She snapped out of her intense focus and turned her head to look.
There were twenty people in the class, each sitting at a single desk. To her left, separated by an aisle, was Gu Bichen, and to her right was Liu Runxi.
Liu Runxi had rolled a thin book into a cylindrical shape—he used it to poke Shen You’an’s arm.
"Here, for you."
Shen You’an reached out to take it.
Two large characters caught her eye: "Chess Scripture."
It was an ancient-style blue-covered thread-bound book, its pages yellowed with the weight of ti.
"This is a chess manual I read when I was a kid. Based on your current skill level, I think it’s just right for you."
Shen You’an flipped through the book. Inside were detailed annotations, so written in a youthful, unpolished hand, and so in a deliberate, seamless imitation.
"Thank you, I really need this."
Liu Runxi’s lips curved into a slight smile. "If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask ."
With that, his gaze returned to the sea of practice questions in front of him.
Shen You’an propped her chin with her left hand, tilted her head, and looked at him.
"Aren’t you going to ask about the stuff online?"
Without looking up, Liu Runxi replied, "If you want to talk about it, you’ll say so."
Shen You’an smirked. "That’s what I like about you—you know when to speak and when to hold back."
Liu Runxi’s grip on his pen tightened slightly. I like... you?
Did she just say she likes ?
His heart was racing in his chest, but outwardly, the boy remained composed.
"If you ever need anything, make sure you tell . My... uncle has connections in the entertainnt industry. He can help you."
Shen You’an raised her eyebrows. "If I actually enter the entertainnt industry, would you still help ?"
Liu Runxi turned to her, looking directly at Shen You’an with a serious expression.
"No matter what decision you make, I’ll always support you."
Pressing his lips together, the boy awkwardly added, "After all, we’re friends, aren’t we?"
Back at the Lushui Ancient City, their group had accidentally wandered into a film set and made cao appearances in a historical drama. Shen You’an had shown extraordinary acting talent. He had seen it clearly: when she was acting, she was completely imrsed in the role. That version of Shen You’an was a side he’d never seen before—strange, yet dazzling.
She must genuinely love acting and have an exceptional gift for it. Life offers more than one possibility, and he hoped she would follow her heart and pursue what she truly loved.
Last night’s subway trending event was rely a beginning. In the future, she would shine brighter and brighter.
As... her friend, the only thing he could do was quietly support her from behind.
Liu Runxi lowered his gaze. Her path ahead was filled with thorns, and if he wanted to walk alongside her, he needed to have enough strength to clear every obstacle from her way.
"Friends." Shen You’an smirked. "Last night, Director Huang called ."
Liu Runxi looked at her.
"The drama has already wrapped up filming and is in post-production. It’ll probably air this sumr."
Huang Chu had seen the trending topic on Weibo, recognized Shen You’an, and called her imdiately to ask if she needed help. After all, Director Huang was one of the top directors in the industry, with extensive resources and connections.
He truly liked Shen You’an—a rare talent, smart with great potential. Even if it ant offending Qiao Wan, he wouldn’t back down.
Qiao Wan’s connections were in the Jingzhou circle, while Huang Chu had influence in the Chunzhou circle. The two circles usually stayed out of each other’s way, but if it ca to a fight, the outco was uncertain.
Previously, he had avoided getting involved in the entertainnt industry’s dramas—it was too ssy. But Shen You’an was a rare talent he genuinely wanted to protect.
Shen You’an expressed her gratitude, inquired about Director Huang’s recent well-being, and politely declined his offer of assistance, saying she had her own ways to handle things.
"I rember you said you’ve signed with a managent company—Other Shore Entertainnt. Is this company reliable? Can they shield you? If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to ask ."
"Thank you, Director Huang. If I ever need help, I’ll let you know."
"By the way, I need to schedule a ti with you in March. You’ll need to co to the recording studio for so post-production dubbing."
"Alright, I’ll clear my schedule and let you know in advance."
"One more thing—I have a great script here, and there’s a role I think fits you perfectly. Would you be interested?"
"Thank you for taking care of , Director Huang. Please send the script to my email. I’ll read it and get back to you."
That evening, Shen You’an received the script. It was a contemporary suspense drama—not a long one, but a sharp and concise story, akin to a high-quality short series. After reading, the character that left the deepest impression on her was the protagonist’s daughter.
The protagonist was a righteous and passionate police officer, but his daughter turned out to be an extrely well-hidden instigator of murder.
Though her scenes were few, every criminal the protagonist chased was connected to his daughter. At first, she was a hidden character with minimal screen ti—a sweet and shy girl in the eyes of the audience, a model student praised by teachers and parents alike, with outstanding grades and a perfect personality. Subtle details hinted at her kindness and severe compulsive behaviors.
Only at the final mont was the truth unveiled—she was the most deeply hidden mastermind behind the murders, shedding her facade and shocking everyone, including her upright father, who couldn’t believe his beloved daughter was such a person.
The finale was especially gripping—a confrontation on a rooftop between the daughter and her father, where goodness and evil, familial ties, and morality collided intensely. After reading, Shen You’an could only marvel—the scriptwriter was truly talented.
She loved the role, and sure enough, Huang Chu had recomnded her for it.
Nad "Double Shadows," the script symbolized dual personalities. Although the righteous policeman was the central protagonist in the narrative, the daughter, despite limited screen ti, was the soul of the story.
The role was multilayered and challenging, coupled with a strong script. Shen You’an had no reason to refuse.
She replied to Huang Chu right after that, confirming she wanted the role.
"The script cos from a newcor under my studio. The team is newly ford, and we don’t have an investor yet. This project might not begin until autumn or even next year. Can you wait?"
The newcor was also the director, while Huang Chu was only signed on as the supervising producer, giving the newcor ample space to showcase talent.
Shen You’an straightforwardly said, "No need to look for investors. Soone will contact your studio tomorrow."
Huang Chu: "?"
Shen You’an hung up and imdiately called Zhao Heng, asking him to invest in the newcor director’s drama under Huang Chu’s studio.
Although Zhao Heng was bewildered, he was obedient. Early the next morning, he contacted Huang Chu’s studio to discuss the investnt.
The investor was surprisingly accommodating—there were no random demands. The newcor director had full creative control and was free to make the drama entirely according to his vision.
It was so agreeable that director Wang Qi felt a bit overwheld. Before becoming a director, he had worked in various production crews for many years. Investors were usually bossy, ddling with casting choices and ruining the industry’s quality.
This investor seed... different.
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