Money is seriously such a great thing!
Chu Xingxing had sent over those three characters—the surname was definitely correct, but the given name was just a rough transliteration. She had no idea if those were even the right characters.
After a moment’s thought, she added another message.
【Xingxing Estrella: I heard his family runs a logistics business. He’s the second son of the Diao family. I want to know where he’s currently living.]
【Sheng Luzhi: Just this one thing?】
【Xingxing Estrella: Ah, yes, just this. You owe me a favor, and I’m asking you to help me with one thing. Doesn’t that make us even?】
Even though her reply was perfectly proper, Chu Xingxing could still tell from Sheng Luzhi’s message…
…that in his eyes, her request seemed almost absurdly trivial.
Ah!!!
A wave of regret washed over Chu Xingxing, but the words were already out. There was no taking them back.
She should have treated Sheng Luzhi like a magical lamp genie! A genie only grants one wish, so her wish should have been for three more wishes!!!
Chu Xingxing only let herself stew in regret for about three seconds before convincing herself that it was simply too greedy to think that way.
After all, there was a line from the original book she always remembered: “Sheng Luzhi never does a deal at a loss.”
“Losing out is a blessing, losing out is a blessing. Having Sheng Luzhi help me find someone is already a win,” Chu Xingxing muttered to herself, trying to feel better.
Besides, Sheng Luzhi seemed like the type who let his actions speak louder than words. She had briefly considered asking Jiang Changsheng for help, but the very thought of that hot-tempered young master’s inevitable barrage of questions made her quickly abandon the idea.
She thought her conversation with Sheng Luzhi was over, and that she just had to wait for him to send Diao Wenduo’s information.
Chu Xingxing tossed her phone aside.
But then, a vibration and the sudden ringtone of an incoming call cut through the air.
Her phone screen displayed an unfamiliar number. Chu Xingxing’s hand twitched, and she answered it impulsively.
Normally, she never picked up calls from numbers she didn’t recognize.
Frowning with annoyance, she stayed silent.
Then, a male voice, so pleasant it made her ears tingle, came through the earpiece: “It’s me, Sheng Luzhi.”
“President Sheng, hello…” Chu Xingxing blurted out.
There was a brief pause on the other end, followed by what sounded like a soft chuckle: “Wen Han and I are of the same generation. You can just call me by my name, no need for formalities.”
Chu Xingxing swallowed hard and managed to say, “Sheng Luzhi, hello…”
Calling a big shot like him “President Sheng” felt absolutely right to her, because even Wen Han called him that when she saw them off at the airport!
Sheng Luzhi’s tone was calm: “Exchanging messages isn’t very efficient for communication. Sorry for the intrusion, but I thought a direct call would be better.”
“It’s fine, I prefer speaking plainly anyway. No beating around the bush.” Chu Xingxing forced herself not to think about Sheng Luzhi’s plotline in the book, which finally allowed her to talk to him somewhat normally.
“Good,” Sheng Luzhi paused, then spoke in a composed tone: “I’ll be upfront about Diao Wenduo. He’s not what you young girls would consider a ‘good guy.’ Sorry, I usually don’t pry into these matters, but my grandmother is very fond of you. I wouldn’t want someone she likes to be fooled by a man like Diao Wenduo.”
“…” Chu Xingxing opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
It seemed the big shot had… misunderstood her?
She had never said anything about wanting to get with Diao Wenduo.
And besides, Diao Wenduo was at least twenty years older than her—old enough to be her father!
To protect the victim, Chu Xingxing couldn’t reveal her true purpose for finding him.
“Ahem…” Chu Xingxing cleared her throat, quickly improvising an excuse: “You see, a junior of mine studying business wants me to help make a connection, to see if she can interview the head of Diao Logistics for a feature on logistics companies.”
“I see,” Sheng Luzhi’s tone remained steady and calm. “I’ll send you the WeChat contact of Shao Qian, the CEO of Shengshi Group’s logistics division. Shao Qian’s credentials and industry reputation far surpass the head of the Diao family. We can have the group arrange a special interview for you.”
Chu Xingxing slapped her forehead, feeling a bit defeated: “Just to be clear, I really don’t have any interest in Diao Wenduo! Please tell Grandma Sheng not to worry! It’s actually a friend of mine who wants to get to know the second young master of the Diao family…”
Sheng Luzhi let out a faint, amused chuckle over the phone, but didn’t ask any further questions.
He simply said “OK” and hung up.
Chu Xingxing clutched her wildly beating heart: Help! Talking to a big shot really drains your brain cells!
It wasn’t that she was afraid of Sheng Luzhi, exactly. It was just that he was clearly not someone easy to fool.
Moreover, Sheng Luzhi was now the largest shareholder of CBM Entertainment, which indirectly meant he was… her boss.
Still squatting on the floor to continue packing, Chu Xingxing ran a hand through her hair and sighed softly: “Ah, these wretched capitalists!”
—
Fifteen minutes later.
Chu Xingxing received a detailed address via WeChat.
Along with it came a profile on Diao Wenduo, including his resume and some personal habits.
“Now this is what I call a big shot! Reliable and efficient!” Chu Xingxing blinked, feeling that this “favor” was definitely worth it.
Just then, Sheng Luzhi sent another WeChat message.
【Sheng Luzhi: Are you satisfied with your current management team?】
Chu Xingxing didn’t hesitate and replied honestly:
【Xingxing Estrella: Agent Jiang is quite responsible. I have no complaints.]
To be fair, Jiang Changsheng was doing a good job.
She, a total “nobody,” had just cleared her name of those baseless scandals. It wasn’t easy to manage someone like her.
Under Jiang Changsheng’s arrangements, during the two weeks of recording the next season of Grandma’s Journey, Chu Xingxing had to join the cast for Shining Flowers, shoot a new ad for Vila’s sportswear line, and had even secured an audition for a small supporting role in a patriotic tribute film.
At the same time, Jiang Changsheng was currently in talks for over twenty scripts to find her more audition opportunities, and was also handling the Saci brand endorsement deal…
To have arranged so much work and so many business opportunities in such a short time, Chu Xingxing honestly couldn’t find fault with Jiang Changsheng’s performance since taking over her contract.
In fact, he was more responsible and reliable than most “seasoned” agents. He had that youthful drive and a pure, sincere heart that was rare in someone his age.
Curious, Chu Xingxing couldn’t help but ask:
【Xingxing Estrella: Why do you ask?】
Sheng Luzhi could still hear Old Madam Sheng’s nagging echoing in his ears—
“Oh my, our Xingbao is so outstanding, why isn’t she famous yet? If you ask me, it’s because her management team isn’t professional enough! Ah Zhi, can’t you find someone to get her a better team?”
Sheng Luzhi shook his head helplessly and typed his reply.
【Sheng Luzhi: Just getting a sense of how satisfied an artist is with their agent. Get some rest; you’ve had a long trip.]
After all, he couldn’t exactly sell out his own grandmother, could he?
If Chu Xingxing’s team lacked professional staff, Sheng Luzhi could send his own people to CBM Entertainment to assist.
Since Chu Xingxing herself was satisfied with her agent, Sheng Luzhi had no reason to force a replacement.
In his view, CBM Entertainment needed a complete overhaul from top to bottom—from senior management down to the middle ranks.
The only person at the entire company who had made him reconsider was Jiang Changsheng, the second young master of the Jiang family.
Sheng Luzhi didn’t see the usual flaws of a “rich second generation” in Jiang Changsheng. He was meticulous and responsible with his work, and ambitious for the company’s growth. What was most commendable was that Jiang Changsheng was only nineteen. With proper training, he could be a promising talent.
However, Sheng Luzhi wasn’t sure if Jiang Changsheng, despite his rapid growth, was capable of taking over and reforming CBM Entertainment. That remained to be seen.
Furthermore, even if Jiang Changsheng had the ability, whether he would accept a complete overhaul of CBM Entertainment was also debatable.
If Sheng Luzhi saw no further possibility for improvement in CBM Entertainment’s management, he already had a Plan B ready to go at any moment.
—
The next day.
Chu Xingxing woke up feeling well-rested.
Last night, following Grandma Sheng’s “instructions,” she’d soaked in a bath with mugwort packets. Her whole body felt relaxed, and she’d slept wonderfully.
At 9:30 AM, the heart-shaped frozen dumplings lovingly made by Grandma Ai Minli’s husband arrived.
Chu Xingxing cooked a bowl for brunch, took a photo, and sent it to the 【Rich Grandma Travel Club】 group chat.
Last night, she had also posted a picture of the Da Dong roast duck that Ms. Wen Xuelan had ordered.
Grandma Xiao Jiang felt like she hadn’t gotten a chance to spoil her favorite kid and was a bit unhappy.
The main reason was that Jiang Yao’s nephew, Jiang Luoze, was flying back to Beijing tonight. As the founder and lead designer of Saci, Jiang Luoze had many events to prepare for and attend, so arranging a separate dinner with Xingxing might have to wait several days.
Jiang Yao was thinking of ways to get Ah Ze and Xingxing to have a meal together sooner.
She had her little schemes. Although she never married, she had been quite the “love genius” in her youth.
She’d noticed that her old friend Wen Xuelan’s son, Wen Han, seemed to have a soft spot for Xingxing, but the girl herself didn’t seem to have realized it yet.
Among the four families, the eligible bachelors were Jiang Luoze, Wen Han, Sheng Luzhi, and Ai Puxin.
All four of them, for various reasons, had never dated or had a girlfriend.
Grandma Xiao Jiang felt a sense of urgency.
There were already more men than women in the world, and even outstanding boys had a high chance of ending up alone. If a treasure like Xingxing ever realized she wanted to date, not only would guys be fighting over her, but girls would also be strong competition!
So, the best strategy was to strike first! Getting Xingxing and her Ah Ze to develop a relationship might be too soon, but having them become good friends first and securing a “backup” spot was the key…
Hehehe, if it actually worked out, the other three families would be so jealous!
Scrolling through her WeChat moments, Jiang Yao paused on a work plan posted by Jiang Changsheng.
She suddenly remembered something.
Ah Ze had sent her an invitation to Saci’s first ever event in China and had asked if she wanted to go.
At that time, Jiang Yao was in a bad mood and wasn’t interested in any social events, so she’d said she didn’t want to go. Ah Ze hadn’t pushed her.
But in Jiang Changsheng’s post about Chu Xingxing’s schedule for the next two weeks, Saci’s inaugural event was clearly listed.
Ah ha! Well, then she would definitely have to go!
She couldn’t let Ah Ze be as slow and hesitant as Wen Han. She had to seize the advantage!
—
After her delicious dumpling brunch, Chu Xingxing read her script for a while, then went to Go Fit Center for a two-hour workout, followed by a sauna, and finally had lunch at a healthy restaurant.
After a twenty-minute afternoon nap at home, she woke up feeling refreshed.
Just then, the pleasant notification sound from her mobile banking app chimed.
“The payment’s in! Young Master Jiang kept his word—he said today and it’s today~” Chu Xingxing happily opened the app and carefully counted the digits one by one.
Wow! A full three hundred thousand yuan!!!
And this was just the down payment. After all four trips were filmed, she would receive the remaining five hundred thousand, all after-tax income.
The poor girl, Xingxing, let out a sound of pure amazement: “That’s so much money!”
Wuwuwu, she finally had money to treat the grandmas to a meal! When Sister Xiaonuan returned from abroad, she could generously treat her to hotpot, she could return the favor and buy Cookie afternoon tea, she could buy lots of health and wellness products, and she could even buy cans of food for her favorite doggies…
Chu Xingxing’s eyes welled up with grateful tears: Money really is a great thing!
She had to work even harder before her contract expired!
She changed into a form-fitting tank top, threw on an oversized plaid shirt, paired it with wide-leg denim jeans, and slipped on comfortable cookie sneakers. Grabbing a baseball cap that came in the “Idol 101” restaurant souvenir pack from Pearl Island, she was ready to head out.
A WeChat message popped up: the driver was already waiting downstairs.
Chu Xingxing slung her Kuromi eco-bag over her shoulder, stuffed all her essentials inside, grabbed the script for Shining Flowers, and hurried off to the afternoon’s script read-through.
Because script read-throughs are incredibly time-consuming—requiring all the actors, screenwriters, producers, editors, and many others to gather specifically for that purpose—many “efficiency-obsessed” productions have stopped doing them altogether.
But director Wang Yang had always maintained the fine tradition of script read-throughs for his TV dramas.
Even for minor supporting roles, Director Wang required the actors to attend.
The purpose was to help the actors fully understand their characters and emotions, allowing them to get into character more quickly, and to help actors who hadn’t worked together before overcome any awkwardness and build better on-screen chemistry.
It’s a demanding and often thankless task, but it elevates the overall quality of the drama by more than just one notch.
This was Chu Xingxing’s first time attending a script read-through, and she was a little excited.
—
At a conference room in the Sheraton Resort on the western outskirts of Beijing.
Although Chu Xingxing had arrived early, she knew she wasn’t the lead. She chose a seat in the corner.
Being late is practically the norm in the entertainment industry. Younger actors with bigger names tend to be the latest. Veteran actors, on the other hand, usually arrive early or right on time.
When several veteran actors entered and saw the young girl quietly reading the script and taking notes in the corner, they all gave her looks of approval.
They reflected that there were still some young people in the industry who respected punctuality and took their craft seriously.
At this read-through, Chu Xingxing didn’t see Cookie. She had saved the seat next to her for her friend.
Thankfully, she didn’t see Tian Mengtong either.
Although, just last night, Chu Xingxing had noticed that Tian Mengtong’s studio had probably bought some marketing accounts. Several of them were taking turns singing her praises and hyping up her acting skills.
These accounts also mentioned that Tian Mengtong was highly regarded by industry directors and would be starring in a highly anticipated campus drama or film that was about to start production.
Marketing accounts, of course, love to be deliberately vague. They didn’t name any specific production, leaving it to the fans’ imagination.
Tian Mengtong’s fans were ecstatic, flooding the comment sections with enthusiasm—
【A campus ensemble drama! So it’s Shining Flowers, right?】
【Could also be an IP adaptation by screenwriter Feng Yunlan, a movie called Ineffective Youth that tackles school bullying with fantasy elements. Tongtong’s image is perfect for the female lead Shi Ying’s high school days—all pure and innocent!】
【I heard Tian Mengtong is in the running for the Anti-School-Bullying Ambassador. Our Tongtong is moving up in the world! Momma supports her baby girl!】
【Tongtong has always been an excellent student. When the official candidate list is out, I’ll definitely go vote for her! Let’s go, sisters!!!】
【Ineffective Youth? Ah! That’s my favorite JJ author’s novel! Going to support it with a tip right now! Can’t wait for Tongtong’s new work, our baby works so hard~】
—
Meanwhile, at the CBM Entertainment building in Beijing.
Jiang Changsheng and Xiao Xiang were in the same conference room.
The regular meeting was almost over, but…
The atmosphere in the room was clearly tense and heavy. None of the CBM employees dared to make a sound.
Jiang Changsheng put down his tablet, folded his hands together, and looked sharply at Xiao Xiang: “Uncle Xiang, having Tian Mengtong run for the Anti-School-Bullying Goodwill Ambassador this year isn’t really appropriate, is it? Setting aside her character for a moment, the fact that she let her fans cyberbully her friend is enough. If she got elected, netizens would roast her endlessly, and CBM Entertainment’s reputation would take a hit too.”
“It’s just a small public welfare project, Changsheng. No need to be so worked up,” Xiao Xiang said with a relaxed smile, meeting Jiang Changsheng’s gaze. “Besides, this is just fan behavior. Tian Mengtong can be distanced from it. And, your brother is aware of her candidacy for the ambassador role—in fact, it was Chang’an who recommended her.”
“My brother is blind…” Jiang Changsheng barely managed to swallow the word “blind,” feeling a sense of displeasure toward his older brother for the first time in his life.
He could tell his brother had feelings for Tian Mengtong. Maybe she would even become his sister-in-law someday.
His brother’s personal life wasn’t his business, and it wasn’t unreasonable for him to want to secure some opportunities for someone he liked. But the prerequisite was whether those opportunities were truly suitable.
From Tian Mengtong’s performance on the variety show, it was clear she was a privileged young lady living in a bubble. Her education had been in private schools, and she chose to stay in the country for university simply because she didn’t want to study abroad. She was completely out of touch with reality.
In previous years, CBM Entertainment would nominate only one promising young artist with good character and a positive influence on youth for the Anti-School-Bullying Ambassador role.
Jiang Changsheng had wanted to recommend Chu Xingxing.
She had a healthy, sunny screen presence, had won over a huge audience on Grandma’s Journey, and from various small details, it was obvious that Chu Xingxing was a girl with a solid moral compass.
And now, being forced to back down without even getting to make his proposal? Jiang Changsheng couldn’t swallow that.
“Changsheng, do you have someone else in mind to nominate?”
Xiao Xiang raised his chin, his tone cold. “Is it that Chu Xingxing you’re managing? I’ve looked at her background. Her origins aren’t great, and her fan base isn’t solid. If she got put up for a vote, she probably wouldn’t get many votes. Wouldn’t it be even more embarrassing for CBM if she lost?”
Jiang Changsheng’s tone was brusque, tinged with sarcasm: “My brother is an artist here, he’s not involved in management. Why are you listening to him? Why not just let him take my seat then? You, as his godfather, and your godson can just turn CBM Entertainment into a one-man show. Wouldn’t that be even better?”
Xiao Xiang’s expression darkened: “Changsheng, don’t say things you shouldn’t.”
Gripping the pen in his hand, Jiang Changsheng laughed: “Since agents have the right to nominate, then my nomination is Chu Xingxing. The Anti-School-Bullying Goodwill Ambassador should be someone with strong moral character—an artist who is righteous, has a healthy and sunny image, and is willing to protect others. I see all of these qualities in Chu Xingxing. Be honest with me, Uncle Xiang—do you see even one of them in Tian Mengtong?”
Xiao Xiang looked at the impassioned young man before him, and for a moment, it was as if he didn’t recognize him.
Previously, Xiao Xiang’s attention had always been on Jiang Chang’an. He’d never paid much mind to the younger brother.
That kid who always wore headphones and looked like a slacker seemed to have grown into a real man overnight.
“Uncle Xiang, don’t give me that talk about background. Maybe you should consider your own for a moment. As far as I’m concerned, a person’s background is the least important factor.”
Jiang Changsheng stood up, striking directly at Xiao Xiang’s sore spot regarding his own origins. There was no trace left of the “blond-haired, spendthrift second-generation rich kid” in him.
Xiao Xiang let out a cold laugh, deciding to teach this “troublemaker” a lesson: “Fine then. CBM Entertainment doesn’t mind nominating one more person. Let Tian Mengtong and Chu Xingxing both go to the vote, and we’ll let the market decide.” Xiao Xiang still had an ace up his sleeve.
He’d already gotten wind of a great film script—an IP adaptation called Ineffective Youth by the acclaimed screenwriter Feng Yunlan, produced by ZIN Entertainment. The movie’s theme was anti-school-bullying.
Xiao Xiang had already sent Tian Mengtong’s materials to the casting director, who quickly replied, saying he’d been following Let’s Travel Together. He felt Tian Mengtong’s pitiful look when she got splashed with water fit the bullied high-school version of the female lead, Shi Ying, perfectly. He was looking forward to her audition.
If Tian Mengtong secured this role, the Anti-School-Bullying Goodwill Ambassador title would be hers for the taking.
Even if she didn’t get it, they could still use the buzz to get fans to vote like crazy. By the time they announced the final cast, the voting would be long over, and Tian Mengtong would already have the lead.
“OK, letting the market decide is fine by me.”
Jiang Changsheng didn’t think Chu Xingxing would lose. He grabbed his tablet and materials, stood up, and left the conference room, his voice cold as he said, “Meeting adjourned.”
—
Back in his office.
Jiang Changsheng found Xiao Xiang’s words oddly familiar. After a long moment, he realized he’d heard that same “background theory” nonsense from his own brother before.
He’d never thought his brother was prejudiced when it came to people.
But every time the two brothers talked and Chu Xingxing came up, his brother would always speak of her with heavy bias, constantly putting down her background, sounding more and more like Xiao Xiang.
A wave of inexplicable irritation washed over Jiang Changsheng. With a sudden jerk of his hand, he snapped his luxury pen in two.
Looking at the broken pen, he frowned.
This was a gift from his brother before he went abroad at fifteen. He’d used it ever since joining CBM Entertainment.
He’d always thought this pen was as durable and strong as its brand suggested. Who knew it would break so easily?
It reminded him of an old saying: “All that glitters is not gold.”
“If it’s broken, there’s no point keeping it.” He tossed the broken pen into the wastepaper basket under his desk.
—
At a high-end riverside residence in Beijing.
Tian Mengtong received an audition notice for the anti-school-bullying film Ineffective Youth from Xiao Xiang’s assistant.
At the same time, her executive agent sent a “confetti” WeChat, congratulating her on being nominated for the Anti-School-Bullying Goodwill Ambassador.
Tian Mengtong furrowed her pretty brow, a hint of anxiety showing on her sweet face.
For the past two years, she had refused her agent Chen Dong’s suggestions to run for the Anti-School-Bullying Goodwill Ambassador position…
Just reading parts of the Ineffective Youth script had made her feel deeply suffocated.
The script depicted the female lead Shi Ying’s high school years, during which she suffered countless instances of bullying. The graphic details made Tian Mengtong physically uncomfortable.
Even though this role was just the younger version of the female lead, and even though the creative team and the writer were among the best in the industry—a resource countless young actresses dreamed of—for the first time, Tian Mengtong had a thought: she wasn’t sure she wanted to play Shi Ying, the bullied girl of Ineffective Youth.
The coldness and malice that seemed so familiar to her… now filled her with fear.
—
At the Sheraton Resort on the western outskirts of Beijing.
The host for the script read-through was Ms. Feng Yunlan, the head screenwriter for Shining Flowers.
Feng Yunlan was a well-known screenwriter and a best-selling novelist in her own right. She was known for her works featuring strong female protagonists, with a distinctive personal style. Netizens jokingly called her “the screenwriter who understands women best,” as she excelled at exploring the various challenges and realities women face in society.
Whether it was a youthful campus ensemble piece or a modern urban women’s drama, Feng Yunlan had both critically acclaimed and commercially successful works to her name. She was the frequent collaborator of choice for Director Wang Yang.
Chu Xingxing brought her voice recorder and recorded the entire read-through so she could listen back and study it later.
Ms. Feng Yunlan was a chubby, adorable middle-aged woman with round glasses and vibrant red hair.
Feng Yunlan was truly captivating. During the read-through, she offered Chu Xingxing many new interpretations and sources of inspiration for her character.
Through this session, the fighting girl character Chu Xingxing was set to play became a fully realized, three-dimensional figure in her mind—like a lively, vibrant person she knew in real life.
—
During a break in the script read-through.
The production team for Shining Flowers had prepared afternoon tea, including coffee, milk tea, and pastries.
Chu Xingxing was still wondering if Cookie had officially gotten the street dancer role. She climbed a flight of stairs to the restroom on the top floor of the resort, intending to call Jiang Changsheng to ask.
As she pushed the door open, she saw Screenwriter Feng Yunlan leaning uncomfortably against the sink.
“Screenwriter Feng, are you feeling unwell?” Chu Xingxing asked, stepping forward.
“Oh, no, it’s nothing…” Feng Yunlan replied, holding her stomach with one hand while cupping water in the other to rinse her mouth.
She was too embarrassed to show any sign of weakness in front of a younger actor.
Today, Feng Yunlan had eaten two lunches—she was stuffed!
Her assistant had misremembered the lunch meetings with producers, and had booked two different production lunches at the same restaurant on the same day.
So, Feng Yunlan couldn’t turn either down. She had to try her best to stagger the two meals and ate two full lunches…
Now she felt nauseous. She was so full it was making her sick—definitely indigestion.
This resort was in the middle of nowhere, so sending her assistant out to buy digestive tablets was difficult. Feng Yunlan had planned to tough it out until the end of the read-through, but by now she was feeling really awful.
“Are you… suffering from indigestion?”
Seeing the bluish tint on either side of Feng Yunlan’s nose, her sallow complexion, and how she was clutching her protruding stomach, Chu Xingxing suspected she’d eaten too much and was experiencing indigestion.
“Oh my god…” Feng Yunlan covered her face with one hand. “This is so embarrassing. Are you a medical student, young lady?”
“Pfft, no, I’m not. It’s something a grandma taught me. She really knows her stuff when it comes to health and wellness.”
Chu Xingxing was happy to share the wellness tips she’d learned from Grandma Sheng. Taking Feng Yunlan’s hand, she pulled out a ballpoint pen from her bag.
She didn’t click it open, but just used the tip of the pen to press on a few points on Feng Yunlan’s hand.
Showing her which acupoints to press, Chu Xingxing said patiently, “Screenwriter Feng, try massaging these points—about a minute each. They work wonders for relieving indigestion. I’ve tried it myself and it works.”
“Really? That amazing?” Feng Yunlan asked, half-convinced.
Chu Xingxing quoted a bullet comment from their live stream: “Well, a lot of friends online say it works better than digestive tablets.”
“Alright, I’ll… give it a try?” Feng Yunlan followed the points Chu Xingxing had indicated on her hand, pressing each one for about a minute.
“After you’ve massaged all the points, rest for five minutes, then do it again. Now, let me teach you a digestive exercise. It can also help get rid of bloating and regulate your gut.”
Chu Xingxing led Feng Yunlan through the digestive exercises Grandma Ai Minli had taught her.
And, surprisingly, it actually worked!
By the second round, Feng Yunlan clapped her hand over her mouth, exclaiming, “I think I feel something!”, and dashed into one of the stalls, her face flushed…
Chu Xingxing tactfully slipped out of the restroom.
Another day of promoting wellness and helping others—yeah!
—
In the empty hallway, Chu Xingxing dialed Jiang Changsheng’s number.
“How’s the read-through going?” Jiang Changsheng’s voice came through with some background noise, which quickly died down.
Chu Xingxing asked tentatively, “It’s going well. But I didn’t see Cookie there. She hasn’t replied to my WeChat either. Is she busy with JAM rehearsals?”
“I just met with Cookie’s agent. Her script read-through is tomorrow,” Jiang Changsheng said slowly.
“So, Cookie did get the street dancer role!” Chu Xingxing felt a surge of joy. A friend getting a role they wanted was more exciting than getting one herself. “Agent Jiang, you’re the absolute best!”
Jiang Changsheng’s voice carried a hint of a smile: “Tch, Chu Xingxing, you little opportunist. You only know how to flatter me when you’ve gotten what you want, huh?”
Chu Xingxing replied seriously: “Young Master Jiang, you’re the heir of CBM Entertainment! We sell our souls to the capitalists willingly!”
She definitely had gotten what she wanted, and was being cheeky about it. But her words were firm.
“Alright, since you and Cookie are such good friends, here’s another piece of good news. Go check Weibo for yourself.”
Jiang Changsheng wanted to chat more with Chu Xingxing, but he still had a mountain of work to do: “Message me if anything comes up. Focus on your read-through. I’ll call you back when I’m done. Gotta go.”
“Stealing” the street dancer role away from Tian Mengtong’s team hadn’t been easy. To shut down Uncle Xiang’s team’s inevitable complaints, Jiang Changsheng had prepared thoroughly.
It wasn’t really anything special.
He was just using their own tactics against them. Wasn’t Xiao Xiang’s previous team all about that kind of mudslinging and comparison game?
Back then, they’d cruelly used an innocent girl like Chu Xingxing as Tian Mengtong’s “contrast group,” trying to destroy her.
Now, Jiang Changsheng wanted them to taste what it felt like when their own artist was the one being compared and dragged down.
“Agent Jiang, take your time. Bye!” Chu Xingxing hung up and opened Weibo.
The first part of the script read-through had lasted nearly three hours. Chu Xingxing wasn’t in the habit of aimlessly scrolling through Weibo, especially when she was fully immersed in a script and character. She had no idea what the trending topics were.
Opening Weibo, she saw several hashtags related to Tian Mengtong and Cookie trending.
#TianMengtongReaderVideo#
#CookieSuperStrongImpromptuRap#
#JAMDancerCookieCrushesTianMengtong#
#CookieGorgeousStreetDancer#
#ShiningFlowersInternalAuditionVideoLeaked#
#ShiningFlowersStreetDancerCasting#
Her gossip-loving soul awakened, and she quickly pieced together the whole story.
Wow. Just last night, various marketing accounts had been hyping up Tian Mengtong’s acting skills and versatility, heavily hinting that she would be playing the street dancer in Shining Flowers.
Then, at noon today, a short, edited video of the Shining Flowers auditions appeared on several marketing accounts’ Weibo pages.
The first part of the video showed Cookie performing an incredibly beautiful and powerful street dance, seamlessly transitioning into a super strong impromptu rap—it was absolutely awesome and explosive!
The second part showed Tian Mengtong’s softer, more graceful dance… followed by a “cringeworthy” and rather hilarious “reader” disaster.
Netizens quickly made various meme-worthy, demonic edits of Tian Mengtong’s funny “reader” video, creating a flood of crazy emoji packs.
Many netizens even flocked to the official Shining Flowers Weibo account, leaving comments like—
【Is the production team blind, or is TMT a nepo-baby? How can they not pick Cookie after this?】
【If they let a reader like TMT play a rapper, I’m dropping this show! Chengfei Pictures, you’re dead to me!!!】
【I’ve always trusted Director Wang’s casting. Didn’t he say in an interview that he only looks at audition results, not status? If they still don’t pick Cookie after such a clear comparison, I’ll think Director Wang is a total fraud.]
【Help! TMT has no rhythm and no flow—how can she play a rapper??? She has zero attitude!】
【The street dancer who can rap is basically a role tailor-made for Cookie! Why is TMT even butting in? Can’t she just stick to her sweet campus dramas and brainless ancient costume fluff?】
The public outcry had been brewing for hours.
After enjoying the entertaining comments, Chu Xingxing noticed that the official Shining Flowers Weibo account had just posted a new update—
The production team announced that from the very beginning, the street dancer role had been cast for CBM Entertainment’s Cookie, even posting the contract and stamped date as proof.
As soon as the official account made the statement, netizens overwhelmingly switched sides. Many started digging up those marketing accounts that had been praising Tian Mengtong’s skills and ruthlessly mocking them.
【Ugh, I’m so sick of these marketing stunts!】
【TMT’s studio is trying to force their way in, huh? Bullying Cookie just because they have more status?】
【Smells like internal power struggles at CBM Entertainment!】
【Feels like CBM is changing. Tian Mengtong used to be the princess there, getting all the good resources. Now it seems like everyone gets a shot…】
【If that’s really the case, it actually makes me think better of CBM. Before, it seemed like their artists weren’t united, there was a lot of in-fighting and “toxic bestie” drama… which turned out to be a lie anyway!】
【I really don’t want to see TMT’s studio acting all fake and shady anymore. Especially after Let’s Travel Together made their biggest artists look so bad!】
【Ah, mentioning Let’s Travel Together makes me think of Grandma’s Journey! When is my Xingbao and her old babies going on their second trip? I’m starving for content!】
—
Chu Xingxing slipped her phone into her pocket and walked back downstairs with a light step.
She ran into Director Wang on the way.
“Hello, Director Wang,” Chu Xingxing said with a smile.
Wang Yang was holding a disposable coffee cup. “Xiao Chu, where’s your mixed-race friend? Oh, I think her read-through is tomorrow.”
“Yes, I initially thought she’d be here today too, but it turns out it’s tomorrow,” Chu Xingxing agreed.
Director Wang took a sip of his coffee and laughed, dropping a bombshell: “So you and Cookie really are good friends! No wonder you’re the ‘Star Cookie’ couple.”
Chu Xingxing: ???
Wang Yang: “Haha, you didn’t even know your own CP name?”
Amused by Chu Xingxing’s bewildered expression, Wang Yang casually grabbed a coffee for her: “That’s hilarious. My girlfriend is obsessed with you and Cookie. She ships you guys hard. She says beautiful girls should stick together, and threatened to break up with me if I didn’t get you two to act together!”
Chu Xingxing: Cat-shocked.jpg
So, the key factor in Cookie ultimately winning the street dancer role was… Director Wang’s girlfriend shipping their friendship???
Feng Yunlan walked over, looking much more relaxed: “Director Wang, go easy on the coffee. That stomach of yours is a mess. Careful or I’ll tell your Su Su!”
“Have mercy, Screenwriter Feng…”
Director Wang downed the rest of his coffee and gestured, introducing Chu Xingxing to Feng Yunlan: “Didn’t get a chance to introduce you before the read-through. This is Chu Xingxing. She’s got real skills. Doesn’t even need a stunt double. She can really fight.”
“Oh, we’ve already met,” Feng Yunlan said, patting Chu Xingxing’s shoulder with a hearty laugh. “This young lady even knows some Chinese medicine! She cured my indigestion!”
Chu Xingxing waved her hands and stepped back, shaking her head frantically: “Oh, that was just a little trick I learned from the grandmas. It’s just a tiny bit of knowledge. I don’t have a medical license—I definitely can’t be saying I know Chinese medicine!”
“Pfft, so cautious, huh?” Feng Yunlan had only been joking.
She hadn’t gotten a good look at Xingxing’s face earlier when she wasn’t feeling well.
Now, Feng Yunlan habitually took a better look at Chu Xingxing.
And wow.
The young woman’s physical attributes were absolutely top-notch—it was as if the heavens had just gifted her with this body and face.
Especially her features. She had the kind of strikingly bold, exotic beauty rarely seen in the industry. Even with just light makeup, she exuded the aura of a true beauty.
And those long legs, the body proportions…
A bolt of inspiration struck Feng Yunlan. She suddenly thought of another project she was working on that needed actors.
“Chu Xingxing, can you really fight?” Feng Yunlan asked.
“Screenwriter Feng doesn’t believe me?” Director Wang pulled out his phone, found a video, and showed it to Feng Yunlan. “I sent you the audition video. Even a provincial team gold medalist boxer praised her skills.”
“I didn’t look at it carefully at the time…” Feng Yunlan watched the screen as Chu Xingxing threw punches, the image in her mind becoming even clearer.
“Chu Xingxing, how old are you?” Feng Yunlan asked.
Chu Xingxing: “Twenty. I’ll be twenty-one in two months.”
“Is that your natural face?” Feng Yunlan pushed up her glasses and leaned in closer to examine Xingxing’s skin.
“Just sunscreen,” Chu Xingxing replied. She pulled out a tissue and wiped her face casually. The tissue came away clean.
“Impressive. You really are stunning without makeup. A striking kind of beauty, tall, great presence, and the right age…” Feng Yunlan murmured to herself.
“What, you trying to poach my talent, Screenwriter Feng?” Director Wang laughed, crossing his arms. “No way. Listen, if this conflicts with our shooting schedule, you have to guarantee our project comes first.”
Chu Xingxing blinked, not understanding what they were talking about.
“Tsk, Wang Yang, that’s where your vision ends!” Feng Yunlan turned her head and said to Xingxing with a smile: “Xingxing, I’m working on an anti-school-bullying movie adapted from a popular JJ novel called Ineffective Youth.”
“A JJ author? Is that the one…” Chu Xingxing vaguely remembered hearing about that app. She hesitated, then asked: “The one with the notoriously stingy publishing platform?”
“Yeah, the JJ boss is so cheap, but their novels are high quality. The platform management sucks, but the authors are great.”
Then, the twinkling eyes behind Feng Yunlan’s round glasses flashed with a hint of cunning: “The younger versions of the main characters for Ineffective Youth haven’t been cast yet. I’d like you to try out for the second female lead, Ji Niannian. She’s a young girl who’s really good at fighting.”
Chu Xingxing: ???
