Chapter 16

Shen Mingyou has been filming for several days straight.

The crew of “Hello, President” had started filming a while ago. However, because Guan Qiang suddenly became popular, the crew was asked to film her scenes as well. The director had almost completed other scenes, so they only needed to finish Guan Qiang’s scenes as the second female lead and then add a few more scenes to finish the TV series.

Thus, Shen Mingyou’s scenes would be completed in just over a week.

Director Shi Yan was very pleased. Shen Mingyou’s performance was a pleasant surprise. The once inexperienced girl, who could only recite lines stiffly, seemed to have become much more skilled. Her acting wasn’t perfect, but it was more than enough for their small idol drama.

Even the main actors, who had no acting skills, improved significantly thanks to Shen Mingyou’s guidance. If there was more time, Shi Yan would have wanted to reshoot earlier scenes as the actors could perform even better.

Because of Shen Mingyou, the crew’s progress was greatly accelerated. Scenes that were expected to take at least ten days were almost finished in just seven.

“Sister Mingyou, when you go to record “Super Mom” tomorrow, could you get an autograph from Fang Tang for me?” Lin Simeng, who really likes Fang Tang’s songs, asked. After spending time together, she was no longer shy about asking Shen Mingyou for help.

“Sure,” Shen Mingyou said, while giving Nian Nian a sip of water.

Shen Mingyou had been filming for days, and Nian Nian, who didn’t want to stay alone with Jiang Chen, was fascinated by the filming set. So, Shen Mingyou brought her along, and Nian Nian stayed with her at the set.

As Nian Nian drank water, she noticed someone familiar approaching. She tugged at her mother’s hand, and Shen Mingyou looked to see Zhao Yan coming toward them.

At the café on the top floor of the European Emperor Hotel, Shen Mingyou and Zhao Yan sat facing each other, while Nian Nian played in a nearby children’s playground.

Zhao Yan remarked, “Nian Nian is still the same, not very talkative.”

When Nian Nian saw him earlier, she only called him “Uncle” because her mother reminded her to do so. Zhao Yan hadn’t seen his little niece for a long time and wanted to show his affection, but Nian Nian remained indifferent to him and the gift he brought.

Zhao Yan felt a bit melancholic.

Shen Mingyou explained, “That’s because she doesn’t know you well.”

Zhao Yan had brought a beautiful rag doll as a gift, but Nian Nian lost interest quickly.

“You can bring Nian Nian to live in China more often. She will get to know me, her uncle, better,” Zhao Yan said, looking at Shen Mingyou.

Shen Mingyou wondered when their relationship became so distant.

Shen Mingyou and Zhao Yan had been close as children. Their families had a business marriage, and their parents were often away. Zhao Yan, two years older, was very caring towards Shen Mingyou.

After their parents’ divorce, Shen Mingyou went abroad with her mother. Shen Yuan, her mother, lived a free and easy life post-divorce, rarely staying home.

Shen Mingyou grew up alone after age eight. Zhao Yan, meanwhile, adapted to his new family situation with a loving stepmother and stepsister.

When Shen Yuan passed away when Shen Mingyou was sixteen, she returned to China but felt like an outsider in the Zhao family. She stayed at the Film Academy and rarely visited them.

The estrangement between Shen Mingyou and Zhao Yan did not improve even after her return.

“Isn’t this Zhao Yan? Why are you here?” a stranger interrupted Shen Mingyou’s thoughts.

Zhao Yan stood up, greeted the friend, and introduced Shen Mingyou: “This is my sister Shen Mingyou.”

Seeing the different last names, the friend asked, “Are they cousins?”

Zhao Yan: “She’s my biological sister.”

His friend asked, “Isn’t your biological sister Zhao Qi?” They were all friends in the same circle and had known about Zhao Qi, Zhao Yan’s well-known sister. They hadn’t heard about another biological sister. 

Zhao Yan usually kept family matters private and said vaguely, “They are all my sisters.”

The friend, confused and seeing the sister in the booth with a cold expression, decided to leave after a brief hello.

Zhao Yan came for an important matter. After his friend left, he asked, “Youyou, I came to talk about you and Jiang Chen.”

Zhao Yan asked: “Do you want a divorce? Why?”

“My divorce is none of your business,” Shen Mingyou replied harshly.

Zhao Yan said helplessly: “I am your brother.”

He had opposed Shen Mingyou’s marriage to Jiang Chen because he wanted her to find love, unlike their parents who had an arranged marriage and were unhappy. Zhao Yan was not surprised by the divorce news; he was worried about Shen Mingyou and didn’t want Jiang Chen to mistreat her.

However, Shen Mingyou did not appreciate his concern.

Zhao Yan had not been close to his sister in recent years and wanted to mend their relationship. He remembered how obedient and attached she used to be but now she kept her distance and never called him “brother.”

“Forget it, if you don’t want to talk about this now, let’s move on,” Zhao Yan said. “I’ve informed Jiang Chen about the family dinner tonight, and he said he would go with you.”

The family dinner was also a reunion. Their father, Zhao Zhenhai, had remarried two months ago for the third time. His previous marriages were with Shen Yuan, then Zhao Qi’s mother, who passed away six months ago. Zhao Zhenhai didn’t hold a wedding banquet this time, just got the certificate. Shen Mingyou had missed the previous dinner, so tonight was her first meeting with them.

Zhao Yan was worried that Shen Mingyou would feel uncomfortable about their father’s third marriage. She had not gotten along well with her father’s second wife and Zhao Qi, especially Zhao Qi. Now, with a new step-brother, Zhao Yan feared Shen Mingyou’s behavior might embarrass their father or strain their relationship.

“Even though there is a son there, just handle him and don’t force yourself to befriend him,” Zhao Yan advised. “It’s a bit of fate. The son has the surname Shen, like yours. His name is Shen Mingzhang.”

Shen Mingyou noticed the implication in Zhao Yan’s words and asked, “You don’t like Shen Mingzhang?”

_

In the evening, Shen Mingyou took Nian Nian and Jiang Chen to Zhao’s house.

On the way, Jiang Chen noticed Shen Mingyou seemed happy and asked, “What are you so happy about?”

Shen Mingyou smiled and said, “Am I happy?”

“It’s obvious,” Jiang Chen said, then smirked, thinking of something mischievous.

Nian Nian also nodded, saying, “Mom really smiled.”

Shen Mingyou admitted, “Okay, I admit, I’m just too happy.”

“What are you happy about?” Jiang Chen asked.

Shen Mingyou glanced at Nian Nian, not wanting her to hear, and whispered her plan to Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen, focused on Shen Mingyou’s breath on his ear, didn’t listen closely but understood she was excited about a prank on Zhao Yan. 

Jiang Chen agreed, “Well, it’s worth being happy about.”

When Shen Mingyou asked him what he figured out, Jiang Chen, still reflecting, first apologized. Shen Mingyou told him to reflect and then divorce her. Jiang Chen was relieved, as long as she didn’t ask for a divorce immediately. He hoped to change her mind during this period.

The car arrived at Zhao’s house.

When Shen Mingyou walked in, only Zhao Yan, Zhao Qi, and Shen Mingzhang were in the living room. 

Zhao Zhenhai and his new wife Fang Jiqin were happily cooking in the kitchen, preparing a big dinner for the children.

When Shen Mingyou arrived, Zhao Yan smiled and stood up to greet her.

Shen Mingyou also smiled, called out “Brother,” and walked over.