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墨書 Inktalez
Hanno poured a spoonful of Peony Seed Oil into the pot. This bottle of Peony Seed Oil was also bought when Han Dad received the radio. Hanno had never known there was such oil; all she knew were canola oil, sunflower seed oil, peanut oil, soybean oil, sesame oil, tea seed oil, and blended oil. Peony Seed Oil was a first for her. Looking at it, she thought, wow, this is really something! Not only is it rich in nutrients and unique, but it also has health benefits. Experts have called it "the best oil in the world," a treasure among vegetable oils and a unique health food oil from Huaxia Nation.
Adding a spoonful of Peony Seed Oil while cooking rice makes the rice more fragrant and plump. Peony Seed Oil can be used as both a dressing and cooking oil. Unlike olive oil and other salad oils, high temperatures severely deplete the nutrients in salad oils, but Peony Seed Oil does not suffer from this. So, Hanno made a cold dish of white meat and prepared smashed cucumbers, all seasoned with Peony Seed Oil, which tasted quite good.
After making a steaming pot of pickled vegetable vermicelli soup, Hanno's head peeked out from the kitchen door. Mom Han and Han Dad had stopped arguing; the old couple was huddled together exploring the various functions of the radio. Hanno couldn't help but smile. Young couples grow old together; Mom Han and Han Dad had lived together for thirty years, their bond deepening over time. Although they often bickered, they were like kindergarten children who quickly returned to normal after a spat.
“Dad, Mom, it's time to eat,” Hanno called out cheerfully to her two elderly parents.
Mom Han looked up and met her daughter's teasing gaze, her face turning red. “You little brat, what nonsense are you thinking?”
Hanno stopped laughing and put on a serious face. “Reporting to you, I’m not thinking about anything.”
Mom Han walked over and playfully slapped her daughter on the forehead. “Stop being cheeky; go serve the dishes.”
“Yes, ma'am.” Hanno saluted with a very standard military salute.
Mom Han laughed. “You little girl, your salute is even more standard than that of the Zhang family's son; he’s an actual soldier.”
Hanno thought to herself: “This salute is taught by the king of soldiers; it couldn't be more proper.”
After dinner, Hanno returned to her room to write. In Hong Kong Entertainment Dream, Yue Junzhe had settled down in the United States and enrolled in an Ivy League school. In her spare time, she continued to write scripts and send them back to Hong Kong. Thus, even though she wasn't physically present in Hong Kong, her legacy continued to spread there.
Occasionally, Yue Junzhe would write one or two scripts for foreign productions. In her previous life, she wasn't particularly fond of foreign films, but she had seen some classic Hollywood movies and TV shows. The last time she attended the Oscar Golden Star Award ceremony, Yue Junzhe met several young Hollywood directors who were not yet famous but were all talented. They admired Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and appreciated Yue Junzhe as a screenwriter; jokingly asking her for scripts. Yue Junzhe smiled and agreed but didn't believe they genuinely wanted her scripts because of cultural differences; Hollywood directors didn't believe that Easterners could write stories that Westerners would enjoy. And indeed, after two years in the United States, despite frequently keeping in touch with these friends, none had invited her for a script.
“Do you want me to help you write a script?” Yue Junzhe stared in surprise at the young man across from her named Richard Schumacher. He wasn't a director yet but had worked on many sets as an assistant; his father was a well-known Hollywood director.
“Yes,” Richard nodded. “Nora, my budget is limited; I can't offer much in terms of payment. Just consider it helping me out by writing an interesting script that doesn't require too much cost.”
“You want to direct yourself? Why not ask your father for help? Mr. Schumacher certainly has plenty of money.”
A flicker of resentment crossed Richard's face. “He looks down on me and thinks I can't handle directing independently. He'd rather spend money on his mistresses than invest in my films. I want to make one myself to show him that I can succeed without his support.”
Yue Junzhe understood; Richard Schumacher wanted to prove himself and slap his father's face with real action. She thought this idea was good; even without payment, she wanted to support Richard. This was an opportunity—helping Richard succeed with her script could open doors for her in Hollywood. Although she wasn't particularly vain, why not leave her mark in Hollywood after coming all this way?
“How much money do you have?” Yue Junzhe asked.
"Richard said, 'I sold my sports car, and with my savings over the years, I now have five million dollars on hand. George and the others can lend me a bit, and I should be able to gather up to eight million. Helen can let her father lend me the filming equipment for free, which will save us some money.'
Yue Junzhe recalled the Hollywood films that had low costs but high returns, and the first ones that came to mind were 'The Blair Witch Project' and 'Paranormal Activity.' Both were typical examples of productions that achieved great success with returns in the thousands of times their budgets. However, Yue Junzhe quickly dismissed these two films; dV hadn't been developed yet! After some thought, Yue Junzhe finally settled on a script—'Home Alone.' 'Home Alone' is a family-friendly comedy that captivated audiences around the world with its adorable and clever protagonist. As far as Yue Junzhe remembered, 'Home Alone' was released in 1990, so it should still be in pre-production. The filming cost was eighteen million dollars, but with some adjustments, it could probably be done for around ten million. Moreover, although Richard only had eight million in cash, his network was incredibly valuable; if factored in, it would be more than enough to cover several projects of that budget.
'I have an idea for a story,' Yue Junzhe began to narrate the plot of 'Home Alone': 'The McCallister family is a large household with many members. Six-year-old Kevin (the original actor is still only six) is the youngest member of this big family. His mischievous personality often causes trouble for his family, leading to him being shunned by them. One night close to Christmas, Kevin gets into an argument with his brother and creates chaos at home. As punishment from his mother, he feels wronged and wishes for his family to disappear. Unexpectedly, when the family goes to France for Christmas, they accidentally forget mischievous Kevin at home...'
Richard's eyes lit up more and more as he listened. When Yue Junzhe finished speaking, he exclaimed dramatically, 'Oh, Nora! I'm so glad I found you. You're a genius! Please hurry and write the script for me!'
Yue Junzhe took a sip of coffee to moisten her dry lips. 'Of course, my friend. You should start preparing the crew right away; I'll deliver the script to you in three days.'
'Nora, is there anyone else like you?' Richard expressed his gratitude.
'No,' Yue Junzhe replied calmly. 'I'm an Eastern person; if anything, I'm an Eastern fairy.'
Yue Junzhe completed the script for 'Home Alone' in no time at all. For the remaining two days, she thoughtfully sketched out storyboards based on her memories of the film. When Richard received this script and saw the storyboards inside, he felt like he could elevate Yue Junzhe to a pedestal! It was so considerate and so talented! With such storyboards, filming would be much easier!
Under Yue Junzhe's recommendation, they still cast the original actors for 'Home Alone.' Richard had talent and connections; the results were no less impressive than the original version, and it was quickly arranged for release. The charm of 'Home Alone' was undeniable; it captivated everyone from grandparents in their seventies and eighties to children as young as five or six—all enchanted by the antics of Kevin. The global box office reached six hundred million dollars, bringing immense profits to investors including Richard and Yue Junzhe. Richard even felt like he had slapped his father in the face with success; he was elated. He was extremely grateful to Yue Junzhe and admired her talent even more; they established a long-term collaborative relationship.
'Hey, dear Nora! What are we going to film for our second movie? Have you thought about it?' Richard asked enthusiastically. He was now a rising director in Hollywood, achieving what others took years or even decades to accomplish; however, he still felt far from his father's level and wanted to close that gap quickly.
Yue Junzhe wore a beautiful evening gown; her elegant charm made many overlook her Asian heritage. Numerous men tried to approach her but were skillfully rebuffed by her. When Richard came over to inquire about her well-being, it served as a welcome distraction.
'For the next one? What genre do you want to shoot?' Yue Junzhe countered.
Richard pondered seriously before responding: 'As my father said, there are some techniques and directing knowledge I'm still not familiar with and need to learn. So I think for my next film, it shouldn't be too profound or require too much directing skill—let's stick with comedy.'
'A comedy? How about an R-rated comedy?'
Richard raised his eyebrows excitedly: 'Do you already have a script?'
Yue Junzhe replied: 'I have a rough idea; I'll think about it more specifically and get you the script in a week.'
Richard happily raised his glass: 'To our second film—cheers!'"
Yue Junzhe was thinking about her second script, which was the famous comedy "Hangover." However, she found that many of the actions and language in it were too vulgar. While many people might enjoy it, she simply could not accept it and decided to remove the crude parts. There were so many vulgarities that she had to ponder them repeatedly in her mind, and by the time she reached her doorstep, she realized that the big man who usually sat there was absent.
The man looked helplessly at the woman with a blunt demeanor who was lost in thought while trying to unlock the door. He called out, "Nora."
"Hmm?" Yue Junzhe instinctively turned around and was startled. "Andy, what are you doing here in LA? Are you here to shoot a film?"
Andy Lau stood up and walked over to Yue Junzhe. "No, I'm here for a vacation."
In truth, he had come specifically to find someone.
"What about your work?" she asked.
"I've put it on hold for now."
"What?" The workaholic of the entertainment industry had actually decided to take a break? Wasn't this supposed to be his career's peak?
Andy Lau smiled. "Isn't that what you should do? You need to balance work and rest. I don't want to be plagued by various ailments when I get older."
Yue Junzhe chuckled. "That's a good attitude towards life. Since you're here, let's have some fun together. I'll be your guide. By the way, are you staying in a hotel?"
Andy Lau nodded.
Yue Junzhe invited him, "Staying in a hotel is too expensive; come stay with me instead. I have plenty of space and extra rooms."
How could Andy Lau refuse? He immediately agreed, stepped out for a moment to cancel his hotel reservation, and returned with his luggage to move into Yue Junzhe's home.
"Your place is huge!" Andy Lau exclaimed as he walked around the house. "Only the super-rich can afford such a large house in Harbor City."
Yue Junzhe replied, "Harbor City has a lot of people but little land. The United States is the opposite—fewer people but more land, so even the middle class can afford villas. Don't be fooled by how big my house is; it's not worth much. If you're envious, you could buy a house in the United States."
Andy Lau waved his hand dismissively. "Forget it; I don't have that much money."
Yue Junzhe laughed lightly. Although Andy Lau's salary was substantial from both acting and singing, most of it had been invested into his company, leaving him with little spare cash. Compared to his original trajectory, his film company would have gone bankrupt due to several failed investments if not for Yue Junzhe's reminders that helped him avoid those pitfalls.
"Are you having a late-night snack?" Yue Junzhe walked into the kitchen. The kitchen had an open and transparent design, allowing a clear view of what was happening inside from the living room.
Andy Lau rubbed his stomach. "Sure, I'm a bit hungry."
Yue Junzhe boiled water to cook dumplings. The dumplings were ones she had bought from Chinatown, and they tasted pretty good. At least Andy Lau was polite enough to eat two bowls, but when he wanted a third bowl, Yue Junzhe stopped him. "You shouldn't eat too much at night; it won't digest well."
Andy Lau reluctantly put down his bowl. "I usually sleep late at night; it won't cause indigestion."
At this point, Andy Lau's expression changed as he looked at Yue Junzhe. "Nora, I've been having the same dream for the past few nights, and you're in it."
Yue Junzhe's face turned red upon hearing this. What did Andy Lau mean? Was it true that thoughts during the day influenced dreams at night?
However, Andy Lau didn't seem to have any romantic intentions as he continued, "I can't remember the specifics of the dream, but I do remember that in the end, I died, and we were separated for life and death. That feeling was really bad."
Yue Junzhe tried to comfort him. "Dreams are often the opposite of reality."
"Not really!" Andy Lau replied. "Even though I can't recall what happened in the dream, the skills I had in the dream, I surprisingly mastered in reality as well. Look—"
With that, Andy Lau slapped the armrest of the sofa and suddenly leaped into the air, performing a backflip before landing smoothly back on the sofa without breaking a sweat, staring intently at Yue Junzhe.
"Wow, that's amazing!" Yue Junzhe exclaimed in astonishment. Andy Lau's move was incredibly impressive! He had trained his body for years and acted in many action films, so he was quite skilled. However, Yue Junzhe was certain that Andy Lau had never been able to perform such a difficult maneuver before.
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