Chapter 23: Lu Ye
It was another brilliant morning with sunshine.
Murong Feng didn't go to the magazine office. Recently, he had reverted to sending his articles via email. There was no other way. Ever since his drama performance, the attitude of the beautiful editors towards him had become increasingly warm. They knew he was still single, and how could these sophisticated, seasoned women let such a charming and wealthy bachelor slip away? As a result, Murong Feng found that staying in the office meant being bombarded with invitations—Susan asking him to dinner, or Lily offering to give him a ride home after work...
Murong Feng was genuinely scared of these women and decided to tell Ouyang Lanruo that he needed to work from home for a while. Although Ouyang Lanruo was a bit reluctant, seeing his firm stance, she agreed, but not without first wrangling a dinner out of him. To express his gratitude for her support during his drama performance, Murong Feng gifted her a bottle of Tiffany perfume, which finally brought a smile to her face.
It was early autumn, and the weather was cool and clear. The area of Jianwai SOHO was vast, comprising 22 buildings, 4 villas, and 16 small streets. Jianwai SOHO had no walls, and the 16 small streets flowed through the approximately 170,000-square-meter complex, creating a lively street culture. Time magazine once commented: "Whether SOHO's lifestyle can bring new vitality to residential areas or whether the giant buildings designed by numerous architects can change the face of China is uncertain. But these new buildings are indeed influencing the younger generation of China as it steps into a new era."
Murong Feng circled the area near Jianwai SOHO for a long time before finally finding a parking spot. Looking at the extensive white building complex, divided into numerous sections, Murong Feng couldn't help but marvel. No wonder so many celebrities chose to shoot advertisements and music videos here—the dense glass curtain walls and unique architectural forms truly represented a distinct lifestyle and ideology.
Upon arriving at the café, Murong Feng found a corner to sit in and called Lu Ye. Shortly after, Lu Ye arrived, wearing large sunglasses that covered most of his face. As soon as he walked in, he spotted Murong Feng, approached him, and sat down. Removing his glasses, he looked at Murong Feng and smiled, saying, "Murong, you little rascal, it's been years, and you're still so handsome. How am I supposed to make a living off my looks?" There was no sense of estrangement between them.
Murong Feng playfully scolded, "You're living off your acting skills, okay?" They reminisced about many past events, feeling a bit sentimental. Lu Ye asked why Murong Feng hadn't agreed to Director Wang's offer to act. Murong Feng replied with a smile, "Acting in theater is just a hobby for me. If I went into TV dramas, it would feel like a career. I'd rather not compete with you guys for jobs. If a literature major can act in TV dramas, what's left for those who studied acting?" This time, it was Lu Ye's turn to scold playfully.
Knowing that Murong Feng was now an editor at a fashion magazine, Lu Ye advised, "Murong, how much can you earn as an editor? Acting pays well. You're a newcomer, but Director Wang is generous. You could earn 10,000 to 20,000 yuan per episode. Shoot a 30-episode drama, and that's enough for two or three years! If you become popular and do some commercials, you could easily make millions. Where else can you find such a profitable deal?"
Murong Feng suddenly had a thought. Wasn't he just wondering how to explain his wealth? Being an actor was a perfect cover—no one knew how much they really earned, only that they were wealthy...
Lu Ye was about to continue persuading him when he noticed the Vertu phone casually placed on the table by Murong Feng. Recognizing its value, he suddenly realized. Looking more closely at Murong Feng, he saw the Dunhill sunglasses, the IWC watch, and the Vertu phone—all luxury brands. It became clear that Murong Feng was one of those rich and leisurely types, making Lu Ye's arguments about money less effective.
"Hey, Murong, you've struck it rich? Wow, a Vertu phone! You don't buy one of those unless you've got a few million!"
Murong Feng smiled bitterly, "It was a gift. I couldn't bear to buy it myself." This made Lu Ye even more curious, suspecting Murong Feng might be involved with some wealthy woman, to which Murong Feng protested, "Kid, do I look like a gigolo to you?"
"You look like one with both eyes!"
"... Go to hell!" Murong Feng was almost exasperated to the point of spitting blood. Lu Ye finally laughed, "Alright, alright, I know you, Murong. You're too proud for that." This satisfied Murong Feng.
Though they hadn't seen each other for years, they quickly regained their old camaraderie.
When the conversation turned to the new drama *Striving Youth*, Murong Feng suddenly changed his mind and agreed to look at the script and try out for a role. Lu Ye was very pleased, having boasted to Director Wang about it and now seeing his efforts come to fruition.
With business settled, they casually chatted about current interests. Murong Feng mentioned his recent obsession with golf, to which Lu Ye responded with a scoff, "Come on, Murong. Golf is too gentlemanly, not intense enough. We can get serious about it in a few years. Right now, I only play to accompany others. Personally, I'm really into fencing with my buddies! Now that's something for guys our age—absolutely manly!"
Fencing? Murong Feng was taken aback. His mind wandered to the Chinese fencers who wept on the Olympic stage in 2000 and 2004, the "Three Musketeers." Watching Wang Haibin's tears on TV had made him deeply resent the French opponents.
Fencing? It seemed interesting.
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