Taking Liu Yifei back to Northeast China for the Chinese New Year has sent the entire internet into

The next day.

It's 8:30 in the morning.

Fang Yu stood in front of the bedroom wardrobe, rummaging through the clothes hanging inside.

When I go to the company to clock in, I can just throw on a hoodie and a pair of sneakers and head out.

This game won't work today.

Although we had worked together in Kaoshantun, peeling potatoes and scallions together, and even sitting on the same kang (heated brick bed) to eat sauerkraut.

But that was for a TV program, and the main point was to be down-to-earth.

Today I paid a proper visit, and I went to Chen Daoming's private residence.

Older generations of artists value rules and regulations; if someone dresses sloppily, it's considered that the younger generation is ignorant.

Fang Yu rummaged through the wardrobe for a long time.

Finally, they pulled out a dark gray cashmere coat from the deepest part of the room.

A black turtleneck sweater as a base layer, dark straight-leg pants, and a pair of Chelsea boots.

This outfit was all purchased by the company a long time ago; the tags had been removed for more than half a year, and it has finally seen the light of day again.

Fang Yu stood in front of the full-length mirror and raised her hand to brush the stray hairs from her forehead to one side.

The man in the mirror had clear features, his clothes fit well, and his shoulders and back were strong enough to support him.

He nodded at himself in the mirror.

"OK."

"Today I look somewhat like an artist."

After tidying up, Fang Yu opened the desk drawer.

A tin tea canister lay inside.

There were no fancy gift boxes or anti-counterfeiting labels.

The can was covered with a ring of medical tape, and three large characters were written on it in black marker.

Howling.

This is the kidney essence tea they collected when they went hiking in the Greater Khingan Mountains.

Fang Yu still remembers the night the show ended, when he patted his chest and made a promise to Chen Daoming.

Next time I go for tea, I'll definitely bring this batch of wild game with me.

The promise has been made; it must be kept today.

He took out the tea canister and weighed it in his hand.

At twenty-four, one is at the age of walking with a brisk pace and full of energy.

If this thing stays in his possession, it will only take up space in the drawer.

This is a perfect gift for a senior colleague.

Fang Yu casually pulled out an old canvas bag, stuffed the tea canister inside, and zipped it up.

When I went downstairs, the time was 9:28.

The spring breeze in Beijing still carried a chill, seeping into collars through the cracks in the buildings.

Tender green buds sprouted from the old elm trees by the roadside, and several sparrows chirped incessantly as they perched on the branches.

As soon as Fang Yu reached the entrance of the residential area, a black Toyota Alphard stopped on the shoulder of the road.

The rear windows were lowered halfway down.

Liu Yifei sat inside, wearing a camel-colored long trench coat, her long hair casually draped over her shoulders.

Her makeup was very light, and the pearl earrings on her earlobes reflected a warm luster as she tilted her head.

She wasn't dressed too formally today, but her status as a national goddess is undeniable.

As soon as the car window rolled down, even the security guard at the entrance of the residential area straightened his back unconsciously.

Liu Yifei's gaze swept over Fang Yu, lingering on his cashmere coat for two seconds.

He tilted his chin slightly inward.

"Get in the car."

Fang Yu opened the car door and stepped into the car.

He settled into a separate airline seat in the second row and placed the canvas bag he was carrying on the armrest between the two of them.

"Let's drive."

Liu Yifei gave a brief instruction to the driver in the front seat and then pressed the button for raising and lowering the gearshift.

The black soundproof partition rises, isolating the back seat into an absolutely private space.

Liu Yifei turned to the side, her gaze sliding down the collar of Fang Yu's dark gray cashmere coat, along the neat straight-leg trousers, and landing on his Chelsea boots.

Fang Yu leaned back and put his hands behind his head.

"What's wrong? You're getting cocky because of my outfit today?"

Liu Yifei turned her face to the window, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"At least you're dressed like a human being."

She raised her hand and pointed to the canvas bag that seemed out of place with the atmosphere.

"But with that tattered bag, anyone who didn't know better would think you were going to do odd jobs."

"What do you know?"

Fang Yu patted the bag.

"This is called returning to simplicity."

"Truly good things never rely on packaging to make a good impression."

Liu Yifei sensed something was wrong and reached out to unzip the canvas bag.

The tin can was exposed.

Medical tape, big black letters, screaming.

Liu Yifei stared at it for two seconds.

The scene from the night of the finale of the Kaoshantun project came back to me.

She originally thought Fang Yu was just saying it casually for the sake of the show.

And this guy actually brought it with him!

"Fang Yu".

Liu Yifei turned to look at him, her tone revealing helplessness.

"Are you planning to give this as a gift?"

"Absolutely."

Fang Yu sat up straighter and tapped the jar with his hand.

"Originating from the Greater Khingan Mountains, hand-picked, pollution-free, you can't buy it anywhere else even if you have the money."

"Teacher Chen is filming and memorizing lines every day, which is very tiring."

"Soak this stuff in water and drink a couple of cups; it will strengthen your body and nourish your vital energy, and it's very effective for treating your symptoms."

Liu Yifei remained silent for a few seconds, then quietly zipped up the zipper.

When others visit a titan of the film industry, they bring calligraphy, paintings, famous teas, and fine wines, all presented in mahogany boxes with expert certificates of authenticity.

Fang Yu is doing well.

I brought a jar of wild herbs that are believed to have aphrodisiac and kidney-tonifying properties.

They even used medical tape as a sealing agent.

Looking across the entire Chinese entertainment industry, you absolutely can't find another company that dares to do this.

……

As the car drove onto the main road, sunlight streamed in through the car windows from the overpass.

Liu Yifei rested her chin on her hand, her gaze following the receding street trees.

She joined the production team in her teens and has been in the industry for over a decade.

She has met countless famous directors, superstars, and investors, and she has seen through the true extent of the hidden rules.

During holidays and festivals, Huace Media would send gifts to senior figures in the industry in her name.

Calligraphy and paintings, antiques, and vintage teas—each item is selected by a specialist.

But those gifts often can't even get into the host's living room.

The assistant took it at the door and politely replied, "Thank you for your kindness," thus completing the process.

That's just how circles are.

Status, seniority, background—layers upon layers of rules hang over everyone like an iron barrel.

Even with the title of "national goddess," she still couldn't escape the fate of being "chosen" when faced with those behemoths who had accumulated resources over generations.

Today, however, the scene is completely different.

Chen Daoming called personally, specifically inviting Fang Yu to his home for tea, and generously asked him to bring his girlfriend along.

The cause was not complicated.

A meal cooked in a big iron pot in Kaoshantun, a bowl of red sausage instant noodles in the snow of the Greater Khingan Mountains, a mouthful of yelp, plus a song that brought tears to the old man's eyes, "Northeast Folk Song".

Fang Yu didn't attend any drinking parties, didn't ask around to hand out his business card, and didn't knock on anyone's door asking for an opportunity with his carefully crafted work.

With just a few iron pots that could bounce around so fast and his untamed talent that no one could suppress, he managed to break through the ironclad world of fame and fortune and open up a bright and promising path to success.

Liu Yifei turned her head.

Fang Yu was looking down at his phone, typing on the buttons to reply to messages. His dark gray coat suppressed his usual carefree attitude, making him look steady and reliable.

She stretched out her arm, naturally slipped it through Fang Yu's arm, pressed her body close, and took his arm.

After replying to the message, Fang Yu casually put his phone into his coat pocket and turned his head to look at the woman who was leaning close to him.

"What, are you practicing being all lovey-dovey in advance?"

"I'll lend you some confidence." Liu Yifei slightly raised her chin, "so you won't cramp up when you see your seniors later."

Fang Yu grinned and patted the back of her hand with his other hand.

"Sister Liu Yifei has shown great vision; there will be many more scenes like this in the future."