Chapter 44

After safely enjoying the roller coaster, at Ye Wei's suggestion, he and the Anna family came to the Fantasy Kingdom.

Ye Wei's original intention was to meet up with his family and then continue to accompany the Anna family to play, but unexpectedly, after the two families got to know each other, they found they were very compatible!

David and Janet's last bit of doubt vanished when they met Ye Haogen, Gu Qiao, and the adorable Dodo. Learning that Ye Haogen was a doctor added a layer of respect, as this was a highly educated, high-cultured upper-middle-class family, just like theirs.

Ye Haogen also admired David's profession as an architect, and Gu Qiao and Janet, both full-time housewives and devoted mothers, had endless topics to discuss.

Moreover, both families were passionate about movies, performances, and other cultural entertainment fields. The Ye family had even made a movie...

Dodo liked Anna, and Anna liked Dodo. The two girls, one big and one small, quickly became new and good friends.

Learning that Anna and Janet would be busy with auditions in Los Angeles until Christmas, Dodo kept inviting them to her home, and Gu Qiao was also very enthusiastic. The Anna family naturally accepted the invitation and decided to visit the Ye family this Saturday.

This was already a "date" between families! If they had a good time, they would become family friends (Family-friends), and there would be a second, third, and more times for the two families to play together. Family friends generally come in three types: those centered around men, women, or children. In their case, all three types matched, making them a perfect fit.

Ye Wei watched his father and David chatting happily, his mother and Janet discussing family matters, Dodo and Anna holding balloons and sticking together, and he could imagine Toto and Bella...?!

He was truly stunned, feeling like an outsider, foolish, foolish, he should have done this long ago. It turned out that the most convincing thing was the family!

It turned out that "The Wedding Date" was also a great brand! Although it was a box office failure, it did really get released, with a production cost of 2 million! For big shots like Willis, it was nothing; but for ordinary people who loved movies...

I am the son of a movie company owner! Ye Wei shouted in his heart, this identity would still be very useful.

The two families then toured together, watched the Disney character parade, visited several attractions, and as night fell, they enjoyed a Thanksgiving dinner on the Tomorrowland Terrace, watched a beautiful fireworks show, and confirmed the Saturday visit before parting ways, all satisfied with their day.

From Ye Wei's perspective, Anna's role in "Dance of the Angels" was already 99% certain. Even if the student short film wasn't well-made, it wouldn't have a negative impact. Not including it in her resume as "acting experience" could still realistically increase her acting experience. Why did the agent want to stop her?

On the way home, Dodo was already sound asleep. After returning, she would be taken care of by Mrs. Landen, their neighbor and friend, for the night.

Ye Wei, Ye Haogen, and Gu Qiao then headed to the Costco in Marina del Rey to welcome Black Friday, perhaps the only residents of Brentwood participating.

"Black Friday" is the Friday after Thanksgiving, when major retailers across the United States offer huge discounts. Online retailers like Amazon, and physical stores like Walmart, Costco, and Kroger, start hyping it up weeks in advance. On the day, many items are priced as low as 10%, 20%, or 30% off, countless deals.

So ordinary families, especially the poor, wouldn't miss this opportunity, grabbing everything from daily necessities to expensive appliances they couldn't usually afford... a shopping frenzy!

In recent years, competition among retailers has become even more intense. You open at 6 AM? I'll open at 4 AM! You at 4 AM? I'll open at 2 AM! Midnight... Thursday night!

However, Costco is considered a traditional defender, preferring to miss the peak and still open at 6 AM, as it never worries about customers.

"Oh my...!"

Approaching midnight, when the three arrived at the parking lot next to Costco, it took them a long time to find a spot and park. As they walked toward the entrance, they saw a crowd of at least 900 people, making them realize they weren't as early as they thought.

Some people even set up tents to stay overnight, while more stood in the cold night wind, chatting, playing on their phones, dozing, and waiting...

"We can still leave now." Ye Wei looked at his parents. Due to his past experiences, he was the most aware of the "black" meaning, not wanting his parents to enter that battlefield.

"Don't talk nonsense, let's divide the targets..." Gu Qiao looked at the shopping list and coupons in her hand. The list included a variety of items: toothpaste, shower gel, dog food, children's winter clothing, Christmas gifts...

As the night deepened, more people arrived, and the parking lot quickly filled up. Thousands of people crowded in front of the closed doors, and the queue was no longer effective. They just waited for the supermarket doors to open, ready for a life-or-death battle.

...

London, England.

Due to the time difference, it was 2 AM in Los Angeles, but 10 AM in London. There was no festive atmosphere here. After arriving yesterday, Lily went out with her father's family, and this morning, she went to the Duke's Meadow Golf Course in her hometown of Chiswick to play golf.

The sky was blue, and the ground was green with trees, and there was a small lake in the distance. Such an environment naturally made people feel enchanted, but Lily was somewhat distracted.

She wore a white sports outfit, holding a golf club in one hand and a phone in the other, reading a new text message from Ye Wei: "I found the lead actress for the short film! Her name is AnnaSophia Robb, she's amazing!" Because it wasn't convenient to chat back and forth, she was curious and happy but only replied with a smiley face.

But now, she wanted to chat with him... but it was early morning there, he should be sleeping.

"Lily?" Phil Collins noticed his daughter wasn't following and called out, his Asian wife Aurean Seavey and young son Nicholas also looking back.

"Coming." Lily put away her phone and quickly walked up, smiling.

She followed behind, watching her family chat and laugh, seeing her father playfully tease Nicholas, laughing heartily... She couldn't join in the conversation and didn't want to speak, casually swinging the golf club, lost in thought. After a while, she suddenly heard her father's concerned voice: "Lily?"

Phil Collins, with his aged face, followed his daughter's pace and asked, "Why are you not very energetic? Still adjusting to the time difference? Or are you feeling unwell? I heard from your mother that you had a bad cold before?"

"It's nothing, I'm fine..." The concern made Lily feel a bit choked. The bad cold was over a month ago, why ask now... She tried to hide her emotions, still smiling: "Just thinking about some things."

"Oh." Phil Collins nodded and asked with concern, "Is it too hard at school?" He had always disliked his daughter attending Harvard-Westlake, finding it too strict. He wanted her to attend an arts school with a music tradition.

"No, I'm quite happy at school." Lily's smile was more genuine this time. Her life had changed a lot recently, all because of VIY...

"That's good." Phil Collins looked at his daughter, wanting her to be happy but couldn't think of any ideas. Suddenly, he thought of the Harvard-Westlake student atmosphere and said with a smile, "When you turn 16, Dad will get you a sports car, any brand you want, let's rock!"

"It's still a long way off." Lily smiled, not at all excited. The traditional approach of Harvard-Westlake parents, giving their children sports cars, thinking they would be happy...

"Dad, Dad!" At this moment, Nicholas called from ahead, "Come on, come and look!"

"What is it? What is it?" Phil Collins immediately ran over, his face full of smiles.

Lily casually swung the golf club a few more times, frowning slightly, and slowly followed, increasingly missing the United States, missing that person...

...

Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, Lev and Bud were crazily pressing the slot machines at the Caesar's Palace Hotel, shouting and screaming; in Salt Lake City, Cole was sleeping; in Sacramento, Chen Nuo and his cousins were singing karaoke.

In Hawaii, Trisst and her family were attending a bonfire party; in San Diego, Conte was enjoying the night view on a luxury cruise; in New York, Li Ming was queuing outside a nightclub, sneaking peeks at the scantily clad girls, swallowing his saliva...

In Paris, on the Champs-Élysées, Willis and his three daughters were shopping, moving between luxury brand flagship stores, from Louis Vuitton to Valentino...

"Valentino?" Just as they were about to enter, Lamora held back Laru, saying disdainfully, "Can you get any more low-class? What did Prada do to you?" Laru retorted, "What did Valentino do to you?" Bery said irritably, "Can we buy bags from both brands?"

"Smart, that's my daughter!" Willis smiled, his wrinkles deepening. Lamora and Laru shrugged, "Then let's buy them all."

...

In Los Angeles, the time was gradually approaching 6 AM, and the sky was beginning to brighten. In front of the Costco doors, everyone was ready, all the tents were empty, and everyone was piled up at the entrance, with only 5 minutes left...

"Open the doors!" "Open them!" The crowd was not quiet, and the excited shouts grew louder. Some middle-aged women of various ethnicities, with ball-like figures, looked fierce, staring through the glass doors at the fully stocked shelves, like the fat "Saint" in "Pink Flamingos" and her family who took pride in being dirty.

Suddenly, some people started to rush the Costco doors. The employees behind the doors shouted through a megaphone, "Everyone, please be safe, maintain order!"

Order? No one would take it for free! People's enthusiasm only increased, and more people started pounding on the doors...

Why is it called Black Friday? For employees, it's exhausting; for customers? Every year, there are incidents of fighting, even trampling, causing injuries across the United States.

Only cheap, no safety! The curses grew louder: "Go to hell!" "Open this damn door, or we'll kill you!" "You bastards, stop pushing, damn it, open the door!!"...

With only 3 minutes left, Ye Wei and his parents resisted the pressure from the crowd behind them, standing firm like trees, about 5 meters from the entrance.

Boom! Suddenly, before the exact time, the glass doors of the supermarket opened!!!

"Ah!" "F*ck you!!" People screamed crazily, rushing into the supermarket like a flood!

Ye Haogen and Gu Qiao, lacking experience, were momentarily stunned...

"Get out of the way!!" But Ye Wei was different. His eyes were full of determination. His parents had stood there all night; they had to get something! He charged forward without hesitation, like playing American football, rushing into the end zone!

The employees behind the doors quickly moved aside, seasoned veterans not intimidated by the surging crowd.

The goods near the entrance were daily necessities, but they were still targets for grabbing. The "Saints" pounced, grabbing whatever they could, knowing they could return it, so they grabbed everything!

"Mine, this is mine!" "Give it to me!!" "F*ck you, bitch!"...

Angry shouts echoed through the supermarket. There were no children in sight, but people of all races and skin colors could be seen, poor but strong, pushing, fighting, and cursing...

Among them was a young figure, Ye Wei! His eyes were red with rage, grabbing all sorts of goods, where was the shopping cart, damn it!?

"Dad, Mom, where's the shopping cart!?" He turned back, not seeing his parents, only the endless stream of people rushing in.

A bad feeling rose in his heart, and he regained his senses, rushing back, looking around, suddenly seeing his mother fall a few steps from the entrance...

"Mom!" He cried out, throwing away the items in his hands, rushing over, "Mom! Are you okay, are you alright?!"

Gu Qiao had been knocked down by the people rushing in, her hands stepped on, her arms and palms in excruciating pain. Ye Haogen helped her up, his face red, full of self-reproach...

"What about the things!?" Gu Qiao was worried about something else, having seen Ye Wei grab a lot earlier, "The shower gels..."

"To hell with it! To hell with the shower gels!!" Seeing his parents' disheveled state and the still surging crowd, Ye Wei clenched his teeth, a fire rising in his heart, shouting, "To hell with Black Friday! To hell with Costco, F*CK!!"

Just for discounted shower gels, to save a little money... to hell with Kevin Thomas, to hell with "The Wedding Date," to hell with it!

Looking at their son, Ye Haogen and Gu Qiao frowned, feeling powerless and guilty, only able to sigh deeply.

"Phew, phew... Dad, Mom, I'm sorry, I'm fine, let's go, see if there's any toothpaste left..."

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