Translator: Dj22031
Editor: Dj22031
Advance chapters available for patrons on Patreon. And a chapter can be sponsored by buying me a ko-fi.
At lunch time, Lu Chengyu looked at the table full of various farm delicacies, three of which were made of fish ingredients, fish head tofu soup[1], boiled fish[2], and pickled fish[3]. Their colors were not as exquisite as those in the big hotel, but people couldn’t help but salivate on seeing them at a glance, and he could even smell the sour aroma of pickled fish.
“It’s rare for everyone to get together like today, so let’s have a drink,” Zhuang Yu picked up the wine that the farmer brewed himself, “Brothers and Xiao Lu are so familiar with each other, so I don’t need to introduce him to you again.”
The other few people raised their glasses with a smile and made a few jokes, but they had already included Lu Chengyu in their circle of people.
Lu Chengyu was not a person who pretended to be noble. When someone offered him an olive branch, he was willing to accept it. He picked up the wine glass and stood up and said, “Since you are older than me, I will shamelessly call you brothers. I will drink this glass of wine first as a sign of respect.” After saying that, he raised his neck and drank it.
Everyone present knew that Lu Chengyu was Yan Mu’s assistant and a student who had just graduated. So after he drank the glass of wine first, although several people cheered for Lu Chengyu’s straightforwardness, no one continued to pour him wine. Instead, they started to taste the dishes together and chat about the big and small things that happened recently.
“Among us, Lao Zhuang and Brother Mu should be the proudest,” Qi Jingfeng was also a well-known figure in the capital and had a close relationship with Yan Mu and the other three. He said with a bit of envy, “You are all successful people, unlike me, who is still idle and uses the family’s money to run a small company. By the way, the popular movie “Flying Bird” these days has made you a lot of money, Lao Zhuang. I heard that the box office is almost over 400 million. Is it true?”
Zhuang Yu chuckled a few times, obviously in a very good mood, “This was really an accident. When I was introduced to it, I thought the box office might exceed 100 million, but I didn’t expect it to be so popular.”
“Isn’t it just a movie with a cost of several million? Can it make so much money?” Qi Jingfeng frowned, “The movie I invested in last year cost tens of millions, and I almost lost my money.”
“It can’t be helped,” Zhuang Yu shook his head. “Investing in movies depends on luck and vision. This popular movie can sell well now, first because it has many highlights, and second because all the movies released recently are big-budget costume movies, and the audience is a little tired of it. During the holidays, who wants to watch those empty and depressing blockbusters? It’s better to watch something interesting and relaxing. So this “Flying Bird” is the only small vegetable in a table of greasy meat. How can it not sell well?”
As the investor in this movie, Lu Chengyu smiled and listened to the conversation between the two. He had discussed with Zhuang Yu about delaying the release of “Flying Bird” in theaters. According to the current momentum, the box office should be around 1 billion when it finished its run, not to mention the funds from the major TV stations and online broadcasting platforms. Thinking that he would soon become a billionaire, he felt comfortable all over.
In his previous life, the total box office of “Flying Bird” was only nearly 900 million, which may be because the cinema did not promote it in the early stage. In this life, he cooperated with Zhuang Yu, who helped promote the film in the cinema. Moreover, because he did not interfere with the filming, the effect of the whole film was better than in the previous life, and it was not surprising that he made more money.
“But this is too evil,” Qi Jingfeng lit a cigarette and held it between his fingertips. He took a puff and remembered that Yan Mu and Zhang Zeyun did not smoke, so he put it out again, “Who is the investor of this play? He is so lucky that I am jealous.”
“They don’t want to disclose it, and I can’t say anything about it,” Zhuang Yu didn’t even look in Lu Chengyu’s direction, picked up a piece of fish belly meat and tasted it, and said with a smile, “The fish caught by Xiao Lu tastes good, brothers, let’s all try it.”
“I just complained a little. Anyway, whoever makes money will not share it with me. There is no point in asking,” Qi Jingfeng picked up a chopstick of fish meat and put it in the bowl, and said to Lu Chengyu, “Xiao Lu’s fishing level is higher than Lao Zhuang. Lao Zhuang now has a rival.” He was a smart man and knew the rules in the circle. Since Zhuang Yu did not find it easy to say, he would not ask anymore.
Lu Chengyu smiled and said, “I’ve been fishing since I was a child. I have more than ten years of experience. The fish that died on my hook can circle this farmhouse.” He tasted the fish meat, “But there are still so many fish left. Let’s take them back later?”
“Bullsh*t, you’re just bragging. Why don’t you say that the fish you caught are like a certain brand of milk tea, which can circle the earth twice?” Zhuang Yu smiled and continued, pointing to the table full of dishes, “Let’s finish this table of dishes first.”
Zhang Zeyun glanced at Zhuang Yu. He always felt that Zhuang Yu seemed to be a little bit wrong since noon today. He didn’t communicate much with Brother Mu throughout the whole process. And Brother Mu was the same. Usually he liked quietness and didn’t like to join in the fun. Why did he come here today?
Lu Chengyu chuckled, “The earth is too big and my fish is too small, they can’t do it.” Turning around, he saw that Yan Mu had been eating fish almost exclusively since the meal started, and had hardly touched the other dishes, so he said to him, “Boss, I think the fried bacon and cauliflower[4] is delicious, you should try it.”
Upon hearing that, Yan Mu stretched out his chopsticks and picked up two pieces, one of the bacon and one of the cauliflower. After eating, he nodded to Lu Chengyu, “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me for such a small thing,” Lu Chengyu smiled, “You took care of me twice when I was drunk. If you’re so polite to me, wouldn’t I have to repay you with my body?” As an employee, he was really flattered that the boss was so polite and courteous.
“Ahem,” Yan Mu’s face suddenly turned red due to the food in his throat. Seeing that he was so uncomfortable that he couldn’t even speak, Lu Chengyu hurriedly scooped a bowl of chicken soup for him to drink several mouthfuls. Seeing that he felt much better, he said, “Are you okay?”
Yan Mu shook his head very calmly, put down the soup bowl and wiped his mouth with a tissue: “It’s okay, thank you…” Thinking of what Lu Chengyu said just now, he swallowed the word “thank you” at the end and continued to stretch out his chopsticks to pick up the pickled fish.
Seeing that Yan Mu seemed to be going for the fish today, Lu Chengyu raised his eyebrows and turned his head to pick up his favorite food. After all, watching others eat was still very annoying. What if such a good boss’s impression of him dropped to a negative value, it would be a tragedy.
Zhang Zeyun found that Zhuang Yu was looking at Brother Mu again, so he couldn’t help but scan the two of them with a suspicious look. Could it be that the two of them had a conflict today? But with Brother Mu’s personality, it would be very difficult for Lao Zhuang to successfully have a conflict with him.
After finishing the meal, all the people in the room felt a little full. Lu Chengyu looked at the slightly bright autumn sun outside the window, smelled the faint sweet-scented osmanthus fragrance, turned his head and said to Yan Mu: “My colleagues seem to be very satisfied with the Mid-Autumn mooncakes this time.”
“Well,” Yan Mu paused and asked hesitantly, “Will you still work in the company in the future?”
“If not in the company, where?” Lu Chengyu didn’t think much when he first spoke, and it took him a few seconds to react to Yan Mu’s question. Did the other party feel that he had made a lot of money by investing in movies, so he would be unwilling to work in Huading anymore?
“Other things are interests, and working in Huading is my serious job,” Lu Chengyu felt that he needed to show his loyalty to his boss, so he said in a joking tone, “I am at least a representative of this year’s School of Economics and Management of Q University. If I don’t mix in the business world in the future, how will I face the teachers and alumni association of my alma mater in the future?”
“Well, I can’t bear to part with you either,” Yan Mu seemed to feel that his words were a little inappropriate, and added, “You are a rare good employee, and Huading needs you.”
“Then boss, you must give me a thick red envelope during the Chinese New Year this year. With money, I will be more motivated,” Lu Chengyu said with a smile, “It’s so boring to not get a red envelope during the Chinese New Year.”
Yan Mu nodded seriously: “Okay.” He thought about it, “After this year, I will give you a raise.” The work ability shown by Lu Chengyu had exceeded the salary level he received.
The release of “Flying Bird” had also increased the exposure of Huading’s products. The data report below showed that the sales amount had been increasing significantly recently, and these were all the benefits brought by this movie.
Under the other party’s serious eyes, Lu Chengyu felt a little embarrassed. He coughed dryly and pointed to the grape trellis outside and said, “Let’s go sit there and drink some tea. There’s nothing interesting in the house.”
Yan Mu stood up and took two steps towards the door. Seeing Lu Chengyu still sitting, he asked, “Aren’t you going?”
“Let’s go,” Lu Chengyu reacted, stood up and was about to follow him. Zhuang Yu on the side came forward, hooked his arm around his shoulder and said, “I’ll go with you. They’re going to play mahjong later. I’m not interested in that. Why don’t I chat with you for a while?”
“Okay,” Lu Chengyu asked the others, and after hearing that they all said they wouldn’t go, he put his hand around Zhuang Yu’s shoulder and said, “Let’s go.”
Zhuang Yu laughed and pretended not to see Yan Mu’s gaze on his shoulder. He maintained the posture of Lu Chengyu’s arm around his shoulder and walked all the way to the grape trellis before letting go of his stiff arm. He consciously chose a seat on the side, watching Yan Mu sitting between him and Lu Chengyu, and silently accepted the bold guess that he had never dared to believe before.
Halfway through the tea, Zhuang Yu took advantage of Lu Chengyu going to the toilet to look at Yan Mu hesitantly for several times, and finally made up his mind: “Brother Mu, Xiao Lu…”
“What’s wrong with him?” Yan Mu slowly turned his head to look at him.
He laughed dryly twice and felt that he seemed unable to continue asking the matter, so he said: “Very good.”
“Yeah,” Yan Mu nodded, and said very seriously, “So I will train him to become a backbone elite under my company.”
“It’s good to train him into an elite,” Zhuang Yu nodded repeatedly, “Elite is good.”
Yan Mu turned the teacup in his hand around and continued in a calm tone: “I like him too.”
Zhuang Yu: “…”
Yan Mu picked up the teacup and took a sip, turned around and looked at the path leading to the toilet. Lu Chengyu was walking around the corner, and he curled his lips slightly, “I’m serious.”
He opened his mouth, but Zhuang Yu didn’t know what to say. From an ethical point of view, as a friend, he hoped that Yan Mu would find a virtuous and gentle woman to spend the rest of his life with. But emotionally, he hoped Yan Mu could find someone who would suit his heart. No matter who the other person was, as long as the two were together sincerely, supporting each other and living happily for the rest of their lives, that would be for the best.
And he also knew that Lu Chengyu was not a pretty boy or a phoenix man. No matter from which angle, Lu Chengyu was the type that should be popular with the opposite sex. In this respect, Brother Mu may be slightly inferior to Lu Chengyu.
Damn, thinking about it, why do I feel like Brother Mu is a toad wanting to eat swan meat?
He shook his head and finally just sighed: “Xiao Lu is very good, but does he know what you are thinking?”
Yan Mu drank tea without saying a word, but Zhuang Yu, who was familiar with him, knew that Yan Mu was a serious person. People with this kind of advantage also have a problem, that was, once they had determined something, let alone eight horses, even sixteen horses couldn’t pull them back.
He sighed again, turned around and saw Lu Chengyu chatting with a young girl not far away. It seemed that the girl was pretty good.
Suddenly, he looked at Yan Mu with a bit of sympathy in his eyes.
“That’s his college classmate,” Yan Mu glanced at Zhuang Yu calmly, without any impatience on his face.
“How do you know?” Zhuang Yu was surprised.
“I’ve seen his graduation photo,” Yan Mu narrowed his eyes, “This girl is also in the photo. If they had anything, it should have happened long ago.”
Although he believed in Yan Mu’s memory, Zhuang Yu still couldn’t help asking back: “What if this girl has a crush on Xiao Lu, but Xiao Lu doesn’t know what to do?”
Yan Mu touched the teacup, glanced at the girl next to Lu Chengyu, and his tone was still calm: “Then it’s impossible for them to be together.”
Just when Zhuang Yu was sighing in his heart that Yan Mu was still as calm as ever, he felt a black shadow flash beside him, and when he looked up, he saw Yan Mu striding towards Lu Chengyu.
Tsk, pretending so much, he almost believed it.
He said that secretly being jealous should be a necessary skill for every secret admirer. No matter how powerful Brother Mu was, he couldn’t escape the laws of nature.
So, although God was a little biased when creating humans, it was generally fair.
Guys, ads are my only source of revenue, so please do not turn on the AdBlock when you are accessing this website…. Thank you, this would be a great help…
You can buy me a ko-fi and sponsor a chapter on: https://ko-fi.com/midnightrambles
Or become a Patron on: https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=45665005
If you support me, I would be able to provide more chapters….
Previous • Table of Contents • Next
