A grand feast for the Chinese entertainment industry

Chapter 127 Willingness
The party was quite lively.

It's just that there are a few more Asians among the Black and White people.

But after only a short while, Lin Jianlu realized from the bottom of her heart that she really didn't like or feel comfortable in this kind of setting.

People who have adapted to this culture of playing music, dancing, and drinking must indeed feel quite liberated and happy.

But Lin Jianlu is not an option.

Leaving aside cultural differences, Lin Jianlu himself is inherently a solitary person who thoroughly enjoys being alone and dislikes noise and crowds. Back in China, whether in mainland China, Hong Kong, or Taiwan, he could barely tolerate people getting together for a meal and drinks, because those gatherings were primarily about interpersonal communication, especially among acquaintances. The conversations were often insightful and thought-provoking. But parties, pure noise… he simply couldn't handle them.

Before coming, I was full of enthusiasm, secretly planning to sneak off to the villa hosting the party and knock on each door—apparently, at these parties, if two people hit it off, they can just walk into the villa, any empty room will do, lock the door, and start having sex, and might even forget about it the next day. But it didn't matter; they were free to express themselves and both were happy.

However, after half an hour, he lost interest and his playful mood vanished.

He also tried chatting with people randomly, and wasn't rejected much; it's just that he didn't like the noisy atmosphere.

"I was thinking of learning from the Americans, learning some things I don't know, and making the songs more like they are here. But now it seems like I should just give up and leave!"

Ge Fuhong and Zhao Mingxin both laughed.

Judging from her expression, Zhao Mingxin wanted to say a few more words of advice, since the party here had only just begun, but Ge Fuhong didn't say a word, "Fine! If you want to leave, then we'll leave."

So he asked Chen Hong what she thought, indicating that he was leaving and if she wanted to stay and play a little longer...

Chen Hong immediately said, "Then let's go. I don't like this atmosphere either. I was really looking forward to it before, envying all the parties people have here. I felt like I didn't know anyone in New York, and no one could show me around. Now I've seen it for myself, and it's not that great!"

Hey... I like hearing that.

Then let's go, find the people in Colombia, say hello, and get out of here.

Everyone's stomachs were still empty, so Zhao Mingxin recommended a place, and they went there to have dinner. When they got out of the car and entered the restaurant, the assistant Lin Xilei quietly tugged at Lin Jianlu's sleeve. After pulling him aside, Lin Xilei put her hands together and said, "Brother, dear brother, Sister Huilun gave me a task! Don't go too far, or I'll be stuck in a dilemma—whether I report it or not!"

Lin Jianlu paused for a moment, then glanced back at Chen Hong, who had already entered the restaurant. "Her? It's not her! No!"

Lin Xilei had been following him for half a year before she finally believed it. "I've been pursuing you like this, brother, you can't handle it..."

Lin Jianlu flicked her forehead with her finger. "Are you saying I'm a lecher?... Speak English!"

Lin Xilei covered her forehead and continued in Mandarin, "Just take a nap and it'll be over, okay? You go everywhere you go, dating everywhere you go. Huilun and Shuhua will definitely be unhappy, right? You love them so much, you bought them a big mansion to live in, and... this lady is so smart! Sister Ge said that even if Su Huilun, Chen Shuhua, and Liang Yongqi were all combined, she wouldn't be as smart as her alone! Don't let this slip!"

Lin Jianlu looked back again, and coincidentally, Chen Hong had just entered the restaurant and didn't seem to be in a hurry to move forward or find a seat. She was just standing there waiting. When Lin Jianlu looked over, Chen Hong was also looking over.

He smiled and even waved playfully.

Hold……

He put his arm around Lin Xilei and said, "Just tell them this: Brother Lu did indeed pick up a girl here, and she's quite pretty, but that girl asked to marry Brother Lu, and then they broke up."

Lin Xilei was a little confused, her eyes filled with a clear sense of naiveté. "What do you mean?"

"Just say it like that."

"Really?"

"Tell me the truth."

"You said it yourself, don't blame me if I say it!"

"Stop talking nonsense, let's go eat, I'm starving!"

We went to the restaurant and ate. It was a pretty high-end French restaurant. It was alright. It didn't have big steamed buns or braised pork knuckles to fill us up, but it was enough to satisfy our hunger. Some of the dishes were quite tasty.

After dinner, Lin Jianlu arranged a car to take Chen Hong, saying that the group could squeeze back to the hotel. Chen Hong didn't insist on staying with her, thanking her and politely declining, saying she could take a taxi. But before leaving, she asked, "Jianlu, is it convenient for me to visit you in Columbia tomorrow?"

She then explained, "I don't have anything else to do. I've just been free lately. Since you're recording, you definitely need to protect your voice, especially since you've been eating a lot of food here and haven't been drinking enough soup, which can easily cause internal heat. Luckily, I know how to make soup, and I have many kinds that can nourish the voice. I'll make some for you tomorrow morning and bring them over."

Lin Jianlu quickly waved her hand, "No need, no need! It's too much trouble! I wouldn't dare to trouble you like this!"

But the other person just laughed and said, "What's the big deal? It's no trouble at all! It's settled then, I'm off!"—and without waiting for Lin Jianlu to refuse again, he took the initiative to go over and hail a taxi and left.

…………

The next day at noon, she actually came over with a thermos.

She called again, and Lin Xilei went downstairs to answer. When she came back up, she opened the thermos, and wow, the room was filled with a rich aroma, the kind of soup aroma unique to the East.

She also brought a lot of disposable coffee cups. After serving Lin Jianlu a cup, she warmly served Ge Fuhong, Zhao Mingxin, and Lin Xilei a cup as well. Everyone declined, but they couldn't resist her enthusiasm and finally accepted the cups. After taking a few sips, they all praised her.

The soup was indeed very well made.

It's just a simple winter melon and pork rib soup. It smells delicious, tastes smooth, and isn't greasy at all.

Lin Jianlu is from the North and has a Northern palate, but since her debut, she has spent a lot of time in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and gradually she has been influenced to drink Southern soups and has gradually come to like them.

Especially now, even though I've only been in New York for two or three days, I really feel that the food here is dry and lacks soup. Whether I'm in the recording studio or back in the hotel, I drink a lot of water, but it doesn't replenish my fluids. But then, you know what? Half a bowl of soup, oh my, it's so nourishing!

Lin Jianlu drank three cups in a row and felt great.

Lin Xilei happily ran back and poured herself another cup—perhaps because she felt obligated to drink with him, Chen Hong started chatting with her this time and gradually struck up a conversation, and she took the opportunity to introduce herself.

I'm from Jiangxi Province. My grandmother loved making soup since I was a child, and I learned how to do it from her.

Well, she didn't say anything more, probably because most of the people here are from Taiwan. But yesterday, Lin Jianlu made a special call back to China to inquire about her family. Her father's side is just an ordinary family. It's mainly because her father is handsome. In short, she married a good wife.

One thing is enough: her maternal grandfather was a very important and high-ranking person!

If you're interested, look it up yourself, but please don't mention it in the book review!
Lin Jianlu vaguely remembered that in his previous life, he had seen on the internet that Chen Hong actually had a lot of scandals, so much so that they were unbelievable. However, he had long forgotten what those scandals were. At that time, it was just a matter of glancing at them. After all, celebrities have plenty of scandals, and it had nothing to do with him. But after yesterday's phone call, Lin Jianlu knew that all those scandals were pure bullshit!
Given their family's wealth, as long as the old man was still alive, everyone in the film and television industry would say that even if you two had the guts, you wouldn't dare to mess with Chen Hong. If you were to say that later on, private companies were everywhere, and the entire film and television industry was dominated by private companies, and the old man had passed away for many years, and his influence might have dissipated, then there would still be something to discuss. But in the past, it was all state-owned film studios and state-owned television stations that were making films, and the old man was still around. Do you think you would dare to play around with Chen Hong for two years without the intention of getting married?
I would have killed you long ago!
Chen Hong was admitted to the Shanghai Theatre Academy in 86, but she had actually started making movies in 85. While studying, she had a constant stream of film and television resources, all from major studios and television stations. She didn't need to put in the effort to find resources herself, yet she had a constant supply of leading roles. After graduating in 90, she was assigned to the Capital Youth Art Theatre, where she continued to be inundated with film offers. She filmed "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" as Diao Chan, and then the movie "Love in the Distant Mountains" from the Guangxi-Guangxi Film Studio. After that, she participated in co-productions, and then Qiong Yao dramas.

Following the historical trajectory, she should have married the renowned director Chen Kaige next.

A near-perfect life script.

No matter how much you argue or how many criticisms you face, it's generally acknowledged that before *The Promise*, Chen Kaige was practically the undisputed top director in mainland China—another piece of evidence. Chen Kaige is a notorious playboy in the industry, having been involved with only top-tier beauties. His connections and access to information within the industry are undeniable. Tell me, if he's willing to fall for someone and marry them, what girl was she before he was with him? Given Chen Kaige's arrogance, it's impossible for him to marry a used woman!
Guo Baochang's original words were, "This girl is no ordinary person! She's smart and quick-witted! But she's too beautiful, making her difficult to approach, which might mean she's not very popular!"

Well, the subtext is that he's a bit arrogant.

However, after these few encounters, Lin Jianlu discerned the underlying message: the girl's problem wasn't intelligence, but rather that she was too intelligent and didn't know how to conceal it. As a result, she constantly exuded a calculating aura—making her seem insincere, unrealistic, and difficult to deal with. He feared that dealing with her would lead to losses.

Hmm, his shrewdness is showing.

"It really does taste good, but I feel a little embarrassed that you had to spend the whole morning making just one bowl of soup, right?"

"No need for that! It's not as complicated as you think! As long as you want to drink it, I'll make it for you every day!"

"Alright, that's enough for now, stop this time!"

"What's wrong? Why did you stop?"

"I can't accept that you, such a big star, have to buy groceries and cook soup for me every day, and then take a taxi from so far away to deliver it all to me! Seriously, I can't accept it!"

"I'm willing to do it, you don't need to suffer for it!"

(End of this chapter)