Hollywood, I became a legend with special effects.

Chapter 100 Boyfriend and Girlfriend

Breakfast was eaten in unusual quiet.

Liu Yifei ate her Eggs Benedict in small bites, her eyes occasionally glancing at Jiang Yu across from her.

He was looking at the menu, his profile clearly visible in the morning light.

She suddenly realized that this was their first meal together after they officially became a couple.

"Have you seen enough?" Jiang Yu looked up, a smile in his eyes.

Liu Yifei's face flushed red instantly, and she quickly lowered her head to drink her juice: "Who was looking at you?!"

"I counted, you've peeked at me seventeen times since we sat down." Jiang Yu closed the menu. "Why are you so nervous? Where did your courage to cry in my arms last night go?"

"That was because I was drunk!" Liu Yifei protested softly. "Now—now it's different."

"What's different?" Jiang Yu reached out and gently took her hand, which was resting on the table. "I'm still me, and you're still you. It's just that you now have the labels of 'boyfriend' and 'girlfriend'."

His fingers were warm, and his palms had thin calluses.

Liu Yifei's heart skipped a beat, then she grabbed his hand and asked, "So—boyfriend, what are we doing today?"

Jiang Yu smiled; there was a strange feeling about the way he addressed her: "What do you want to do? Today is the day after filming wrapped, it's the second day since you're the lead actor, you should celebrate."

"My head still hurts a little—" Liu Yifei rubbed her temples. "And I have to pack my bags this afternoon; I'm going back to China next week."

"Let's keep it simple then." Jiang Yu thought for a moment, "Go to my place? You haven't really seen my new place yet. We can cook, watch movies, or—just space out."

Liu Yifei's eyes lit up: "You can cook?"

"A little. I honed it while studying abroad, a survival skill." Jiang Yu waved to the waiter to settle the bill. "But my kitchen is fully equipped, we can cook together. What would you like to eat?"

"Sweet and sour pork ribs!" Liu Yifei blurted out, then smiled shyly, "My mom makes really delicious sweet and sour pork ribs, but I don't know how to make them myself."

"It's quite a challenge." Jiang Yu stood up and naturally pulled out a chair for her. "But we can give it a try. Shall we go to the supermarket to buy groceries first?"

"good!"

Liu Yifei was very excited on the way to the supermarket.

She was wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, and the smile on her lips was impossible to hide.

Jiang Yu pushed the shopping cart, watching her wander among the shelves like a child.

"Jiang Yu, Jiang Yu, is this brand of light soy sauce any good?"

"Jiang Yu, do you need to buy vinegar? White vinegar or aged vinegar?"

"Ah, my mom says this brand of rock sugar is the best!"

Jiang Yu followed behind her, his eyes full of smiles.

He suddenly felt that on such an ordinary weekend morning, pushing a shopping cart and shopping at the supermarket with his girlfriend was more reassuring than any business negotiation.

"What are you laughing at?" Liu Yifei turned to look at him.

"I'm laughing at you for acting like a little old lady, taking three minutes to pick out a soy sauce." Jiang Yu took the bottle from her and looked at it. "This one's good, it's organic."

"You have to be serious when cooking!" Liu Yifei said earnestly. "The ingredients determine everything. My mother said that a good chef starts with selecting the ingredients."

"Your mother is right." Jiang Yu put the soy sauce into the shopping cart. "So, Chef Liu, what should we choose next?"

'

"Spare ribs!" Liu Yifei pulled him toward the fresh food section. "We want spare ribs, with a bit of fat, they'll be more fragrant when stewed."

After buying groceries, I also bought fruit, snacks, and drinks, filling my shopping cart to the brim.

When they went to pay, the cashier, a plump Mexican woman, looked at the couple with a smile and said, "Newlyweds? First time cooking together?"

Liu Yifei blushed, but Jiang Yu remained calm: "You could say that. She taught me how to cook Chinese food."

"That's great," the woman said as she scanned the QR code. "My husband and I cooked on our first date, and he burned the kitchen down. I hope you'll have better luck."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Back at Jiang Yu's villa, Liu Yifei finally got a good look at the place.

"Wow—your house is huge." She stood in the living room, looking at the high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows covering the entire wall. "Don't you feel it's empty living alone?"

"I thought before, but now—" Jiang Yu placed the shopping bags on the kitchen island, "I think it's perfect for entertaining guests."

The kitchen is open-plan, with white cabinets, marble countertops, and a full range of kitchen utensils.

Liu Yifei opened the cabinets and pulled out the drawers like an inspector, finally nodding in satisfaction: "The equipment is very professional, but—"

"But what?"

"It's too clean, it doesn't look like it's used often." She picked up a brand new pot, "The label isn't even torn off."

Jiang Yu touched his nose: "We've only been here for a week, so we haven't cooked much. Before, we always ordered takeout or ate out."

"Let's consecrate the kitchen today!" Liu Yifei rolled up her sleeves and took out the ingredients she had bought one by one. "Let me search for a recipe first—how much sugar do you put in sweet and sour pork ribs?"

Seeing her diligently searching for recipes on her phone, Jiang Yu felt a pang of tenderness in his heart.

He walked over, gently hugged her from behind, and rested his chin on her shoulder: "Do you need my help?"

Liu Yifei stiffened for a moment, then relaxed and leaned against him: "You—you wash the ribs first and blanch them. I'll go make the sauce."

"Yes, Chef Liu."

For the next two hours, the kitchen was filled with all sorts of sounds and smells.

"Jiang Yu! The water's boiling! Quickly add the pork ribs!"

"Is the oil temperature high enough? How do I tell?"

"Oops, the sauce is too thick! Should we add some water?"

"Jiang Yu, your knife skills for cutting ginger are terrible, it looks like you're chopping wood—"

Wearing an apron, Jiang Yu hurriedly followed the instructions.

He had been cooking for many years, mostly simple Western dishes or noodles. Chinese cuisine, which requires precise seasoning, was definitely not within his skill range.

"I don't think I'm cut out for cooking," he said honestly, looking at the dark sauce in the pot.

"It's always like this the first time." Liu Yifei stood next to him, took a spoon, tasted it, and frowned. "Hmm—it's a bit salty, but it can still be salvaged. Add some rock sugar and reduce the sauce over high heat."

She was giving instructions very seriously, with fine beads of sweat on her forehead and her cheeks flushed pink from the heat.

Jiang Yu looked at her and suddenly forgot about the food in the pot.

"Why are you looking at me? Look at the pot!" Liu Yifei pushed him.

"You're beautiful," Jiang Yu said with a smile.

Liu Yifei blushed again, turned around and pretended to wash vegetables, her lips curling up high.

The final product served was a darker color for the sweet and sour pork ribs, and the sauce was a bit thick, but surprisingly, it tasted quite good.

It came with stir-fried broccoli and tomato egg soup, just three simple dishes.

"Try it." Liu Yifei looked at Jiang Yu expectantly.

Jiang Yu picked up a piece of pork rib and put it in his mouth.

It's sweet with a hint of sourness, and the meat is tender and juicy. Although it can't compare to restaurant quality, it has a special—home-style flavor.

"How is it?" Liu Yifei asked nervously.

"Delicious." Jiang Yu picked up another piece. "Really. It tastes much better than what I make."

Liu Yifei breathed a sigh of relief, took a bite herself, and then wrinkled her nose: "Actually—it's nowhere near as good as Mom's. Too much sugar, too little vinegar, and the heat wasn't controlled properly—"

"We made this together." Jiang Yu served her soup. "That's enough."

The two sat facing each other while eating.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting bright dappled patterns on the dining table.

Soft jazz music was playing from the speakers; it was chosen by Liu Yifei.

She ate very gracefully, taking small bites, and seemed to enjoy her food.

"After you go back to China," Jiang Yu suddenly said, "will we video chat every day?"

"Mm." Liu Yifei nodded. "I haven't seen my mother for more than half a year, and then—if there are no new dramas, I can take a break for a while."

"The casting results for 'Lucy' should be finalized tomorrow." Jiang Yu looked at her. "Luc Besson arrived in Los Angeles today, and we'll have a meeting tomorrow."

Liu Yifei tightened her grip on her chopsticks: "Do I have a chance?"

"Yes," Jiang Yu said with certainty, "and Darren called Besson and specifically recommended you."

"Really?" Liu Yifei's eyes lit up.

"Really. He said this girl has a certain pure danger that's perfect for the role of Lucy."

Liu Yifei put down her chopsticks and took a deep breath: "Then I need to work even harder. If I'm selected, physical training will begin too—"

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself." Jiang Yu held her hand. "If you get selected, we'll celebrate. If you don't, there are other opportunities. You already have 'Black Swan,' and Darren said it has a great chance of winning awards."

"But—" Liu Yifei bit her lip, "If we get selected for 'Lucy,' we can see each other more often. You'll be in Los Angeles, and I'll be in Los Angeles too—"

So that's what she was thinking.

Jiang Yu felt a warmth in his heart and gently stroked the back of her hand with his fingers: "It's okay, we'll go back together in a couple of days."

After dinner, the two of them washed the dishes together.

Jiang Yu washed, and Liu Yifei wiped; they worked together very well.

The water splashed and the bubbles reflected the colors of a rainbow in the sunlight.

"Jiang Yu," Liu Yifei suddenly said, "Does this mean we're dating?"

Jiang Yu turned off the tap, turned to look at her, and asked, "What do you think?"

"It feels like it," she whispered, "but it also feels unreal. Like a dream."

Jiang Yu dried his hands and cupped her face in his hands: "Is this realistic?"

He lowered his head and gently kissed her lips.

It was very light and fast, like a butterfly flitting across a petal.

Liu Yifei was stunned, her eyes wide open.

Then, her face turned red at a visible speed, from her cheeks to her ears, and then to her neck.

"So--real," she stammered.

Jiang Yu smiled and kissed her forehead again: "Then it's not a dream."

After washing the dishes, the two snuggled up on the living room sofa to watch a movie.

Jiang Yu's home theater equipment is more professional, and Liu Yifei said, "I just want to lie on the sofa," so they watched it in the living room.

After much deliberation, Liu Yifei finally chose "Notting Hill"; she said she likes this kind of love story between a "big star and an ordinary person".

Halfway through the movie, Liu Yifei had already fallen asleep leaning on Jiang Yu's shoulder.

She drank too much last night and didn't sleep well. She also got up early today. Now that she's eaten and drunk her fill, she's feeling sleepy.

Jiang Yu adjusted her position to make her more comfortable and turned the volume down.

In the movie, Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant share a kiss in the garden, bathed in sunshine.

He looked down at the person in his arms.

Liu Yifei was sleeping soundly, breathing evenly, her eyelashes casting small shadows on her cheeks.

Her lips were slightly pouting, like a child's.

Jiang Yu gently brushed aside the stray hairs on her forehead and placed a kiss on her hair.

Then he took out his phone and snapped a picture of the two of them; she was sleeping with her head on his shoulder, and his hand was gently around her shoulder.

Just as he was about to send a message to Zhou's mother, telling her that he had finally won over the girl he had wanted to marry three years ago, the doorbell rang.

Startled awake, Liu Yifei groggily asked, "What's wrong?"

"Someone's ringing the doorbell." Jiang Yu frowned. "Who would come at this hour?"

He walked to the door and saw David standing outside on the monitor, with another person beside him; Luc Besson Jiang Yu: "————"

"Who is it?" Liu Yifei asked, rubbing her eyes as she walked over.

"Yes—" Before Jiang Yu could finish speaking, David had already opened the door using the backup password.

"Boss! Surprise!" David rushed in excitedly, then froze when he saw Liu Yifei behind Jiang Yu.

Luc Besson also came in.

The French director was wearing a leather jacket, his signature round-framed glasses, and carrying a briefcase.

He saw Jiang Yu and Liu Yifei and raised an eyebrow.

The scene was very embarrassing.

Liu Yifei was still wearing her home clothes, her hair was a little messy, and she had sleep marks on her face.

Jiang Yu was dressed casually, and the two stood very close to each other, clearly indicating that their relationship was not just that of ordinary "friends".

"Uh—" David was the first to realize, "Did we come at the wrong time?"

"What do you think?" Jiang Yu asked expressionlessly.

"Jiang, I'm sorry," Luc Besson said in heavily accented French English, "David said you're free this afternoon, and we can discuss the casting for *Lucy* in advance. If this is inconvenient—"

"No, no, no!" Liu Yifei quickly said, her face already flushed. "You guys talk about serious matters, I—"

I'll go make some tea!

She turned and ran towards the kitchen, almost bumping into the door frame.

Jiang Yu sighed and said to the two uninvited guests, "Come in and have a seat. Give us a call before you come next time."

"I called!" David pulled out his phone. "Your phone is off."

Jiang Yu then remembered that he had indeed turned off his phone that morning so as not to be disturbed.

The atmosphere in the living room was subtle.

Luc Besson sat on a single sofa, curiously looking around at the house's decor.

David sat opposite, his eyes darting back and forth between Jiang Yu and Liu Yifei, a knowing look on his face.

Liu Yifei came out carrying a tea tray, her hair and clothes already tidied, and the blush on her face still lingered.

She placed the teacups in front of everyone and said softly, "You all chat, I—I'm going upstairs."

"No need." Jiang Yu took her hand. "Sit down. You should listen to the casting process anyway."

Liu Yifei looked at him in surprise, but still sat down next to him, keeping a little distance.

Luc Besson glanced at the two men and smiled. "So, the rumors are true?"

"What rumors?" Jiang Yu asked.

"David said that you and Miss Liu—" Besson gestured, "are together."

David nodded frantically across from him.

Jiang Yu glanced at Liu Yifei, whose fingers were twisted together nervously.

He took her hand and said to Besson, "Yes. This won't affect the fairness of the casting. It's your film, you decide."

Besson laughed: "Jiang, you underestimate me. When I choose actors, I only consider suitability, nothing else. And—"

He looked at Liu Yifei and said, "Darren told me in detail about your performance in 'Black Swan.' He said you are very talented."

Liu Yifei sat up straight: "Thank you, director. I really like your movies, especially 'Léon: The Professional' and 'The Fifth Element'."

"Then you should know that I like to create strong female characters." Besson took a sip of tea. "The character of Lucy transforms from an ordinary girl into a being beyond human comprehension. This requires the actress to be very versatile, able to portray both vulnerability and divinity."

"I can," Liu Yifei said firmly.

"I've seen your audition video." Besson took a tablet out of his briefcase. "You handled the transition from fear to resolve very well in that scene. But—"

Liu Yifei's heart jumped.

"But your dialogue still has room for improvement," Besson said bluntly. "The film has a lot of technical terms and philosophical lines that need to be expressed very fluently and naturally. In addition, the action scenes are also quite demanding, requiring at least two months of physical and combat training beforehand."

"I can learn," Liu Yifei said immediately. "If needed, I can find the best teachers. Physical training is no problem either. I danced for six hours every day when I was filming 'Black Swan,' so I'm confident in my physical strength."

Besson looked at Jiang Yu: "What do you think?"

"I've seen her training plan," Jiang Yu said. "If we decide to select her, we can hire the best team—motion directors, even scientist consultants; to understand the scientific background of brain development. These are not problems."

Besson nodded, then looked at Liu Yifei: "One last question. If we choose you, the filming period will be at least six months, and possibly longer. During this time, you can't take on other roles or have too many commercial activities. Can you accept that?"

"Sure," Liu Yifei replied without hesitation. "I can turn down all my other work and focus on filming this movie."

Besson smiled and put his laptop away. "Okay. I understand now. I'll offer my suggestions at tomorrow's meeting."

The meaning of this is quite obvious.

Liu Yifei's eyes lit up with excitement, but she tried her best to remain calm: "Thank you, director, for giving me this opportunity."

"It wasn't me who gave you the opportunity; you earned it yourself." Besson stood up. "Alright, business is done. Jiang, your house is nice. Shall I show it around?"

Jiang Yu showed Bei Song around the house, and David took the opportunity to slip over to Liu Yifei's side and whispered, "Congratulations, landlady."

Liu Yifei's face flushed again: "Don't call me that—"

"It was bound to happen sooner or later," David said with a grin. "This is the first time the boss has been in a relationship in all these years. You have no idea how cold he used to be to women. We all thought he was frigid."

"David," Jiang Yu's voice came from the stairs, "What are you talking about?"

"I was complimenting Miss Liu on her beauty!" David immediately changed his tune.

After touring the house, Besson was about to leave.

Before leaving, he told Liu Yifei, "We'll give you an official notification the day after tomorrow. Until then, stay focused, but don't be too nervous. Actors need to be relaxed."

"I understand, thank you, director."

After seeing the two off, the door was closed.

Liu Yifei leaned against the door and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Nervous?" Jiang Yu asked with a smile.

"I was so nervous!" Liu Yifei patted her chest. "Luc Besson suddenly appeared, and I was still in my pajamas—"

"That's so embarrassing!"

"It's not shameful, it's adorable." Jiang Yu pulled her into his arms. "And he's right, you really are amazing."

Liu Yifei looked up at him: "So—I really have a chance?"

"Very likely." Jiang Yu kissed her forehead. "But don't think too much about it, wait for the official announcement. Now, shall we continue watching the movie? Where were we?"

"The female lead goes to the male lead's bookstore—" Liu Yifei leaned against him and suddenly laughed, "We're like a character in a movie. A big star and—a movie company boss?"

"I don't own a bookstore," Jiang Yu laughed, "but we're similar in one way."

"Which point?"

"The male lead eventually won over the female lead." Jiang Yu lowered his head and kissed her, this time deeper and longer.

The movie is still going on, but nobody's watching anymore.

Sunlight streamed through the window and moved across the floor.

The two people on the sofa embraced each other, and time seemed to slow down.

In the evening, the two took a walk in Beverly Hills.

As the sun sets, the sky turns a vibrant orange-pink.

"After returning to China," Jiang Yu said, "I'll handle some work in Beijing for a few days first, then go back to Wuhan. What about you?"

"I need to do a few shows first, which will take about a week, and then I'll go back to Wuhan," Liu Yifei said, calculating the time.

"Then we might meet in Wuhan?"

"Yes." Jiang Yu nodded. "I'll come see you and Aunt Liu then."

"Okay." Liu Yifei smiled. "My mom will definitely ask you a ton of questions."

"It's okay, I'm ready."

They walked to the park and sat down on a bench.

"Jiang Yu," Liu Yifei said softly, "I'm actually a little scared."

"What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid we're moving too fast." She looked at him. "From confirming our relationship to going back to China together to meet our families, it's only been a few days. I'm afraid—afraid that we don't know each other well enough before making such an important decision."

Jiang Yu took her hand: "So, do you think we understand each other?"

Liu Yifei thought for a moment: "We know each other very well at work, but in life—we're still getting to know each other."

"Then let's get to know each other slowly," Jiang Yu said. "Meeting the family doesn't mean we have to get married right away; it's just to let them know about our relationship and put their minds at ease. We can take it slow and do it at our own pace."

"But during the Spring Festival—relatives will come, and when they see you, they'll definitely ask all sorts of questions." Liu Yifei was a little worried. "You know how enthusiastic people in Wuhan are."

"I can handle it," Jiang Yu laughed. "Besides, I also want to meet your family. I want to see where you grew up and hear your childhood stories."

Liu Yifei leaned on his shoulder, feeling a warm glow in her heart.

As darkness fell, the streetlights began to illuminate the night.

"Jiang Yu," Liu Yifei said, looking at the lights in the distance, "sometimes I'm scared."

"What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid all of this is too fast, too beautiful, like a bubble, bursting at the slightest touch." She turned to look at him. "I'm afraid I'm not good enough for someone as wonderful as you, afraid I won't do enough, afraid—"

Jiang Yu interrupted her: "Liu Yifei, look at me."

She looked at him.

"You're not a bubble, and neither am I. We're real people, with strengths and weaknesses. You get angry, and so do I. You make mistakes, and so do I. We argue, we make up, and we go through the good and the bad together."

This is real love, not a fairy tale.

He said earnestly, "So don't be afraid. We'll face it together and grow together."

Liu Yifei hugged him and buried her face in his shoulder: "How can you say such things—"

"Because it's from the bottom of my heart." Jiang Yu gently stroked her back. "Besides, you deserve anything beautiful."

You are kind, hardworking, sincere, and beautiful—you are better than anyone I've ever met.

"You too." Liu Yifei looked up at him with teary eyes. "You are the best person I have ever met."

""

The two looked at each other and then laughed.

"Okay, stop crying." Jiang Yu wiped away her tears. "If you cry anymore, your eyes will be swollen. How will you face people tomorrow?"

"Who are we meeting tomorrow?"

"Darren invited me to lunch, saying it was to celebrate your wrap-up filming, and also to celebrate us—" Jiang Yu paused, "being together."

Liu Yifei's eyes widened: "Director Darren knows?"

"Do you think you can keep David's big mouth a secret any longer?" Jiang Yu said helplessly. "By now, probably half of Hollywood knows. But it's fine, saves me the trouble of notifying them one by one."

Liu Yifei asked shyly and excitedly, "Then—what should I wear?"

"You look good in anything." Jiang Yu stood up and pulled her up. "Let's go home. I'll make you dinner, something simple, I promise I won't burn down the kitchen."

"I'll do it," Liu Yifei said. "You just need to wash the dishes."

"make a deal."

Hand in hand, the two walked towards home.

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