Chapter 440: Killing two birds with one stone

Liu Yifei and Shu Chang finished their meal and chatted for a while longer.

Originally, according to their gathering habits over the past two years, they would usually find a quiet place to drink a little and chat, but today, it was just past eight o'clock, and the two dispersed early.

Liu Yifei drove back to Ziyu Villa by herself. The car was a new Porsche, enjoying the special discount for its global spokesperson, saving hundreds of thousands, just like not having to pay tariffs.

When she drove into the villa and saw the mansion lying heavily in the darkness in the night by the lake, like a giant beast, without any lights, Liu Yifei was immediately disappointed.

She parked the car, went into the house, made a cup of coffee, sat on the sofa in the living room, took a light sip, picked up the remote control to turn on the TV, and changed channels aimlessly until she saw a familiar face and stopped.

The TV series on the screen was called "Symphony of Fate," and the female lead was one of her old friends.

She and Yang Mi met on the set of "The Return of the Condor Heroes." They were of similar age, and because of Chen Nuo, the two often played together, especially after he finished filming, their relationship was quite close for a time. However, not long after the filming ended, they slowly lost contact.

At that time, she thought everyone was too busy and didn't take it to heart. But looking back now, Liu Yifei vaguely felt that maybe it wasn't that simple.

She stared at the TV like this, and gradually sleepiness struck, and she fell asleep without knowing it.

When she opened her eyes again, it was almost eleven o'clock at night.

The house was still empty, and the man hadn't returned.

She felt agitated, picked up her phone to call, but hesitated several times, and finally didn't dial.

She held the phone and finally opened Weibo, preparing to take a look to distract herself. As soon as she went in, she saw the familiar name and entry on the hot search list, her fingertips stopped, and her heart tightened.

"Chen Nuo has dinner with a mysterious beauty."

What's going on?

Liu Yifei clicked in, only to see several familiar entertainment accounts forwarding the same message. Not long after it was released, it already had many likes and comments.

The Weibo tweet was just one sentence: "Reporter's live hit, Chen Nuo suspected of secretly returning to Beijing, having dinner with a mysterious woman at a high-end restaurant."

Below was a blurry paparazzi photo. Liu Yifei recognized his side profile at a glance. He was sitting under dim light, with a long-haired woman sitting opposite him, whose face could not be seen clearly.

Liu Yifei stared fixedly at this blurry photo, her fingers tightened slightly, and her chest felt like it was blocked by something, so stuffy she could barely breathe.

—Who is this?

What is her relationship with him?

Didn't he say he was going to have dinner with Han Sanping today? Then who is this woman?

Is he lying?

He hasn't come home yet, could it be... they are still together?

Countless thoughts churned in Liu Yifei's mind.

He... how could he do this?

However, just at this moment—the sound of the door opening rang out.

Liu Yifei turned her head suddenly, only to see the man in the photo walking in with his head down.

Looking up and seeing her, he was quite surprised: "Why aren't you asleep yet, what are you doing? Wow, what are you doing, wait, why are you crying?"

Liu Yifei didn't know what was wrong with her either.

Anyway, the moment he came in, her heart fell to the ground, but her tears couldn't be controlled.

She turned her head, wiped her eyes, sniffed, and asked: "Where did you go?"

"Having dinner with Han Sanping. Didn't I tell you?"

"But... but..."

"But what? What is wrong with you?"

"Why did I see on Weibo, the news says you... are with someone else?"

"Ah?" Chen Nuo was taken aback and walked over, "Let me see, what news?"

Liu Yifei handed over her phone, and Chen Nuo frowned and looked at it for a while.

Then he looked up and shouted loudly: "Fuck."

Liu Yifei was startled and asked: "What's wrong, who is this woman?"

"Who is it!? It's Han Zong's daughter!"

"Ah?"

That's right, at the previous banquet, Chen Nuo actually didn't expect that Han Zong, Han Zong, would bring his wife and daughter to the banquet.

The wife's surname is Liu, a very kind aunt. From the contact, Chen Nuo could see that she was a gentle and virtuous middle-aged woman with Sichuan characteristics, and should be the same type as his mother, Pan Chengrong.

And Han Zong's daughter, her name is very unique, called Han Jia-nu. Born in 1980, a few years older than him. She looks okay. She originally studied English as an undergraduate, but after working for a few years, under Han Zong's influence, she developed an interest in movies, so she took the postgraduate entrance exam again and was just admitted to the 2011 directing graduate program at Beijing Film Academy this year.

The photo that was paparazzi-snapped and hit the hot search on the internet now was the scene where Chen Nuo was talking to Han Jia-nu alone when Han Zong and his wife went to the restroom after the meal.

Although they didn't talk much, Chen Nuo could feel that things really weren't what he thought. This girl Han Jia-nu really had some so-called "ideological nature," which gave him the same feeling as Zhang Yiyi, Li Yu, and others, really different from the second-generation people he usually knew.

This finally made him promise to give Han Jia-nu an internship position at the Huanxin Film BJ headquarters during Han Zong's private request, so that she could have the opportunity to follow the director team and learn some real skills.

Chen Nuo didn't believe the paparazzi didn't take other photos, but they chose this one to post, which was truly malicious.

"Too much!" Liu Yifei was also very angry after hearing Chen Nuo's explanation, "These paparazzi are getting more and more excessive, making things up and spreading rumors at every turn, it's really hateful."

Chen Nuo sighed, shook his head, and didn't speak.

Liu Yifei looked at him carefully and whispered: "What's wrong? It's not that I don't believe you, I just asked, I don't really suspect you have anything."

Chen Nuo pulled her hand, patted it gently, and whispered: "In our line of work, we are often separated, the most important thing is trust. If we really take those things on the internet seriously, can we still live? Don't pay attention to such things in the future, don't believe them, okay?"

"Hmm, I know, I won't in the future." Liu Yifei nodded obediently.

Looking at her submissive appearance, Chen Nuo smiled. Not bad, it could be considered a blessing in disguise.

"Then what about the end?" Liu Yifei suddenly asked curiously, "Did Han Zong mention anything else to you? Didn't he want to ask you for help or something?"

"No."

Chen Nuo shook his head, his tone carrying a trace of emotion.

Throughout the banquet, Han Zong only said a small paragraph about him, and the rest of the time he was almost entirely talking about Han Jia-nu. That feeling... Chen Nuo was also someone who had read the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" picture books.

In his view, this was clearly entrusting an orphan.

"Yes, that's the case, hehehehehe, small gathering, small gathering."

"Haha, I didn't want to go originally, but Little Chen insisted on inviting me to dinner, saying he hadn't seen me for a long time and really wanted to chat with me, his uncle. I really couldn't refuse, so I went, hehe."

Sunlight spilled down from the blue sky above, shining on the green radish and monstera on the balcony, and the water droplets on them reflected crystal clear light.

Han Sanping held a watering can in one hand, watering the camellias in the yard, and held the phone in the other, saying happily: "How about it? That little thing last night, how did it reach your ears, Director Zhang? You really have clairvoyance and ears that hear everything, nothing can be hidden from you, haha, hahahaha."

"Conflict? What conflict, oh, that's all what outsiders say. How can you believe it too?" "It's all reporters who fear the world won't be chaotic, rumors they made up... haha, yes, yes, that's probably what it means."

"Then that's it, Director Zhang, you too, have a happy weekend."

The phone hung up, Han Sanping put the phone on the stool, noticed a dead branch in the flower cluster sticking out crookedly, which was an eyesore, so he put down the watering can, picked up the scissors on the side, and with a snap, pruned that eyesore dead branch.

"Old Han, Old Han!" His wife's voice came from the house, "Come over and help me!"

Han Sanping originally wanted to prune two more branches, but now he had to put down the scissors, turn around and enter the living room.

It wasn't a big deal, just that the kitchen cabinet door was a bit stuck. Han Sanping helped his wife pry it open, pushed hard, and it closed smoothly.

"Yo, isn't your strength quite big? Why did you push back and forth last night when I asked you to put in some effort, saying this and that, and your waist wasn't good? I think you are unwilling to put in effort for your old lady, right?"

"Talking nonsense all day long!" Han Sanping said angrily, turned around and walked out.

"Heh, if you spoke as hard as you do now last night, I would laugh even in my sleep. Come here, Han Sanping, I haven't finished speaking yet, who told you to leave."

Han Sanping looked wooden, turning a deaf ear.

With his hands behind his back, he went around the living room, returned to the kitchen door, and said impatiently: "What else is there, say it quickly, I still have to water the flowers."

"Tell me, you received so many calls early in the morning, what does it mean?"

"What does it mean?"

"What do you think? Don't play dumb with me, can you keep your position?"

Han Sanping frowned uneasily: "Why are you asking this?"

"Why? The paparazzi were arranged by you, right? You were the one who called me to go to the restroom yesterday, right? I saw the photos of Chen Nuo and Nunu on the internet this morning and I knew you were deliberately..."

"Shh shh shh!" Han Sanping was startled, "Keep your voice down!" After saying this, he walked quickly to the door, opened it suddenly, stuck his head out to look up and down, and seeing no one in the unit hall, he was relieved.

Turning back, he saw his wife had walked out of the kitchen, looking at him with a sneer.

Han Sanping walked over, pulled the woman into the bedroom, and whispered: "How did you know?"

"Heh, none of your business? I'm asking you if it is."

"Did you tell anyone else?"

"Do you think I'm as stupid as that vixen? I didn't even tell Nunu!"

Han Sanping was relieved and said: "That's good, remember, no one is allowed to say anything about this, hear me?"

"Nonsense! You don't need to tell me, I'm asking you what on earth is going on? Why did you call me and my daughter to accompany you to have dinner with Little Chen? If you want to find someone to paparazzi-snap and hype, why don't you snap yourself, why do you call people to snap Nunu and Chen Nuo? What on earth are you planning!? I tell you, Han Sanping, I don't care what crooked ways you use to keep your official hat, if you dare to harm my daughter, I..."

"Shut up!" Han Sanping was furious, "What do you take me for? Nunu is not my daughter? Do you think, ah, I would harm her?"

"Then tell me, tell me clearly now! Why let Nunu hype a scandal with Chen Nuo, are you preparing to sell your daughter for glory?"

"You are simply unreasonable!" Han Sanping was anxious and turned to leave.

Two minutes later, Han Sanping sat on the sofa in the living room, completely calmed down.

Except for a not-so-obvious slap mark on his dark face, and a few red marks, nothing big happened, which was lucky.

Han Sanping said with deep pain: "Why can't you understand? I call this killing two birds with one stone! Think about it, even if I can sit in this position, how many years can I last? Once I retire, how many of those people who smile at me will sincerely help us? Who can be relied on?"

"But now that this has happened, who in the country doesn't know that Nunu and Chen Nuo have a close relationship?"

"Especially where is she studying now? Beijing Film Academy, that is his territory, the place where Chen Nuo's words are most effective! I paved the way for her, protected her into the door, that's just the beginning, what should I do after she enters the school gate?"

"You have to know, a place like the directing department of Beijing Film Academy, where can you mix out just because you have some talent? Moreover, she is four years behind others in undergraduate studies now, and everything has to start from scratch. Do you understand what I mean? Ah? What about the thesis then? How to write it? Someone must take care of it, otherwise, I'm worried she won't even be able to get her diploma. Do you understand?"

Han Sanping rattled on, his wife's face also eased more and more, finally revealing a sheepish smile, saying: "Uh... Sanping, why didn't you say so earlier? If you had said so earlier, wouldn't this have happened? Come, let me see, does it hurt?"

"Hiss! Be gentle, it hurts!"

"It's okay, it's okay, your skin is thick, before... right, it will be fine in a few days, this small injury, definitely won't delay you from going to work tomorrow. Come, continue."

Han Sanping said: "What else to say?"

"No, I'm just a little puzzled. Isn't Little Chen calling you every day? Logically speaking, everyone should know that you have a good relationship? Why, early in the morning, I heard you answering calls from your company, calls from superiors, and calls from those heads of securities companies, they all seem to be hearing it for the first time. What's going on? Do they all think you have a bad relationship?"

Han Sanping's heart jumped, but his face remained calm, saying as if nothing had happened: "Yeah, there are some rumors outside. I don't bother to distinguish, if I tell people that Little Chen treats me like his own uncle, and asks me about everything big and small, then where would Little Chen's face go?"

"So you arranged for someone to take photos and post news, killing two birds with one stone, helping Nunu and also helping yourself clarify the rumors?"

"Yes."

"Is it useful? Can you really keep your position as chairman?"

Hearing this, a mysterious smile appeared on the corner of Han Sanping's mouth.

Thinking of the news he accidentally found out last night, and the reaction of Sun Yi, the managing director of CITIC Securities—that is the managing director of a dignified national-level investment bank, even he couldn't hold his breath on the phone and asked him again if he was sure.

Hehe,

With this, the truthfulness of the story he fabricated about why he gave up investing in "Inception"—internal review was too slow, process stuck, funding arrangements were temporarily problematic—should be greatly increased.

After all, if it were really as rumored, that he, Old Han, was shameless, specialized in infighting, and broke promises, how could the other party tell him such secret news?

In this way, the voices of superiors, subordinates, internal and external questioning his leadership ability and judgment errors should also be greatly reduced. Then, the position under his butt would naturally stabilize again.

Han Sanping analyzed the truth of it with his wife, and then he suddenly remembered that there was one key thing he hadn't done.

"Wait a minute, I have to send a text message to Little Chen."

After speaking, he picked up his phone, clicked on Chen Nuo's name, and started editing the text message.

"Little Chen, the dinner last night was exposed by the media, attracting a lot of concern. I have to apologize to you for one thing. You told me that Huanxin is preparing for an IPO, and I accidentally mentioned it to Director Sun of CITIC on the phone. I don't know if this will have any impact on you? I hope you are magnanimous and forgive me. When we meet another day, I will definitely punish myself with three cups."

When he was typing, his wife also leaned over to take a look, and after reading it, she smiled disdainfully: "Han Sanping, you are really an old fox. If Nunu could inherit half of your skills, I think she wouldn't be a director, but she would definitely be a hit as a screenwriter."

Han Sanping pretended not to hear and pressed the send button.

Just as he was about to put the phone back on the table, the text message notification sounded "ding." He froze for a moment, not expecting the other party to reply so quickly, his heart jumped—could it be that he was really angry?

He hurriedly clicked on the received text message, not caring that his wife leaned her head over to look with him, clicked the screen, and saw the text message from Chen Nuo:

"Godfather, you sent it to the wrong person, hee hee."

A short sentence, like a bolt of lightning striking his forehead, Han Sanping only felt a "buzz" in his brain, and the whole person was completely stunned.

Before he could react, a furious roar exploded in his ears:

"Old Han! What is this!?"

Han Sanping's heart jumped suddenly, and blood rushed to his head.

He opened his mouth suddenly, wanting to make up a story to explain, but in the end, only a "he-he" sound came out of his mouth. The next second, he only felt a chill and numbness in the left half of his body, and his body fell to the side uncontrollably.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 441 =====