Su Wan’s mother’s hand trembled as tears glimmered in her eyes, and she responded shakily. Her proud daughter now seemed as docile and gentle as a lamb—what kind of grievances had she endured to end up like this?

“Did Li Yang bully you? What did your dad say when he called you back yesterday? Why didn’t you call me? I would never let the leading role go to them!”

Her mother’s rapid-fire questions almost left Su Wan dizzy.

“Please sit down first, don’t rush; let’s take our time,” Su Wan urged.

She summarized what happened yesterday.

“I thought about it, and playing the leading role is exhausting. The wires leave me bruised all over, so I agreed. I’m sorry for your good intentions…”

“Since Su Qin claims she is a person of integrity; she definitely wouldn’t want to use your investment. Since you’re withdrawing, she’ll just fill the gap,” her mother said, clenching her teeth in anger.

“Su Ming really isn’t worth much!”

“As for the withdrawal of investment you mentioned, I assure you that’s not a problem; I’ve already sent my assistant to handle it. If the funds truly can’t be replaced, it’ll reflect poorly on the Su family, and Su Ming will definitely grit his teeth and cover it.”

“Then I can relax.”

Now everyone was happy.

Su Qin would play the role she desired, pampered by her most affectionate father, and the legitimate pampering must surely bring her joy beyond measure.

Su Wan’s mother let out a cold laugh.

This matter wasn’t over for her.

Taking advantage of her being abroad for a conference to set up a banquet of betrayal, how could Su Ming possibly think of such a trick? It must have been Su Qin’s instigation.

And then there was Li Yang…

“Is Li Yang treating you well? Have you been wronged lately? Tell Mom.”

Su Wan shook her head. “I’m fine with him; you don’t need to worry.”

They were living their separate lives, soon to be divorced. Li Yang was out early and back late, so Su Wan had no complaints.

But her mother did.

There was something she had always wanted to say but had kept to herself.

Why not just get a divorce? After enduring this stagnant relationship for over twenty years, any feelings they once had must have been completely worn away.

But thinking further, such family alliances meant that the two families were not only relatives but also business partners. Even if the relationship was merely for appearances, they had to maintain the facade of a marriage when it came to interests.

“Good child, as long as you’re not suffering, that’s what matters. With Mom here, no one can hurt you.”

…

The meal with her mother was the first delicious, warm meal Su Wan had in this world. They chatted about family matters and everyday life.

Before leaving, her mother was reluctant to part.

“Make sure to visit me more often when you have the time,” Su Wan said something she had never even dared to dream of.

Her mother nodded vigorously, happily agreeing.

Aunt Wang stood in the living room, quietly watching the tender farewell between the mother and daughter, her nose tingling with emotion.

After so many years, this fractured family finally seemed to have a semblance of what a “home” should look like.

She felt genuinely happy for them.

On the other hand, things were quite different.

Su Wan’s father paced back and forth in his office, his face dark with anger. “This is nonsense, absolute nonsense! That Su Xiaoqing can invest or withdraw funds at will without even informing me!”

His words had a somewhat absurd logic.

He didn’t stop to consider that he had secretly taken Su Wan’s leading role without informing anyone, making unilateral decisions.

Su Qin stood by the window, tearfully asking, “Dad, what should we do? As soon as we heard about the withdrawal, everyone felt disheartened. The director said outdoor shoots can’t proceed, a lot of scenes will have to be cut, and the male lead is said to be replaced by some unknown little idol—he’s got nothing to offer compared to top-tier stars like Wen Chen!”

Just yesterday, she had been so excited she couldn’t sleep, boasting about securing the leading role; today, it felt like everything was falling apart.

The news of the funding withdrawal for “City Colors” spread widely, with many voices claiming that Su Qin had snatched the leading role and that the investors were dissatisfied.

Various media outlets blocked the film set early this morning, prompting the director to announce that shooting would be canceled for the day.

Director Meng was also very angry, though he didn’t know the reason behind it.

Su Qin had sent him messages all day without a response.

Her heart was growing colder and colder, so she hurried to seek advice from her father.

Su Wan’s father was suffering from a splitting headache, pacing back and forth in anger.

He didn’t have the courage to argue with Su Xiaoqing; after more than twenty years of marriage, didn’t he know better? Trying to reason with her was like a scholar encountering soldiers—logic would get him nowhere.

After thinking it over, he decided he had to support his daughter.

Gritting his teeth, he said, “It’s fine, Dad is here. It’s just a matter of money; anything that can be solved with money isn’t really a problem.”

Recently, the funding chain hadn’t been running smoothly, and there wasn’t much liquid capital available. Although he wasn’t as wealthy as his wife, he thought they should still be able to finish the film without too much trouble.

Hearing her father’s reassurance, Su Qin felt a bit relieved, though the frustration in her heart still lingered.

Who would have thought the other side would strike so hard, directly cutting off her support, almost leaving her breathless?

“And…”

Su Wan’s father’s eyes flickered as he spoke to her. “Investment is just a matter of anger; it’s probably Wanwan who is upset and throwing a tantrum, just a childish reaction. Here’s what you do: bring this up in front of Li Yang. Wanwan listens to him the most; if he mentions it when he goes back, she might change her mind again.”

Su Qin lowered her head, revealing her pale neck, looking obedient and compliant.

Her expression was somewhat dim; after a long pause, she slowly nodded.

“I understand, Dad.”

…

It was unclear how many ups and downs the drama had experienced; the outside world was buzzing, yet there was still no confirmed news.

Finally, the official account of the drama stated that there would only be slight adjustments, and “City Colors” would continue filming as scheduled without delays.