Chapter 2

Nian Nian was indeed a special child. She was very quiet—too quiet.

Shen Mingyou remembered that her daughter didn’t speak a word before turning two. She couldn’t even say “mommy,” and rarely cried. When someone called her name, it took a long time for her to respond and look at the person speaking.

It was as if Nian Nian had her own little world. She didn’t need friends or communication. She could play with a small Rubik’s Cube all day without needing anything else.

Shen Mingyou was terrified when she noticed something was off. She feared her daughter might have autism, so she took Nian Nian to many doctors.

After several tests, the doctors said Nian Nian was healthy, but they couldn’t diagnose autism yet, as she was still too young. They just told the parents to keep an eye on her.

Thankfully, Nian Nian eventually started talking after she turned two, but she remained quiet. She rarely spoke more than necessary and wasn’t interested in interacting with others.

Being a mother for the first time, Shen Mingyou had to learn how to raise her child step by step. After nearly four years, she had figured out ways to communicate effectively with Nian Nian.

But in her dream, she and Nian Nian couldn’t connect at all. Shen Mingyou hurt Nian Nian repeatedly, and Nian Nian truly developed autism. In the end, Shen Mingyou was filled with regret, battling depression, and both mother and daughter suffered.

Shen Mingyou believed the version of her in the book wasn’t the real her. In this world, she could never hurt Nian Nian. Her only wish was for Nian Nian to grow up happy and healthy. Even if Nian Nian just frowned, it broke her heart. How could she hurt her daughter like in the book?

Did she have to follow the author’s script just because she was a character?

Shen Mingyou still remembered how, at 16, she got into the Film Academy as the top student. She was always one of the best in her class and was a favorite student among her teachers. With her beauty and acting skills, everyone thought she would become a major star after her debut.

But the reality was shocking. Shen Mingyou did become famous, but it was the wrong kind of fame.

She was seen as just a pretty face, attracting many fans. But on the flip side, her acting was heavily criticized. She had the same expression in every drama, and for every fan, there was a critic.

Her teachers at the Film Academy believed Shen Mingyou had let her early success go to her head, causing her acting to deteriorate. But Shen Mingyou knew this wasn’t true.

She loved acting and would mark up her scripts with notes until they were covered in writing.

Back in school, her teachers had praised her talent, but when it came to real filming, her mind would go blank. She’d feel like a robot, just standing there delivering her lines with no emotion.

Shen Mingyou didn’t understand why until now—she realized she was just a character in the author’s story, moved around however they pleased.

If the author wanted her to hurt Nian Nian, she had to hurt Nian Nian, even though she was her most beloved daughter. If the author wanted her to fail, she had to fail, even if it meant losing her most treasured job…

The author gave her everything: birth, beauty, talent, even her husband and daughter. Everything about her was outstanding, but she existed only to make the heroine look better.

Shen Mingyou was not happy about it.

Her awakened consciousness told her that since she was described most in the book through the baby-raising show “Super Mom”,” only by changing the ending for herself and Nian Nian in the show could she escape the control of the book and change their fate.

“Hey, Sister Yu, I’ve accepted the show “Super Mom”.

After the call, Shen Mingyou thought about the book again. The extra chapter mentioned she and her husband would eventually get divorced. She wondered if it was her who filed for divorce, or if it was her husband, Jiang Chen…

**

Orange TV is one of the top three TV stations in China. In recent years, both its dramas and variety shows have been hits. Whether it was older people who loved watching TV or teens who spent a lot of time online, they were all part of Orange TV’s audience.

With such a large and loyal audience, Orange TV made a lot of money, and even its office building was stylish and grand.

After Shen Mingyou confirmed yesterday that she would join a parenting show, she went to the TV station today with her agent to sign the contract.

A young employee from the station named Li greeted them. His name tag read “Intern.”

After the contract was signed and they discussed the details of the program, Xiao Li politely escorted Shen Mingyou out of the conference room and returned to the office.

Shen Mingyou raised an eyebrow at her agent, Yu Zhen. As expected, she saw dissatisfaction in Yu Zhen’s eyes.

Signing a contract was usually a formal matter, but Orange TV had only sent a fresh intern. It was obvious how little they valued Shen Mingyou, as if she was just there to fill in the numbers.

Yu Zhen looked regretful. She wasn’t sure if joining this parenting show was a good or bad move for Shen Mingyou.

After Shen Mingyou left, intern Xiao Li took the contract to the office of Director Feng Jingze.

“Is she gone?”

“They’ve already left.” Xiao Li placed the contract on Feng Jingze’s desk. “Director, in the first two seasons of “Super Mom”, there were only three groups of guests. Why add a fourth this time? And why Shen Mingyou?”

“You see, the show is in its third season. We need something new.”

Feng Jingze’s new idea was not just using the popular live-stream format but also adding a guest group that would act as a contrast to the others—a control group.

In the first two seasons, almost every mother on “Super Mom” had a “good mother” image. But after two seasons, the audience would get tired of this. The show needed something different.

Shen Mingyou was that difference.

A few days ago, during dinner with a director friend, Feng Jingze had heard about Shen Mingyou—a former star trying to make a comeback. She had a very quiet daughter who barely spoke. That gave him the idea to invite her to the show.

A down-and-out former star, retired for five years, with a daughter showing signs of autism, would be in sharp contrast with the other mothers. This would make the show more interesting and popular.

On top of that, all shows, no matter how good, have things people like to criticize. When negative comments appeared online, they could be directed at Shen Mingyou. The other guests could stay focused on their “positive energy” roles.

“Director, our show is really popular. Is it possible Shen Mingyou will become famous again because of it?”

Feng Jingze laughed. Xiao Li was clearly still too naive.

Because Xiao Li had some connections to him, Feng Jingze explained further.

“It’s not that easy to make a comeback. If not for this show, Shen Mingyou wouldn’t have had any chances. Her agent has been going around looking for directors, sending her resume everywhere, but no one wants to cast her.”

“It’s already hard for a regular actress to make a comeback after being out of the spotlight for one or two years. Shen Mingyou has been out for five years, and she has a child. Unless she’s willing to take small roles, it’ll be hard for her to find work again.” Feng Jingze took a sip of tea. “Besides, with stars like Gu Aifei and Zhou Jingxing on the show, do you really think anyone will care about Shen Mingyou?”

“We’ll be live-streaming this time. The number of viewers in each guest’s live stream will show their popularity. The three guest groups are already famous, and it would look bad if any of them had the fewest viewers. But now, with Shen Mingyou on the show, we won’t have to worry about that.”

Hearing this, Xiao Li suddenly understood. “Director, you’re brilliant. I have a lot to learn from you.”

“Okay, enough flattery,” Feng Jingze said with a smile, then reminded him, “Tell the crew filming at Shen Mingyou’s house tomorrow to bring fewer cameras. She’s still renting a place, and it’s probably small. If the cameras can’t fit, and they get damaged, she won’t be able to pay for them.”

“Got it.”

Shen Mingyou had no idea people were talking about her behind her back. After leaving the station, she sat in the passenger seat as Yu Zhen drove, calling Jiang Chen.

Far away in Country M, a grand signing ceremony had just ended in a large conference room.

The door opened, and a tall, handsome man walked out first.

Jiang Chen’s assistant handed him the phone, saying, “Mr. Jiang, it’s a call.” Jiang Chen took it, and when he saw who was calling, a slight smile appeared on his face.

“Hello.”

Shen Mingyou heard the happy tone on the other end of the line and guessed that Jiang Chen was in a good mood. “It’s me.”

“I know.” Jiang Chen kept walking briskly. He had just completed a year-long acquisition at Lingyu Capital, which made him busy but very satisfied with the outcome.

Hearing from his wife improved his mood even more.

Shen Mingyou informed Jiang Chen that she had decided to bring their daughter, Nian Nian, onto a variety show. She had already told him about the invitation days ago. Although Jiang Chen was surprised by her sudden decision to return to China and join a show with their child, he didn’t object, as long as Nian Nian agreed.

“Okay, I understand.” After talking for a while, Jiang Chen ended the call, feeling even better.

Jiang Chen was very pleased with his life. As a perfectionist, he aimed for excellence in everything, including marriage.

To him, Shen Mingyou was the ideal wife—independent, respectful of his career, and supportive of his busy schedule. She was also a great mother to their daughter, Nian Nian.

With a gentle and beautiful wife, and a smart daughter, Shen Mingyou fulfilled all of Jiang Chen’s dreams of family life.

He imagined that in the future, when he retired, he would hand over his business to Nian Nian, and he and his wife would travel the world together.

Jiang Chen’s phone beeped, interrupting his thoughts. It was a message from his wife, who had just called him.

[Jiang Chen, let’s get a divorce.]