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After wrapping up her filming, Sheng Li returned to her hometown to spend a few days with her parents before heading back to Beijing for the promotion of her new drama. She went straight to the company upon arriving in Beijing because Rong Hua had something important to discuss with her.
When she entered Rong Hua’s office, she was surprised to find Lu Xingyu there as well. He was lounging on the sofa like he didn’t have a care in the world, but his eyes glared at her with deep resentment.
Sheng Li sat down in a nearby armchair and glanced at him casually. “Just a few days ago, you were begging me to be your girlfriend. Now, why do you look like you want to murder me? Love turned into hate?”
Lu Xingyu shot her a fierce glare, his voice seething with anger. “Sister, why did you have to date Yu Chi? Why go out of your way to buy him out of his contract and even find him an agent? From now on, I’ll consider that cheap ex-boyfriend of yours my mortal enemy.”
Sheng Li shrugged lightly. “Oh, and then what?”
“And then?” Lu Xingyu suddenly straightened up, his tone unusually serious. “Whose side are you on?”
Sheng Li thought to herself, Of course, I’m on Yu Chi’s side. My relationship with Yu Chi is one of first love and intimacy—what does Lu Xingyu even mean to me?
Rong Hua stood by the window, turning around to snap coldly, “Enough bickering. Let me finish this phone call.”
Lu Xingyu grew visibly restless. Sheng Li didn’t know what trouble he’d gotten himself into this time, but it wasn’t her business. She calmly poured herself a glass of water when she suddenly heard Rong Hua mention someone’s name over the phone.
“Director He, I understand that Yu Chi is a newcomer, so his salary would naturally be lower. But if you reconsider Lu Xingyu, we can adjust our offer. We’re willing to go lower than Yu Chi’s rate—it’s not a problem. You also mentioned earlier that Lu Xingyu’s audition performance wasn’t far behind Yu Chi’s. There’s still plenty of room for growth. Moreover, Lu Xingyu comes with a built-in fanbase, which Yu Chi simply can’t compete with.”
Director He? Could it be He Yuanren?
Sheng Li froze, her mind racing. The water overflowed from the cup, almost scalding her hand. She quickly snapped out of it, poured half the hot water away, and refilled the cup with cold water. Pretending to be nonchalant, she listened as Rong Hua continued her phone call.
On the other end of the line, He Yuanren chuckled. “President Rong, it’s not just about the salary. The biggest difference between Yu Chi and Lu Xingyu is that Yu Chi just finished his college entrance exam this year. His youthful energy fits the character ‘Chen Yunuo’ perfectly. You’ve read the script outline—he has a deep emotional bond with his girlfriend, and after her murder, he struggles between darkness and justice. The emotions required for this role are incredibly complex. Since we’ve worked together before, I’ll be honest with you: Lu Xingyu is more playful by nature. He can’t fully empathize with the pain of losing a loved one, so his emotional grasp during the audition wasn’t as strong. On the other hand, Yu Chi nailed the emotional complexity with authenticity.”
Rong Hua’s expression grew heavy. After a brief pause, she pressed on. “Is there really no room for negotiation? I can apply for additional investment from the company.”
Sheng Li’s heart raced. Even though she hadn’t heard the other side of the conversation, Rong Hua rarely compromised like this anymore. She had heard that He Yuanren was preparing a new movie, but she had no idea about the auditions for Yu Chi and Lu Xingyu since she had been on vacation in her hometown.
This role must be either the male lead or second lead—otherwise, Rong Hua wouldn’t be groveling like this.
Rong Hua sighed. “Alright, then. I hope we’ll have the chance to collaborate next time.”
Lu Xingyu looked as if he’d just received a death sentence. His face fell, and he collapsed onto the sofa, utterly defeated.
Sheng Li held her water glass tightly, masking her emotions with lowered eyes. She sipped slowly, her heart still pounding. She couldn’t help but feel frustrated with herself. It had been over two months since she and Yu Chi broke up, so why did her heart race at the mere mention of his name? Wasn’t this exactly what she had hoped for—that he would land good roles and shine as the treasure and genius she knew he was?
Why was she secretly getting excited all alone? What was there to be proud of?
This sense of being easily swayed by news of him left her feeling deeply insecure. She feared regretting her decision, feared that no one else would ever compare to Yu Chi. She kept telling herself: He’s your ex-boyfriend—the one you dumped. He’s already blocked you. Even if he was once your discovery, the one you brought into this industry, you’ve broken up. If he becomes famous someday, it won’t have anything to do with you anymore. He’s no longer yours. Snap out of it!
Rong Hua remained silent for a moment before turning to Lu Xingyu, her tone icy. “Sit up straight. You look pathetic.”
Lu Xingyu, as if his soul had been drained, sluggishly sat up properly. He muttered in disbelief, “Yu Chi stole another role from me? Even lowering my price didn’t help? Sister dated him and rejected me. Did I offend him in a past life? Did I dig up his ancestors’ graves or something?”
If Lu Xingyu knew that He Yuanren had recommended Yu Chi to Rong Hua years ago, and that Rong Hua now regretted dismissing him back then due to his young age, missing out on such a genius, he’d probably lose it completely.
Rong Hua glanced at Sheng Li, who was pretending to sip her water innocently. She couldn’t help but think how tangled and messy everything had become. Things were spiraling out of control.
Huang Baiyan certainly wouldn’t miss this opportunity to let Yu Chi step on Lu Xingyu’s back to rise to fame.
________________________________________
As autumn began to set in, the weather grew cooler. Yu Chi wore a black hoodie, paired with cargo pants, and slung a black backpack over his shoulder. Walking briskly out of the school gate, he located Huang Baiyan’s car, opened the door, and climbed inside.
Huang Baiyan smiled and handed him the script. “Find some time to memorize your lines. Filming starts mid-January next year, and by then, you should have finished your exams. We’ve coordinated with the production team to prioritize your scenes, but the shooting schedule will still be long. You’ll need to take some time off.”
Yu Chi accepted the script, flipped through it briefly, and stuffed it into his bag. He replied indifferently, “Mm, I know.”
“Enjoy these next two months—they’ll probably be the calmest and most peaceful period of your college life. Once Rose begins filming, your popularity will skyrocket. The company plans to ramp up promotional efforts.” Huang Baiyan paused, looking at him, and gave a heads-up. “We’ll release press releases strategically—your childhood as an extra, your previous contract issues, your college entrance exam scores—all of it will be highlighted.”
Yu Chi understood. The company intended to exploit every aspect of his backstory for maximum publicity.
He leaned back casually in the seat, indifferent. “Fine, I’ll cooperate.”
Huang Baiyan was slightly taken aback. He had prepared to persuade Yu Chi in case he objected to using his difficult childhood as a selling point. Of course, as a newcomer, the company didn’t necessarily need his consent, but Huang Baiyan respected his artists’ wishes. Agents and artists were in a mutually beneficial partnership, and mutual respect was fundamental. Besides, Yu Chi was clearly a rising star, so Huang Baiyan naturally treated him with care.
“Of course, those details are just to build your image and boost your initial popularity. What will truly propel you forward is the fact that you beat Lu Xingyu in the audition,” Huang Baiyan chuckled. “His high visibility makes stepping over him the fastest way to rise.”
Yu Chi remembered the day of the audition when Lu Xingyu deliberately approached him and sneered, “Got dumped by your sister, huh? Do you know why? Because she and I have a three-month agreement. She loves me the most. She got bored on set and decided to play with you for fun. And she was generous enough to buy you out of your contract—you made quite a profit, didn’t you?”
Step on Lu Xingyu to rise? Yu Chi smirked coldly. He’d rather crush him underfoot.
After getting out of Huang Baiyan’s car, the sky was already dark. Yu Chi’s phone rang. He put on his earphones and answered.
Xu Yang’s voice came through, urging him, “Are you out yet?”
Yu Chi: “Heading to the subway station.”
It was Xu Yang’s birthday, and since he hadn’t grown close to his new classmates yet, he invited a few high school friends studying in Beijing to have dinner together. Hu Yi Yang and Zhao Shutong were both attending Communication University of China.
They met at a hot pot restaurant, and by the time Yu Chi arrived, it was already past seven. Everyone was already there.
Yu Chi sat beside Xu Yang. Hu Yi Yang glanced at him and remarked, “Hey, Chi Ge, why do I feel like you’ve lost weight?”
“You’ve gained weight,” Yu Chi retorted, tossing his bag behind him and giving him a sidelong glance.
Hu Yi Yang: “….”
Xu Yang burst into laughter and placed the menu in front of Yu Chi. “We’ve already ordered. See if there’s anything else you’d like?”
Yu Chi leaned back against the chair, his tone indifferent. “No, whatever you’ve ordered is fine.”
Zhao Shutong’s heart raced. Ever since Yu Chi had walked into view, her eyes hadn’t left him. It had been four months since they last saw each other, and though it was only a few months, he seemed even more captivating now.
“Wow, don’t stare at handsome guys like that—it’s unbecoming.”
Zhao Shutong’s vision suddenly went dark.
Xu Yang quickly blocked her view with the menu.
Her face flushed red as she tried to cover up. “I wasn’t—I was just curious about the necklace pendant Yu Chi’s wearing. I’ve never seen him wear one before.”
Everyone’s gaze immediately shifted to Yu Chi’s neck. His pale skin accentuated the collarbone visible above his shirt. A black handwoven cord hugged his neck, half-hidden beneath his clothes. It was impossible to tell what he was wearing, but it exuded a cold, restrained allure.
Xu Yang nudged him with his elbow. “Hey, what are you wearing?”
Yu Chi pressed the pendant through his shirt, his expression calm. “Nothing.”
“Let us see!” Hu Yi Yang teased.
Yu Chi poured himself a glass of lemon water, his tone dismissive. “It’s for protection. It loses its power if others see it.”
Everyone paused for a moment before bursting into laughter. Hu Yi Yang laughed the loudest. “Rare for Chi Ge to crack a joke like that. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime event.”
Later, as they continued eating hot pot, Hu Yi Yang enthusiastically promoted Sheng Li’s new drama. “Have you guys seen my goddess’s new show? If not, make sure to check it out. It’s amazing—she’s beautiful and badass. Don’t miss it!”
Yu Chi wasn’t particularly fond of hot pot and had already set his chopsticks aside. Leaning back against the sofa, he was replying to messages on his phone.
At Hu Yi Yang’s words, his fingers paused. He exited the chat and absentmindedly opened his social media feed. The first thing he saw was a photo Yuan Yuan had just posted of Sheng Li.
Though he had blocked Sheng Li, he hadn’t blocked Yuan Yuan.
Yuan Yuan was notorious for flooding her feed with posts—at least three updates a day.
Months later, Sheng Li began to feel the full weight of what could only be described as an overwhelming bombardment.
On the day of Rose’s official launch ceremony, the production company’s official Weibo account posted several photos. Among them was Yu Chi standing beside Wei Cheng and Director He Yuanren. His tall, slim figure stood out in the simplest down jacket. He was the youngest in the group photo but also the most eye-catching.
Sheng Li didn’t even need to click on the thumbnail—she spotted him instantly.
Soon after, Guangxian Entertainment’s official Weibo account made the announcement:
Guangxian Entertainment Official Account: @Yu Chi is our newly signed artist. After keeping him under wraps for so long, we’re finally thrilled to announce it to everyone. He will play the role of Chen Yunuo in Rose . Additionally, he portrayed Yang Lingfeng in The Scroll of Rivers and Mountains . Wishing Yu Chi a bright future ahead and smooth sailing on his journey!
The post came with a generous selection of promotional materials: stills from his roles, studio portraits, behind-the-scenes shots—all neatly arranged in a nine-grid collage.
“Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap! How did you guys keep this gem hidden for so long? Is it because he’s the hottest guy in your company?”
“So that was Yang Lingfeng?! His character photos are killing me—I can’t move!”
“AHHHHH divine beauty! Not only is he the hottest at Guangxian, he’s top-tier across all of domestic entertainment! Even his hair gives me chills! I’ve already rushed to follow him—I’m going to be his first sister fan!”
“Count me in—I want to be his first wife fan!”
“Me too, me too, me too! I want to be his first girlfriend fan!!”
“All of you scram—I’m claiming mother fan status. Chi baby, Mom loves you!”
…
“OMG, isn’t that our school’s campus heartthrob?! I once sneaked into his classroom just to catch a glimpse of him, and I personally witnessed him coldly rejecting a girl who asked for his WeChat. So cruel, yet so insanely handsome! I chickened out after seeing that.”
“Which school are you from?”
“Peking University.”
“What?! And he’s also a top student?? Ughhh…”
Sheng Li was scrolling through Weibo while en route to her next appearance. Her emotions were tangled. Yu Chi had amassed fans of every kind—sister fans, girlfriend fans, wife fans, even mother fans. He’d rejected many girls at school? Did that mean he’d turned down every single one ?
—And this was only the beginning.
Wave after wave of press releases about Yu Chi followed.
[What’s Yu Chi’s background? Why does he get such amazing opportunities right off the bat? Does he own the entertainment industry or something?]
—It wasn’t long before Yu Chi’s backstory was dug up. His father didn’t run the entertainment world; instead, he grew up with a stepfather and a stepmother who barely cared for him. Yu Chi was simply a poor kid who had fought his way here!
[Lux Xingyu competed against Yu Chi for the role of Chen Yunuo in Rose . Did Lux lose to a non-professional newcomer?]
—Lux Xingyu’s acting skills were already considered decent among idol actors. Could Yu Chi, as a non-professional, really have won based purely on talent? Or was there some dirty deal behind the scenes? True, Yu Chi scored over 700 points on his college entrance exam—but being smart doesn’t necessarily mean being a good actor.
[Yu Chi worked as an extra at Songshan Film City when he was younger! He appeared alongside veteran actor Wei Cheng in Flower Assassin , directed by He Yuanren.]
—So that’s where their connection comes from! No wonder Director He chose him for the movie. At twelve years old, Yu Chi’s acting already surpassed many current idols. Those mocking Lux Xingyu’s fans better apologize now!
[Let’s dig into all the extras Yu Chi has played in the past!]
—Everyone, let’s uncover all the roles Chi Baby played as an extra! There’s strength in numbers!
…
Yu Chi’s name exploded onto the entertainment scene like a meteor, bringing unprecedented levels of buzz and discussion.
Later that summer, The Scroll of Rivers and Mountains premiered. Its ratings soared, propelling Sheng Li’s career to new heights. Meanwhile, Yu Chi’s portrayal of Yang Lingfeng garnered him a massive fanbase.
And naturally, Cloud Orchid (Yun Lansheng) x Yang Lingfeng became one of the most popular fictional couples online.
Sheng Li stumbled upon thousands of posts in the “Wind Rises CP” super-topic, where fans fervently shipped the two characters together. She felt a mix of bitterness and frustration bubbling inside.
During the Lunar New Year season, Rose hit theaters.
The film received rave reviews and eventually grossed 3 billion yuan at the box office.
Yu Chi achieved his dream—he became a household name. He was constantly trending, landed countless endorsement deals, and had fans everywhere. People couldn’t stop talking about him.
He had become a curse-like presence, trapping Sheng Li within an inescapable web. Everywhere she went, reminders of Yu Chi followed her. There was no escape. At one point, Sheng Li caught Yuan Yuan drooling over Yu Chi’s latest magazine cover. Crossing her arms, Sheng Li murmured, “Yuan Yuan, does Yu Chi look good?”
Without taking her eyes off the screen, Yuan Yuan instinctively replied, “Oh my gosh, yes! So handsome! I—”
The next second, she froze.
Sheng Li smiled faintly. “What kind of fan are you?”
Yuan Yuan stiffly answered, “I’m just casually looking… appreciating… not any kind of fan! I only stan you!”
Sheng Li’s smile faded slightly, replaced by a sense of loss. It was hard to describe her feelings—she was happy for Yu Chi’s success, but at the same time, she wasn’t.
This complicated swirl of emotions reached its peak two years after their breakup, during their first face-to-face encounter since then.
That evening, Sheng Li had dinner plans with Zhou Sinuan at Yaozhuang Restaurant.
It was late summer, early autumn. The sky darkened as dusk settled over the city, neon lights flickering everywhere. Coincidence arrived hand-in-hand with the night. As Sheng Li opened her car door, a cool breeze greeted her, making her shiver slightly.
Ka—
The door of the car parked beside hers opened, and someone stepped out.
Out of the corner of her eye, Sheng Li noticed a pair of limited-edition sneakers—a brand she owned herself, though the ones on this person were men’s sizes. She remembered seeing these shoes in a magazine spread featuring none other than this man. His legs were long, straight, and unmistakable. Her heartbeat skipped a beat, and she turned her head, locking eyes with him.
Yu Chi slammed the car door shut, hands stuffed casually into his pockets. With a faint smirk, he said, “Sister, it’s been a while.”
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