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How many steps are there to unwrapping a gift?
The ribbon was pulled off, and he reached into his gift box. A small camellia, soft and white, shimmered faintly pink under the light, as if blushing.
As he gently brushed over the petals, they quivered slightly, and the leaves slowly unfurled.
The second step was washing. Under the running water, the petals glistened with dew, fresh as if just picked. Yan Man watched her reflection in the mirror, her face flushed red as though blood might drip from it.
She wanted to say not to wash it in front of the mirror, but after hesitating for a long while, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.
Finally, the little camellia was tossed into the bathtub, floating uncertainly amidst the rippling water. Yan Man rested her fingers on the edge of the tub, feeling the water splash against her wrist.
When the lights were turned off, the flower finally bloomed fully.
The next day, on the way to the roadshow, Yan Man kept yawning. Zhou Xuan glanced at her and asked, “Didn’t sleep well last night?”
Without waiting for her reply, Zhou Xuan continued, “Maybe traveling around the country is a bit uncomfortable. You should take more baths. Isn’t there a bathtub in the hotel? I took a rose-scented bath last night and slept better than ever.”
Yan Man blurted out, “Don’t you think that bathtub is a bit small?”
Zhou Xuan fell silent for a moment, her gaze gradually becoming odd.
Her expression was hard to describe: “It’s not small for one person, but you probably weren’t alone.”
“...”
Finally, the eighth roadshow ended, concluding the cinema promotional activities. Floating Life, Old Years began its online pre-sale.
Even amidst fierce competition during the Spring Festival season, the pre-sale box office still left the second place far behind. Tickets for the first few days had to be snatched up hours in advance; otherwise, they’d be sold out.
At home, Yan Man received Simon’s report.
These were all audience reviews shared on Weibo, each accompanied by images showing full theaters.
Since it was her first film, Yan Man felt proud too.
She proudly walked into the kitchen, placing her phone in front of Ye Lin and praising him: “Amazing, Teacher Ye.”
Ye Lin glanced at it, then shifted his gaze to her.
“Normal performance,” he seemed uninterested in this topic. Looking at her lips, he asked, “Should I put pepper on the steak?”
“...”
“Anything is fine, just don’t add too much oil.” Yan Man leaned closer, incredulously asking, “Normal performance?”
“You’ve only done this one movie in these years. Is this really your focus?”
“The filming is done. The rest is up to the audience’s votes. Even if I worry about it now, what can worrying achieve?”
He seemed to smile, pulling out a pepper bottle: “Feeding you is more important.”
The word “feeding” seemed to trigger some memory button. Yan Man squinted, recalling an old video.
In the video, he calmly rubbed the cat’s ears and lowly retorted: “Not enough feeding?”
—At that time, she had blushed innocently for a while.
Yan Man coughed lightly, suppressing the fuzzy restlessness echoing in her ear. She picked a cherry tomato, eating it nervously while clarifying herself: “What do you mean, am I hard to feed?”
He raised an eyebrow, seemingly implying something: “Where are you pointing at?”
“...”
Just as his words faded, Yan Man seemed to hear the sound of splashing water from the bathtub.
She choked momentarily, her cheek temperature rising. After a long while, she swallowed the cherry tomato and decided not to continue the conversation, drifting out like a wandering soul.
But those images and sounds lingered. With a turn of her head, she could almost see his ambiguously smiling eyes.
Yan Man lightly coughed and took out her phone to shift her attention.
Simon had sent a message a few minutes ago: [Show this to Ye Lin. What does he feel about such high box office numbers?]
Yan Man reined in her wandering gaze and mechanically repeated: [He asked me if I wanted pepper on my steak.]
Simon: [?]
Half a minute later, Simon sighed regretfully: [Alas, some top stars dominate the Spring Festival season movies, yet at home, they become househusbands cooking for their girlfriends.]
In the first week of release, Floating Life, Old Years grossed over 3 billion yuan, surprising even industry insiders. Though Yan Man’s screen time wasn’t much, as the sole female highlight role, she garnered plenty of praise and resources.
During that period, the number of collaboration offers Simon sent her increased exponentially. She finally understood what being overwhelmed meant—rejecting more than accepting. Too many collaborations, limited daily time; accepting one meant rejecting two others.
As Ye Lin’s movie, postponement was a normal operation. When the box office gradually stabilized at a high position, Yan Man’s cheongsam farewell scene in the film went viral again. On short video platforms, accompanied by her lines, it sparked a trend of makeup tutorials and transformations.
—Stable box office numbers surged again, creating the second small peak since the movie’s opening week.
Also, at the spring equinox, Yan Man received her second piece of good news.
Her role in City Traveler successfully made it to the finals after receiving the Golden Watch Award. Among hundreds of excellent actresses, only three could enter the Best Actress nomination.
Though it was unclear who would ultimately win, being nominated was already a great affirmation for her.
Among her peers, she was the first to be nominated.
Box office, ratings, endorsements—her achievements seemed to far surpass those of other young actresses, stepping into the ranks of the industry’s elite.
Of course, regarding couple endorsements with Ye Lin, at least twenty brands approached them, expressing hopes they could collaborate and co-endorse.
While discussing endorsements, Yan Man had already switched to a new RV—not a nanny car anymore, but the same type Ye Lin had, now hers too.
She accepted the brand reports Simon handed her, flipping through them while exclaiming, “Why so many?”
“This is after screening,” Simon said. “You haven’t seen my email—it’s even scarier. I’m selecting until I get morning sickness.”
Yan Man: “Whose?”
Simon: ?
Simon: “If you saw it, you’d know. Not exaggerating, the whole company helped me select. The ones selected are either first-tier, super first-tier, or second-tier with exceptionally good reputations. Others were all excluded.”
“Just that previous Xiang Ling—it was originally an ordinary clothing brand, made a comeback thanks to you two, and is now the national swimsuit. Who wouldn’t want that commercial value?”
Yan Man listened while looking at the cooperation intentions and reputations of various brands.
Simon: “Before, you two were just forcibly paired. Now what are you? Officially announced power couple! High box office, representative works, high fan activity. Which brand wouldn’t drool over that?!”
“Your super topic has crushed the competition. The combined strength of positions 2 to 6 isn’t as strong as yours.”
“Crushed?” Yan Man looked up. “First place?”
“Obviously! You’ve been first for so many years. Haven’t you checked the details?”
Yan Man: “What about that Double Click Couple? Aren’t they also very popular?”
“They’re married, okay? They’ve gone to dominate other exclusive lists—” Here, Simon raised an eyebrow, “When will it be your turn?”
“...”
That statement was still far off. Yan Man pouted, treating it as banter. Before long, Ye Lin and Simon also boarded the vehicle.
Ye Lin had also recently resumed his commercial activities and endorsements, but he hadn’t started taking on new acting roles yet.
Rumors about him retiring from the industry were rampant, but they were later personally debunked by Bi Tan. He mentioned that Ye Lin had considered retirement, but after taking some time off, he decided to stay.
The fans rejoiced, and the industry breathed a collective sigh of relief. However, with no official announcement of new projects for such a long time, everyone was curious about what kind of project could have convinced him to return after contemplating retirement.
Thinking about this, Ye Lin sat down beside her: “So, have you decided?”
—He was talking about the joint endorsement matter.
Yan Man flipped through the pages in her hand, pondering for a moment.
“I’m more inclined towards mobile phones and perfume,” Yan Man said. “After all, everyone uses mobile phones, and these two colors—pink and blue—are our fan support colors. I’m particularly interested in the couple system inside.”
“For the perfume, the design and packaging are very nice, and it allows for custom scents—I think it’s quite special. Plus, practically every girl wants to have her own perfume. It’s practical.”
She rested her chin on her hand: “After all, many fans will rush to buy whatever we endorse. I think accepting two endorsements is enough; let’s not fleece them. Earning money isn’t easy.”
Just accepting two endorsements that she herself liked and thought would be frequently used in everyday life was sufficient.
After she finished speaking, Ye Lin took the survey form from her hands and carefully examined it.
Even though it was just an endorsement, he was as meticulous as when she accepted roles. The reputation of each brand, their consumer base, after-sales service, and even whether they supported the One China policy—all were clearly outlined and considered mandatory criteria.
Upon reading this, he couldn’t help but smile.
Yan Man followed his gaze and said, “Don’t laugh. Political stance is very important—”
“I know,” he murmured softly.
“How could he not know?” Bi Tan added from the side. “You two are really a perfect match. He’s the same way when it comes to endorsements. He even investigates brands’ scandals, and then tests the product for a month himself. If he thinks the claims are exaggerated, he refuses to accept it.”
Yan Man smiled and leaned against the window: “Isn’t that great?”
At least there wouldn’t be disagreements over endorsements in the future.
After Ye Lin got out of the car and headed to his next event, Bi Tan followed behind him and asked, “What do you think about the joint endorsement?”
Ye Lin: “Whatever she says.”
Bi Tan had assumed it would be another fierce battle like before and was already pulling out his memo to note down Ye Lin’s requirements. Suddenly hearing these four words, his fingers slipped on the keyboard, producing a string of gibberish.
“...”
Bi Tan: “Just listen to her?”
“Mm.”
Bi Tan was speechless: “Are you really becoming a henpecked husband? At least this is a big deal. Are you sure it’s settled just like that?”
Thinking about the symptoms of being henpecked, Bi Tan couldn’t help but chuckle: “Are you going to hand over your salary card too?”
It was just a casual joke, but unexpectedly, the man actually nodded and explained—
“I gave her my salary card, but she didn’t take it.”
“...”
In the end, the endorsements for the mobile phone and perfume were confirmed. Since the mobile phone would still be in use for a while, the perfume contract was signed first. The two went to the headquarters, reviewed the production process, adjusted the fragrance, and finalized it.
Not long after signing the contract, the perfume company held a live-streaming event as the first promotional activity after the endorsement.
Naturally, the two were invited to attend.
The live-streaming location was set on the 17th floor of a building in the city center. The ground floor seemed to be a modeling studio. As Yan Man passed by, she noticed how lively it was inside and couldn’t help but look twice.
Simon said: “I heard Director Feng Wei came today to select the female lead for Thousand Islands in the Evening Breeze . Do you know Feng Wei? He visited during your play rehearsals.”
“I remember a bit,” Yan Man said. “He’s friends with Director Wang, right?”
“Yes.”
“That Thousand Islands in the Evening Breeze has been in preparation for a long time. They’ve been talking about making it four or five years ago. I heard it’s a very artsy film, and the requirements for the female lead are extremely strict. That’s why it has taken several years without any progress. All the major companies are drooling over it. Who wouldn’t want a piece of that pie?”
Bi Tan chimed in: “I can vouch for that. It feels like they’ve been selecting for ages. Why hasn’t there been any news? Could they be planning to choose a newcomer?”
Simon: “That’s unlikely. He’s always preferred actors with good acting skills.”
This piqued Yan Man’s curiosity, and she asked, “So, will they finalize it today?”
“Probably not,” Simon was almost peering into the door. “They’re probably just here to check things out. I heard that Director Feng has done a lot of research for this female lead. Apparently, there are over ten potential actresses on the shortlist. Every day, various companies go to scout talents, even visiting film academies.”
She shrugged, thinking about the numerous TV drama and movie scripts she had received recently, but none caught her eye, so she hadn’t taken on any projects.
If those teams were half as serious as this director, she wouldn’t have to worry about not having good scripts.
With that thought, the elevator arrived, and she tugged at Ye Lin’s sleeve, heading straight to the 17th floor.
The host was already waiting inside, and the live-streaming equipment was set up.
Yan Man chose a seat and sat down, with Ye Lin sitting beside her.
She checked the live stream and noticed his face seemed a bit too close to the edge. She pulled him closer: “Move over a bit.”
After adjusting their positions, she smiled at the host, who also smiled back at her: “Then the two of you can greet the audience.”
Before she could speak, the host seemed to notice something: “Hold on.”
Yan Man made a sound of surprise: “Is something not ready?”
“Yes, the software seems to be having issues,” the host said. “The number of participants exceeded the capacity, causing our account to crash.”
…
Like this, Yan Man watched as the host repeatedly tried to enter the software only to be kicked out, crashing and stubbornly re-entering again. After about seven or eight attempts, they finally managed to squeeze into their live room.
After greeting the audience, the barrage of comments flew by like running code, with only exclamation marks visible.
Fortunately, the host fixed the camera on one position, scrolling down to see the specific content everyone was posting.
Yan Man interacted with the barrage for a while before moving on to the product-related segment.
Host: “As you all know, our brand launched a new member-customized perfume system this month. This means that members who make purchases before their birthday can customize their own fragrance on their birthday through our official website. For just the shipping fee, they’ll receive a 15ml sample, and within ten days, they can purchase the full-sized customized version.”
“So, if it were you, Manman, what scent do you think best suits your birthday?”
Yan Man had her favorite scent: “It should be white tea. Including the choice to collaborate on this endorsement, it’s also because I’ve privately used your brand’s white tea perfume.”
Host: “And what about your boyfriend?”
The barrage erupted in laughter: [Hahahaha, what about your boyfriend?]
[Ye Lin: Don’t I have a name?]
[Regretful! The former superstar has finally fallen to become someone else’s boyfriend...]
But evidently, Ye Lin didn’t mind this title, and one might even say he enjoyed it.
Because immediately after, Yan Man noticed the corner of his lips lift slightly: “My birthday? It should also be the scent of white tea.”
“...”
Some slightly off memories sprang to mind. This man seemed to be making a double entendre, hinting at a secret language known only to the two of them in front of so many people.
His birthday gift—wasn’t it scented with white tea? :)
Yan Man couldn’t resist kicking him lightly, thinking it was perfectly hidden under her skirt. But little did she know, the barrage had sharp eyes: [What do you mean! What is it that our esteemed viewers can’t hear!]
The host continued: “We also have many fragrances here. If you were to freely mix them, Manman, what scent do you think your wedding would be?”
[You’re really on point; I love it.]
[Director! Play the wedding march, why are you just standing there!]
Yan Man thought for a moment: “A fruity floral scent, because it’s romantic. There should also be bridal bouquets, mixed with the smell of candy, and adding a touch of milk candy would be perfect.”
The host was somewhat surprised: “Manman can describe it so precisely?”
Yan Man thought for a moment and honestly replied: “Have you ever heard a story? A reporter asked an old man, if you had a million, how much would you donate? The old man said ninety thousand. Then the reporter asked, what if you had a hundred thousand? The old man said eighty thousand. Finally, the reporter asked, what if you had ten thousand? The old man fell silent.”
“The reporter asked why he was silent. The old man said, ‘Because I really have ten thousand.’”
[Hahahahaha!]
[Yan Man: You see, I can talk confidently and imaginatively because I haven’t been married.]
[Thanks, Yan Man, for another daily dose of fabricated stories.]
Laughter erupted in the studio. The host, trying to suppress his laughter, continued: “Then for this year’s Valentine’s Day, we also launched the ‘After’ series of perfumes. In Manman’s opinion, what should the scent be after... certain events?”
[After? What after? Taking advantage of being in a live-streaming room, huh!]
[Keep it coming, I love it.]
Immediately afterward, everyone saw Yan Man, who had faced three or four questions earlier with ease and eloquence, suddenly—
fall silent.
The air grew quiet.
The camera turned to Ye Lin.
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