Chapter 50

“Who are you? Who let you in? Get out, all of you!”

A few burly men in black suddenly barged into the private room, causing Hao Yuan to be so startled that he fell off the sofa and onto the floor.

Then, an angry voice came through.

“It’s me!”

Qin Hanhan walked in, her face filled with fury, glaring at Hao Yuan.

Hao Yuan was startled by her expression, and the bottle in his hand fell to the ground with a crisp sound. He hurried over to her.

“Hanhan, why did you come?”

“This is not a place for someone like you to be. Go back now!”

Although Hao Yuan said these words to push Qin Hanhan away, he still needed her, especially her money, so he decided to calm her down for now.

Qin Hanhan pushed him away, keeping her distance from him.

“Don’t touch me! I heard everything you said just now!”

“Hao Yuan, you bastard! You actually lied to me! You even wanted to sell me off into the mountains!”

Hao Yuan quickly explained, “It’s not like that, you misunderstood. I didn’t say that.”

He lowered his voice and said, “You are the girl I like, how could I do something like that to you?”

What he had said earlier were his true feelings, which he normally didn’t dare to express, but the alcohol had given him the courage to say it.

“Heh!” Qin Hanhan sneered. “You only like my money, don’t you? I’ve liked you so much, even disregarding what my parents said. Now, looking back, I really feel like a fool for being deceived by someone like you, a scumbag, for so long!”

“It’s not like that, I didn’t lie to you, really, you have to believe me,” Hao Yuan persisted in explaining.

Over there, Ruan Man had seen enough of the drama and purposely spoke up, “Xiao Yuan, is this the little girlfriend you always talk about? She’s quite pretty. But don’t misunderstand, we’re not involved in any way, we were just sitting together and drinking.”

Hao Yuan’s face turned pale, and he quickly motioned for Ruan Man to stop. This explanation would only make Qin Hanhan think more.

“Hanhan, she’s just a friend. You’re my girlfriend, you have to believe me.”

Qin Hanhan stated bluntly, “Don’t act so fake. I won’t believe you anymore.”

She had just seen how close Hao Yuan was to that woman and how gentle and servile he was when speaking to her. If he really liked her, if he truly cared for her, why did he treat her this way?

She had been nothing more than a fool for Hao Yuan to amuse himself with, a silly person providing him with money.

At that moment, all of her affection for Hao Yuan disappeared, leaving only disgust.

“Hao Yuan, you really make me feel sick.”

“By the way, I have a record of every time I transferred money to you. Now, I’m going to take it all back. If you don’t return it, I’ll have no choice but to send you a court summons.”

“Also, I’m a minor. You deceived my feelings and my money. This is serious. If you don’t return the money, you’ll end up in jail!”

“Hanhan, you can’t do this to me!” Hao Yuan’s face turned pale. “I really like you. What do I have to do for you to believe me?”

Seeing his frightened expression, Qin Hanhan finally let out the pent-up frustration inside her, feeling much better.

“It’s not impossible for me to believe you, but you have to return the money first, then shave your head and become a monk.”

“Can you do that?”

Hao Yuan, “…”

He clenched his fists. These two demands were practically forcing him to die, weren’t they? It seemed that Qin Hanhan was truly beyond saving. So why bother with good words?

He hardened his heart, putting away the act. “Fine, since you’ve found out, I won’t pretend anymore.”

He sneered. “Yes, that’s right. How could I possibly like someone like you, a bean sprout who hasn’t developed? Unless I were blind. What I like is your money, and being with you is only for the money. If you didn’t have money, do you think I would have comforted you, gotten close to you, or become your boyfriend? Don’t dream about it. Someone like you, with that terrible temper, how could anyone like you?”

“You—”

“Hao Yuan, you bastard!”

Qin Hanhan was deeply hurt by his words, her body shaking with anger. She grabbed the wine bottle on the table and threw it at him, but he dodged it.

Fuming, she threw a second bottle, but this time it hit Ruan Man. Hao Yuan immediately rushed to protect her, and the bottle smashed against his body.

“Are you alright, Goddess?”

Ruan Man looked at him and smiled. “I’m fine, but it seems like you’re the one with a problem.”

“I’m not hurt, as long as you’re okay,” Hao Yuan said, acting like a love-stricken fool.

Seeing this scene, Qin Hanhan became even more furious. She had just realized that Hao Yuan really liked that woman—only love would make someone act so recklessly.

“Hao Yuan! I must be blind to have ever liked you!”

“Teach him a lesson!”

Fuming, Qin Hanhan left the room, telling the bodyguards, and ran out of the private room, her eyes red and swollen, clearly feeling deeply wronged.

Qin Zhongsong’s car was parked not far from the bar. When he saw Qin Hanhan squatting on the roadside crying, he got out of the car to comfort her. He squatted beside her and gently stroked her head, silently comforting her.

“Dad, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have caused a rift between you and Mom because of Hao Yuan. It was my fault.”

“Hao Yuan doesn’t like me. He’s been lying to me. He only likes my money.”

“I was wrong. Dad, can you forgive me?”

Qin Hanhan looked at Qin Zhongsong with tearful eyes, feeling deep regret for having created conflict with her parents over a fool like Hao Yuan. She hadn’t understood how much they cared for her and ended up hurting them.

Now, looking back, she couldn’t help but curse herself. How could she have been so foolish to believe a man’s words?

“Silly child, your mother and I have never blamed you. We only worry about you,” Qin Zhongsong said with a comforting smile. “It’s good that you’ve come to terms with things. Don’t cry anymore. Some men aren’t worth your tears.”

He continued to comfort her, “Life is never smooth, encountering bumps along the way is normal. Just think of this as buying a lesson with money, and next time, choose your company more carefully.”

“Oh, right. But your mom and I still hope that in the next three years, you can focus on your studies. When you go to college and become an adult, we won’t oppose your relationships,” he added.

“Is that okay?”

The love of parents is universal. All they want is for their child to be well.

“Mm!” Qin Hanhan nodded heavily. “I won’t date anymore. From now on, I just want to focus on my studies!”

Suddenly, she remembered, reaching into her pocket to take out the wish bottle. As she thought about the wishes written inside, she cursed herself for being so foolish. She tore the wish paper into pieces and threw them into the sky.

She was completely cutting ties with Hao Yuan. From now on, she was only focused on her studies—Han.

Qin Zhongsong said, “We should also thank Qiao Chuchu for helping us resolve this so smoothly. Let’s take some time and go visit her to express our gratitude.”

Qin Hanhan nodded. “Okay! Let’s go tomorrow. I really want to thank her and also apologize to her.”

She shouldn’t have doubted Qiao Chuchu or treated her poorly.

—

When Qiao Chuchu woke up, she had just opened her room door when she saw Aunt Wu standing outside with a smile. “Chuchu, two guests have arrived downstairs and want to see you.”

“Who is it? So early?”

Since it was a school day, Qiao Chuchu had woken up earlier than usual, but she hadn’t expected anyone to arrive before her.

“It’s Qin Zhongsong and his daughter, Qin Hanhan,” Aunt Wu said with a smile. “Qin Zhongsong is really handsome. Thirty years have passed, and he hasn’t aged or become ugly. In fact, he’s only become more charming.”

Qiao Chuchu, “…Mm.”

【Almost forgot, Aunt Wu is a fan of Qin Zhongsong, and he was her idol when she was young. Now I understand why she’s so happy.】

【But why is Qin Zhongsong bringing his daughter so early to visit me?】

After hearing this, Aunt Wu continued to explain, “Qin Zhongsong said he wanted to thank you and your brother for taking care of them on the variety show. He brought a lot of expensive gifts, and even prepared one for me. I was so surprised.”

Qiao Chuchu understood and assumed it was to thank Qiao Cen for saving him from getting shot.

【This Qin Zhongsong is quite enthusiastic. He’s already thanked us several times for this.】

“Aunt Wu, can you go call Qiao Cen and ask him to come down?”

Aunt Wu nodded. “Okay.”

Qin Zhongsong and his daughter were in the living room. They happened to meet Qiao Bo, who was getting ready to go to work, and they were chatting.

Qiao Haiyi and Du Shuyu had gone abroad for a business trip a couple of days ago and wouldn’t be back for a while.

Now, Qiao Bo was hosting the guests.

But after Qiao Chuchu arrived, the host became Qiao Chuchu. Qiao Bo said, “Chuchu, these two came to see you and Qiao Cen. They want to talk to you about something.”

“Mr. Qin, Qin Hanhan,” Qiao Chuchu asked, “Did you come so early to see me because you have something to say?”

Qin Zhongsong stood up. “We’ve known each other for so long, but haven’t had the chance to visit. Today, I specially came with Hanhan to visit, and most importantly, we want to thank you and your brother for your help on the variety show.”

They originally planned to come on the weekend, but Hanhan couldn’t wait for even a moment, so they came before school started.

If it weren’t for Qiao Chuchu’s revelation, he would still be kept in the dark about his daughter’s relationship with Hao Yuan. Eventually, his daughter would be deceived by Hao Yuan and led into a dangerous trap.

Just thinking about it made his heart race in fear. Thankfully, that didn’t happen.

Qiao Chuchu was their family’s benefactor.

“We’ve prepared a small gift, please accept it.”

Qiao Chuchu looked over, and on the table were several bank cards, the latest car keys, and a pile of luxurious gifts on the floor, stacked like a small mountain.

She couldn’t help but exclaim: 【This is a ‘small gift’? Wealthy people never cease to amaze me.】

Qin Hanhan, feeling a bit ashamed, stepped forward. “Can I call you Sister Chuchu? I really liked you when I first saw you, but because… of my bad temper, I might have had a bad attitude towards you on the variety show. Please forgive me. I truly regret what I did before. You are the best and most beautiful girl I’ve ever met. So, can you forgive me?”

She nervously said everything she had been holding in all night, eagerly looking at Qiao Chuchu.

Qiao Chuchu was left confused by her gaze. “???”

【What’s going on with the Qin family? Why don’t I understand anything they’re saying so early in the morning? Also, Qin Hanhan… did she not wake up yet? What’s she saying?】

Qin Hanhan took another step forward. “Sister Chuchu, can you forgive my ignorance?”

She had walked up close to Qiao Chuchu, her big eyes looking at her with a wet, pleading expression. Qiao Chuchu had no choice but to nod. “…Mm.”

【They really don’t seem right, especially Qin Hanhan. Wasn’t she supposed to be a proud phoenix? Why is she suddenly so nice to me?】

【I need to check her storyline.】

【Sigh, Qin Hanhan’s plot line has changed. She found out Hao Yuan’s true colors and has already broken up with him. She even had her bodyguard teach him a lesson.】

【She realized her parents’ feelings and reconciled with them.】

【But it doesn’t explain why their attitude toward me has changed so much.】

The three of them, who heard her thoughts, pretended not to notice. Qin Hanhan happily said, “Thank you, Sister Chuchu, thank you for forgiving my bad attitude.”

She anxiously asked, then looked at her expectantly. “I want to be friends with you. Would you like to?”

Qiao Chuchu, “…”

【She’s so strange, too strange. How could Qin Hanhan, with her personality, do something like this? Does she have some ulterior motive towards me?】

Qin Hanhan hurriedly said, “I just want to be friends with you because I think you’re great, really.”

“…Fine,” Qiao Chuchu said.

【Not agreeing to her would probably lead to endless trouble, having more friends is always better than having more enemies, even though this friend might be a bit love-obsessed.】

Qin Hanhan immediately said, “My current goal is to get into A City Arts University. I just want to focus on studying.”

Forget about relationships—her previous love-obsessed self was already a thing of the past.

“Oh,” Qiao Chuchu replied, “That’s good. Best of luck in achieving your goal.”

Qin Hanhan immediately smiled, “Thank you.”

“Mr. Qin is here, why so early?”

Qiao Cen quickly came down the stairs, ran over, and looked at the small mountain of gifts in the room. He felt a wave of regret. He shouldn’t have woken up late, it seemed like he had missed out on an interesting story.

Qin Zhongsong repeated the reason he had just mentioned. Qiao Cen understood instantly. It seemed like his daughter’s issue had been resolved, or they wouldn’t be here bringing gifts.

“Senior Qin, there’s no need to be polite,” Qiao Cen invited. “It’s so early, you must be tired. Let’s have breakfast together before you go.”

Qin Zhongsong was about to refuse, but Qin Hanhan tugged at his sleeve. He smiled. “Thank you for the invitation. We won’t be polite then.”

At the breakfast table, Qin Zhongsong brought up the audition for roles again and said he would notify them once it was confirmed.

—

Soon, it was the day of the monthly esports competition between Shen Zilin’s team and Huang Yang’s team. The venue for the competition could accommodate 100 spectators.

After confirming the number of people, Shen Zilin got three tickets from the internal team, giving them to Qiao Chuchu and her siblings, as well as to Shen Yinyin, with seats in the very front row.

Qiao Cen was dressed very warmly today, so much so that even Qiao Chuchu didn’t recognize him. She was a bit suspicious. “Are you comfortable like this?”

“Yeah, as long as I can breathe,” Qiao Cen whispered. “Sis, in order not to be recognized by fans, I decided to speak less. We’ll contact each other via WeChat if anything comes up.”

Qiao Chuchu nodded and spoke to Shen Yinyin. “The decorations here are pretty nice.”

“Yeah, it has a great atmosphere,” Shen Yinyin excitedly pointed over there. “They’re coming, they’re coming! Wow, Shen Zilin looks amazing in that outfit!”

Qiao Chuchu also looked over. “He really does look handsome.”

Shen Zilin was wearing the team’s standard blue esports outfit and black Martin boots, immediately exuding a sense of elegance. He looked like a noble young man, catching everyone’s eye.

The audience, both male and female, erupted into excited screams when they saw Shen Zilin enter. “Ahh, so handsome!” The sound filled the entire room.

Qiao Chuchu, feeling uncomfortable, covered her ears with her hands. The volume of the noise was really loud.

Seeing this, Qiao Cen took out two earplugs and handed them to her. “Sis, put these in.”

He sometimes used earplugs in crowded situations, preparing in advance to block out uncomfortable sounds.

Qiao Chuchu took them and put them in her ears. The world was indeed quieter.

The screaming lasted for a while, only stopping once all the team members had arrived.

Over there, Shen Zilin immediately noticed the three people sitting in the front row. He waved at them, which caused another round of screaming from the girls, all of whom thought he was greeting them.

Shen Yinyin exclaimed, “Little Handsome Shen is so popular, so many girls like him!”

“Mm.” Qiao Chuchu nodded. It seemed the boys also had a strong fondness for him.

Shen Yinyin said, “I hope he wins this match.”

Qiao Chuchu quickly checked Shen Zilin’s storyline, and after reading it, she was completely at ease.

【Not only can he win, but he’ll also beat Huang Yang’s team so badly they’ll lose all their pride.】

【Afterward, Huang Yang’s team, feeling humiliated, will try to take revenge by ambushing him and giving him a beating.】

【Isn’t that just being a sore loser? Huang Yang’s team really has no shame.】

After her little rant, she noticed that the esports venue had gone completely silent. Everyone was looking around, not sure of what they were searching for.

All the members of Huang Yang’s team on stage looked as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Who was that person just now? What was with that way of speaking? If you can’t talk properly, then just shut up! How could they possibly lose so badly? They were supposed to win easily!

However, their optimistic thoughts were quickly shattered as, once the esports match began, they felt the huge gap between them and Shen Zilin’s team. From the start to the middle of the game, they were continuously suppressed and couldn’t even lift their heads.

They fought hard, hoping for a comeback toward the end, but they failed miserably. They were completely defeated by Shen Zilin’s team.

Shen Zilin’s team won with ease, and the host on stage passionately continued explaining the match before finally announcing the good news.

“Yay! Captain, we won!”

The members of Shen Zilin’s team smiled brightly, lifting Shen Zilin high in the air, enjoying the happy moment.

Huang Yang’s team, on the other hand, looked defeated. Especially their captain, Huang Yang, who was furiously smashing the keyboard and then threatening them.

“Don’t get too cocky. Three months from now, we’ll meet again in the national competition. We’ll see who’s the better team!”

“Fine, let’s compete. It’s not like we can’t win.”

This match was also being live streamed, though only people who liked gaming were watching, so the number of viewers wasn’t large.

Seasoned gamers even replayed Shen Zilin’s “godlike” move, criticizing Huang Yang’s team for being poor losers.

【Shen Zilin is really amazing! Damn, that move he just made could make him a legend!】

【I recorded the screen, contact me if you want to see it.】

【Huang Yang’s team really can’t take a loss. They lost and are smashing their keyboards. If you’ve got the guts, smash yourself.】

—

With Huang Yang’s team storming off in anger, the monthly competition officially ended, and Shen Zilin’s team received a gold medal, accepting everyone’s praise.

After the match, Shen Zilin’s team organized a hotpot gathering and invited Qiao Chuchu, her younger brother, and Shen Yinyin.

When the team members saw Qiao Cen, they were all surprised and said, “Isn’t he a big star? He’s a childhood friend of our captain? I want a childhood friend like that!”

Qiao Cen smiled and said, “You’re too kind.”

He then introduced Qiao Chuchu and Shen Yinyin to them, and the team members again expressed their admiration, saying, “Hello, ladies, thank you for coming to cheer for us. It’s because of your support that we were able to win.”

They replied, “You shouldn’t say that, it’s your skills that allowed you to defeat Huang Yang’s team so easily.”

Their words made a few of the team members happy and excited, and they enthusiastically treated them.

Qiao Chuchu and Shen Zilin sat together. She congratulated him privately and then said, “Be more careful when you go out these days. Don’t take the alleyways, you might encounter some bad people.”

Before the esports match began, Shen Zilin had already sensed Qiao Chuchu’s concern. He knew that Huang Yang’s team would look for an opportunity to attack him, so he had prepared himself.

“Alright, I understand. Thanks for your concern.”

Shen Zilin smiled. Not only did he plan to take the alleyways, but he also planned to go alone.

A few days later, as Shen Zilin passed through a small alley, he was stopped by Huang Yang’s team. Wearing hoods and carrying steel rods, they immediately attacked him without any warning.

Shen Zilin had been prepared. He dodged their attacks and fought back fiercely.

However, their numbers were overwhelming, and they relentlessly took turns attacking him. He held on for a long time but eventually sustained some injuries.

Holding his wounded arm, he glanced at the time. They were almost done. He then smiled at them, saying, “Is this all you’ve got?”

“Looking for death!”

Stimulated by his words, the members of Huang Yang’s team went wild and rushed at him, pinning him to the ground and beating him. But, unusually, he did not retaliate.

They paused for a few seconds, then raised the steel rod to smash it down onto Shen Zilin’s head. However, just then, they heard the sound of a police siren.

“Woo—”

The members of Huang Yang’s team immediately panicked.

“Damn it, he called the police!”

“Run!”

But it was too late. The alley only had one exit, and as soon as they tried to flee, the arriving police officers apprehended them all.

“Don’t move! Get on the ground with your hands on your head!”

Shen Zilin, lying on the ground, was also rescued by the police. After a few questions, they sent him to the hospital.

He had injuries to his arm and abdomen, but nothing too serious. When Qiao Cen heard about it, she rushed to the hospital and saw his miserable state. Without mercy, she laughed out loud.

“Hahaha, Shen Zilin, look at you now, beaten so badly. Didn’t you know how to fight back?”

Shen Zilin, “… Shut up.”

Qiao Cen was about to say, “You kind of deserved to be beaten, my sister told you not to take the alleyways, and you still did. Who else were they going to beat if not you?”

Shen Zilin didn’t argue. He had never liked Huang Yang’s team. There was a team member who had been disqualified from the competition because of Huang Yang’s provocation. Shen Zilin had held back from making a move, suppressing him in the esports scene at every turn. This time, he was simply using the opportunity created by them to get revenge.

“Where’s your sister? Didn’t she come?”

Qiao Cen’s voice was suddenly interrupted. “She came. She got pulled by your teammates to go buy something.”

As they spoke, Qiao Chuchu and Shen Yinyin entered with a fruit basket. Behind them was Yan Shizhe, holding two large bags of snacks and a bouquet of flowers.

“We finally made it, I’m exhausted. Captain, are you feeling any better?”

Shen Zilin didn’t answer his question. He looked at Qiao Chuchu and said, “You’re too kind. I’m fine, you don’t need to trouble yourselves to visit me.”

“How can that be?” Shen Yinyin said. “You’re in the hospital, how could you be fine?”

Qiao Chuchu nodded. “Did they beat you?”

“I… I also fought back,” Shen Zilin said, worried she might think he hadn’t listened. “And then I called the police. I’m fine, really.”

Yan Shizhe added, “Captain, you were actually well worth getting beaten. You sent the entire Huang Yang team to the police. They’ve got bad behavior now, and it’s impossible for them to participate in the national competition.”

Qiao Chuchu gave him a glance, feeling his words weren’t very pleasant. She then flipped through his storyline.

【Forget it, I’m not going to get angry with a chatterbox who has low emotional intelligence. It’s not worth it.】

【Wait, Yan Shizhe’s storyline has changed too? He didn’t get tricked into giving away his kidney by Ruan Man because she got into trouble first.】

【What could have happened to some small-time boss from Burma?】

Curious, Qiao Chuchu continued to search.

The three of them who were gossiping were listening with great interest. Except for Yan Shizhe, who stared at Qiao Chuchu in shock, wanting to say something, but was silenced by Qiao Cen, who quickly covered his mouth.

“Shut up, don’t say anything.”

【Found it.】

【After Qin Hanhan’s bodyguard taught Hao Yuan a lesson, Ruan Man, seeing Hao Yuan lying on the ground like a puddle of mud, decided he was no longer of any value. She notified her group to deal with him and took him to some Burma place to extract his kidney.】

【And because Ruan Man indirectly offended Qin Zhongsong, he secretly had her sent to prison, and she won’t be coming out anytime soon. No wonder she didn’t deal with Yan Shizhe.】

【The fool has his own good fortune, that’s him, right?】

Totally unaware that he was about to be tricked into giving his kidney, Yan Shizhe widened his eyes in shock. He seemed to have just heard some huge news.

So is it true? He looked to Shen Zilin for help with his eyes, and the other gave him a reassuring look.

Yan Shizhe looked like he’d been struck by lightning. The goddess he adored so much turned out to be a small-time fraud boss from Burma, and she even wanted to take his kidney!

He clutched his kidney in shock, feeling a sudden chill.

So online relationships can’t be trusted, huh?

Waaaa, his 54th relationship was going to end before it even started? He would cry to death! Really!

—

As soon as she arrived at school, Qiao Chuchu heard the latest gossip from the dance department. The department’s flower, Ruan Man, was apparently a small-time boss from Burma. In a short period, over a hundred people had been tricked into going to Burma by her, and their current fate was unknown.

Ruan Man had already been arrested by the police and was in prison.

This incident caused an uproar at school. The board of directors was shocked to learn that the missing college students, who disappeared every so often, had actually been deceived into going to Burma.

They held an emergency meeting to remind all students to be more aware and cautious about being scammed.

They were even required to download anti-fraud apps, log in with real names, and answer a hundred questions.

Qiao Chuchu was in the middle of filling out the questionnaire.

Beside her, Shen Yinyin complained, “What were they thinking? What kind of nonsense questions are these? Do they really think they can find out who the next Burma scammer in the school is just by doing this?”

“It’s definitely not easy to find out,” Qiao Chuchu said. “They hide very deep.”

Shen Yinyin agreed, “Yeah, scammers are truly despicable. How many families have they destroyed?”

Because of this incident, everyone at school was on edge. No one dared to make random friends, let alone go out with them alone.

Qiao Chuchu, however, wasn’t too affected by the incident because of her melon-eating system. She continued her usual routine of going to school, coming home, and occasionally calling her foster parents to check on them.

That evening after school, Qiao Cen came to pick her up again. With a joyful expression, he handed her a piece of paper. She looked at it closely and realized it was his report card.

“Wow, you passed everything!”

Qiao Cen’s grades had been poor before. Aside from math, which he liked and barely passed, he had failed all his other subjects.

“Look, sis, look at this.”

Qiao Chuchu glanced at where he was pointing—it was his Chinese grade: 90 points. “Not bad.”

Qiao Cen beamed, “Hehe, my Chinese score is 25th in the class. The teacher praised me for improving so quickly.”

“Good job, you completed the study tasks we set for you,” Qiao Chuchu said, happy for him. “What do you want to eat today? I’ll treat you.”

Qiao Cen happily replied, “Steak, sis, let’s go eat steak!”

He hadn’t had meat in a long time. QAQ.

—

Meanwhile, there was a small issue on Liu Shu’s new drama set.

The piano player scheduled to shoot tomorrow was hospitalized for acute appendicitis and couldn’t make it.

This meant they had less than a day to find another piano-playing actor, which was incredibly rushed.

The piano player had been carefully selected by Liu Shu because it was an important role. There were several more scenes to be filmed, including some with the male lead. The actor needed to be able to play the piano well, have a good image, and possess a refined temperament to fit the role of a gentle young lady.

“Director Liu, what should we do? Should we postpone her scenes?” one staff member asked.

Liu Shu replied, “It’s probably impossible to postpone. We set everything up for tomorrow, and they wouldn’t want to change it.”

She tilted her head slightly. “Look, they’re over there complaining again.”

The assistant director glanced over and, sure enough, saw the male lead making things difficult for his assistant. Even from a distance, one could sense the assistant’s helplessness.

The assistant director looked worried. “What should we do? If we can’t find a piano player, we won’t be able to shoot.”

Liu Shu replied, “Try to find someone. Buy us some time. If we can’t find a suitable actor, we’ll have to postpone.”

“Okay, I’ll go now.”

Just as the assistant director left, the female lead, Ting Yu, approached. She had a scene but couldn’t get into character, she probably hadn’t understood the character’s emotions fully.

“Director Liu, could you help me with this scene? I still can’t find the right feeling.”

“Sure.” Liu Shu took the script that Ting Yu had marked up with notes and explained the character’s personality traits, thoughts, and everything about the scene thoroughly.

“Do you understand now?”

Ting Yu nodded. “Yes, I understand. I know how to perform this scene now. Thank you, Director Liu. You’re really amazing.”

She genuinely admired Liu Shu. At such a young age, Liu Shu was already a well-known director, with strong abilities and methods.

Liu Shu smiled. “You’re welcome. Go prepare. We’ll start shooting soon.”

“Okay.” Ting Yu took a few steps but then came back. “Actually, I just noticed that you don’t seem too happy today. Did something happen?”

“There’s a small problem,” Liu Shu said, then briefly explained the situation.

Ting Yu was surprised. “So, we won’t be able to shoot tomorrow?”

“If we can find a suitable piano player, we can still make it work,” Liu Shu said helplessly. “It’s just that finding the right piano player is really hard.”

Ting Yu suddenly thought of someone. “Maybe there’s someone who could help.”

Liu Shu asked, “Who?”

“Qiao Chuchu.” Ting Yu had heard Bai Yun mention that Qiao Chuchu could play the piano and had won many awards. She was sweet and beautiful, which made her very suitable for the role of a gentle young lady.

She even specifically found a video of Qiao Chuchu playing the piano at a competition and showed it to Liu Shu. Liu Shu’s eyes lit up immediately. “She’s perfect for it.”

—

While Qiao Chuchu was doing her homework, an unfamiliar number called. She didn’t answer, but the person persisted and called again. After sending a message with their name, she decided to pick up.

“Director Liu, is there something you need from me?”

【Why is she calling me so late? We don’t seem to have any connection, we only met briefly that day.】

Liu Shu got straight to the point. “Hello, Chuchu. Here’s the thing, I’m from a drama production…”

She explained the situation and her request for help.

Qiao Chuchu was surprised. “You want me to play the piano? I can, but I don’t know how to act.”

She had always been the center of attention growing up, so she wasn’t afraid of being on stage or in front of the camera.

“It’s fine if you don’t know how to act. I can teach you on the spot,” Liu Shu said. “Do you have time to help? We’ll pay you according to the special guest role rate, and we won’t let you be at a disadvantage. The crew really needs you.”

Qiao Chuchu looked at her schedule. “I’m only free after 3 o’clock tomorrow afternoon.”

Liu Shu replied, “That’s fine. I’ll have someone pick you up at the school gate at 3 o’clock tomorrow. See you then.”

When Shen Yinyin found out the next day, she insisted on going along. “I really like the dramas Liu Shu directs. Her female leads are awesome, much better than those mindless tragic romance dramas.”

Qiao Chuchu nodded. “Her dramas are worth watching, and you won’t end up frustrated and angry.”

Liu Shu’s crew was located at A City Film and TV City, about an hour’s drive from their arts university. Once they arrived at the large film set, it seemed like the driver had notified Liu Shu, and she personally came out to greet them.

Shen Yinyin was shocked to see Liu Shu greeting them. “Wow, girl, you have a lot of pull! Liu Shu came out to greet you herself!”

“I’m surprised too,” Qiao Chuchu said, amazed at how polite Liu Shu was.

“Hello, Chuchu, you’re here. Was the trip smooth?”

“Is this your friend?”

Liu Shu was much more polite compared to the first time they met.

Qiao Chuchu smiled and said, “Hello, Director Liu. This is my friend Shen Yinyin. She’s a big fan of your shows and wanted to come along to watch. Is it okay if she comes in?”

“Of course,” Liu Shu smiled. “I’ll take you both inside.”

Shen Yinyin also greeted Liu Shu enthusiastically. “Hello, Director Liu. I absolutely love your shows.”

“Thank you.”

On the way to the set, Liu Shu briefly explained the plot of the drama. It was still a big female lead story about career growth, but the early episodes were set in a school, and the latter half would be in an urban setting.

They were currently filming the urban part of the drama.

Qiao Chuchu’s character was a gentle young lady, portrayed as a wealthy and talented pianist who had returned from studying abroad and was being set up on blind dates by her parents.

The male lead was a wealthy young man, strong in his career and handsome. The only flaw was that he already had someone he liked, a female classmate from university. The blind date was simply an arrangement by his parents, and he was just going through the motions.

The gentle young lady, however, instantly fell in love with him and tried to find opportunities to spend time with him.

The male lead directly rejected her, which left her heartbroken, but she didn’t cling to him. After learning that he had someone else, she even took the initiative to help him pursue the girl he liked.

She was more of a supporting character, helping move the romantic plot forward, and if played well, she could easily win over the audience.

Qiao Chuchu wasn’t focused on these details, she was just there to help and enjoy the behind-the-scenes gossip.

She remembered that Liu Shu’s new drama had some big gossip, and it was pretty explosive.

“This is the general plot of your character. Let me introduce you to the male and female leads. You can get to know them first, and we’ll smooth out the next scene,” Liu Shu said, then asked, “This scene is pretty simple. Don’t worry, I’ll be here. Is the arrangement okay with you?”

Qiao Chuchu nodded. “Yes, I’ll go with whatever you arrange, Director Liu.”

“Good.” Liu Shu’s fondness for her grew instantly. She called over the male and female leads, Ting Yu and Yang Wei.

Ting Yu greeted Qiao Chuchu enthusiastically as soon as she saw her. “Hello, Chuchu, do you remember me?”

“I remember. We recorded a food variety show together,” Qiao Chuchu replied. She had a good impression of her, as she was a lively girl.

Yang Wei looked Qiao Chuchu up and down. Her features were delicate and beautiful, with her hair tied in a high ponytail, exuding youthful energy. Her figure was slender, and her long, straight legs were the type of “comic book legs” every girl dreams of.

She was very much his type, much more beautiful than the previous actress, but…

“I’ve never heard of Qiao Chuchu. Are you a new actress?”

If she was a new actress, that would be great.

Yang Wei’s smile seemed too calculating, and his gaze made Qiao Chuchu uncomfortable.

She replied, “I’m not an actress. I’m just here to help out.”

“How interesting, you’re not an actress but you’re here to help,” Yang Wei provocatively said. “Director Liu, aren’t you very strict with your actors? How could you make such a low-level mistake this time, bringing a non-actor to perform opposite me? My time is very valuable, are you sure she can handle it?”

His words were very direct, and the people present had an awkward look on their faces.

Shen Yinyin had a fiery temper and couldn’t tolerate Yang Wei speaking like that about her good friend.

“What do you mean by that? Are you looking down on her? Can’t a non-actor learn?”

Liu Shu glanced at Qiao Chuchu’s expression and, seeing no obvious signs of distress, was slightly relieved.

“Xiao Yang, you can’t say things like that.” Liu Shu was also helpless. “I choose actors based on who fits the role. Chuchu’s appearance and piano skills are perfect for this character. As for acting, don’t worry, I’ll guide her.”

“I think you’ve misunderstood me.” Yang Wei put on an expression of “you misunderstood me.” “I wasn’t saying anything bad about her. I’m just worried if today’s scenes will go smoothly. My acting skills are quite good, so for the sake of the shoot, I can spare some time to teach her.”

His attitude was a bit smug. After all, he had the right to be. His acting was indeed good, and he had even been praised by bigwigs in the entertainment industry.

This year, he had defeated other nominees to win Best Actor, gaining a lot of career fans.

Of course, there were also many rumors that he was difficult to work with and had a bad attitude towards staff.

Every celebrity has their dark secrets, as long as they aren’t fatal, it’s not a big deal.

Hearing this, Liu Shu immediately relaxed. “Sorry, I misunderstood you. If you’re willing to help guide Chuchu during the shoot, that would be great.”

“Director Liu, I don’t want to,” Qiao Chuchu said straightforwardly. “My role is a girl, so I’d prefer either you, as a fellow female director, or Ting Yu to teach me.”

Her words successfully made Yang Wei’s face fall. He gave a fake smile and said, “You’re the first girl to refuse me like this. Since you don’t want me to teach you, don’t come asking me for help during the shoot later.”

Qiao Chuchu gave him an incredulous look.

【This person is really ridiculously self-confident. I remember there’s some gossip about Liu Shu’s crew. Let me see if it’s about him.】

Yang Wei: “?”

What gossip? What is she talking about?

Qiao Chuchu quickly found the gossip about Yang Wei, and after reading it, her face turned to one of shock.

【Yang Wei really is a ^[1]“wolf in sheep’s clothing” refers to someone who appears harmless or kind but is actually dangerous or deceitful. It’s used to describe a person who hides their true … Continue readingwolf in sheep’s clothing! His public persona is that of a highly skilled Best Actor, but in reality, he’s a scumbag who casually hooks up with women, specifically targeting virgins.】

【What’s even more shocking is his other identity – a high-ranking member of a scam ring from Burma.】