Chapter 145

Chapter 145

Lu Mingzhu watched them leave, then turned and headed home in her car.

The top of the mountain was cooler than the base.

After lunch, she sat in her study writing the script, feeling quite content.

Royalties are really great!

If Da Ming Film Company were to make *The Swordsman*, wouldn’t they have to pay copyright fees?

Business and personal matters should be kept separate.

Lu Mingzhu wrote for a while, about two thousand words, then rubbed her wrists and took a break to call Wang Tao, the executive director at Da Ming Film Company, to ask about it.

Wang Tao chuckled and said, “The copyright is in the author’s hands, so we definitely have to pay a certain fee before filming.”

“Will *The Swordsman* be filmed?” Lu Mingzhu asked him.

“*The Swordsman*? The *The Swordsman* serialized in *Hong Kong Daily*?” Wang Tao had also read it and was very interested, having once thought of turning it into a movie but couldn’t find the author.

He had sent someone to *Hong Kong Daily*, but Editor Wang mentioned that they had sent out letters a while ago and hadn’t received a response.

So, the plan was put on hold.

Wang Tao told Lu Mingzhu about this, “My wife really likes Golden Phoenix and wants Xia Lin to play the role, thinking she looks the part.”

“My dad suggested selecting the female lead from among the swordswomen, someone with strong martial arts skills,” Lu Mingzhu said.

Wang Tao quickly responded, “Mr. Lu’s suggestion? Does Mr. Lu also want to film *The Swordsman*? Mr. Lu’s judgment is always spot on, Mr. Ming can’t compare, and Xia Lin has played a swordswoman before; she’s trained in Yue Opera.”

Lu Mingzhu was quite surprised.

She knew Xia Lin had studied Yue Opera, but didn’t know she had played a swordswoman.

“If she can pull it off, then let her play the female lead, Golden Phoenix, in *The Swordsman*,” Xia Lin was currently very popular and had strong appeal, who else would they use if not her?

After starring in *Zhaojun Goes Beyond the Frontier*, Xia Lin had become much more grounded.

Lu Mingzhu had a knack for making the right choices.

Hearing this, Wang Tao said, “Once I get in touch with the author, Zhi Wei, I’ll ask Miss Lu to personally write the script.”

He had a lot of confidence in Lu Mingzhu’s scriptwriting skills.

Every script she wrote was a hit, but since she stopped writing, none of the company’s films had box office earnings over a million, with the highest being one starring Xia Lin, which only made 850,000.

Even Xia Lin said it wasn’t as good as what Lu Mingzhu wrote.

Lu Mingzhu laughed, “Isn’t Zhi Wei the one asking about copyright fees? Why look further?”

Wang Tao was taken aback.

After a moment, he exclaimed, “Miss Lu, it’s you? I didn’t expect that. If it’s you, then everything is easy to discuss, and we definitely won’t shortchange you on the copyright fees.”

“What about the fee for writing the script?” Lu Mingzhu asked.

Wang Tao smiled, "Since it's not an original screenplay, you can only receive an adaptation fee."

Lu Mingzhu thought for a moment, "How about investing the copyright in 'The Swordsman' and receiving dividends, similar to my earnings from scriptwriting?"

"Others certainly wouldn't receive such an offer, but you're different, you can." Zhi Wei, both the author of 'The Swordsman' and its screenwriter, makes it worthwhile.

Most importantly, Wang Tao has high hopes for 'The Swordsman'.

Lu Mingzhu was satisfied, "I'll head to the company to sign the contract once I've completed the script."

Wang Tao agreed, "Give me a ring when you're on your way. I'll have the lawyer prepare the contract in advance."

Lu Mingzhu felt a renewed motivation to work on the script.

Around four in the afternoon, she changed her clothes and went to pick up Xie Junyao from work. Then they went together to a well-known Shanghai-style restaurant nearby, which only offered a dining area, no private rooms.

The restaurant's exterior was modest, but the cooking was truly authentic.

The menu featured both rich, savory dishes and light, elegant options.

Lu Mingzhu was mainly craving braised pork, which reminded her of home.

But since they couldn't finish all the dishes they ordered, they set aside a small portion of braised pork for themselves and sent the rest to the bodyguards' table. They did the same with other dishes, such as eight-treasure duck and grape fish.

They wanted to avoid wasting food.

Lu Mingzhu was determined to start this practice immediately.

Xie Junyao had always been indulgent with her, and this was hardly a bad habit.

After finishing the braised pork Lu Mingzhu gave him, Xie Junyao was just about to ask her about their New Year's plans when suddenly, a voice that was both crisp and sweet drifted in from outside: "Mr. Ye, the local cuisine here is truly authentic. My former boss, Mr. Lu Yanzhi, was a frequent patron here."

Lu Mingzhu's eyes brightened, "Secretary Dong!"

Dong Cuijun.

Since she stepped down from her role by Lu's father's side, Lu Mingzhu hadn't seen her again.

Was she pursuing someone new?

Curious, she glanced towards the door and spotted Dong Cuijun, dressed in a cheongsam adorned with pearls and draped in a white shawl. The cheongsam was one Lu Mingzhu had seen before, as was the pearl necklace, likely gifts from Lu's father.

And the diamond ring on her hand was clearly a product of Mingzhu Diamond Jewelry Store.

Mr. Ye was quite old, looking to be in his sixties or seventies.

His hair was gray, his back slightly hunched, and his bronze face was covered with the wrinkles typical of his age, but his eyes were very sharp, full of the sediment of time.

Lu Mingzhu sighed, Dong Cuijun really had a thing for the elderly!

Was the scent of old age that appealing?

How could she stand it.

Dong Cuijun, who was helping Mr. Ye as a walking stick, scanned the room and, upon seeing Lu Mingzhu and Xie Junyao, remained composed, nodding politely to them before turning back to Mr. Ye and saying, "I see Mr. Lu's daughter is also dining here, which means the dishes at this restaurant are very good. Would you like to try them?"

"Let's try," Mr. Ye finally spoke.

His voice was low, with a hint of hoarseness, and it was hard to tell where his accent was from.

They took their seats right next to Lu Mingzhu and Xie Junyao. Dong Cuijun bustled about, attending to every detail with the same care and thoughtfulness she had shown when looking after Mr. Lu Yanzhi.

Mr. Ye accepted her attentions without reservation.

Lu Mingzhu thought her father was lagging behind in finding a new partner.

Since his breakup with Dong Cuijun, he hadn’t been seen with another woman, always buried in work.

If it weren’t for knowing her father’s character, one might think he was burying himself in work to mend his broken heart.

At this moment, Mr. Ye asked, "Which of you is Mr. Lu’s daughter?"

Before Dong Cuijun could answer, Lu Mingzhu turned around and smiled at him, "Hello, Mr. Ye."

The original body’s memories held no trace of this man.

Mr. Ye was momentarily taken aback but quickly responded, "When I first arrived in Hong Kong, I went to pay my respects to Mr. Lu, but unfortunately, he wasn’t in town at the time. A young man was there to receive me instead. Miss Lu, might I ask if you know when Mr. Lu will return?"

Lu Mingzhu shook her head, "I’m not entirely sure."

Her father hadn’t said.

After answering, she asked, "May I have your name, Mr. Ye? When my father returns, I’ll make sure to let him know."

"My surname is Ye, Ye Shengxuan," Mr. Ye replied.

Lu Mingzhu paused, "Sheng as in ‘sage’? Xuan as in ‘grand’?"

Mr. Ye nodded, "Have you heard of me, Miss Lu?"

"I’ve heard a little," Lu Mingzhu replied.

The man before her was the maternal grandfather of Lu Pingan and Lu Ning—their biological grandfather.

In the original novel, it was mentioned that Ye Ying, the mother of Lu Pingan and Lu Aiguo, came from a distinguished family. After returning from her studies abroad, she clashed with her parents over an arranged marriage and ran away from home. She was captured by bandits and nearly lost her virtue, but was rescued by Lu Zhuri and his group, who also saved other innocent women in similar predicaments. She then joined Lu Zhuri’s organization.

Like the original body, Ye Ying existed only in the memories of Lu Aiguo and Lu Pingan, with no further details provided.

Lu Aiguo and Lu Pingan only met their grandfather, Ye Shengxuan, after arriving in Hong Kong, where they learned some of their mother’s past.

Ye Shengxuan had sought them out himself.

Before leaving the mainland, Ye Shengxuan had already known that his daughter had married General Lu Zhuri and borne him two children. Lu Zhuri was the son of Lu Yanzhi, also known as Lu Changsheng. Unfortunately, his daughter had lost her life, and Lu Zhuri had remarried. He didn’t seek them out but instead went abroad. Later, he sought out Lu Pingan and Lu Aiguo with the intention of planning for his descendants and establishing a connection with the still-living Mr. Lu.

In short, this man was no saint.

The original novel clearly stated that he had profited from national disasters—not the war in the northeast, but during the Anti-Japanese War and around the time of liberation. Because he fled early, he lived a long life without facing the punishment he deserved.

It’s quite lamentable.

Although some bad people stayed, there were also some good ones who remained because of their integrity. Yet, those who fled early with guilty consciences ended up with peaceful lives.

Ye Shengxuan smiled warmly at Lu Mingzhu, "I’ve long heard of the beauty of the Oriental Pearl."

"Miss Lu, do you know Mr. Ye?" Dong Cuijun was surprised.

Lu Mingzhu smiled, "We’ve never met."

She disdained associating with someone like Ye Shengxuan.

Unable to tell Pingan that she had met his and Lu Ning’s grandfather, since she couldn’t explain where her information came from. However, she could let Lu father know when he got back, so he’d be aware, especially since she’d used dreams to talk about the future before.

After finishing the meal, she and Xie Junyao bolted out of the Shanghainese restaurant, not wanting to witness Dong Cuijun’s excessive concern for Mr. Ye.

Lu father was handsome, with a straight back and nimble movements, appearing younger. In contrast, Mr. Ye was truly an old man, and the intimate gestures between him and Dong Cuijun were far from picturesque.

The parties involved seemed oblivious, maintaining their composure.

Dong Cuijun was quite something—first with Pingan’s grandpa, then with Pingan’s grandfather.

Lu Mingzhu didn’t feel like dealing with them.

As long as the secret that Lu Changsheng was Lu Zhuri remained undisclosed, Mr. Ye would never know that his daughter’s two children were Lu Pingan and Lu Ning, so he’d never come looking for favors for his descendants.

Lu Mingzhu didn’t care about the second and third concubines and their daughters’ emotional reunion today, let alone outsiders!

It wasn’t her problem, was it?

The novel provided only a glimpse of the original body’s past, briefly mentioned in Lu father’s recollections, without going into what the siblings went through during that time. It merely mentioned that one sibling divorced and the other broke off an engagement, leaving Lu Mingzhu unaware of the fates of her other sisters.

Given their background and the Kang family’s involvement, things were bound to be difficult.

Moving to Hong Kong was like dodging a bullet.

Lu father had fulfilled his paternal duties.

As for why her second sister, Lu Zhenzhen, didn’t come, Lu Zhangling explained the next day while bringing gifts for Lu Mingzhu: "She sympathized with Kang Yingying. I was afraid of causing trouble for our family, so I didn’t tell her about our plans to settle in Hong Kong. It turned out I was right. Before I even left Shanghai, she went to visit Kang Yingying."

While others avoided Kang Yingying at all costs, she went out of her way to get involved. Should I call it sisterly loyalty? She even forgot that she was being gossiped about daily because of Kang Yingying.

Lu Zhangling complained to Lu Mingzhu.

Lu Mingzhu didn’t say much, "Your siblings’ drama isn’t my problem."

Lu Zhangling sighed, "True."

Then he smiled and said, "By the way, there’s something I think I should tell you."