Chapter 53: CH 39.2

Some people made excuses for Director Li, saying that he was only a director so they should scold the scriptwriter instead, but then another group of people spread the news that Li Dongxing both wrote and directed the film himself!

So another swarm of bees began to condemn Li Dongxing and scolded him non-stop, but there were others who had a different opinion: “Oh, don’t say that! This Director Li is quite talented.  Several of his recent films were also written and directed by him. The plots were excellent and the characters were outstanding. Another point is that the execution of the story is also very good!  Truly, a talented man!”

At first, when this kind of public opinion came out, a lot of  people were not convinced. They still picked on him, saying that the script he loved was not well-written! But soon, someone said: “Bad? Just what did you watch? A blowing fart? Don’t forget that Shen Li is also Li Dongxing’s ‘son’.  If he didn’t have that kind of plot, would we come to love Shen Li so much?”

The melon eaters  1woke up once again, and the crowd started echoing those words: “Hey, that’s right! If not for Li Dongxing, would Chen Li even exist? He’s really a talent, given how he was able to give birth to our favorite character!”

So, Li Dongxing was whitewashed again and again, and  somehow, he became a director who was more famous than C-list actors.

The advantage of the said fire was that the number of sponsors who wanted to invest on his future films could probably break through the door of his small apartment. (t/n: in a figurative way.)

Li Dongxing was initially angry at Xu Fei for leading the battle, but now, he wanted to thank her.

The movie ranked high, and so, he instantly gave an instruction to the whole cast and crew to follow suit on fueling the fire.

Xu Fei also got convinced by Director Li’s idea. And merely doing what she was told to do, she really showed the other’s on how to go about on the director’s plan.

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Xie Jianwei, the person who made the biggest contribution, was currently throwing scripts to the floor: Don’t want to act in this one, don’t want to act in that one. Why is it that Lu Li hasn’t locked me up yet? I don’t want to works anymore and just want to become a salted fish.  2

Yan Ke wanted to sarcastically say to Xie Jianwei: It must have been a hard work for you, Military Advisor Xie.

Xie Jianwei looked at the time and wanted to find Lu Li, but as soon as he went out, Yán Kè  blocked him.

“My ancestor!” He took a notebook in his hand and flicked it like a pimp in the red light district.

Xie Jianwei looked at him: “What’s wrong?”

Yán Kè  flushed with excitement: “You’re going to Film Emperor Lu?”

Xie Jianwei nodded and said: “Yes.”

Yán Kè : “I have some good, no— some great news!”

Xie Jianwei waited for him to finish, and Yán Kè  excitedly said after a while: “I got an inside information that Film Emperor Lu invested in a new film directed by Hossenfeld!”

Xie Jianwei knew what this man was going for.

Yán Kè  continued: “Why don’t you go and get a role? Doesn’t matter if the character you got doesn’t have any lines! You just need to show your face!  That is X-Lywood film you know? If you can partake in this movie, you career will definitely pierce through sky instantly!”

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it won’t be too tiring.  With Emperor Lu Li being the investor, you won’t be ostracized by others. This film is like a pie dropped from the sky!”

Xie Jianwei considered Yán Kè ’s proposal for a moment. It seemed like he hadn’t requested anything from Lu Li recently, so in the end, he agreed: “Okay. I’ll try.”

“Don’t just try!” Yán Kè ’s eyes were sparkling. “Make sure that you’ll get it! While on bed, when that Film Emperor Lu Li is nearing climax just say …”

Yan Ke was crying: [My Lord, this is really not me, I’m not … oh … goodness …]

Xie Jianwei was rather amused: [You said that Yán Kè  is how Lu Li sees you…so in his perspective, you…]

Yan Ke quickly said: [No, this is not me in the Marshal’s perspective; it must be that bad “thing” doing some dirty tricks!]

Xie Jianwei smiled and squinted:  [Maybe … ]

Yan Ke wanted to cry, secretly swearing that after they return to reality, he must perform well in front of the Marshal!

Yán Kè  on the other hand, was very excited and said that he could send Xie Jianwei to meet Emperor Lu Li.

Xie Jianwei was too lazy to drive, so he agreed.

In the car, Yán Kè  made an 800-word speech about how they could obtain their “infinitely beautiful future”. Xie Jianwei listened carefully with the mindset that this was also an opportunity to learn. He knows how lacking he was in affairs about love, and Yán Kè  obviously knows better than him.

After his nagging, Yán Kè  inexplicably thought of another topic: “I don’t know who Bai Song offended …”

Well, Xie Jianwei knew.

Yán Kè : “A video of him being a kept man by some married woman popped out and he couldn’t get it deleted no matter what.  It turns out that she was Wan Jia, that experienced director’s, wife! The more crucial point was that she got pregnant by Bai Song, and in addition to making the director wear a green hat, that cheating couple nearly made him the child’s father! Goodness! If I was Director Wan, I’ll want him dead.”

Xie Jianwei didn’t care much about this topic. That Bai Song angered Lu Li, so he shouldn’t think that he’ll be left alive by that man.

Yán Kè  continued: “It’s good that you didn’t introduced that kid to Film Emperor Lu , otherwise, we would have faced some unfortunate consequences because of that kid… I really didn’t expect him—”

Xie Jianwei suddenly looked at Yán Kè  and cut him off mid-sentence: “What you said just now,  don’t mention it ever again. Ever.” (t/n:XJW was talking about that time when “he” tried to introduce BS to LL. Imagine what would happen if LL came to know that….)

Yán Kè  froze for a moment.

“Did you hear me?”asked Xie Jianwei.

“U-understand, I understand! I’ll never say it again!” Yán Kè  said frantically as he grasped the steering wheel.

He wasn’t scared because of the subsequent impact of that incident, but because of Xie Jianwei.

That chilly look just now was enough to make even his liver tremble. Did Xie Jianwei always have this terrifying side in him?

Yán Kè  suddenly felt that perhaps, he hadn’t truly understood this young man.

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Lu Li wasn’t in their suite at the Wenlier Hotel. It was possible that the latter was still busy, so Xie Jianwei just went to the kitchen.

Regardless of his cooking skills, this is one of the ways to please his  Gold Master, and Lu Li really likes to eat the food he makes.

Xie Jianwei was frying steak in a good mood. (t/n: it’s steak again lmao)

Yan Ke became distressed for the Marshal: What could he do? Since it was his young wife who made it, forget steak — even if it’s just a dish made out of paper, the Marshal would still probably eat all of it with a smile on his face.

But of course, Military Advisor Xie’s skills had gotten better as of recently.

Upon Lu Li’s arrival, he smelled the aroma as soon as he entered the suite. He took off his coat and saw Xie Jianwei who was busy in the kitchen.

Lu Li’s eyes darkened slightly, and he went to the study next door.

Xie Jianwei heard a sound and looked back: “Senior, you’re back?”

Lu Li: “I still have something to deal with.”

Xie Jianwei raised his voice and said, “Okay, I’ll make another dish for you.”

He then searched his phone for some recipes his eyes caught a certain dish: This Red Wine Beef Stew  seems like a fairly easy dish to make… Well, doesn’t matter. Let’s just try doing it.

—On the study—

Lu Li did have some work to do, but he could only sit on his chair, doing nothing because he couldn’t concentrate at all. The black letters printed in the white paper in front of him were far inferior to the hair of that man in the kitchen.

Xie Jianwei, Xie Jianwei, Xie Jianwei.

Lu Li pulled off his tie and leaned back, and he stared at the ceiling in a daze.

What to do? He was becoming more and more obsessed. He really wanted him.  As long as he thinks of him, he couldn’t care less about anything.

How can I love someone to this point?

This is beyond expectations…

Lu Li threw away the work in his hand and went to take a shower.

When he came out, Xie Jianwei just happened to serve the meal: “Come and try these. I think it’s not bad.”

Lu Li wanted to say with a straight face: Don’t do these things in the future. Just directly go to the dining hall downstairs to order something. But these words had lingered on his mouth for several days now, and he still couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Xie Jianwei sat across from him, and looked at him without blinking: “Is it delicious?”

Lu Li couldn’t taste what the food was supposed to taste at all, but all he could think about was that it is delicious.

The person who made these dishes is good, so everything he does is also good.

But how could he dare utter such words? So he only whispered: “It’s okay.”

“Then I’ll try cooking another dish next time.”

Lu Li though of something and looked up at Xie Jianwei: “I have a role in my hand that is quite suitable for you.”

Xie Jianwei asked: “What is it?”

Lu Li said: “Hossenfeld’s new film needs a person hailing from the east. Do you want to try out?”

Xie Jianwei immediately showed a surprised face: “Director Hossenfeld?!”

Lu Li’s face sank: “Hmm.”

“Yes! I definitely want to!”

Lu Li bowed his head to eat: “I will make the arrangements for you.”

Xie Jianwei paused for a moment and then he said: “I … I didn’t cook for you just so I could get a role.”

Lu Li: “…”

Xie Jianwei cleared his throat and continued: “I … I like cooking for you.”

Lu Li asked him: “Why?”

Xie Jianwei smile reached his eyes: “Because I think you’re quite fond of eating.”

Lu Li gritted his teeth tightly, and avoided his sight.

I like to eat because I like the person who cooks these meals.

Can’t Xie Jianwei even understand that?

Perhaps he does, but he just doesn’t want to accept such feelings coming from him.

Lu Li couldn’t taste the food properly in the first place,  but now, he felt like he’s chewing some wax.

But even so, Lu Li still ate it all.

And Xie Jianwei naturally served him well that night…

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Lu Li worked in an extremely efficient manner and thus, Xie Jianwei received some news from him in just two days.

Yán Kè  immediately told him the news in an overly excited manner: “Oh my god, Ah-Wei! It’s not a minor character, not a cannon fodder and not even a supporting one, but  rather,  you got a major role with an important part to play!”

Xie Jianwei said: “That is indeed good.”

“What do you mean by ‘good’? This—this is amazing!” Yán Kè  was like a person who was caught in fire as he couldn’t sit still because of excitement, “Emperor Lu Li is really generous, too generous!”

Xie Jianwei was a little worried: “This role has a lot of scenes. Does that mean I have to go to M country and stay there for half a year?”

Yán Kè  said: “Oh, I have to accompany you. Okay, no more chatting, and let’s go home. I have to hurry and pack my belongings.”

Xie Jianwei: “…”

Xie Jianwei felt very bored when he thought of being separated from Lu Li for such a long time.

But the plot needs it to be so.

He hadn’t left yet, but Xie Jianwei already began to experience the pain of lovesickness.

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Lu Li also came to Feihuang 3in order to discuss some official business and immediately after the meeting, he went straight to the underground parking. He was about to get in his car, but then he saw Xie Jianwei’s car and realized that the latter was also in the company.

He looked at his watch and saw that it was getting late. Since that was the case, he thought that he might as well wait for Xie Jianwei and pick him up.

As soon the elevator’s doors opened, he saw Xie Jianwei and Yán Kè  walking out together.

Yán Kè  had calmed down during the past few days. Although he still kept having some dreams about  X-Lywood, his excitement had somewhat gone down.

Seeing that Xie Jianwei was in low spirit, he asked: “It’s hard to obtain such a major role, and still, you got one. But why aren’t you happy?”

Xie Jianwei glanced at him: “I don’t want to go to M country.”

Yán Kè  asked: “Why? Do you know how many Chinese actors dreamed of going there?!”

“But how am I supposed to see Senior every day if I have to stay there for months?”

Lu Li who was nearby, happened to hear Xie Jianwei’s words and his heart started beating wildly.

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Translator’s note(s):

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