Huayu: I rely on hit-movie tactics to interweave...

Chapter 73 Rumors of Buying a Role

On his first weekend back in Beijing, Liu Yu originally planned to stay in his apartment for two days and not go anywhere.

On Friday night, he went to the supermarket and bought a box of instant noodles, several bags of frozen dumplings, and a dozen Cokes. He planned to put his phone on silent, draw the curtains, lock the door, and lounge on the sofa for two days to finish reading the novel he had bought six months ago but hadn't opened yet.

As a result, my phone rang at just 10 a.m. on Saturday morning.

He glanced at the caller ID, hesitated for a moment, and then answered.

"Director Liu, hello. I'm Liu Xiaoli, Yifei's mother." The voice on the other end of the phone was very polite.

Liu Yu was stunned for a moment. He really didn't have Liu Xiaoli's number saved. There was no way he didn't know this person.

When Liu Yifei was working with Liu Xiaoli, Liu Xiaoli accompanied her almost the entire time.

"Hello Auntie, it's been a long time. Is there anything I can help you with?" Liu Yu's tone was very gentle as he switched his phone from his left hand to his right and sat up straight on the sofa.

"Director Liu, I'd like to invite you to dinner." Liu Xiaoli paused for a moment. "Is it convenient for you tonight? It's a private restaurant in Chaoyang. I'll be bringing Yifei and her godfather, Mr. Chen."

She didn't say much, but her tone carried a calm sincerity.

Liu Yu leaned back on the sofa, looking at the gray sky outside the balcony window.

He knew why this meal was for; Liu Yifei was preparing for her new album, and the only reason she would invite him to dinner at this time was for the sake of "Lucy".

"Auntie, you're too kind. I'm free. Send me your address, and I'll come over tonight." He said it readily, without a trace of hesitation in his voice.

Liu Xiaoli said a few words of thanks and then hung up the phone.

Liu Yu put his phone on the coffee table and stared at the ceiling for a while.

Chen Jinfei was also there; the signal was all too clear.

He never appears on such occasions unless he feels it is necessary for him to personally intervene.

Liu Yu recalled some reports he had seen in his previous life about how Liu Yifei's "godfather" paved the way for her, how he spent money to hire a team, buy resources, and create momentum for her.

Some things are true, some things are fabricated, but one thing is certain: Chen Jinfei's dedication to Liu Yifei's career far exceeds that of a typical agent or partner.

Liu Yu turned over, thought about it a lot, and finally decided not to think about it too much.

At 7 p.m., Liu Yu arrived at the agreed place on time.

The shop was located in a quiet alley in Chaoyang District. When he pushed open the door, a waiter in a gray Chinese-style jacket greeted him, "Director Liu, welcome."

The waiter led him to a private room on the second floor. When the door opened, the room was warmly lit, and a landscape painting hung on the wall, creating a serene atmosphere.

Liu Xiaoli was already there, wearing a dark green sweater, looking very simple and elegant, with a refined and composed air about her.

Liu Yifei sat next to her, wearing a white turtleneck sweater with her hair down. When she saw Liu Yu come in, she stood up and smiled slightly.

"Director Liu, it's been a long time." Her voice was soft, yet exceptionally clear in the quiet room.

"Yifei, you've lost weight," Liu Yu said casually.

She raised her hand and touched her face. "Really? Maybe it's from practicing dance lately."

She answered with a smile, as if she had been praised but was too embarrassed to admit it.

Chen Jinfei sat across the table, wearing a dark gray suit but no tie.

He stood up and shook hands with Liu Yu. "Director Liu, I've heard so much about you. I'm honored to have invited you here today, mainly because I'd like to have a chat with you."

Liu Yu shook hands in return. "Mr. Chen, you're too kind. We're all acquaintances, no need for such formality."

The four people sat down.

The dishes were served one after another, exquisitely prepared but in small portions, and plated as if for a magazine cover shoot.

Liu Yu glanced at it and thought to himself that this meal was about the atmosphere, not filling one's stomach.

Sure enough, after the first few dishes were served, Liu Xiaoli raised her teacup and toasted Liu Yu, saying a few polite words such as "Yifei has benefited greatly from working with you."

Liu Yu listened, picked up his teacup and responded briefly, without saying anything more.

He could tell that Liu Xiaoli was laying the groundwork; the main point hadn't even arrived yet.

Liu Yifei sat next to him, occasionally picking up a piece of food with her chopsticks, and occasionally glancing at Liu Yu, her gaze meeting and then looking away.

Halfway through the meal, Chen Jinfei put down his chopsticks.

He moved very gently, placing his chopsticks on the porcelain chopstick rest, wiping his hands with a wet wipe from the table, folding it neatly and placing it on the edge of the table, then leaning back in his chair.

This action makes it clear that the main point is about to be made.

"Director Liu, I've been following the 'Lucy' project for a long time." Chen Jinfei's voice was unhurried. "With a production cost of 60 million US dollars and three top Hollywood male actors in supporting roles, this level of project is indeed the pinnacle in China."

Liu Yu picked up a peanut, chewed it slowly, and didn't say anything.

He knew that Chen Jinfei wouldn't praise him for no reason; once he did, he would definitely change the subject.

Seeing that he had no intention of responding, Chen Jinfei smiled and didn't seem to mind.

He pulled a business card from the inside pocket of his suit jacket. It wasn't one of those corporate business cards printed with various titles, but a minimalist personal business card with only his name and a phone number.

He gently pushed his business card across the table. "Director Liu, I can sponsor ten million RMB. It doesn't need to go through the official accounts; it's my personal investment in the project. My only request is for the female lead in this film—I hope you can give Qianqian a chance."

The private room fell silent for a moment.

Liu Xiaoli lowered her head and drank her tea, not looking at anyone. She already knew what conditions Chen Jinfei would propose.

Liu Yifei held the cup, paused for a moment, and gently traced her name on the rim of the cup with her finger.

Liu Yu put down his chopsticks and looked at the business card on the table.

Ten million RMB was not a small sum in 2006.

But in the context of "Lucy's" $60 million budget, it's just a drop in the bucket.

Liu Yu knew very well that what Chen Jinfei wanted was an identity, an identity of "Liu Yifei starring in a Hollywood blockbuster".

Once this identity is established, all the resources will naturally flow in.

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, put it down, and looked at Chen Jinfei.

He didn't answer immediately, shifting his gaze from the business card to Liu Yifei.

She lowered her head, her fingers resting quietly on the table.

"Mr. Chen, I won't accept this money." Liu Yu's tone was calm. "Ten million RMB is neither a lot nor a little for the 'Lucy' project. If I decide to cast her based on this money, then she won't have earned the role through her own abilities; you'll have bought it with your money."

He paused, turned his head to look at Liu Yifei, and said, "This will harm her future acting career."

Chen Jinfei's expression remained unchanged. "So you think Yifei isn't suitable for this role?"

"She's a good fit. Her looks, her temperament, and her audience appeal are all perfect," Liu Yu said decisively. "But what I want isn't just suitability, it's a one-of-a-kind perfect match. If she can prove in the audition that she's the one, I won't need ten million to use her. If she isn't, even twenty million won't help."

The private room was quiet for a while.

Liu Xiaoli put down her teacup, looked at Liu Yu with a complex expression in her eyes, as if she was even more worried.

Chen Jinfei leaned back in his chair, a smile on his lips that was hard to decipher—whether it was admiration or helplessness.

"Director Liu, your attitude has surprised me." He picked up his teacup and gestured towards Liu Yu. "So, when would be a convenient time for Yifei to audition?"

Liu Yu also picked up his teacup. "Next week, perhaps. I'll have Sister Zhong arrange a time and let you know then."

He paused for a moment, "But let me make this clear from the start: an audition is an audition. Whether she passes or not depends on her performance. I won't go easy on her because of this meal, nor will I give her special treatment just because we've worked together before. This project is the same for everyone; there are no special channels."

Chen Jinfei nodded. "Of course."

He took the business card back, his movements natural, as if he had long been prepared to be rejected.

The dinner continued for some time in a subtle atmosphere.

The waiter removed the main course and brought out a plate of fruit.

Liu Xiaoli chatted with Liu Yu about some trivial matters related to Liu Yifei's song recording and thanked him for the song. The atmosphere was much more relaxed than before.

Liu Yifei didn't talk much. Occasionally, she would look up at Liu Yu, as if she had something to say but swallowed it back.

Liu Yu noticed, but didn't ask any further questions.

When the event ended, Liu Yu stood up and put on his coat first.

Chen Jinfei smiled and said, "Director Liu, let me see you out."

Liu Yu waved his hand, "No need, it's just a few steps, I can walk by myself."

Liu Xiaoli shook hands with him at the door. "Director Liu, thank you for coming tonight."

Liu Yifei stood behind her mother and seemed to nod and smile slightly.

The car is coming.

He opened the car door, got in, gave an address, leaned back in his seat, and closed his eyes for a while.

His phone vibrated. He picked it up and saw a message from Liu Yifei: "Director Liu, thank you for coming today."

I will prepare well for the audition.

Liu Yu stared at the message, his finger hovering over the screen for a moment before replying, "You're welcome. Just prepare yourself."

The next morning, Liu Yu was woken up by his phone vibrating.

He squinted and reached for his phone on the bedside table. There were more than a dozen unread messages on the screen. The top one was from Wang Chaowen, with only one line of text followed by three exclamation marks.

"Bro, you're in the headlines again!!"

Liu Yu rubbed his eyes, picked up the computer, and clicked on the link. It was a screenshot from a portal website with the headline: "Liu Yu and Liu Yifei meet late at night, suspected new romance exposed."

The accompanying photos are one of him walking out of that private restaurant last night, and another of Liu Yifei standing at the alley entrance seeing someone off.

The two photos were put together, with "same jacket" and "similar time period" marked in red, as if they were from a science documentary program.

Liu Yu stared at the photo for several seconds, recalling that he had indeed worn a dark gray coat last night, while Liu Yifei's was off-white. Apart from the different colors, the styles were somewhat similar; both were classic wool coats, so it wasn't a matter of whether they wore the same style or not. But in the reporter's eyes, this was probably evidence.

He recalled the meal yesterday, where four people sat in a private room, none of them expecting that there would be cameras waiting at the door.

He didn't know if a reporter had staked out the store or if the photo was taken by chance, but the result was the same: the photo had already been posted, and the comments section was buzzing with excitement.

He rolled over and slid down.

The comments section was indeed very lively.

"Liu Yu and Liu Yifei? Didn't they work together on 'Hearing Girl'? I felt there was chemistry between them back then."

"Wait, wasn't Liu Yu dating Yan Danchen? When did they break up?"

"They broke up a long time ago, it's all over the industry, didn't you know?"

"What does this photo prove? Does having a meal together mean we're dating? Does that mean I'm having an office romance if I eat with my colleagues every day?"

"Liu Yu just broke up with his girlfriend and is already dating Liu Yifei? That's too fast!"

"They're just having a meal, you're overthinking it."

"How could Liu Yifei possibly be interested in Liu Yu? She's a goddess!"

"Liu Yu is not good enough for Liu Yifei, nor is he good enough for Yan Danchen."

"This photo is so blurry, the cost of spreading rumors is really low."

Liu Yu looked around and saw that some people were cursing, some were supporting, and some were just watching the show.

He picked up his phone again and replied to Wang Chaowen: "It's fake. Don't reply to the comments."

Wang Chaowen replied instantly with two words: "Received".

He added, "Bro, be careful not to get photographed having dinner with an actress by yourself. People's imaginations run wild these days."

Liu Yu looked at the message but didn't reply.

He dawdled for a while, but eventually got out of bed.

After washing up, I boiled a pot of water, and sat on the sofa with a hot water cup to browse the computer.

The news has been updated; this time it was revealed by an insider.

According to insiders, Liu Yu and Yan Danchen broke up last year and Liu Yu is now single. Liu Yifei is also currently single; the two have worked together for many years and have a close relationship.

Looking at the words "insider," Liu Yu thought that this "insider" was probably a colleague who had overheard something at a dinner party and then spread it around.

He wasn't angry, he just felt helpless.

His phone rang, and he answered it. Zhong Lifang's voice came through the receiver.

Her voice was calm. "Boss, I had some links removed from that news article, but the ones on the portal websites are still there. Their editors said the traffic was too high, and removing them would affect the data. Should you issue a statement?"

Liu Yu thought for a moment, "No need. Explaining it will only make things worse. It'll cool down naturally once the hype dies down."

"Okay, I'll shield you from the view from here." Zhong Lifang's tone held a hint of teasing. "But boss, next time you're having dinner with an actress, could you please choose a private room without windows?"

"The private room last night really didn't have windows. The problem was outside," Liu Yu said. "I was photographed when I went out, but we had already finished talking before that."

Zhong Lifang paused for a moment, then said, "You refused Chen Jinfei's ten million yuan sponsorship. Won't he have any objections?"

"It's his business if he has ideas."

After hanging up the phone, Liu Yu went to the kitchen and cooked a bowl of frozen dumplings.

When the water boiled, he watched the dumplings tumbling in the pot, white and fluffy, like a group of little swimming champions.

He suddenly remembered the meal yesterday. Liu Yifei sat across from him, wearing that white turtleneck sweater, her fingers tracing patterns on the rim of her cup, barely saying a word from beginning to end.

She sat there quietly the whole time, neither eagerly trying to win over the other nor deliberately avoiding the situation; her demeanor was particularly evident at the dinner party.

He didn't know what she was thinking when he refused Chen Jinfei's money. Maybe she breathed a sigh of relief, maybe she felt a little nervous, or maybe she had already expected him to refuse.

He scooped the dumplings out, drained them, poured them into a bowl, and placed it on the coffee table.

The dipping sauce is soy sauce, vinegar, and a little chili oil. He learned in the army that he doesn't eat garlic when eating dumplings because the squad leader would smell it the day after he brushed his teeth.

He has kept that habit to this day.

In the afternoon, Liu Yifei sent a message in a very soft tone, as if she was hesitating whether to say it or not.

"Director Liu, I saw the news. I'm sorry for causing you trouble."

Liu Yu looked at the message, thought for a moment, and then replied, "It's nothing, it has nothing to do with you. Focus on your audition and don't let this distract you."

She replied with a few more words, then stopped there: "Let me explain to the media for you; they've misunderstood."

Liu Yu thought for a moment, "No need. The more I explain, the more confused things will become. Everyone will forget about it in a few days."

"Okay," and didn't ask any further questions.