Hollywood, I became a legend with special effects.

Chapter 99 A Long-Planned Confession

On January 12, the morning in Los Angeles was unusually humid, following a light rain the night before.

Jiang Yu woke up at eight o'clock in the morning, not because of the alarm clock, but because he couldn't fall back asleep for some reason.

He lay in bed for ten minutes, staring at the minimalist chandelier on the ceiling, before finally getting up.

Filming for "Black Swan" wrapped up today.

He walked to the window, pushed open the glass door, and went out onto the balcony.

The air was crisp and clear after the rain, carrying the scent of earth and plants.

In the distance, the rooftops of Beverly Hills appeared and disappeared in the morning mist, like a mirage.

"Boss, you're up early." David's voice came from downstairs.

He was wearing sportswear and had a towel draped around his neck, clearly having just returned from a morning run.

"I can't sleep." Jiang Yu leaned against the railing. "Why are you up so early too?"

"Aren't we going to the film set today?" David wiped his sweat. "It's the wrap party, I have to support Ms. Liu. Oh, right, Smith Wilson said he's coming too. He said 'Black Swan' is one of Searchlight's most important award contenders this year, and he has to go and congratulate her in person."

Jiang Yu nodded: "Prepare some things to take with you. Flowers, and—a wrap-up gift."

"It's all ready." David gave him a "you can trust me" look. "Red roses, 99 in total, just like you said. The gift is a custom-made crystal ballet shoe, engraved with her name and the movie title. Also, I ordered a three-tiered cake, which will be delivered to the set this afternoon."

"When did you prepare this?" Jiang Yu asked in surprise.

"Yesterday afternoon." David raised an eyebrow. "Boss, you were restless all day yesterday, pacing around the office eight times. Even a fool could see what you were thinking. As your trusted assistant and the company president, of course I had to prepare in advance."

Jiang Yu felt a little embarrassed by what he said, and coughed lightly: "—Thank you."

"You're welcome. But boss, I have to remind you," David said, unusually serious, "Miss Liu is wrapping up filming today and will be heading back home. If you keep being so lukewarm, she might really fly away."

"I know," Jiang Yu said, gazing into the distance. "That's why we're going."

At 8:30, the two finished breakfast.

Jiang Yu chose a dark blue suit, with the top button of his shirt undone, making him look formal yet relaxed.

David, on the other hand, was dressed in standard business casual attire, paired with a flashy bright yellow pocket square.

"Are you going to walk the runway?" Jiang Yu glanced at him.

"Let's make it a festive day for the wrap party," David said, smoothing his hair. "Maybe there are some single beauties on set."

At exactly nine o'clock, Smith Wilson's car stopped at the door.

The president of Searchlight Pictures was in his fifties, bald, and wore round-framed glasses; he looked more like a university professor than a film company boss.

"Jiang! Good morning!" Smith gave Jiang Yu a warm hug. "Thank God, Black Swan is finally finished filming. Darren, that perfectionist, went 20% over budget. If it weren't for the fact that his first two films made money, I would have had a heart attack."

"As long as the result is good." Jiang Yu got into the car with him. "Wasn't the feedback from the rough cut very good?"

"Absolutely amazing!" Smith's eyes lit up. "Especially your girl, Liu. Everyone inside says she's a surprise, her acting is nuanced, and her dancing is quite good. Darren says she could be nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress. Of course, it's too early to say, but she has huge potential."

Jiang Yu smiled and said, "She really works very hard."

"I can tell you really like her." Smith gave him a meaningful look. "Need me to help create some romance?"

"No need," Jiang Yu said with a smile, shaking his head. "Let nature take its course."

The atmosphere on set today is quite special.

The exhaustion of filming for over three months, the feeling that everyone just wanted to finish quickly, and a touch of sadness.

When Jiang Yu and his group arrived, they were filming the last scene, a monologue by Lin Xin, played by Liu Yifei, in front of a mirror.

The scene was very simple; there was no dancing or big movements. It was just a person talking to a mirror.

Liu Yifei was wearing a white practice uniform, her hair was loosely tied up, she had no makeup on, and there were faint dark circles under her eyes.

She stood in front of a huge floor-length mirror, with the light shining from the side, casting soft shadows on her face.

The entire room fell silent.

Darren sat behind the monitor, arms crossed, with a serious expression.

"Action!"

Liu Yifei slowly raised her head and looked at herself in the mirror.

Her eyes were initially confused, then gradually focused, became firm, and finally flashed a hint of almost crazy persistence.

She began to speak, her voice very soft.

"I used to think that perfection was everything. Every spin, every jump, every angle of a smile—it had to be perfect. Now I understand that perfection is dead. Only flaws, only struggles, only—falls—are alive."

Her eyes gradually reddened, but no tears fell.

That restrained vulnerability on the verge of collapse is more powerful than wailing and crying.

"So I'm going to fall. I'm going to jump. Not to die, but to—truly live once."

After saying that, she looked in the mirror and slowly smiled.

It wasn't a happy laugh, nor a sad laugh, but a kind of relief, a kind of madness, a kind of resolute "I dare to do anything" attitude.

"Cut!"

Darren shouted, his voice a little hoarse, "Perfect! Wrap!"

There was a two-second silence, followed by a huge cheer.

Applause, whistles, stomping, and someone even threw the script into the air.

Liu Yifei remained standing in the same spot, as if she hadn't yet come out of character.

Her shoulders trembled slightly, and then slowly, she squatted down and buried her face in her knees.

"Is she alright?" Smith asked worriedly.

"Let her catch her breath." Darren walked over, his eyes a little red. "She prepared for this scene for a long time, and she was too emotionally invested."

Jiang Yu walked over, holding the bouquet of pink roses in his hand.

He knelt down in front of Liu Yifei and whispered, "It's over."

Liu Yifei raised her head, her eyes and the tip of her nose were red, like a little rabbit.

She was stunned when she saw Jiang Yu, and then her face turned red when she saw the flowers in his hand.

"For me?" Her voice was still a little hoarse.

"Who else should I give it to?" Jiang Yu handed her the flowers. "Congratulations on wrapping up filming. You did a fantastic job."

Liu Yifei took the flowers, buried her face in the petals, and took a deep breath.

The scent of roses mixed with the faint smell of her sweat created a strangely real feeling.

"Thank you," she said softly, then stood up. Her legs had gone numb from squatting for so long, and she swayed slightly. Jiang Yu immediately supported her arm.

"careful."

The two were very close.

Liu Yifei could smell the refreshing scent of his aftershave, and Jiang Yu could see the dampness on her eyelashes.

People around started whistling and making noise.

David's voice was the loudest: "Give me a hug! Give me a hug!"

Liu Yifei's face turned even redder, but she didn't dodge.

Jiang Yu smiled, let go of his hand, and turned to everyone, saying, "Alright, stop fooling around. The cake will be here soon, everyone get ready to celebrate."

"Oh—" The crowd grumbled in disappointment, but their attention was quickly diverted by the news that "there's cake."

By 4 p.m., the film set had turned into a party.

The tables and chairs were pushed aside, leaving the middle area open to serve as a dance floor.

Upbeat pop music was playing from the stereo, and a three-tiered cake was placed on a long table, surrounded by various alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Liu Yifei changed into a simple white dress, let her hair down, and put on light makeup.

Holding a champagne glass, she moved through the crowd, accepting congratulations from everyone.

"Crystal, you'll become famous because of this film, I promise!" The photographer hugged her.

"Thank you for your patience over the past three months. Sometimes I ask for too much." The dance instructor presented a bouquet of flowers.

"You dance better than many of the professional dancers I've taught," the ballet teacher said sincerely.

Liu Yifei thanked everyone individually, her smile bright.

Jiang Yu noticed that she was drinking the wine in her glass rather quickly.

"She's very happy today," David said, walking over with a glass of whiskey. "But she's too honest; she drinks every toast offered to her. She'll get drunk if she keeps this up."

"Let her be happy." Jiang Yu looked at the white figure in the crowd. "She's been working too hard these past three months."

"Aren't you going over there?" David gestured with his chin. "Isn't the male lead going to offer a toast?"

Just as Jiang Yu was about to speak, Liu Yifei had already seen him.

She walked over with a wine glass in her hand, her steps a little unsteady.

"Jiang Yu!" Her voice was louder than usual, "You haven't toasted me yet!"

"I'm afraid you've had too much to drink." Jiang Yu took the cup from her hand. "Drink less."

"No way!" Liu Yifei snatched back the cup. "It's the wrap-up day, I have to drink! And—and I want to thank you."

O

"What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you for giving me this opportunity." Her eyes sparkled under the lights. "Without you, I couldn't have played Black Swan. Director Darren said it was you who insisted on casting me."

"It's because you performed well in your audition."

"That's also because you gave me the opportunity to audition." Liu Yifei tilted her head back and took a big gulp of champagne, choking and coughing.

Jiang Yu gently patted her back: "Drink slowly."

"I'm happy." Liu Yifei leaned on his arm, her voice softening. "Jiang Yu, I'm especially happy today, but also especially—sad."

"What are you sad about?"

"The movie's finished filming, and I'm going back to my country." She looked up at him, her eyes hazy. "Will we—will we ever see each other again?"

"Of course you can." Jiang Yu helped her steady herself. "Sit down and rest for a while."

"I'm not sitting!" Liu Yifei suddenly raised her voice, attracting the attention of those around her. "I haven't even had a drink with you yet! Come on, cheers!"

She poured herself a full glass of wine and then poured one for Jiang Yu.

The two clinked glasses, and she drank it all in one gulp.

From this point on, the situation gradually spiraled out of control.

Liu Yifei accepted every toast offered by someone.

At first, she got to drink with her colleagues on set, but later she even got to drink with the production assistant, lighting assistant, and delivery guy.

"She dares to drink that much?" David was dumbfounded.

Darren walked over unnoticed, holding a glass of soda. "She's deliberately trying to get drunk. To release stress, you know?"

Jiang Yu frowned, trying to stop her, but Liu Yifei pushed him away each time, saying, "I'm fine! I'm happy today!"

By 7 p.m., Liu Yifei was completely drunk.

She stopped standing and sat down in a chair, holding the bouquet of roses and giggling foolishly.

Her face was as red as an apple, her eyes were half-closed, and she spoke with a lisp.

"Where is Jiang Yu?" She looked around.

"I'm here." Jiang Yu sat down next to her.

Liu Yifei turned her head, stared at him for a long time, and then suddenly reached out and pinched his cheek: "You're really handsome."

.

Laughter erupted from the surrounding area.

David laughed the loudest, holding his phone up high: "Boss, I have to record this historic moment!"

Jiang Yu slapped Liu Yifei's hand away: "You're drunk. I'll take you back to your hotel."

"I'm not drunk!" Liu Yifei protested, but her body was already leaning to the side against her will, and Jiang Yu caught her in time.

"Okay, okay, you're not drunk. Let's go back and rest, alright?"

"I'm not going back—" Liu Yifei leaned on his shoulder, her voice growing softer and softer, "I still have something to say—"

'

"We'll talk about it tomorrow."

"No—I won't have the courage tomorrow—"

She looked up, straining her eyes to focus on Jiang Yu.

Then, in full view of everyone, she did something that made everyone hold their breath...

She cupped Jiang Yu's face in her hands, bringing them very close, so close that their noses almost touched.

The entire room fell silent.

The music was paused by someone.

"Jiang Yu," Liu Yifei said, enunciating each word clearly, the smell of alcohol mingling with the faint scent of her perfume, "you're a blockhead."

Jiang Yu: "————"

"You blockhead! You dead blockhead! You stubborn blockhead!" Her voice trembled with tears. "I've made it so obvious, yet you still—still—"

"Or what?" Jiang Yu's voice was very soft.

"Still ignoring me! Not taking the initiative! Not asking me out! No—you don't like me!" She finally said it, and then tears streamed down her face. "I like you so much, since—when did it start? I don't know—but I just like you—but you—you—"

She couldn't continue, so she buried her head in his arms and burst into tears.

The entire room fell silent, and everyone looked at Jiang Yu.

David covered his mouth, his shoulders shaking violently.

Smith Wilson adjusted his glasses and gave a kind smile.

Director Darren shook his head, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Jiang Yu held the person in his arms who was crying uncontrollably, sighed, and then smiled.

He gently patted her back, like soothing a child: "It's alright, it's alright, don't cry."

"I'm about to cry!" Liu Yifei said in a muffled voice in his arms, "I feel so wronged!"

"What are you complaining about?"

"I feel bad that you don't like me—"

"Who said I don't like it?"

The voice wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for a few people around to hear.

David gasped, Smith raised an eyebrow, and Darren whistled.

Liu Yifei suddenly raised her head, tears still clinging to her eyelashes: "What—what did you say?"

"I said," Jiang Yu looked at her tenderly, "I don't dislike you. I just—"

"Just what?"

"I just feel that these kinds of things should be done in a more formal and romantic way, rather than when you're drunk."

Liu Yifei was stunned; her brain clearly couldn't process such complex information.

She blinked, then blinked again, then tilted her head to the side, rested it on his shoulder, and fell asleep.

It was truly asleep, and was even snoring softly.

Jiang Yu: "————"

The entire audience erupted in huge laughter.

David laughed so hard he slapped his thigh: "Boss! Your confession target is totally unpredictable!"

Jiang Yu shook his head helplessly and picked Liu Yifei up in his arms.

She was as light as a child, snuggled into his arms, found a comfortable position, and fell into a deeper sleep.

"I'll take her home first," Jiang Yu said to the others. "You guys continue having fun, keep the accounts under the company's name."

"Jiang, do you need any help?"

"No need, her assistant is here. Thank you."

"So tomorrow—" Darren smiled knowingly, "should I give her a day off?"

"No need, proceed as planned." Jiang Yu paused, "However—thank you."

Amidst whistles and well wishes from the crowd, Jiang Yu carried Liu Yifei out of the film set.

Her assistant, Xiao Yang, quickly followed, carrying her bag and the bouquet of roses.

The night breeze outside was slightly cool.

Liu Yifei snuggled closer to Jiang Yu and murmured, "Cold—"

Jiang Yu hugged her tighter and said to his assistant, "Give me the car keys, I'll drive. You sit in the back and take care of her."

Liu Yifei remained unconscious on the way back to the hotel.

She was sleeping soundly, occasionally mumbling a few words in her sleep, but the content was unintelligible.

Xiao Yang hesitated in the back seat, but finally couldn't help but say, "President Jiang, Sister Yifei—she's not usually like this. Today she's just too happy, and a little sad, so—"

"I know." Jiang Yu glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "It's not her fault."

"Then—she'll definitely be incredibly embarrassed when she wakes up tomorrow," Xiao Yang said worriedly. "She's easily embarrassed; I wonder what will happen if she feels ashamed."

"I'll handle it," Jiang Yu said. "I'll pick her up for breakfast tomorrow morning. You can cover for me."

"Okay, okay!" Xiao Yang nodded quickly.

Upon arriving at the hotel, Jiang Yu carried Liu Yifei upstairs.

Her room was a top-floor suite with a great view.

Xiao Yang quickly opened the door, and Jiang Yu gently placed her on the bed.

"Please fetch me a basin of hot water and a towel," Jiang Yu said.

Xiao Yang did as instructed.

Jiang Yu sat on the edge of the bed and wiped Liu Yifei's face with a hot towel.

She groggily opened her eyes, glanced at him, and then smiled: "Jiang Yu—I dreamt about you. Hmm, dreamt about what?"

"I dreamt of you—you said you liked me—" She closed her eyes and fell asleep again, a smile still on her lips.

Jiang Yu paused for a moment, then continued wiping her hands.

Her fingers were slender, with some calluses from dancing, and her nails were neatly trimmed.

After wiping her down, he covered her with a blanket and dimmed the lights.

Xiao Yang asked in a low voice, "Mr. Jiang, are you going back?"

"Sit a little longer." Jiang Yu sat down on the sofa by the window. "Wait until she's asleep a bit. You go and get some rest. Come over at eight o'clock tomorrow morning."

"Okay, then—goodnight, Mr. Jiang."

After Xiao Yang left, the room became quiet.

Only Liu Yifei's even breathing and the faint sounds of city noise outside the window could be heard.

Jiang Yu looked at the person sleeping soundly on the bed.

Even after removing her makeup, her face still had a flushed, drunken look, and her long eyelashes cast shadows on her cheeks.

She slept very peacefully, like a child.

He remembered what she had just said—"I like you so much."

I remember her practicing dancing so hard on set, I remember her eyes shining as she said "thank you" in the restaurant, and I remember the profile of her face when we watched fireworks at the beach.

I also thought about my hesitation these past few days.

It's not that I don't like it, it's just that I feel it's too fast, and I'm afraid it will scare her, I'm afraid of—a lot of unnecessary concerns.

Now, it seems that those concerns are no longer important.

"Silly girl," he said softly, his tone filled with a tenderness he himself didn't realize.

Liu Yifei turned over in her sleep, hugged her pillow, and mumbled something.

Jiang Yu smiled.

He stood up, walked to the bedside, and leaned down to gently kiss her forehead.

"Goodnight, my girl," he said. "See you tomorrow."

Then he left the room and gently closed the door.

Liu Yifei was woken up by a headache at 7:30 a.m. the next morning.

She opened her eyes, stared at the ceiling for five seconds, and then the memories of last night flooded back—

The wrap party, drinking, toasting, and more drinking—then, she seemed to be—hugging Jiang—and saying something—

What did I say again?

She sat up abruptly, her vision blurring from the hangover headache.

What's worse than a headache is the panic in my heart.

"Did I... confess my feelings?" She covered her face and wailed.

Worse still, she only remembered the first half: she hugged Jiang Yu and cried, saying he was a blockhead and that she liked him — and then what?

Did he respond? What did he say? She had absolutely no recollection!

"Oh no, oh no, oh no—" she rolled around on the bed, "This is so embarrassing! How am I ever going to face him again!"

At this time, the doorbell rang.

Xiao Yang's voice came through: "Sister Yifei, are you awake?"

"I'm awake—" Liu Yifei said weakly.

Xiao Yang came in, carrying a bowl of honey water: "Do you have a headache? Drink some of this first. General Manager Jiang said you might feel unwell, so he specially asked me to prepare this."

"President Jiang?" Liu Yifei seized on the key phrase, "He—he last night—"

"He brought you back and took care of you until very late." Xiao Yang handed her the water, his eyes darting around. "Sister Yifei, you were quite brave last night."

Liu Yifei's face flushed red: "I—what did I say?"

"You said Mr. Jiang is a blockhead, that he doesn't like you, and that you feel so wronged—" Xiao Yang counted on her fingers, "and then Mr. Jiang said—"

"What did he say?!" Liu Yifei grabbed her arm nervously.

"He said—" Xiao Yang deliberately dragged out the words, and seeing that Liu Yifei was about to cry, he smiled and said, "He said he doesn't dislike you, and that these kinds of things should be said in a more formal and romantic way."

Liu Yifei was stunned.

The honey water slipped from my hand and spilled onto the sheets.

"He—he really said that?"

"It's absolutely true, everyone heard it." Xiao Yang quickly wiped the sheets. "Then you fell asleep, and President Jiang carried you back. He even wiped your face and hands; he was so gentle."

Liu Yifei's face turned bright red, her eyes lighting up: "So he—he—"

"He probably likes you too," Xiao Yang concluded. "But Yifei, you really scared everyone last night. Nobody expected you to be so bold."

"I'm drunk—" Liu Yifei buried her face in the pillow, "I can't face him—"

"I'm afraid that won't work." Xiao Yang glanced at his watch. "General Manager Jiang said he'd pick you up for breakfast at 8:30, and there are still forty minutes left. You'd better hurry up and get ready."

"What?!" Liu Yifei jumped up. "He's coming again?!"

"Yes, he said he wants to have a formal, romantic talk with you." Xiao Yang mimicked Jiang Yu's tone. "So, Sister Yifei, get ready! This is a crucial moment in your life!"

Liu Yifei rushed into the bathroom in a fluster.

The person in the mirror had messy hair like a bird's nest, puffy eyes, and a pale face.

She let out a desperate groan.

Forty minutes later, when the doorbell rang again, Liu Yifei was already ready.

She chose a light blue dress, styled her hair in a simple ponytail, and wore light makeup to conceal her hangover.

Xiao Yang went to open the door.

Jiang Yu stood outside the door, wearing a light gray shirt and casual pants, holding a small bunch of white lilies of the valley in his hand.

"Good morning," he smiled. "Is she awake?"

"You're awake, you're awake. We've been waiting for you." Xiao Yang stepped aside.

Jiang Yu walked into the living room, where Liu Yifei stood, her hands nervously clasped together, not daring to look at him.

"Good morning—good morning." Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

"Good morning." Jiang Yu handed her the flowers. "Lily of the valley, its flower language is the return of happiness." Congratulations on wrapping up filming, and also congratulations on you speaking your true feelings last night.

Liu Yifei took the flowers, her face flushing again: "Last night... I'm sorry, I drank too much and talked nonsense—"

"Is this nonsense?" Jiang Yu took a step closer and looked at her.

Liu Yifei looked up and met his eyes.

His eyes were gentle and serious, and he wasn't joking.

"I—" she bit her lip, "Some of it is the truth."

Which ones are they?

"When I say you're a blockhead—I mean it," she whispered.

Jiang Yu laughed: "Then what about the part you said you liked about me?"

Liu Yifei's face turned even redder. Instead of looking away, she took a deep breath, looked at him, and said, "That was also from the bottom of my heart."

The air was still for a few seconds.

Birds chirped outside the window, and there was the sound of traffic in the distance, but the only sound in the room was the breathing of the two people.

Then Jiang Yu reached out and gently took her hand.

His hands were large and warm, completely enveloping hers.

"Then I'll tell you," he said, his voice soft but clear, "I like you too. Not just last night, but for a long time now. I just felt I should wait until you finished filming, until you were ready, before I formally told you."

Liu Yifei's eyes welled up with tears: "Really?"

"Really." Jiang Yu wiped away a little moisture from the corner of her eye with his thumb. "So, Ms. Liu Yifei, would you be willing to give it a try with me? Although one of us is in Hollywood and the other often has to go back to China, I think there's always a way."

Tears streamed down Liu Yifei's face, but she smiled and said, "I'm willing. Of course I'm willing."

Jiang Yu smiled too.

He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly.

Liu Yifei buried her face in his shoulder, smelling his clean and refreshing scent, and felt as if a million flowers were blooming in her heart.

Xiao Yang peeked out from the doorway, covered her mouth and laughed, then quietly slipped out and closed the door.

"However," Liu Yifei said in a muffled voice in Jiang Yu's arms, "I'm going back to China next week—"

"I know." Jiang Yu gently stroked her hair. "I can fly back often. Besides, the casting for 'Lucy' is about to be finalized, and if you get the role, we'll have more time to spend together."

"What if I can't get it?"

"What do you think?" Jiang Yu released her, smiling as he looked into her eyes. "Distance isn't a problem; the important thing is whether we want to be together."

Liu Yifei nodded, and tears fell again, this time tears of joy.

"Now," Jiang Yu took her hand, "shall we go get breakfast first? I've made a reservation downstairs; they have Eggs Benedict, which you like."

"Okay." Liu Yifei wiped away her tears and smiled. "But I need to touch up my makeup first; my eyes are all swollen."

"No rush," Jiang Yu said, looking at her. "You look beautiful no matter what."

Liu Yifei blushed again and lightly punched him: "Why are you so good at talking now?"

"I was forced into it by someone who got drunk and called me a blockhead," Jiang Yu laughed.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the lily of the valley flowers and their clasped hands.

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