Chapter 287: Birthday Aftermath

The night of August 25, 2005, was destined to be a sleepless one for many.

Changping, Liu Yifei's residence.

An Kang, Liu Xiao, and the aunt sat at the table, listening to Yang Siwei's public relations plan.

"There might have been guests taking photos at the venue today. We cannot stop these photos from spreading, Lu..."

The slightly plump agent had only just uttered the word "Lu" when she saw the expressions of Liu Yifei's three closest relatives change.

"He issued a warning when it ended, and the guests who arrived today were basically all friends."

"For the people from Hong Kong and Taiwan, Sister Mei and Zhou Jielun, along with his assistant Da Ni, will go to communicate. If anyone took photos tonight, we will try our best to have them deleted."

"The stance of enterprises like Pepsi and *Time* is consistent with ours. They won't watch as the controversy surrounding Xixi becomes too great; at the very least, they won't add fuel to the fire. There are no problems on that side either."

"The most troublesome part is the domestic entertainment industry and those stars, big and small. They will certainly say 'yes, yes, yes' to your face, but human hearts are unpredictable; it's really hard to say for sure."

Yang Siwei distributed a list of today's guests to everyone.

"Uncle, Aunt, please take a look at the list in your hands. Those with checkmarks, like Zhou Xun, Sister Mei, and Zhou Jielun, are absolutely trustworthy."

"Those with circles are business people; those with conflicting interests won't go too far."

"The most important ones are those marked with triangles. I still need to handle them one by one through PR. I must ensure, as much as possible, that not too many photos leak out."

Liu Xiao frowned and looked at it for a long time. The aunt was the first to be puzzled: "Siwei, aren't Xu Rong and Liu Shishi from your studio? This..."

"Aunt, these kinds of people are the most dangerous. Human hearts are unpredictable; one must be on guard."

Yang Siwei was not stupid; on the contrary, she was much smarter than Xu Rong, who wore her cunning on her face. Did she think those daily resentments went unnoticed?

An Kang nodded and said: "I will find a way to reach out to the people on the surface. Besides, regarding Lu Kuan..."

He stopped halfway through his sentence.

Even though Liu Yifei had locked herself in her room and certainly couldn't hear their conversation.

But having experienced the flood of tears just moments ago, Liu Yifei's closest relatives were still shaken.

This birthday, for this girl who had just turned eighteen, was simply too cruel.

Yang Siwei picked up where he left off: "I have already contacted the Inquiry Realm. Their PR department will cooperate. At the very least, they have dealt with most of the media present today, so they will know how to behave."

Today was not just PR for Liu Yifei, but also for Boss Lu.

In the past, talk of him being obsessed with women and unrestrained was vaguely treated as jokes and banter.

But now, in the public eye, he had become emotionally entangled with an eighteen-year-old girl, while simultaneously being suspected of having a child out of wedlock with a domestic actress.

Although the impact was not fatal, during the Olympic bidding and director selection phase, such winds needed to be suppressed for the time being.

Liu Xiao sighed and tried her best to steady herself: "I'll go check on Xixi. Siwei, thank you for your hard work."

Yang Siwei responded. She could work hard, but she could only do her best.

Photos could be deleted, videos could be deleted, but could you stop the mouths of the masses?

Especially for someone like Liu Yifei, who was at the top of the industry, a moment of carelessness could lead to repeating last year's mistakes and becoming a target for the domestic entertainment industry.

What made Yang Siwei most melancholy was, after the relationship between Liu Yifei and Boss Lu turned cold, would he still shield her from the wind and rain in the public opinion as he did last year?

Even if Blog Net was willing to put in the effort, other portals and forums, big and small, would almost all become recruitment centers and gathering places for haters.

Yang Siwei, exhausted in body and spirit, divided the tasks, making calls one by one according to the list, finding intermediaries and connections to plead, reason, and handle PR.

Strangely, there were two people in her own studio she called several times, but couldn't get through.

"Yes, yes, yes, let's unify the narrative: Yifei is simply grateful for Director Lu Kuan's cultivation and expressed her thanks at the birthday banquet; it has nothing to do with anything else."

"Siwei!"

Yang Siwei was unifying the clarification narrative with several friendly media outlets when she didn't expect her own artist to walk out as if nothing had happened.

She walked into the living room expressionless, having changed into casual home clothes, and poured herself a glass of cold water.

"Hang up for a moment; I have something to tell you."

Yang Siwei saw Liu Xiao, who was following behind her, give her a wink. She told the person on the other end of the phone to wait a moment and hung up.

"Mom, you come over too."

"Where are Dad and Aunt?"

Liu Xiao looked worried: "Your dad went to greet the bosses of several commercial companies."

"Your aunt is looking for a friend of your grandfather's from the *People's Daily* to handle things."

Liu Yifei nodded and drank the water in her glass in one gulp. It was as if she were a flower bud watered by sweet dew; the gloom she had when she first returned home had vanished.

She sat opposite Yang Siwei and Liu Xiao and took a deep breath.

"I don't want you to tell the reporters what you were saying, Siwei."

Yang Siwei blurted out: "Xixi, don't be so emotional again. You can't be willful anymore..."

"No!"

"I am not being emotional. I am very clear-headed right now. I have my reason."

"Photos can be deleted, but people's mouths can never be sealed."

"Do you remember the rumor propagation formula he talked about? Don't make this matter complicated."

Liu Yifei's expression grew calmer as she spoke, as if there were a matter she could use to occupy her mind, which could alleviate her grief quite a bit.

"I just confessed to Lu Kuan, and then I failed. It's just that simple."

"I am an adult woman. I have the freedom and the right to pursue what I want. I haven't done anything wrong."

Yang Siwei and Liu Xiao looked at each other. The latter, listening to the pain and bitterness between her daughter's words, almost bit her own back teeth to pieces.

"Also, I want to notify you of one thing."

Liu Yifei opened her phone and showed them the multimedia message sent by Zhang Chunru.

"Sister Chunru personally helped me write the application essay for the University of Chicago. I will go to school in the next two days to handle early graduation; I have already told Teacher Wang."

"Then she will help me find a professor in the United States to write a recommendation letter. Domestically, I will ask Principal Zhang and Teacher Feng to ask the Dean of the Art Academy for help."

"Siwei, help me prepare the film festival awards and nomination certifications, as well as the box office data I have obtained domestically and internationally over the past two years. These are important application materials."

Top North American universities have broad criteria for admission applications from actors and sports stars.

Jodie Foster debuted at age 3 and became famous at 15, with only basic academic certification, but was admitted to Yale due to several Oscar nominations.

Matt Damon also entered Harvard based on the reputation and honors he accumulated in films like *Good Will Hunting* and *The Bourne Identity*.

Stars with high industry visibility and widespread influence can bring a certain reputation and attention to the school; this is a win-win for both the school and the star.

Yang Siwei and Liu Xiao looked at her calmness as she returned to her room, both sighing inwardly. They had heard clearly just now; she had said "notify."

Before today, she could already be called independent.

After today, perhaps the only person who could influence her decisions was no longer there.

Liu Yifei braced herself and spoke so much to the two of them, then walked back to her room feeling dizzy.

This day had simply exhausted all her strength.

With a creak, she pushed open the bedroom door. Just like countless heartbroken girls in her past life, the figure of that person suddenly appeared in Liu Yifei's mind.

Last year, when she was smeared, in that moment when she was most helpless, Lu Kuan had also stood here, rudely barging into her heart.

In the same location, he had gripped her heart tightly on her most important day.

Liu Yifei leaned against the door, no longer able to maintain the strength she had shown in front of Yang Siwei and Liu Xiao. She only felt that she wanted to cry her heart out.

But her family was outside, and she didn't want to make them worry.

"Knock, knock!"

"Xixi, it's Mom."

Liu Yifei tried hard to take deep breaths to adjust her emotions, turned to open the door, and forced a smile that was not beautiful for her mother.

Her eyes were filled with sorrow about to burst, and the bitter smile she squeezed out was like a remnant flower swaying in the wind and rain.

Liu Xiao's tears poured down instantly, unable to hold them back any longer.

The hustle and bustle of the day kept countless people busy; some were debunking rumors, some were doing PR, some were sighing, and some were gloating.

Who still remembered that today was actually just her birthday?

A mother feels the pain of her own flesh and blood. Liu Xiao wiped away her bitter tears: "Xixi, wait for me a moment."

Liu Yifei looked blankly as her mother left and returned, carrying a box of cake.

"I specifically had your aunt bring it back from Wuhan. It's from that Star Wish Cake Shop you liked most when you were little."

"You haven't eaten it since you went to the United States at age ten. You've been thinking about it for a long time, right?"

Liu Xiao looked at her daughter with anticipation. It was originally a surprise for Xixi; she didn't expect the surprise to appear after the shock.

She only hoped that this trace of sweetness in her mouth could slightly offset the bitterness in her heart.

"Mom! Mom! Wuwuwu!"

Suddenly reporting the mother's love for her daughter, tears flew and turned into a torrential rain.

The girl, who was already much taller than Liu Xiao, lost control of her emotions instantly. All her patience, reason, and restraint were thrown to the back of her mind; she just wanted to cry her heart out now!

Liu Yifei wished she could rub her whole body into her mother's embrace, lingering in this warm harbor, ignoring the evil waves elsewhere.

There is usually a special emotional bond between children and parents. When they are hurt, they can climb up by themselves and continue walking.

But as long as there is a greeting, a look, or a word of concern from their parents, children will instantly break their psychological self-suppression mechanism and release their emotions without restraint.

Cold tears fell on Liu Xiao's neck. She patted her daughter's back gently, not saying a word.

Eighteen years ago today, she saw this little angel for the first time. She didn't expect that eighteen years later today...

Sigh.

What made her even more heartbroken was that Xixi had actually decided to go to the United States to study and live, and it seemed to be an unchangeable decision.

As if falling into a cycle of pain, she thought of herself.

It was the same injury, the same avoidance, and she went to the United States.

Liu Xiao was afraid that her daughter would repeat her mistakes; that would be her lifelong inner demon.

After crying for a while, seeing her daughter's emotions stabilize slightly, she couldn't help but inquire: "Xixi, you going to the United States..."

Liu Yifei let go of her and tried hard to dispel her mother's concerns: "Other girls only go to college at eighteen."

"I'm going to find Sister Chunru to prepare for film roles, and study to improve myself by the way. It's fine."

Liu Xiao knew she couldn't persuade her daughter at all, so she could only helplessly clench her hand: "Then I will contact Chunru and find a house over there."

"Mm, okay."

Seeming to see her mother's worry, Liu Yifei put down the cake in her hand and sat beside her solemnly.

She revealed the first sincere smile since returning home today.

"Mom, do you remember? When I was little, every time you went to perform, I would sit on the back seat of your bicycle."

"You were afraid my butt would hurt, so you had Aunt sew a seat cushion with a cartoon character image. I followed you to every theater every day like this, watching you dance and bloom on stage time and time again."

"At fourteen, you asked me what I wanted to do in the future. I said I wanted to be an actor. Actually, that was all influenced by you!"

"I know acting is bitter and tiring, and one has to suffer so much criticism and slander, just like when you took me running around everywhere."

"For me, you gave up being a dancer, gave up your *Spring River Flower Moon Night*, gave up your *Death of the Swan*..."

Liu Xiao pursed her lips tightly, her right hand stroking her daughter's cheek. She was afraid she would shed all the tears of the rest of her life today.

Liu Yifei wiped the tears from her face and promised her mother, and even more so, herself: "Don't worry, Mom. I am stronger now than ever before."

"Good, good."

In the dead of night, the mother, who loved her daughter deeply, could not bear the burden of the emotional chaos of the day and returned to her room to rest.

After taking a shower, Liu Yifei knocked on the door of Yang Siwei's room, who was staying over.

The slightly plump agent scanned her expressionlessly and continued to nod and bow to the phone.

"Oh, Sister Li, we have a long-standing relationship. You have to help me with this favor!"

"Right! If Yifei holds an event with Blog Net next time, can we bring your artists along? Everything is negotiable."

"Eh, eh, good, then I won't disturb your rest."

After hanging up, Yang Siwei acted as if she didn't see Liu Yifei enter the room, still silent, drawing on the long list.

Liu Yifei walked to her side, biting her lower lip with a pitiful look: "Siwei, I'm sorry."

"Acting cute doesn't work on me."

Liu Yifei reached out to tickle her: "Then how about this? Hahaha!"

"Oh! Stop it, I really give up on you."

Yang Siwei pushed her hand away, looking at the girl who seemed to have come back to life again, knowing she was just bracing herself.

She had heard the crying just now clearly from next door.

Even though she was in so much pain, she still wanted to come over and care about her who was fighting through the night, which made Yang Siwei "love and hate" her.

"See? There are still more than twenty calls. It's too late to make them; only tomorrow morning."

"I arranged for studio staff to send flowers and coffee to all the guests tomorrow morning as a thank you for their cooperation, and also as a reminder."

The slightly plump agent sighed: "I hope these people can show mercy and be kind with their words."

Liu Yifei smiled calmly: "Siwei, being my agent, are you very tired?"

"Yes!"

"You're lazy, don't want to do marketing, and don't know how to post beautiful photos."

"Interviews are casual, and if you don't like a topic, you give people the cold shoulder."

"And dressing! So tacky! You don't listen no matter what I say."

Yang Siwei exploded, counting the shortcomings of the mudslide of the domestic entertainment industry, almost coming up with the seven deadly sins.

Looking at Liu Yifei's pouting mouth, Yang Siwei laughed and held her hand.

"But I'm willing!"

"Do you know? Today, when Sister Mei was leaving, she told me that you did something she never dared to do in her whole life. She admires you so much!"

"And Zhou Xun, who was moved to tears by you, said you should be called Young Master Xi; you're too brave!"

"And Hu Ge, Zhu Yawen, your classmates, and Tang Yan from Emperor Entertainment all came over and asked me to convey their comfort to you. Really, so many people love you!"

Yang Siwei sighed.

"To be honest, I really didn't support you doing what you did today."

"But since you did it, I will definitely support you."

Liu Yifei couldn't help but shed golden beans again, looking at the long list of phone numbers with heartache: "Thank you for your hard work, Siwei..."

"Hard work? Not hard work!"

She shook the list in her hand, looking indifferent: "Isn't it just making phone calls? It's very simple!"

"When I was pulling sponsorships for the Student Union External Liaison Department at the Communication University, I had to make hundreds of calls for one event. It's simple!"

"Now, I've noted down everyone who doesn't give us face. I'll find an opportunity later to fiercely..."

Liu Yifei's hug brought her harsh words to an abrupt end. In her ear, there was only the guarantee from the number one young actress in the domestic entertainment industry: "Siwei, I will make you the best agent in China."

Yang Siwei was stunned for a moment, patting her back gently: "I believe it."

She had something in her heart she didn't say out loud.

Because you are different from all other actresses.

Watching Liu Yifei's beautiful figure leave while wiping her tears, Yang Siwei collapsed on the bed, exhausted. Her mind was filled with the scene of her persuading her to play Huang Rong back then.

If you don't want to play Guo Xiang, then play Huang Rong.

If you can't play Huang Rong, you wouldn't end up playing Zhao Min, right?

Well, she didn't even become Zhao Min; she became Zhou Zhiruo, who had her wedding crashed.

Yang Siwei felt so heartbroken.

A desk lamp was placed dimly and faintly on Liu Yifei's desk. She spread out a blue-covered notebook and held her pen for a long time.

The darkness all around surged like a tide, as if it wanted to swallow this touch of brightness along with her.

The tip of the pen glided shallowly across the page.

August 25, 2005, weather, sunny to cloudy.

A sad day.

Today, I put a period to my three and a half years of youth. Although this stroke was written so arduously, I have no regrets.

The three words "I love you," the emphasis is on "I."

I only need to do what I think is right, be worthy of myself, and not hurt others.

Five hours have passed, and I finally have the courage to recall the farce that just ended.

Was that photo someone's conspiracy?

Was it to smear him and stop him from participating in the Olympic bid?

Only Changchang knows what I want to do; it shouldn't be aimed at me.

But none of this matters anymore. Even if that was fake, it's true that he is still unwilling to completely cut off those romantic entanglements.

It's just that today was the first time I saw this chess player so panicked.

Why did he have such a strong reaction to the name Huang Yimei?

Why did he shout the character from his own movie while in a coma? And this Huang Yimei?

Why did he hug me like a madman after I said that sentence?

His heartbeat was so fast, as if he were...

Afraid?

What a lunatic.

I really don't know how to face him in the future.

Enemy? Colleague? Stranger?

Forget it, it's twelve o'clock, let's write this much. Time to sleep.

Goodbye, Liu Yifei.

Hello, eighteen-year-and-one-day-old Liu Yifei.

——

When Liu Yifei returned to the Changping villa with her family, Lu Kuan was meeting with Dong Shuangqiang.

"It's a summons, not detention."

"Okay, go back first."

Dong Shuangqiang received a definitive answer from a friend, and Boss Lu felt slightly relieved.

A summons was one thing; even if it were a forced summons, it was only to compel the suspect and defendant to appear for questioning, and the duration could not exceed twelve hours.

If the case was particularly major and complex, requiring further measures such as detention or arrest, the time could not exceed twenty-four hours.

With Zhuang Xu's current status as a district representative, if the authorities wanted to take measures to restrict his personal freedom, such as detention or residential surveillance, they had to report it in writing to the District People's Congress first.

And for Boss Lu and Zhuang Xu, this encounter was a disaster they had long anticipated, the purpose of which was to lead Zhou Jun into a dead end step by step.

Zhou Jun's current strategy was nothing more than starting with China Gold, using trumped-up charges to force the actual controller of Blog Net out of Zhuang Xu's mouth, or even more evidence unfavorable to Lu Kuan, and then playing tricks on the Olympic opening ceremony bid submission on August 31 and the subsequent bid presentation.

Since he wanted to have this sweet dream, he would give him this pillow.

It was just that the originally arranged medicine primer was Sun Wenwen, but now... I'm afraid there will be one more person.

The Bentley Arnage sped along the elevated road. Boss Lu leaned back in the rear seat, closing his eyes to rest, thinking about everything that happened today.

The possibility of Yanda Huayi and Zhou Jun making a fuss about the photo to target him existed, but it was small.

The man is unmarried and the woman is unmarried; so what if there is a child out of wedlock? At most, it creates some noise; it's meaningless.

But what if it was aimed at Liu Yifei?

Officially, all companies like Chengtian and Yanda Huayi that cultivate the same type of young actresses are suspects.

Especially Chengtian, which often crossed the line in later generations.

Personally, that could only be Fan Bingbing.

Although her ambition had not yet been overly manifested in front of him.

But Lu Kuan, who had known her for two lifetimes, knew that this was one of the most daring and fighting-prone actresses in the domestic entertainment industry, a fierce big actress who had walked out of the hand-to-hand combat she personally engaged in back then.

But what was even more bizarre was that her suspicion was basically cleared in the results of the investigation by Afei a few days ago and the fact that the photographer was caught that night.

The most critical thing was, how did she know Liu Yifei was going to make such a big scene today?

The only person around Liu Yifei who had an old friendship with Fan Bingbing was Yang Siwei, who had followed Wang Jinhua, but her stance was clear; it was absolutely impossible.

Unless someone confessed, I'm afraid this farce tonight would really become a headless case.

However, for him, suspicion was enough for free judgment.

"Boss, we're here."

Afei looked through the rearview mirror and saw him suddenly open his eyes. His pupils were like a bottomless cold pool, looking so chilling.

Three years, and it was the first time the cold-faced bodyguard had seen his expression so stern.

He didn't know if it was because of Zhuang Xu or Liu Yifei.

Afei couldn't help but sigh secretly for Fan Bingbing, who was waiting in the courtyard.

The two entered the door, Afei turned around and locked it, then stood guard at the door of the main room.

Fan Bingbing inside had been waiting for almost two hours.

She didn't turn on the lights, sitting in the pitch-black room for half an hour before finally walking out of the fear that made her tremble like chaff.

The events of the evening spread throughout Beijing, the entire domestic entertainment industry, and the whole country in no time.

Besides the number one young actress in the domestic entertainment industry failing in her confession, the fashion queen and the genius director were suspected of having an affair.

There was also the explosive news just released: the president of Blog Net was summoned by relevant departments, suspected of being related to business violations at his former company.

At this time, Lu Kuan called her here early to wait; it couldn't be that he wanted her to serve him in bed, right?

No amount of worry was useful; she had already done what she could to the extreme.

Since she had already put "life and death" aside, Fan Bingbing simply relaxed her whole body to cope with the upcoming questioning.

She sat in that man's study, greedily looking here and touching there.

For a while, she flipped through the scripts he wrote by hand, looking at those vigorous strokes word by word;

For a while, she turned on the desk lamp, lit a stick of incense with a match, and lay on the table watching the white smoke curl, fantasizing about what he looked like when he was working at the desk.

Fan Bingbing suddenly flipped to a storyboard draft in a file, opened it, and saw everything from *Whiplash* and *The Thief* to *The Foreigner* and *The Curious Case of Benjamin Button*.

She carefully wiped her hands clean and flipped through them one by one.

Soon she flipped to the hand-drawn Liu Yifei, a pretty cafe waitress.

Then Zhou Xun, the mother with a complex personality and full of warmth in *The Thief*.

Ha, and herself!

Looking at the flamboyant eyebrows and eyes and the perky figure in this painting, it was really a vivid image of a schoolgirl mixing in a brothel.

She suddenly had the idea of secretly taking this painting away.

Carefully organizing the storyboard drafts and stuffing them back into the file, she looked at the dense data books and manuscripts in the study and sighed in admiration.

Those good movies all came from this, right?

Thinking carefully, she really rarely had the chance to come here.

Just as she was deep in thought, Boss Lu pushed open the door of the main room. The walnut door with dense texture hit the back of the door not too lightly or heavily, and a "thud" startled Fan Bingbing from her reverie.

He was back.

Fan Bingbing took a deep breath, her throat rolled, and she tried her best to relax her emotions.

Life and death are determined by fate, and wealth and honor are up to him.

She came out of the study, Afei opened the door, signaling the big actress to enter the room.

"Thank you, Afei."

Every time there is a big event, there is a calm spirit. Even at the most critical moment, Fan Bingbing did not forget these casual ways to buy people's hearts.

Inside the room, Boss Lu was making tea.

"You're here? Sit down."

Hearing the casualness in his words, the anxiety in Fan Bingbing's heart dissipated a little, and she reached out to take the tea set: "Let me do it?"

"You sit."

Boss Lu refused with a calm expression, holding a tea knife in his hand, gently prying some tea cake, and going through the process of making tea on his own.

Preparing the tea leaves and tea set, he began to scald and warm the utensils with boiling water.

Then he used a tea spoon to move the tea leaves from the tea lotus into the teapot.

Fan Bingbing just watched his unhurried movements, and suddenly the tea art video that Liu Yifei recently became popular for popped into her mind.

It seemed that the man in front of her was much more proficient than her.

Boss Lu, who was focused on making tea, suddenly spoke: "Bingbing."

"Ah?" The big actress was startled.

He smiled and gestured to the tea leaves in his hand: "This step is called tea throwing. Except for granular tea leaves like Oolong tea, there are generally three types."

"For fine, tender green tea with complete buds and leaves and many hairs, like Biluochun and Xinyang Maojian, you must pour water first and then throw the tea. This is called the upper throwing method."

"For most tender leaf teas, like West Lake Longjing, where the tea leaf shape is relatively tight, you can pour one-third of the water first, throw the tea, and then pour water. This is called middle throwing."

"For tea leaves like Lu'an Guapian, where the leaves are mature and the tea shape is loose, they are more resistant to brewing, so you must throw the tea and then pour water. This is called lower throwing."

Fan Bingbing listened with a smile, just wanting to flatter him, when she suddenly heard Boss Lu change the subject.

"Actually... people are the same."

"People are tea leaves, and the order of throwing tea and pouring water is the life they have walked through."

"You are Biluochun, so don't think about throwing tea first and then pouring water like Guapian and Longjing, otherwise you will be scalded to death or scalded because the water temperature is too high or the water flow impact is too strong."

Boss Lu smiled and picked up the transparent tea cup to show her: "See?"

"This is called snowflake dancing."

Fan Bingbing looked panicked, watching the emerald green tea leaves in front of her slowly sinking and unfolding in the water.

This process allows one to clearly observe the morphological changes of the tea leaves, first floating on the water surface, then gradually absorbing water and sinking, the buds and leaves slowly unfolding, releasing a clear fragrance.

So this is called snowflake dancing.

Lu Kuan poured her a cup: "Brew it right, and it's snowflake dancing; brew it wrong, and it's scalding to death or scalding."

"Biluochun is Biluochun, it can't become Longjing; Longjing is Longjing, and it's not Guapian."

"Only a tea master who knows the characteristics and brewing methods of each tea leaf can show their tenderness, fragrance, and emerald color to the extreme."

"Unless you are a tea master like me, if you are just a tea leaf, don't be clever."

"A moment of carelessness, and it's eternal damnation."

Boss Lu sighed, leaning on the chair and sipping tea silently, his eyes flickering, making it impossible for Fan Bingbing to capture his emotions.

She also sipped the tea lightly, but the sweetness in her mouth was all bitter. She was hesitating whether to bring up the big news of tonight first.

"Did Zhou Jun contact you with Yanda Huayi?"

"Not yet."

"Who do you think took the photo and who sent it?"

The big actress said decisively: "Zhou Jun and Li Xue."

"Li Bingbing is clinging to him, and the two are very close."

"You are the actress who generates the most revenue for Yanda Huayi. Doesn't Zhou Jun moving against you go against his own shares?"

"He and the big and small dogs are unhappy. His goal now should be to topple you."

A few questions and answers, Fan Bingbing had no flaws. It seemed that she didn't consider whether thinking so clearly was a flaw in itself?

The big actress didn't consider so much, because she knew that when talking to Lu Kuan, she should try not to use her brain; just ask what to say.

Otherwise, there are traps everywhere.

"Click," Lu Kuan took a small object out of his pocket and threw it on the tea table.

Fan Bingbing looked and recognized it as an electronic product that had become popular in the last two years: a USB flash drive.

She had just bought one.

The USB flash drive in 2005 had already reached 256MB. The one Boss Lu took out was a 1GB capacity custom-made one.

"Take this to Zhou Jun."

"Ah?"

Fan Bingbing couldn't help but reach out to touch the USB flash drive to observe: "This is..."

Boss Lu spat out a few words: "The Olympic opening and closing ceremony bidding plan of the Inquiry Realm team."

"What!?"

Fan Bingbing was like being bitten by a poisonous snake. She screamed and put the USB flash drive back on the tea table, stood up in panic, and knocked over the chair behind her.

The young director in front of her was still looking light and airy: "Li Xue and Li Bingbing slandered you. It's not enough for you to just take out a *Vogue* to trade, especially after what happened tonight."

"Take the plan to find Zhou Jun and the big and small dogs. He dreams of destroying my bid; let him have his wish."

"This is your vote of allegiance."

The Olympic opening and closing ceremony plan is top secret before it is made public. In later generations, the Beijing Olympic rehearsals were all conducted in the early morning.

Once this plan is leaked, Lu Kuan's team's bid will have no hope.

Even if he could join the final creative group by virtue of his strength, as long as the final Olympic plan was not based on his bid presentation, he would not be qualified to compete for the position of general or deputy director.

If Zhou Jun eats this sweet poisonous bait, the Inquiry Realm bidding team will report to the police immediately while "rushing to produce" another bidding plan.

Fan Bingbing instinctively wanted to refuse: "Will Zhou Jun believe it? After all, this photo tonight..."

"I will have Sun Wenwen hand the things to you."

"What? Isn't she your assistant?"

"Fired. Otherwise, how can I make Zhou Jun believe you?"

Boss Lu lightly changed the life of a meritorious general who had followed him for three years, and then leisurely poured Fan Bingbing a cup of tea.

"Also."

"When you give it to Zhou Jun, remember to record it."

Shock!

Fan Bingbing trembled all over, as if struck by lightning, and collapsed on the expensive Huanghuali wood chair.

How he treated Sun Wenwen, she didn't know the inside story, and she couldn't control it.

But letting herself secretly pass the Olympic opening and closing ceremony plan to Zhou Jun was a criminal act in itself! And she had to record it...

Leaking the plan, at best, violates the crime of infringing on trade secrets and damaging business reputation and product reputation; at worst, it violates the crime of intentionally leaking state secrets.

Even worse, if the leaked object is an overseas organization, institution, or personnel, it may constitute the crime of stealing, spying, buying, or illegally providing state secrets or intelligence for overseas, which is ten years or more.

This recording was obviously material he prepared to strike at Zhou Jun, at most cutting out his own voice. (Note 1)

But as long as there is a recording, this is a handle that can destroy her at any time.

"Don't think too much. Letting you send it is to tell you to ask Zhou Jun for more shares."

"This share allotment only gives less than two points. Who is enough to eat? In the three rounds before listing, you must try to eat as many shares as possible."

Boss Lu smiled freely, telling others not to think too much, as if this were really a trivial matter.

"Sun Wenwen was officially announced as dismissed. I will make Zhou Jun's backyard catch fire. When he can't rely on his wife's family to continue to press Zhuang Xu, then stopping me from bidding becomes the top priority."

"At that time, you will find an opportunity to send a big gift and talk to him about the share transfer in your hand. Someone will pay you."

The young director leisurely tapped the armrest of the Huanghuali chair with his knuckles. The rhythm of "thud, thud, thud" made Fan Bingbing's scalp numb and terrified.

The big actress only felt her throat dry. The two cups of Biluochun she just drank seemed to have poisoned her dumb. At this moment, she was speechless and had no courage to resist.

She had the heart to argue a few words for herself, but when she looked up and saw the man sipping tea and observing her expression.

Just a light glance, the icy frost blade in his eyes seemed to be lurking, like a cold snake letter, sliding silently across people's hearts.

Fan Bingbing felt a chill rising from her spine, as if she had been pierced by an invisible sharp arrow, and couldn't help but shrink.

She knew very well that Lu Kuan had no solid evidence for the accident at Liu Yifei's birthday banquet.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have used tea throwing to hint and warn her.

But just suspicion, and he had the heart to push her into the endless abyss like this?

Standing on the edge of the cliff of perishing together with Zhou Jun, the thick rope of life-saving she tied on her body was held in his hand at the other end.

If she didn't listen again, he only needed to let go so lightly...

The big actress only felt that her whole body was riddled with holes by his indifferent eyes, and her heart couldn't help but bleed.

Call it worship, call it fear, and of course there is sincere admiration.

As long as he needs it, she can do anything for him. Why must he be so cruel and decisive...

If she had known it would be like this, she might as well have let Lu Kuan know that she did this thing.

She was just afraid that he would really agree to Liu Yifei and abandon her!

What was wrong with that!?

If Lu Kuan knew that she planned everything, letting herself take the USB flash drive to trade with Zhou Jun would be fine; she wouldn't be so sad.

But now it was just suspicion, and it turned out to be enough for him to judge her death sentence in his heart.

Now it's just a suspended sentence.

Because she is still useful to him.

Fan Bingbing silently said "good," reached out and stuffed this double-edged sword that hurt others and herself into her bag.

At this moment, her mind gave birth to the same feeling as Liu Yifei once had.

His heart is really cruel.

"Can I ask you for something?"

The big actress had a top-level big heart. She looked up suddenly, her pretty face was still beautiful, but it was a bit too pale, without any blood color.

The two thin lips were also very light in color, not knowing if the cup of Biluochun had tasted the spring color.

"What?"

"I just flipped through your storyboard. I want to take away that painting of me in *The Thief*."

Boss Lu stared at her for a few seconds, then his brows relaxed, and he sighed and stood up.

Why bother.

"I'll get it for you."

He walked back to the study and skillfully pulled out the storyboard draft.

Thinking about it, he flipped out a book by Stefan Zweig from the bookshelf and tucked the storyboard draft inside.

In front of the Ice Cellar Wang Mansion gate, Fan Bingbing held the book and storyboard draft in her arms, plus the double-edged sword that hurt the enemy and herself in her bag, sighing that this trip was really "fruitful."

She walked out with a dead heart, stepping into the moonlight of late summer step by step.

Fan Bingbing's stride was very small and her pace was very slow. She didn't know when the next time she would come would be, and she was a little reluctant.

Walking to the mouth of the alley, she suddenly heard the sound of a car engine, and then the familiar car drove to her side.

Afei pushed the door and got out, helping her open the car door: "Sister Bingbing, the boss asked me to send you."

"Mm!"

The big actress shed tears instantly, dripping onto her bloodless lips.

So salty.

Fan Bingbing didn't return to the alley under the middle corridor to live with her mother and brother, but returned to Huabin Golf alone.

Like Liu Yifei, it was also a desk lamp in the bedroom.

But Liu Yifei opened a diary, and she took out the book Lu Kuan gave her before leaving.

Stefan Zweig, *Marie Antoinette*.

The book tells the story of an Austrian princess who married into France and became the crown princess and queen, then her ambition continued to expand, and finally she was sent to the guillotine during the French Revolution.

Fan Bingbing flipped to the page where the sketch was tucked, and collected it with incomparable preciousness.

Looking down again, she suddenly discovered a line of handwriting by Boss Lu on this page.

【All the gifts gifted by fate have already been marked with a price in the dark】

This is a portrayal of the life experience of the queen who was guillotined due to expanding ambition.

Was he warning her by writing this sentence?

A crystal tear slid down her cheek and dripped on the word "fate," blurring a small dark trace.

Fan Bingbing's tear glands collapsed instantly, covering her mouth tightly, trembling all over.

She tried to calm herself down, but she couldn't get rid of the cramps in her chest.

At this moment, how Fan Bingbing envied Liu Yifei for having the courage and freedom to confide tonight.

Lu Kuan!

How much did you spend to buy my soul?

I'll pay you back...

This night in Beijing on August 25 was destined to be sleepless.

Because of the same man, 18-year-old Liu Yifei and 23-year-old Fan Bingbing were both crying under the lamp.

It's just that one wanted to redeem her soul from the devil.

One had already jumped out of the picture frame.

But the devil didn't seem to intend to let her go just like that.

Note 1: If Fan's voice is removed, it belongs to forged and altered recording evidence, which has no legal effect and will be excluded as illegal evidence in court. It has other uses here.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 288 =====