Airport Dispute

Lu Heng chuckled. "Have you ever ridden a sled pulled by mutts?"

Wei Linxuan actually gave a cold laugh this time and said with particular lofty elegance, "I've been skiing in Switzerland! I can even do twisting flips, and I won some pursuit race championship! I've ridden a sled pulled by three idiots~"

"Then that means you've never ridden a sled pulled by mutts." Lu Heng grinned and declared decisively, "Then you definitely haven't played vinegar-slide slopes or whipped ice tops either!"

Wei Linxuan stared at Lu Heng in utter confusion!

What was he talking about? Why couldn't he understand? Was that even Mandarin?

Before Wei Linxuan could ask further, Lu Heng had already thrown an arm around his shoulders and eagerly headed home with him. To make moving the equipment easier, the production crew had driven over, so they could have the driver take them to school.

As the saying went, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. It was rare for Wei Linxuan to come all this way, so Lu Heng had to let this young master experience the fun of village kids playing in the snow during winter.

Airport Dispute

Wei Linxuan and the Exchanging Lives production crew stayed in Lu Family Village for three days before returning to Beijing. This episode of New Year Gratitude Season would air on the Lantern Festival.

After the Lantern Festival, Lu Heng, who had been lazing around at home for the New Year holiday, received a call from Director Fang Kaizhi. Director Fang, who had always been supportive of Lu Heng, asked with a smile, "Do you want to go to M Country?"

Go to M Country?

Lu Heng quickly processed it in his mind and blurted out, "Did Autumn Dew White receive an Oscar Best Foreign Language film nomination?"

Director Fang chuckled. "I said you were a clever kid. You actually guessed it?"

For people in the film and television industry, the four major international film festivals were the highest honors the industry could offer. Even though Lu Heng was only a newcomer, he should have known such basic facts. What was more, Lu Heng retained memories from his previous life, so he congratulated Fang Kaizhi in an exceptionally certain tone. "Congratulations, Director Fang. Autumn Dew White will definitely win the Oscar Best Foreign Language film."

Fang Kaizhi laughed heartily. He had great confidence in Autumn Dew White, but after spending so many years in the industry, he had naturally become cautious. Even if he was certain, he would not casually say so aloud. He had not expected Lu Heng to be even more confident than he was, and so blunt about it.

Director Fang liked Lu Heng's straightforward nature.

He said with a smile, "Then I'll accept your good wishes."

Director Fang gave him a date. "Hurry back to Beijing. You'll fly to M Country with the rest of the crew then."

Director Fang and the production company staff, however, had flown over several months earlier, right after filming wrapped, to campaign for the Oscars.

After thinking for a moment, Director Fang added a meticulous reminder. "Don't forget to tell your agency to have a formal outfit made for you. It'll be our Xiao Heng's first appearance on the red carpet, so you have to make everyone's eyes light up."

Hearing that, Lu Heng suddenly recalled the many future press releases about outshining everyone with beauty. He could not help smiling and replied, "Thank you, Director Fang. I understand."

That very evening, after Fang Kaizhi called Lu Heng, major entertainment newspapers finally began competing to report that Autumn Dew White had received an Academy Awards nomination for Best Foreign Language film. Information traveled far too slowly compared with the future.

The next afternoon, while flying back to Beijing, Lu Heng called Wei Linxuan and asked him to go shopping with him.

Wei Linxuan said in considerable surprise, "I didn't expect Director Fang to think so highly of you. He actually invited you to tag along on the red carpet."

Normally, only the main creative staff of a film walked the red carpet with the crew. A minor extra like Lu Heng, with so little screen time, would never receive such an invitation. Much less for the red carpet of a globally renowned film festival like the Oscars.

"Your first film after debuting, and you're already stepping onto the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Not bad!" Wei Linxuan teased Lu Heng with a smile, but still agreed to go shopping with him.

Since he was walking the Oscar red carpet, his outfit had to be taken seriously. The two met at the China World Trade Center Building and headed straight for the flagship stores of major international brands on the top floor.

Unfortunately, the fashion styles of sixteen years ago were truly hard to look at. Lu Heng tried on several suits at a few brand stores, but always felt that something was missing.

"It's like a kid secretly wearing an adult's clothes!" Wei Linxuan raised an eyebrow and hit the nail on the head.

In 2001, major international brands had yet to recognize the spending power of the Dongfang—or rather, Huaxia—market. As a result, they had not tailored suits to suit Dongfang people's aesthetics or physiques.

Slim-fitting, refined, elegant, slender, youthful—these words that would practically become overused in later years made men's suit fashion sixteen years ago seem perpetually dull and lacking. As Wei Linxuan examined Lu Heng in a black suit, his eyes suddenly lit up.

They abandoned the expensive branded suits that did not suit Lu Heng's image and wandered around until they reached a private studio that often tailored formalwear for members of the Wei family.

Lu Heng explained his requirements to the designer, who produced a sketch based on them and found a burst of inspiration while drawing.

Ten days later, Lu Heng received his custom-made suit. The designer, who had barely slept for nearly a week, with bloodshot eyes, messy hair, and a sallow face, stared at Lu Heng with a green gleam in his eyes and repeatedly urged, "Try it on. Let me see."

Lu Heng took the suit into the changing room. A moment later, a young man dressed in a fitted black suit emerged.

The soft wool fabric clung neatly to the young man's tall, slender body, making him appear even more graceful and crisp. Every movement outlined the curve of his waist. Beneath his long legs were a pair of polished Oxford shoes, while a snow-white shirt and black bow tie completed the ensemble. Smiling before the full-length mirror, the young man radiated refinement and elegance.

Wei Linxuan smiled and clapped his hands, sighing sincerely, "Now that's more like it. Our Xiao Heng is a man who's going to outshine the entire red carpet."

Outshine everyone with beauty...

Lu Heng gave Wei Linxuan a helpless look, then returned to the changing room to change back and pack away his newly finished suit.