[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-playboy-of-huayu-how-did-a-celestial-immorta":3,"chapter-the-playboy-of-huayu-how-did-a-celestial-immorta-the-playboy-of-huayu-how-did-a-celestial-immorta-chapter-331":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Playboy of Huayu: How Did a Celestial Immortal Transform Me?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2297957,4495,"Chapter 331: The Swordswoman Who Went Astray","the-playboy-of-huayu-how-did-a-celestial-immorta-chapter-331",331,"\u003Cp>A secretary came in for a moment; Hastings' office was permeated with the burnt aroma of coffee beans, and a quote, \"fast is better than perfect,\" hung beside a *The Godfather* poster on the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei's \"admonition\" began right there:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Hastings, regarding what you just mentioned about my purpose, I think I should state it more clearly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Clearly, my demand is for Netflix to dominate the DVD rental market, and I can also leverage my shares to obtain better acting opportunities.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fast is always better than perfect, isn't it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On average, DVD revenue generally accounted for 40%-50% of a film's total revenue, far higher than theatrical box office receipts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As an actress eager to make a name for herself in Hollywood, Liu Yifei's argument was very persuasive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Hastings, I have great confidence in Netflix.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you, so do I.\" Hastings said confidently: \"Miss, you and your family have made a correct decision; I will arrange the share acquisition matters as soon as possible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I must say, you have chosen a great enterprise; we are not only going to be kings of the DVD market, but we have already set our sights on the future field of streaming media!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei felt a start of surprise as she watched Hastings painting a grand picture for the investment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed true what Boss Lu had told her about Hastings potentially already harboring intentions for streaming media.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young director had only been estimating; after all, Netflix's true, bold transformation would not come until 2007.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young lady feigned a puzzled expression: \"Streaming media?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes! Streaming media!\" Hastings said proudly: \"DVD rental always has a ceiling, but streaming media can break through physical media, provide a richer content library, and satisfy the diverse needs of more users.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In fact, I already have some preliminary ideas, but we must defeat the damn Blockbuster first, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They have dominated the market for thirty years; they are bound to be eliminated by the era.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This CEO, confident to the point of arrogance, spoke eloquently, only to be surprised to find this Chinese girl with a mysterious background suddenly stand up!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you joking, Mr. Hastings?\" Liu Yifei's pretty face was full of skepticism: \"My 300 million dollars is not for paying for your unrealistic dreams!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am here to pay for my own dreams!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hastings was stunned, feeling some disdain in his heart for these investors who understood nothing about the market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed this exquisitely carved Oriental girl was nothing more than a vase wielding a big stick of money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Innovation! Miss, you must understand what the spirit of innovation means!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Hollywood Big Six monopolize the big screen, but I tell you, the future PC side will be Netflix's world! That is innovation!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei clicked her tongue in admiration inwardly; this was basically consistent with Boss Lu's description. Hastings had only missed what he called the mobile side of the three-screen integration for film channels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even she herself had not yet fully grasped the scenario of \"watching movies on a mobile phone\" that he had spoken of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps the release of Apple's first-generation smartphone next year would give her a more profound understanding of this so-called mobile side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young beauty frowned; things were becoming somewhat complicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had to be said, Hastings was worthy of being the entrepreneur who would eventually lead Netflix to a market value exceeding Disney's.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 2006, when all conditions were not yet ripe and the world's first smartphone had not even been released, he had already conceived the strategic intent for an emerging streaming platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, little Liu's task was to stop him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How to stop him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You cannot expect a nineteen-year-old girl still in her learning phase to convince an autocratic entrepreneur how to manage a company and make strategic decisions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the report Netflix submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 2005, Hastings held about 12% of the shares.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But due to the dual-class stock structure, he held up to 97% of the voting rights for company decisions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei, carrying 300 million dollars, could neither count on persuading him, nor was it remotely possible to shelve the streaming business through a board resolution after acquiring shares.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was only one way: take advantage of the great war between Netflix and Blockbuster to drag his feet as much as possible with these 300 million dollars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei arched her eyebrows: \"Innovation requires capital; does Netflix have it now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hastings remained as steady as a mountain: \"Why wouldn't we?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that so?\" Liu Yifei stood up, crossed her arms, and looked at him with a smile: \"In February, you pledged your own shares to obtain an 85 million dollar loan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You were also forced to issue 200 million dollars in convertible bonds with a 7.25% interest rate, with a conversion price of 14.5, far exceeding the market price of 3.8!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell me, what do you call this capital?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hastings looked at this Chinese girl with considerable surprise, gradually revising his previous perception of her in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked... like she didn't seem to be a vase after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, who couldn't read data? It was public data for a listed company, so Hastings was not yet truly impressed by her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The capital I speak of is not just these simple numbers.\" Hastings also stood up, attempting to exert some pressure on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The company's spirit of innovation and culture, our execution and determination to transform that lead our industry peers, and our core technical talent—that is capital.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What you mentioned is called numbers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The autocratic entrepreneur grew more confident as he spoke, just like his demeanor when leading an up-and-comer to challenge Blockbuster, which had dominated the industry for thirty years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Netflix was founded in 1997 and took only five years to go public; Blockbuster dominated offline rentals, so we innovated with online business.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When Netflix fully embraced the DVD market, Blockbuster was still holding onto a massive inventory of VHS tapes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the time we spent millions of dollars developing the recommendation system, Cinematch, to predict customer preferences and viewing habits, Blockbuster hadn't even begun their online integration.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hastings spread his hands toward Liu Yifei: \"Miss, I believe you chose Netflix over Blockbuster because of this, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chinese-descended girl smiled at him for a few seconds, then spoke, pointing directly to the core of the problem: \"No matter how sluggish Blockbuster's previous actions were, Antioch's 150 million dollar integration effort has finally begun.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Netflix knows how to innovate and took 50 steps ahead of Blockbuster in the online rental business.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But don't forget, Blockbuster's legs are twice as long as yours; this bit of a lead counts for nothing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Hastings could retort, she continued to throw out her arguments, all results of careful research during this period, acting with intent against the unprepared under Boss Lu's guidance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I do have a few questions to ask Mr. Hastings, may I?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please go ahead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei's expression was cold: \"In 2006, the average household download speed in the U.S. was only 1.2 Mbps; buffering *The Lord of the Rings 3* would take 6 hours and 42 minutes. If you used it to watch *The Matrix*, Neo would be pixelated into a mosaic before he even drew his gun. How do you attract users?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hastings was concise: \"We are looking at the future; last year this number was only 1.0 Mbps, wasn't it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Liu did not dwell on it and continued to output her viewpoint: \"Fine, looking at the future is okay, but do you want to look at the present?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"According to Netflix's Q4 report last year, operating cash flow plummeted from 62.8 million dollars to 3.1 million, and hoarding popular films like *The Da Vinci Code* caused inventory turnover days to extend from 58 to 89 days.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Following the current trend, if Netflix is still distracted by streaming media, without fresh capital, can it last until 2008?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time Hastings did not respond fluently and hesitated slightly: \"In fact, besides you, we have contacted other investors; this is not a problem.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh, fine, then I will ask one last question.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei decided to play her trump card, which she and Lu Kuan had confirmed was a problem Hastings absolutely could not solve at present, or even find an excuse to avoid—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The format graveyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Currently, there are three incompatible technical fiefdoms in the world's video playback field.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"RealPlayer, QuickTime, and Windows Media Player divide the world into three.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Among these three players, there are Apple's direct descendants and Microsoft's direct descendants, and they each support different playback formats; this is simply fatal!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Among Hollywood film companies, Warner, Miramax, Universal, and others only authorize individual formats to play their films. If you, Netflix, force streaming media, you have to pay an additional 30% in format conversion fees.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hastings' face turned gloomy; before he could refute, he was interrupted by Liu Yifei's louder voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No matter how innovative Netflix is, it has to consider the user experience, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is the DVD experience? Open the envelope, put in the disc, play.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And what about your so-called streaming media? Download the player, update the drivers, install the codec pack, buffering and stuttering, and finally, you get a blue screen!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hastings, tell me, just how loyal of a Netflix user would have to be to endure a 1.2 Mbps download speed, busy themselves for nearly ten hours, only to find they were fiddling with bullshit?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei gracefully picked up her latest LV Speedy handbag from the sofa: \"I'll say it again, Hastings.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My 300 million dollars is to pay for my dreams, not for yours or Netflix's dreams.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrogant Netflix CEO made no move to stop her from leaving; in fact, this was also the reason he could not convince his team to start the transformation now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the future, when Hastings chose to go all-in on the H.264\u002FAVC codec in 2007, he abandoned the then-mainstream RealMedia, Windows Media, and other formats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also one of the boldest technical gambles in the history of streaming media.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Hastings in 2006 was still facing a life-and-death battle with the giant Blockbuster, and his thinking had not yet expanded to that point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having missed this move, he was immediately rendered speechless by the \"Jianghu swordswoman\" who had acted with intent against the unprepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This charming and lovely Jianghu swordswoman turned the doorknob to leave, but suddenly asked before departing: \"Hastings, I heard you are a military enthusiast who went to West Point to hear instructors talk about our country's *The Art of War*?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the homework she had done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The autocratic entrepreneur, still with a gloomy face, gave a noncommittal \"Hmm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei killed and then struck at the heart: \"Then I understand your decision even less.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If the Allied forces had launched a full-scale attack on France immediately after landing in North Africa in 1943, wouldn't the people speaking French now be the Nazis?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Streaming media is your Normandy, but D-Day requires meteorologists, airborne divisions, and false intelligence—do you have these now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jianghu swordswoman little Liu officially said goodbye: \"Thank you for the meeting, Hastings. If you figure it out, I am still willing to leave this 300 million dollars to Netflix.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Otherwise, perhaps Blockbuster also needs this life-saving money.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please consider it as soon as possible; there is not much time left for Netflix.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the forty years of cultivation from the old demon's past life infused into her, Liu Yifei, this Jianghu swordswoman, did not seem to use much effort; with one light sword strike, she pierced the vital point of a certain Western Regions grandmaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cherokee drove away from the Netflix headquarters in Los Gatos, with Mia driving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young girl in the back seat let out a long sigh of relief and dialed the old demon's number.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm sorry, I failed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Tell me in detail.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei gave a straightforward account, but she did not forget to observe Hastings’ micro-expressions from the perspective of an actress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He seemed shaken, but to avoid making him suspicious, I ultimately had to leave first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boss Lu laughed: \"It doesn't count as a failure. Who do you think he is? Being able to reach this point is already quite good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since Plan A didn't work, I will have people acquire Carl Icahn's Blockbuster shares as soon as possible. Once the media releases the news, Hastings will realize the crisis.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Keep in touch with him; I believe he will look for you again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei felt mentally exhausted: \"Understood. When the time comes, I will demand to know the flow of this investment, focusing on the competition with Blockbuster's DVD rental market.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm, what are your plans for what comes next?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei hesitated for a moment: \"According to Zhang Chunru's notes, there's also the George Library in Washington, the Library of Congress, PBS television station, and so on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Next, I plan to go to the Yale Divinity School library, and I also need to go to Germany to meet Rabe's descendants; she will accompany me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Finally, I'll go to Jinling. By the time I finish, it should be about time to join the crew, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was silence on the other end of the phone for a while. Liu Yifei didn't know what he was thinking, and just as she was about to speak, she was interrupted: \"You... need to pay attention to your mental state.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of static suddenly swallowed the second half of the sentence, but Liu Yifei clearly heard the muffled sound of his Adam's apple bobbing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeming to feel his concern, the young girl's heart softened: \"Don't worry, Mom is with me every day, nothing will happen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To be honest, for many of the things you taught me in the past, I've had deeper and newer insights this month.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lu Kuan, do you know? I can't wait to push open that door now; I can't help but want to throw myself into 1937, into 1995, to touch that period of history, to capture that resonance of emotion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young director didn't know if it was because he had smoked too much, but his voice was a bit hoarse: \"I can tell; you're even speaking with a Huaiyin accent now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perhaps in the future, we can converse in the Jiangsu dialect; Jinling and Huai'an are very close.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei covered her mouth and laughed: \"Haha! We can do that now!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that her mood seemed normal, Boss Lu also felt relieved: \"Then just follow your own plan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you feel the pressure is too much, you can stop for a bit, manage the Twitter matters, look at Blockbuster and Netflix, and shift your focus.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei feigned anger: \"You washing machine, you're trying to trick me into working for free for you all day, aren't you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you don't want to, that's fine too; then find some other way to relax.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What way?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boss Lu teased her from afar: \"Video call, at worst I'll show you my bare chest, don't say I, the dignified richest man, am taking advantage of a young girl like you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get lost!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you talk nonsense again, I'm going to beat you up next time!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boss Lu's suggestive, racy words seemed to spark static electricity on her eardrums, and Liu Yifei's coquettish rebuke hit the dark car window and shattered into eight pieces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn't help but recall the beauty of that video call, feeling that her face and body were burning hot, so she gently opened the car window a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The breeze lifted the loose hair at her temples, revealing a touch of rouge red behind her ear, and this blush was conquering territory along her carotid artery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei raised her eyes and glanced at Mia, who was driving, thinking to herself that it was fortunate she couldn't understand Chinese: \"You, you, you, stop being a hooligan, that day really was an accident!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mm, I know, an accident, an accident.\" Boss Lu had a tone of knowing, and even through the phone, one could see the rosy clouds rising on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After joking for a while, the scene of the old demon teasing the jianghu heroine ended, and the call hung up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boss Lu, on the set of *Curse of the Golden Flower* in Wulong, sighed leisurely; he was very conflicted now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the first time he met Liu Yifei in December 2001 to now, nearly five years later, the young director was perhaps the one who could best understand what she had just described regarding an actor's self-perception and evolution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this is like breaking through a barrier in a wuxia novel sounds a bit mystical, but for an actress whose talent is not exactly peerless, having such an opportunity to realize this at her age is a very rare chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering her mental state, perhaps she should stop;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to achieve her long-cherished wish of becoming a top-tier actress, there is no doubt that she should be encouraged to keep going, even if the road ahead is full of difficulties and everywhere there are inner demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For these past few years, Boss Lu has been like the harsh teacher in *Whiplash*, constantly subjecting his student Liu Yifei to frustration-based education, forcing her to move forward step by step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that this student has indeed reached the point of being obsessed to the point of madness, this teacher has instead become hesitant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was interrupting her progress to ask the young girl to help him lobby Hastings;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or the occasional joking and teasing, it was all just trying to relieve her pressure as much as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jianghu heroine naturally did not know of the old demon's inner conflict.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She still happily licked up the concern and tenderness that Boss Lu occasionally revealed, enjoying the special treatment from his Machiavellian personality, and walked into the next journey through wind and rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Late May, Library of Congress in Washington.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei, wearing a women's suit, no makeup, and black-rimmed glasses, appeared in the underground archive with a constant temperature of 21 degrees, carrying a shoulder bag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her cuffs were stained with dust from old file bags, and she spent a tip to have the administrator find the carbon copy paper of Zhang Chunru's borrowing records from 1996.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the yellowed paper were ballpoint pen indentations, and one could discern the writing pressure of words like \"Asahi Shimbun 1937\".\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During those few months in the Asian Division of the Library of Congress, Zhang Chunru had maintained a high-intensity work schedule of copying historical materials for eight hours a day for six consecutive weeks here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the rainy season in Washington D.C., and when reviewing microfilm at the National Archives, Liu Yifei's right pinky finger would always unconsciously lift—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was imitating Zhang Chunru's habitual way of holding a fountain pen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei picked up a pen and noted in the character biography: Add a callus at the first joint of the right middle finger; she would hold a peppermint candy while proofreading. The slight sweetness was used to resist the fishy smell of historical materials, and the coolness was used to alert her to the blood feud of the nation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mid-June, Georgetown Library.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Double espresso, no sugar.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei pushed the coins to the freckled barista, her voice hoarse from staying up late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her fingernails had traces of the indigo blue unique to microfilm, and her index finger joint was pale blue from long-term pen holding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A head with a silver ear stud popped out from behind the counter and shook: \"Ma'am, you look a bit like an Asian blogger on Mytube who hasn't updated for a few months.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei, who was writing, was using the time waiting for coffee to supplement character details, and she didn't even look up when she heard this: \"You're talking about Crystal, I'm also urging her to update.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The barista wiped the milk pitcher and suddenly lowered his voice to tell his companion: \"Why do I feel like she is that Blue Moon?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No way, she is much thinner than Blue Moon, and her accent is Midwestern.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The suspected Blue Moon mentioned by the two walked away with her coffee; her figure, appearance, temperament, and speech had almost completely turned into another Zhang Chunru, so it was no wonder they didn't recognize her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She returned to her empty seat in the library, staring at the collapsing whirlpool of foam in her cup, the corners of her mouth lifting in a weary arc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The morning light pierced through the knuckles of the young girl holding the cup handle, casting a butterfly-bone-like silhouette on the tabletop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei took a sip of coffee, suddenly had an epiphany, and walked to the electronic reading room to post a blog:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It turns out that playing a scholar is not about acting serious, but learning to fall in love with historical materials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When my fountain pen tore through the page for the fourth time out of anger, I suddenly understood why Ms. Zhang Chunru always placed her coffee cup at the corner of the table—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is a seat left for the souls of history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Between the opening and closing of the lens, we are all occupying seats for those who cannot speak.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After staying in Georgetown for a week, Liu Yifei left gracefully, rushing to the next battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The number one young actress in domestic entertainment had not appeared in official domestic activities for nearly a year, but the jianghu had never lacked legends about her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starting from the beginning of May, her \"Character Life Experience Series\" blog posts began to be serialized on the blog network.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her daily life, routines, and realizations were all shared with fans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive volume of nearly 13 million fans made this latest blog post quickly top the blog hot search, with countless replies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Washington Rain]: Ran into Sisi at Georgetown Library checking materials without makeup! Her ponytail was perked up high enough to hang a schoolbag, and the way she held a magnifying glass looked just like Conan!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's just that I was warned by the administrator as a suspicious person when I took a candid photo...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Postgrad Daili]: Followed Sisi and stocked up on thirty boxes of Halls peppermint candies; now the whole class calls me the walking Green Arrow. But my vocabulary memorization efficiency really skyrocketed! It's just that I scared the boys away during dates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Gu Xiaobai VIP]: I was fortunate enough to attend the project launch press conference for *Sky of History* in Jinling in April. When Director Lu announced that the lead actress was Liu Yifei, to be honest, I didn't really approve in my heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention her physical appearance, just based on her experience and age, could she act out the unyielding spirit and pain in the eyes of a female historian and author?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For these two months, the crew has been setting up the scenes, and no more news has been released; I have only been following Liu Yifei's blog posts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, this sentence truly stung me: Between the opening and closing of the lens, we are all occupying seats for those who cannot speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking forward to your character portrayal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The online discussion never ceased, and everyone wanted to ride the wave of this traffic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tianya Forum saw \"Liu Yifei Makeup Tutorial\": The ponytail must be tied at a 15-degree angle, and the fountain pen must be tucked into the second button!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xici Hutong launched a \"Find the Zhang Chunru-style Coffee Cup\" campaign, and the sales of the Yiwu-made enamel mug skyrocketed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>QQ Space went viral with \"Test: Which stage of Liu Yifei's life experience are you at? Taking you to appreciate the top ten libraries in the United States.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Late June, Connecticut, Yale Divinity School Library.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Hoover Institution, which she reached in her first stop, was one of the most important scenes, then the importance of this divinity school library was no less significant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because it was here that Zhang Chunru discovered the clues to the *Rabe Diary*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the autumn of 1995, while reviewing the *Bates Documents* at the Divinity School library, Zhang Chunru discovered multiple files mentioning \"John Rabe, Chairman of the International Committee for the Nanking Safety Zone\".\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In December of the same year, she tracked down the contact information for Rabe's granddaughter, Ursula Reinhardt, through the death records of the Berlin City Archives in Germany.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In March 1996, in an apartment building in the suburbs of Berlin, Reinhardt took out the dust-covered *Rabe Diary* from an oak chest—ironclad evidence consisting of 80 handwritten diaries, over 2,000 pages of documents, and 120 photos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Chunru brought the copies to China and handed them over to official and non-governmental organizations, and held a press conference at the InterContinental New York in 1996, becoming a powerful weapon against the right-wing scum who deny history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking in this world-famous theological library, Liu Yifei was completely immersed in another period of history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This scene is an important part of the movie, and she must bring more enthusiasm and energy to treat it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The morning mist condensed into fine water droplets on the Gothic stained-glass windows, refracting the nine o'clock sunlight into pale blue rhombuses, just like a chessboard pattern falling on Liu Yifei's back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She curled up at the top of the oak ladder, her light blue denim shirt washed until it was white—this was replicated based on Zhang Chunru's 1995 work photo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sleeves were rolled up to her elbows, revealing the pale blue veins on the inside of her forearms, like fountain pen ink lines spreading on an ancient book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When her fingertips brushed over the gold-stamped spine of the *Bates Documents*, the paper dust caught in her hair floated in the light beam, as if it were the ashes raised by history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sat quietly in the single seat, flipping through the copies of the *Rabe Diary*; those photos facing the bloodshed seemed to make her soul tremble more than any historical material before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This jianghu heroine, who was single-mindedly trying to touch the door of the temple of acting, did not yet know that she was already on the verge of becoming obsessed to the point of madness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weather was gradually getting hotter, but her heart could not stop feeling cold and sinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more she entered the role, the closer she became to the character, and the further she drifted from herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To see the tiny print clearly, she unconsciously bit her lower lip, the coral lipstick flaking off between her teeth to reveal her naturally pale lip color.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweat-dampened wisps of hair clung to the back of her neck, tightening like a fully drawn bowstring as she progressed through her research, then falling limp like a broken halberd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei suddenly felt a wave of palpitations; she took a few deep breaths and scratched her head fiercely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lowering her head again, several strands of hair fell out, caught between her fingers...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xixi!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei was in a daze when someone patted her on the back, and she turned around abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shock!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why does this person look so much like me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, no... it’s Sister Zhang Chunru.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the early summer of July, Zhang Chunru found her, her face covered in hot sweat from anxiety; she crouched down and, for the first time, used her most stern tone with this little sister: \"We called you over a dozen times, why didn't you answer?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She then called out to Mia: \"Pack up, we’re heading back first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei looked at them, completely bewildered: \"My phone seems to have run out of battery from recording; why are you all so anxious?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Chunru sighed helplessly: \"Can you ever just let people stop worrying about you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her idolized big sister speaking up, Liu Yifei couldn't muster the same defiance she felt toward her mother, so she let her take charge and followed her all the way back to the hotel in downtown New Haven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere in the room was solemn; Zhang Chunru and Liu Xiao stared at her with complex expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young girl laughed in spite of herself: \"What is it, really? You two are so strange!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Xiao shook her head: \"Xixi, you can't go on like this anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's been almost three months. Look at you, your chin has thinned to a point. Insomnia, nightmares, hair loss, you...\" Her mother's eyes turned red, and she choked up, unable to continue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei waved her hand: \"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young girl held up the notebook in her hands to them: \"You can't imagine how much I've gained; it really is true that one must practice what one learns to truly understand it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sister Chunru, you will soon see another version of yourself in the movie.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Chunru looked with bitterness at the girl, whose voice was now slightly hoarse; her external conditions, including her accent, were almost infinitely close to her own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the scent of the peppermint candy in her mouth when she spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless life habits like these had been imitated and captured by her, becoming almost second nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she first met Liu Yifei in 2002, Zhang Chunru was often infected by her charm and innocence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last year, during the Fox live broadcast, her line \"I don't allow it\" made both of Zhang Chunru's parents weep as they watched their daughter, exclaiming—she is just like you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what pained Zhang Chunru the most was that this young girl had used her innocence to infect her own self, who was then on the verge of an emotional breakdown;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, she had taken on the burden in her stead, carrying the painful history on her shoulders once again, exhausting herself for this film destined to fulfill a national aspiration...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In some mysterious way, Liu Yifei and she had completed an emotional exchange of joy and pain, but was this ever something Zhang Chunru wanted to see?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xixi, don't become another me. I know what kind of torture that is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think you can stop for a while now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Xiao also couldn't help but say: \"Xixi, Mom knows you've grown up and are very independent, but this situation is different. You might not notice it yourself, but everyone around you can see how strange you've become!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can't go on like this!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei knew their good intentions, but she really didn't want to give up such a good opportunity: \"Think about how many obstacles we've faced in this year since Lu Kuan decided to launch the massacre film project?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even now, there are still a few right-wing scumbags tailing and harassing us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The way to make them shut up is to film this 'Schindler's List' of the Chinese people!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sister Chunru, the more I walk the path you once traveled, the more I realize the importance of this film.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With only a month left until filming starts, how can I back down now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Chunru warned her with unprecedented solemnity: \"I know better than anyone how much pressure you are under. This kind of pressure once tried to destroy me, and it was this film that gave me hope again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The film is important, but you are more important.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Besides, we just want you to slow your hurried pace and adjust your state before filming begins. What is wrong with that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yifei bit her lower lip tightly and pleaded helplessly: \"Can we go back to Jinling after visiting Germany?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Xiao and Zhang Chunru said in unison, the latter coaxing: \"How about this: cancel the Germany trip. You'll have to go when filming starts anyway, so you can just familiarize yourself with it then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Furthermore, if you want to know anything, just ask me. Is there anyone who knows more than I do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I just contacted Lu Kuan, and he's going to the set to inspect it ahead of schedule in the middle of the month.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's go back to Jinling first, and you can familiarize yourself with the scenes there one last time, wouldn't that be better?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing their determined stance, the young girl could only pick up her notebook, full of her research, and agree with a heavy heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her return to her room listlessly, Liu Xiao and Zhang Chunru exchanged a helpless look and sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't worry too much, Sister Liu Xiao. Once she gets back to Jinling and sees Lu Kuan, the domestic environment will be more grounded, and she will naturally get better.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her mother shook her head with a bitter smile: \"You don't know, Chunru, this girl has really become obsessed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sometimes she forgets to eat and sleep while pondering the character; even Lu Kuan can't persuade her sometimes. In the past...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Chunru was speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She naturally knew about Liu Yifei's feelings for Lu Kuan, but this matter didn't seem too surprising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The foundation of Liu Yifei's personality already carried pride and persistence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was the one who wouldn't take off her pointe shoes even when the straps left her feet bruised and purple as a child;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was the one who practiced her morning routines meticulously for four years to enter the world of performance;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was the one who resolutely jumped out of the frame to be the most unique splash of color;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was the one who was willing to smear her own reputation before the whole world to protect the people she cherished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the night of her birthday party, from the moment she said, \"I, completely and absolutely, am the master of myself,\" even Lu Kuan, who exerted the greatest influence on her, seemed to fail intermittently on certain issues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, regarding loyalty and exclusivity in relationships, Lu Kuan would never dare to test or provoke her on that front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps, the role of Zhang Chunru in \"Sky of History\" right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the heart of the young girl who was too deep into her role, there was nothing more important than this film.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professionally, this was the blood, sweat, and expectations of so many people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One only needs to think of the significance of \"Schindler's List\" to the Jewish people to understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Personally, this was also the key for her to cross that threshold, an opportunity for her acting career to break free from the shackles of typecast roles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this life, her turbulent yet colorful life and emotional experiences had sculpted a more resilient, wise, and independent female image upon her innocent and tranquil foundation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Toward acting and relationships, she had her own unique attitude and aesthetics—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Casting her characters with iron-willed determination, letting the cracks of emotion bloom into flowers in the shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the end of July 2006, several news items were quietly published in the \"Wall Street Journal,\" though unrelated people merely glanced over them, while those who cared clicked their tongues in admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Marvel Company reaches a principle acquisition agreement with a mysterious Eastern buyer, planning to submit an overall acquisition proposal within the year.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relatively speaking, this was a piece of news that no one cared about, because the current Marvel was truly a hopeless case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rupture in cash flow had led management to bet almost everything on \"Iron Man,\" which was set to start filming next year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is reported that this superhero film, jointly invested by North American Wenjie, Miramax, and Disney, will have its global premiere in 2008.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Referring to Wanda's successful acquisition of AMC in 2012, and the fact that companies like Cheng Tian's acquisition of Legendary Pictures in North America that same year faced no obstruction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As of today in 2006, a film company that started with series like \"Paranormal Activity\" and \"Insidious\" acquiring Marvel, even if it belonged to Chinese people, was not a particularly sensitive transaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Marvel had already mortgaged all its assets, and to outsiders, Chinese capital was just \"dumb money\" picking up the pieces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Blockbuster and Netflix war in full swing; both sides change tactics after attracting investment!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The industry first heard that Blockbuster's major shareholder, Carl Icahn, had sold his 15% stake for $150 million to a mysterious private equity fund in North America.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately following this, Netflix CEO Hastings, feeling the pressure, did not show weakness and announced that a Chinese consortium had invested, bringing $300 million in ammunition to the DVD rental war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only that, Hastings also gained support from Miramax and Disney.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only would Miramax's film library be prioritized for supply, but Disney's recent \"Toy Story\" would also consider exclusive distribution through DVD channels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a huge negative for Blockbuster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, these were all the results of Lu Kuan's secret manipulation, with the goal of quickly crushing Blockbuster, absorbing shares through the secondary market, convertible bonds, and block trades, and finally completing the acquisition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next step would be the devouring of Netflix, which was being forced into an all-out DVD war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 2006, Netflix's total market cap was less than $2 billion; as long as the battle held out until early 2007, when Paulson's first CDS returns arrived, the only things left to consider would be the reviews by the U.S. Trade Commission and the Department of Justice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides this, North American Wenjie's two films, \"Twilight\" and \"Underworld 2,\" would be hitting the North American summer box office at the end of July and mid-August, respectively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike in the past, this time the distribution had the help of their ally Disney, making it even more effortless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, while the company and its partners like Harvey and Lionsgate were worried, Lu Kuan was quite confident and relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Underworld 2\" was a franchise film with a fixed audience and Leonardo's drawing power, and \"Twilight\" was a box office truth verified by future generations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this life, with the marketing boost from internet tools like MyTube and Twitter, the numbers would only be more beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as there were no accidents, he could just sit back and wait to collect the money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unknowingly, the tentacles of a certain Eastern entertainment capital had already taken root and sprouted in Hollywood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of content, it was anchored by B-movies like \"Insidious\" and \"Paranormal Activity,\" was about to acquire Marvel, and was beginning to gradually reclaim superhero IPs scattered among the six major studios;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of channels, it had allies like Disney and Lionsgate helping on the big screen, and was starting from Blockbuster\u002FNetflix to aim for the future streaming track;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of the Fourth Estate marketing, Twitter users had already exceeded two million, and with the explosion of \"Twilight,\" the mutually bound IPs and products could grow synergistically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This didn't even count Lu Kuan's shares in Facebook, which were placed under the name of the Gunslinger Fund and were not yet too high-profile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were also 1 billion US dollars in stock from Google and the Android company, which would shine brilliantly in the era of streaming media and the mobile internet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the middle of 2006, the Eastern Old Demon, having lived two lives, had finally driven his first deep nail into North America, beginning to lay a solid foundation step by step, waiting for the day it would blossom and bear fruit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the martial arts heroine he had personally cultivated, she had no choice but to accept the arrangements made by Zhang Chunru and Liu Xiaoli, returning to China at the end of July after an absence of nearly a year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was about to finish the final stop of her life experience in Jinling, and would then join the crew to begin filming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of this chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",6638,"2026-06-20T06:05:19.268Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","a0b606123cf5e60e4eb8cff2e35408d1123fa0ea1bc3cd03241b93e037db0a9b","the-playboy-of-huayu-how-did-a-celestial-immorta-chapter-332","the-playboy-of-huayu-how-did-a-celestial-immorta-chapter-330",343,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-playboy-of-huayu-how-did-a-celestial-immorta-cover.jpg"]