*Chapter 200: Special Focus*

The saying "fame changes people" implies that once an actor becomes popular, their aura and demeanor transform significantly. This change stems not only from the "celebrity filter" imposed by others but also from the shift in mindset that comes with fame.

Take a simple example: When Xiao Yanzi first played her role in My Fair Princess, she exuded a unique charm. However, by the time she reprised her role in My Fair Princess 2, there was a noticeable change in her performance.

Another example is Athena Chu. After her minor success in the 1994 drama The Legend of the Condor Heroes, her charm still lingered. But after playing the iconic Zixia Fairy in the 1995 film A Chinese Odyssey alongside Stephen Chow, her distinctiveness began to fade rapidly.

It’s rare for actors like Liu Yifei and Gao Yuanyuan to maintain their charisma for as long as seven or eight years.

Of course, Liu Yifei’s charm is predominantly showcased in period dramas. In modern attire, it’s almost unnoticeable.

At this moment, Wayne observed Huang Yi, who was negotiating terms with Huo Wenxi. A hint of realization flickered in his eyes.

Huang Yi was here to discuss switching agencies, which naturally meant she hadn’t brought her manager or assistant. As such, she handled everything herself.

This was perfectly normal, but Wayne shook his head subtly.

With a gesture to excuse himself, Wayne left the room.

---

“Hello, Ms. Liu? There’s something I need to discuss with you.”

After leaving the reception room, Wayne immediately called Liu Xiaoli and arranged a meeting with her.

However, Liu Xiaoli misunderstood the purpose of the meeting. Upon hearing Wayne’s request, she was both elated and apprehensive. She was well aware of her daughter’s feelings for Wayne and wholeheartedly supported her daughter’s intentions.

Moreover, she also knew that Wayne had feelings for Liu Yifei.

So, if Wayne really wanted to approach her, should she accept or decline?

“Mom, where are you going?”

“Mr. Wayne invited me to discuss your upcoming work schedule.”

“Then I’ll go too!”

“No, Mr. Wayne didn’t invite you. Stay here and keep practicing your lines. Mr. Wayne already said your delivery isn’t up to standard, and the movie is about to start filming!”

“Fine, fine, I got it~”

Seeing her daughter obediently stay in the room and continue practicing in front of the mirror, Liu Xiaoli felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

She glanced at herself in the mirror, adjusted her clothes and hairstyle, took a deep breath, and left the room.

Although Liu Xiaoli was already 42 years old, her well-maintained appearance and dancer’s poise made her look no older than 30.

Thus, she thought that if Wayne really had his eye on her, it wasn’t entirely out of the realm of possibility.

But this time, it was clearly a misunderstanding.

---

“What? You want Yifei to live entirely like an ancient person for the next few years, learning skills like music, chess, calligraphy, and dance?”

After some brief pleasantries, Liu Xiaoli was taken aback when Wayne finally revealed his intentions.

“Exactly,” Wayne nodded and asked, “Ms. Liu, what do you think of my eye for casting?”

Liu Xiaoli quickly regained her composure and replied without hesitation, “It’s exceptional. Every actor you’ve personally chosen has skyrocketed to fame through their roles. I’d even say you’re better at this than Cameron or Spielberg.”

This was her genuine belief.

James Cameron might be incredibly talented, but not every actor he selected became a star.

However, every actress Wayne picked seemed to gain immense popularity after appearing in his films.

Take the recently released Hotel for Dogs, for example. Camilla Belle and Lily Collins—one an unknown face and the other a complete newcomer—quickly rose to third-tier celebrity status within days of the film’s premiere, with potential for further growth.

Although achieving second-tier status with just one movie was a challenge, given Hotel for Dogs wasn’t the same type of film as Mean Girls, their success was undeniable.

“That’s good,” Wayne said seriously. “I’ve mentioned before that Yifei has a rare and unique charisma, particularly suited for period dramas. However, just like a dancer who neglects practice can lose their poise, this charisma will fade if not properly nurtured. Without it, Yifei will become indistinguishable from others.”

“I’m sure you wouldn’t want to see that happen, right?”

Liu Xiaoli instinctively shook her head. She wanted nothing more than for her daughter to become a superstar and would never let her fade into obscurity.

“I have even higher hopes,” Wayne continued. “I don’t just want Yifei to maintain this charisma—I want her to enhance it.

“You’ve seen the success of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Martial arts films can indeed find a market in Hollywood.

“With the right script, cast, and director, they can achieve astonishing box office results.

“Even Zhang Yimou, one of the most acclaimed directors in China, is filming the martial arts epic Hero to break into Hollywood.

“Yifei’s unique qualities make her one of a kind among all the actors and students I’ve seen.

“If we can preserve and amplify this uniqueness, she’ll dominate this niche. For roles she’s suited for, no one else will even come close.”

“Don’t you want to see Yifei become a global superstar? If she follows this path, she won’t just be an international star but one with a style entirely her own.”

Moved by Wayne’s words, Liu Xiaoli clenched her fists in excitement. Her face flushed as she nodded fervently.

“I understand, Mr. Wayne. I’ll ensure Yifei gets the best teachers for music, chess, calligraphy, and dance!”

Wayne smiled and shook his head. “I’ll handle hiring the teachers. The company will cover the expenses.

“Additionally, I’ll purchase several properties in Beijing, Hangzhou, and Suzhou for Yifei, decorating them in the style of Song and Ming dynasty gardens.

“This will not only help her cultivate her charisma but also give her different places to live if she gets tired of one.”

“All I need from you is to manage her daily needs and keep her away from distractions.”

“In the coming years, several TV dramas, including The Legend of the Condor Heroes, Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, and The Return of the Condor Heroes, are lined up for her. Wong Jing is also working on tailoring film scripts for her. This means she’ll be spending most of her time in China, and you’ll need to support her emotionally and mentally.”

Overwhelmed with surprise and joy, Liu Xiaoli nodded repeatedly, unable to speak.

Although property prices in China weren’t high yet, creating garden-style homes in these cities would cost millions of dollars.

Coupled with extravagant renovations, the total expenditure for such properties in three cities might well reach $7–8 million.

Such generosity left Liu Xiaoli in awe of Wayne’s sincerity and thoughtfulness.

As she left the meeting, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

Handsome, considerate, and willing to spend millions—what woman wouldn’t admire such a man?

Initially, she had hoped Yifei could secure the position of Wayne’s official girlfriend or even wife. But now, as long as Wayne treated Yifei this well, she felt completely satisfied.

When Liu Xiaoli walked out of the restaurant, she still felt as if she were floating.

---

After she left, Wayne immediately took out his phone and called Gao Yuanyuan.

“You look exceptionally beautiful today, Ms. Gao. That outfit suits you perfectly.”

Twenty minutes later, Wayne met Gao Yuanyuan, who had just signed her contract.

Today, Gao Yuanyuan wore plain, slightly faded jeans—not too tight, nor overly loose.

Her shoes were simple white sneakers of an unidentifiable brand.

She paired them with a plain white T-shirt.

While her outfit wasn’t remarkable in itself, her natural charm stood out in stark contrast to those around her.

---

Unlike the trendy colorful eyeshadows and ionic perms of this era, Gao Yuanyuan appeared without makeup, her hairstyle a refreshing short cut just past her ears. She looked exceptionally pure and beautiful.

To be honest, if Gao Yuanyuan herself hadn’t admitted it, who would have thought she had such a rich romantic history?

“Thank you,” Gao Yuanyuan replied, her sweet smile lighting up her face. Gathering her courage, she asked expectantly, “Can I call you Wayne?”

“Of course.”

Wayne’s lips curved into a charming, gentle smile, leaving Gao Yuanyuan momentarily dazed. The flames in her eyes seemed to burn even brighter.

As Wayne had expected, Gao Yuanyuan’s requests were similar to Avril’s.

She didn’t mind that Wayne had other women or even if she was only treated as a temporary lover, as long as he didn’t bring other women around when they were together.

Wayne readily agreed, naturally. After all, under the traditional Chinese aesthetic, how many could resist someone as stunning as Gao Yuanyuan at her age?

Their relationship started like a typical couple's—dining out, shopping, and watching movies. Given Gao Yuanyuan’s slightly artistic temperament, their outings also included sitting on wooden benches by the lake in a park, leaning against each other while reading books.

After dinner one evening, despite her shy demeanor and blushing face, Gao Yuanyuan, who had already laid down her conditions, followed Wayne back to the hotel full of anticipation.

After some intimate time together, Gao Yuanyuan found yet another reason to like Wayne—a very important one that ranked third on her growing list of reasons and would surely rise higher in the future.

Compared to her, that chubby director or Zhang Yadong—three years older and in worse shape—seemed utterly inadequate.

At this moment, she finally believed the descriptions in those “artistic works” she had secretly read. It turned out that simply “playing cards” could be so joyful.

But while Gao Yuanyuan was satisfied, Wayne still felt somewhat unfulfilled.

Even though she had done her best, his stamina was simply overwhelming.

Seeing Gao Yuanyuan sound asleep, Wayne dressed and left the room. Picking up his phone, he contacted Tang Wei.

Tang Wei’s expectations were far simpler.

When Wayne proposed signing her, she had already prepared herself—this was simply how the industry worked. Hollywood was even more “transparent” about such matters, and these things were openly acknowledged as unwritten rules.

What mattered most was that, with Wayne’s looks and physique, having coffee with him didn’t feel like a loss. On the contrary, she felt like she had hit the jackpot.

After a quick late-night snack, they wasted no time in “having coffee.”

While Tang Wei’s “performance” was average—slightly better than Gao Yuanyuan’s but not as good as Zhang Baizhi or Li Bingbing—she was undeniably the type of woman who grew more attractive and captivating the longer you looked at her.

She exuded an irresistible charm from head to toe.

So, on the afternoon of the 8th, when the plane returned to Los Angeles, it wasn’t just Gao Yuanyuan onboard—Tang Wei had joined as well.

Gao Yuanyuan wasn’t scheduled for work until next year, when she would film Spring Subway. Tang Wei, on the other hand, wouldn’t have a significant role until 2004, in a supporting role for a TV drama.

Both had plenty of free time.

As for their studies, it wasn’t a concern; summer vacation was less than a month away.

Moreover, Wayne had arranged roles for them in The Legend of the Condor Heroes—Gao Yuanyuan as Mu Nianci and Tang Wei as Huazheng.

This way, even if they couldn’t return to school after vacation started, they could take extended leave without issue.

“I’ll take them to their new place first. You can head back,” Wayne said.

After the plane landed and they exited the airport, Wayne arranged for Jessica and Amanda to take a car back to the estate, while he personally drove Gao Yuanyuan and Tang Wei to the villa he had prepared for them.

Initially, due to Gao Yuanyuan’s request, Wayne had arranged separate villas for the two.

However, when he didn’t leave Tang Wei’s villa for a long time, an envious Gao Yuanyuan couldn’t resist following him inside. Inevitably, she ended up joining the “card game,” effectively voiding the “three rules” they had agreed on in less than three days.

Using the excuse that they could take care of each other while living away from home, the two naturally ended up staying together.

Although they were no match for Wayne even combined, it was still better than facing him alone.

After sharing a lavish dinner with them in their new home, Wayne returned to the estate.

After five days away, Mia and Charlize Theron at home were eagerly awaiting his attention.

With Lydia and Hannah joining in, this “card game” finally gave Wayne the satisfaction he desired.

However, while working on a script late that night, Wayne couldn’t resist ordering four desserts as a midnight snack.

As a result, the next morning, Mia was the only one who managed to get out of bed to join him for breakfast, as she had to go to work.

(End of Chapter)