Chapter 454: Sister Needs to Be a Little More Fierce

Time entered August; after lasting nearly 3 months, *Hidden in the Dust* has finally wrapped up.

Zhang Yimou and his entourage had just landed at the Beijing airport when they were surrounded by the media who had received the news and come to meet them.

"May I ask Director Zhang, when will this film be able to meet the audience?"

"Currently, filming has just ended and post-production has not yet begun, so the specific release date cannot be determined, but it will definitely be before next year's Cannes Film Festival!"

"Director Zhang, are you very confident about winning an award at Cannes?"

Facing this question, Zhang Yimou wore a look of absolute confidence on his face, glanced at He Bing and Ceng Li beside him, and gave his answer.

"Director Wei Jin's script is excellent, I was also very diligent in my filming this time, and the actors in the crew were also very capable. I believe I have already done my best, and I am also confident that I will definitely not return empty-handed from Cannes next year."

Subsequently, the media turned their microphones toward the lead actress Ceng Li; this person is far too Buddhist-like, if there's an opportunity, shouldn't one fleece the wool clean?

"May I ask Miss Ceng Li, since your debut you have only filmed movies by Director Wei Jin. Working with Director Zhang this time, do you have any new feelings? Or rather, comparing the two, who do you think is more formidable?"

At this moment, Ceng Li, after three months of wind and sun, had lost quite a bit of weight and her skin had darkened by half a shade.

"Ever since my university days, I have been looking forward to working with Director Zhang. After this collaboration, I feel I have benefited greatly. As for who is more formidable between Director Wei Jin and Director Zhang, I think they are both very formidable."

The group had just left the airport for the company when the media reports were already out.

"Exclusively produced by Shanhe Media, directed by Zhang Yimou, and starring Ceng Li, He Bing, and others, the realistic-themed film *Hidden in the Dust* has wrapped; the crew returned to Beijing today."

"The National Master makes a bold claim: See you at the Cannes Film Festival next year!"

"Lead actress Ceng Li expresses that she benefited greatly from this collaboration; the two great directors, Zhang and Wei, are on par with each other!"

In the reception room of the Shanhe Building, Wei Jin met with all the members of the crew. Looking at Ceng Li, who was visibly half a shade darker, he felt some regret for letting her take on this film.

"Director Zhang, Li Jie, Teacher He Bing, and everyone, thank you for your hard work."

"Eh, President Wei, what are you saying? Although the external conditions for this shoot weren't great, our food was quite good, haha."

Although He Bing didn't have much of a personal friendship with Wei Jin, he had grown up in Beijing since he was a child and had extensive connections in the circle, giving him a bit of the feel of an old Beijing local.

Zhang Yimou, standing to the side, also remarked: "Mm, He Bing is right, it was much better than during *Hawthorn Tree*."

"Oh? How so?"

It wasn't just Wei Jin who was curious; the others also looked at Zhang Yimou. Although Zhang Weiping was notoriously stingy, surely he wouldn't be stingy about food, right? "It's that I didn't explain clearly. Back then, filming in Xiangbei, I wasn't used to the food; it was too spicy. Every day I felt a burning sensation. It's better this time; there was plenty of authentic Northwest noodles with braised meat."

"Hahaha."

Although Zhang Yimou spoke cryptically, everyone on the scene understood the meaning and couldn't help but laugh. Ceng Li also covered her mouth and laughed; wasn't the food from her hometown in Xiangbei spicy? But perhaps this was also the reason why she and Wei Jin could end up together?

Because everyone was eager to return home, Wei Jin simply didn't hold a wrap-up banquet. After giving everyone red envelopes, he took Ceng Li back to the Yanjiao Villa; he knew Li Jie must be missing the child very much.

Sure enough, as soon as they arrived home, Ceng Li's eyes filled with tears as she watched Dudu playing in the garden.

The little girl was a bit slow to react, but upon seeing her mother, her face blossomed into a smile, and she ran over on her short legs.

"Mommy, Mommy, you're back."

Ceng Li wiped away her tears, reached out to pick up her daughter, and a smile appeared on her face.

"Dudu, Mommy is back. Have you been a good girl during this time?"

The little girl nodded very earnestly, "Mm, Mommy, I was very obedient at home. If you don't believe me, ask Daddy."

Hearing this, Wei Jin walked up, wrapped one arm around Ceng Li's waist, and tapped Dudu's soft cheek with his other hand.

"Mm, Dudu is very obedient. Eating, sleeping, drawing, and writing—you've done everything very well. Now that Mommy is back, what reward do you want?"

The little girl tilted her head, seemingly thinking for a moment, and her eyes lit up, "Mommy, can you tell me a story tonight? I haven't heard Mommy tell a story for a long time."

Ceng Li looked at her daughter, tears welling up in her eyes again, and nodded vigorously.

"Okay, from now on, Mommy will tell you one every day."

Perhaps because they hadn't seen each other for too long, Ceng Li was especially indulgent toward Dudu tonight, telling several stories in a row until it was nearly ten o'clock before coaxing Dudu to sleep.

After tiptoeing out of the room, Ceng Li couldn't wait to rush toward her own bedroom.

Just as she entered the room, she saw Wei Jin working in front of his laptop. Ceng Li couldn't help but slow her pace, clearly not wanting to disturb the man.

But how sharp were Wei Jin's ears? He had long since detected the sound of footsteps. After saving the file, he stood up and pulled the beauty into his arms.

"Li Jie, did you miss me?"

The great beauty lightly bit her red lips, her eyes shimmering, "Mm."

"How much did you miss me?"

Looking at the playful smile on the man's handsome face, Ceng Li rolled her eyes at him, leaned into his ear, and breathed like an orchid, "Missed you so much, so much. When I close my eyes, my mind is full of you."

After speaking, without waiting for Wei Jin to say more, she pressed her delicate red lips onto his.

Feeling Li Jie's passion, Wei Jin responded affectionately, his large hands not idle, wandering over the beauty's silk pajamas.

Starting from her waist, they split into two paths: one climbed upward along her flat abdomen to set up camp; the other followed her soft lower back downward to occupy her plump, perky buttocks.

After a few minutes of passionate kissing, Ceng Li's pretty face was already flushed, and her beautiful eyes looked as if they could drip water; clearly, she was already aroused.

Before Wei Jin could take action, Ceng Li crouched down. For a full three months, Ceng Li hadn't had a bite of meat, so she had made up her mind to reward herself well tonight.

Unfortunately, because of the lack of exercise for a long time and her body in her thirties being too sensitive, in just over half an hour, Ceng Li had already lost two points.

She knew that it would be unwise to fight again at this moment, so she sounded the retreat, leaning into Wei Jin's arms to accumulate strength, waiting for the second half of the battle to begin.

Her slightly tanned small hands wandered between Wei Jin's abdominal muscles; every familiar muscle made Ceng Li feel somewhat intoxicated.

Seemingly remembering something, Ceng Li looked up at the man's profile.

"Xiao Jin, what were you writing just now?"

"Oh, a script prepared for Venice next year."

Wei Jin explained it lightly. Originally, he was still hesitating about which script to use, but Da Meiyuan's pregnancy made him reach a decision, and an English-language film is indeed easier to win awards with. "So, you're planning to film while Yuanyuan is recuperating in North America, right?"

Ceng Li certainly knew about Da Meiyuan's pregnancy; when they were in the crew, she had even shared quite a bit of pregnancy experience with the former.

"Mm, I do have that idea, but I haven't decided whether it's this year or next year yet."

According to Wei Jin's thoughts, if he were to film this year, it would likely be between late October and the end of November. If he were to film next year, it would probably be after the Spring Festival. Both plans were quite good, and he hadn't thought through the specifics yet.

"Mm, that's good too. You can have more time to accompany Yuanyuan; she will definitely be very happy, and it's good for the child too."

Perhaps thinking of the days she spent alone in North America while pregnant, a hint of loneliness appeared on Ceng Li's face.

Wei Jin noticed this very keenly, pulling the beauty into his arms, his voice full of apology, "Li Jie, I'm sorry."

"Xiao Jin, you don't need to blame yourself. You have already done well enough. I feel very happy, really."

Ceng Li's tone was very sincere; she never felt that she had been treated unfairly.

This was not because of those hundreds of millions of dollars in shares, but because after all these years together, she had seen everything Wei Jin had done; although he was a bit of a playboy, he truly managed to treat everyone equally.

Upon hearing this, Wei Jin was deeply moved and could only pull the beauty tightly into his arms, while Ceng Li also lay quietly against the man's chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, feeling very at ease.

After a long while, Ceng Li looked up, "Xiao Jin, do Yuanyuan's parents know about this?"

"Mm, they already know. I have to meet with them in a couple of days."

Speaking of this, Wei Jin felt a bit moved inside.

Gao Yuanyuan was born into an intellectual family, and her parents were both employees at a unit under the China National Space Administration.

Because Gao Yuanyuan's mother was quite old when she gave birth to her, she took a great risk, and she had been left with underlying health issues ever since that time.

Although Wei Jin had given Gao Yuanyuan many suggestions based on information he knew from his past life, and Gao Yuanyuan's mother had been recuperating quite well over these years—much better than being bedridden for years as in his past life—her foundation was ultimately too weak, and she had been recuperating at home all these years.

Unlike Ceng Li, Gao Yuanyuan had a very close relationship with her parents since she was a child and would spend a large amount of time with them every year; something like pregnancy was bound to be impossible to hide.

Gao Yuanyuan knew this herself, so not long after she found out she was pregnant, she confessed the matter to her parents.

As expected, the two elders were quite stunned, but after all, they were older, and Gao Yuanyuan was no longer young, so Gao Yuanyuan's father and mother did not say much about the child.

They just, like parents everywhere, proposed that they must hurry up and get married so that everything would be legitimate.

During this time, Gao Yuanyuan had been tugging back and forth with her parents over this matter, even using the child to pressure them several times, finally managing to temporarily suppress the elders' urge to force a marriage.

"Then you must be well-prepared; you can't make things difficult for Yuanyuan when the time comes."

Wei Jin reached out and touched her, "Li Jie, you still don't trust me? I am very respectful to our mom and dad."

Ceng Li rolled her eyes at him upon hearing this, but she accepted this form of address.

However, thinking of the days when she was about to give birth and how Wei Jin had been so humble and subservient, a smile appeared on Ceng Li's face, and she couldn't help but tease him.

"I do believe you on that. A big boss with a net worth of a hundred billion, being lectured like a grandson by my mother, a laid-off female worker, and not even talking back, while also cooking for my parents with different dishes every day, making my dad fat, haha."

Ceng Li's words brought Wei Jin back to the time over three years ago, and he couldn't help but show a bitter smile.

"No choice, I had to earn some credit. Fortunately, our parents finally accepted me. I just hope this trip to Yuan Yuanjie's house can go a bit more smoothly."

In fact, Wei Jin was already prepared to be beaten and scolded; after all, he was the one who, without any reason, got their daughter pregnant, and the key was that he didn't want to get married and register the marriage, so as parents, it was naturally inevitable that they would give him some trouble.

Putting himself in their shoes, if Dudu were to encounter such a "scumbag" twenty-some years later, Wei Jin felt he would probably want to take a knife and hack that little blond-haired guy to death.

However, mentioning North America reminded Wei Jin of another matter.

"By the way, Li Jie, there is a co-production project in the second half of the year that is quite suitable for you. Would you like to consider it?"

Immediately, Wei Jin informed Ceng Li of the information about *Edge of Tomorrow*; the latter was silent for a moment after hearing it, then shook her head gently.

"Xiao Jin, I don't plan to go out to film for the next two years. This time when I went out to shoot, I really missed Dudu so much. Although we could meet via video, I want to hold her, feel her body temperature, and participate in her growth."

Feeling the maternal radiance emanating from Ceng Li, Wei Jin pulled her tighter into his arms.

"Alright, I'll listen to you."

Wei Jin could understand Ceng Li's choice, but the scope of choice for the next one was only limited to those two young ladies; who should he give it to specifically?

To treat everyone equally, it really isn't easy.

Wei Jin was sighing when he came back to his senses and realized that these three months had truly been stifling.

So, he cast aside the worries in his mind and began to enjoy Ceng Li's service.

Having rested for so long, the refractory period had long since passed, so after only two or three minutes, Wei Jin was full of vigor again.

This time, he didn't let the beauty take the initiative; Wei Jin turned over and pinned Ceng Li beneath him, propped up those long, rounded, beautiful legs, lowered his body, and whispered in her ear.

"Li Jie, are you ready?"

The great beauty's eyes were filled with passion, her pretty face slightly flushed, "Mm, Xiao Jin, I want you to be more valiant."

"As you command, my lady."

After he finished speaking.

"Oh~~~"

Just as the first card was played, Ceng Li enjoyed the pleasure of playing cards and couldn't help but start singing.

With the addition of the singing, Wei Jin's mood became even more joyful.

Ten minutes later, almost completely pressing down on Ceng Li's body, "Li Jie, hold me tight."

Ceng Li understood, her hands firmly clutching Wei Jin's neck.

Wei Jin planted his feet in a horse stance and lifted with all the strength in his arms.

"Li Jie, you have to hold on this time."

Ceng Li, with a flushed face, cried out loudly; that night, Li Jie, who had been empty for a long time, was incomparably satisfied. (End of this chapter)