Chapter 41: Mimi: Shi Shi, your buttons are misaligned
Page 1 of 3
The newcomer was a woman with extraordinarily beautiful bone structure. Her features were small and exquisite, carrying the innocent charm of a young girl without losing the allure of a mature woman—a perfect fusion of youthful delicacy and heroic spirit.
Her features were striking. She had an elegant, petite nose, lively and expressive eyes, and full lower eyelids that added to her allure. Her eyes seemed to hold countless stories, while her delicate brows highlighted her gentleness and poise, giving her an unmistakable air of灵气—of vivid, almost otherworldly charm.
She was Zhou Xun, one of the Four Dans and Two Bings, known by such nicknames as “Brother Xun” and “Young Master Zhou.”
But in Zhang Li’s eyes, she was a glittering gift from the future.
If he could touch her, how much of the future would he be able to foresee?
Zhang Li had no interest in exhausting himself with guesses. He went straight for the answer.
“Hello, Brother Xun. I’m your fan. May I shake your hand and take a picture with you?”
The moment Zhou Xun took her seat, Zhang Li leaned toward her with a smile.
“Hm?”
Fatigue was plainly visible on Zhou Xun’s face, and his request made her frown instinctively.
She had two films about to be released, and her schedule had been exceptionally hectic. Her body was exhausted.
At the airport, she had spent the entire time signing autographs and taking photographs with fans. By the time she reached first class, all she wanted was to sleep. She had never expected someone to approach her again.
Her slightly sharp gaze swept over Zhang Li’s face, and Zhou Xun paused.
At her current status, she had worked with countless handsome men in the entertainment industry.
Zhang Li’s face was more than handsome enough to rank among the best of them.
His eyes seemed capable of speech, the kind that people remembered at a glance.
More importantly, he was still very young.
“Of course.”
A smile appeared on Zhou Xun’s face.
Even exhaustion seemed easier to bear after encountering such a handsome young man.
Zhang Li sat down beside her, took out his phone, and snapped a selfie, flashing a victory sign.
Once the photograph had been taken, he naturally reached out and shook her hand.
In that instant, time seemed to freeze, and countless pieces of information blossomed before his eyes.
[Zhou Xun, born on October 18, 1974...]
[In 1991... In 2000, she rose to prominence through... In 2002, she won the Popular Film Hundred Flowers Award for Best Actress... In 2003, she released her debut album... In 2005, she won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress...]
[In 2008, on September 19, the dramatic film The Equation of Love and Death, co-starring Deng Chao and Wang Baoqiang, was released. For this film, she won the Golden Rooster Award for Best Actress, the Best Actress award at the Capital College Student Film Festival, and numerous other honors. The film’s awards and critical reception... Extensive media coverage and online discussion...]
[On September 26, the romantic fantasy film Painted Skin, led by Zhou Xun, Chen Kun, and Zhao Wei, was released. She played Xiao Wei, the Nine Heavens Fox Spirit. The role earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards, while the film’s box office reached 230 million...]
[In December, the romantic comedy All About Women, co-starring Gwei Lun-mei and Zhang Yuqi, was released... She then joined the espionage film The Message, starring Li Bingbing, Huang Xiaoming, and Zhang Hanyu. The film was released on September 29, 2009, and earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the forty-sixth Golden Horse Awards, among other honors...]
[On January 22, 2010, the historical drama Confucius, co-starring Zhou Yunfa, was released... In February, the historical martial-arts film True Legend, co-starring Zhao Wenzhuo and Jay Chou, premiered. In July, the Blu-ray edition of the documentary Homeland was released...]
[In August, she ended her management contract with Huayi Brothers.]
“Hiss.”
Zhang Li sighed inwardly.
Sure enough, he had been right. Zhou Xun, one of the Four Dans and Two Bings, was a glittering gift package.
Page 1 of 3
Page 2 of 3
Through her, he had learned in advance how The Equation of Love and Death and Painted Skin would perform after their releases.
More importantly, he now knew that she would soon appear in The Message toward the end of the year—a highly successful film that would win numerous awards.
Still, judging from All About Women, Confucius, and True Legend, Zhou Xun was hardly guaranteed success with every film.
“Ending her management contract with Huayi Brothers means she won’t renew it and has chosen to move elsewhere.”
“If my company were powerful enough right now, I could try to recruit her. That would certainly be useful information. Unfortunately, it’s of no use to me at present.”
Countless thoughts flashed through Zhang Li’s mind, but his expression remained perfectly calm as he returned to his seat.
He closed his eyes and began digesting the information, paying particular attention to future films such as The Message and True Legend.
The Message had performed remarkably well. He wanted to see whether there was any way for him to have a hand in it.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the aircraft you are traveling on...”
Only when the announcement came over the plane’s speakers did Zhang Li open his eyes again.
Once the aircraft had come to a complete stop, he rose at once. As he passed Zhou Xun, he smiled faintly.
“Sister Xun, until we meet again.”
A flicker passed through Zhou Xun’s eyes. She reached into her arms and took out a postcard.
“Here. An autographed photograph for you.”
“Thank you.”
Zhang Li had not expected such an unexpected bonus. He accepted the photograph.
Zhou Xun gave a slight nod, then casually put on her sunglasses. Her entire aura changed in an instant.
After she left, Zhang Li turned the photograph over and found a phone number written on the back.
“Tsk.”
He rubbed his cheek and casually slipped the photograph into his laptop bag.
After leaving the plane, he crossed the terminal and headed straight for the temporary passenger drop-off and pickup area outside the exit.
“Brother Li!”
From the front passenger seat of a business van, Xiao Yu leaned out of the window and waved at him.
Behind the wheel sat Xiao Tang, the former soldier Zhang Li had hired as his driver.
“What are you doing here?”
When Zhang Li opened the rear door of the van, he found someone inside whom he had not expected.
“What? You’re not happy to see me?”
Liu Shishi withdrew her smile and pretended to be displeased.
“Are you hiding some secret you don’t want me to know about?”
She wore a short skirt with a white blouse, her hair tied into a bun. Her fair cheeks carried a rosy flush, and she wore black-rimmed glasses. She radiated an overwhelming sense of youthful charm, clearly having taken great care with her appearance.
“No.”
Zhang Li climbed into the van and sat beside her. After closing the door, he embraced her at once, a brilliant smile spreading across his face.
“I’m just too pleasantly surprised.”
“Didn’t you say you had scenes to shoot today? I was even planning to hurry back to Hengdian to see you.”
“I never imagined you would come to the airport to pick me up. This is what people mean by running toward one another, isn’t it?”
As he spoke, Zhang Li leaned close to Liu Shishi’s ear and whispered, “Nianci, I’ve missed you so much.”
Liu Shishi was hopelessly vulnerable to flirtation. Her entire face immediately turned bright red.
“Behave yourself.”
She raised a hand to block Zhang Li’s face.
“There’s no one here to see us,” Zhang Li replied.
Page 2 of 3
Page 3 of 3
The front and rear sections of the van were separated by a partition, so under normal circumstances the driver could not see what was happening behind him.
“Even if we did something, it wouldn’t matter.”
Zhang Li tightened his embrace.
“Don’t you dare!”
Liu Shishi’s beautiful eyes glimmered with both reproach and bashfulness, her expression coy and inviting.
Zhang Li reached out, pinched her delicate cheek, and turned her face toward him.
He had never been one to win arguments with words. He preferred to prove himself through action.
“Mmm…”
Feeling the touch of his lips, Liu Shishi’s delicate body trembled.
The next moment, sensing his fierce, burning passion, she closed her eyes.
[You and Zhang Li share a passionate kiss. Kissing skill +1; telepathic rapport +1.]
[Liu Shishi and you...]
The noisy sounds outside did nothing to disturb them. If anything, they only made them more fervent.
Smack!
“Keep your hands to yourself!”
More than an hour later, Zhang Li’s van entered Hengdian World Studios and arrived at the set of Chinese Paladin 3.
Bang!
Zhang Li and Liu Shishi stepped out of the vehicle one after another.
Both wore faint smiles.
No one could have guessed that not long before, they had nearly allowed their reunion after a long separation to carry them away.
“Hello, hello!”
Having received word of their arrival in advance, Yang Mi and Tang Yan approached beneath umbrellas, still dressed in costume.
“Sister Mi, Miss Zixuan, it’s been a long time.”
Zhang Li beamed at the two women.
“Oh, so you’re playing favorites now?”
Yang Mi reached out and slapped him on the shoulder.
“I’m only Sister Mi, while Tangtang gets to be Miss Zixuan?”
“If you don’t like it, Sister Mi, I can change it.”
Zhang Li dodged Yang Mi’s mischievous hand.
“Why don’t I call you Little Sister, and you call me Big Brother Yang?”
“Are you asking to die?”
Yang Mi struck him even harder.
The four of them interacted as though no barriers had ever existed between them.
After a while, Yang Mi’s gaze fell on Liu Shishi.
“Shishi, did you button your blouse incorrectly?”
Liu Shishi: ?
Zhang Li: !