SAP International School, Indoor Volleyball Court.
“Ready to begin.”
Director Fang sat on a folding plastic chair, put down his thermos, and nodded to the assistant director.
Chu Xingxing put down the script she had been clutching until it was soft, and slowly walked to the center of the volleyball court.
This scene depicts Shi Ying, who has suffered from depression and bipolar disorder for years, leaving a suicide note for her sister Shi Sui before taking her own life.
By this point, Shi Sui has already returned to the country with her sister’s ashes and belongings, looking completely lost, as if her soul has been drained.
The reason for her sister’s suicide has become an obsession, trapping Shi Sui within it. If she can’t find the answer, Shi Sui feels like she’s going to go crazy.
That night, Shi Sui falls asleep holding her sister’s diary and, for the first time, experiences a time-travel.
The crew had set up a simple scene.
Here, Shi Sui sees her own reflection on the glass—surprised, confused, and even a little frightened.
She never imagined she would travel back to her sister’s high school days, and moreover, into the body of Ji Niannian, the ringleader of the bullying against her sister.
Chu Xingxing is all too familiar with this sudden shock and bewilderment of time-travel.
As she passes a reflective window, Chu Xingxing stops, backs up, and looks at herself in the glass.
She raises her hand to touch her cheek, looks down at her school uniform, and even pinches her left arm hard with her right hand.
In an instant, a large red mark appears on Chu Xingxing’s left arm, and she lets out a soft gasp of pain.
“Ji… Niannian?” Chu Xingxing murmurs to herself.
Here, Shi Sui recognizes the face she has traveled into. Back when she attended a parent-teacher conference for her sister, she had seen this arrogant and proud class beauty, Ji Niannian.
At that time, Ji Niannian had smiled, widening her innocent eyes, and warmly called Shi Sui “Sister.” She said she was Shi Ying’s good friend. For that reason, Shi Sui had specially asked her driver to buy another set of the high-end skincare products she had brought for her sister and gave them to Ji Niannian.
Shi Sui still remembers the smile on Ji Niannian’s face when she received the gift.
Ji Niannian smiled sweetly, her big eyes curving beautifully, and replied politely to Shi Sui: “Thank you, Sister. My mom buys this brand for me too.”
Later, Ji Niannian spat in the skincare products, mixed in sand and glass shards, and swapped them with the jar Shi Ying was using.
Looking at the unfamiliar face in the mirror, Chu Xingxing frowns and shakes her head slightly. The shock and confusion in her eyes are palpable to everyone on set.
The next moment, Chu Xingxing clasps her hands over her temples and kneels directly on the ground.
This part is Chu Xingxing’s improvisation, based entirely on her own experience of traveling from the apocalypse.
Based on common sense, at this moment, Shi Sui should be suffering from a splitting headache as the flood of memories belonging to Ji Niannian suddenly surges into her mind.
Slowly recovering, Chu Xingxing staggers to her feet.
She searches through Ji Niannian’s memories and learns that Ji Niannian came to the indoor volleyball court to teach a lesson to Shi Ying, who dresses plainly, has no parents, and only has an older sister.
The excuse this time is that Shi Ying is using a high-end skincare product of the same brand as Ji Niannian.
Even though she had already “tampered” with Shi Ying’s skincare, Ji Niannian is still very displeased. She arrived at the volleyball court early, waiting for her little clique to bring Shi Ying over.
Chu Xingxing, as Shi Sui, is now filled with both heartache, self-blame, and anger.
“Shi Sui” never expected that the skincare products she kindly gave her sister would become the trigger for her sister to be bullied.
Her sister’s exquisite and beautiful appearance is also a reason for Ji Niannian to dislike her.
“Shi Sui” feels very guilty. She thinks of herself—”beauty” combined with “family background,” “money,” “power,” “education”… all these are like a winning hand.
Only when played alone, it’s a losing game.
For a beautiful girl from a poor, unsupported family, it’s hard to say whether it’s luck or misfortune.
“Shi Ying, you were fine on the way here! We didn’t even touch you, and now you’re playing dead!”
A few girls from Ji Niannian’s clique drag Tian Mengtong, who plays Shi Ying, over, pulling and shoving her.
Seeing Chu Xingxing holding her temples and frowning, Tian Mengtong immediately understands Chu Xingxing’s “method.”
Tian Mengtong also goes limp, slumping to the ground, clutching her head in pain, and silently reminds herself:
Right now, I am Ji Niannian. My consciousness has just entered the body of the victim, Shi Ying.
Tian Mengtong hadn’t thought that far ahead before. Her approach to the character Ji Niannian was rather straightforward and quick. She thought that in this scene, Ji Niannian should quickly accept the consciousness transfer and find ways to convince her friends that she isn’t Shi Ying, but Ji Niannian.
Now it seems, her emotional transition was too fast… not natural enough…
No matter how arrogant Ji Niannian is, she’s still a minor. Faced with such a fantastical event, she’s bound to panic.
“Ah…” Tian Mengtong also pretends to have a headache, her face pale, her lips bloodless, weakly continuing the scene: “Are you crazy? What are you calling me? Shi Ying?”
Admittedly, Tian Mengtong’s acting is quite solid, plus she has the added buff of her acting skills from her previous life.
So far, Director Fang and the others think both Chu Xingxing and Tian Mengtong are doing well.
“Ying! Let go of Ying!” Chu Xingxing, as Shi Sui, forces herself to endure the “headache,” struggling to stand up, staggering to push away the girls surrounding “Shi Ying,” and holding onto her “sister’s” arm.
This is her sister she hasn’t seen in seven years and has missed so much, the little princess she holds in her palm, her only family in this world.
Tears in her eyes uncontrollably roll down to her chin. “Shi Sui” helps “Shi Ying” up from the ground and instinctively asks: “Where does it hurt, Ying? Tell sister, who’s been bullying you!”
The group of followers looked terrified: ???
Is Sister Nian using some new, creative form of torture?
“Ah!!!” “Shi Ying” now stares blankly at the familiar body and face in front of her, letting out a scream.
She grabs “Shi Sui’s” shoulders in terror and raises her foot to kick: “What kind of monster are you? Get out of my body!”
Shi Sui is a clear-headed and calm person. From “Shi Ying’s” single sentence, she senses something is off.
When she traveled to this world, her sister Shi Ying’s consciousness was trapped inside the diary.
At the same time Shi Sui traveled into Ji Niannian’s body, Ji Niannian’s consciousness was mysteriously sent into her sister Shi Ying’s body.
So, the “sister” standing before her is, in consciousness, actually Ji Niannian.
Ji Niannian’s muscle memory allows “Shi Sui” to nimbly dodge the other’s vicious kick.
This is her sister’s body. “Shi Sui” can’t bear to hurt it.
But that doesn’t mean “Shi Sui” has no anger at this moment.
A cold fury, like a winter ice cave, gleams in Chu Xingxing’s eyes. She steps forward and reaches out to grip Tian Mengtong’s chin.
In the drama, Ji Niannian is naturally much taller than Shi Ying, and Chu Xingxing and Tian Mengtong’s physiques fit the characters well.
On the surface, Ji Niannian is grabbing Shi Ying’s chin.
But in reality, “Shi Sui” is holding “Ji Niannian” like a little chick.
“Do you think Ji Niannian is wrong to bully others for no reason?” Chu Xingxing stares intently into Tian Mengtong’s eyes. Her tone is calm, but the anger in her eyes is undeniable.
“Mmph…” Tian Mengtong, with her chin pinched, tries to speak but can’t utter a word. Her breathing quickens, and her body begins to tremble.
This line was improvised by Chu Xingxing; it’s not in the script.
But this single line instantly plunges Tian Mengtong back into her student days.
Tian Mengtong almost forgets she’s acting. Her panicked eyes search for an escape.
Chu Xingxing holds her tightly and signals the extras to grab Tian Mengtong’s arms so she can’t escape: “I’ll give you a chance to admit your mistake. Tell me what Ji Niannian did wrong, and I’ll let you go today.”
In Chu Xingxing’s interpretation of the character, the older sister Shi Sui is a “cold-blooded” person—indifferent to patrons, parents, and everyone around her. The only soft, pure part of her heart is reserved for her sister, Shi Ying.
Even if it’s Shi Ying’s body, Shi Sui would be reluctant to harm it unless absolutely necessary.
But what if this is the only chance to make the perpetrator, Ji Niannian, “empathize”?
Chu Xingxing believes Shi Sui wouldn’t be soft-hearted, but she would give Ji Niannian, also a minor, a chance.
“I was wrong,” Tian Mengtong fully immerses herself in Ji Niannian’s perspective, screaming with naive cruelty: “My mistake was not getting rid of you on your very first day here! Just having you in this class for one more day makes me sick!”
The chance was given.
But it was useless.
“Wrong is wrong. There are no excuses.”
Following the script, Chu Xingxing, as Shi Sui, swings her arm in a wide arc and slaps Tian Mengtong across the face.
A crisp sound rings out, and a five-finger red mark instantly swells on Tian Mengtong’s fair cheek.
Director Fang’s expression doesn’t change, and Screenwriter Feng keeps observing the expressions of Chu Xingxing and Tian Mengtong after the conflict.
Tian Mengtong is stunned for a full few seconds. The stinging pain on her cheek reminds her that Chu Xingxing actually slapped her.
Humiliation, shame, pain, mixed with the long-buried memories of her student days…
Tian Mengtong bursts into a “Wah!” of tears.
Unlike her usual aesthetically pleasing crying scenes, this cry is a full-on, unrestrained wail.
Director Fang frowns slightly and exchanges a look with Screenwriter Feng.
They both feel Tian Mengtong’s acting is a bit over the top.
But since Director Fang doesn’t call “Cut,” the performance continues.
“Shi Sui” watches coldly as “Ji Niannian” inside her sister Shi Ying’s body speaks. “Shi Sui’s” own eyes slowly redden, and a single hot tear rolls from the corner of her eye, hanging from “Shi Sui’s” chin.
Thinking of the pain her sister Shi Ying endured, Chu Xingxing as “Shi Sui” feels that one slap isn’t nearly enough. She swings her other hand for another slap: “So now you know you’re wrong? Now you know it hurts? Does that slap hurt more, or does a compass needle piercing the tender flesh of your thigh hurt more?”
Tian Mengtong’s face is now swollen on both sides. She’s completely dazed, hiccuping through tears and looking desperately at the director.
“Cut!” Director Fang finally calls for a stop.
Chu Xingxing takes a deep breath, shakes her wrist, and tries to pull herself out of the character.
To be honest, she hadn’t used her full strength when delivering those slaps; she held back.
Before the audition, the assistant director had come to Chu Xingxing’s dressing room and told her not to be timid, to act freely, and to really commit to any physical confrontations.
If Chu Xingxing had used her full strength, Tian Mengtong would probably be half-dead, maybe even fly across the room…
With those two slaps, Chu Xingxing figures she at most helped drain some excess water from Tian Mengtong’s head, a little warning.
—
“Are you okay, Xiao Tian?” Director Fang stands up from his chair and walks over to Chu Xingxing and Tian Mengtong with Screenwriter Feng.
Tian Mengtong is holding her face, crying breathlessly.
Chu Xingxing wipes the tear stains from the corners of her eyes, not yet fully out of character.
Director Fang hands a stack of tissues to both Tian Mengtong and Chu Xingxing: “Don’t blame Xiao Chu, okay? I was the one who told the assistant director to pass the word down—really hit when it’s a hitting scene. I’m afraid you young actors will be too reserved and hold back.”
“Xiao Chu did a great job. Several of your little details gave me ideas. You really made me believe Shi Sui had traveled into Ji Niannian’s body. Especially the line you added yourself, ‘Do you think Ji Niannian is wrong to bully others for no reason?’ It gave me goosebumps.”
Screenwriter Feng pats Chu Xingxing on the shoulder, as encouragement.
“What I liked most was that brief pause after Xiao Chu’s slap. Her eyes slowly filled with tears, and that final tear hanging on her chin was handled very delicately.”
Director Fang is full of praise for Chu Xingxing. He turns to Tian Mengtong, who is still crying non-stop, and says: “Xiao Tian, your acting was a bit too much. Why are you still crying?”
Chief Screenwriter Feng looks at Tian Mengtong and says objectively: “Xiao Tian didn’t quite keep up with Chu Xingxing’s acting. I guess she’s mostly played simpler characters before. This kind of complex character needs more polishing. But her performance in the beginning was still good.”
Director Fang and Feng Yunlan are both known in the industry for being outspoken. They can even directly challenge big-name “diva” actors. Scolding young actors is nothing to them!
Their comments on Tian Mengtong were already quite lenient, especially considering she got slapped.
Tian Mengtong simply can’t stop crying. The injustice feels like the sky is falling.
She really doesn’t want to act in this lousy show anymore. So what if she can’t keep up with the acting? Enough is enough!!!
“I need to go to the restroom…” Tian Mengtong holds her face and runs out.
“I’m so sorry, so sorry. Our artist isn’t in a good state today. Give her a little time to cool down, and I’ll bring her right back.”
Tian Mengtong’s assistant is very sensible, bowing repeatedly to the director and chief screenwriter before turning to chase after her.
The assistant, sweating coldly, thinks to herself: You really can’t afford to offend these two “big shots” in the industry!
How can she just refuse to act?!
—
Back on Set.
Director Fang, Screenwriter Feng Yunlan, and Chu Xingxing chat for a while longer. They ask Chu Xingxing to do a solo audition for a scene as Ji Niannian herself.
Chu Xingxing already knows the script inside out. She gives herself five minutes to get into character, and when she reappears, she is the perfect image of a spoiled, arrogant, pampered young lady.
Here, Chu Xingxing has to thank the “Chu Xingxing” before her for all the experience she gained playing those villainous supporting female roles.
Both Director Fang and Feng Yunlan are pleasantly surprised, as if they’ve found a “treasure”!
“See? I told you to trust Wang Yang’s judgment.” Feng Yunlan whispers to Director Fang privately.
“Director Wang’s taste in actors is improving. This girl is quite sharp.” Director Fang nods, whispering back to Feng: “Actually, Tian Mengtong isn’t bad either. It’s just that after she got slapped, she panicked and completely forgot who she was.”
Feng Yunlan agrees: “Right, right, right. Xiao Tian was dazed after the slap. Earlier, she was just slightly not keeping up with Chu Xingxing. After all, at the very beginning, Xiao Chu’s presence was a bit too strong.”
Director Fang takes over: “But Xiao Chu’s acting is fine. Shi Sui is a mature adult in her thirties, while Ji Niannian, no matter how bad, is still a seventeen-year-old kid. There’s a natural fear of adults. Ultimately, Ji Niannian is just a bully who preys on the weak.”
“Mm, so I’d say aside from her performance after the slap, Xiao Tian did well earlier. Tian Mengtong is CBM Entertainment’s most popular young actress.”
Screenwriter Feng Yunlan is very objective.
—
For a big production like Ineffective Youth, the audition results are usually not announced immediately.
Back in her dressing room, Chu Xingxing feels a weight lift off her shoulders. With the audition over, she just has one last task—shooting a short Vlog about the audition. After that, her business and work obligations before the trip will be complete.
Tonight, Chu Xingxing has plans to go shopping with Cookie to prepare for her European trip. They leave tomorrow afternoon.
“Xiao Chu, that’s all for today. The specific notification will go through your company.” Screenwriter Feng Yunlan personally comes to the dressing room to let her know.
“Okay. I’ve really been troubling you lately, Screenwriter Feng. Thank you so much for answering all my questions about the script and characters.” Chu Xingxing gives an apologetic smile and nods to Abao.
Abao brings out a brown paper bag and hands it to Feng Yunlan.
“What’s this?” Feng Yunlan looks surprised.
Chu Xingxing: “I remember you mentioned you have a sensitive stomach. A good friend of mine is very knowledgeable about wellness. She recommended a herbal tea recipe that helps protect the stomach and aid digestion. I went to a traditional Chinese pharmacy near my place and got several packs made up according to the recipe. The pharmacist pre-packaged them into small portions for me. Just brew one cup after meals. It’s sour and sweet, very tasty.”
Chu Xingxing takes out a small pack from the paper bag to show Feng Yunlan, then puts it back: “If you like the recipe, I can send it to you on WeChat.”
“Well, I’ll certainly take this. I really do need it.” Screenwriter Feng Yunlan laughs heartily, accepting the bag graciously: “Thanks, Xingxing. But whether you get the role isn’t up to me. It’s a final decision made by the director and the production team.”
Even though Feng Yunlan believes the role of Ji Niannian is undoubtedly Chu Xingxing’s.
But before the official announcement, Chief Screenwriter Feng Yunlan is being careful not to leak any information.
Chu Xingxing laughs out loud: “Don’t worry. If I really wanted to ‘bribe’ you, I’d at least put some gold bars or jade in there, right? Weigh it—how light would gold or jade be?”
“Haha, this girl is pretty sharp with her tongue!” Feng Yunlan laughs so hard she nearly doubles over, leaning on Chu Xingxing’s shoulder.
Both women are straightforward and bright, speaking only in jest.
These auditions are done company-to-company. After the script reading for Twinkling Flowers, Feng Yunlan had only casually recommended Chu Xingxing to the team.
She has nothing to do with the specific evaluations, background checks, or whether the two companies can cooperate.
Whatever happens, happens.
Besides, there’s no competition between actors for this audition. It’s not like choosing Chu Xingxing means rejecting Tian Mengtong.
Nowadays, CBM Entertainment and ZIN Entertainment are both under the Shengshi Group—basically sister companies. There’s no issue of resources not being shared.
Before leaving, Screenwriter Feng Yunlan, holding the brown paper bag, leans against the door and says to Chu Xingxing: “I heard you’re going on a trip to Europe the day after tomorrow. Safe travels. Oh, and one important thing I almost forgot—my daughter started following Let’s Travel Together and then switched to Grandma’s Journey. She told me she’s shipping you and that mixed-race little Cookie! She asked me to tell you to give everyone more ‘sugar’ on this European trip.”
“Pfft…” Chu Xingxing is nearly crying with laughter, holding her stomach and nodding: “Cookie and I aren’t on the same show, but I’ll try my best to take good care of her. Tell your daughter not to worry.”
Chu Xingxing remembers Sheng Lüzhi’s little cousin, Sheng Youshan, from the Saci cocktail party.
Seriously, why do all the kids these days love shipping female-female couples so much???
—
Chu Xingxing changes out of her school uniform in the dressing room, putting on her own T-shirt, a plaid shirt, wide-leg jeans, and canvas sneakers.
She doesn’t bother changing her hairstyle or hair accessories. The ponytail the stylist did is quite nice, and she’s too lazy to take it out.
SAP campus doesn’t allow parking. When they arrived, the van dropped her off at the side gate, and she walked in with Abao.
From the indoor volleyball gym to the back gate parking area is at least a twenty-minute walk.
Just then, it seems an SAP alumni event next door in the auditorium has just ended. There are a lot of people outside, and it’s chaotic. Abao thoughtfully suggests Chu Xingxing wait in the dressing room while she goes to negotiate with the school to let the van pick her up on campus.
“Xingxing, drink plenty of water! You strained your voice. I made you some of Grandma Ai’s special Sanqi Flower and Licorice tea. Drink up.”
Abao nags like an old mother before heading out.
“I know~” Chu Xingxing downs the tea from her thermos in one gulp.
She can’t stay put in the dressing room. So she slings her bag over her shoulder and wanders around the second floor of the venue, checking out other actors’ auditions.
After drinking so much water, she spots a restroom in a corner on the second floor and jogs over.
Coming out of the stall, she’s washing her hands at the sink when she hears rapid footsteps and a familiar voice.
“I’m not going! Go talk to Director Fang yourself. Tell Brother Xiang, I, Tian Mengtong, am not filming Ineffective Youth…”
Then, a petite figure darts into the restroom, slamming the door shut with a “bang” and locking it.
Tian Mengtong slides down against the door, hugging her knees, her eyes red.
She looks just like the bullied heroine in a coming-of-age pain movie.
Chu Xingxing has just finished washing her hands and is drying them with the noisy hand dryer. She sees this dramatic scene unfold behind her in the mirror…
Honestly, she doesn’t know why, but Tian Mengtong seems to have a special affinity for restrooms…
First, eating boxed lunch on a toilet in a Tesco on Pearl Island, and now, having a mental breakdown after an audition, locking herself in a restroom and crying on the dirty floor.
Chu Xingxing remembers reading this Mary Sue novel in the apocalypse for the first time and having no patience for the heroine’s constant crying.
Oh, maybe it’s because the male lead likes it? Chu Xingxing was once disgusted by Jiang Chang’an holding the crying Tian Mengtong and whispering in her ear, “Tongtong is made of water,” so much that she nearly shoved the book into a zombie’s mouth.
If it weren’t for the fact that there was zero entertainment in the apocalypse and her spiritual world was desperately starved, Chu Xingxing wouldn’t have wasted time reading that terrible, trashy novel.
“Teacher Tian, Teacher Tian, open up! Are you okay? Director Fang wants to talk to you! Don’t lock yourself in! What if something happens? I’ll go find someone to break the door down…”
Tian Mengtong’s assistant is frantically pounding on the restroom door.
“I just want to be alone! Can you give me some space?! I won’t do anything stupid! I won’t be like some psychologically weak person who commits…”
Tian Mengtong, her eyes blurry with tears, looks up and sees Chu Xingxing, now in casual clothes, standing before her, and she swallows the rest of the word “suicide.”
“Could you move? I need to get out.” Chu Xingxing finds Tian Mengtong’s phrasing a bit odd.
But she’s in a hurry to leave and doesn’t think much of it.
Tian Mengtong doesn’t move an inch.
Pulling down her cap, Chu Xingxing glances at the dirty floor and shakes her head: “You’re supposed to be a young lady, yet you sit on such a dirty floor? Go cry at home if you must. Haven’t you heard that a good dog doesn’t block the way?”
Tian Mengtong’s assistant clearly hears Chu Xingxing’s voice.
She quickly covers her mouth and stops knocking.
If Tian Mengtong and Chu Xingxing really get into a fight, the assistant needs to protect the scene and make sure no one from the crew finds out. It wouldn’t be good for either of their reputations.
Tian Mengtong rubs her eyes, her makeup smudged, her nose red.
She just stares fixedly at Chu Xingxing, with no intention of moving.
Chu Xingxing flexes her knuckles. She could just physically move Tian Mengtong out of the way, no problem.
Suddenly, Tian Mengtong speaks: “Chu Xingxing, we were best friends for four years. After that contract incident, we never really talked properly. How about we use this chance to clear the air?”
Chu Xingxing pinches the bridge of her nose. She should have known—the heroine of a Mary Sue novel always has a rich inner world…
Chu Xingxing replies coldly: “But I have nothing to say to you.”
Tian Mengtong looks up, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes, and says each word deliberately: “Do you think you’re the only one with a trashy family background? Parents who favor sons over daughters, forcing you to send money home, even selling blood or being a mistress to build a house for your brother? Being isolated and slandered in middle and high school… Only you went through all that suffering, and everyone else had a smooth life?”
“Oh, so? Come on then, tell me about your hardships too.” Chu Xingxing says. She honestly doesn’t remember Tian Mengtong suffering much.
In the novel, the heroine comes from a wealthy family and has no major illnesses or misfortunes.
But, it’s also possible Chu Xingxing skimmed over some details.
Because every time the heroine cried in the book, Chu Xingxing would flip through the pages in irritation.
Maintaining this shred of gossipy curiosity, Chu Xingxing reluctantly gives Tian Mengtong a chance.
“Spit it out. What exactly do you want to say?” Chu Xingxing won’t indulge Tian Mengtong’s bad habits like the original Chu Xingxing did.
Tian Mengtong’s cheeks are flushed. She never understood why Chu Xingxing refused to continue being her friend (read: lapdog).
If it was because of the contract, Chu Xingxing was supposed to benefit from it. All she had to do was endure some online criticism—who in the entertainment industry doesn’t get criticized?
Or maybe it’s an obsession. Chu Xingxing is the first person who actively ended a friendship with Tian Mengtong. To this day, Tian Mengtong can’t let go of their relationship.
“I studied at SAP for a year in middle school. I was sickly as a kid and took medicine with hormones. I gained over forty pounds in one year when I was twelve. I was teased by classmates for being fat. The boys called me ‘Pig Tian’…”
Tian Mengtong bites her lip and continues crying: “But I eventually got through it. After I transferred schools and lost weight, I became popular. People called me pretty and said I was the school beauty.”
Tian Mengtong is purely stimulated by today’s audition scene, her emotions a bit frayed.
Did she truly get over it?
If she did, Tian Mengtong wouldn’t still suffer from severe body image issues. For her roles, she starts taking diet pills two months in advance just to look good on camera.
Worse, after losing weight and transferring, Tian Mengtong became a little star at her new school. A clique of senior girls extended an olive branch to her.
At the time, Tian Mengtong didn’t realize this group was involved in bullying. She thought she was just popular and agreed to hang out with them.
That was until Tian Mengtong saw the seniors corner a junior who had been rejected in a confession. They pulled her hair, slapped her, poured cold water on her…
All because the boy the junior confessed to was someone the senior liked.
Tian Mengtong was too scared. She witnessed the entire thing and didn’t report it to the teacher. She kept silent and, using her busy studies and performing arts classes as an excuse, slowly distanced herself from the seniors’ group.
Looking into the eyes of the bullied girl, Tian Mengtong seemed to see the her who was once mocked as a “fat pig”…
As a bystander to bullying, Tian Mengtong vaguely felt she shouldn’t have been so cowardly, but she was genuinely terrified.
This is also why Tian Mengtong is so resistant to being an ambassador against campus violence.
As a bystander of campus violence in high school, she lacked the courage to stand up. Her past as a victim in middle school haunts her. Even if offered the honor, she couldn’t accept it, let alone cooperate with the publicity.
The more afraid she is, the more she dares not tell the truth. She starts evading the topic: “Chu Xingxing, I was hurt too. I got through it with my own efforts. Why can’t you let go of that contract incident?”
“I’ve always treated you as a friend. I’ve done everything for you—bought you things, kept you in mind for good opportunities. In this industry, everyone gets slandered. The important thing is to make money. You couldn’t accept it and took it badly because you have poor resilience. If you just had a stronger heart…”
“Shut up, will you?” Chu Xingxing grabs Tian Mengtong by her school uniform collar and yanks her to her feet.
Simply because looking down at her was bad for her neck posture.
Very un-healthy…
“…” Tian Mengtong is pinned against the door, a look of terror on her face.
“Since you want to clear the air so badly, then let’s have a good chat.”
Chu Xingxing looks coldly at Tian Mengtong and speaks rapidly: “Tian Mengtong, wake up. Can you stop being so self-righteous? I genuinely considered you a friend before, but that doesn’t mean I was unaware you were using me and taking my kindness for granted.”
“I treasure friendship, but I’m not an idiot. You were the first girl in college who approached me. I was willing to go on that bestie reality show with you and never complained even with the malicious editing, because I thought you were forced by the company, a victim too.”
“But then? It wasn’t until I saw the contract for Let’s Travel Together that I realized you were helping Chen Dong trick me into signing such an unfair deal. You know everything about my past, about my mental state. Didn’t you think that contract might be the death of me?”
“I…” Tian Mengtong shakes her head frantically, blurting out: “I didn’t know you couldn’t handle it and would try to kill yourself.”
Chu Xingxing releases Tian Mengtong’s collar and stares at her oddly.
No, the original Chu Xingxing’s suicide attempt never happened. How would Tian Mengtong know?
“Oh, is that so.” Chu Xingxing laughs softly. She understands. Many things finally make sense.
It’s highly likely Tian Mengtong has been reborn.
Reborn and still this stupid? Looks like rebirth doesn’t boost IQ.
Tian Mengtong is still stuck in the rich-girl, naive-love story of her life. All she thinks about is clinging to powerful men. She never cares about the people around her. It’s a complete “I am the world” mentality.
With this kind of person, the best strategy is to fight magic with magic.
You can’t reason with someone like Tian Mengtong. You just have to accuse her bluntly.
Chu Xingxing stares into Tian Mengtong’s eyes and says each word deliberately: “Yes, my family background is poor, my parents favor sons, everyone gaslighted me. You could see it all along. If you truly considered me a friend, why didn’t you ever say anything in college?”
“Oh, wait. I remember you only ever gossiped about me behind my back with other classmates, saying I was brainwashed and beyond help. When you were heartbroken in college, when your confession failed, when your parents didn’t support you going into entertainment… let me think how I treated you?”
“Yet you knew I had severe depression and bipolar disorder, and you still forced me to sign that contract. You even knew about my failed suicide attempt. So you’ve been hoping I was dead all along, haven’t you? Tian Mengtong, that’s attempted murder.”
Chu Xingxing fires off these questions like a machine gun.
All these accusations are from the “Chu Xingxing” of the previous life, spoken for her.
Tian Mengtong breaks down, shaking her head violently, tears streaming like a broken necklace of beads: “No! I don’t want anyone to die…”
Every word from Chu Xingxing hits Tian Mengtong’s heart like a hammer. She tries desperately to defend herself: “I just… I just never thought anything in the past was an insurmountable hurdle. I got through it. If I could survive being called a pig, what could be more damaging to my self-esteem than that?”
Tian Mengtong doesn’t want to admit she’s as despicable as Chu Xingxing claims.
But she did do all those things…
Memories of the four years she and Chu Xingxing spent together in college flood her mind.
No best friend she’s ever had treated her as sincerely as Chu Xingxing did. So sincerely that Tian Mengtong came to take it all for granted.
That’s why she was so angry when Chu Xingxing fell out with her over the contract, blocking her on WeChat and phone.
No one had ever lectured Tian Mengtong like that. No one ever taught her she was wrong. Her parents and brothers spoiled and indulged her. Except for entering the entertainment industry, everything else was unconditionally provided.
Comparing herself to the other children from prominent families she grew up with—no one, male or female, had ever been as genuine with her as Chu Xingxing.
As if struck by a sudden epiphany, Tian Mengtong, the young lady who had never said “I’m sorry” in her life, actually finds herself thinking: If I apologize to Chu Xingxing, will she forgive me, and can we be friends again?
Every day, she sees the fans shipping Chu Xingxing and Cookie, the “Xingxing Cookie” CP, bouncing around. Though she won’t admit it, she’s jealous.
“If…” Tian Mengtong tentatively speaks, her tone much weaker: “I apologize to you, will you forgive me?”
“Forgive you?” Chu Xingxing laughs, crossing her arms: “Forgiveness is out of the question. If you truly feel sorry, just stay away from me.”
With that, Chu Xingxing pulls Tian Mengtong aside and walks out of the restroom.
The assistant, who had been listening against the wall, is frozen in place. She gives Chu Xingxing an awkward smile: “Teacher Chu…”
After walking a couple of steps, Chu Xingxing turns back.
She says to Tian Mengtong, who is still standing dumbfounded at the restroom door: “Oh, I heard you don’t want to film Ineffective Youth anymore? That’s a shame. This film suits you perfectly. It might help you really remember the perspective of a victim.”
—
“Today is a good day, anything I wish for can come true~” Chu Xingxing hums a tune, strolling from the second-floor stairs to the back door of the indoor volleyball court.
This is where she agreed to meet Abao. Her van hasn’t arrived yet.
Giving Tian Mengtong two slaps during the audition and then verbally ripping into her has left Chu Xingxing feeling utterly refreshed.
On the way, she still has one final task—working with Abao to film a short interview-style Vlog. Then, she can happily go on the trip with the grannies.
This Vlog was a last-minute addition by Jiang Changsheng. He insisted Chu Xingxing film it right after the audition, have it edited the same day, and posted immediately.
Chu Xingxing just opened her phone to review the Vlog script one more time.
A long-wheelbase Mercedes-Maybach Pullman S680 pulls up in front of the steps.
The front passenger door opens, and Abao jumps out, waving: “Xing… Teacher Chu! Get in!”
“No way, is Agent Jiang finally willing to get his artists such a flashy car?” Chu Xingxing asks, astonished.
In her book, Young Master Jiang is generous, but not this extravagant.
“A Maybach! With a privacy partition!” Abao mouths silently. She grins, happily explaining: “No, not at all! I tried to negotiate with the school, but they wouldn’t let our van in. So rigid. Then, on my way back, I ran into President Sheng. He had his driver turn around to pick you up.”
Chu Xingxing blinks. What?
Didn’t Sheng Lüzhi leave early? Why is he still on campus?
It’s been at least two hours since the audition started.
The sun is low in the sky, painting the sea of cherry blossom trees in a thin layer of gold.
The rear window rolls down. Sheng Lüzhi sits inside, holding a tablet. He nods to her: “Had some extra things to discuss with a few board members. It took a bit longer.”
“You’re a man of a thousand responsibilities, so busy. Abao and I could have just walked over.” Chu Xingxing signals to Abao with her eyes.
Earlier, before the audition, Tian Mengtong’s words reminded her. Even a simple-minded fool like Tian Mengtong suspects her of hooking up with Jiang Changsheng for resources.
It’s almost rush hour. With so many schools and companies nearby, a conspicuous Maybach parked at the gate, her getting out and into a van—if someone catches it on camera, it’ll be a hassle.
“Miss Chu, sorry to interrupt.”
Sheng Lüzhi’s driver slightly bows to Chu Xingxing and says: “Abao told me you’re not going home right away, but meeting a friend for shopping and dinner. President Sheng will drive you directly to the shopping mall. There’s a dedicated parking floor for Shengshi Group properties there. You won’t be photographed. Don’t worry.”
Chu Xingxing looks at the “turncoat” Abao, who blabbed everything.
Abao grins innocently, lightly tapping the car roof: “President Sheng is so nice. The weather is lovely today too…”
“What a goof.” Chu Xingxing laughs helplessly. It seems there’s no reason to refuse?
“Get in.” Sheng Lüzhi’s voice is soft, yet carries a commanding presence: “If it was my grandmother asking, would you be this hesitant?”
Chu Xingxing answers without hesitation: “No, I wouldn’t.”
Sheng Lüzhi laughs at her reply: “It is my grandmother’s order, for me to stay a little longer and see you off.”
“Oh, why didn’t you say so?” Chu Xingxing says, getting into the car.
—
Inside the Indoor Volleyball Court.
At the same time, Tian Mengtong’s assistant drags her, still tearful, back in front of Director Fang and Screenwriter Feng.
Tian Mengtong doesn’t hear a single word of their feedback.
She’s not filming this show. If she does, the terrified eyes of the bullied girl will haunt her sleepless nights again.
And whenever she sees Chu Xingxing, she can’t stop thinking about those accusations, about being a pathetic, lousy person.
At times like this, running away is the only thing that seems bearable.
After the “lecture” from the director and screenwriter, Tian Mengtong returns to her dressing room. The first thing she does is call Xiao Xiang.
“Brother Xiang, I don’t want to film Ineffective Youth. Please turn it down for me…” Before Tian Mengtong can finish, Xiao Xiang interrupts her.
“Mengtong, this project isn’t something you can decide on your own. I just got word that President Sheng is very interested in the script. He was at the SAP International School alumni event today. I heard he even met you guys?”
Xiao Xiang’s tone when mentioning Sheng Lüzhi is one of careful deference.
“It’s… It was really unexpected. I did run into President Sheng today…” Tian Mengtong says guiltily, not daring to elaborate.
Xiao Xiang: “Well, it seems President Sheng has a good impression of you. He probably thinks both you and Chu Xingxing fit the roles well. So the production team won’t be auditioning any other actors. Congratulations, Mengtong. You’ve landed a great role.”
“But, Brother Xiang…” Tian Mengtong is at a loss for words.
She can’t afford to offend Sheng Lüzhi. If she continues filming, she’ll be unable to get into the right mindset. This superficial acting is the worst for the big screen. She’ll be dragged through the mud online.
“Make time to study the script when you’re not filming Let’s Travel Together. Don’t slack off. I’ve got other things. Gotta go.”
With that, Xiao Xiang hangs up.
Tian Mengtong slumps onto the sofa, her face pale.
She feels like Sheng Lüzhi deliberately forced her to take Ineffective Youth just to get back at her for Chu Xingxing…
—
The Maybach cruises smoothly along the Beijing elevated highway.
From SAP International School to Vinta, the shopping center where Chu Xingxing is meeting Cookie for dinner, is at least an hour’s drive, given Beijing’s infamous evening rush hour.
Luckily, Cookie’s recording studio is right next to the shopping center. She can just walk over whenever Chu Xingxing arrives.
Chu Xingxing sits stiffly in the car.
Sheng Lüzhi’s pleasant vetiver scent lingers around her, a strong presence, making it hard not to notice the man beside her, quietly focused on his work… Hmm, Chu Xingxing doesn’t know what word to use for Sheng Lüzhi.
“Handsome” feels inadequate, almost flippant.
Thinking about it, Abao’s description is more accurate.
Big, Handsome, Guy.
To distract herself, Chu Xingxing decides to catch up on the group chat with the rich grannies from the Rich Ladies Travel Club.
She’s been busy with the audition for the past couple of days and missed a lot of the “gossip” in the group.
Now’s a good time to catch up on the “tea.”
The moment she opens the group chat, Chu Xingxing’s eyes go wide.
Wow! Big news right away!
[Sheng Shuwen: Xiaonuan actually took that Happy Fitness You and Me variety show and abandoned us?]
Grandma Sheng Shuwen’s tone is innocently naive, as if she knows nothing.
And the reply from Ms. Wen Xuelan below is quite interesting.
[Wen Xuelan: Sister, what are you saying? Who knows who conspired with Wen Han’s agent to get him on that show I randomly made up? I heard it’s done by ZIN Entertainment. Don’t think I don’t know ZIN Entertainment isn’t under the Zhang family anymore. It’s under the Sheng family now!]
[Wen Xuelan: I even went back to check the contract. We clearly agreed with Wen Han’s agent for him to sign on for four episodes. How did it turn into just one episode for Grandma’s Journey?]
Chu Xingxing’s jaw drops in shock.
Wow!
It seems Grandma Sheng directly had one of the Shengshi Group’s entertainment companies actually create a Happy Fitness You and Me show and poach Wen Han!
But without a porter, what will Grandma’s Journey do?
Then, Grandma Ai Minli jumps in to smooth things over.
[Ai Minli: Oh, Xiaolan, don’t worry. If Xiaonuan were traveling with us all the time, he definitely wouldn’t be able to keep his figure. Think of it this way—this new show is more his style anyway.]
[Wen Xuelan: … Angry cat emoji.]
Chu Xingxing pops up in the group chat—
[Xingxing Estrella: I’m here! (Dog on skateboard gif.)]
[Xingxing Estrella: Just finished the audition. So, what do we do now that we’re short a “porter”?]
Suddenly, the group chat erupts in a flurry of emojis—
[Sheng Shuwen: Raising a wine glass to welcome Xingxing back!]
[Wen Xuelan: Xingbao is finally here! Welcome, welcome! (Glowing green imitation Song Dynasty font gif.)]
[Ai Minli: Kuromi kissy face emoji.]
Chu Xingxing notices that Granny Xiao Jiang, usually the most active in the group, is the only one missing.
—
Inside the Smoothly Moving Maybach.
Abao sits in the front passenger seat. With the privacy partition up between the front and back seats, she can’t help Chu Xingxing film her Vlog.
But ever-resourceful Abao has already found a solution.
Abao puts on a cute smile, presses her palms together, and turns around: “President Sheng, sorry to bother you. Didn’t you mention you also know how to operate a camera? Would you mind helping Teacher Chu film her Vlog? It won’t be long—at most ten minutes.”
Sheng Lüzhi takes off his Bluetooth earbuds with his slender fingers and nods to Abao: “Alright. Give me five minutes.”
“Of course, of course. No rush!”
Abao winks at Chu Xingxing, loosens her seatbelt, and quickly hands her phone to the back seat before fastening her belt again: “The password is 525077. It’s a homophone for ‘I love my Xingxing.’ I’m a genius, right?”
Chu Xingxing shoots Abao a death glare.
Out of all the people to bother, she had to choose her future big boss, Sheng Lüzhi?!
Cookie could easily help her film the Vlog…
Sheng Lüzhi puts his Bluetooth earbuds on the fold-out table. Remembering that his family and friends always say he looks stern and scary, he suddenly understands why Chu Xingxing is always so careful around him.
Maybe he should learn to be a bit more humorous, like the “male vixen,” Jiang Luoze.
Chu Xingxing clears her throat, ready to politely decline the ever-busy Sheng Lüzhi: “Ahem, um, President Sheng, you’re a man of a thousand responsibilities…”
Sheng Lüzhi loosens his tie slightly, his Adam’s apple bobbing: “Not that many ‘responsibilities’ to handle. I can spare ten minutes.”
Chu Xingxing: ???
“Pfft…” Abao chokes on her Fiji water, then lets out a series of “knock knock knock” laughs.
