IOLYF Chapter 100

Wen Ci never met with Han Shao Zhou. Instead, he returned the pair of rings through someone else, claiming that he had found them by chance. His company eventually found him a new movie role, but he had to lower his salary significantly to secure the part.

Shen Xixi wasn’t as fortunate. She had been the company’s top pick for the lead role in a major drama, but Xi Nan replaced her with another actress from the company.

The reason was simple: Xi Nan didn’t see Shen Xixi as a promising talent. Her looks and acting skills weren’t as good as the new actress Xi Nan wanted to promote, and Shen Xixi was arrogant and self-righteous. With the company no longer backing her, Xi Nan was relieved to no longer have to deal with her.

Relegated to a supporting role in a small web drama, Shen Xixi was furious. The idea of having to start from small roles like everyone else and slowly work her way up made her wonder when she would ever achieve stardom.

Shen Xixi stormed into Xi Nan’s office, yelling, “I was signed by Sheng Da’s chairman himself!”

Xi Nan found it amusing. “From the way you’re talking, one would think you were the chairman’s wife.”

“You—”

“Miss Shen,” Xi Nan interrupted with a chuckle, her red lips curling into a smirk, “either get the chairman to personally call the company, or follow the arrangements. Or better yet,” she paused, her voice turning icy, “go home and wait for instructions. You’ll only work when I decide to give you something.”

Xi Nan had been a manager for many years, and every artist under her, no matter their status, treated her with respect—even Wen Ci. But this girl, who only got into Xing Ci because of some connection to the Han family, thought she could act as if she didn’t need Xi Nan at all.

Xi Nan had no patience for such a clueless brat. If Shen Xixi couldn’t make money for her, there was no way she’d be getting any good opportunities in the future.

Shen Xixi left Xi Nan’s office and went to Wen Ci for help. She had a ten-year contract with Xing Ci, and breaking it would cost her a lot of money. But if she stayed, she knew she’d suffer under Xi Nan, who clearly had it out for her and would never give her good roles. She had no interest in playing second fiddle to other actresses.

Wen Ci bluntly told Shen Xixi not to come to him for help again. He said he needed to focus on his own career and couldn’t spare any more energy for others.

Desperate, Shen Xixi turned to her boyfriend, Yang Guan, hoping he could ask Han Shao Zhou for a favor or help her get connections with industry bigwigs. She didn’t care much for Yang Guan’s looks or personality, but his family was a well-known and influential one in Chuanhai, with extensive connections in the industry. That was why she had accepted his pursuit in the first place.

However, Yang Guan threw a stack of photos in her face, his hand trembling as he pointed at her. “I gave you my heart and soul, and this is how you repay me?”

The photos showed Shen Xixi in intimate moments with Xia Qing.

Shen Xixi felt a chill run through her. She suddenly recalled Xia Qing asking her for money. Xia Qing must have truly been desperate, asking her for five million yuan, claiming she couldn’t stay in the country anymore and needed to move abroad. Of course, Shen Xixi didn’t lend it to her. Xia Qing was nothing but bad news now, a pariah that no one wanted to associate with. But she never imagined that Xia Qing, in a fit of rage, would send their photos to her current boyfriend.

With the damning evidence in front of her, Shen Xixi couldn’t deny anything. All she could do was cry and beg Yang Guan for another chance.

Yang Guan, heartbroken, couldn’t believe his misfortune. Almost every girlfriend he’d had had used him, and he thought Shen Xixi was different, that she was his true love. But now, he realized he had been made a fool once again.

No matter how much Shen Xixi begged, Yang Guan wouldn’t stay. In fact, he was crying even harder than she was. He had distanced himself from Zhao Cheng and Han Shao Zhou for her, only to be rewarded with this betrayal.

As Yang Guan drove away, Shen Xixi collapsed on the side of the road. She realized that all her privileges and favoritism had vanished.

Her dreams of becoming a superstar were completely shattered…

On Mo Ming’s birthday, he didn’t follow his friends’ suggestion to have a party. Instead, he spent the day alone in his apartment.

For the past few years, he hadn’t paid much attention to his birthday. If it weren’t for his friends reminding him, he probably wouldn’t have remembered it himself.

But this year, with everything finally settled, Mo Ming bought himself a small six-inch cake.

In the evening, as light snow continued to fall outside, Mo Ming was in the kitchen preparing dinner. Xiao Han was circling around his feet when the doorbell rang, prompting the little pup to rush to the door, barking excitedly.

When Mo Ming opened the door, he frowned at the sight of the person outside.

Han Shao Zhou stood there, leaning on crutches, his left arm in a cast and strapped to his chest. He was balancing on one leg, holding a bag in one hand. He looked at Mo Ming with a deep, careful gaze, a hint of a smile on his lips. “Mo Ming…”

“What are you doing here?” Mo Ming asked.

Mo Ming’s expression was indifferent, and Han Shao Zhou felt a bit guilty, lowering his voice as he spoke. “It’s your birthday today, and I just couldn’t resist coming… to see you.”

With that, Han Shao Zhou handed the bag to Mo Ming. Mo Ming didn’t take it right away, so Han Shao Zhou explained, “It’s not a gift, just something I was asked to give back to you. It’s something that belongs to you.”

Mo Ming’s frown deepened as he took the bag and looked inside, only to freeze in surprise.

Inside was a faded, old teddy bear…

Mo Ming’s hands trembled as he took the bear out and stared at it for a long time before pressing it against his chest, gently rubbing his cheek against its worn fur.

Han Shao Zhou knew Mo Ming understood the significance of the bear, so he didn’t bother explaining where it came from. He just looked at Mo Ming with gentle eyes, resisting the urge to reach out and stroke his soft hair.

“Happy birthday,” Han Shao Zhou said softly.

Mo Ming looked up. “Thank you.”

“I…” Han Shao Zhou hesitated, then asked quietly, “Can I come in for a glass of water?”

Mo Ming looked at Han Shao Zhou for a moment before lowering his gaze in silence. Then, he turned and walked back into the apartment.

He didn’t say anything, nor did he close the door.

Taking this as tacit permission, Han Shao Zhou was overjoyed. He hobbled inside on his crutches, the short walk to the living room leaving him breathless.

Xiao Han seemed to recognize Han Shao Zhou as the culprit who had once wrecked his home. The little dog stood two meters away, fur bristling, baring his teeth, and barking furiously at Han Shao Zhou.

Han Shao Zhou felt awkward and could only smile apologetically at the dog.

But Xiao Han wasn’t having it. He charged at Han Shao Zhou, grabbing the bandage on his foot with his teeth and yanking it, making Han Shao Zhou yelp in pain.

Seeing things getting out of hand, Mo Ming quickly scooped up Xiao Han.

The victim lay on the sofa, leg in the air, groaning in pain. “It hurts, damn it, it really hurts…”

Mo Ming looked annoyed as he scolded Xiao Han seriously, “Don’t bully him.”

The words felt a bit strange. Even Mo Ming frowned after saying them, only to turn and see someone seemingly forgetting their pain, smiling at him. “This is great. Now I finally have someone to protect me.”

“…”

Mo Ming put Xiao Han down, and the little dog behaved, watching Han Shao Zhou warily but not charging again. Han Shao Zhou tried to coax him with a piece of pet jerky. “Come here, Xiao Han. After all, you’re named after me, we shouldn’t be strangers.”

Mo Ming’s lips twitched. “Why do you think he’s named after you?”

Han Shao Zhou looked embarrassed. “Isn’t his name Xiao Han?”

“His name is Xiao Han,” Mo Ming said, closing his eyes in exasperation. “The first character means clumsy.”

Han Shao Zhou froze, feeling utterly deflated. “What? Clumsy?”

“……”

Feeling dejected, Han Shao Zhou didn’t leave after finishing his water. He ate half of the strawberry cake Mo Ming had bought for himself.

The cake was very sweet…

Before leaving, Han Shao Zhou placed a small black velvet box on the table and left it for Mo Ming. He explained that it contained the two jade rings the grandfathers had given him.

“Just… think of it as me leaving them here for a while,” Han Shao Zhou said, looking at Mo Ming. “You can keep them for a few months, then return them if you want, or keep them if you don’t.”

Mo Ming picked up the velvet box and opened it, looking at the rings inside.

Han Shao Zhou anxiously waited for a long time, then finally saw Mo Ming nod slightly and say, “Okay.”

A little over a month later, news broke of Pang Ming Shun’s death.

At the time, Mo Ming was rehearsing for an evening performance with Qi Yue and the rest of the crew. It was Xia Xiaotang who saw the news on her phone and shared it with everyone, and that’s how Mo Ming found out.

“Did you hear? The old man donated almost half of his fortune before he died.”

“What? And what about the other half?”

“Of course, it went to his only blood-related grandson. The Ding Sheng Group will probably change its name to Han soon.”

“So, Young Master Han is going to be… wow, his wealth is going to be unimaginable.”

“I bet he’s going to be super busy. We’re better off. At least we can grab some spicy hotpot after work, haha…”

“Just hearing that makes me hungry. What should we have for dinner?”

Mo Ming sat quietly on a step, not joining in the conversation. He scrolled through the news reports about Pang Ming Shun’s death on his phone, and just then, he received a message.

It was from Han Shao Zhou…

[Han Shao Zhou]: Take care of yourself.

At that moment, he wished more than ever for the people he cared about to live healthy, peaceful lives.

Mo Ming stared at the message for a long time before opening the input box.

[Mo Ming]: I will.