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The next morning, Song Qingyu slept in once again, not waking until the sun was high in the sky.
She had assumed that Li Huaidong, the workaholic and tireless model worker, would have left early for work as usual. But when she opened her eyes, he was still in bed.
His eyes were shut tightly as if he were still deep in sleep.
Song Qingyu didn’t dare to move—his arm was still draped across her neck.
She lay against his chest, gazing up from below at the sharp contours of his brow bone and nose bridge. Silently, she marveled—handsome people were truly flawless from every angle. Even from a so-called “death angle,” there wasn’t a single flaw to be found.
There was a kiss mark on Li Huaidong’s Adam’s apple.
Song Qingyu was startled when she saw it.
Last night, caught up in the heat of the moment, she had been too lost in his teasing to notice that she had left such an obvious mark on his neck. And in that spot—his shirt collar wouldn’t be able to cover it at all.
Oh no, what should she do?
Just as she was panicking, Li Huaidong suddenly opened his eyes.
“What time is it?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” Song Qingyu replied. She hadn’t checked her phone yet either.
But she guessed it had to be past nine.
Li Huaidong reached for his phone on the bedside table and glanced at the screen—9:30 AM.
For the past few years, he had struggled with insomnia. He could no longer remember the last time he had fallen asleep without the aid of sleeping pills, let alone slept this soundly. But last night, after everything, he had dozed off with her in his arms—and slept until 9:30. A full six hours.
“What’s wrong?” Song Qingyu asked when she noticed Li Huaidong staring motionlessly at the time on his phone screen. She reached out and gave him a slight push. “Are you late for work?”
As soon as she asked, she realized how silly the question was. He was the boss—how could he possibly have to worry about being late?
“I’m off today.”
Li Huaidong put down his phone and pulled her back into his arms.
“Why were you staring at me just now?”
“Well…” Song Qingyu hesitated, but in the end, she confessed. “There’s… a mark on your neck.”
Li Huaidong reached up and touched his neck with his fingers. “Is it obvious?”
“A little.”
“Then how are you going to take responsibility?”
“At worst… I’ll put some concealer on you before you go out,” she offered.
“Not a bad idea.” He tightened his arms around her, his voice low and teasing against her ear. “Then let me check you too—see if there’s anywhere that needs concealing.”
With that, he lowered his head, pressing a kiss to the delicate skin of her neck.
Beneath the thin blanket, neither of them wore a single thread of clothing. That one touch ignited sparks once again.
And just like that, the entire morning was lost to the bed…
***
In the afternoon, Song Qingyu made a trip to the studio.
She hadn’t originally planned to go, but during their phone call yesterday, Quan Xinya’s tone hadn’t sounded quite right. Feeling uneasy, she decided to check on her.
By the time Song Qingyu arrived, Quan Xinya had just managed to slip away from a business lunch.
“The producer from Starlight Entertainment must be insane. Dragging me into daytime drinking like it’s some kind of necessity—ended up with no deal and reeking of alcohol,” Quan Xinya grumbled as she walked into the office.
Song Qingyu followed her in and casually closed the door behind them.
“Qingqing, aren’t you supposed to be off today? Why did you come in?” Quan Xinya asked.
“I was worried about you, so I came to check on you.”
“I’m fine.” Quan Xinya’s attention was already on her computer, fingers flying across the keyboard as she typed out an email.
“You and Mo Yanbai…”
“Don’t mention him.”
Quan Xinya cut Song Qingyu off abruptly. Her tone was firm, almost harsh, but her reddened eyes betrayed her emotions.
Song Qingyu walked around the desk and gently wrapped an arm around Quan Xinya’s shoulders.
Guan Xinya was known in the entertainment industry as a formidable woman—sharp, decisive, and resilient. It took a lot to make her cry.
“Sister Quan, I know something’s bothering you. You can tell me. It might help to talk about it.”
Quan Xinya stayed silent, but her tears had already begun to fall uncontrollably.
“Sister Quan, even if you don’t say it, I can probably guess—are you and Mo Yanbai dating?” Song Qingyu asked directly.
The entertainment industry was a small world, and there were no real secrets. Ever since Quan Xinya had left Fengyang Entertainment to start her own business, rumors had been circulating.
Some said that she and Mo Yanbai had been together for a long time, but because Fengyang had strict rules forbidding managers from dating their artists, Quan Xinya had resigned to protect him.
Others claimed that their breakup was the reason she left Fengyang in the first place.
“We were together before,” Quan Xinya admitted, “but now… we’re breaking up.”
“Why?”
“Why else? He found himself someone better.”
Quan Xinya and Mo Yanbai had met when they were nobodies, struggling at the bottom of the industry. Back when they first got together, neither of them had any status. At their lowest, they didn’t even have a thousand yuan between them. To save money, they crammed into a tiny basement apartment, surviving on steamed buns and instant noodle broth, stretching every coin to its limit.
But because they loved each other, it never felt like suffering. No matter how much they had to bow and scrape for resources during the day, at night, when they held each other in that cramped room, it still felt like they had the whole world.
Some people, however, are only capable of enduring hardship together—they’re never meant to share success.
Mo Yanbai was one of those people.
“Who did Mo Yanbai climb up to?”
“Lou Tian.”
Song Qingyu knew who Lou Tian was—last month, she had won first place in a talent show on Orange TV, debuting as the center of her group.
To be honest, Lou Tian was mediocre in every aspect. Her singing and dancing skills, as well as her looks and figure, were all inferior to several of her group-mates. And yet, she had taken first place.
Because of this, many netizen suspected that the show was rigged. Lou Tian was thrust into controversy, and rumors about her background spread like wildfire. Some claimed she was the only daughter of a real estate tycoon, while others insisted she was the child of a high-ranking official with powerful connections.
“Mo Yanbai is after Lou Tian’s background, isn’t he?” Song Qingyu asked.
“Yes. Lou Tian is the heiress of Hualian Tech—her father is an internet mogul worth billions.”
Although Mo Yanbai had won the Best Actor award early in his career, he hadn’t produced any noteworthy works in recent years. After Quan Xinya left Fengyang Entertainment, his resources dwindled even further.
Lou Tian’s arrival opened up a whole new path for him.
“He told me he wants to slowly transition into business, and Lou Tian is the perfect stepping stone for him.”
Song Qingyu felt a deep sense of regret upon hearing this. She understood why Quan Xinya was so heartbroken. After all, she and Mo Yanbai had truly loved each other. Five years of devotion—enduring the harshest days together in a cramped basement—yet in the end, they couldn’t withstand the lure of power and fame.
“Sister Quan…”
Song Qingyu wanted to offer some words of comfort, but Quan Xinya had already turned away to wipe her tears.
“I’m fine. I cried my heart out last night and convinced myself to move on. The rain will fall, daughters will marry, love fades—this world is full of things beyond our control.” She switched gears instantly, her tone brisk and professional. “Besides, this is a good thing. Now, I can focus entirely on you and the new talents in our studio.”
Then, as if nothing had happened, she changed the subject. “By the way, now that your drama has wrapped up and you don’t have any upcoming projects, would you consider doing some theater work in the meantime?”
“You have connections?”
“Yes. My college roommate is now a theater director. She’s currently staging a Republican-era play called Rouge Snow. She just mentioned it a couple of days ago—if you’re interested, I can recommend you for an audition.”
“I am. I’d love to give it a try.”
Song Qingyu had always been interested in theater. She also believed that performing in a stage play was a great way to hone an actor’s craft.
“Great, I’ll set it up.”
True to her decisive nature, Quan Xinya took action immediately. By the next day, she had secured a role for Song Qingyu in Rouge Snow. It wasn’t a lead role, but it was still a challenging and exciting opportunity.
“I’ll introduce you to the director.”
Quan Xinya led Song Qingyu backstage at the theater. The play’s director, Fu Shuangxi, wore a simple, artistic white dress. Her long hair was tied up in a high bun, and her round face gave her the appearance of a college student—though, in reality, she was actually a year older than Quan Xinya.
“Shuangxi, this is Song Qingyu, the actress I mentioned.”
“I know her! I’ve seen your films, Miss Song.” Fu Shuangxi extended her hand enthusiastically. “It’s truly an honor to have you join my production. I hope we have a great collaboration!”
“Thank you, Director, for giving me this opportunity. I look forward to learning from you.”
As they spoke, a woman walked in from outside.
It was Lu You’an.
She was dressed in the theater troupe’s costume, clearly also a cast member of Rouge Snow.
Song Qingyu hadn’t expected to run into Lu You’an here. After everything that had happened—including her imprisonment—Song Qingyu thought she would have given up on acting. Yet, here she was, performing in a stage play.
“You’an, let me introduce you,” Fu Shuangxi said enthusiastically, unaware of the tension between them. “This is Miss Song Qingyu.”
Then she turned to Song Qingyu. “Miss Song, this is Lu You’an. She plays your younger sister in Rouge Snow.”
Song Qingyu immediately felt a headache coming on. Judging by the introduction, she and Lu You’an would have scenes together.
“Hello.”
Even though she didn’t like Lu You’an, she believed personal grudges shouldn’t interfere with work. So, she took the initiative to greet her.
But Lu You’an wasn’t interested in pleasantries. Without even sparing Song Qingyu a glance, she turned straight to Fu Shuangxi and said, “Director, the costume fitting photos are done. My boyfriend is here to pick me up. I’m leaving now.”
Hearing that, Lu You’an walked into the dressing room to change.
“Shuangxi, your theater troupe’s actors really act like divas,” Quan Xinya scoffed bluntly.
Fu Shuangxi raised a finger to her lips in a “shh” gesture. “Her boyfriend, Jiang Cheng, is the theater owner’s son. This venue belongs to his family. No one in the troupe dares to cross her.”
Quan Xinya thought of the time Lu You’an had orchestrated Wei Lin’s assault and pulled Song Qingyu aside. “Qingqing, if you’re uncomfortable, we can back out.”
“I do mind,” Song Qingyu admitted, “but I’m still going to do it.”
She cherished every hard-earned opportunity and refused to give up just because of Lu You’an.
“Alright then, just be careful. Don’t let her pull any tricks on you again.”
“Mm.”
For the next few days, Song Qingyu focused on rehearsals at the theater.
Lu You’an behaved—for the most part. Aside from strutting around with a haughty expression or flaunting her relationship with Jiang Cheng, she didn’t stir up trouble.
About a week into rehearsals, Xie Wan’ning arrived.
She brought afternoon tea for everyone in the troupe, claiming it was just a friendly visit. In reality, she was there to dig for information about “Star of Zhaoyi.”
After the proposal ceremony that day, Xie Wan’ning found herself haunted every night by dreams of Song Qingyu wearing the “Zhaoyi Star.” She was on the verge of obsession, unable to comprehend who could have gifted Song Qingyu such an expensive necklace.
Seizing the opportunity while the entire theater troupe was in the lounge enjoying afternoon tea, Xie Wan’ning blocked Song Qingyu in the hallway.
“The day Yanchuan proposed to me, you were wearing the ‘Zhaoyi Star,’ weren’t you?”
Hearing that Xie Wan’ning was still fixated on this matter, Song Qingyu found it amusing. It seemed that her brief appearance wearing the “Zhaoyi Star” that day had completely unsettled Xie Wan’ning.
“Yes, didn’t you see it with your own eyes?”
“You were wearing a fake, weren’t you?”
“Of course, it was real. That night was the first time the ‘Zhaoyi Star’ was unveiled. No matter how skilled I am, there’s no way I could have produced an identical counterfeit within an hour. You’re giving me too much credit.”
“Who gave it to you?”
“I don’t think that’s something I need to report to you.”
Xie Wan’ning suppressed her jealousy, letting out a cold scoff. “Song Qingyu, it’s normal to date again after a divorce, but the way you’re being so secretive… don’t tell me you’ve latched onto a married man? Or maybe some seventy- or eighty-year-old sugar daddy?”
“Think whatever you want. If that makes you feel better, then sure, let’s go with that.”
After saying that, Song Qingyu flashed her a smile and turned to leave.
Xie Wan’ning was about to chase after her when Lu You’an stepped out of the break room.
“Sister-in-law, what’s there to talk about with that cheap woman?” Lu You’an said, scowling as she watched Song Qingyu walk away.
A thought flickered through Xie Wan’ning’s mind, and an idea took shape. “You’an, I didn’t want to talk to her either. She was the one pestering me, asking about Jiang Cheng.”
“She was asking about Jiang Cheng?” Lu You’an’s voice instantly rose. “Why is Song Qingyu asking about my boyfriend?”
“I have no idea what she’s planning,” Xie Wan’ning said, feigning concern. “But my guess? She probably saw how generous Jiang Cheng is with you and got her eye on his money. Maybe she’s trying to seduce him. After all, ever since she divorced your brother, she lost her source of income. Wouldn’t she be desperate to find herself a new cash cow?”
Lu You’an exploded instantly. She hadn’t even settled the score with Song Qingyu for landing her in jail, and now that woman dared to covet her boyfriend? She’d make sure Song Qingyu suffered for this!
**
After the crew finished their afternoon tea, rehearsals resumed.
Song Qingyu could clearly sense the change in Lu You’an’s demeanor after Xie Wan’ning’s visit. Previously, Lu You’an had merely looked at her with arrogance—now, there was a murderous glint in her eyes.
As the scene required a large group of actors, director Fu Shuangxi held a megaphone and called out to the performers on set, “Next, we’ll rehearse the university student protest scene. Since this scene involves many people, we’ll start with a blocking run-through on stage.”
Song Qingyu and Lu You’an stepped onto the stage. Since their characters were sisters, their positions had to be close, so Lu You’an stood right beside her.
“I’ll call out ‘start,’ and you’ll march from left to right while holding the flags and chanting slogans. Try to keep the formation neat,” Fu Shuangxi instructed.
Everyone nodded in understanding.
“Alright, begin!”
Following Fu Shuangxi’s command, the performers lifted their flags and started marching from left to right, chanting in unison.
Song Qingyu was positioned at the outermost edge of the group, right at the stage’s boundary. She was fully focused on her lines, unaware that Lu You’an was waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
As they approached the stage pillar, Lu You’an suddenly extended her hand and gave Song Qingyu a fierce shove.
Caught off guard, Song Qingyu lost her balance and tumbled backward off the stage. However, in the chaotic moment of her fall, she instinctively grabbed onto Lu You’an’s arm—dragging her down as well.
“Aah!”
Gasps and exclamations erupted throughout the theater.
After a sharp scream, both women crashed onto the ground. A searing pain shot through Song Qingyu’s left arm, while Lu You’an, far more dramatic, let out a few weak groans before fainting on the spot.
Everyone at the scene was stunned.
Fu Shuangxi was the first to rush over. Seeing Lu You’an unconscious, she panicked. “Call an ambulance! Hurry!”
The ambulance arrived quickly, taking both Lu You’an and Song Qingyu to the hospital. Since Lu You’an’s condition seemed more severe, Fu Shuangxi immediately had the staff contact the Lu family.
Not long after they arrived at the hospital, Li Xianglan and Lu Yanchuan rushed in, with none other than Li Huaidong accompanying them.
Today, the Li family was holding a family gathering at the old mansion. Both Li Huaidong and his mother, Li Xianglan, had gone to accompany the old master for lunch. In the afternoon, the old master kept a few of them behind for a private conversation. They were in the tea room when Li Xianglan received the call.
The staff from the theater troupe informed her that Lu You’an had fallen off the stage during rehearsals. Anxious, Li Xianglan immediately demanded an explanation over the phone. The staff hesitated, fumbling for words until they were finally pressured into blurting out the truth:
“Actually… Lu You’an pushed one of the other actors first, but in the end, that actor grabbed her, and they both fell off the stage.”
“Nonsense! Why would my An’an push someone for no reason? Who was the actor that dragged her down?”
“Her name is Song Qingyu.”
“Song Qingyu?” Li Xianglan’s expression darkened. “That explains it. An’an and Song Qingyu have bad blood—she must have been trying to harm An’an!”
When Li Huaidong heard the name Song Qingyu, he could no longer remain seated. Using the excuse of checking on Lu You’an, he immediately followed them to the hospital.