“That’s about right,” Yu Yan chuckled twice. “Let’s eat first and talk while we eat.”

Song Yunjing had already removed her makeup and changed into casual clothes. There were quite a few fans and paparazzi near the film set, so she put on a mask and fully disguised herself.

The restaurant was near the set, offering good privacy. The staff there were used to such appearances and weren’t surprised.

While waiting for the food to arrive, Yu Yan rinsed the chopsticks and bowls with tea.

Song Yunjing gave him a knowing look. “Did you pick up this habit while spending time with President Shen?”

Yu Yan paused briefly, then realized she was referring to rinsing the utensils with tea.

Indeed, this habit had been formed while spending time with Shen Yuchen, as it was something many people did at Cantonese restaurants.

“Don’t jump to conclusions. We’re not even together yet,” Yu Yan said as he poured her some tea.

Song Yunjing sipped her tea and smirked. “So, you’re close.”

Yu Yan evaded, “Something like that. But I realized something yesterday.”

Finally getting to the point, Yu Yan briefly described what had happened, omitting his suspicion that Shen Yuchen was pretending to be ill just to enjoy everyone’s care.

Someone as proud and accomplished as Shen Yuchen likely wouldn’t want his little quirks to become public gossip fodder.

Song Yunjing was silent for a moment. “Is it possible that the way he behaves isn’t entirely in line with his actual personality?”

From Song Yunjing’s perspective, Shen Yuchen, as the president of Minghua Group, must have a steely resolve. Otherwise, how could he manage the company so well at such a young age, right after becoming an adult?

It seemed like Yu Yan was too involved to see clearly, overly indulging Shen Yuchen, which made him believe that Shen had deeper motives rather than just manipulating him.

“No way,” Yu Yan immediately denied.

Song Yunjing: “…”

“Maybe… President Shen acts differently around you than he does with others,” she carefully chose her words. “The employees in the company think he’s like a machine—working tirelessly, decisive, and never sloppy. Because of this, the company has advanced several levels under his leadership. I don’t think he would waste precious work time staying in the hospital without a clear purpose.”

Since Yu Yan got to know Shen Yuchen, the latter had always been gentle, humble, and polite. He helped friends, lent a hand to a girl selling flowers, and donated to charity foundations.

So, when Yu Yan suddenly learned that Shen had exaggerated a bone fracture, his first reaction was disbelief. However, recalling Shen’s past kindness, his anger subsided.

Coming from an orphanage, Yu Yan found it hard not to have a favorable impression of someone who donated to such causes.

Song Yunjing seemed to have something to say but hesitated, making Yu Yan feel she might have an answer.

“So what do you think his motive is?”

“President Shen is young, successful, and accomplished. His only regret might be in the area of love. I think he’s doing this for you. Didn’t you personally care for him in the hospital for over ten days? Isn’t that enough proof?” Song Yunjing, knowing Yu Yan’s personality, didn’t hold back. After all, she had a good agent, and even if Shen Yuchen was displeased, it wouldn’t affect her.

But Shen Yuchen’s regret wasn’t love—it was the unattainable familial affection he longed for.

Perhaps Yu Yan had misjudged last night. Shen Yuchen hadn’t faked being sick to gain Jiang Mo and Zhang Shujun’s attention; he did it for him.

Yu Yan’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. “Really?”

Song Yunjing gave him a look of obvious certainty. “Would he stick so closely to any other friend besides you?”

Yu Yan thought about it carefully. Shen Yuchen didn’t seem to be in close contact with his brother. His interactions with Fang Chi and others were occasional, and when Yu Yan was with Shen, he never saw him make calls or send many messages to anyone else.

“Last time, I told you to test him with some intimate gestures. Did you get any results?” Song Yunjing asked curiously.

Yu Yan shook his head. “I was afraid he’d think I was a creep.”

Song Yunjing froze for a moment. She had been worried Yu Yan might go too far and get himself into trouble, but it turned out he was too innocent to even make a move.

“Trust me, he’d be thrilled,” Song Yunjing sighed lightly. “Right now, it’s not about how he feels—it’s about whether you care that he lied to you and whether you want to be with him.”

If this had happened at a different time, Yu Yan might have cared. But it happened after the car accident, and Yu Yan believed he understood Shen Yuchen’s character. Shen wasn’t someone who would resort to unscrupulous means to achieve his goals.

Ultimately, Yu Yan didn’t care much now. He just felt a bit upset about being deceived and suspected there might be other things Shen Yuchen hadn’t fully disclosed, especially since Shen stubbornly refused to use the “get-out-of-jail-free card” he owed him.

Yu Yan clicked his tongue. “It’s not that I don’t want to be with him. It’s just not the right time.”

Song Yunjing understood. “In other words, you’re stuck on this one issue, right?”

“Something like that. I feel like he’s still hiding something from me,” Yu Yan said matter-of-factly.

“That makes things simple. Just string him along, tease him, and force him to tell you,” Song Yunjing explained casually. “Give him a little now and then, but never let him feel satisfied. Let him stew and obsess over it. Over time, he’ll give in.”

Yu Yan instinctively turned his head, puzzled. “Give him what? He’s got a bone fracture, not a break. He doesn’t need to be spoon-fed.”

Back when Shen Yuchen had his hand in a cast, Yu Yan hadn’t even fed him. Shen Yuchen had managed to use his left hand to hold a spoon and eat by himself.

Song Yunjing: “…”

“No, that’s not the kind of feeding I mean.”

“Then what kind of feeding?” Yu Yan was curious.

Song Yunjing deliberated for a moment. “…The kind I’m talking about includes a range of things couples do to build intimacy, like holding hands, hugging, kissing, or… well, sleeping together.”

Yu Yan was stunned, his jaw practically dropping. “We… we’re not at that stage yet.”

“That’s just a matter of time. Use your judgment,” Song Yunjing didn’t bother to elaborate further.

“Alright,” Yu Yan nodded, beginning to understand.

He had known that consulting Song Yunjing was the right choice. Compared to He Zhiyu, this advice was much more reliable.

Still, understanding the concept was one thing; putting it into action might be entirely different. Shen Yuchen always seemed to have a way of throwing him off track.

For example, last night, when Yu Yan discovered Shen Yuchen’s deception, he should’ve been furious. But Shen Yuchen had calmly prepared a packet of cold medicine for him and then started playing the pity card, which ended up defusing most of his anger.

“Isn’t the filming of Starlight Origins wrapping up soon?”

Song Yunjing nodded. “Pretty much. We’re just doing reshoots for a few scenes.”

“There’ve been some new scripts lately. I had my assistant send them to you. Have you gone through them yet?”

Since her role in The Past Twenty Years, Song Yunjing’s career had skyrocketed. Everyone in the industry knew she was under Yu Yan’s wing, so her success was only a matter of time. Plenty of people were betting on her, offering her great scripts.

Song Yunjing’s eyes widened. “Weren’t you planning to work with Director Yang to produce your own film? Don’t you need me for that? He Zhiyu called me last night to brag that he’s playing the male lead in the film you’re investing in! You’d choose him over me?”

“No, that’s not what I mean. This particular film has limited roles for female characters due to its subject matter. I looked over the scripts sent to you earlier—several of them have you as the female lead, and the directors are top-tier in the industry. I think you should seriously consider them. It wouldn’t make sense for me to hold you back from better opportunities just to cast you in my project.”

Yu Yan was self-aware. The films offered to Song Yunjing had better crews, scripts, and marketing budgets. More importantly, they provided a chance for her to connect with big names in the industry, which could help her build relationships and open doors for future opportunities.

He Zhiyu, on the other hand, didn’t lack connections or resources. He was more than happy to take on a role in Yu Yan’s film.

“I’m not going anywhere. I want to be in your film. It’ll be fun if everyone’s together,” Song Yunjing heaved a sigh of relief, having momentarily worried that her golden ticket was slipping away.

Yu Yan nodded. “Alright, it’s your choice.”

“By the way, are you thinking about signing new talent lately?” Song Yunjing asked.

Yu Yan looked slightly surprised. “What kind of talent?”

“You know Gu Yingying? She used to star in wuxia films, the goddess of cinema from over a decade ago,” Song Yunjing explained.

“I know her. Didn’t she leave the industry years ago?”

When Yu Yan was preparing to invest in films, he had done his homework and watched many of the big hits from past years. Among them were the wuxia films Gu Yingying had starred in, which had been wildly popular in their time.

But at the height of her fame, Gu Yingying announced her retirement, secretly married, and had children. This hurt her company’s interests, leading to a legal dispute that forced her to pay a hefty sum in damages. The company publicly vowed to keep her out of the entertainment industry for life.

Her former agency was still thriving in the industry, making it difficult for her to stage a comeback.

“She got divorced. She probably wants to make a comeback to support her kids. Her former agent mocked her and has been stonewalling her without giving a definitive answer. Do you want to sign her? If you’re interested, I can ask around.”

“Of course, but considering her status as a former Best Actress, would she be willing to take supporting roles?” Yu Yan had his doubts.

After all, with her age, there weren’t many lead roles available for her anymore. Most of the time, she’d likely be cast as a protagonist’s mother or similar characters.

“There’s no other choice. Her age is a limiting factor; she can’t play female leads anymore,” Song Yunjing sighed.

Signing a former Best Actress would undoubtedly be a good move, as it would generate buzz and nostalgia.

Yu Yan suspected that her former agency was thinking along the same lines—deliberately stringing her along to pressure her into submission.

To his surprise, Gu Yingying responded that same evening, setting up a meeting.

The next day, Yu Yan met Gu Yingying at a café.

Time hadn’t left too many marks on the former actress. She was still as stunning as she had been over a decade ago.

“Ms. Gu, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Yu Yan,” Yu Yan greeted her, shaking her hand.

Gu Yingying visibly relaxed. “No need to call me ‘Ms. Gu.’ Just call me Sister Gu.”

“Okay, Sister Gu. I’m not sure if Yun Jing has already mentioned this to you, so let me explain briefly again. If you’re planning to make a comeback now, there aren’t many roles available for you to choose from. In fact, most of them are roles for older characters.”

This is something many actresses in the entertainment industry are reluctant to accept. They’d rather not act at all than take on roles that lower their standing because once their status drops, it’s hard to climb back up.

Gu Yingying wasn’t very resistant. “I understand. Over the years, there have been many newcomers in the industry. There aren’t that many opportunities left waiting for me. It’s just…”

“What’s the matter? Sister Gu, don’t worry. If you have any requests, feel free to bring them up, and I’ll do my best to meet them.”

Gu Yingying looked a bit worried. “My ex-husband is currently fighting me for custody of our child. He doesn’t want me to work, so he might use his connections in the industry to put pressure on me.”

So it wasn’t just about her previous management company; her ex-husband was also a problem.

“It’s okay. The thing I’m least afraid of is people with connections.”

With his brother and Shen Yuchen backing him up, Yu Yan could walk confidently in the entertainment industry.

Yu Yan took out a contract right away. “Here’s the top-tier contract, Sister Gu. Have a look.”

Gu Yingying let out a sigh of relief. After carefully reviewing the contract and confirming there were no issues, she signed it.

“Mom, are you done?”

A soft, sweet voice came from a nearby table. A little girl, about seven or eight years old, sat there and bore a slight resemblance to Gu Yingying.

Gu Yingying smiled gently. “This is my younger daughter.”

“I see. No wonder she’s as pretty as you,” Yu Yan chuckled lightly.

Gu Yingying explained, “I might bring my daughter along when filming, but don’t worry. My assistant will watch over her, so it won’t affect the shoot.”

“No problem,” Yu Yan didn’t mind such small details.

The little girl spoke sweetly, “Thank you, Uncle, for giving my mom a job.”

“No need to thank me. You even understand what a job is?” Yu Yan laughed twice.

The little girl nodded. “If Mommy has a job, I don’t have to be separated from her, and we can bring my brother back home.”

Gu Yingying gave an apologetic smile. “Over the years, I’ve had a lot of arguments with her dad. The child overheard some things and has been hoping for me to find work.”

No wonder Gu Yingying had introduced her as her younger daughter earlier—she had another child as well.

Yu Yan guessed that her financial situation might be a bit tight. “Sister Gu, would you consider taking on variety shows?”

“My daughter…” Gu Yingying hesitated, afraid Yu Yan would think she was being troublesome.

“Mom, I don’t mind. I can play by myself.”

“Kids can come along. Filming only takes a few hours,” Yu Yan understood her difficulties and would only recommend relatively relaxed variety shows that wouldn’t require traveling out of the city.

Without hesitation, Gu Yingying agreed. “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. Let’s exchange WeChat info so I can contact you later.”

After exchanging WeChat details, Gu Yingying patted her daughter’s head and sighed. “When I was young, I thought love could overcome all obstacles. In the end, I almost couldn’t even protect my own child.”

Yu Yan had heard about her story before. Back when she was in love, her ex-husband had made high-profile displays of affection and even personally invested in projects for her. Who would have thought that after their split, he would do everything in his power to hold her back?

“It’s okay. Take it step by step; things will get better,” Yu Yan said with a sigh.

“Are you in a relationship?” Gu Yingying suddenly asked.

Yu Yan was stunned. “N-no, I’m not.”

“Then there must be someone you like, right?” As someone with experience, Gu Yingying could see through him easily.

After a moment’s hesitation, Yu Yan nodded. “Something like that.”

“Looks like you’re in the honeymoon phase. I shouldn’t be discouraging you, but marriage is something you should think carefully about. Take your time to really understand the person. Otherwise, you might end up sacrificing your entire life,” Gu Yingying advised, wanting to share some hard-earned wisdom with someone she found kind-hearted.

“I understand. Thank you, Sister Gu,” Yu Yan nodded.