Qi Yan stood still, his gaze lingering on the closed elevator doors in the distance. His footsteps faltered for a brief moment.

Behind him, the others from the meeting room followed him out. When they saw him stop at the entrance, they too instinctively came to a halt.

Kangheng Entertainment’s president, Wang Shi, looked utterly unremarkable, just like one of those middle-aged men practicing Tai Chi in the park at dawn. Yet outside these walls, no one dared to underestimate him.

Now, however, as he observed Qi Yan standing motionless, he stepped forward with deliberate precision, stopping just half a step behind. “Mr. Qi, is something the matter?” he asked.

Qi Yan withdrew his gaze. His baseball cap was pulled low over his face, obscuring his expression, yet there was something in his demeanor that sent an inexplicable chill down people’s spines.

He cast a glance toward the place where his ex-wife had just emerged, then pointed in that direction and asked coolly, “Audition?”

As the company’s CEO, Wang Shi rarely concerned himself with minor affairs like these. At Qi Yan’s question, he turned slightly, glancing at the staff behind him.

One of them immediately stepped forward and replied, “Mr. Qi, President Wang, today is the amateur selection for ‘A Taste of Everyday Life’.”

Qi Yan remained expressionless. He reached up, removed his baseball cap, and ran a hand through his slightly tousled black hair.

His flawless features betrayed no emotion, as serene and unreadable as the surface of a still lake. Yet in the next instant, that very same lake could remain calm or erupt into a raging storm, swallowing everything in its path.

It all depended on his mood.

Qi Yan put his cap back on and found his thoughts drifting to his ex-wife.

Yan An was round. ^[1]‘Yan An was round’, because the Copper Coin Grass’ leaf looks round.

Her face was small, fair, and delicate, exuding a soft, childlike charm. But there was no doubt, it was round.

For some reason, no matter how he looked at her, she always seemed round to him. Not just her face. Everything about her felt rounder than anything else in the world.

Qi Yan had always liked round, plump things, like the leaves of the Copper Coin Grass he kept at home.

Of course, that wasn’t the most important thing. She had taken something that belonged to him.

A faint smile curved Qi Yan’s lips, but there was no warmth in it. 

“Then let it be Yan An.”

The people around him were stunned, momentarily unable to react.

He offered no explanation and simply walked toward the elevator. Just as he was about to enter, his voice drifted over from a short distance away. 

“Save me a spot.”

Back when Qi Yan was still a fresh-faced newcomer, he had skyrocketed to fame after starring in a single drama before transitioning to film.

In three years, he had acted in three movies, each one a critical and commercial success.

But beyond these achievements, there were things most people remained unaware of.

Even Wang Shi, who knew more than most, wasn’t entirely sure just how much power and wealth Qi Yan had accumulated over the years.

So why on earth was he interested in participating in a small variety show?

—

Yan An headed straight back to her small barrier. But before entering, she stopped by a convenience store outside the alley and bought three lollipops for a total of 3 Yuan.

She only had about 300 Yuan left to her name, but lollipops were an essential part of maintaining a good quality of life.

One for each of them. Unlike her two babies, Yan An chose a lemon-flavored one for herself.

Inside the barrier, Yan Mengmeng and Yan Kuku had taken on their childlike human forms. They accepted the lollipops from her hands.

In perfect unison, the three of them unwrapped the candies and tossed the wrappers into the dry waste bin.

Recently, the outside world has been enforcing strict waste sorting regulations. To make disposal easier, Yan An had placed several trash bins inside the barrier and made it a rule that everything had to be properly sorted. That way, when they went outside, throwing things away would be much more convenient.

After disposing of the wrappers, Yan Mengmeng sucked on his lollipop and hesitated for a moment before looking at Yan An. 

In his soft, childish voice, he carefully asked, “Mommy, can you not eat lemon-flavored ones?”

Yan An smacked her lips. “Oh, don’t worry. This lemon-flavored lollipop isn’t made from real lemons. It’s just human-made flavoring. Relax, it’s not one of your kind.”

Yan Mengmeng’s eyes widened. “Really, Mommy?”

“Of course,” Yan An assured him. “Mommy never lies.”

Nearby, Yan Kuku bit into his lollipop and silently glanced at Yan An, his little bitter gourd face filled with unspoken doubt.

Yan Mengmeng also hesitated before thinking it over and finally nodding. “…Okay then, Mommy, you can eat it.”

Yan An beamed. “Such a good boy.” ^[2]真乖 (Zhēn guāi) means ‘So obedient/well-behaved/good’. It is often use to praise a child

Yan Kuku shook his head and slowly turned to walk back toward his personal bitter gourd patch.

Thank goodness bitter gourd-flavored lollipops didn’t exist.

The following afternoon, the sunlight was just right. Within the small barrier, untouched by the outside world, the light still streamed in.

It was July, and the sun outside burned fiercely. But within the barrier, its harshness was subdued, leaving behind a gentle, soothing radiance, like the soft warmth of winter sunlight.

Yan An floated lazily in the lake, idly soaking in the water while basking under the golden glow.

Her round, lush green leaves shimmered in the sunlight.

Beside her, two little ones lay sprawled on the grass near the water, their tiny bellies rising and falling as they slept peacefully.

The quiet stillness created the perfect atmosphere for a nap. As the tranquility lulled Yan An into slumber, a sudden ringing abruptly shattered the peace.

Yan Mengmeng and Yan Kuku flinched awake in surprise.

Yan Kuku sat up sluggishly, though his eyes remained shut. His little bitter gourd-like face was filled with sleepy confusion and silent grievance. Huh? What’s going on?

Yan Mengmeng rubbed his sleepy eyes, following the direction of the sound. He walked over, picked up the phone, glanced at the caller ID, then crouched by the lake, gently tugging at a Copper Coin Grass leaf. “Mommy, Mommy, someone’s calling.”

Only then did Yan An slowly stir awake. She shifted back into her human form, sat by the lake, and drowsily reached for the phone.

“Hello, Yan An speaking,” she said, her voice still thick with sleep.

“Hello, this is the casting director of ‘A Taste of Everyday Life’. Am I speaking to Miss Yan An?”

Yan An froze for a moment, then instantly sobered up. Suppressing her excitement, she replied, “Yes! Yes, that’s me!”

“Miss Yan An, congratulations. You have been selected as a guest for our program.”

“!!!”

Overjoyed, a cluster of Copper Coin Grass leaves sprouted from Yan An’s head, crowding together in a thick, lively bunch.

“The show will have a total of twelve episodes,” the director continued. “Your appearance fee is one million Yuan. If you’re available, you can come to our company headquarters anytime to sign the contract. We’ll go over the details during the signing. Does that work for you?”

Still sporting a head full of fresh green leaves, Yan An exclaimed, “No problem! I’ll be there soon!”

One million!

For someone with only three hundred yuan left, this was a massive windfall.

She had checked salary standards not long ago, most regular jobs paid five to six thousand a month, and ten thousand was already considered an excellent income.

Just because her ex-husband had given her thirty million didn’t mean she would dismiss a million as insignificant. She wasn’t that kind of Copper Coin Grass! She cherished every cent and understood the value of hard-earned money.

The person on the other end chuckled. “Great, I’ll be waiting for you.”

As soon as the call ended, Yan An was still brimming with excitement. Without hesitation, she plucked two leaves from her head and stuffed them into the mouths of the two children sitting beside her. “It’s great for reducing inflammation in this hot weather! Eat up! It’s good for you!”

Completely caught off guard, Yan Mengmeng and Yan Kuku sat there in stunned silence, chewing on Copper Coin Grass leaves with bewildered expressions. 

“???”

Yan Kuku struggled to swallow the bitter leaf and said, “Mommy, my bitter gourd leaves can help with reducing inflammation too.”

After all, bitter gourds had the same effect.

Yan An replied, “But I’m not as bitter as you.”

Yan Kuku: ┮﹏┭

She ruffled his little head and was about to make another call when she caught sight of Yan Mengmeng gazing at her with wide, expectant eyes.

A faint sourness lingered in the air.

Without hesitation, Yan An reached out and ruffled Yan Mengmeng’s hair too, making sure both children received equal attention. Only then did she pick up her phone, squat down beside her yet-to-sprout child, and dial Liang Baiyu’s number.

Behind her, Yan Mengmeng and Yan Kuku mimicked her movements, squatting down as well.

Liang Baiyu answered almost instantly. “Copper Coin, what’s up?”

“Pigeon!” Yan An blurted out excitedly. “I got in! The casting director just called. I’m heading over soon to sign the contract. Thanks so much! Should I send you some Copper Coin Grass leaves? Your throat’s been irritated lately, right? You can brew them into tea!”

Liang Baiyu: “Alright. But you actually got in?”

Yan An: “Mm-hmm! I got in! I auditioned yesterday, and today they told me I passed. Your director friend works so efficiently!”

Liang Baiyu: “…But I think I forgot to mention you to my director friend.”

Yan An: “What???”

Lounging lazily on the sofa, Liang Baiyu casually crossed his legs, looking as boneless as ever. “Doesn’t matter. You still got in, didn’t you? Whether I said something or not, the outcome’s the same.”

Yan An: “!!!”

A hard-earned lesson, never befriend an unreliable flake!

But after so many years of friendship, Yan An had long accepted Liang Baiyu’s natural talent for ghosting people. Instead of dwelling on his unreliability, she eagerly shared her excitement. “They’re paying me a million yuan.”

Liang Baiyu: “Oh.”

Yan An casually asked, “How much is your appearance fee?”

Liang Baiyu: “I forgot. A few million, I think.”

Yan An: “!!!”

Liang Baiyu added nonchalantly, “Oh, and on the show, pretend you don’t know me.”

Yan An blinked in confusion. “Why?”

“My fans are insane, and my haters are even worse. It’s safer for you if you stay away from me.”

Recalling the online chaos that constantly surrounded him, Yan An immediately nodded. “Got it. I’ll stay far, far away!”

Before they could continue chatting, an enraged voice exploded from Liang Baiyu’s end of the call.

“LIANG BAIYU! Do you even remember today’s MV shoot?! You’re late AGAIN! How many times have I reminded you?! You told me you were already on your way! Almost there! So why the hell are you still on the damn sofa?! You’re about to pay another breach-of-contract penalty! Do I need to remind you how much money you have left?! Is there a single celebrity in this industry poorer than you?! Can’t you have even the slightest sense of time?!”

The outburst was so fierce that even Yan An and her two kids flinched, their leaves trembling ever so slightly.

She couldn’t see what was happening on the other end, but she was certain Liang Baiyu’s manager’s face must be livid, probably on the verge of coughing up blood.

“Alright, talk later,” she said, swiftly ending the call.

Liang Baiyu was one of the most popular singers in the industry, yet he was practically broke, only slightly better off than Yan An.

Why? Because he was either running late or ditching commitments, and all the money he earned went straight into paying breach-of-contract penalties. That was also why he had an army of haters online.

After all, when a singer could show up half a day late to their own concert… it was only natural for the internet to roast him alive.

The first few times Liang Baiyu bailed on her, Yan An had been so enraged that she actually fought him, even yanking out a few of his metaphorical pigeon feathers.

But it was pointless, he never changed. In his own words, as a friend, he would take a bullet for her, but expecting him to be on time or stop flaking? ‘Sorry, not happening. You’d have better luck dreaming.’

Yan An had long since made peace with this fact. There wasn’t a single reliable pigeon in the world. Not a single one!

The contract signing went smoothly. The first episode of the show was scheduled for a month later, and when there were only two weeks left, the director created a group chat.

There were six guests in total, ranked by status: a mysterious user with a black profile picture, Liang Baiyu, Ji Lan, Wen Yang, Jiang Tian, and finally, Yan An.

The director had mentioned beforehand that this mystery guest was a prominent figure in the industry. To maintain the element of surprise, their identity would remain a secret until the first day of filming.

Online, speculation about their identity ran rampant. But one thing was certain, they were a major figure in the entertainment world. The only question was, who?

Yan An firmly believed in the power of networking. So the moment she was added to the group chat, she enthusiastically sent friend requests to everyone.

Since she only knew Liang Baiyu, the others simply accepted her request, exchanged a brief greeting, and moved on.

The last person to accept was the enigmatic mystery guest.

Yan An greeted them with the same polite message she had sent to everyone else.

[Yan An Wants Money: Hello, Senior! I’m Yan An~]

[Y: I know.]

[Yan An was shocked. The big star actually knew her?]

[Yan An Wants Money: Excited.jpg]

[Yan An Wants Money: I’m just an amateur guest, so if I’m unfamiliar with anything during the recording, please take care of me, Senior~]

Meanwhile, Qi Yan wandered through the courtyard of his villa, his steps unhurried as he passed a stone-edged pond. The water was crystal clear, reflecting the sky above, while clusters of copperleaf plants floated serenely on the surface, their roots sheltering the fish gliding beneath.

Thriving in the well-kept environment, the copper coin leaves were lush and abundant, except for a few leaves that had started to wither.

He halted, bent down, and plucked one of the withered leaves, absentmindedly rolling it between his fingertips.

As he read the message from his ex-wife, a faint chuckle escaped his lips.

‘Take care of her?’

With an indifferent flick of his fingers, he crushed the fragile leaf into a tiny ball and carelessly tossed it aside. Then, without so much as a second glance, he stepped over it and continued on his way.

---

Translator’s Note: