In Huayu, the career reward is spy

Chapter 241 Teaming up to bully the old man!

The night view of Shanghai streamed in through the restaurant's floor-to-ceiling windows, and the soft glow of the crystal chandelier reflected on the dining table.

At the dining table, Maki bowed slightly, held the teacup with both hands, and poured a cup of tea for Li Xiaoran in the standard Japanese tea ceremony manner.

"Miss Li, please have some."

Her voice was soft, with just the right amount of respect, yet without sounding subservient.

Li Xiaoran took the teacup with some discomfort, her fingertips inadvertently touching the back of Maki's hand. It was a little cool, but her movements were very steady, and the cup didn't even wobble.

She quickly took the teacup, took a small sip, and said, "Ms. Maki, you're too kind. You're the guest, please have a seat."

Maki smiled slightly, gave a polite little bow, and then sat down.

Li Xiaoran glanced at Zhenxi; she and Ji Yu also had many romantic rumors.

Previously, when Maki was helping Chi Yu with the D1 race in Taiwan, she was rumored to be dating a man by gossip magazines.

During Ji Yu's time in Tokyo, although Maki didn't make many appearances, some members of the inspection team from Shanghai said that Maki and Ji Yu had a special relationship.

However, after meeting Maki, Li Xiaoran discovered that she was not quite the same as the rumors suggested.

It was supposed to be her welcome dinner, but she acted like a waiter.

Li Xiaoran knew that such a description was impolite, but that was indeed the feeling.

Either they are cunning and have grand ambitions, or they are truly innocent and have a clear conscience; otherwise, how could they be so meticulous?

Li Xiaoran chuckled and said, "Ms. Maki speaks Chinese very well."

Li Xiaoran took a sip of tea, her smile not reaching her eyes, and continued to probe, "Ji Yu never mentioned that you have such a high talent for languages."

Maki smiled faintly, her eyelashes lowered, like a lady in a ukiyo-e print, gentle and restrained.

"Because I have to work in China, I have been studying hard. I didn't study well before, so I didn't tell Mr. Ji."

Her Chinese wasn't very natural yet, but Li Xiaoran thought it sounded very nice and didn't have that peculiar quality.

Maki paused for a moment, then poured tea for Ji Yu, as if to express her apology for not telling Ji Yu that she was learning Chinese.

Her movements were natural, always maintaining a perfect distance, without even her sleeve touching Ji Yu's arm.

Li Xiaoran's heart stirred slightly, and she smiled as she pushed the menu over, saying, "Ms. Maki, you can order."

Maki politely accepted the menu, quickly ordered three dishes, and then returned it to Li Xiaoran.

Li Xiaoran maintained her composure, but secretly breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Maki didn't order any of the dishes that Kiyu liked, and she didn't ask Kiyu about them at all.

At the dinner table, Maki took the initiative to talk about hot springs in Tokyo, speaking gently while maintaining an appropriate distance.

Even when talking about hot springs, they can skillfully avoid any topics that might lead to ambiguity.

Li Xiaoran unconsciously smiled more often, and went from being the one who initiated communication to the one who listened attentively.

When Ji Yu got up to go to the bathroom, she finally came to her senses and took the opportunity to ask Maki about her work arrangements.

Tell Maki that she can contact her if she needs any help, and if she doesn't have time, she can contact Huo Wenxi.

When Li Xiaoran deliberately brought up Huo Wenxi, Zhenxi simply nodded slightly.

"Thank you for your concern. You are exactly as Mr. Ji described, a gentle, kind, independent, and opinionated lady. I will be troubling you a lot in the future."

Maki knew very well who she needed to cultivate a good relationship with.

Seeing this, Li Xiaoran continued, "However, there are some professional matters that I may not understand. You can ask President Huo. She is very capable. She manages many of Ji Yu's companies."

Maki smiled slightly, "Miss Huo is very capable, but she probably doesn't like being bothered. With your and Mr. Ji's help, my work will definitely go smoothly."

Maki's tone was devoid of jealousy, comparison, or even the slightest extra emotion.

Gradually, Li Xiaoran found herself completely relaxed.

Every word Maki uttered was as smooth and appropriate as if it had been carefully polished, without deliberately trying to please or feigning aloofness.

It's like... like the best friend you only have in your dreams!

Li Xiaoran suddenly realized that she needed such a considerate friend.

When Ji Yu returned, he saw Li Xiaoran and Zhenxi chatting and laughing happily.

Others couldn't help but laugh, secretly praising Maki's cleverness.

She didn't need to explain or make any oaths; she simply told Li Xiaoran through her most natural actions.

She's here solely for her career, not for Ji Yu.

Ji Yu brought Li Xiaoran to welcome Zhenxi in order to soothe Li Xiaoran's sensitive and thoughtful heart.

This would give her a sense of being involved in Ji Yu's work, and also a sense of being the lady of the house.

It can fill the void of loss she felt when Huo Wenxi took power.

After Ji Yu sat down, he smiled and said to Maki, "It seems you two have become friends. Teacher Li has very high standards for making friends. Becoming friends on the first meeting, it seems Maki is a bit too outstanding."

"It's because Miss Li is gentle and considerate that she's willing to talk to someone like me who's chasing my dreams in a foreign land."

After Maki finished speaking, she picked up her teacup, using the rising steam to conceal the smile in her eyes.

She never imagined that one day she would need to act as a mediator in her boss's family life.

It's quite interesting, though.

This also shows that Ji Yu trusts her and is very close to her.

As night fell, a black Mercedes pulled up in front of a luxury apartment building.

Maki politely thanked him and said goodbye, but was stopped by Kiyu as she was getting off the bus.

"Wait a minute! I have something for you." He said, opening the car door, walking to the trunk, taking out a box, and handing it to her.

"Back-to-work gift".

Maki was pleasantly surprised, but after glancing at the car door out of the corner of her eye, she whispered, "I thought it was a thank-you fee."

Ji Yu laughed and told her that she should spend more time with Li Xiaoran.

Maki nodded, then remembered something before leaving and turned back to him, saying, "I'm planning to start work tomorrow. Is there anything I need to tell you?"

"No, I trust you to handle things."

"Okay, but setting up a club and a racing team will require a lot of upfront costs, and it will be difficult to make a profit in the short term."

"It's okay, the coaches, engineers, and equipment all need to be top-notch and professional!"

Maki nodded in agreement, and waved to Li Xiaoran through the car window before leaving.

When Ji Yu got into the car, Li Xiaoran couldn't help but say, "Maki has a really good personality."

"It's alright, I mainly value her abilities," Ji Yu said nonchalantly.

Li Xiaoran smiled slightly, stared at him, and asked, "Are you sure it's not because she's pretty?"

"How could anyone be prettier than you?" Ji Yu asked with a smile.

"You're such a chatterbox!" Li Xiaoran smiled and rolled her eyes at him, in a very good mood.

Ji Yu smiled and drove home.

The asphalt of the Shanghai International Circuit gleamed with a bluish-black light under the afternoon sun. Maki stood at the highest point of the main grandstand, her rangefinder beeping continuously.

She was looking down at her PDA, recording the curve angles, and a diamond stud earring was revealed on her earlobe as her hair was lifted by the wind.

It was the first gift Ji Yu gave her last night, and she really liked it.

She liked sparkly things, and she also liked seeing Ji Yu standing in front of the media cameras, looking like Thor descending to earth under the flashes of light. She suddenly stopped, her brows furrowing slightly. The angle of this bend was 2.3 degrees greater than the Tokyo circuit; it was very difficult.

For drifting performances, drivers should be reminded to pay close attention to this corner, as such corners require greater control over the center of gravity for rear-wheel-drive cars.

The roar of construction vehicles could be heard in the distance as workers erected sunshades for the stands.

Maki suddenly closed her handheld computer and strode towards the starting line of the track.

She took out a small digital camera and took pictures of the referee's stand, the stands, the pit lane, and other areas.

At that moment, the track manager jogged over and handed her a bottle of ice-cold cola with a smile.

"Ms. Maki is very thoughtful," the person in charge said with a smile. "Please feel free to ask if you need anything."

The person in charge looked at the track and exclaimed with emotion, "After several years of construction, it's finally ready to make its grand debut!"

Maki smiled slightly and looked at the audience, a glint of light flashing in her eyes.

The premiere's exhibition match will definitely amaze everyone!

The movie featuring the Asian racing legend has to be a huge hit, especially since it's the first performance of the film in his hometown!
Only in this way will her future work be easier!

Maki collected some more data on the track before leaving.

As the setting sun stretched her shadow to the starting line of the racetrack, Maki finally stopped and looked back.

This will also be her starting point!
Perhaps in the future she will be able to appear on a bigger stage and become a shining star.

Maki smiled confidently, turned around, and left to go get a beauty treatment with a new friend.

As she walked away, an airplane slowly descended into the sky.

At Shanghai Airport, Jiang Zhiqiang left by car, led by his assistant.

After getting into the car, he glanced at his watch and urged the driver to hurry up.

Nighttime at the Peace Hotel in Shanghai.

Guided by the waiter, Jiang Zhiqiang pushed open the door and entered the private room.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of the private room, the Huangpu River meanders like satin, shattering the neon lights into shimmering waves.

Ji Yu and Huo Wenxi were standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, chatting about something. They both turned around to look when they heard the noise.

Jiang Zhiqiang laughed heartily, quickly stepped forward, and extended his hand, saying, "Asian racing god! Long time no see!"

Ji Yu and Huo Wenxi exchanged a glance, a hint of amusement flashing in their eyes.

He smiled and shook hands with Jiang Zhiqiang, saying, "Mr. Jiang, it's been a long time. Please stop teasing me. The 'Asian racing god' thing is just media nonsense."

Jiang Zhiqiang chuckled and teased before turning to Huo Wenxi and saying, "Miss Huo, we meet again."

Huo Wenxi politely shook hands with him.

The three then sat down to drink coffee and talk about work.

"I didn't call you the Asian racing god to tease you; it's just that film companies in North America like this gimmick."

After he finished speaking, he took a faxed document out of his briefcase and handed it to them.

Huo Wenxi took it, a hint of surprise in her eyes, and handed it to Ji Yu.

After quickly glancing at it, Ji Yu couldn't help but say, "Sixteen hundred cinemas?"

“That’s right!” Jiang Zhiqiang said excitedly, “Even taller than the hero was back then!”

Ji Yu raised an eyebrow and said, "The later stages weren't even finished, and the other party already made the decision?"

"Although they didn't see the movie, they did see the video of your match against Maksim."

Jiang Zhiqiang said casually, "Movies are always more exciting than reality, aren't they?"

Ji Yu nodded and smiled, "Not necessarily. Reality is often more dramatic, otherwise how could a Maxim suddenly appear?"

Jiang Zhiqiang's expression froze for a moment. He picked up his coffee, took a sip, and said, "Everyone loves melodramatic stuff."

He paused for a moment, then chuckled and said, "By the way, six countries in Europe have already expressed interest in distributing the film, but I don't plan to give it to European distributors."

He put down his coffee cup and said, "Hollywood has a well-established distribution network in Europe. I plan to package it directly, which will increase the revenue from videotapes by five percentage points."

After Jiang Zhiqiang finished speaking, he looked at Ji Yu and Huo Wenxi, wanting to hear their opinions.

Ji Yu tossed the fax aside and laughed, "You're the professional, you decide."

Jiang Zhiqiang smiled slightly, and was about to continue talking about the distribution plan when Huo Wenxi interrupted him:

"Will there be any more dramatic incidents during this overseas promotion? Like a clown suddenly appearing at the premiere's performance match and demanding a game?"

Jiang Zhiqiang frowned, not expecting Huo Wenxi to still be so persistent.

He turned his head to look at Ji Yu.

Ji Yu was drinking coffee, and the bitter taste made him frown.

He slowly set down the coffee cup, making a crisp sound on the glass tabletop.

"Publicity is a double-edged sword. If there are any more melodramatic plot twists next time, let us know in advance."

When he looked up, his gaze was gentle, yet carried an undeniable weight. "After all... we are partners."

Jiang Zhiqiang's lips twitched slightly. He lowered his head and then raised it again, saying, "I will keep a close eye on things and make sure there are no accidents during the publicity campaign."

"That would be for the best. This premiere is no ordinary event. If something goes wrong, we'll all be in trouble."

Ji Yu carefully instructed that many people from the municipal government would be attending the premiere performance match!

The leaders will also go to watch the performance. If something really goes wrong, it will be incredibly embarrassing.

Jiang Zhiqiang understood and said he would definitely pay attention, then tentatively inquired about the cinema chain.

"Don't rush the cinema chain. Asking a thousand times won't help before the policy documents are finalized."

He said with a smile, "At this point, you should be thinking about how many cinemas you will need to open."

Jiang Zhiqiang laughed upon hearing this, and decided to take the bite of the pie!

Huo Wenxi suddenly interjected, "I heard that China Film Group has some new moves recently."

Jiang Zhiqiang gave a curious "oh," wondering what the action was.

Huo Wenxi leaned back on the sofa, lightly tapped his toes with his crossed legs, and said with a confident smile:
"The pilot program for upgrading cinema equipment is said to have substantial policy support. Mr. Jiang should pay more attention to it. If you can secure pilot support, it could be a significant source of profit."

Jiang Zhiqiang was surprised; how come he hadn't heard this news?

Ji Yu and his team are incredibly well-informed!
Having a powerful backer makes all the difference.

While Jiang Zhiqiang was thinking, Ji Yu suddenly spoke up and took the initiative to change the subject.

"I heard that the flowers Zhang Yimou planted in the Netherlands didn't turn out well? He'll have to scout out a new location again, which will cost a lot of money."

"Well, that's because he's stubborn, it's definitely not a pretext!"

Jiang Zhiqiang quickly explained, worried that Ji Yu would think he and Zhang Yimou conspired to embezzle money.

Ji Yu felt that he had struck a chord and started joking around.

"I don't care. Starting filming later means I can rest a few more days. I'm just an actor, I don't care about the investors' feelings. Whether the movie makes a profit or not, I'll still be making a profit."

Huo Wenxi joked, "President Jiang can't possibly lose money, right, President Jiang?"

Jiang Zhiqiang smiled awkwardly as he drank his coffee, thinking it tasted really bad today.

So you're ganging up on the old man today, aren't you?
(End of this chapter)