Chapter 282: Wen Leyu: Are You Throwing Money at Me?

"The school will definitely come to you this afternoon about copyright fees—why aren't you heading back?"

"."

Yang Yumin had just been speaking enthusiastically when he suddenly heard Li Ye's cold dismissal.

He turned to look at Li Ye and found that the previously friendly little brother now wore a completely sour expression.

Li Yue slapped Li Ye hard on the back of the head: "Is this how you treat your friends? They haven't even finished eating—why kick them out?"

Li Ye rubbed the back of his head and said plaintively: "I didn't kick them out—they're full! Besides, they really have something to do this afternoon."

Li Huai stifled his laughter, pulled Yang Yumin up, and walked out, saying as they went: "Yes, yes, we're full, and we've got things to do this afternoon."

Yang Yumin realized something and said awkwardly: "Then we're off, sis."

After they left Chen's Noodle Shop, Li Huai punched Yang Yumin in the arm and burst out laughing.

Yang Yumin, with excellent composure, said calmly: "Old Li, should we take Li Ye's advice and push the higher-ups for better royalty payments?"

Li Huai laughed as he replied: "Of course we'll push—it's your house we're talking about. But you're really going to bring your mom over?"

Yang Yumin sighed: "My mother's struggling back home with my younger siblings. Since I'll be sending money home after I start working, wouldn't it be better to bring them to Beijing?"

Li Huai's smile faded. He turned serious: "You should discuss this with Li Ye. That little brother of ours doesn't just write well—he's got serious money-making skills."

Yang Yumin agreed: "Absolutely. Economics students know how to make money."

"Hey, students, wait a moment."

Before Li Huai and Yang Yumin could mount their bicycles, Li Yue called out from behind.

Yang Yumin immediately smiled warmly: "Sis, did you need us for something?"

Li Yue held up her car keys: "It's such a long way, and it's so hot—I'll drive you back! My little brother's always been odd; don't take it personally."

"No, no need—we've got bicycles."

"Don't be so fussy. Just toss your bikes in the trunk."

The novice female driver, Li Yue, efficiently popped open the Volga's trunk, had them toss in their bikes, left the lid open, and started the engine.

In 1983, Li Yue's swagger was pure fire—she matched any white, rich, beautiful girl driving a Ferrari in the future.

Seeing this, Li Huai and Yang Yumin accepted the offer with gratitude. They pigged out on noodles, then pigged out on a ride, heading back to Beijing University. Along the way, Yang Yumin lavished praise on Li Ye—almost calling him a celestial being descended to earth.

Then Li Yue said: "You've got a point. Back home, people say my brother was guided by the Old Locust God."

"."

After Li Yue left, Chen's Noodle Shop erupted in sharp, ringing laughter.

"Hahahaha~! I'm dying! Hahahaha~!"

Wen Leyu laughed uncontrollably, her usual elegant, refined demeanor completely gone.

"What are you laughing at? You clueless little girl."

Li Ye reached out and yanked Wen Leyu's ponytail—he'd developed the habit: whenever annoyed, he pulled, shook it three times, and felt better.

"Haha, stop it, stop pulling!"

Wen Leyu slapped his hand away with her small palms.

Then she said: "What's there not to understand? Ask Jiang Xiaoyan—Xiaoyan, tell them what's going on."

"What does Xiaoyan know? Can't you see she's not reacting?"

Li Ye turned sharply toward Jiang Xiaoyan.

He was the big brother of the Second Grain Store—his little gang had better understand his look, or they were worthless.

But Jiang Xiaoyan glanced between Li Ye and Wen Leyu, hesitating: "Actually… I don't get it either. But since Xiao Yue came to Beijing, lots of people at the Department Store and People's Mall have been trying to set her up with dates."

"Pupupupu~"

Wen Leyu burst into another fit of stifled laughter.

Li Ye stared at Jiang Xiaoyan and sighed deeply—he'd fed her for half a year and gotten nothing.

"Li Ye, fresh peaches—try some."

Jiang Xiaoyan grinned and placed a plate of fresh peaches down. She wasn't stupid—she knew who was boss and who wasn't.

Li Ye might be fierce, but Wen Leyu was the one who subdued him with softness.

"Alright, enough fooling around," Wen Leyu said, serious now. "Did that woman from Lijia Po go to Beijing University this morning?"

"She did. TV crew went too. 'The Lonely Soldiers of Wangxiang' is basically a confirmed project—everything else is still uncertain."

"Didn't she target you?"

Wen Leyu was puzzled. Based on what she'd observed, Li Ye should've been another target for opportunistic grabbing.

"She did," Li Ye said. "Luckily, Professor Ke anticipated it. Without that donation receipt with the official seal, I'd have been in trouble."

That donation receipt's official seal wasn't ordinary—even Director Xiao of Beijing University had to recognize it immediately.

Li Ye even suspected that when Professor Ke learned 'North Wind Soaring' won ten thousand U. . dollars in Hong Kong, she'd foreseen this and taken a two-in-one move.

Wen Leyu leaned forward slightly, whispering: "Did she try to get her hands on our other book?"

Li Ye said: "No direct request—just tested the waters. I shut it down."

Wen Leyu narrowed her eyes coldly: "With such huge profits, she won't give up. I've checked—she's highly valued here and extremely shrewd. You'll need to watch out."

Li Ye said: "She won't waste much time at Beijing University. Co-producing a historical war drama involves too many things—she'll be busy enough."

Actually, Li Ye didn't oppose Wu Jinyuan funding 'The Lonely Soldiers of Wangxiang.' In today's mainland context, no one would make such a big-budget film.

It wasn't until 1988, when the Japanese came over, that they co-produced 'Dunhuang'—the plot and scenes were excellent, but if you looked closely, some actors seemed off.

If Wu Jinyuan invests heavily and produces a classic historical drama, it would greatly benefit the spread of Chinese culture.

After all, these ancient costume epics are truly expensive—and truly beautiful.

That's why, after 2000, Hong Kong and Taiwan wuxia TV dramas were gradually replaced by mainland ones—by then, Hong Kong and Taiwan could no longer afford large-scale ancient costume wuxia productions.

After Jin Yong transferred his copyright for one yuan to the mainland, a string of outstanding ancient costume dramas flooded the screens, launching a generation of mainland stars who left Hong Kong and Taiwan's new generation far behind.

In the afternoon, Wen Leyu and Li Ye returned to Beijing University to prepare for the debate competition.

The national debate competition would be one of Beijing University's major exchange events this fall. Even if Li Ye was capricious, he couldn't be too arrogant.

But when he entered the debate team's activity room, he froze.

Because Wu Jinyuan—the "busy person"—was sitting with the debate team, discussing the debate topics.

Wen Leyu gave a faint cold smile, then lightly poked Li Ye's lower back and went off to help several students copy materials.

"Li Ye, come quick! We've been talking with Ms. Wu for two days—we've gained so much insight!"

Yang Chen from the debate team called out excitedly, completely oblivious to Wen Leyu's icy glare.

Yang Chen was from the Self-Strengthening Literature Society. He'd once clashed with Li Ye over his article 'Industrial Transfer,' but after getting to know him better, his view had changed completely—they now got along fairly well.

Li Ye walked over calmly, pulled up a stool, and sat down, listening as Wu Jinyuan explained debate details to the team.

"During the initial statements, if you can subtly misdirect your opponent's thinking, you can press hard during the intense free debate phase—that's an advanced debating technique."

Yang Chen and the others nodded eagerly, then all turned to look at Li Ye.

Because Li Ye was famous for "digging traps" in debates, making opponents furious and even accusing him of "dishonesty."

But now, hearing the "overseas master's" teachings, they realized Li Ye had been using advanced techniques all along!

After speaking for over ten minutes, Wu Jinyuan had impressed Li Ye.

She truly understood debate competitions.

Also, her command of Chinese was excellent—she used many Chinese allusions and idioms perfectly.

That was rare—certainly better than Pei Wencong.

Pei Wencong's Chinese was merely adequate, nowhere near good.

Someone once said: to know whether an overseas Chinese person truly cares about Chinese civilization, just check their Mandarin.

If they can't even speak Chinese, their family environment is fully westernized—they're merely ethnic Chinese.

Any parent who remembers their roots will teach their child Mandarin.

After finishing, Wu Jinyuan had her assistant bring a large bag and pulled out many books.

"I brought some books today—take a look, see what you like."

Over a dozen Beijing University students gathered around, soon bursting into delighted exclamations.

Li Ye also went to look—and found many economics journals.

Wu Jinyuan's tactics were truly impressive.

Among the books were trial editions of 'A Song of Ice and Fire'—all three volumes.

Wu Jinyuan picked up the three books: "This is very popular overseas, but there's no Chinese version yet. Who among you is from the English department? Interested in translating it for everyone?"

Everyone turned to look at Wen Leyu.

Li Ye remained expressionless, took one book, and flipped through it casually, not glancing at Wen Leyu.

But Wu Jinyuan stared at Wen Leyu, examining her thoroughly.

【Indeed, very beautiful.】

Wen Leyu stood up, walked slowly over, and took 'A Song of Ice and Fire' from Li Ye's hand.

Then she spoke rapidly in English to Wu Jinyuan: "I'm an English major. Why give us an unfinished book?"

Wu Jinyuan asked curiously: "Have you read it?"

Wen Leyu smiled faintly: "We're not as isolated as you imagine."

Wu Jinyuan smiled: "Then do you know how much this is worth?"

Wen Leyu kept smiling, slowly shaking her head.

Wu Jinyuan stared into Wen Leyu's eyes and softly uttered a few words: "one million dollars."

Li Ye silently laughed at Wu Jinyuan's miscalculation; a million dollars might stun someone else, but such a tactic had no effect on Wen Leyu.

Sure enough, Wen Leyu merely flipped open the cover, glanced at it, and tossed it back into the pile of books, as if deeply repulsed.

Today, the book gained its second lord, Brother Pharcyde, also the second lord in Lao Feng's writing career.

Lao Feng once said that one lord equals three extra chapters, but lately he's been slacking, owing several chapters back, so I'll quickly post one chapter first, then gradually repay the debt—please believe Lao Feng won't default; he'll pay it all back.

Thank you, great lord!

(End of chapter)