“Crazy, absolutely crazy.” Jian Yang knocked on his own head. “Jian Yang, wake up!”

“Is Guan Ciyan some kind of good person?”

“Taking losses without learning a lesson, huh?”

He kept brainwashing himself along the way, trying to drive Guan Ciyan’s gaze out of his mind. Even as he sat cross-legged on the bed, he was still thinking.

But what did Guan Ciyan mean when he said he had the capital for negotiation?

Guan Ciyan couldn’t possibly be gentle, but his ideas were always solid.

Jian Yang neatly arranged his belongings on the bed, taking up only 1/8 of the space. Aside from a phone and an old piece of clothing, he really had nothing else—completely penniless.

“What do I even have?” Jian Yang placed all the business cards Guan Ciyan had given him in front of him.

“Hmm? Wen Ye?” A light bulb went off in Jian Yang’s head. “It’s Wen Ye!”

Jian Yang pulled up Director Xu’s WeChat, took a photo of Wen Ye’s business card, and sent it over without saying anything.

Sure enough, Director Xu quickly replied.

“Do you have a way to contact Wen Ye?”

Of course, Jian Yang didn’t. He didn’t even know if the business card was real. But Guan Ciyan had been actively seeking a collaboration with Wen Ye. Jian Yang didn’t know how to reach Wen Ye, but Guan Ciyan did. Based on what Guan Ciyan said tonight, if Jian Yang wanted Wen Ye’s contact, Guan Ciyan would probably help him get it.

Subconsciously, Jian Yang felt that Guan Ciyan was on his side.

“Sorry, Director Xu, sent it by mistake. I’m actually working on securing a collaboration with Director Wen Ye. 😳”

Director Xu quickly replied again.

“You can get in touch with Wen Ye?”

Jian Yang pretended to hesitate.

“I think so… but I still need a solid project to show Wen Ye my ability. Just having a contact isn’t much use.”

Director Xu called immediately.

“Xiao Jian, what’s your plan here?”

The sudden shift to “Xiao Jian”—this was exactly the entertainment industry he knew. Worship the powerful, step on the weak. As long as the benefits align, everyone becomes long-lost brothers.

Jian Yang didn’t dare act arrogant. Director Xu was his only real chance to return to the industry, and he was a director capable of producing great work. “I don’t have many concrete plans yet. I’m discussing things with a friend. Even if we can’t work with Director Wen Ye, just getting a chance to meet him would be valuable.”

Director Xu didn’t respond immediately. The only sound on the other end was his slow, deliberate breathing.

“Your thinking is right,” Director Xu finally said. “Even if you do meet Wen Ye, you won’t land a collaboration immediately. Let me be frank—I’ve always respected Director Wen Ye, but I’ve never had the opportunity to connect with him. If you need a project, I can help. You’re a hardworking kid, and I believe in you. If you do get to meet Wen Ye, how about bringing a project we create together?”

Jian Yang’s heart clenched. His throat tightened as he replied, “Of course, of course!”

“No need to rush. If you managed to get Wen Ye’s business card, you probably have other opportunities with different directors as well. Take your time to think it over. If you’re willing, let’s meet tomorrow to discuss your understanding of a role. You can also see what I bring to the table. If we’re both satisfied, we’ll sign the contract. The lead role—it’s yours.”

“The lead role?”

Jian Yang had thought he’d be lucky just to land a supporting role.

“If you’re going to make a name for yourself, it has to be as the lead.”

“I’ll be there first thing in the morning.”

Jian Yang hung up calmly, as if he weren’t particularly excited. Director Xu hesitated before ending the call, seemingly wanting to push for something more, but Jian Yang’s indifferent reaction kept him from doing so.

—

The lead role.

The lead role.

The lead role.

Jian Yang’s hands were still trembling as he held his phone. In just one night, he went from begging for a minor role to having a director personally invite him to be the lead. And he hadn’t even done anything. He hadn’t made any promises to Director Xu.

Guan Ciyan was right—when the value and stakes are high enough, people are willing to take risks.

Director Xu wanted Wen Ye’s approval too badly. Just one business card was enough to make him move.

Jian Yang didn’t dare celebrate too soon. It felt like he had tricked his way into an opportunity. But in his mind, the words “lead role” kept echoing louder and louder.

A good script, a good director, and strong financial backing—his first-ever project, and he was already set to be the lead in such a high-quality production.

What should he do? What should he do?

Jian Yang had only sent that message on a whim, but he had unexpectedly hit the jackpot.

He was both thrilled and uneasy. As the clock ticked past 3 a.m., the soft glow of the star-shaped nightlight above him felt like a beacon of hope, quietly guiding him forward.

He had to meet Director Xu tomorrow, but his mind was a tangled mess. It felt like he was hanging by a thin rope at the peak of a mountain—one strong gust of wind could send him plummeting into an abyss.

He wanted to call Wei Wei to talk it over, but then he remembered—Wei Wei wasn’t in much of a better situation. He probably hadn’t encountered this kind of luck either.

If he called, the two of them would just end up losing sleep together.

His contact list had no one he could confide in.

There was only one person he could consider “close.”

Jian Yang buried his face in the soft, silky pillow. A faint scent filled his senses. The fabric of his sleepwear was unlike anything he had ever worn. Uncle Zhang had said it was a French brand—his entire body was wrapped in wealth.

Although some of it was Uncle Zhang’s own initiative, choosing the best quality for him, the fact remained that Guan Ciyan had never deprived him of material comforts.

In the darkness, Jian Yang blinked. His golden eyes reflected the dim glow of the star-shaped light, shimmering like polished amber.

He slipped on his slippers and walked to Guan Ciyan’s door.

After last time’s lesson, he didn’t dare barge in. Instead, he crouched outside the door.

To be honest, he wasn’t even sure what he wanted to ask Guan Ciyan. He just wanted someone to talk to. His heart was in turmoil, like the panic of stepping on stage without having memorized his lines.

Hugging his knees, he rested his chin on them, a small, pitiful bundle muttering to himself.

The door opened.

“You chanting scriptures?” Guan Ciyan asked.

Jian Yang froze. “I was sending you off to the afterlife.”

“…Excuse me?”

“No, no!” Jian Yang slapped a hand over his mouth. His nerves always made him blurt out nonsense.

“Get in.”

Guan Ciyan sat down on a floor cushion by the balcony. A small incense burner on the low table emitted a faint scent of sandalwood mixed with traditional herbal notes. He bent one knee, resting an elbow on it.

Jian Yang wordlessly placed a string of prayer beads into his palm.

Guan Ciyan: ?

Jian Yang: “The atmosphere here is perfect for playing with prayer beads.”

Guan Ciyan was not polite at all—he snatched them away and, even less politely, smacked Jian Yang on the head.

Sharp pain.

Jian Yang’s eyes welled up with tears as he clutched his forehead. “That was expensive!”

“How expensive could a pig brain be?” Guan Ciyan’s eyes were full of disdain.

Jian Yang looked pitiful. “I meant the beads! These are wild sandalwood!”

“You know your stuff?”

Jian Yang shook his head. “You wouldn’t use cheap goods.”

As he spoke, he sniffed quietly, sneaking in another whiff.

Guan Ciyan’s disdain hadn’t faded. “Why are you here?”

“I… I called Director Xu. He said he wants me to play the lead role.”

“Hmm.” The disdain in Guan Ciyan’s eyes lessened as he tapped the red mark on Jian Yang’s forehead.

Jian Yang frowned. Seeing that Guan Ciyan wasn’t mocking him, he continued, “But I told him I’m trying to secure a collaboration with Director Wen Ye.”

“Not bad.” Guan Ciyan pulled Jian Yang’s wrist over and slipped the sandalwood prayer beads onto it.

The deep brown beads rolled across Jian Yang’s wrist, settling snugly on his fair, slender forearm. Guan Ciyan pressed the beads against his skin, rolling them slightly before letting go, satisfied.

Jian Yang had taken a lot of traditional medicine in the past and had seen high-quality sandalwood in herbal shops. True wild sandalwood was worth a fortune, and even if someone managed to get their hands on a small piece, they wouldn’t easily let it enter the market. Jian Yang immediately tried to take them off.

Guan Ciyan’s gaze bore into him. “Hmm?”

Jian Yang touched the beads on his wrist and begrudgingly stopped. “But… I don’t even have a chance to collaborate with Director Wen Ye. I don’t even know where he is! He’s been out of the industry for years—he’s practically a legend. Why would he ever look at me?”

“You—” Guan Ciyan was about to get angry.

Jian Yang cut him off. “Don’t tell me I lack ambition. It’s the truth! I got this role through deception, and I have no way of contacting Director Wen Ye. How am I supposed to explain this to Director Xu?”

Guan Ciyan had never met someone this brutally honest. You could call him foolish, sure. But he had guts—he even dared to cut him off mid-sentence.

Like a stubborn mule, impossible to push or pull.

Guan Ciyan spoke slowly. “Did you promise Director Xu that you would definitely introduce him to Wen Ye?”

Jian Yang sighed. “No.”

“Is Guan Jingyu investigating Wen Ye?” Guan Ciyan asked.

Jian Yang suddenly became more alert, unsure how the topic had shifted to Guan Jingyu. He answered honestly, “I think so, but I don’t know for sure. I haven’t contacted him.”

“Why are you so nervous?” Guan Ciyan said casually. “Guan Jingyu gave you his business card because he wants you to help him connect with Wen Ye. You can use him and the Guan family’s resources to try and find Wen Ye. Whether you succeed or not, and whether Wen Ye acknowledges you, is a matter for later. As long as you’re willing to try, what you told Director Xu is no longer a lie—it depends on your own actions. Besides, you didn’t promise Director Xu anything. Casting you as the lead was his own decision, and he’s responsible for that choice. Why are you worrying on his behalf?”

Logically, Jian Yang knew he hadn’t lied, but he couldn’t shake off the guilt. “But I did mislead Director Xu at first, making him think I could work with Wen Ye.”

“I told you, whether it’s misleading or not depends on you.”

Jian Yang was half-kneeling in front of Guan Ciyan, his wrist still held as the other man toyed with the sandalwood beads. His skin was slightly sore from the pressure. His almond-shaped eyes were filled with worry and confusion. “But… don’t you also want to work with Wen Ye?”

“That’s my business. Are you worried about me now?” Guan Ciyan’s tone was teasing, as if amused by Jian Yang’s overreach.

Jian Yang’s face suddenly flushed. “You’re the one telling me to go to Guan Jingyu.”

“I’m just giving you advice. Whether you go or not is up to you.” Guan Ciyan’s patience was thin, and he quickly wrapped up the conversation. “Jian Yang, what you do depends on what you want.”

“Then what about you?” Jian Yang asked. “Won’t you be angry if I go to Guan Jingyu after everything you’ve given me?”

“If I get angry, will you not go?”

“Of course not! I’m not that ungrateful,” Jian Yang said matter-of-factly. Guan Ciyan might be a jerk, but he had helped him a lot—far more than Guan Jingyu, who only wanted to use him. He wasn’t stupid; the choice was obvious.

Guan Ciyan suddenly fell silent. His hand unconsciously landed on the two small cowlicks on Jian Yang’s head, pressing them down. “Everything I’ve given you is just what slipped through my fingers. Don’t let anyone influence your decisions. Understand?”

His palm tingled slightly as Jian Yang’s soft hair brushed against it. Guan Ciyan didn’t want to let go. His gaze traced the clarity of those golden eyes, as if he had stumbled upon a rare treasure.