Meng Zhen was scrolling through Weibo when suddenly there was a knock on the door. She walked over and looked through the peephole to see the slender and pale Xu Xueruo, and the well-groomed Zhao Rong. Meng Zhen raised an eyebrow in surprise.

As the wife and daughter of the Xu Group, Meng Zhen wasn’t surprised that Xu Xueruo and Zhao Rong got her address. After all, the Xu family’s resources in the capital were considerable, making finding someone quite easy.

Meng Zhen opened the door and assessed the mother-daughter pair standing before her.

It was strange indeed. Despite Zhao Rong having no blood relation to Xu Xueruo, when the two stood together, their mannerisms, expressions, and even their gestures were remarkably similar as if they were carved from the same mold.

Seeing Meng Zhen standing at the door without moving, Zhao Rong’s eyes flashed with dissatisfaction. She said, “Either way, I am your mother. Aren’t you going to invite us in for a seat?”

Hearing that, Meng Zhen felt a deep sense of irony.

As a mother, Zhao Rong needed not a daughter connected by blood, but a qualified socialite. She required outstanding achievements, a dazzling appearance, and most importantly, someone who wouldn’t embarrass the Xu family. After all, Madam Xu mingled with social elites daily, a world away from ordinary people.

Having stopped studying after graduating from middle school, Meng Zhen naturally didn’t meet Zhao Rong’s standards. Upon learning of her daughter’s past experiences, Zhao Rong even felt ashamed.

Therefore, the Xu family had no intention of publicly revealing Meng Zhen’s identity to avoid ridicule.

Meng Zhen moved sideways to make way for the two.

Seeing the old and cramped place of the rental house, Zhao Rong’s brow furrowed even more tightly. She sat on the sofa and said to the beautiful young woman, “Xue Ruo has already told me that you want to terminate the contract with Yunlai Entertainment. If you want to, that’s fine, but you must withdraw from the entertainment industry at once and stop tarnishing the reputation of the Xu Group in the future.”

In Zhao Rong’s view, Meng Zhen was simply not cut out to be a star. Apart from having a pretty face, what other merits did she have? The bigger the stage, the harder she fell.

Zhao Rong didn’t want the whole nation to know she had given birth to an illiterate daughter.

Xu Xueruo, dressed in a beige dress, sat quietly on the sofa, saying nothing. She showed no intention of persuading Zhao Rong to help Meng Zhen. Before coming there, she had seen the trailer of 《Daffodil》 released online. Meng Zhen’s stunning visuals not only mesmerized many netizens but also tightly gripped Xu Xuero’s heart.

Xue Ruo had always been a darling of heaven, excelling in both family background and achievements. Now being overshadowed by a ‘sister’ who grew up in an orphanage was unsettling for her.

Fortunately, Zhao Rong didn’t want Meng Zhen to continue developing in the entertainment industry. This time, the mother and daughter came to the rental house with two purposes. One was to bring Meng Zhen back to the Xu family, and the other was to discuss terminating her contract.

Xu Xueruo had been observing Meng Zhen for a long time. She knew how beautiful the other party could be in front of the camera. Thinking that Zhao Rong, Meng Zhen’s biological mother, was about to clip Meng Zhen’s wings as she was about to soar, Xu Xueruo felt incredibly excited that a faint blush appeared on her cheeks.

Meng Zhen glanced at Xu Xueruo and took a few steps forward, speaking word by word, “I disagree.”

“What did you say?”

Zhao Rong never expected Meng Zhen to be so bold as to dare to contradict her. Her face immediately darkened, and she sneered, “Are you trying to embarrass yourself even more? Forget about the scandals flying everywhere before. Lately, you’re hitting the hot search almost every day, but you don’t even have decent work to show for yourself. Besides seeking attention online, what else can you do?”

Xu Xueruo tugged at Zhao Rong’s sleeve and gently stroked her back, saying softly, “Mom, Sister just didn’t think it through. She didn’t mean to deliberately upset you.”

“I think she’s deliberately going against me!”

At this moment, Zhao Rong trembled with anger, glaring fiercely at the young woman standing close by.

Meng Zhen showed no trace of emotion on her face as if she regarded Zhao Rong’s words as mere whispers in the wind.

This realization filled Zhao Rong with intense anger. She pointed at Meng Zhen and sternly admonished, “I’m laying it out here today. If you don’t agree to quit the entertainment industry, the Xu family won’t give you a single penny!”

For a newcomer in the industry, a penalty of five million for breach of contract was simply astronomical. Zhao Rong didn’t believe Meng Zhen could come up with that amount.

Xu Xueruo shared the same thoughts as Zhao Rong, so she was confident that Meng Zhen would agree to the condition to permanently quit the entertainment industry.

“Sister, Mom is doing this for your own good.” Xu Xueruo earnestly persuaded, her words dripping with concern for Meng Zhen on the surface, yet deep down, her growing anticipation felt like rotting garbage emitting a nauseatingly sour stench.

Meng Zhen felt waves of impatience rising in her heart, coupled with sympathy for the other Meng Zhen.

Despite being the true daughter of the Xu family, why was everything taken by Xu Xueruo?

Because Xu Xueruo had a weak constitution, the other Meng Zhen had to take care of her, and because Xu Xueruo was the younger sister, the other Meng Zhen had to give in to her.

Was this fair?

Meng Zhen originally wanted to kick Zhao Rong and her daughter out of her apartment. However, as she looked at Xu Xueruo’s seemingly worried expression, the nauseating feeling intensified. She wanted Xu Xueruo to taste the bitterness of regret.

Xu Xuero was like a leech that had burrowed into the body of the other Meng Zhen, constantly feeding on her flesh and blood, and making herself stronger and more dazzling.

If she exposed Xu Xueruo’s true face, would it be equivalent to avenging the other Meng Zhen?

Meng Zhen stared at Zhao Rong, lowering her voice and tone slightly, even adding a hint of barely perceptible pleading, “Previously, you and Dad said that the children of the Xu family should stand on their own and not rely on others. Being an actress has been my dream since I was little. Even without being recognized by my parents, I will still continue on this path. And even if I hit a solid wall or get cut by thorns until I bleed, I won’t give up.”

As the first international movie queen in the country, Meng Zhen’s acting skills were far superior to Xu Xueruo’s. At this moment, she did not shed tears, but her eyes were slightly reddened. Even her usually soft and clear voice carried a hint of hoarseness.

Zhao Rong had always been amenable to friendly persuasion but not to compulsion. If Meng Zhen had confronted her directly, she might have intervened in her career. However, Meng Zhen’s display of vulnerability at this moment touched Zhao Rong’s heartstrings.

Her expression remained cold and solemn, but her body was no longer as tense as it was just now.

“Do you really want to be an actress?”

Meng Zhen nodded earnestly.

“I will find a way to pay the penalty myself and I won’t tarnish the Xu family’s reputation. Please rest assured.”

“You child, where would you get five million? Don’t pretend to be strong.”

Upon hearing Zhao Rong’s words, Xu Xueruo’s heart tightened. She hadn’t expected her mother’s attitude to change so quickly. While Zhao Rong was kind and gentle towards her, once she made a decision, she never wavered. She valued the Xu family’s reputation more than life itself.

Zhao Rong had once said that upholding their reputation was the Xu family’s bottom line. Why was it that with Meng Zhen, her bottom line could be broken?

Xu Xueruo was beyond frustrated. She wished she had never set foot in this rundown rental house. She covered her mouth, coughing uncontrollably. Each cough was like tearing at her chest and tears started streaming down her cheeks.

“Xueruo, drink some water quickly.”

While soothing Xu Xueruo, Zhao Rong handed her a glass and continued complaining, “Not only is this place facing the street, but it also lacks a new ventilation system. The air quality here is too poor.”

Meng Zhen timely showed a hint of shame.

Xu Xueruo was exactly the same as her adopted sister in the republican era. Because they had weak health as a shield, once something unpleasant happened, they would automatically act pitiful.

But compared to her adopted sister’s high fever and coughing up blood, Xu Xueruo’s mere coughing seemed insignificant.

“Are you okay?” Meng Zhen asked with concern, holding Xu Xueruo’s cold hand.

For some reason, when Xu Xueruo met Meng Zhen’s clear eyes, she felt as though all the thoughts buried deep in her mind were being read through, making her feel a bit uneasy.

She tilted her head slightly to avoid Meng Zhen’s gaze, and whispered, “I’m fine.”

“I think Xueruo isn’t feeling well. Why don’t you go back and rest first? You’re right, the air here isn’t very good, and staying too long does make one’s throat uncomfortable.” Meng Zhen suggested.

Once Zhao Rong and her daughter left, the smile faded from Meng Zhen’s face and her expression turned notably cold and indifferent.

———pr

By eight in the evening, the short film 《Daffodil》 was finally premiered on the Tomato video website.

Fans had been waiting near their computers before eight, counting down the time. As soon as they saw the play button appear, they clicked it without hesitation.

The short film was twenty-one minutes long. The opening scene mirrors the trailer, with the serene courtyard filled with the melodious sound of a guqin. The screen began to display the names of the creators and the two leads.

After the opening credits, the scholar played by Yi Beizhao diligently waters and fertilizes the goddess of the Lou River in the corner. The scholar’s body was weak, and after a short while, he was already sweating profusely.

Unlike the popular vivid colors of modern films, 《Daffodil》 featured a soothing color palette. Yi Beizhao’s robe was elegantly plain, and the film’s visuals were clear without excessive filters.

Just from watching this opening scene, Luo Yang’s fans began to praise their idol’s versatility. Not only had he made achievements in the music industry that were difficult for ordinary people, but he also did quite well in his crossover into short film.

At this moment, the viewers who clicked in saw the beautiful portrait from the trailer again. The person being depicted was indeed Meng Zhen, but she appeared much more refined and beautiful compared to her appearance on the talent show.

They concluded it was the work of a skilled editor and began discussing it on the bullet screen.

【Turning an ordinary starlet into a goddess, whoever edited this deserves a bonus!】

【I second the motion.】

The short film continued to play, and Meng Zhen finally made her appearance.

The newly awakened flower spirit swayed unsteadily out of the beauty’s portrait. As she bent down to touch the willow branch reaching in from outside the window, the audience felt their hearts gripped tightly by invisible hands. It was simply hard to describe in words.