Song Zhiqing had never imagined she would get her parents’ support. She was used to surviving independently, but this time, perhaps because of the movie, she felt an inexplicable urge to confide in her mother. So, after her usual report that her life was going well, she didn’t hang up the video call as she normally would.
“Mom, I watched First Love Paradise with a friend a couple of days ago.”
Gao Yiren was pleasantly surprised to hear this. Song Zhiqing had hardly watched any of her movies in recent years. Although Song Zhiqing never said it directly, Gao Yiren had faintly sensed her daughter’s dissatisfaction with her neglect, a stark contrast to the past when Song Zhiqing would always call to share her thoughts after every new movie premiere.
Gao Yiren knew she was a selfish mother. She had missed so much of her daughter’s life for the sake of her acting dreams. She had always thought she would make it up to her later, but time passed, and her daughter grew up. Though her daughter’s eyes still held the same admiration, the familiar intimacy of a normal mother-daughter relationship was gone.
So, Gao Yiren replied, almost overwhelmed by the gesture, “What did you think?”
Song Zhiqing recalled the movie’s plot, and a familiar weight settled over her again. She pressed her lips together, her almond-shaped eyes filled with sincerity. “It’s a fantastic movie. I cried for a long time after watching it, and I still feel sad just thinking about it. My friend told me the original book was based on the author’s true story. I think it’s incredible that the author could write it, and it’s just as incredible that the movie was made so well.”
Gao Yiren was a little dazed. There was a time when her daughter would only say things like, “Mommy, your character in this movie is so pretty.” Now, she was seriously analyzing the film’s significance with her.
How much she had missed.
But even though Gao Yiren was filled with guilt, she couldn’t comfort her daughter, who was frightened by this glimpse into the world’s dark side, by saying it was just an isolated case. She had done extensive research before filming and knew all too well that some real-life cases were even more shocking than what was depicted in the movie.
“Now that we’ve made the movie, things will get a little better,” was all she could say.
Song Zhiqing nodded, thinking of the campaign prototype she and Ye Yuhuan had designed. The weight in her heart lightened considerably. “Yes! I’m planning to hold a ‘Care for the Lin Qis Around Us’ event at my school with my friends. I’m sure I’m not the only one who wants to do this after watching the movie. If we keep this up, things will definitely get better and better!”
Gao Yiren raised her eyebrows in surprise. She had just returned to her hotel from an awards ceremony where the film had, as expected, won her this year’s Best Actress award. Yet, at this moment, the pride she felt from the trophy couldn’t compare to seeing her daughter shine so brightly. The girl on the screen was so exquisite, so intelligent, and so kind.
It seemed her daughter had grown up wonderfully all on her own.
A strong impulse to be part of this stage of her daughter’s growth suddenly filled Gao Yiren’s mind. She suggested, “Usually, these kinds of events need promotion, right? What do you think about me helping you promote it? I am one of the movie’s lead actresses, after all.”
Song Zhiqing covered her mouth in shock, stammering, “Mom, are you serious? Are you really, really going to help me promote it?!”
Gao Yiren smiled. That face, hailed by the world as the pearl of the century, now showed a mother’s tender love, like a magnificent medieval portrait.
“Is there any reason I can’t? Or do I need to audition or something?”
Song Zhiqing replied decisively, “Of course not! Thank you, Mom! I’m just so happy. This event will definitely help more people because of this!”
No kidding. Having her mother promote their event was a massive win for them!
“That’s what I hope for, too,” Gao Yiren said with a gentle smile.
The two then discussed some general plans. With her years in the film industry, Gao Yiren was well-versed in promotion, even if not an expert. With her help, Song Zhiqing gained a more comprehensive understanding of how to maximize the event’s impact. Before they knew it, the mother and daughter had talked late into the night.
When Song Zhiqing noticed the clock pointing to one in the morning, she let out a small cry and said apologetically, “We’ve been talking for so long. Mom, you’ve been so busy with the awards ceremony these past few days. You must be exhausted.”
Gao Yiren shook her head and said softly, “Not at all. I’m very happy chatting with Qingqing.”
Despite her words, the fatigue in Gao Yiren’s eyes filled Song Zhiqing with guilt. She hurried to end the call, but before hanging up, she continued their childhood tradition after awards nights: “Mom, congratulations on winning Best Actress.”
“You’re the best actress I’ve ever seen.”
The grown-up Song Zhiqing had added that last part.
Gao Yiren remained stunned long after the phone screen went dark. After a while, she walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. This country, famous for its art and romance, also had remarkable achievements in architecture. When she was young, she had walked these streets, her heart filled with the ambition to conquer the world of cinema. Now, she had more or less conquered it, but she had lost that surging passion of her youth.
Film was still a necessity for her, but it was no longer the absolute center of her life.
Gao Yiren lowered her head and sent a text to Song Chen: Brother Chen, please turn down that role for me. I want to come home and spend some time with Qingqing.
Gao Yiren didn’t tell Song Zhiqing this, wanting to give her a surprise. So, all Song Zhiqing knew was that Song Chen was going to establish a corresponding foundation for her event, and that Gao Yiren would donate her entire salary from First Love Paradise to the Protect Lin Qi Foundation. Song Zhiqing also generously donated half of her own savings. The only “poor person” present, Ye Yuhuan, offered to contribute to the event with her diligent labor.
While the villainess and her family and friends were joyfully discussing how to perfect their charity event, the protagonists were in a state of bleak and miserable turmoil.
Shangguan Chong had returned.
Although the overseas treatment had some effect, it came at a great cost—a cost that made him uneasy even now, wondering if he had been too impulsive.
But if it weren’t for Jin Yuan, none of this would have happened.
Filled with resentment, Shangguan Chong returned to the country. He thought of his biological daughter, the one his late wife had tried so hard to protect, and all his pent-up frustration suddenly found an outlet.
He pushed open Shen Wei’s door without knocking. His body, bloated from a life of indulgence, stood before Shen Wei like a mountain. Shangguan Chong forced a disingenuous smile and said, “Weiwei, I heard some news recently.”
The scene from her past life was replaying itself. Shen Wei lowered her head, hiding the hatred in her eyes, and answered as timidly as she had back then, “What news?”
“Someone said that your mother, Jin Yuan, had an affair not long after we got married.”
“You know, I’ve had so many paternity tests done on your sister Xianxian over the years, but nothing ever came of it.”
“Now I’m not so sure about things. So, Weiwei, why don’t you go get another paternity test, okay?”
“I’m not saying I doubt you. Even if you aren’t my daughter, it’s not your fault. It’s your mother who was promiscuous. We’re just doing a test.”
“But, you know, Weiwei, Daddy’s not sure. So for now, don’t go back to using the Shangguan surname.”
“This is just for the family to know. What outsiders think doesn’t matter.”
Shen Wei pressed her head down hard against her body. Hearing these words a second time was just as disgusting. Her sister had endured these absurd paternity tests for years, and now it was her turn. Shangguan Chong’s methods of torture were truly tried and true, yet ever-fresh.
“I understand, Father,” she replied in a small voice, like Cinderella afraid of revealing her true form.
This was exactly the effect Shangguan Chong wanted. He scoffed contemptuously. Jin Yuan had schemed and planned for so long, but she never would have imagined her daughter would be raised to be like this.
Shangguan Chong glanced around the lavishly tacky room.
People from small places really do have such narrow horizons.
At that moment, he conveniently forgot that he, too, had come from a small place.
After Shangguan Chong left, Shen Wei collapsed onto the bed. She told herself she had to endure it, had to appear even more harmless than in her past life. That was the only way she and Shangguan Xianxian could have a good ending. But at the same time, her fingernails had unknowingly dug into her palms, drawing blood.
After all, it was truly disgusting.
Remembering the phone call she had received before Shangguan Chong arrived, Shen Wei stared blankly into the void for a moment.
Ye Yuhuan. If she was a threat, then no matter her objective, she had to be nipped in the bud.
She had nothing left to lose.
On the other side of the city, Ye Yuhuan was in a video conference with the members of the Cosmic Beauty Garden. When they heard about the event, they all eagerly volunteered to participate. First Love Paradise had been both a critical and commercial success during the National Day holiday, and most people who saw it were left with a heavy feeling in their hearts—a mixture of a desire for change and a sense of powerlessness.
And once a concrete goal was presented for people to invest themselves in, few could resist the temptation.
With dozens of people brainstorming, the plan for the “Protect Lin Qi” campaign was finalized before the holiday ended. Gao Yiren’s promotional video was also in the middle of being filmed. Everything seemed to be progressing smoothly when Ye Yuhuan received a call from an unknown number.
The voice wasn’t entirely unfamiliar. It was Shen Wei.
“Who are you?” Shen Wei asked.
“I’m Ye Yuhuan.”
“How much do you know?”
“I know what you know.”
“How did you do it?”
“No comment on that.”
They spoke in riddles for a moment. Shen Wei fell silent for a few seconds before finally getting to the point: “What do you want?”
Ye Yuhuan looked up at the night sky and said lightly, “You might not believe this, but I want your friendship. If not friendship, then your wariness will do.”
Shen Wei snorted. “I usually choose to eliminate people I’m wary of.”
“Can Shangguan Xianxian hear you say that?” Ye Yuhuan hinted that Shen Wei was still pretending to be meek and weak in front of Shangguan Xianxian.
Shen Wei took a deep breath. “Stop being cryptic. Just tell me what you want.”
Half-joking, half-serious, Ye Yuhuan said, “Tell me, Shen Wei, is it possible for us to become friends?”
“Are you crazy? You did all this just for that?” Shen Wei found Ye Yuhuan completely unreasonable.
“Of course not just for that. But I can only tell you the rest if we become friends.”
A dial tone came from the receiver. Shen Wei had hung up.
Less than two minutes later, Shen Wei called again. “I don’t know what you’re going to all this trouble for, and I don’t believe you. After all, not long ago, you stole one of my ventures. Don’t give me that first-come, first-served nonsense. You keep following the path I laid out. In my eyes, that’s stealing.”
After saying this, Shen Wei’s breathing grew heavy. A possibility occurred to her. “Have you already lived through this life once?”
Ye Yuhuan thought about the information she possessed. Saying she had been reborn in this life wasn’t much of a stretch. As for the whole “this world is a novel” thing, it was best not to scare people with that. Besides, it sounded too fake.
“Something like that,” Ye Yuhuan replied curtly.
After a moment, Shen Wei’s voice came again. “I’ll be honest with you. I have to know your movements and your direction. To me, you’re too much of a threat.”
Her rebirth had given her the advantage of foresight. Now that someone else had the same advantage over her, a wave of fear washed over Shen Wei, as if she were completely exposed before Ye Yuhuan.
Ye Yuhuan reassured her, “You don’t have to worry so much. I mean you no harm. In fact, we’re in the same boat. You understand this world as it is now, and I understand the world you overturned. All my knowledge is based on you. To be honest, I quite like that world of yours. I just want to make a tiny little change.”
“What change?”
“Be my friend, and I’ll tell you.”
Beep—
Shen Wei hung up again.
