Chapter 210

"Baby, don't worry. Nuo-zai is perfectly fine. It'll definitely be okay."

"Jenice, thank you so much. If it weren't for you helping me this time, I really don't know how I would have gotten through it."

That was what Yang Ying said, and it was indeed what she thought in her heart.

When her photos were ultimately posted online, if Wen Yongshan hadn't been by her side the whole time, encouraging her, she really didn't know how she would have gotten through it.

Especially later,

when Wen Yongshan took the initiative to suggest that she leave the eye of the storm in Hong Kong and go to Jingcheng with her, Yang Ying was moved to the extreme at the time and hugged Wen Yongshan, crying her heart out.

She and Wen Yongshan arrived in Jingcheng on the 16th.

It was indeed different from Hong Kong here; there weren't so many paparazzi, nor were there so many crazy reporters.

Wen Yongshan told her to put on her mask and hat properly, and then the two of them just hailed a taxi and brought her into the city safe and sound.

"Why?"

Although Yang Ying was born in Shanghai, she went to Hong Kong when she was young and hadn't returned to the mainland since. This was her first time in Jingcheng.

She didn't understand why the matter that was causing such a huge uproar in Hong Kong seemed calm and peaceful here, without even a ripple.

Wen Yongshan smiled and explained patiently, "Because the mainland is very big, and there are many people. Sometimes, even if something is a huge deal on the internet, in reality, it's actually nothing at all. Just stay here for a while with peace of mind, and go back once things have settled down in Hong Kong."

Yang Ying stayed in Jingcheng for over a day, and as Wen Yongshan had said, as long as she wore a mask, even if they went out shopping for a while or had a meal, nothing would happen.

Yang Ying suddenly felt her whole body relax. It was like surfacing from the bottom of the water.

That night, she finally had a rare, good night's sleep.

After sleeping until dawn, a car was waiting downstairs to take them to the airport.

Yang Ying recognized this model of van; it was the standard for Hong Kong's superstar celebrities, and she had never ridden in one before.

Yang Ying also recognized the handsome man in the car; she knew his surname was Qi, that he was gay, and that his more important identity was Chen Nuo's manager.

Seeing her, Qi Yuntian was a bit surprised, but he didn't say anything and drove them to the airport together.

Along the way, he didn't say a word to her, but he seemed very familiar and even respectful toward Wen Yongshan; no matter what Wen Yongshan said, he would answer seriously.

After arriving at the airport, she realized she was wrong. It wasn't that there were no reporters in the mainland, nor were there no paparazzi, and certainly not that there were no crazy fans.

When Chen Nuo, escorted by a team of airport security and a bodyguard, slipped into the Alphard covered in thick black film,

she sat in the corner of the last row, covering her face with her hat and mask, while watching the scene outside that could only be described as crazy, her heart unable to help but surge with emotion.

So, the fans and reporters here might be ten times more numerous than in Hong Kong, but it all depends on whether you are worth them showing up.

Chen Nuo was a little bit surprised when he saw Yang Ying.

He quickly realized that this must have been Wen Yongshan's own doing.

She was even afraid he would blame her, so she hadn't told him in advance.

Chen Nuo smiled quite politely and greeted Yang Ying: "Hello, Baby."

Yang Ying's heart beat extremely fast. Although time was tight when she came out this morning, she had still applied exquisite makeup. Hearing this, she squeezed a sweet smile onto her face: "Hello, Chen Nuo. Sorry to bother you."

Chen Nuo shook his head and didn't continue the conversation, turning his head to Wen Yongshan: "What's going on? Why did you suddenly say you weren't going?"

Wen Yongshan hesitated for a moment and said, "I'm sorry, darling. I..." She looked back.

Chen Nuo understood immediately.

What deep sisterly love indeed.

He frowned and said, "But everything was already arranged, and the dress was custom-made."

Wen Yongshan grabbed his hand and said coquettishly, "Darling, I'm sorry. But the clothes were custom-made in the US. Have you forgotten who we asked for help earlier? I already told her to accompany you to go together."

Chen Nuo was truly shocked this time. "Who did you ask? Liu Yifei?"

"Yeah."

Liu Yifei was going to accompany Chen Nuo to the Oscars?

This matter not only shocked Chen Nuo, but after Liu Xiaoli heard about it, she was truly shocked as well.

"Oscars? You're going to the Oscars? Xixi, you aren't joking with Mom, are you?"

It was past 11:00 PM in LA at this time, and Liu Xiaoli was just about to go into her bedroom to sleep. Suddenly hearing Liu Yifei's words, she was shaken, turning around instantly and asking in a daze, "Chen Nuo let... you! Accompany him to this year's Oscars?"

Liu Yifei yawned and said: "It wasn't Chen Nuo, it was his girlfriend. Mom, I'm sleepy, I'm going to sleep now."

Liu Xiaoli grabbed her hand and pulled her back onto the sofa: "Wait, explain it clearly to Mom, what exactly is going on? Doesn't he have a girlfriend? Haven't you been saying all this time that you were just helping try on gowns because your figures are similar? How did it suddenly become you accompanying him? Tell Mom quickly, what is going on. What exactly is your relationship with him... right now!"

Liu Yifei frowned: "Mom, what relationship? Chen Nuo and I are friends. There's a reason his girlfriend can't go this time..."

After listening to Liu Yifei finish slowly, Liu Xiaoli was shocked: "You mean, Chen Nuo's girlfriend knows that person... in the photos, so in order to stay in Jingcheng to accompany her friend, she called you to accompany Chen Nuo to the Oscars ceremony on the 24th?"

Liu Yifei nodded: "That's right."

Liu Xiaoli asked: "Then in what capacity are you accompanying Chen Nuo?"

Liu Yifei said: "Just accompanying him as a friend, what's wrong with that?"

Liu Xiaoli stared blankly at Liu Yifei for a while, then couldn't help but point at her own temple, suddenly asking: "Tell me, is there something wrong with the head of Chen Nuo's girlfriend, that... Wen something?"

Liu Yifei was a bit angry: "Mom, what are you saying? I think Wen Yongshan did nothing wrong. Her friend had something like this happen; she really needs someone to accompany her. If it were me, I would do the same."

Liu Xiaoli laughed and said: "I don't believe it. My daughter couldn't be this stupid."

Liu Yifei was truly angry and stood up abruptly: "I'm not talking to you anymore, I'm going to sleep."

"Wait, wait." Liu Xiaoli grabbed her hand and pulled her back firmly: "I haven't finished asking yet. Tell me, what are you thinking right now? How could you just agree to her?"

Liu Yifei asked suspiciously: "What's wrong? Shanshan asked me for a favor, Chen Nuo is my friend, and the gown is already made; it would be a waste not to wear it. Is there a problem with me agreeing?"

Liu Xiaoli looked at Liu Yifei, feeling truly depressed. She didn't know how she, so shrewd herself, could have given birth to such a naive daughter.

Sometimes, she really wished she could put her back in and give birth to her again.

"Have you been in Africa too long, Xixi? You aren't going to someone's wedding, nor are you going to a neighbor's party; you are going to the Oscars! Can you be a little more mindful! It's the Oscars ceremony! You just go because someone asks you to?"

Liu Yifei said: "So, Mom, do you think I shouldn't go?"

"No..." Liu Xiaoli was momentarily speechless. Meeting Liu Yifei's clear, black-and-white eyes, she didn't know what to say for a moment.

She truly didn't know what to say.

Liu Xiaoli only felt that she had been shrewd her whole life,

from China to the United States, and from the United States back to China, sacrificing so much and paying such a high price, all for the sake of her daughter.

But how did it feel like all her calculations over these years didn't amount to as much as what Liu Yifei had gained in the year she had been away?

In this year, not only had she traveled and played everywhere, but she had also taken on one of the female lead roles in a film like *The Message*, a production with a budget of over 100 million, gathering a bunch of Asia's top film stars.

Just finished filming, hadn't even rested for a month, and was immediately going to Japan to film another movie. It was *Hana Yori Dango*!

When *Hana Yori Dango* was a hit on TBS, it was exactly when Liu Xiaoli was in Japan accompanying Liu Yifei for training. She was idle all day and forced herself to watch some Japanese programs; she knew how popular *Hana Yori Dango* was in Japan at the time.

If it were really adapted into a movie, the original drama fans would definitely be a natural ticket pool. According to the habits of Japanese audiences, they would definitely pay out of their own pockets to walk into the cinema, and the box office would definitely be explosively high.

But to be honest, Liu Xiaoli could understand these achievements. After all, before Liu Yifei went to Japan to release records, she seemed to be only one step away from these goals.

However...

The Oscars ceremony and such were completely different; it could be said to be beyond all her imagination.

It was truly beyond imagination.

Just now, when Liu Xiaoli heard Liu Yifei say lightly that she was going to the Oscars, her mind was even dazed, as if in a dream.

Yes, even in her most beautiful dreams, she had never imagined that one day, her daughter, at just over 20 years old, would have the opportunity to be invited to walk the red carpet of the Oscars and receive the attention of over a billion viewers worldwide!

That was a global stage!

In the years since *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon*, what big, hit works had Zhang Ziyi filmed?

Yet why had she remained enduringly popular in the mainland?

Wasn't it just because she walked the red carpet twice at the Oscars in 2005 and 2006 and served as a presenter twice?

As long as Liu Yifei stepped into the Kodak Theatre on February 24th, she would be the third Chinese actress to walk into the Golden Hall after Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi.

What kind of concept was this? It could be said that her entire level had instantly changed.

And the reason all this was happening was because...

Looking at Liu Yifei, who was acting as if nothing had happened, at least ten thousand thoughts raced through Liu Xiaoli's mind. Finally, she couldn't help but sigh,

and said softly: "Of course you have to go. Mom supports you 100%. Xixi, you've grown up now. Don't take what Mom bet with you before to heart. Seeing you develop so well, Mom will only be happy for you, you know?"

Seeing Liu Xiaoli's quite emotional appearance, Liu Yifei was also a bit moved. She reached out and placed her hand on Liu Xiaoli's, saying: "Mom, why are you saying these things? You're my mom, of course I know."

Liu Xiaoli gently patted the back of Liu Yifei's hand and said softly: "Xixi, you have to know that among everyone in the world, only Mom wants what's best for you. Although Mom was a bit strict with you before, that was also because I was worried you were young and would be deceived. Now, Mom knows you've grown up. If you want to fall in love or have a boyfriend, Mom actually supports you."

"Ah?" Liu Yifei exclaimed slightly and pulled her hand back: "Mom, what are you saying? I don't want to have a boyfriend at all."

Liu Xiaoli smiled and said: "I know you don't want to yet. I mean in the future... well, in any case, don't worry, Mom will definitely help you. By the way, that Miss Wen who asked you to go to the Oscars in her place is indeed a good friend; Mom was wrong just now. If you have a chance in the future, remember to say thank you to her, you know?"

Chen Nuo wasn't quite used to having an extra person suddenly squeezed into the love nest that had always been just for two.

After Qi Yun-tian dropped them off at Yulong Dingyu, he went to the company.

He and Wen Yongshan talked about what they had seen and heard since the Spring Festival and took the private elevator upstairs. When the elevator door opened, it was the entrance to this top-tier luxury apartment.

The heating in the room was originally turned up very high. As soon as he walked into the room, he started taking off his heavy winter clothes, preparing to change into fresh pajamas.

But he had only taken off half of his sweater when he heard Wen Yongshan give an "Eh" sound.

Only then did he feel something was a bit off.

He hurriedly pulled his clothes down and looked back, only to see Angelababy blinking her big eyes, looking at him with a blushing face. Seeing him turn his head, she suddenly shifted her gaze away.

Chen Nuo chuckled: "Baby, sorry, I'm used to it." After saying it, Chen Nuo suddenly realized that Yang Ying's name was truly clever. If this were in the United States, if you called her by her name, she could sue you for verbal sexual harassment, and you wouldn't be able to run away at all.

Yang Ying smiled and said generously: "It's okay. Chen Nuo, you have a good figure. Do you exercise often?"

Chen Nuo said: "I used to go running outside every day and go to the gym, but I've become lazy lately. It's winter, and I don't want to get out of bed. Haha."

Yang Ying said, "That won't do. If you exercise, you must be persistent. Actually, the air in Jingcheng isn't good, so outdoor exercise isn't necessarily good sometimes. As actors, you can do some yoga appropriately; it's very helpful for your figure."

"Yoga?"

"Yes, if there's a chance, I can teach you."

At this moment, Wen Yongshan walked out of the kitchen with tea and asked: "What are you two talking about?"

Yang Ying smiled: "Chen Nuo said he wanted to exercise, and I said if there's a chance, I could teach him yoga."

Wen Yongshan put the tray on the table and said: "Yes, Baby is very good at yoga; I've learned from her before."

Chen Nuo expressed doubt about this.

As an apartment with a monthly rent of over 20,000 to nearly 30,000, that developer truly earned some money with a guilty conscience;

the soundproofing was just too poor.

Yang Ying lay in bed, listening to the faint sounds coming through the door crack, tossing and turning in bed. It was so uncomfortable she couldn't sleep at all.

She kept silently watching the time on her phone.

Starting from 12:12, it didn't end until nearly 1:00, taking a full 41 minutes.

Thinking back to the man's upper body she had seen in the living room earlier, Yang Ying had completely lost all sleepiness.

After a while, she heard the sound of a door opening, followed by somewhat heavy footsteps slowly walking into the living room.

Yang Ying could tell that this definitely wasn't Wen Yongshan.

So, was this someone going to the room to drink water after working hard for a while?

She couldn't help but roll over and sit up, then carefully got out of bed.

Stepping barefoot on the wooden floor, it was warm and didn't feel cold.

Her good sister should be asleep. As a woman, Yang Ying believed that after such a fierce battle, it was impossible to still have the energy to get up.

She would just go out and see if there was anything she could help with, not planning to do anything else.

After all, as a newcomer and a guest, wasn't it normal to do something for the male host, like finding a water glass or pouring some water?

Having made up her mind, she placed her small hand on the doorknob and twisted it gently; the door opened.

But just at this moment, those footsteps sounded again, walking straight into the master bedroom.

With a "click," the door closed.

Yang Ying froze in place, biting her lip, all sorts of thoughts swirling in her heart.

Chen Nuo rested at home for one night, and the next day, together with Linghu and Qi Yun-tian, he boarded a plane and flew to the other side of the ocean.

Oscars, here I come.

(End of chapter)

Oscars, here I come.

(End of chapter)