Free Web NovelChapter 112: Chapter 112: Vase Banquet
Song Qin watched with a hint of envy as Qi Fei packed her things. It had only been a few days, but Wu Yun was already making good on his promise, starting to help Qi Fei expand her network.
’I wish I had a perfect boyfriend like that, too,’ Song Qin thought. ’But I’m not that lucky, and I’m not as perfect as Qi Fei.’
During a break as a new group took the stage, Qi Fei stood up and went over to her professor to ask for time off. She repeated, word for word, what she had told Song Qin. frёewebηovel.cѳm
The professor was a veteran actor himself and knew full well that to become a successful actor, personal ability was just the baseline; connections were also a crucial part of the equation.
No, that wasn’t quite right. It was true for most industries. Without connections, it was nearly impossible to get anything done. Modern Huaxia was a society that ran on personal relationships, a legacy of thousands of years that couldn’t be changed overnight.
"Go on, be careful on your way. And text me to let me know you’ve arrived safely!"
The professor was very pleased with Qi Fei, a diligent student. Watching her back as she left the classroom, he suddenly had a feeling that starting today, Qi Fei was truly about to soar.
"Alright! Next group! I’ll give my critique after you perform!"
...
At Modu Pudong International Airport, Wu Jing carried a travel bag in his left hand and held Xie Nan’s hand with his right as they navigated the crowded terminal.
Thanks to their baseball caps and the fact that everyone was rushing, the two didn’t attract any attention.
"Honey, do you think this Phoenix Entertainment is reliable? I’ve never heard of this domestic company before." Xie Nan let go of Wu Jing’s hand to link her arm with his.
Wu Jing replied nonchalantly, "What do you know, you silly woman? The person who contacted me is a former vice president from Huayi Brothers’ film investment division. He’s struck out on his own now, co-founding a company with a rich second-generation heir from outside the industry. I heard they have a registered capital of 150 million."
"I also heard he brought some people over from Huayi. They have the money, just not the connections and resources. So, this is a win-win situation for both of us."
"So what do you think the chances are they’ll invest? And if they do, how much will they put in?"
Wu Jing said without a second thought, "Either they won’t invest at all, or they’ll invest at least forty million."
"You’re that confident, huh?" Xie Nan asked with a grin.
"You silly woman, just you wait at home and get ready to count the money!"
Wu Jing gently bumped his head against Xie Nan’s and said with a smile, "I’ve already been rejected thirty times. Even if this doesn’t work out, the worst-case scenario is we mortgage the house and shoot it ourselves."
At this, Wu Jing looked at Xie Nan, deeply moved. He pulled his arm free and wrapped it around her shoulder as they got into the hotel’s shuttle.
「Time flew by.」
Wu Yun and Wei Feng, driving in separate cars, pulled into the parking lot of Vase Banquet one after the other.
Opening the car door for Qi Fei, Wu Yun took her slender hand and helped her out.
Wu Yun looked around the tranquil Yu Cui Garden. He had looked it up online before coming; it was hailed as one of Modu’s last remaining stylish, high-end villa districts.
This ordinary-looking detached villa was said to have been built by the Xiangjiang River tycoon Superman Li. After changing hands between countless capitalists, it eventually became a low-key, luxurious private kitchen.
Wu Yun looked carefully but couldn’t see any sign for a restaurant. It seemed the place was truly hidden. If you weren’t a gourmand or one of the rich and powerful, you would never know that an expensive private kitchen was tucked away in this quiet place.
Qi Fei smoothed her skirt, looped her arm intimately through Wu Yun’s, and followed Wei Feng toward the main entrance.
"President Wei, have you been here before?" Wu Yun asked curiously. Judging by the way Wei Feng navigated with ease, he clearly knew the place well.
Wei Feng glanced back as he led the way. "Heh heh, President Wu, to be honest, besides reading web novels, Old Wei’s other great hobby is eating. You could say that whenever I’m on a business trip, I’ll take any chance I get to try the local famous eateries and restaurants."
"Vase Banquet, like other high-end private kitchens, charges per person and serves seasonal dishes. Taking advantage of its location, it specializes in river delicacies, and the quality is outstanding."
Pushing open the door, a receptionist approached with a smile and asked, "Welcome. Do you have a reservation?"
Wei Feng turned and said, "They should be here already. The reservation is under Wu!"
"Please follow me."
The three of them then followed the attendant toward the stairs.
Wei Feng again inclined his body slightly, walking just ahead of Wu Yun, and explained, "Vase Banquet specially hired two chefs. One is Master Tang, who once cooked for state banquets at the Great Hall of the People and was ranked among Asia’s Top 50. The other is a chef who specializes in pufferfish. Unlike the flashy, creative, and fusion cuisines popular now, they stick to traditional Chinese cooking, focusing on seasoning and heat control. Their unique creativity is infused into the sauces and preparation methods. You can’t easily tell their skill from the plating alone—you only know how exquisite their craft is once you take a bite."
The attendant turned and smiled. "It seems this gentleman is a regular here. I was wondering why you looked so familiar."
Wei Feng chuckled. "Your river delicacies are truly excellent! Worth every penny."
The attendant smiled. "Master Tang’s specialties are by no means limited to river delicacies. The 1,000-yuan-per-person dinner usually incorporates elements of Beijing, Cantonese, Huaiyang, and local Shanghai cuisine. If guests request it, the kitchen can also prepare more Western-style dishes like snowflake short ribs, foie gras, and salads, with more elaborate plating."
Wu Yun listened and nodded, his anticipation for the upcoming meal growing.
Qi Fei, on the other hand, was admiring the villa’s interior. The decor was understatedly luxurious and elegant, far better than its exterior suggested.
Several expensive-looking murals hung in prominent spots, and fresh flowers were placed in every spare corner—on empty tables, at the turn of the staircase, and on the windowsills.
’This style is quite beautiful,’ Qi Fei thought. ’The owner must be a woman to have the leisurely grace to decorate like this.’
"Here we are. This is your private room. Mr. Wu and his wife are already inside."
The attendant knocked three times on the door, waited a moment, and then pushed it open for them.
"President Wei, welcome, welcome!" Wu Jing came over with Xie Nan.
"Director Wu, sorry to have kept you and your wife waiting!" Wei Feng said, shaking Wu Jing’s hand. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
He then stepped aside to introduce Wu Yun. "Director Wu, let me introduce you. This is President Wu Yun, the majority shareholder of our Phoenix Entertainment. And this is his girlfriend, Qi Fei. She’s in the same industry, so to speak, though she’s still a student at the Modu Drama Academy."
Wu Jing looked at the perfect couple in surprise. He had been prepared to meet a rich heir in his late twenties or early thirties, but he hadn’t expected such a young couple.
After a brief moment of shock, Wu Jing quickly recovered and shook Wu Yun’s hand with a smile. "President Wu, so young and so accomplished."
Wu Jing then looked at Wu Yun’s lean, strong build and his handsome, sunny face and couldn’t help but ask, "President Wu, any interest in making a cameo in the movie? Filmmaking is a lot of fun, haha."
Wu Yun smiled and replied, "If I get the chance, I’d love to play a small role in one of Director Wu’s films."
