Font Size:
“Dad, I don’t want to be a journalist. I just want to be an actress like my sister.”
The grand living room was filled with the sound of an argument. Tears welled up in Zhu Fangning’s eyes as she clung to her mother’s arm, shrinking behind her. “Mom, please talk to Dad for me.”
Her father pointed at her in disappointment. “Don’t think I don’t know you’re doing this for Pei Yu. He’s now working with your sister. Following him to the set under the pretense of visiting your sister was bad enough, and now you want to shape your entire career around him? You’ve completely lost your mind!”
“I’m perfectly clear-headed!” Zhu Fangning pouted, her voice choked with tears. “Didn’t you always say that if you like someone, you should pursue them no matter what? Isn’t that how you won Mom over? Even if Pei Yu doesn’t like me now, even if he gets married to someone else, he’ll get divorced one day! And when he does, maybe he’ll like me then.”
She smiled with hopeful anticipation. “I learned from you, Dad. Why is it okay for you but not for me?”
“I’m not the same as you and your mom!” Her father was at his wits’ end and turned to the woman beside him for help. “Amiao, she only listens to you now. Talk some sense into her.”
Fang Zimiao sighed and pulled her daughter into her arms. “Alright.”
Zhu Fangning nodded eagerly. “Yes, Mom, teach me! How did you make Dad so obsessed with you? Even after you got married, he still couldn’t forget about you?”
Slap.
A sharp slap landed across her face.
Her father was so furious he was panting. “You’re beyond saving. From now on, you’re not leaving the house.”
“No! Dad, please! If I don’t enter the industry now, I’ll lose my chance! I’ve worked so hard—getting into an art school, taking extra roles—just for this moment.” Zhu Fangning held her cheek, tears streaming down her face. She crouched down and hugged his leg. “When I went to visit my sister that night, I saw Pei Yu holding another woman. He can’t be with anyone else!”
“You—”
Before her father could react, Zhu Fangning suddenly stood up as if she had an idea. “I know what to do! I’ll expose them! If they get caught, they’ll have to break up for the sake of Pei Yu’s career!”
Her father watched her run off, rubbing his temples with a deep sigh. “How did she turn out like this?”
Fang Zimiao patted his shoulder in comfort. “Once she calms down, I’ll take her to see a therapist and guide her properly. She’ll eventually follow the path you’ve set for her.”
“Thank you, Amiao.”
Two hours later.
Pei Yu hadn’t received a response from Chen Shuyin, but Zhou Qi called again.
“Bro, the fans are making a big fuss. Zhu Xifang gave us two options: Either she admits it—since it’s just a silhouette, no one can dig up much, and people will forget after a while—or we completely deny it. The end result is the same.”
Pei Yu’s gaze was calm as he said, “I’ve read the script for the slow-paced variety show. I’ll take it. Send me the director’s contact info—I’ll talk to them myself.”
“Huh?” Zhou Qi was caught off guard by the topic shift and didn’t dare assume anything. “Oh, got it. The director is a woman. From what I know, she’s been in film for a while—not particularly outstanding, but consistent. Now she’s investing in her own variety show, probably to take a break. If you join, you could even recommend yourself for a future film project.”
Pei Yu nodded. “No rush on making a public statement. Once I’ve talked it through, I’ll give you a final plan—you just need to post it.”
Zhou Qi understood and hung up.
Chen Shuyin sat on the bed with her back to him, her long, silky hair cascading down to her waist, adding a quiet elegance to the empty room.
Hearing no response for a long time, she turned around, pulling her knees up as she looked at him. “What did you mean by what you just said?”
What did he mean by standing by her side and gaining her trust?
Pei Yu sat on the sofa across from her, arms resting on his thighs, his head tilted slightly upward to look at her. His deep, moist eyes never wavered.
“Being an actor is an ordinary job. On set, my duty is to analyze my roles thoroughly, portray them well, and work in harmony with the team. I must respect everyone’s effort and dedication. Off-set, my role is to provide positive guidance, promote meaningful values, and use my influence responsibly.”
He spoke at length about his career philosophy, leaving Chen Shuyin frowning, as if questioning how this had anything to do with her question.
Pei Yu met her gaze and spoke at a measured pace. “But you need to understand—those achievements and praises are things others assign to me. Strip them away, and I am just Pei Yu, a normal man without labels. There will be times when I can’t control what happens, times when even I might cause trouble for others.”
He sighed. “Chen Shuyin, I’m not a cold, unfeeling machine. I have desires, emotions. I want you to see me not for my fame or the external noise surrounding me, but as the person I truly am. When we first met, I was just a high schooler sitting next to you, joking around.”
He wouldn’t drag her into the chaos, forcing her to endure scrutiny. Nor would he disregard her wishes and use her as a shield.
But he wanted to stand by her—just that.
Pei Yu fixed his gaze on her, leaving her no room to escape. “Grandma told me you once dreamed of becoming an actress. Why did you change your goal?”
Chen Shuyin stiffened, as if reminded of a long-buried childhood memory. She scowled. “Why does she tell you everything? That was just childish nonsense.”
Back then, when her parents were too busy to care for her, her only escape was imitating characters from TV shows during her half-hour break. It was the only time she could become anyone she wanted instead of being the daughter who could never meet her parents’ expectations.
Later, when she had to choose her academic path, her grandfather had once suggested the performing arts since she had studied so many artistic disciplines. She had considered it—until Pei Yu transferred to her school.
That was when she realized she wasn’t as strong as she thought. The whispers and rumors about her kept her up at night. The baseless gossip linking her to Pei Yu made her furious yet helpless.
Other people’s words had the power to destroy everything in an instant.
Compared to Pei Yu, who had entered the industry at a young age and faced similar treatment, she admired how he remained unfazed and fearless.
“There’s no such thing as changing my dream. People’s thoughts evolve. The path I choose is the right one for me.” She crossed her arms, her tone frank. “Besides, even if I never told you, you still found out and chose the same school as me.”
Pei Yu chuckled. “So you knew.”
Now, an opportunity lay before her.
“Want to try fulfilling your old dream?” he asked.
Chen Shuyin narrowed her eyes. “I like my current job, and I don’t want to be involved in the entertainment industry. Don’t try to trick me.”
“Just try.” His eyes sparkled. “Try trusting me—just this once.”