In Huayu, the career reward is spy

Chapter 240 Teacher Li's Expectations

As night deepened, the lights of Shanghai streamed into the restaurant through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The table was laden with Ji Yu's favorite dishes: braised pork belly, sweet and sour pork ribs, steamed sea bass, and braised prawns.
Ji Yu couldn't resist the aroma; he had been craving this so much during his time in Japan!
Li Xiaoran came out of the kitchen carrying a clay pot. "Move aside, be careful, don't get burned."

Ji Yu turned around and took the casserole directly from her hands, placing it on the dining table.

Li Xiaoran smiled and was about to reach for something when Ji Yu grabbed her hands.

Ji Yu pulled her fingers and pinched his earlobe. "Is it hot? Don't work so hard next time. Call a professional to come and do it."

Li Xiaoran felt a sweet warmth in her heart, her fingers caressing his soft earlobe as she whispered:
"Do you like my braised pork? And I'm so happy! It's wonderful to cook and make soup for you!"

Hearing these words of vindication and warmth, Ji Yu couldn't help but hug her.

This is what home should feel like!
No matter how successful or down on his luck he is outside, Teacher Li will always treat him gently when he comes home.

"Alright, let's eat, or the food will get cold."

Li Xiaoran pressed Ji Yu down at the dining table and went to get bowls, chopsticks, and wine.

Soon the two raised their glasses and clinked them together lightly.

As they ate and chatted, Ji Yu talked a lot about his time in Tokyo, deliberately exaggerating some of the Japanese customs, which made Li Xiaoran laugh out loud.

When Ji Yu finished his first glass of wine, Li Xiaoran's eyes flickered slightly, and she unconsciously tightened her grip on her chopsticks.

"Try this. I put extra seasoning in it, it's rich and flavorful, you'll definitely crave it in Tokyo."

She placed a piece of braised pork into Ji Yu's bowl in a soft voice.

As Ji Yu ate, he gave her a thumbs-up. After swallowing the fragrant but not greasy braised pork, he said, "Teacher Li, your braised pork is getting better and better. I've been craving it so much in Tokyo!"

Seeing his satisfied expression, Li Xiaoran felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

After hesitating for a moment while biting her chopsticks, she still asked casually, "By the way, Sister Cai, have you been in Hong Kong lately? There must be a lot going on at Huaguoxing, right?"

Ji Yu paused slightly while chewing, but quickly resumed his normal posture, speaking in a relaxed tone: "Yes, she's handling the listing matters over there, she'll be back in a while."

Li Xiaoran said "Oh," her fingertips gently tracing the rim of the glass, and then tentatively asked:
"So... who's managing the business in mainland China now? You're so busy, someone has to keep an eye on it for you, right?"

Ji Yu looked up at her, his gaze calm, but he felt a little helpless. He said jokingly, "Teacher Li wants to help, so I'll take you to buy a business suit tomorrow. You'll look absolutely stunning in black stockings and red heels."

"Get lost." Li Xiaoran gave him a flirtatious look. "You're always thinking about such inappropriate things. I'm here to talk about serious matters."

"There's not much to do on the mainland. I'm in charge of the municipal projects myself, and I've also found someone in Japan."

He paused for a moment, then recalled, "With Director Li keeping an eye on things at Sugar Man, nothing should go wrong. I wonder if Lao Xu has managed to buy the Legend of Sword and Fairy IP yet."

“You bought it. You’re so rich and powerful that there’s no limit, how could you not buy it?”

Li Xiaoran was led astray by Ji Yu and took the initiative to tell him about the sugar figurine. She talked on and off for a few minutes before suddenly coming to her senses.

That's not what I was going to ask!

Li Xiaoran's heart tightened as she realized that he was intentionally avoiding Magic Language Records and Magic Language Entertainment Company.

They were trying to avoid the topic of Huo Wenxi.

She bit her lip, but ultimately didn't dare to ask directly.

She simply bent down and ladled him a bowl of soup, saying softly, "You've been working too hard lately, drink some soup to nourish yourself."

What good would it do to ask?
If he feels that I'm interfering too much, wouldn't that just be pushing him towards Huo Wenxi?

Li Xiaoran handed him the soup bowl. As Ji Yu took it, his fingertips brushed against the back of her hand, and the warm touch brought him back to his senses.

He looked at her and suddenly smiled: "What's wrong? I feel like you need this soup more than I do."

Li Xiaoran shook her head and said with a smile, "I was lost in thought just now, and I think I forgot to put salt in the soup."

Ji Yu lowered his head and took a bite; the taste was just right, neither too salty nor too bland.

"I've added salt." He put down the bowl and said, "You're just keeping too many things on your mind. Don't think so much, relax."

"No, I'm very relaxed." Li Xiaoran didn't admit it, but she felt uneasy inside.

Huo Wenxi was like a thorn, silently piercing her most vulnerable spot.

She knew very well that her relationship with Ji Yu was based on the purest first love and companionship during times of hardship.

At that time, he had nothing, and she was just a small-time actress.

But now, he stands at the top of the fame and fortune arena, surrounded by many beautiful women, including Fan Bingbing and Jiang Qingqing.

Li Xiaoran wasn't afraid of them, but Huo Wenxi's appearance completely overshadowed everyone else.

Huo Wenxi not only helped him manage the company, but also participated in all his decision-making.

This is a level of trust and compatibility that no one else possesses.

Thinking of this, Li Xiaoran's fingers trembled slightly.

She dared not ask any more questions, fearing that asking too many would make Ji Yu think she was petty and suspicious.

The more silent he remained, the more distressed he felt, just as Ji Yu had just said, he had too many things bottled up inside and couldn't relax.

She could only serve him food more gently and ask about his well-being more considerately, trying to make him remember that she was the one who accompanied him through his low point.

She kept reassuring herself that as long as she treated him well, everything would be alright.

After dinner, Ji Yu stood at the CCTV station, looking at the universe and the starry sky through a telescope, but his mind was filled with trivial matters.

Teacher Li is not in a good state; she is under too much mental pressure.

I couldn't hold back my proposal last time either.

It seems we need to find her something to do.

Ji Yu thought to himself that it might be better to keep her a little busy.

Arrange a few projects for her to film?
That won't work either; she'll overthink things if she's alone.

Ji Yu suddenly had a great idea!

At night, the sound of running water continued in the bathroom, and warm water flowed down Li Xiaoran's hair.

She bit her lip and held onto the waterproof sliding door with both hands. The exaggerated scene of her being squeezed out from the other side was enough to make anyone's blood boil.

It's a pity that Ji Yu can't see it from behind, but it's more interesting to rely on imagination.

The pattering sound echoed in the room as Ji Yu's wet slippers made a sound on the floor.

He dried his hair and walked to the bedside to sit down. Li Xiaoran, her face flushed, came over and gave a soft hum.

"He won't behave even when taking a bath."

I miss you so much, I'm so restless.

Ji Yu grinned mischievously and reached out to grab her bath towel again, but she easily dodged it.

"You haven't blow-dried your hair yet."

Ji Yu immediately stood up and offered to help!
A dozen minutes later, Ji Yu touched the hair dryer and felt like it was about to explode.

It's so hard to blow-dry a girl's hair, and these days hair dryers are so loud.

He had originally planned to take the opportunity to chat with Li Xiaoran for a bit.

Li Xiaoran sat in front of the mirror and combed her hair. "You don't know how to blow-dry at all. I told you to blow-dry it in the direction of hair growth, but now it's all tangled."

Ji Yu felt something was off about those words, so he leaned closer and chuckled, "I certainly won't brag, it's enough that you can."

"I already..." Li Xiaoran suddenly realized and tapped him with her comb in an annoyed tone.

They started getting inappropriate while talking!

Ji Yu sat down next to her, playing with her hair, and said, "I want to buy a house."

"Buying another house? Why buy so many houses?" Li Xiaoran asked, puzzled. She paused in combing her hair, then casually asked, "Are you buying them for your own residence, or for the company's staff?"

"Of course I'll live here by myself," Ji Yu said with a smile, leaning closer to her. "We'll definitely need a new house after getting married. Do you want to live here from now on?"

Li Xiaoran froze, a flurry of emotions flashing across her large eyes in an instant.

Before she could speak, Ji Yu continued, "Large apartments are not suitable for living after marriage. Townhouses and villas are the best. You can also raise dogs and cats when you have children."

"We also want to build a small fish pond in the garden so the children can catch goldfish together when they grow up, and we also want a swimming pool."

Li Xiaoran stared at him with teary eyes as he described his vision of the future.

Those images floated into her mind, and her originally restless heart softened and became peaceful, and she couldn't help but smile.

Ji Yu said a lot, then looked at her and said, "Teacher Li, I'm entrusting you with a glorious but arduous task: I'm leaving the house matter to you."

Li Xiaoran snapped out of her daze and was about to agree when she saw him frown.

Ji Yu shook his head and said, "There aren't many villas in Shanghai, and it's even harder to find one with a large area. It would definitely be a lot of trouble to renovate it."

"No trouble at all!" Li Xiaoran suddenly spoke, her voice a little loud, startling Ji Yu.

She looked at Ji Yu earnestly and said, "I don't mind the trouble; I want to build our home myself!"

Ji Yu happily hugged her face and kissed her twice.

Li Xiaoran happily hugged him, her heart filled with even more anticipation for the future.

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows as Ji Yu, holding a teacup, gazed at the distant municipal building.

He saw Secretary Li walk out from inside and get into a car, which then disappeared into the shade of the trees by the roadside.

Ten minutes later, the door to the room was pushed open, and Secretary Li walked in with a smile.

Ji Yu pretended to be slow to realize what was happening and stood up, saying, "I was so busy enjoying the tea that I should have gone outside to meet you."

"Haha, no need to be so polite." Secretary Li took a few steps forward and couldn't help but nod, saying, "This tastes wrong, it doesn't taste right."

As he spoke, he walked to the tea table and carefully smelled the steam rising from the teapot.

"Great!" He turned to look at Ji Yu with some surprise. "If I were you, I wouldn't have stood up just now!"

Ji Yu laughed and quickly invited him to sit down, pouring him a glass.

"Please, please taste it. My skills are not up to par, and I cannot describe the wonders of this tea."

Secretary Li sat up slightly, picked up the teacup with a serious expression, smelled it first, and then took a small sip, closing his eyes to let the tea linger in his mouth.

Ji Yu subtly pursed his lips, shifting his gaze away from him and looking at the specially blended incense burning beside him.

This fragrance is nice; the combination of the incense and tea aroma creates a very unique flavor.

At this moment, Secretary Li opened his eyes, looked at Ji Yu and said, "What a fine tea! It's over thirty years old Menghai ripe Pu'er tea, with a hint of aged tangerine peel. You can't fool me."

Ji Yu feigned confusion, picked up the cup and took another sip, then frowned and said, "Did you add dried tangerine peel? I couldn't taste it."

Secretary Li smiled, picked up his cup, and continued to sip his tea.

It wasn't until he finished his drink that the two started talking about serious business.

Secretary Li put down her teacup, her eyes behind her gold-rimmed glasses narrowing into slits with a smile.

"I'm so glad I did today, but I also have some good news for you."

Ji Yu asked curiously what the good news was, and Secretary Li replied with a slightly more serious tone, "The leadership is very satisfied with your performance in Tokyo!"

His voice betrayed his emotions, "You've really given Asian racing a boost this time! Most importantly, you've set a great precedent for Chinese racing!!"

Our motorsport culture is still in its infancy, but with you setting the standard, who dares to say that Chinese motorsport is no good!

Ji Yu lowered his head, took a sip of tea, and said with a slight smile, "You flatter me, sir. I also performed exceptionally well."

He put down the cup, and the porcelain gently tapped against the glass surface.

"Moreover, racing is not a one-person affair, but a huge industrial chain. My personal achievements are simply insignificant compared to the vision and planning of the leaders."

Secretary Li couldn't help but laugh, "You really should take the civil service exam."

As she spoke, Secretary Li pulled a folder out of her briefcase.

"By the way, about the progress of the Shanghai International Circuit you asked about before..."

"How's the progress?" Ji Yu leaned forward slightly.

"It's basically unfinished, with only some interior decoration and landscaping left."

Secretary Li pointed to the document and said, "I've submitted the application for you, but you need to explain your plan in detail."

Ji Yu's eyes lit up and he immediately said, "I want to hold the premiere of 'Initial D' and organize several exhibition races, including drifting, GT racing, touring cars, and go-karting!"

Secretary Li nodded slightly, wanting to know what would happen next.

Otherwise, it would seem more like a publicity stunt for Ji Yu's movie, which would be somewhat inappropriate.

Ji Yu explained, "Many people in China, even the media, don't really understand what racing culture is all about. These exhibition races can help them gain a clearer understanding of racing."

At the same time, I will also announce the establishment of racing teams for different age groups, recruiting drivers from all walks of life. In addition, we will organize celebrity exhibition races to gain more exposure, and establish a supercar club to attract more capable and talented people to jointly build Chinese motorsport!

"good idea!"

Secretary Li was genuinely surprised this time; it was all about promoting the race car, with the movie premiere becoming the least important thing.

He couldn't help but nod and say, "Publicity and promotion, and leveraging the celebrity effect to drive the industry, not bad, not bad. I'll go back and report to my superiors, and they'll definitely give you their full support!"

"Thank you!"

It was already evening when I left.

Ji Yu stood at the entrance of the teahouse, the wind lifting his shirt collar and obscuring his sharp jawline.

In the distance, Secretary Li casually tossed a large red plastic bag into his car, got in, and drove away.

Ji Yu turned his gaze back to the sky.

I wonder if Maki has arrived in Shanghai yet. There are so many things to do later, she must be very busy.

Preparing for these exhibition races and team clubs, as well as organizing the D1 race in Taiwan, I hope she can handle it.

At that moment, an announcement came over the loudspeaker at Shanghai International Airport confirming arrival.

Maki strode out of the terminal building, dragging her suitcase; her white suit stood out in the crowd.

Her face wore a gentle smile, which made anyone who saw her feel an instant goodwill.

Maki walked out of the station exit and watched a man holding a sign with her name on it walk past her.

"Miss Maki?" the man said with a smile. "Brother Yu arranged for me to pick you up."

Maki smiled gently, bowed slightly, and said, "Thank you, you've worked hard."

"No hard work, no hard work!"

As night fell and the city lights began to twinkle, she stood in the luxurious restaurant, gazing at the dazzling cityscape of Shanghai.

A look of determination and ambition flashed in his eyes.

At this moment, Ji Yu appeared at the restaurant entrance with Li Xiaoran.

Li Xiaoran's eyes lit up slightly as she looked at Maki in her white suit.

Huo Wenxi is in for a good show.

One is cold, the other gentle; one is black, the other white. I wonder who is more capable.

Busy with decorating her house and preparing for her wedding, Ms. Li is at peace with herself and eagerly anticipates what's to come.

(End of this chapter)