talk about anything from Tang and Song poetry to box office predictions, from Yin and Yang and the Five Elements to market analysis.

She can drink the strongest whiskey and also appreciate the mildest green tea. She can judge the value of a project in five minutes and spend five hours persuading a stubborn veteran producer.

"In Hollywood, you need to understand not only film, but also politics, finance, and human nature."

After a dinner party, Yuanfang told him, "But most importantly, you need to know who you are and what you want to express. Otherwise, you will just become another imitator."

Ye Guigen gradually understood why Brothers Entertainment was able to establish itself in Hollywood. Yuanfang was not selling Eastern wonders, but rather building a new narrative language—a language that could resonate with global audiences while being rooted in Chinese civilization.

On Friday night, Ye Yini's band performed on Venice Beach. Yuan Fang and Ye Guigen were both there.

The venue was an open-air bar, and the audience was mostly young people. When Ye Yini's band came on stage, she completely transformed—

She's no longer the lazy rich girl, but a performer brimming with energy. Her voice is very distinctive, husky yet powerful, and she plays the guitar quite well.

The band has a unique style, blending rock, folk, and traditional Chinese musical elements. One song even uses the melody of the guzheng (a traditional Chinese zither) combined with the distortion effects of the electric guitar, creating a wonderful chemical reaction.

After the performance, Ye Yini ran downstairs, covered in sweat: "How was it?"

“Great,” Ye Guigen said sincerely. “Especially the song ‘Moon Shadow,’ the arrangement is very creative.”

Ye Yini's eyes lit up: "You really noticed? I used the melody of 'Spring River Flower Moon Night' for that song, but rearranged it."

“I recognized it,” Ye Guigen said. “My grandmother loved playing the guzheng, and I often listened to her when I was little.”

Yuanfang said with a smile, "Nina started learning the guzheng in elementary school, but she refused to play it after the age of twelve, saying she wanted to play rock and roll. I thought she had given up on traditional music, but I didn't expect that she was passing it on in her own way."

"Tradition is not meant to be worshipped, but to be innovated upon."

Ye Yini took a sip of water. "Mom, isn't that what you do too? Tell the story of China to the whole world."

On the way back, Ye Yini asked Ye Guigen, "Does your foundation in the UK invest in music projects?"

"If the project is good enough, yes."

"Then I have a friend you should meet."

Ye Yini said, "His name is Kevin, a Korean-American, who works in music technology. He developed an app that uses AI to analyze users' music preferences and recommend independent musicians they might like. The algorithm is very powerful; it has already discovered several bands that later became popular."

"sounds good."

"I'll take you to see him tomorrow."

The next day, Ye Guigen met Kevin. He was a young man in his early twenties who was starting a business in a garage—literally a garage, filled with computer equipment and musical instruments.

Kevin demonstrated his app. The algorithm is indeed very accurate; it can not only analyze users' listening habits but also uncover hidden connections between songs.

More importantly, his business model does not rely on advertising, but on helping independent musicians find an audience and then taking a small commission from it.

“The music industry has been monopolized by big labels for too long,” Kevin said. “Many talented musicians are buried because they lack opportunities. I want to change that.”

Ye Guigen asked many questions about technical details and business models. Kevin answered fluently, clearly having given them considerable thought.

"How much funding do you need?" Ye Guigen asked finally.

“Five hundred thousand dollars will be used to refine the algorithm and for initial rollout,” Kevin said. “If all goes well, we can reach 100,000 users within six months.”

Ye Guigen thought for a moment: "I can give you 600,000 yuan for a 15% stake. But there are two conditions:"

"First, I need to send an advisor into the team;"

"Second, you need to develop a clear internationalization strategy, especially for the Asian market."

Kevin nodded excitedly: "Deal!"

As they left the garage, Ye Yini asked, "Are you really going to vote for him?"

Why do you ask that?

“I thought you only invested in those ‘high-end’ projects—clean energy, medical technology, and the like. Music apps sound too…unserious.”

“Innovation isn’t limited to the technology sector,” Ye Guigen said. “Music, film, and art are all forms of innovation. And Kevin’s project is truly valuable—”

"It allows more people to hear good music and enables more musicians to make a living. This aligns with the 'Foundation and Wings' philosophy: supporting innovations that make the world a better place."

Ye Yini looked at him and suddenly smiled: "You're not what I imagined."

What kind of person do you imagine me to be?

“You’re old-fashioned, serious, and only think about business and family responsibilities,” Ye Yini said. “But you have vision and passion. That’s rare.”

That evening, Ye Yini took Ye Guigen for a walk on Santa Monica Beach. As the sun set, the Pacific Ocean shimmered, and surfers rose and fell in the waves.

“You know what? I hated you when we were little,” Ye Yini suddenly said.

Ye Guigen was taken aback: "Why?"

"Because you are a boy, the eldest son, and will inherit everything in the future."

Ye Yini kicked the sand. "And me, no matter how hard I try, in the traditional Ye family, I'll always just be a 'daughter.' Although Dad loves me, I know he values ​​you more." "I've never thought about inheriting anything."

“That’s now,” Ye Yini said. “But I didn’t know that before. So every time you went back to the US, I would deliberately cause you trouble and make you cry. Looking back now, it was pretty childish.”

Ye Guigen laughed: "It is indeed quite childish."

"Hey!" Ye Yini slapped him. "Give me some face."

The two sat on the beach, watching the sunset sink into the sea.

“Actually, I admire my mother a lot,” Ye Yini said. “She worked hard in Hollywood, telling the Chinese story to the world in a way that they could understand. She proved that Eastern women can succeed anywhere.”

"Your mother is amazing."

"Yes."

Ye Yini paused for a moment, "But sometimes, I also think, what would I be like if I weren't Yuanfang's daughter, or Ye Feng's daughter? Maybe I'd just be an ordinary singer on Venice Beach, worrying about rent, but at least... I'd be myself."

She turned to look at Ye Guigen: "Have you ever felt this way? Overwhelmed by the weight of your family's fame?"

“Yes, I have,” Ye Guigen said. “But I’ve figured it out now. Family isn’t a shackle, it’s a foundation. We can stand on this foundation and fly higher and see further. The important thing is that we have to choose the direction we fly.”

Ye Yini nodded thoughtfully.

“Your music is the direction you chose yourself,” Ye Guigen said. “Keep going. If you need help, let me know.”

"Thank you," Ye Yini said softly. "Actually... having an older brother isn't bad either."

In the afterglow of the setting sun, two half-siblings reached a kind of reconciliation. It wasn't a dramatic embrace or tears, but a quiet, unspoken understanding.

During her last week in Los Angeles, Yuanfang arranged for Ye Guigen to attend a movie premiere. It was a Sino-US co-production invested in by Brothers Entertainment, telling the story of a Chinese-American girl searching for her roots in America.

The premiere was held at the Hollywood Chinese Theatre, with reporters and fans crowding both sides of the red carpet. Ye Guigen experienced the glitz and glamour of Hollywood firsthand for the first time.

The film was very moving, especially the ending, where the female protagonist finds traces of her ancestors on the Great Wall and understands what "roots" truly mean. The screening ended with thunderous applause.

At the banquet, Yuanfang was surrounded by media and colleagues. Ye Guigen stood in a corner, observing everything.

A middle-aged man walked over: "Mr. Ye Guigen?"

Ye Guigen turned his head and recognized the other person as Mike Rossen, one of Hollywood's most famous agents.

"Mr. Rosen."

“Just call me Mike.” Mike shook hands with him. “I’ve heard Yuanfang mention you. The ‘Cornerstone and Wings’ Foundation, a very ambitious name.”

"Thank you."

“I was thinking, maybe we can collaborate,” Mike said. “I have a few projects that are very creative, but they don’t fit the tastes of mainstream studios. If your fund is willing to invest, we can make them together.”

What kind of project?

"For example, an Asian superhero series, not the stereotypical kind."

Mike said, "Or a multimedia project about climate change, combining documentary and virtual reality. These projects may not make money immediately, but they can change things."

Ye Guigen was intrigued. This was exactly the kind of project he was looking for—creative, influential, but overlooked by traditional capital.

“We can discuss this in detail,” he said.

After the dinner, Yuanfang and Ye Guigen left together.

"Mike is a shrewd man, but also an idealist."

Yuanfang said in the car, "He values ​​you not because you are Ye Feng's son, but because of your foundation's philosophy. That's very rare in Hollywood."

"Mom, thank you for giving me this opportunity."

"You're welcome." Yuanfang looked out the window at the night scene.
“Given my roots, do you know that when I was young, I studied in Hong Kong Island? Later, I went to the United States with your father and learned English, business, and film from scratch. Many people say that I relied on the Yip family, but I know that I relied on myself.”

She turned to look at Ye Guigen: "Now you have better conditions than we did back then—the Ye family's resources, the Cavendish family's connections, and your own vision and ideals. But most importantly, you must remember who you are and what kind of person you want to become."

"I will remember that."

When they returned to the villa, Ye Yini was still awake and playing the guitar in the living room.

"I've written a new song," she said. "It's called 'Stars and Bonfire.' Want to hear it?"

Ye Guigen and Yuanfang sat down.

Ye Yini plucked the strings, and a song began:

Some gaze at the stars, while others tend the campfire.
Some people cross deserts, some people ford rivers.

We are all travelers, searching for a place to call home.

In the endless night, let us light each other's way...

The lyrics are simple, and the melody is moving. Ye Guigen heard something in the song—about searching, about belonging, about those seemingly different yet interconnected lives.

After the song ended, the living room was quiet for a moment.

"Very good," Yuanfang said softly, tears welling in her eyes.

"Thank you, Mom." Ye Yini looked at Ye Guigen. "What do you think?"

“Very sincere,” Ye Guigen said. “That’s the most important thing.”

On his last day in Los Angeles, Ye Guigen received a video call invitation from Elizabeth.

"Did you have fun in Hollywood?" she asked with a smile.

"I've learned a lot," Ye Guigen said. "And you?"

“We are preparing for an important negotiation,” Elizabeth said. “Cavendish Bank is preparing to establish a special fund to invest in sustainable development projects. I recommended your ‘Cornerstone & Wings’ to Father as a partner.”

"Really?"

“Really,” Elizabeth said. “Once you return to London, we can officially launch. The initial fundraising target is five hundred million dollars.”

Ye Guigen's heart raced. Five hundred million US dollars—this far exceeded his expectations.

“But I have one condition,” Elizabeth said. “I must have a place on the joint management committee of the fund. I want to do this with you.”

"of course."

Elizabeth smiled, a smile that contained expectation, trust, and a deeper promise.

“Come back soon,” she said. “The cherry blossoms in London are in bloom, they’re so beautiful. I want to see them with you.”

After hanging up the phone, Ye Guigen stood by the window, gazing at the Los Angeles night view. This City of Angels, sparkling with starlight, seemed to radiate countless dreams.

He recalled the night sky over the military reclamation city, where the stars were sparse but bright, like his great-grandfather's eyes, gentle yet firm.

It reminded me of the fog and rain in London, the flowing water of the Thames, and Elizabeth's grey-green eyes.

I remembered Su Xiao on stage, Ye Xin's focus in the laboratory, and Ye Yini's words on the beach.

Everyone is searching for their own path.

Each person is a star, a flame.

And he, Ye Guigen, finally found his direction—not to become the brightest star, but to connect the stars and make them form a more beautiful night sky.

The road ahead is still long.

But he's already on his way.

And this time, he knew where he was going.

On the plane back to London, Ye Guigen began writing the formal proposal for the fund. He listed the first batch of projects he wanted to invest in:

Kevin's music app, Ye Xin's Qingliu Technology, Mike's Asian superhero movie, and several clean energy projects that I had my eye on in London.

He also wrote down the foundation's values: innovation, inclusion, responsibility, and long-term vision.

The plane pierced through the clouds, and outside the window lay the vast Pacific Ocean. Ye Guigen closed his eyes, recalling a phrase his great-grandfather often said:

"The people of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps will always put down deep roots and broaden their path wherever they go."

Now he understood the meaning of those words.

Roots are the foundation, and the road is the wings.

The root is knowing where you come from, and the path is knowing where you are going.

And he, Ye Guigen, grandson of Junken City, a man of the Ye family, was finally ready.

From his roots, he grew his wings.

He flew towards the vast and hopeful world that awaited him.

It was raining in London when the plane landed.

But Ye Guigen knew that the sun would shine again after the rain.

His journey has only just begun. (End of Chapter)