Happy life in the world of film and television

Chapter 1635 "Xiaoman's Life" - He Jiaru

"What are you saying?" Jin Lu blushed slightly upon hearing Jiang Chen's words.

When Fang Yuan first saw her and Jiang Chen starting a company together, he jokingly said that Jiang Chen wanted to pursue her.

Just now, after learning that Jiang Chen was the president of Xingchen Group, Fang Yuan's words came to mind.

Don't blame her for thinking so.

There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

She wouldn't have thought this way if Jiang Chen weren't the president of Xingchen Group, but it's different now that he is.

After all, it's normal to cooperate when interests are equal, but it's not normal to cooperate when interests are different.

She and Jiang Chen were not on equal footing.

In addition, Jiang Chen said he had many girlfriends, so she didn't have time to think too much about it.

"Did I guess right?" Jiang Chen didn't know what Jin Lu was thinking. Seeing her slightly flushed face, he couldn't help but tease her.

Upon hearing this, Jin Lu glared at Jiang Chen.

"Jin Lu, it's still early, let's go for a walk." Jiang Chen was a little surprised by Jin Lu's reaction, but he didn't react much.

"Okay, wait for me a moment." Jin Lu said and went into the bedroom.

Fifteen minutes later, Jin Lu, who had changed into casual clothes, walked out of the bedroom.

“I think the previous dress was prettier,” Jiang Chen said, looking at Jin Lu.

"Let's go for a walk. This outfit is nice." Jin Lu's face flushed slightly.

Why did she wear that dress before? It was because she was still asleep when Jiang Chen called, so she just slipped on the dress. Hearing Jiang Chen's words now, and remembering the way he looked at her earlier, Jin Lu felt a little embarrassed.

“That’s true, she looks beautiful in anything she wears. Let’s go,” Jiang Chen said.

"Okay." Jin Lu nodded.

At this moment, Jiang Chen and Jin Lu left the new metropolis.

"Jin Lu, where do we go next?" Jiang Chen asked.

"Didn't you suggest we go for a walk? Why are you asking me?" Jin Lu asked back.

“I don’t come to Hangzhou often and I’m not familiar with it. It’s most appropriate for me to ask you, my employer.” Jiang Chen had been to Hangzhou several times and had seen the map of the city. With his photographic memory, he knew the layout of Hangzhou like the back of his hand.

However, now that I'm with Jin Lu, I should naturally prioritize Jin Lu.

"Let's go to the shopping mall up ahead. It's only a 15-minute drive from here," Jin Lu said, giving an address.

“I drove here, so take my car,” Jiang Chen said.

"Okay." Jin Lu did not refuse.

Jiang Chen's car is an Audi A8L with an extended wheelbase. This car is a new generation model that was just released in the United States. Compared with the old Audi A8's boxy and grand style, the new Audi A8 has added many sporty elements to its appearance, making it a perfect combination of dynamism and luxury.

"Jiang Chen, your car is really nice."

Sitting in the passenger seat of Jiang Chen's Audi A8, the Valonea leather was incredibly soft and comfortable, offering a relaxing massage experience thanks to 10 air cushions. The center armrest with its folding table allowed the spacious rear seats to be transformed into a temporary office for business. The refrigerator ensured fresh food anytime, anywhere, and the independent rear air conditioning system, controlled by no fewer than 25 adjustable electric motors, allowed for precise temperature control. Looking at the luxurious interior, the perfect design, and the top-notch craftsmanship that created such a luxurious space, Jin Lu couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Putting everything else aside, she thought to herself that she might not be able to afford this car even after working her whole life!
The car had a faint, pleasant fragrance, like a blend of lilies and roses, lasting yet not overpowering, refreshing and delightful.

"Jiang Chen, isn't this the same car you had before?" Jin Lu asked.

“Yes, this car is brand new,” Jiang Chen said.

"I thought you could drive a sports car?" Jin Lu couldn't help but say.

"Have you ever seen a boss who drives a sports car?" Jiang Chen asked with a smile.

"That's true." Jin Lu then realized that Jiang Chen wasn't a second-generation rich kid, but a self-made millionaire. Driving a sports car wasn't in Jiang Chen's character either. Moreover, the fact that Jiang Chen even concealed his identity as the president of Xingchen Group meant that he was a low-key person.

Fifteen minutes later, Jiang Chen drove to the shopping mall that Jin Lu had mentioned.

This is a large shopping mall.

However, Jiang Chen has never been here.

"Let's go shopping first." Because of running Jingpin Gallery, Jin Lu hadn't been shopping for a long time, so when Jiang Chen suggested going out for a walk, he thought of going shopping.

“Okay, no problem.” Jiang Chen naturally had no objections.

Jiang Chen then started strolling around with Jin Lu.

Although this was Jiang Chen's first time shopping with Jin Lu, it was no big deal for the experienced Jiang Chen.

Soon, Jiang Chen and Jin Lu arrived at a high-end clothing store.

As Jin Lu tried on the various high-end packaging items that Jiang Chen had selected for her, he was almost certain that tonight's event was not just a simple inspection.

As the saying goes, even Buddha needs gold plating, and people need fine clothes.

When Jin Lu walked out of the fitting room, Jiang Chen's eyes lit up.

As Jin Lu walked up to Jiang Chen, a light and elegant fragrance wafted over. What brand of perfume was this?

Jin Lu added a touch of makeup, making her even more radiant.

Jiang Chen also noticed that the outfit she was wearing seemed to be something he had seen in a fashion magazine. It looked like a new style from Paris Fashion Week: a black backless and off-the-shoulder evening gown with two black ribbons tied in a bow at the back of her neck.

It's as if the entire dress would slip off with a gentle pull on the knot.

"Is it pretty?" Jin Lu asked.

"It looks good." Jiang Chen nodded, then hesitated for a moment: "But..."

"But what?" Jin Lu asked.

"However, you would look even better if you had long hair." Jiang Chen liked women with long hair the most, so he didn't hide his opinion of Jin Lu.

"Long hair? Jiang Chen, you like having long hair?" Jin Lu was a little surprised.

“Yes.” Jiang Chen nodded.

Among his women, those from the First World were the most numerous; however, only women from the First World had the possibility of having short hair. But now, his women who had short hair have also grown it long.

Jin Lu just rolled her eyes at Jiang Chen, then turned around and looked at herself in the mirror.

Jiang Chen didn't ask any further questions, but instead took out a bank card and handed it to the waiter next to him.

“Jiang Chen, you…” Jin Lu saw Jiang Chen’s reaction and wanted to refuse.

"Consider this a gift as an apology." Why apologize? Naturally, it's for concealing his identity before. This dress only costs a little over ten thousand, which is nothing to Jiang Chen.

“Okay.” Jin Lu understood Jiang Chen’s meaning, and since she couldn’t afford such an expensive expense right now, she didn’t refuse.

However, after leaving the clothing store, Jin Lu said, "Jiang Chen, you are not allowed to pay anything from now on."

“Okay.” Jiang Chen did not refuse.

Jin Lu is his business partner, so there's no need for him to spend more money.

Just as he said, it was only to apologize.

……

5:30 PM, Amber Restaurant.

Jin Lu pointed to the huge signboard of Amber Restaurant and said, "This Western restaurant has a chef specially hired from France, and the food is pretty good."

"Really? Then we'll have to give it a good try," Jiang Chen said with a smile.

Upon entering the restaurant, Jin Lu chose a seat against the glass wall. The waiter, holding a menu, asked directly, "What would you like, miss?"

"Bermesley soup, foie gras steak, Parisian lobster, red wine pheasant, veal steak... and a bottle of Cognac cherry brandy." Jin Lu recited a string of dishes fluently without even looking at the menu.

"Okay, please wait a moment!"

The waiter quickly jotted down the names of the dishes, then bowed and left. Soon, the food and drinks arrived.

Jiang Chen and Jin Lu chatted while eating.

Having gotten used to the route in the afternoon, Jiang Chen and Jin Lu chatted happily.

However, halfway through the meal, Jin Lu's phone rang.

"Hmm?" Jiang Chen looked at Jin Lu.

Jin Lu took out her phone: "It's Xie Shouwang calling."

“Take it. But should I go out?” Jiang Chen asked.

"No need." Jin Lu shook her head and then answered the phone.

A minute later, Jin Lu hung up the phone and said to Jiang Chen, "Jiang Chen, I'm going to pick up Chao Ran."

"Should we go right away?" Jiang Chen didn't answer Jin Lu's call, because that's how he would make his time in the First World more enjoyable.

"Yes, I'll be there right away." Jin Lu nodded.

"Do you want me to give you a ride?" Jiang Chen asked.

"No need," Jin Lu shook her head and said, "I picked up Chao Ran and went home, you..."

Jin Lu knew that picking up Chao Ran would inevitably lead to meeting Jie Shouwang. Given what had happened before, she didn't want Jie Shouwang to misunderstand again, nor did she want to argue with him.

"Okay." Jiang Chen handed the car keys to Jin Lu: "You didn't drive here, so you can take my car back."

"And what about you?" Jin Lu asked.

"I can just take a taxi later." Jiang Chen smiled faintly and said, "You're in such a hurry to pick someone up, you must be pressed for time, but I don't have anything to do today and I'm not in a rush. As for the car? I'll drive it tomorrow."

"Thanks then." Jin Lu did not refuse.

A moment later, Jin Lu left.

"boring."

Seeing the exquisite food, Jiang Chen quickened his eating pace.

These exquisite dishes should naturally be eaten completely before leaving.

Five minutes later, Jiang Chen, having finished his meal, got up and left.

However, just as Jiang Chen was about to leave the restaurant, a man and a woman walked in.

"Huh? Is it them?"

Upon seeing the two of them, a hint of surprise flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes.

Almost simultaneously, a system notification sounded.

"Sign in."

Jiang Chen silently recited in his heart.

[Congratulations, host! You have successfully checked in and received one hundred mid-grade spirit stones.]

"One hundred mid-grade spirit stones?"

"This is the nineteenth time I've checked in and received one hundred mid-grade spirit stones."

"After refining a low-grade spirit stone, strength increases by 10 points, constitution increases by 15 points, and agility increases by 5 points. After refining a mid-grade spirit stone, strength increases by 130 points, constitution increases by 180 points, and agility increases by 60 points."

"This is a good reward."

At that moment, Jiang Chen looked at the female lead who had signed in.

He Jiaru, a character in "Xiaoman Life".

In the drama, she plays a hardworking and ambitious career woman who quietly dedicates herself to her family, hoping to offer Ye Yifan more support and encouragement. Her company provides timely assistance, offering a new house at an internal price if He Jiaru's documentary filming proceeds smoothly. After securing investment, He Jiaru travels to Xishuangbanna to film the documentary, but all the master tapes are destroyed in a fire. Ye Yifan tirelessly works to uncover the truth. Ultimately, He Jiaru is exonerated, and the documentary is released.

"The Life of Xiaoman?"

"The story begins 23 years ago."

"He Jiaru was already thirty-five years old when the story began."

"I'm twenty-nine years old now."

In the drama, He Jiaru and her architect husband Ye Yifan are a happy little family with a five-year-old son, Ye Lele. Ye Yifan is a computer engineer, and He Jiaru is a documentary planner. Ye Yifan has always dreamed of creating a better living environment for his family, buying a house in a good school district so that his child can thrive in the best educational environment—a responsibility he shares as a husband and father. However, the reality of soaring housing prices puts immense pressure on him, and his and his wife He Jiaru's savings are simply insufficient to meet this need. This harsh reality leaves him feeling anxious and helpless.

At the same time, He Jiaru was admitted to business school, which was an important step in her personal career development, but the high tuition fees plunged the couple into a deeper predicament.

Faced with these two major dilemmas, the two were torn and unable to make a decision. They knew each other's importance and understood that family requires sacrifice and dedication, but in the face of reality, they seemed unable to bear any more pressure. Ultimately, after countless arguments and struggles, Ye Yifan and He Jiaru decided to divorce. However, it wasn't that they no longer loved each other, but rather that they could no longer continue to move forward together in the face of reality.

However, He Jiaru and Ye Yifan's decision to divorce was like a pebble thrown into a tranquil lake, its ripples affecting those around them. Everyone connected to them was impacted to some degree, demonstrating how intertwined fates are, and that no one can remain unaffected.

Xiao Shan, He Jiaru's assistant, unexpectedly managed to keep her job because of the divorce. Ding Wenbo, wanting to maintain his relationship with Xiao Shan, persuaded He Jiaru to get a divorce.

Wu Nian has always harbored feelings for He Jiaru and hopes to use the divorce as an opportunity to get closer to her. Lü Jing is He Jiaru's rival and lost her chance for promotion in the business school because of He Jiaru's divorce.

Meanwhile, the conflict between Ye Yifan and his father escalates. Ye's father, due to the divorce, becomes wary of He Jiaru, and the family conflict intensifies.

The pressure of buying a house, the busy work schedule, and the competition for business school spots left He Jiaru exhausted and worried.

He Jiaru experienced anxiety due to workplace stress and a housing dispute, leading to symptoms resembling pregnancy such as nausea and vomiting. Multiple pregnancy tests came back positive, but she did not seek medical attention promptly. During the process of finalizing a fake divorce, she suffered a sudden, severe hemorrhage, which she mistook for a miscarriage. After being rushed to the hospital, she was diagnosed with normal menstruation or a physiological reaction caused by reflux disease.

The incident strained the couple's relationship. Ye Yifan clashed with a colleague over a housing dispute, while He Jiaru entered into a sham marriage with her boss, Wu Nian, to secure her eligibility to buy a house. Ultimately, the dispute over eligibility led to even more complex conflicts. After doctors definitively ruled out pregnancy, the couple were filled with self-blame and confusion.

In the end, He Jiaru was cleared of embezzlement charges, returned to the company and was promoted, obtained the qualification to purchase a house internally, moved into the new home, and gave birth to her second child, "Xiaoman," achieving success in both family and career.

"In the drama, He Jiaru is a film and television company producer. He Jiaru gets a promotion opportunity because of her professional ability, but is ostracized by her colleagues because of her naive personality in the workplace. She encounters data leaks, rumors and slander during the project's progress."

"I wonder which company He Jiaru belongs to in this world of film and television integration."

"He Jiaru, who is 29 years old, should get married this year or next year, and her son will be born next year."

Jiang Chen sized up He Jiaru, a series of thoughts flashing through his mind.

At the same time, Jiang Chen's gaze fell on the people next to He Jiaru.

This person was none other than Ye Yifan.

Ye Yifan in "Xiaoman Life".

In the drama, he appears to be a charming and carefree man, but he hides a weakness that is difficult to talk about. He drifts through each day aimlessly, always perfunctory in his work and lacking ambition. However, at home, he treats his wife, He Jiaru, with an arrogant and domineering attitude.

"In the ending, Ye Yifan and He Jiaru bought a house and had their second child, achieving success in both family and career?"

"Ye Yifan and He Jiaru planned to buy a school district house, with a down payment difference of about 50 yuan (later increased to 100 million yuan due to rising house prices). However, after winning 500 million yuan in the lottery, Ye Yifan bought a three-bedroom house in full (the specific size was not mentioned)."

"However, this is Hangzhou. Even if housing prices weren't at their highest in 23, they were definitely higher than they are now. Even if someone won five million in the lottery, they probably wouldn't have much left."

"Perhaps it won't be long before new pressures arise."

However, although Ye Yifan and He Jiaru's appearance made Jiang Chen think a lot, it was only in the blink of an eye. To others, it might just be a fleeting glance.

Soon, Jiang Chen brushed past Ye Yifan and He Jiaru.

After leaving the restaurant, Jiang Chen returned to Courtyard No. 8 of Greentown Yunqi Rose Garden.

"President Jiang, why are you back?" Li Qian was watching TV on the sofa when she saw Jiang Chen walk in and asked without thinking.

"What do you mean I'm back? This is my home. Where else could I go if I didn't come back?" Jiang Chen glared at Li Qian, annoyed. This Li Qian really treated his villa as her own home, not even standing up when he arrived.

"President Jiang, didn't you say you have many girlfriends? What, don't you have any in Hangzhou?" Li Qian wasn't afraid of Jiang Chen. Even at the company, she would tease him. Now that it was after get off work and they weren't discussing company matters, she naturally didn't hold back.

“Yes, I have girlfriends in all the major cities in China, but…” Jiang Chen walked up to Li Qian, leaned down and looked at her, and said, “As for why I came back, Secretary Li, why don’t you guess? If you guess right, there’ll be a prize.”

"Guess? Why should I guess?" Seeing Jiang Chen suddenly approach and feeling his breathing, Li Qian panicked.

"Why should I? Because I'm your boss," Jiang Chen said matter-of-factly.