After half a day of discussion yesterday, Zhou You decided to invest three million. If it weren't for the fact that he had no resources at all and knew nothing about film distribution channels or promotion, he would have wanted to invest even more. Even so, he was a bit worried—if his involvement caused some butterfly effect and the movie didn't blow up, he'd take a huge loss.
Since there was nothing urgent, he decided to spend a few days in Shanghai. To be honest, Shanghai didn't have much to do—no tourist attractions, but plenty of cultural and entertainment venues. Zhao Yun offered to accompany him, but Zhou You firmly refused. "I'm out here to relax alone. Having a man tag along—aren't you bothered? I am." He very decisively shooed Zhao Yun away.
By now, Zhao Yun had figured things out and wanted to latch onto Zhou You's coattails, though he wasn't sure if it was too late. This guy really didn't care about money—he'd throw in three million without knowing a thing. From what Zhao Yun knew, Zhou You had already sunk nearly ten million into various projects. And in Zhao Yun's eyes, most of that was money down the drain. Where did this reckless spender come from? He'd never heard of him before.
Zhao Yun's initial analysis was that Zhou You was either in it for a quick fling or planning to make a real move. Zhao Yun himself worked as a cameraman at a TV station—neither dead nor alive, not getting rich but not starving either, with no clue what the future held. Though as a native Shanghainese with two houses, he had the leisure to shoot documentaries; otherwise, the pressure of supporting a family would have crushed him, and he wouldn't have been able to play around with documentaries.
Thinking back to yesterday, when Teng Huatao left, he said to Zhao Yun, "Kid, why keep shooting documentaries? Even if you do, you'll probably have distribution channels now." For now, he'd just let things be—the future was unclear. He'd see if Zhou You could make it through the year.
The key was that Zhou You didn't seem like a reckless spender. When they'd chatted before, Zhou You had mentioned growing up in the countryside. Somehow, he'd gotten startup capital and started investing in various projects. Zhao Yun only knew about his entertainment industry investments; he had no idea about other sectors, but Zhou You must have put money into other projects too.
This time, Zhou You planned to hire a tour guide just for himself, to save the hassle. He went downstairs to the hotel front desk. Big hotels like this usually offered such services, and even if they didn't, there were companies that did. He specifically requested a female guide.
The front desk receptionist was very professional. "How many people will be in your party, and what kind of sights are you interested in?" "Just me. I've got some time and want to look around. Tentatively two days. No rush—keep the schedule relaxed, not that photo-op style of touring." "Alright, please wait a moment. I'll contact someone quickly. Or you could rest in your room for a bit." The five-star hotel's front desk staff wasn't just pretty; their service attitude was excellent.
Traveling alone in a big city these days was indeed troublesome—you couldn't even find your way, especially for someone as lazy as Zhou You.
Soon, the front desk called to say the guide had arrived. In the lobby stood a guide, at most 155 cm tall, with slightly wheat-colored skin, a ponytail, a red sports jacket, tight jeans, and white sneakers. She looked like a very fresh and neat little guide.
Seeing Zhou You come down, she stepped forward quickly. "Hello, Mr. Zhou. I'm Bai Pingping from Shanghai Travel Company. Just call me Xiao Bai." "We have a driver available. Would you like one? If not, I can drive you. It's more convenient with just the two of us, and the company has a car." "Just the two of us. More people are a hassle. I mainly want to wander around Shanghai's outskirts, not with a crowd," Zhou You said directly. "Show me some of Shanghai's good food, scenic spots, and unique old buildings—I'd like to see them." "Don't pack the schedule too tight. Half a day for one spot is fine. After sightseeing, we eat. After eating, if I'm tired, I'll head back to the hotel to rest, then go out again in the afternoon." He added at the end, "Don't worry too much about costs. Whatever's comfortable. I'll transfer you ten thousand first as a deposit. If you need anything later, just let me know."
After a short wait, Xiao Bai arranged the day's itinerary, and they set off. In the car, she drove while explaining. "Today's schedule is tentatively like this: first, we'll go to the Oriental Pearl Tower. It's less crowded now, and from there, you can see the Bund and the Huangpu River. After that, we can find a place nearby to eat. Does that work for you?" "Sure, I'll follow your lead."
The Oriental Pearl Tower, located in Lujiazui, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, is one of the city's landmark buildings. Standing 468 meters tall, it's the second tallest TV tower in China and the third tallest in the world.
A guide's mouth can charm the birds from the trees. But since Zhou You was bored, listening to Xiao Bai's little mouth chatter away wasn't so bad.
When they arrived, despite the forest of high-rises, the towering Oriental Pearl Tower stood majestically by the Huangpu River at the center of the scene. It gleamed like a brilliant pearl, radiating dazzling light. Under the sun's rays, the entire tower took on a golden luster, strikingly eye-catching.
At the base of the Oriental Pearl Tower was an observation hall, where you could enjoy the magnificent view of the Huangpu River and the bustling scenery of Pudong New Area. Inside the hall, many people were taking photos, while others sat on sofas resting, enjoying a comfortable travel experience.
Looking out from the observation hall, you could see the entire modern architectural complex of Lujiazui, including skyscrapers, financial centers, shopping malls, and more. These buildings sparkled in the sunlight, forming a unique modern urban tableau. Additionally, across the Huangpu River, you could see Pudong New Area, with its rows of towering buildings and bustling traffic, showcasing the immense vitality of China's economic development. On the river, boats shuttled back and forth, adding a touch of vivid color to the scene.
Seeing this, Zhou You suddenly got the idea to buy an apartment in Shanghai. If he bought, it had to be right by the Huangpu River.
At noon, they found a local Shanghai specialty restaurant nearby and ordered a few signature dishes: Shanghai-style smoked fish, crab roe rice, braised pork, squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, and stir-fried pork liver. Xiao Bai ate while introducing the dishes. Since she had to drive in the afternoon, they didn't drink alcohol—each ordered a bottle of coconut water to cut the grease.
These dishes tasted great, especially the smoked fish, which Zhou You loved—sweet and sour, truly delicious. But he wasn't entirely used to the overall flavor, which leaned sweet and rich. Eating too much of it would indeed be bad for your health.
The weather this season was perfect—neither hot nor cold, ideal for going out and having a good time. A quote from Confucius popped into his mind: "In late spring, when the spring clothes are ready, I would bathe in the Yi River, enjoy the breeze at the Rain Altar, and return home singing." What a comfortable state of being—even the ancient sages pursued it.