“What do you think? I’m right, aren’t I?” asked Luo Lin. “I know you’ll never invite her, but you have to agree that she’s the perfect candidate to play the black-hearted ingénue. No one can possibly fit the role better.”
“I guess you are right,” admitted Yan Huan. “She can play this character just by being herself. Not that I would ever agree to inviting her.”
Luo Lin gave her a look that said ‘I knew it’.
“Seems like you hate her with a passion.”
“Of course,” said Yan Huan, who never made an effort to hide her hostility towards Su Muran. “I won’t give her the chance to get famous by riding on the success of my film.”
“Your film hasn’t succeeded yet,” reminded Luo Lin as she leafed through the schedules of a list of actors. “I better check who’s available for the shoot. Most importantly, Liang Chen, Zhou Zizhe, and Qi Haolin.
Qi Haolin, handsome and scholarly and regal, suited the role of the duke the most. Zhou Zizhe’s military background gave him a natural air of authority. It was almost as if these roles were made to fit them. All that was left was to ascertain their availability.
Yan Huan wasn’t too worried about it, however, since she had already told them about the film in advance. Liang Chen and Qi Haolin, absorbed by their love affair, was not like to take on any other offers for now. Zhou Zizhe was also waiting for Yan Huan to finalize her plans.
As expected, when Luo Lin contacted them, they all agreed to star in her film. With the troublesome main cast settled, Luo Lin heaved a sigh of relief. Drafting the secondary cast was relatively simple, since there were always substitutes available if the ones invited turned them down.
Plus, there were so many rookie actors under the company’s name, waiting for their chance to shine.
Luo Lin was more inclined to give the contracted artistes a chance, so that they could progress rapidly and stand on their own.
After a busy day of work, Yan Huan finally got home. At the doorstep, she picked up two bottles of milk and pushed through the door. She then made a call to Lu Yi, asking for the time of his return so she knew when to prepare dinner.
Lu Yi said he would be back around 8 PM. Yan Huan laid down on the sofa, lifting her feet up and huddling her legs together.
“Yes, Aunty, he said he would be back at 8. I would leave dinner to you. For tonight’s dishes, please keep the flavor mild.”
She put her phone aside and began toying with it intermittently. The only thought on her mind was where to source the budget. A bank loan, perhaps?
That wasn’t a bad idea, but she would need a collateral to make it work, and with the huge amount of loan needed… Maybe her husband would make a fine collateral, and she could just redeem him back afterwards.
Her unbridled thoughts wandered freely, and she wasn’t even aware of the nanny’s arrival.
She was still daydreaming by the time Lu Yi reached home, her pretty toes tapping against each other, her thoughts unknown to everyone.
Lu Yi picked up a blanket and wrapped it around her laps.
“It’s dinnertime,” said Lu Yi. He spruced up the loose strands before her face and gave her a light tap on the face to bring her back to earth. “What are you thinking about?”
“I’m thinking; how much would the bank loan me if I use my husband as collateral?”
Lu Yi: “…”
The nanny walked out of the kitchen with the cooked dishes, all prepared according to Yan Huan’s instructions; stir-fried Chinese cabbage, cucumber salad marinated with vinegar, soy sauce, and grounded garlic, seaweed salad, as well as Lu Yi’s favorite braised pork in soy sauce.
“Have a piece,” said Lu Yi, putting a piece of meat into Yan Huan’s bowl, which Yan Huan ate ungraciously. She was too skinny, and the director wanted her to eat more so that she would look like a little fox and not a little monkey. How could she portray a fox spirit with her scrawny figure?
She took a bite out of the meat. It tasted pretty good. Lu Yi had put another piece into her bowl before she could even finish her first.
Yan Huan ate obediently, without a word, so that Lu Yi would stop piling meat into her bowl. If she allowed him to feed her like a farmer feeding a pig, she might have to take the role of a pig spirit instead.
After dinner, Lu Yi took Yan Huan outside for a scroll in the garden. When they were back, he stuffed a card in Yan Huan’s hand.
“Here, for you.”
“What’s this?” asked Yan Huan, examining the card in her hand.
It was a bank card. Was it the budget for her movie?
“The budget for your movie,” said Lu Yi, affirming her suspicions. “There’s a billion inside.” He prodded her forehead. “If it’s not enough, let me know. I’ll figure out something.”
“How did you get a billion RMB?” asked Yan Huan. Her hands tightened around the card, which dug into her palms and sent a twinge of pain up her wrist.
She knew about the situation of the Lu and Lei Family. They had invested everything into the Ye Family’s airport, and currently there hadn’t been any returns yet.
That means they couldn’t have pooled a billion.
If they could, they would have already sent it to the Ye Family to help them.
“I mortgaged Dad and Mom’s house, as well as Dad’s antiques.”
If truth be told, Lu Jin’s antiques were worth a good deal of money, and some could even fetch up to a billion in the future, but now wasn’t the time yet. Even if they sold it, it wouldn’t be worth much.
And Lu Jin treasured those antiques so much so that he would rather sell himself instead. Yet he had submitted them as collateral for a bank loan.
“I cannot accept this,” said Yan Huan, returning the card to Lu Yi. “The house belongs to Dad and Mom. How can I use their home as mortgage?” Even though she was certain she could return the debt by next year, she found it hard to accept the money.
“Take it,” Lu Yi stuffed the card back into her hand. “Mom and Dad both agreed to this.”
“Plus, they are planning on staying somewhere else for a while.”
Lu Yi didn’t spell it out, but Yan Huan understood the meaning behind his words.
“Does this mean Lu Qin and his mother would have to move away?”
“Of course,” said Lu Yi, holding out a finger to push a loose strand of hair behind Yan Huan’s ear. “The house would be temporarily locked up, along with Dad’s antiques. No one would be allowed to live there until the loan is paid off.”
“But where is Mom and Dad going to stay?” Yan Huan knew Ye Shuyun had been looking for a chance to chase Lu Qin and his mother out. They have really crossed the line this time.
“Don’t worry about them, they have other places to stay.”
The Lu Family had a few other vacant houses in Sea City, and they could use any of them. Even if that doesn’t work out, there’s always the option of moving to Lu Yi’s place, or the Lei estate.
