On this deep blue fishtail dress were sewn many small broken diamonds, when swayed under the moonlight, it was like wearing the starry sky all over the body.
Meng Fu stood up straight, took a step back, and said to Li Yue: “I’m fine, really many thanks to Director Li.”
The one who stepped on Meng Fu’s skirt was an old gentleman, who, because of old age, had poor eyesight. Seeing that Meng Fu was fine, he also let out a breath of relief, hurriedly stepped forward, and repeatedly apologized to Meng Fu.
This originally could not even be counted as a big deal, and by a strange twist of fate and a series of coincidences, even allowed her to have contact in advance with this Director Li Yue who was said to give no one face, so it could be considered a blessing in disguise.
Meng Fu felt that Li Yue was not as difficult to approach as people said, and instantly had a few more points of confidence about inviting him to participate in her own program. She patiently soothed this old gentleman, and after he left, she intended to take the opportunity to exchange a few more words with Li Yue — but a familiar director hurriedly ran out from inside the hall, inviting her in to rescue a situation, and Meng Fu could only first leave together with the other party.
Li Yue watched the silhouette of Meng Fu’s leaving figure, his complexion slightly darkening, not knowing what he was thinking about. Gao Xi, watching at the side for a while but seeing nothing, leaned over and asked Li Yue: “Director Li, you actually know her?”
Li Yue, upon hearing this, turned his head, gave Gao Xi a glance, with a bit of disdain in his gaze, said: “Meng Fu ah, you don’t know her? Weren’t you just now calling her ‘Miss Meng’?”
Gao Xi was very surprised. He thought all actors, in Director Li’s eyes, were just tool people; he didn’t expect Director Li could actually remember someone’s name even outside the filming set.
Of course Li Yue remembered Meng Fu. The year he went abroad to study just happened to be the year Meng Fu debuted, and the movie she starred in, Snow Covered the Land, also premiered that year.
Li Yue, on a hot afternoon, watched this movie of Meng Fu’s. Just one glance, and he was attracted by that figure in thin red clothes lying on the vast snowfield, unable to forget. Afterward, he watched every one of her works, wrote long reviews for every role she played, and even edited those classic scenes together, watching them repeatedly. But gradually, Li Yue began to be dissatisfied with just that. He would ponder in his mind what kind of roles would suit Meng Fu, what kind of styling would make her look the most beautiful, how he could shoot her to be the most beautiful, and if he were the director, how he would shoot her.
Why couldn’t he be a director himself?
Thinking of this, Li Yue had a sudden awakening. He was a man of action; after making the decision, he immediately plunged into the directing profession. However, before he finished his studies and returned to the country, Meng Fu had already withdrawn from the circle, and at the same time, there was overwhelming news online about her marrying into a wealthy family. The rumors were vivid and detailed, with even wedding photos appearing. Li Yue, feeling uncomfortable watching it, simply stopped paying attention to this matter.
Unexpectedly, he would meet her here.
Li Yue asked Gao Xi: “Did she come alone?”
“No,” Gao Xi seemed to have seen that beside Meng Fu there was also a little assistant.
Li Yue let out an “oh” sound, said no more, but Gao Xi felt that his expression seemed to have become even uglier than before.
Gao Xi couldn’t make heads or tails of it. Could it be that being touched by a woman triggered a delayed stress reaction?
As soon as Li Yue stepped into Van Erlan Palace, Director Wang greeted him. Director Wang, full name Wang Huaiming, was a bald man, a little older than Li Yue, considered one of his few friends in the circle.
After exchanging a few casual words with Li Yue, he asked: “I heard recently someone is trying to invite you onto a variety show?”
Li Yue didn’t hesitate even a bit, directly said: “What the hell, a director not properly filming and going onto a variety show for what!”
Director Wang laughed and said: “I just knew you would say that. Later when someone comes to ask you, don’t keep that attitude, okay.”
“What’s wrong with my attitude? My attitude is already very good.” Li Yue said. Nowadays really anybody could make a variety show.
Wang Huaiming felt that Li Yue might have some misunderstanding about what “very good attitude” meant. He asked Gao Xi: “Did he eat gunpowder?”
Gao Xi shrugged; he didn’t know either.
Wang Huaiming advised: “Later, just say you have no time. Otherwise, you better not open your mouth, I’ll help you speak.”
Li Yue also didn’t know whether he had listened to Wang Huaiming’s words or not. He very stiffly shifted the topic: “Just now outside, I saw Meng Fu.”
Wang Huaiming nodded and said: “It’s normal for her to come too, probably to pull investment.”
“Pull investment? What investment?” Li Yue looked at Director Wang in confusion and asked, “Wasn’t it said she retired from the circle and married?”
Director Wang gave Li Yue a slightly surprised look and asked him: “Where did you see that?”
Li Yue said: “Back then, the internet was all saying so.”
Director Wang sighed. Was Director Li actually so pure-hearted? He lifted his hand and patted Li Yue’s shoulder, saying to him: “If you believe what’s said online, you’re finished.”
There were always leaks online saying Director Wang had married three wives, bore four children, and among those four children, half weren’t his. It was said with such vividness, and it even updated on time once a month, with all kinds of details as if the leaker had seen it with their own eyes. Director Wang had chased the serial leaks for two years and even developed some feelings for it, almost reluctant to send the leaker into jail.
In fact, all these years, Director Wang had remained without wife or child, and just like Li Yue, had no plans at all to develop romantic relationships between men and women. He had even prepared that when he turned sixty, he would go become a monk.
After Director Wang finished speaking, he paused, and asked Li Yue: “You are very concerned about Meng Fu?”
Li Yue thought about it. These past few years, he didn’t seem to have concerned himself with her much; otherwise, he wouldn’t even not know about this matter. He answered straightforwardly: “No.”
Director Wang didn’t doubt at all the truthfulness of Li Yue’s words. If he had nodded, then he himself would have found it strange.
The enormous crystal chandelier hung at the top of the hall, the marble floor reflecting the hurriedly passing silhouettes of the people.
Meng Fu was upstairs discussing her new project with an investor. This investor was an older lady. She said to Meng Fu: “I have already read your proposal. Every aspect is quite good, but is the final director still not decided yet?”
Meng Fu asked: “What do you think about Li Yue?”
The investor lifted her head to look at her, somewhat surprised: “You want to invite Li Yue to participate in this variety show?”
“What’s wrong? Is there any problem?” Meng Fu asked.
“Meng Fu, ah Meng Fu, you are quite daring to think,” the investor shook her head and sighed, “Last time, there was also a director who wanted to invite Li Yue onto their program. As a result, Li Yue just listened to two sentences, then turned around and left.”
Meng Fu smiled and said: “I want to try. What if?”
Even if Li Yue turned around and left again, she wouldn’t lose anything.
“If you can really invite Li Yue, I’ll add another investment.” Although she said so, the investor felt that this matter was absolutely impossible. That temper of Li Yue’s really didn’t give face to anyone.
Meng Fu could certainly tell what the investor was thinking. She only followed along and said: “That would be wonderful.”
The investor stood up and said to Meng Fu: “I used to cooperate a few times with Wang Huaiming before. Wang Huaiming and Li Yue have a pretty good relationship. Come, I’ll take you downstairs, let you two meet.”
“Troubling you.” Meng Fu said.
Meng Fu followed the investor downstairs. Very soon they found Wang Huaiming and Li Yue chatting idly in a corner. Wang Huaiming didn’t know what he had just said, but the expression on Li Yue’s face immediately became even more foul.
The investor glanced from afar and already knew that Meng Fu today was likely to have come for nothing. But since they were already here, it would be good to at least introduce them; maybe there would be opportunities for cooperation later.
The investor walked over, first greeted Wang Huaiming, and then helped to make introductions.
Director Wang, not knowing about the little incident outside just now, saw Meng Fu sit down next to Li Yue, and joked as a reminder: “Meng Fu, later you have to perk up your spirits. Our Director Li here is famous for being not near color-desires [meaning extremely averse to physical contact or romantic involvement]. Being touched by someone can make him jump three feet high.”
Gao Xi, hearing this, glanced at Director Wang’s direction. What the heck was “not near color-desires”? Could one just invent idioms like that?
“Is that so?” Meng Fu looked at Li Yue with a smile.
Li Yue sat there straight and upright, pressing his lips together without speaking.
Director Wang felt that he seemed a bit off, but for the moment couldn’t quite tell where exactly the problem was, so he said: “He’s just like this, Meng Fu, you just get used to it.”
Meng Fu felt that perhaps she herself had a bit of a problem too — actually feeling that Li Yue like this was a little cute. Probably, in this circle, only she would feel that this director was cute.
She curved the corners of her mouth and said: “Just now on the steps, it was thanks to Director Li lending me a hand.”
Li Yue changed his sitting posture and said in a low voice: “A lift of the hand’s effort.”
Meng Fu inexplicably sensed that Li Yue now seemed a bit nervous.
What was this director nervous about? She wasn’t going to eat people.
Meanwhile, Wang Huaiming was completely confused. He leaned toward Gao Xi beside him and quietly inquired: “When did this happen?”
Gao Xi briefly recounted what had happened just now to Wang Huaiming. Wang Huaiming nodded. For such a thing, it was not strange for Li Yue to lend a hand, but for Meng Fu to want to use this matter to get close to Li Yue was definitely impossible.
Meng Fu casually asked: “I heard that Director Li is recently shooting a movie — what genre?”
Li Yue said: “Ancient times suspense detective.”
Meng Fu asked again: “Is it almost finished shooting?”
“Another half month and we can wrap up.”
Then it would be editing, dubbing, special effects, and such post-production areas, which would still take some time.
Meng Fu continued asking: “Has Director Li thought about when to shoot the next movie?”
“Not yet.”
Li Yue looked as if he wasn’t particularly warm, but he answered every question Meng Fu asked very seriously.
Meng Fu naturally noticed this point — this director was fundamentally not as difficult to approach as the rumors said. She said: “Recently I’m preparing a variety show focused on acting competitions. I wonder if Director Li would be interested in serving as a judge?”
Gao Xi and Wang Huaiming, who had been whispering in private conversation, immediately turned their heads together to look at Li Yue upon hearing these words.
Wasn’t this just too coincidental?
This matter, Wang Huaiming had only just mentioned to Li Yue a moment ago, and now it came.
Only, what Wang Huaiming didn’t expect was — it turned out the person who wanted to invite Li Yue onto a variety show was Meng Fu.
Before Li Yue could open his mouth, Director Wang said: “Li Yue doesn’t really have much time recently.”
“Mm?” Meng Fu had just asked Li Yue; his movie was almost wrapped up, and post-production could still be scheduled.
She asked Li Yue: “Not even a little time?”
Director Wang cut in again: “Whether he has time or not, he wouldn’t agree. He simply can’t do this kind of thing. Before, someone invited him onto that… what was it… ‘Journey to the East’, and even offered ten million per season, yet he didn’t agree.”
Meng Fu smiled and said: “Then I certainly wouldn’t be able to offer that price.”
Director Wang and the investor both laughed, both feeling that this matter was surely going to fall through.
Li Yue — how could he possibly go onto a variety show?
Unless the sun rose from the west.
Hearing the laughter, the two exchanged a glance, and for a moment even generated a faint feeling of mutual sympathy.
And just at this moment, Li Yue, sitting on the sofa, suddenly opened his mouth and asked: “You very much hope for me to go onto this program?”
“Of course.” Meng Fu nodded. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have personally come here.
Li Yue hesitated and said: “Then I’ll consider it.”
The three people at the side who were preparing to clink glasses suddenly lifted their heads, looking at Li Yue as if they had seen a ghost. What did Li Yue just say? He would consider it? Was this something Li Yue himself said? Could it be that he had been put under a spell?
Meng Fu, however, appeared very calm, and asked: “Director Li, which aspect do you feel needs consideration? Regarding remuneration, how much does Director Li feel is appropriate?”
Li Yue, who was born into wealth and nobility, had no interest in money. He said: “I don’t need payment.”
Gao Xi and Wang Huaiming instantly widened their eyes, their faces full of disbelief.
What kind of madness was Li Yue acting out?
Not only agreeing to go on a variety show, but also letting people get a freebie?
His brain, which had been running in a straight line for many years, had finally gone wrong?
As for the investor, she was shockingly looking at Meng Fu.
Had Meng Fu really put a curse on Li Yue?
Meng Fu still didn’t show too much joy.
There’s no free lunch under heaven. If no money was wanted, there must be something else he desired.
Meng Fu asked: “Then what does Director Li want?”
Li Yue looked straight at Meng Fu and asked her: “Could Miss Meng tell me, why back then you retired from the circle?”
Meng Fu tilted her head slightly and asked him: “Must this question be answered?”
Li Yue said: “If it’s hard to answer, then you can not answer.”
Meng Fu smiled and said: “It’s not that. It’s just that compared to acting, I prefer making money.”
Gao Xi at the side opened his mouth wide. Was this something one could say? Meng Fu was being way too direct.
At the time when Meng Fu retired, actor salaries weren’t yet as outrageously high as they are now. But she didn’t regret it either. Right now she earned no less than those so-called top celebrities, and her work was a lot freer.
Li Yue nodded. There was nothing wrong with liking to make money. He asked: “Then could Miss Meng agree to one thing for me?”
“What thing?” Meng Fu asked.
Li Yue said: “Haven’t thought of it yet.”
Meng Fu shook her head: “If it’s not thought out yet, I can’t casually agree.”
Li Yue said: “When the time comes, if Miss Meng feels it’s difficult, you can also refuse.”
Meng Fu smiled and said: “Then it seems like I’m taking advantage.”
“I don’t mind.” When Li Yue said this, there was a shallow smile in his eyes — even he himself didn’t notice it.
Gao Xi, standing at the side, was practically stunned listening to this. Why did it sound like flirting? Was this really their Director Li, that man known for being “not near color-desires”? Was the sun really going to rise from the west?
Meng Fu and Li Yue, after just a few words back and forth, settled this matter. Only, the contract would still take two days to draft. Li Yue said he didn’t need a pay, but Meng Fu wouldn’t really let him work for free. What should be given, still had to be given.
The two of them sat on the sofa, chatting about the flow of the variety show. Chatting and chatting, the topic drifted a bit.
Li Yue talked about interesting things from the filming set, about actors’ acting skills — but inevitably started talking about the underperforming younger generation.
Director Li was like a blowfish — Meng Fu personally saw how he gradually puffed himself up little by little.
Ordinarily, when people saw this Director Li getting angry, they would hide as far away as possible. Meng Fu, perhaps due to ignorance leading to fearlessness, instead grabbed a glass of juice and handed it to Li Yue.
Gao Xi’s inner alarm bells were clanging crazily. Every time Director Li lost his temper, if someone dared to interrupt, he would only get even angrier. Even something just agreed upon might collapse on the spot.
Seeing that Li Yue was still nagging nonstop, completely not noticing her action, Meng Fu simply shoved the juice directly into his hand, and advised: “Don’t be angry anymore. There are still a lot of good young actors. If you carefully search, you’ll definitely find suitable ones.”
Gao Xi couldn’t hear what Meng Fu said, he only saw the movement of her touching Director Li’s fingers — and in his mind instantly flashed a string of “Danger Danger Danger Danger Danger.”
Gao Xi’s whole body tensed, ready to rush forward at any time to mediate — but in the end, what he saw was:
Li Yue lowered his eyes to glance at the juice in his hand, then he even took a sip, and nodded, saying: “You’re right.”
Meng Fu responded with an “mm,” and then said: “I have a file on the new generation of actors. If you need it, I can send it to you when I get back.”
Li Yue nodded again, and on the spot exchanged contact information with Meng Fu.
Gao Xi: “……”
Turns out, I am the one unworthy.
Gao Xi, Wang Huaiming, and the producer — the three of them just sat across from them, staring wide-eyed and dumbstruck at the scene before them.
What was this?
The “not near color-desires” blowfish leaked air this easily?
Director Li, are you aware your persona is about to collapse?
After the drinking party dispersed and they came out of Van Erlan Palace, Gao Xi, after getting into the car, asked Li Yue: “Director Li, why did you agree to go on Miss Meng’s variety show? Didn’t you say before that only people so idle their balls hurt would go on variety shows?”
Li Yue turned his head and glanced at Gao Xi, then immediately said with perfect confidence:
“I’m so idle my balls hurt now, isn’t that allowed?”
“Allowed allowed allowed!”
Gao Xi was practically speechless to death. Who would dare say he wasn’t allowed.