Huayu Chunqiu, starting from being adopted by a fairy mother

Chapter 457: A sound enters the soul

Before Liu Jinglai came, he had some knowledge of Eurasia Group, which is a large state-owned enterprise.

The hypermarket is a subsidiary of the group, and the person in front of you is the head of the hypermarket and also the vice president of the group.

"Thank you, Mr. Yu. It seems I'm late; I should have come a few days earlier."

Looking at the banners in the store, Liu Jing couldn't help but joke.

It's clear that this large supermarket just finished a promotion during the National Day holiday.

"No! Our 25th anniversary celebration was held too early." General Manager Yu said seriously. The employees behind him couldn't help but mutter. This was the group's vice president, someone they rarely saw. He always had a serious face when they met him. They had never seen him joke like this before.

"So it's the 25th anniversary celebration. Forgive me for sending my belated congratulations," Liu Jing realized.

"Haha, then you'll have to be punished. I'll make you host a welcome dinner for you guys tonight, and I'll make you drink a couple more glasses with me."

Mr. Yu extended an invitation; for ordinary directors and actors, he wouldn't need to make an appearance.

But when the group's big boss heard that Liu Jing was leading the team, he temporarily changed the contact person and arranged for him to take the lead.

Mr. Yu is very perceptive; he immediately inquired about Liu Jing's identity, which is why he was so kind and approachable.

The organizers of each city sent out invitations, but Liu Jingquan declined all the banquets except for those in Dalian and Qingdao.

The situation in Dalian was a bit special. Wanda Cinema took over the event, and the new director of Wanda Group, Mr. Wang, who had returned from studying in the UK, was hosting the dinner. Liu Jing couldn't refuse, after all, he had a good relationship with Wanda Cinemas.

As for Qingdao, Liu Jing had to give Huang Xiaoming some face because of the connections Huang Xiaoming made and the fact that Huang Xiaoming personally supported "The Message" in his hometown.

This time, Liu Jing was about to refuse when he suddenly saw his assistant wink at him, "Then I'll gladly accept your offer..."

The assistant rolled her eyes. The boss had misunderstood, but the words had already been spoken.

"Haha, Director Liu, our Eurasia Group has a connection with 'The Message.' Your movie is released on September 29th, which is also the day of our anniversary celebration. During the anniversary celebration, the cinema upstairs will also have a promotion: buy one get one free on movie tickets, regardless of age..."

Mr. Yu introduced the hotel with a smile, but Liu Jing was stunned for a moment when he entered.

He understood why his assistant had given him that look; Taro and his girlfriend were in a corner of the hotel, being stopped by hotel security.

boom……

Fireworks went off, and confetti rained down.

As the music began, nine beautiful young women sang, "You are electricity, you are light, you are the only myth. I only love you, you are my superstar..."

Liu Jing shuddered, not startled by the fireworks, but captivated by the sound.

Nine girls, all dressed in matching outfits, looked to be around twenty years old, like college students from nearby schools. They were youthful and vibrant, radiating energy, and their playful hopping and skipping was quite adorable.

There was a girl next to me, very young, who looked like a middle school student.

The other eight people were singing, and the little girl was singing her heart out. The voices of eight people couldn't drown out hers.

It wasn't that her voice was loud, but rather that her voice was extremely unique, with the rhythm and pitch completely off-target.

Her dancing rhythm was always a step behind everyone else's, and it was very uncoordinated, making it hard for her to go unnoticed.

"Did he bring his own funding to the team? The director should find his confidence now." Zhao Liying was thinking to herself when she was shocked.

Bai Bing nodded secretly, realizing that great minds think alike; at this moment, she and Xiao Dao shared a common understanding.

“Actually, Mu Tou’s singing isn’t bad. To us opera actors, it has a unique charm,” Zeng Li defended the opera enthusiast.

Upon hearing this, Bai Bing couldn't help but glance at Zeng Li. Could it be that Sao Yuan's suspicions were correct? With such a kindred spirit, the boss will surely be extremely grateful and make you a perfect match for him.

"And this girl? She has a certain charm too?" Xiao Dao asked in return.

"It sounds awful no matter which ear I listen to it with. But there's one good thing: listening to her songs keeps me awake." Zeng Li spread her hands, and Xiao Dao chuckled. She was no longer sleepy, but she was even hungrier.

The song was only sung a few lines, just to express a welcoming attitude, so it wouldn't be finished.

The girl became the center of attention without realizing it, secretly glancing at Liu Jing without trying to hide her actions.

Liu Jing clapped politely, while President Yu was a little embarrassed. "This is a friend's daughter. Her singing... well, her voice is quite unique. She's a fan of yours and insisted on participating. She rehearsed for two days, more hard than she ever did in school."

"That's good." Liu Jing nodded in response to the little girl. She was actually a fan of mine. Upon reflection, her singing wasn't bad either.

When others sing off-key, at least there's still a path to follow; this person is simply in a parallel universe.

Liu Jing believes that if she and S.H.E. sing together, the other three won't be able to overshadow her.

"Hello, could you sign my autograph?" The little girl greeted Liu Jing's response, pulled out a notebook from behind her back, and quickly came over.

"Okay." Liu Jing readily agreed. He had been signing autographs a lot lately, so he always carried a pen with him.

This Montblanc pen isn't cheap; it's the Rolls-Royce of pens. He got it from Zhang Min; it cost several thousand yuan, and Liu Jing felt it was a waste for her to have it.

"I love listening to you sing, especially 'True Hero.' You sing it even better than Jackie Chan, Emil Chau, and Jonathan Lee. I'm your fan..."

Fans? Do I even have those anymore?
Liu Jing was writing his silky artistic signature when he suddenly forgot how to continue.

Putting me alongside Emil Chau and Jonathan Lee just feels a bit out of place.

You can make vertical comparisons, such as everyone's status in the music industry and film industry respectively, but don't make horizontal comparisons.

Looking at the admiring expression and worshipful gaze of the other person, Liu Jing was certain that this was not sarcasm.

If this were acting, the acting skills would be amazing, even more talented than Shu Chang.

Zeng Li, Xiao Dao, and Bai Bing exchanged bewildered glances. This…

"Thank you." Liu Jing paused for a moment, then thanked the little girl.

This girl not only has a bad voice, but she probably also has hearing problems, or even a mental problem.

"What do you think of my singing?" the little girl asked quickly.

Liu Jing was in a dilemma and looked at President Yu beside him.

Mr. Yu smiled and said, "Her name is Meng Ziyi, the daughter of a friend of mine." This girl seems to have some connections!

"What a wonderful name! Confucius said, 'To achieve benevolence,' and Mencius said, 'To uphold righteousness.' Only by fulfilling righteousness can one attain benevolence." Liu Jing was surprised and applauded the name. The more he savored it, the more he appreciated its charm.

"Where's the back?"

"What have I learned from reading the classics? From now on, I hope I can be without shame." Liu Jing frowned. This girl was being impolite; was she trying to embarrass me?
"You're so knowledgeable, can I learn to sing from you?" Meng Ziyi praised her. She asked casually, but little did she know there would be more to the story, and the famous director actually answered her.

Liu Jing was stunned. Did you say those two sentences next to each other?
People ask him to act in movies, people ask him for acting advice, and people seek his advice on publicity, but learning to sing from him is something I've never heard of before.

“I can become your apprentice.” Meng Ziyi’s eyes were full of anticipation, like a fawn waiting to be fed.

Now even Mr. Yu was in a bind. She's a big director, and you're just a young girl acting like this on our first meeting? That's too presumptuous of you.

"Haha, there will be other opportunities. Director Liu has been traveling a long way, let him go back to his room to rest first." President Yu laughed it off. Seeing that Meng Ziyi was about to say something, he quickly pulled Liu Jing towards the elevator, his back view showing a bit of haste.

I'd heard long ago that Old Meng's daughter was a tiger, and she was no ordinary tiger; she wasn't shy at all.

Taro wanted to give chase, but after looking at the security personnel and the onlookers around him, he hesitated.

"What do you want with him? We're here to ask for a favor, why are you so concerned about saving face?" Qin Lan lowered her voice. Now he's thinking about saving face? Where was he before? No matter how I tried to persuade him, he wouldn't listen. If we weren't boyfriend and girlfriend, I would have gone with Gao Yuanyuan too.

"Never mind, let's talk about it privately when he's free." Taro shook his head.

"You..." Qin Lan was annoyed by his lack of ambition. He was always busy, so she could just wait there.

Liu Jing entered the hotel, and his assistant followed him in without any apparent concern.

"Boss, that little girl is quite talented at performing." As soon as Xiaobai closed the door, his first words were to Meng Ziyi.

"It doesn't seem like acting." Liu Jing shook his head; he had a good eye for talent, and there were no signs of acting.

"It doesn't seem real. It's a bit deliberate, but more like she's just oblivious." Xiaobai pouted. Such a green tea at such a young age, what will she be like when she grows up?

"It's normal." Liu Jing didn't find it strange. Jing Tian was also very easygoing, as was his niece Nazha. Add Zhao Liying, and these women were all comedic, the kind who were funny without even realizing it.

"Boss, the Golden Horse Awards nominations are out. The awards ceremony will be held on November 28th at the Taipei County Government Building in Taiwan. There are 27 films nominated. Our film 'The Message' only got a nomination for Best Actress, and it's Zhou Xun and Zeng Li both nominated. There are quite a few other technical awards, though: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, and Best Editing. They've already sent the invitations. Do you want to go?"

"I'm not going." Liu Jing looked dejected. The Golden Horse Awards really are the same old thing—reforms, reforms, and nothing gets done. He wondered if the Hong Kong Film Awards would be the same in the future.

"You're not going to the Taiwan promotion event on the 23rd?" Bai Bing asked, as if she hadn't expected it.

"Why not go?" Liu Jing asked in return.

“That makes sense, we can’t afford to mess with the box office.” Bai Bing understood immediately.

"Has Zhou Xun's rich boyfriend returned to China?" Liu Jing asked curiously.

There is no direct evidence to prove that it was Young Master Wang who did it.

Aside from that last time, this guy left no trace.

The cash transaction with Lin Xiu'e's family consisted of old bills, and it was done in batches, making the investigation extremely difficult. Lin Xiu'e's son only cared about money and didn't even meet the other party.

However, on October 1st, Mr. Wang flew to Australia for vacation. A week has passed since the National Day holiday ended, and he is still there and hasn't returned.

Last year, during the filming of "The Message," Wang Gongzi caused a scene on set after drinking, and was beaten up by Liu Jing, losing face completely.

It's not impossible that he might retaliate secretly.

Liu Jing isn't a police officer, so there's no need to presume innocence; having a suspect is enough. Once the other party returns to China, there are plenty of ways to find out the answer.

"The Golden Rooster Awards are coming up soon, and Zhou Xun is basically guaranteed to win Best Actress. There's definitely something wrong with him hiding in Australia and not coming back. The Golden Rooster Awards are on the 17th, and Zhou Xun's birthday is on the 18th. I asked Zhou Xun about it, and he's coming back to China on the 18th to celebrate her birthday at his villa in Xiaotangshan. According to Zhou Xun, her boyfriend has a business deal in Australia and is very, very busy. He came back to China specifically to celebrate her birthday, and then flew back to Australia on the 20th, only staying in China for a day and two nights." Bai Bing sneered.

"He's really quite devoted," Liu Jing scoffed. "I wonder if that guy knows he's being suspected and is too afraid to go back to China."

“He’s probably been busy in bed for two days and two nights, and might not even have left the house. Zhou Xun’s birthday party will be crowded and noisy, so it won’t be easy for us to do anything. Now that he’s back in Australia, far away from us, it will be even harder for us to deal with him,” Bai Bing said regretfully.

“That’s right! The emperor is far away and the sky is high.” Liu Jing said with amusement.

Bai Bing was stunned, then her eyes lit up, "That's right, how come I didn't think of that? The emperor is far away."

"You should ask Zhou Xun more questions. His father may not know about his situation in Australia, but Zhou Xun should know quite a bit," Liu Jing instructed.

"It's a pity Zhou Xun didn't invite me to her birthday party, and I doubt she will," Bai Bing snorted, looking displeased. "Her birthday is the day after the Golden Rooster Awards. The night before, Huayi held a birthday party for her at a Hui-style villa in Xianghu Wetland Park in Nanchang. It was to celebrate Zhou Xun's 35th birthday, her award, and Huayi's IPO. They didn't even bother to invite us. She's going back to Yandu the next day, and Young Master Wang is celebrating her birthday at home. He definitely won't invite us there either."

“That’s an internal gathering at Huayi Brothers in Nanchang. The main focus is on ‘The Equation of Love and Death’ and ‘Assembly.’ What would we do there? They’d be embarrassed, and we’d be embarrassed too. In Yandu, Young Master Wang is hosting a private party for his girlfriend. The attendees are all his friends, like Xiao Fangzi. We’re not on his side, and we have a history of disagreements, so he definitely won’t invite us. I reckon Zhou Xun’s friends won’t attend either. If he does invite us, I’m worried it’s a trap.” Liu Jing was speechless. The assistant definitely understood this, but was just being petty.

"Boss, do you think Zhou Xun knows something?" Bai Bing asked thoughtfully.

"When you ask Zhou Xun, don't arouse her suspicion. Zhou Xun should be unaware of what her boyfriend did. In Young Master Wang's mind, Zhou Xun is just a plaything for his curiosity, a trophy for his womanizing. Once he's had his fun, he should find a way to break up with her." Liu Jing shook his head.

The four actresses and two actresses, none of whom are easy to deal with. Comparatively speaking, Zhou Xun is the least cunning and the most straightforward.

"That's hard to say. Who knows who will be whose spoils of war and whose collectibles?" Xiaobai disagreed.

Liu Jing was taken aback. It was hard to say; Zhou Gongzi's romantic history was truly remarkable. Of the "Four Dan and Two Bing" (referring to four top actresses and two top actresses in China), she was the most notorious; it seemed that dating was her specialty. She was easy to manage, but she was a goldmine for men.

While we can recount the romantic histories of the other men in some detail, it's hard to say about this one.

"Anyway, no matter what, their relationship is definitely not as strong as the two downstairs," Bai Bing concluded.

Mentioning the two downstairs, Liu Jing was a little annoyed, "Xiao Bai, why did you bring them here?"

"Boss, do you think I'm that incompetent? I just checked in and ran into them downstairs. We were just exchanging a few words when you arrived." Xiao Bai helped the boss take off his coat and hang it on the hanger. Without any hesitation, she opened her suitcase and took out a clean set of clothes.

I need to change into something decent before we eat; I can't dress so casually anymore.

"He doesn't seem like someone looking for trouble. Begging for mercy isn't Taro's style. Actually, I still prefer him to be a bit stubborn; he's good at turning bad intentions into good ones." Liu Jing stroked his chin. The blow from one film shouldn't be enough to make the other party surrender.

"They went to Shenyang the day before yesterday and didn't have a chance to see you, so they came to Changchun early this morning to wait for you," Xiaobai explained.

"You're winking at me, trying to get me to meet them?" Liu Jing asked in surprise, eyeing the assistant suspiciously. "They're not going to offer you anything, are they? Let's make it clear first, any benefits will be split in half."

"Qin Lan, I'll give you half of my buttocks."

(End of this chapter)