Hollywood, I became a legend with special effects.

BJ East Third Ring Road, Hubei cuisine restaurant.

This Hubei restaurant, tucked away on the East Third Ring Road, features genuine carved wooden windows, said to have been salvaged from an old house in Hubei by the owner; the blue brick walls have a weathered feel; and the lanterns are handmade paper lanterns with a warm, non-glaring light.

The mahogany round table is so large that people can lie down on it, and even with sixteen chairs arranged, it still feels spacious.

When Jiang Yu and his group entered the private room, Liu Yifei's family had already arrived and were having a lively time.

Besides my grandmother, aunt, uncle, and aunt-in-law whom I met at the airport that afternoon, and my cousin who was clutching his PSP, there was another familiar face—Chen Jinfei.

He was chatting and laughing with Liu Yifei's uncle, Liu Wentao, while gesturing with his hand, clearly discussing business.

"Let me tell you, Wentao, I said we should get that land back then, but you didn't believe me. Now it's tripled in value..."

"Old Chen, you're being wise after the event. What could I do when the bank's risk control couldn't pass the test?"

As the two were talking, Chen Jinfei's eyes lit up when he saw Jiang Yu enter, and he immediately got up to greet him.

"President Jiang! We've been waiting for you!"

He reached out and grasped Jiang Yu's hands with the same warmth and force as if he were seeing a long-lost nephew. "We meet again! We only met briefly at the hospital last year, and I thought to myself, this young man is extraordinary, there's something in his eyes! Sure enough, it hasn't been long, and he's already caused such a stir! I've seen 'The Witch,' it's absolutely brilliant!"

Jiang Yu almost laughed at his gesture, but still politely returned the handshake: "Mr. Chen, you're too kind. It's been a long time."

"What 'General Manager Chen'? Just call me Old Chen!" Chen Jinfei feigned anger, then smiled and turned to Liu Wentao, saying, "Wentao, this is General Manager Jiang I mentioned to you, young and promising!"

Liu Wentao, the vice president of a commercial bank in Hubei Province in charge of credit business, is in his early fifties. He wears gold-rimmed glasses and has a refined yet shrewd demeanor.

He smiled and stood up to shake hands: "President Jiang, I've heard so much about you. Xiao Li has been talking about you non-stop for the past six months, my ears are practically calloused."

"President Liu, you're too kind," Jiang Yu replied with a smile, then turned to introduce the people behind him, "This is Yang Siwei, our company's president. David Cohen, president of Light Chaser Pictures North America. Chen Jingming, head of Light Chaser Investment."

After this series of introductions, the atmosphere in the private room suddenly became both subtle and lively.

When Liu Wentao heard the words "Chasing Light Investment," his eyes behind his glasses visibly lit up.

"Mr. Chen, I've heard so much about you. Our risk control department conducted a case study on your Hong Kong stock operations, and it was quite brilliant, textbook-level."

Chen Jingming adjusted his glasses and said calmly, "President Liu, you flatter me. It was mainly because General Manager Jiang made accurate decisions; we just executed them well."

"Who is this...?" Chen Jinfei looked at David curiously. The fat foreign man was staring wide-eyed at the ink painting on the wall, muttering to himself.

David noticed the gaze and immediately turned around, introducing himself in Chinese that was a mix of California accent and strange intonation.

"Hello! I'm David! Chiang's brother! I make a living in Hollywood!"

This quirky and straightforward introduction made everyone laugh.

......

When everyone took their seats, the head seat was empty, and no one dared to sit there.

Jiang Jianguo and Chen Jinfei sat down together. The two real estate developers hit it off immediately and began whispering to each other as soon as they sat down.

Zhou Huiwen was warmly pulled to sit down next to Liu Xiaoli, and the two mothers discovered something new after only a few words of conversation.

"Is Sister Zhou also from Wuhan?"

"Yes, the area around Shuiguohu in Wuchang. I lived next to the provincial party committee compound when I was a child."

"Oh dear! We used to live near Hongshan Square, not far away! A twenty-minute walk!"

"Really? Then you must know 'Liu's Fresh Fish,' right?"

"I know, I know! Isn't the boss tall, with a really loud voice, and able to kill fish so fast it's like magic?"

"That's him! I used to go there at least once a week; his fish cakes are absolutely amazing!"

"Yes, yes, yes! And his wife's bean curd sheets are absolutely the best you can find in all of Wuhan!"

The two mothers became more and more excited as they chatted, from the vegetable market to time-honored brands, and from those brands to which hot dry noodles had the most fragrant sesame paste. They couldn't stop talking.

Yang Siwei sat to Jiang Yu's right, maintaining her usual composure.

She whispered to Jiang Yu, "Zhou Mu and Wu Na went to 798 Art Zone. They said they're going to test a new global illumination algorithm. They'll have dinner at the company."

Jiang Yu nodded: "Let them be. Those two tech fanatics together, even if the sky falls, they'll finish running the code first."

Liu Yifei was affectionately pulled to another seat next to Zhou Huiwen: "Yifei, sit here, let Auntie take a good look. This girl is beautiful on TV, but even more beautiful in person! How come her skin is so white? Like soft tofu."

Liu Yifei was a little embarrassed by the praise, her cheeks flushed slightly, but she still obediently sat down.

She changed into a light pink cotton dress, simple in style and well-fitting, which accentuated her slender waist.

Her long, soft hair cascaded over her shoulders, the ends slightly curled. She wore light makeup, and under the light, she looked as graceful as a traditional Chinese painting.

Jiang Yu sat on the other side of his mother, one seat away from Liu Yifei.

The distance is just right; it's not too close to be awkward, nor too far to seem distant.

When their eyes occasionally met, Liu Yifei would smile slightly and then lower her eyes.

Jiang Yu would nod in acknowledgment, a faint smile playing on his lips.

.......

Dishes were served one after another, and the waiters worked quickly, serving one dish after another.

David's eyes widened, and he almost drooled: "My God! This is more lavish than all the Chinese restaurants in Los Angeles combined! What is this?"

"Wuchang fish," Jiang Yu explained in English, "is a famous dish from Hubei. Chairman Mao wrote, 'Having just drunk the water of Changsha, I then ate Wuchang fish.'"

"The fish Mao ate?" David exclaimed with awe, immediately standing up and grabbing a large piece. "Then I must try it! This might be the fish that changed history!"

He said this in English, and everyone at the table who understood English laughed.

David stuffed the fish into his mouth, chewed a couple of times, and his eyes widened even more: "Oh my god! This fish...is this fish alive? How can it be so fresh?"

"Freshly killed," Jiang Yu said with a smile. "This restaurant has a water tank in the back kitchen, and the fish are all killed to order."

"Incredible!" David picked up another piece, this time dipping it in the sauce. "This is even better than the fish I had at a Michelin three-star restaurant! Chinese food, forever divine!"

Chen Jingming maintained his composure while eating, picking up food precisely and chewing silently. He was slowly sipping lotus root soup with a small spoon.

Liu Wentao was clearly interested in him and took the initiative to strike up a conversation: "Mr. Chen, I heard that Chasing Light Investment is preparing to focus its efforts on the domestic market?"

"Yes," Chen Jingming put down his spoon and gently wiped his mouth with a napkin. "The major US stock indices are currently at historical highs, and the risk-reward ratio is no longer attractive. On the other hand, domestically, the policy support for the cultural and technological industries is unprecedented, with substantial benefits in areas such as tax incentives, financing facilitation, and market access. We believe that now is the window of opportunity for a strategic return."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Of course, it's not about completely withdrawing from US stocks, but rather adjusting the portfolio structure, increasing hedging, and investing the majority of the incremental funds in promising domestic sectors."

Liu Wentao nodded repeatedly: "It's a coincidence. Our bank has also been studying the new credit policy for the cultural industry recently. The head office just issued a document stating that if there are mature projects and business models, we can provide a package of financial services."

"I couldn't be happier." Chen Jingming adjusted his glasses. "We can schedule a time to discuss the details."

"Okay, definitely."

As the meal progressed, the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

After a few drinks, everyone started talking.

Zhou Huiwen liked Liu Yifei more and more as she looked at her, and kept piling food on her plate until it was almost a small mountain: "Yifei, eat more. Look how thin you are. Ballet must be very tiring, right? You need to eat more."

"It's alright, I'm used to it," Liu Yifei replied obediently, looking at the food in her bowl with a slight worry; there was too much, she couldn't finish it. "Thank you, Auntie."

"I heard from Xiaoyu that you're going to act in 'Black Swan,' which is about ballet dancers?" Zhou Huiwen asked. "Then you need to eat and sleep well even more. Health is the foundation, and you can't afford to lose it."

"Mom," Jiang Yu said helplessly, "we have a professional team of nutritionists and coaches who scientifically plan what we eat and what we exercise every day."

"Science?" Zhou Huiwen glared at her son. "Science has no idea about home remedies! The dietary supplements passed down from our ancestors are the real knowledge. Yifei, when you go back to Wuhan, be sure to come to our house, and Auntie will make you some soup. The lotus root soup in Wuhan is absolutely amazing; you can't find it anywhere else."

Liu Xiaoli laughed from the side, "Sister Zhou, don't spoil her."

"Such a wonderful girl, she can't be spoiled!" Zhou Huiwen held Liu Yifei's hand, looking at her with increasing satisfaction. "If I had a daughter like this, I'd be laughing in my sleep."

Liu Yifei blushed even more and secretly glanced at Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yuzheng seemed to notice the gaze and turned his head.

Eyes facing each other.

Liu Yifei lowered her eyes in a panic, her heart suddenly skipping a few beats.

.......

Tonight's meal may seem ordinary, but it is actually quite meaningful.

"President Jiang," Chen Jingming's voice broke his reverie, "If we launch the base project, I suggest setting up a special fund, using a hybrid structure of 'fund of funds + direct investment.' We can act as the general partner (GP), holding the leading and decision-making power, while introducing banks, real estate developers, and government-guided funds as limited partners (LPs). This way, we can leverage capital while controlling risk."

Jiang Yu withdrew his gaze and smiled: "Just as I thought. We'll start working on the detailed plan as soon as we get back. I need to see the comparison between the two different architectures."

Four people got on the bus.

Flags fluttered gently in the night breeze from the streetlights, and Fuwa dolls were displayed in the shop windows along the street. The whole of Beijing was like an actor dressed in full costume, waiting to take the stage, both nervous and excited.

In another Mercedes-Benz heading towards the suburbs, Liu Yifei leaned against the window, watching the shifting light and shadows outside.

The jade bracelet on her wrist was warm and cool to the touch. She turned it gently, but the image of Jiang Yu chatting and laughing calmly tonight kept replaying in her mind.

Every detail deepened the inexplicable feelings in her heart.

"Yifei," Liu Xiaoli asked softly, interrupting her thoughts, "what do you think of Jiang Yu?"

Liu Yifei remained silent for a moment, the lights outside the window casting dappled shadows on her clear eyes.

She said softly but clearly, "He's like a mountain in the night. You can't see his whole body, but you know he's there, steady and reliable. As you get closer, you'll find that there are paths, trees, springs, and many unexpected landscapes on the mountain."

Liu Xiaoli held her daughter's hand, smiled gently, and said nothing more.

Liu Wentao, sitting in the front seat, glanced at the rearview mirror and said with a smile, "Yifei, that's a good analogy. Jiang Yu is indeed like a mountain; he looks young, but his foundation is very deep."

"Mmm," Liu Yifei replied softly.