Song Mianfeng’s hand trembled. Before he could delete the reply of “Yes”, his phone rang. On the screen, the words “Mother Empress” danced more cheerfully than the ringtone. Song Mianfeng stared at the red hang-up and green answer buttons for a few seconds, then reluctantly answered the call.

“Hello… Mom…”

“Mianfeng?” On the other end of the phone, Su Jieyi went straight to the point, bombarding Song Mianfeng with various inquiries, “That thing you posted on Moments, the rose? Was it sent by Lu Yin Zhen? What’s going on between you two? Are you in a relationship? Why didn’t you tell us?”

“Mom, hello? Mom, listen to me.” Song Mianfeng finally managed to interrupt Su Jieyi’s barrage of questions, “We’re not in a relationship. We’re not dating.”

Song Mianfeng wished he could slap himself for forgetting to block his parents from seeing his Moments.

“Then why did he send you flowers?” Su Jieyi pressed, “Last time your dad said, didn’t Lu Yin Zhen not like you…”

“Who said he didn’t like me?” Song Mianfeng retorted, a bit annoyed, “He sent the flowers, but we’re not dating now. Maybe we will in a few days.”

“Hmm?” Song Shaochen’s voice came through the phone, “What’s going on between you and Lu Yin Zhen?”

“… ” Song Mianfeng felt a headache from his parents’ questions and decided to give up, “It’s just me fooling around, Dad.”

It took a while for both Song Shaochen and Su Jieyi to understand what he meant.

Su Jieyi asked, “So… have you made any progress with him?”

“We have, in a few days, I’ll bring him home for dinner, next year I’ll bring back a chubby grandson for you, and in three years, two…”

“You’re being ridiculous.” Su Jieyi interrupted him, “What are you talking about? You two grown men, where would a chubby grandson come from?”

Song Mianfeng laughed, “That settles it.”

“Neither your mother nor I are expecting you to bring us a chubby grandson. Why are you rushing?” Song Shaochen paused for a moment on the other end of the phone and continued, “If it doesn’t work out… your mom and I won’t rush you, nor will we force you.”

Song Shaochen added, “Don’t force yourself either.”

Song Mianfeng listened quietly until Song Shaochen finished speaking, then earnestly replied, “I know.”

After hanging up the phone, Song Mianfeng saw missed calls and messages from Song Zhanyue on WeChat. He lay down on the bed with a sense of exhaustion and called Song Zhanyue back.

When the call connected, Song Zhanyue called out, “Ge, you and Lu Yin Zhen…”

“… We’re not together yet.” Song Mianfeng rubbed his temples and asked, “How did you know the flowers were from him?”

Song Zhanyue chuckled, “I guessed.”

“Did Mom and Dad call you?” She saw Su Jieyi and Song Shaochen’s comments under Song Mianfeng’s Moments and called him, but couldn’t get through.

“Yeah… they asked about me and Lu Yin Zhen.”

“And what did you tell them?” Song Zhanyue asked, “How did you explain?”

“I told them we’re not dating yet, but we might be in a few days.” Song Mianfeng relaxed his tone, “It’s better this way, so they won’t arrange blind dates for me again.”

“You don’t need blind dates anymore.” Song Zhanyue was happy for Song Mianfeng but worried for herself, “But it’s hard for me.”

“Then find yourself a boyfriend, so you won’t have to go on blind dates either.”

“No way.” Song Zhenyue refused, “I think being single is fine.”

Song Mianfeng suddenly smiled, “Before I met Lu Yin Zhen, I thought being single was fine too.”

“Comrade Song Mianfeng, you’re being rude.” Song Zhanyue said, “Please end your single life before saying such things, okay?”

Song Mianfeng answered seriously, “Soon.”

This “soon” made Song Zhanyue suddenly feel a little sad. She restrained her joking tone and called out seriously, “Ge, if you like him, love him, be with him, okay?”

“What are you thinking?” Song Mianfeng knew what she was worried about and laughed, “Do I seem like someone who settles?”

Song Zhanyue chuckled, “No.”

Song Mianfeng also laughed, with a casual yet profound tone, “Zhanyue.”

“I want to try.”

…

The next day, when Song Mianfeng woke up, he habitually sent a “Good morning” message to Lu Yin Zhen, got up to wash and change, picked up his camera bag, and set off for the wedding of Lu Changyin and Li Juansheng.

The wedding venue was set at the S City Exhibition Center. When Song Mianfeng arrived, the staff responsible for shooting had already set up their equipment. Several entertainment reporters with cameras hung around their necks were chatting on the side. He greeted acquaintances and heard the shutter sound. He raised his eyebrows and frowned involuntarily.

Apparently, some little intern who didn’t know any better had taken a picture of him without permission. Song Mianfeng was about to ask someone to delete the photo when someone next to him took the intern’s camera, deleted the photo, and reprimanded him, “What are you taking pictures of? Who told you to take a picture of him?”

The person deleted the photo and showed it to Song Mianfeng, saying with a smile, “Sorry, Mr. Song, he’s a new intern in our studio, young and ignorant.”

“It’s okay.” Song Mianfeng glanced at the name on his work badge and paused, “You took pictures of Qin Zong’s incident last time?”

“It was luck, just luck.” Li Xiaoman politely handed a business card to Song Mianfeng, who took it and put it in his pocket.

During the conversation, three people entered from the entrance. A graceful woman in a light blue embroidered cheongsam, well-preserved but with a slightly stiff smile; a man with graying temples, a face showing signs of aging, and a bit overweight, but traces of his youthful handsomeness could still be seen in his eyebrows and eyes; followed by a man in a neatly tailored suit, handsome, and somehow… familiar.

Song Mianfeng discreetly appraised the family of three entering, and heard the intern beside him ask Li Xiaoman in a low voice, “Li Ge, is that Xia Chunjian?”

“It is.”

The intern seemed puzzled, “Didn’t she retire from the entertainment industry? Why would she come to Changyin’s wedding?”

“She married into a wealthy family before, retired from the entertainment industry, and now wants to make money by re-entering the circle. Of course, she has to show up in every possible way.” Li Xiaoman chuckled, “Besides, her husband’s surname is Lu, just like Lu Changyin. How could she not come?”

The intern suddenly realized, “Are they relatives?”

“Distant relatives that can’t be reached with an eight-foot pole.”

Guests arrived one after another. Fu Qingshan also came. After chatting with Song Mianfeng for a few words, he went to find other friends he knew.

As the ceremony was about to begin, Song Mianfeng noticed the somewhat familiar man talking to another distinguished-looking man, his face showing an almost fawning expression.

Furrowing his brows slightly, Song Mianfeng asked Li Xiaoman, “Who’s that person over there?”

Li Xiaoman followed his gaze and glanced, saying, “He’s the successor of the Lu family, Lu Changting; and the one next to him is Xia Chunjian’s stepson, Lu Changhao.”

Families like the Lu family paid attention even to the names they gave. According to the generation of characters, Lu Changting belonged to the generation of “Chang”.

Entertainment reporters are the most well-informed. One of them, trying to get closer to Song Mianfeng, interjected, “I heard that Xia Chunjian’s husband, Lu Shi, had some problems in business. Maybe he needs help from the Lu family, so he’s getting close to Lu Changting.”

Song Mianfeng suppressed the inexplicable sense of familiarity in his heart and simply responded with an “Hmm” to indicate that he understood.

As the ceremony began, everyone’s attention shifted to the newlyweds.

The bride was truly beautiful, and she looked even more stunning in her wedding dress.

Song Mianfeng had always favored beautiful women, and his admiration turned into snapshots in his mind’s eye. The exchange of rings, the kiss on the back of the bride’s hand—no matter how they were captured, they looked good.

After the ceremony, Song Mianfeng flipped through the photos and was quite satisfied. He didn’t take many more pictures and put away his camera, then went to find Fu Qingshan.

Fu Qingshan had saved him a seat, and the table was also filled with familiar faces.

As he sat down, he noticed director He Chengyun at the neighboring table, chatting with a young man. He didn’t look too good, as if the conversation wasn’t going well.

The young man smiled apologetically, drank a glass of wine, and He Chengyun then moved to their table.

Fu Qingshan guessed it was about casting. He poured He Chengyun a glass of wine and comforted him, “It’s a joyous occasion, why hold grudges against unrelated people?”

The protagonist of “Phoenix Flying” still hadn’t been decided.

The script was about the love and hate between Fu Jian and Murong Chong, a same-sex theme. The male lead, Murong Chong, was a young man with unparalleled beauty, appropriate age, acting skills, and intelligence that He Chengyun liked. However, there were only a few people in the industry who fit this description.

But in this circle, decisions were often made by consensus, and few were willing to help. With Qin Zong’s scandal, and the sensitive theme of “Phoenix Flying,” it was hard to find a young, famous, skilled, and smart actor willing to take the risk.

Having directed for so many years, He Chengyun had long seen through this, but he couldn’t help but worry about the male lead’s casting. He took a sip of wine and his brows relaxed slightly, “These young actors nowadays…”

“Their acting skills are not that good, but they have quite the temper.”

Song Mianfeng clinked glasses with He Chengyun and casually asked, “The protagonist hasn’t been decided yet?”

He Chengyun shook his head, “The ones I like don’t like my script, and the ones who like my script, I don’t like.”

Song Mianfeng casually suggested, “I can recommend someone to you?”

He Chengyun asked with interest, “Who?”

“Zhou Yang.”