CH 29.2

By the time they got to the cinema, the movie was about to begin. After the tickets were checked, they went in, found their place, and took a seat. Even though advertisements played on the big screen, almost all the seats around them were full of people.

Lu Chengyu was somewhat moved. He looked at Yan Mu, who was by his side and said, “It is already past 10 p.m yet this place is full of people.”

Sitting next to him was a young girl with a big bucket of popcorn. Hearing Lu Chengyu’s words, she turned her head and looked at him. “You think this is worth mentioning? Even at midnight, this place will have a full house.”

“So popular?” Lu Chengyu looked surprised, “Are you exaggerating?”

“I haven’t watched it either, but every day my friend keeps mentioning how popular the movie is on Weibo. I couldn’t help but come watch it.” The girl glances between Lu Chengyu and Yan Mu. Seeing that the movie was about to start, she stopped talking and shifted her attention back to the screen.

The movie began on a bustling street. The camera eventually focused on one of the storm-sewer grates. A second later, a hand suddenly emerged. It flailed about urgently for a moment, then retracted. Before the audience could conclude that this was a scene out of a thriller, the camera lowered and turned so the situation beyond the grate could be seen.

Inside, the sorry figure of a man lying prone on his stomach appeared. His arms were wrapped around his waist protectively, and he swore under his breath using a non-standard Mandarin dialect, “To hell! This evil God!” As soon as those curses left his mouth, heavy rain suddenly began falling, flooding the narrow space where he lay.

Listening to the laughter all around him, Lu Chengyu couldn’t help but turn to examine Yan Mu’s expression. He felt like he was sitting at the juncture of two worlds. In one world, there existed many smiling people being entertained; and in the other, there was Yan Mu, who observed everything studiously.

Some people watched movies to pass the time or to spend that time with loved ones, his boss, however, watched movies to understand how they could advertise his company’s products effectively.

Is this the difference between successful people and ordinary people? Lu Chengyu wondered.

From the beginning of the movie to the end, the cinema echoed with the sounds of laughter. Even Lu Chengyu, who had already seen the movie once, still found himself chuckling during certain scenes. However, throughout the film, Yan Mu sat upright and did not smile even once.

“If you are okay, please stand up.” On the big screen, the young man with gold glasses bent slightly, his white hands stretched out, which made quite a contrast with the bustling but uncaring crowd going about their business in the background. 

When this handsome face and that bedraggled protagonist appeared in the same frame, they formed an even sharper contrast.

Lu Chengyu listened to the hushed voices of the girls behind him giggling and squealing happily and surreptitiously touched his face. The lighting used in the movie was good, which made him look handsome.

Back on screen, with a smile, Mr. Perfect got into his car. He took out an exquisite handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his hands thoroughly—even though the downtrodden male protagonist hadn’t touched him at all.

After wiping his hands, he threw the handkerchief aside, an expression of disgust on his face. He started the engine and roared off without looking back.

Left behind, the male protagonist holding a single yuan coin happily ran to buy steamed buns.

Finally, the camera gives a clear shot of the back of Mr. Perfect’s car. There is a terrible black palm print marring the otherwise spotless fender belonging to a car worth tens of millions of yuan. 

The audience found the picture unexpectedly comical and laughed again. This time, Yan Mu frowned, then opened his mouth and said: “If this kind of thing happens, the owner can demand an investigation and sue for damages.”

Lu Chengyu was still enjoying the memory of his own handsome performance. When he heard those words, he could tell that Yan Mu was advocating for his on-screen character. Lu Chengyu laughed and said: “This is just movie melodrama. Don’t take it seriously. In reality, which ordinary person would dare to lay their hands on such an expensive car? Wouldn’t that be asking for trouble?”

Yan Mu heard someone at the back praising Lu Chengyu’s role as very handsome. He thought about it for a moment. “They are right.”

“What?” asked Lu Chengyu.

“You look good in glasses,” said Yan Mu with his eyes on the screen, “It suits you very much.”

Lu Chengyu touched his chin and hedged, “Well, it’s all the credit of the camera, lighting, and post-production effects.”

Aiyo![1] He felt a bit shy being praised so directly by his big boss.

[1] 哎哟 [āiyō]: hey | ow | ouch—an interjection of pain or surprise.

The movie that began with laughter also ended with laughter. Lu Chengyu and Yan Mu walked out of the cinema surrounded by couples and intimate partners. He sighed. “We are surrounded by lovers.”

Yan Mu looks at him, puzzled. “Surrounded by lovers?”

Thinking that the other side didn’t understand his self-deprecation, he changed the topic. “Nevermind. I’ll take you back.”

“Yes, please.” Yan Mu nodded, suppressing his feelings before they could affect his behaviour. After getting into the car, he told him his address.

“Ming Chong Community?[2]” This place was a gathering place for dignitaries. If someone in the community with an ordinary family background went out walking, they would definitely find it embarrassing to greet anyone they met.

[2] Ming Chong Community: 明 [míng]: bright | wise | a sacrifice to the gods, and 崇 [chóng]: high | sublime | lofty | to esteem | to worship.

Even the community name gives a powerful and domineering feeling! Its management must be very strict. Lu Chengyu suddenly lamented, “I think my car may be stopped by the guard.”

“It won’t,” said Yan Mu. After pausing, he added, “I’m here.”

Lu Chengyu laughed. After he drove the car for quite some distance, he said, “Boss, fortunately, I’m not a girl.”

Yan Mu looked at him.

“If you talk to a woman like this, she would definitely misunderstand you.” Lu Chengyu turned the car around a corner, so he did not see Yan Mu’s expression change. By the time he straightened the wheel again, Yan Mu’s expression had long recovered.

When Lu Chengyu, who drove a small Benteng[3] worth less than 100,000 yuan, entered the Ming Chong community, Yan Mu rolled down the window. The guard saw him and buzzed them through the motorized gate.

[3] Yīqì Bēnténg: Later known as Besturn. A Chinese car brand similar to the Mazda 6. Manufactured by the FAW Group.

The community was built near the river, consisting almost entirely of detached villas with more than one floor and a yard. Lu Chengyu drove to the front of Yan Mu’s house.

After seeing the villa with a small garden and garage, Lu Chengyu smacked his lips. The local developer where he lived calls it a high-grade neighborhood. This is also a high-grade neighborhood—but they are worlds apart.

Yan Mu got out of the car and walked over to Lu Chengyu’s side of the window. “It’s late. Stay here tonight and go back tomorrow.”

Lu Chengyu put his head out the window, shook his head, and said, “No need. It won’t take long for me to get back home from here. And in any case, tomorrow is a holiday. It doesn’t matter if I go to sleep late tonight.”

“Okay, be careful on your way.” Yan Mu stepped back. Lu Chengyu stretched his hand out the window and waved goodbye.  Yan Mu wanted to say something but hesitated. He ended up watching the Benteng drive off into the distance.

He stood there for a while, then took out his cell phone and called Zhang Zeyun.

“Zeyun, the fish you brought back for me today, have you put it in the refrigerator?” He paused, listening intently. “Okay, thank you.”

Yan Mu went inside the house. He turned on the lights in the living room; judging by the state of the room, the cleaners had been by. He changed his shoes and went to open the refrigerator. In addition to the two fish, there are a handful of green vegetables which they had picked together earlier in the day.

After closing the refrigerator door, he stuck a hand in his pocket and discovered that the ticket he bought for the movie was still there. After looking at the movie ticket for quite some time, he stood up and went back to his bedroom.

How good would it be… if only Lu Chengyu was here.

♥ ♥

As soon as Lu Chengyu got home, he turned on his computer to check in on the Liang family’s affairs. 

Sure enough, Liang Shi Corporation hired social media influencers to convey their message of contrition and goodwill—that the company had recognized its mistakes and were prepared to reform their behaviour. 

At the same time, these influencers also spread many different incidences of corruption and irresponsible behaviour involving other companies. Between companies that don’t take responsibility for their misdeeds and one that does, the Liang Shi Corporation had conjured a positive image for themselves out of thin air.

Liang Shi Corporation‘s public relations response to the Internet crisis was a little bit slow but their methods would likely have been effective. However, the effectiveness of this strategy relied on the three Liang family members keeping quiet on social media, which, of course, was impossible. Because of their responses to the netizens’ criticism, they had managed to thwart Liang Shi’s public relations campaign.

Now, when someone says something positive about the Liang family, the netizens will instead sarcastically ask questions like, “How high is the salary working for Liang Shi Corporation?” or “What sort of acting credentials are required to get hired by Liang Shi Corporation?”

Seeing these kinds of remarks, Lu Chengyu couldn’t help laughing. 

The cell phone on his desk began ringing. A glance at the call-display before he picked up revealed it was Yan Mu on the line.

“Boss?” He paused. “I’m home,” said Lu Chengyu with a smile. “It’s OK. Please rest assured.”

After hanging up, Lu Chengyu put his cell phone aside, shook his head, and said to himself, “I didn’t expect that the boss looked serious yet had a very conscientious  mind.” 

I didn’t expect that this expressionless boss of mine would be such a worrywart.

Sometimes there are many inconsistencies between a person’s appearance and their true self—this remains true for all humankind. But when considering Yan Mu, the inconsistencies are even larger. Even if Lu Chengyu worked at a hotel for several years in his past life, he still could not see their true self when he met someone like Yan Mu. But such a person, once they become your friend, would treat you so well that even the Heavens would become jealous.

Resolving not to think about Yan Mu any longer tonight, Lu Chengyu posted some more juicy gossip about the Liang family’s misbehaviour, such as how many girlfriends Liang Deyou had made in the past and how domineering he acted.

“If there’s a problem with the upper beam, the lower beam must be crooked [4].” Lu Chengyu felt that the most amazing thing about Liang Deyou is not that he managed to control Liang Shi in the future, but that such a philanderer ended up becoming so infatuated with Chen Jin.

[4] 上梁不正下梁歪 [shàngliángbùzhèngxiàliángwāi]: lit. If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked (idiom); fig. Subordinates imitate their superiors’ vices.

As far as he knew, those unscrupulous, rich second generations will try to find a suitable marriage partner, afterward, would both then find others[5] to have fun. As for the words like infatuation or loyalty, they are mosaicked in their dictionary, which can not be found even with high-power electron microscopes.

[5] like a boyfriend or boy toy or girlfriend, ‘others’ besides their marriage partner

For Liang Deyou to break his habit of messy relationships, really don’t know if it is Chen Jin that’s impressive or that Liang Deyou is just too infatuated.

Lu Chengyu opened his Weibo and watched the number of his fans increase by several hundred thousand. After a little thought, he sent a post.

[May you be blessed year after year]: Today is the last day of the National Day holiday. Students who have not finished their homework during the holiday should hurry up to finish their homework. You should take note that scrolling Weibo will not make you a top scholar and the homework will not be completed automatically.”

In fact, occasionally reminding these fans to study hard and make progress every day is quite enjoyable.

After turning off the computer, Lu Chengyu made a phone call to the executive producer and director Zhang, asking them to help invite the whole drama group to the Jiahua Hotel for the celebration banquet. After getting a positive reply, he hung up.

Later on, he will be investing in the film industry, so he needs to show his attitude. For example, in addition to the originally negotiated salary and remuneration, everyone should be given a bonus or something.

Although he’s spending more money, at least he can form a good relationship. In the future, he can expect more good works.