Huayu 2015, the Artist of Light and Shadow

……

Wenzhou, Yueqing.

Inside a newly renovated two-story building in a village.

"Xiaonan's high school grades weren't good, and she didn't get into university through the proper entrance exams. With the job market so tough right now, what will she be able to do after graduation? As her father, I'm very worried."

"Besides, girls always have to get married eventually. In my opinion, it would be better to introduce her to a good man, so that she won't have to worry about the rest of her life."

"Even if we divorce, I can still get half of the other party's assets."

"But this child has always been opinionated; I'm afraid he won't listen to me..."

A long, drawn-out sigh came from the living room, filled with the old father's worry.

Immediately afterwards, an impatient middle-aged woman said, "Don't say things like that in your home. It's not good for the children to hear."

……

Zhang Ruonan's parents were deliberately plotting something loudly in the living room.

The voice was so loud that the four siblings playing cards upstairs could hear it clearly.

"Big sister, you can't escape this fate. Go downstairs and face reality. Knowing Dad's ways, he'll definitely arrange a rich old man for you... I'll bet 1 against 3!"

"Big sister, I think second sister is right. I saw this episode on TV. If you don't come downstairs now, you definitely won't be able to leave the house tomorrow... Wait a minute, I'll bet a pair of Kings to end this farce!"

"Big sister, second sister and third sister are just trying to scare you. My idea is that you go downstairs and casually agree to a few things to get through these two days. Once you go to university in Hangzhou, no one will be able to find you... You're betting on a pair of Kings, right? Haha! I'll bet! A pair of Aces! Anything bigger?"

The two younger sisters and the younger brother all made a lot of sense.

Anyway, the pressure isn't on them.

They wanted to take advantage of their own mental confusion to win their pocket money.

"I'm playing the bomb!"

Zhang Ruonan dropped a bombshell, looking at the three of them with immense smugness: "Haha...didn't expect that, did you?"

The strong never complain about their circumstances; only the weak cry and whine.

Here you go, you three little fools, you even secretly hid your pocket money in your shoes?

I don't mind the stench of money!

After ransacking his three younger siblings, Zhang Ruonan, exuding the aura of a gambling god, went downstairs to face reality.

Before going downstairs, she deliberately rubbed her eyes hard a few times. When she walked to her mother's side, her eyes were already red, and she looked very pitiful.

At that moment, Zhang Ruonan pouted, stared at her mother for three seconds, and said in a high-pitched voice, "Mom, I'm still young, I don't want to get married so early."

The mother was instantly fooled, her eyes reddening slightly. She hugged Zhang Ruonan tightly, saying, "Xiaonan, Mommy is reluctant to part with you. But the other party's conditions are really good. How about this, tomorrow, Mommy will go to Hangzhou with you."

"What do you mean?"

Zhang Ruonan's eyes widened instantly.

Why go to Hangzhou for a blind date? Do you know I'm going to university in Hangzhou? Are you cutting off my escape route?

Heavens above!

You are truly my own parents!

They're being way too concerned about me!

"You were quite convincing just now. I almost fell for your act."

Seeing Zhang Ruonan's stunned expression, her mother chuckled and gently flicked her daughter's head: "Remember to dress up nicely. Just wear that white dress you bought last month. Don't overthink it, it's just a meeting. He might not even like you."

Failing to feign grievance, Zhang Ruonan could only face reality: "I understand. I'll behave well. I won't bring shame to our family."

Parents are truly strange creatures. They believe all sorts of rumors, but they can see right through your little schemes!

They're practically my natural nemesis!

……

noon the next day.

In Hangzhou, not far from the train station, there is a French-style restaurant.

"Sister Ji, I've sent you the general outline to your email. Remember to find a few good screenwriters. My requirements are very strict."

As a director, Lu Yunzhou did not want to make his work particularly complicated.

The scriptwriting work should be left to professional screenwriters.

As for the cost?

Tang Yan shouldn't be stingy with the script fee.

"Don't worry, you'll be absolutely satisfied."

Ji Rujing also wanted to demonstrate her abilities to Lu Yunzhou so that their cooperation could continue to deepen.

"Yunzhou, are you very busy with work these days?"

The mother looked at Lu Yunzhou, who had been presented with a table full of exquisite desserts, but hadn't touched a single bite, instead spending all her time sending work text messages.

A hint of worry appeared on Mom's face.

"I am indeed quite busy."

Lu Yunzhou nodded and said earnestly, "Mom, my career has just started, you don't need to rush to arrange my marriage. I will definitely find a daughter-in-law that you will be satisfied with."

Lu Yunzhou glanced at the time, a troubled look on his face: "I have some things to take care of at the company, and I need to go back to Shanghai later. However, I will try my best to visit you once every weekend."

Let this farce end here.

"Go ahead and do your work. You don't need to come back to see me so often."

A gentle smile appeared on the mother's face as she looked at a soft, slender little figure in the corner of the restaurant.

There was a girl there, wearing a white dress, playing the piano.

"What did you think of her performance of Canon?"

The mother turned to look at Lu Yunzhou and asked a question full of meaning.

"He doesn't seem like someone who can make a living from this. But his serious demeanor is quite interesting. It's like he's wrestling with the piano."

Lu Yunzhou listened for a while, then shook his head slightly. This level was rather low; it could only be described as amateur among amateurs.

Hearing this, Mom's smile became even more meaningful, and the corners of her mouth even curled up involuntarily. She even encouraged her, "Why don't you go over and give her a few pointers? Tell her to be gentler with the piano keys."

"Then forget it."

Lu Yunzhou shook his head, resolutely not wanting to cause trouble.

Therefore, he even changed his tune: "Actually, she's not that bad. She does have some talent."

No longer dwelling on whether the little girl played the piano well or not, Lu Yunzhou was indeed leaving: "Mom, it's almost time, I have to go now. Call me if you need anything."

Lu Yunzhou learned last night that his mother had arranged a blind date for him, which was scheduled for around 3 p.m.

So he bought a 2 o'clock high-speed rail ticket to avoid this awkward situation.

The moment he stood up, the little girl playing the piano seemed to receive some kind of command and stopped what she was doing.

The little girl turned her head and met his gaze at the doorway.

"Huh? Who's this? Is he an old friend?"

The moment Lu Yunzhou saw Zhang Ruonan, he felt that the other person looked somewhat familiar.

Because Zhang Ruonan, with her ponytail and high school student look, is quite different from the future star Zhang Ruonan.

At that moment, Zhang Ruonan subconsciously smiled at him, and Lu Yunzhou returned a slight smile as a sign of politeness.

The two did not exchange a single word from beginning to end.

……

"I'm sorry, he's very busy with work."

After Lu Yunzhou left, his mother and Zhang Ruonan's mother sat together and chatted for a few minutes.

Zhang Ruonan obediently followed, ready to wait for an "old man" in his 30s to go on a blind date with her.

But while she sat there obediently, her eyes involuntarily turned to look out the window.

At this moment, Lu Yunzhou had just gone downstairs, walked across the street from the window to the other side, hailed a taxi, and hurriedly left.

Zhang Ruonan was left with only her back view.

Watching Lu Yunzhou leave, Zhang Ruonan suddenly felt a pang of emotion and murmured, "Hangzhou is truly a paradise on earth, with so many handsome men."

"If only my blind date had even a tenth of this handsome guy's charm!"

……

Half an hour later.

After watching my mother and the aunt across the street drink a cup of coffee and eat French pastries, they agreed to go shopping together.

Zhang Ruonan was in an extremely good mood.

Great.

The legendary 30-year-old "old man" didn't show up for the blind date!

Sister is so lucky to have escaped this disaster!