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Psst! We're moving!
At midnight, Yu Chi opened the door to his rented apartment and flipped the switch on the wall. The warm light illuminated every corner of the living room. He lowered his head to change shoes, his gaze lingering for a few seconds on a pair of pink women’s slippers.
He tossed his gifts onto the sofa and sank into it himself, grabbing a cigarette pack from the coffee table. Lighting one up, the smoke curled under the lights. Yu Chi rested his arms on his spread legs, hunched forward, and unlocked his phone. He tapped open the WeChat account that Sheng Li had forwarded to him.
The account name was simply “Huang Boyan.” Yu Chi knew he was Feng Xu’s agent—one of the top in the industry. He sent a friend request.
Note: Yu Chi.
Less than a minute later, Huang Boyan accepted.
Huang Boyan: “Hello, Yu Chi.”
Huang Boyan: “Is now a good time for a call? It’s easier to talk directly.”
Yu Chi: “Sure.”
Half a minute later, the call came in.
Huang Boyan was different from Rong Hua—he had a much gentler personality. As soon as the call connected, he chuckled, “I actually meant to call you this afternoon, but it was just too busy. I only just finished everything. You wrapped filming today, right?”
Yu Chi was feeling conflicted. He didn’t know Huang Boyan well and wasn’t sure what to say. “Yeah, wrapped up.”
“You’ve got a nice voice. Can you sing?”
Yu Chi stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, voice calm: “Not really. I prefer acting.”
“I’m not suggesting a singing career. Singers don’t get promoted as easily as actors nowadays. Just curious. A talent like that could be an asset—it attracts fans.” Huang Boyan chuckled again and got to the point. “I know you’re still under contract with a small company in Hangzhou for another six years. I’ve already contacted them once. Since you’re done filming, you probably don’t have anything lined up, right? If you can, come to Beijing tomorrow. We’ll sign the contract and talk about next steps.”
Yu Chi paused, not answering right away.
Huang Boyan asked, “Tomorrow not good?”
Yu Chi replied, “I can come.”
After hanging up, he stared at his phone for a moment, then opened a booking app and bought a plane ticket.
He screenshotted the flight details and sent it to Sheng Li:
Yu Chi: “Sis, I’m going to Beijing to sign the contract tomorrow.”
Sheng Li: “That fast? I’ve got a full day of filming tomorrow, won’t be able to see you off. Will you be mad?”
Yu Chi: “Yes.”
Sheng Li: “...”
Sheng Li: “Chi-ge, don’t be mad at me, okay?”
Yu Chi stared at the screen for a while before tossing the phone aside. He grabbed another cigarette, lit it. He smoked three in a row. The small living room filled with smoke. If she were here, she’d probably complain about the smell.
After the third cigarette, he got up and pulled out a large black suitcase from the bedroom.
He didn’t have much to pack, and some things he decided to leave behind. It didn’t take long. Finally, he went to the living room and picked up a white shopping bag on the sofa—some clothes Sheng Li had given him.
The air conditioner wasn’t on, and he was sweating. He stuffed the bag into the suitcase, kneeling on the floor with one knee. Sweat dripped from his forehead onto the bag, creating a spreading water ring.
He glanced at the mark, then closed the suitcase.
At 7 a.m. the next morning, Yu Chi slung a backpack over his shoulder and looked down at the necklace on the table—the “treasure” Sheng Li had given him.
He put it around his neck, grabbed the suitcase, and walked to the door.
Bang— the door shut with a heavy echo in the old stairwell.
—
At 3 p.m., the plane landed.
It had been two months since Sheng Li tricked him onto that first flight. Yu Chi left the airport alone, wearing a black cap and face mask, walking toward a middle-aged man waving at him. Huang Boyan had only seen two stills of Yu Chi from a period drama, which looked quite different from his modern-day appearance. Still, he spotted him immediately. The youth was tall and lean with striking proportions and long legs. Even with his face half-covered, his features and presence stood out.
Huang Boyan looked up at the taller Yu Chi and smiled, “Yu Chi?”
Yu Chi nodded.
“Just call me Brother Yan from now on,” Huang Boyan said. “Let’s go to the company.”
In the car, Yu Chi removed his mask and cap. Huang Boyan glanced over at him again—his face and aura were rare, even in showbiz. Some people really were born for this.
Yu Chi turned to him and asked, “Did Jiang Nan come to Beijing too?”
Huang Boyan noticed how different Yu Chi was from most rookies—calm, composed, with a quiet confidence. That kind of personality would carry him far in this industry.
“He arrived this morning,” Huang Boyan replied. “Didn’t sleep well last night? Your eyes are red.”
Yu Chi leaned tiredly against the seat, voice hoarse: “Yeah, didn’t sleep much.”
“Nervous excitement?” Huang Boyan teased.
Yu Chi looked out the window and gave a faint smile. “Maybe.”
Huang Boyan chuckled and started discussing business. “I’ve looked into your situation. The termination’s been settled. The new contract’s ready. Once you’ve reviewed it, we can sign. Oh, by the way, when do you report to school?”
Yu Chi’s phone buzzed. He glanced at it—it wasn’t Sheng Li, just a weather alert about a typhoon and heavy rain in Beijing.
He turned off the screen and said, “In a few days.”
An hour later, they arrived at Guangxian Entertainment.
As they walked inside, many staff members noticed Yu Chi. A girl stared at him and couldn’t hold back an exclamation: “Brother Yan, is this the new guy you just signed?”
Huang Boyan laughed. “Basically, yeah.”
Yu Chi hadn’t slept and wore a blank expression, looking cold and hard to approach. Normally, this group of girls would’ve rushed to call him “little brother,” but now no one dared.
Huang Boyan tsked and pushed open the meeting room door.
Jiang Nan had been waiting for a while. When he saw Yu Chi, their eyes met.
Jiang Nan sneered, “Yo, finally made it. Been waiting forever.”
Yu Chi ignored him, walked in, grabbed the contract on the table, skimmed it quickly, picked up the pen, and signed it standing up—didn’t even sit down. Then he tossed it in front of Jiang Nan.
Jiang Nan looked bitter but having pocketed millions, he let it go. He picked up the contract and stood, smirking. “Your bestie Xu Yang’s still with me. If you make it big one day and wanna buy him out, I’ll welcome it.” He leaned in and sneered quietly, “Bet that termination fee didn’t come easy. Thought you were so pure and proud, huh? Still ended up selling yourself to a sugar mommy.”
Yu Chi’s face darkened. “Get lost.”
Huang Boyan hadn’t expected him to be this explosive—but he didn’t like Jiang Nan either. As for the termination fee, he suspected Sheng Li was behind it but didn’t ask since they hadn’t even signed their own contract yet.
Jiang Nan snorted and left.
Now it was just the two of them. Huang Boyan pushed the contract over and said, “Take your time looking it over. I’ll be in my office.”
Just after he left, a girl came in with a cup of water.
Yu Chi quietly said, “Thanks.”
She smiled, “No problem,” and left giggling, already spreading the news. “He’s reading a contract—cool guy might be signing with us!”
Yu Chi finished reading quickly. He didn’t know if Sheng Li negotiated the deal, but the terms were very good for a six-year contract.
A while later, Huang Boyan returned. “Finished?”
Yu Chi handed it over. “I’ve signed.”
—
At 8 p.m., Yu Chi moved into a company-provided apartment. It was in a good location, newly renovated, two-bedroom with a living room. Much better than his old place in Songshan—and much more unfamiliar.
He quietly looked around the whole apartment before sitting on the sofa. He snapped a photo of the stamped contract and sent it to Sheng Li.
Yu Chi: “Sis, the contract is signed.”
Yu Chi: “Six years.”
He waited over an hour with no reply.
The night was thick with darkness. The wind blew hard. Leaves rustled like the prelude to a storm. At 10 p.m., Yu Chi went downstairs to buy cigarettes and essentials. When he got back, his phone buzzed.
He paused by a flower bed and took it out.
Sheng Li: “Just finished filming. Heading back now.”
Yu Chi set his bag down and sent a voice message: “Can I call you now?”
Sheng Li: “Give me 20 minutes. I’ll call from my room.”
Yu Chi stared at the screen, feeling like he was awaiting judgment—told when the verdict would come. Would the sentence change in 20 minutes?
Every second of those 20 minutes was torture.
At exactly 11 p.m., his phone rang.
Neither spoke at first. The silence was suffocating.
After a while, Yu Chi quietly asked, “Sis… do you not want me anymore?”
Sheng Li had suspected he might’ve figured things out—he was too smart and sensitive. He saw right through her, and suddenly, all her prepared words vanished.
“Why aren’t you answering?” Yu Chi let out a bitter laugh. “Can’t figure out what to say? Afraid I’ll cling to you?”
Sheng Li took a deep breath and spoke softly, “You came to the hotel last time and got photographed. Rong Hua suppressed it before it leaked. When we started dating, I never planned to go public. I’m 23, and my career is on the rise. Publicly dating would affect that.”
“I don’t need you to go public. I’ll hide for as long as you want.” The wind picked up. Yu Chi’s voice sounded thin and far away.
Sheng Li was silent for a few seconds. “There’s no need.”
Yu Chi turned away from the wind. His eyes were already red. “Sheng Li, you’re the one who came after me. You said I was yours. You wanted me to act and said I was your hidden treasure. You promised that only I could break up with you. What, now that you’ve helped me with the termination fee, you feel like you’ve done enough? Was it charity? Is this my breakup fee?”
He choked up. “You think I should be grateful just ‘cause you threw some money at me? Am I just some toy for you to play with?”
“I didn’t buy you. I’m not like your stepdad and stepmom. I’m not playing with you.” Sheng Li was flustered—this wasn’t what she meant at all. “I just wanted to help you get out of that company. I wanted you to be free to chase your dreams.”
Yu Chi asked, “Aren’t you breaking up with me?”
Sheng Li said nothing. Yes.
Then what’s the difference?
Yu Chi’s throat bobbed as he took a breath. “Fine.”
Rain started falling with the wind. He hung up, standing rigidly in place, eyes red like he couldn’t feel a thing.
After a while, he grabbed the necklace on his chest and yanked it hard. The cord snapped. He threw the pendant into the flowerbed.
“To hell with your treasure.”
—
Back in Songshan, in her hotel, Sheng Li curled up on the sofa hugging her knees. Her phone lay on the floor. Her chest felt tight. That little jerk—comparing her to his scummy step-parents?
Yuan Yuan was packing nearby. She had heard the entire breakup. At first, she didn’t like Yu Chi, but over time, she saw how much he loved Sheng Li. A guy like that doesn’t fall easily, and once he does, it’s for real. Way more reliable than most in the industry.
Plus, now that his contract issues were resolved, his future was bright. He was bound to blow up.
Sheng Li had paved the way for him, and now she was ending it?
Yuan Yuan tentatively said, “Li Li, maybe you don’t have to break up. You could stay lowkey for a few years. Even if you don’t meet, Yu Chi would agree, right?”
“We’ve only been dating for two months. It’s the honeymoon phase—how could we not see each other? It’d be unbearable. Better to rip the band-aid off.” Sheng Li took a deep breath and gave a bitter smile. “Spending years tying each other down isn’t kind.”
Yuan Yuan hesitated. “But…”
“But what?”
“He’s in the honeymoon phase. What if this hits him too hard? What if he spirals? Or… turns dark?”
Spiraling? No. That wasn’t Yu Chi. But turning dark? Very possible.
Sheng Li bit her lip and asked, “Do you think he hates me?”
Yuan Yuan whispered, “Not sure. Did he block you?”
After a while, Sheng Li sent Yu Chi a message.
Sheng Li: “Yu Xiao Chi, I truly believe you’re a treasure. I know you wanted to apply to film school back in high school. I know you love acting. Huang Boyan’s a good guy. Do your best, take gigs, let the world see your worth.”
She typed another message and hit send.
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…
That night, a typhoon swept through Beijing. Doors and windows were shut tight. Streets were empty. Only the storm roared.
At 3 a.m., a tall, slender youth ran into the storm, digging through a muddy flowerbed with his hands for a long time.
Eventually, he clenched something in his fist and walked back, drenched to the bone.
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