The first rays of autumn morning light slipped through the gap in the curtains, casting a slanted beam across the bed sheets.
The faint, broken sound of mumbling echoed in the bedroom.
Qiuqiu abruptly opened her eyes, chest rising and falling rapidly.
She stared blankly at the ceiling for a while, her mind slowly returning from the clutches of her nightmare.
Sitting up, she grabbed her phone to check the ti.
【6:14】
【September 19, 2023, Lunar Calendar: August 5】
When her eyes landed on the words “August 5,” her lips twitched slightly, her gaze dimd.
Ten more days until Mid-Autumn Festival, and this year it happened to line up with the National Day holiday, making for a full 8 days off in a row.
But she couldn’t feel even a little bit happy.
Because her father’s death anniversary was on the 15th of August.
The recent string of nightmares was probably tied to that date drawing near.
She didn’t actually have many mories of her father—just a few fragnted impressions.
Mostly stories from relatives, along with a handful of photos and videos.
After all, he had passed away when she was only three years old.
Still, there was always a certain kind of feeling in her heart.
Sotis she wondered—if her father were still alive, would her life be a bit happier? Maybe her grandma wouldn’t have died, either.
Once she graduated from college and made enough money, she could give them the happy life they deserved.
She let her thoughts wander for a long while.
By the ti she ca back to herself, she realized her tears had already soaked her arm.
She wiped them away.
Qiuqiu got out of bed, changed into yoga clothes, put on a pot of millet porridge, then stepped into the living room to start her yoga routine.
A little after 7:00 a.m.
“Oyah—” the master bedroom door opened right on ti.
“Good morning, senpai.”
“Morning, Qiuqiu.” Gao ngting ca out looking radiant, waved her hand, and walked toward the bathroom.
Once she finished her yoga sequence, Cheng Qiuqiu quickly got up and headed into the kitchen to start making breakfast.
It was simple—egg pancakes, cold salad, millet porridge.
Easy enough to prepare. By the ti Gao ngting finished washing up, the food was just ready and laid out on the table.
“Thanks, Qiuqiu, you’re the best.” Gao ngting gave her busty junior a big hug and affectionately rubbed her face against hers.
Cheng Qiuqiu shook her head a little awkwardly. “It’s nothing. I should be doing this.”
Though she was aloof by nature, she knew who treated her well and how to reciprocate.
Gao ngting had invited her to join Songi Fashion, offered a salary of ten thousand yuan, and often guided her and helped her get along with coworkers.
To her, ngting was already like half a family mber—the closest friend she’d had in years.
After a mont’s hesitation, Cheng Qiuqiu turned and walked back into the kitchen, pulled a red plastic bag out of the fridge,
opened it, and placed a glass jar on the dining table.
It looked like the wide-mouth kind used for jam or pickled veggies. The jar still had so leftover label residue, faint white glue marks from where it had been peeled off.
Gao ngting asked curiously, “Is this... chili sauce?”
“Mhm.” Cheng Qiuqiu nodded, twisted the lid open with effort, and scooped so into a small dish. “Try it, senpai. It’s from my hotown. See if it suits your taste.”
The chili sauce was a deep red with hints of brown, topped with a thin layer of golden rapeseed oil that reflected the morning light.
“Sure, I’ll try it. Chili sauce from Sichuan is always good!” Gao ngting smiled, picked so up with her chopsticks, and brought it to her mouth.
The rich, spicy aroma rushed to her nose, with a hint of fernted depth.
She took a bite with the egg pancake and her eyes lit up instantly. “Wow, this tastes way better than the stuff my dad makes—damn, it’s delicious!”
As she spoke, she spread the chili sauce across the pancake, rolled in so salad, and started devouring it happily.
Hearing her senpai praise it in a hoy accent, Cheng Qiuqiu’s face broke into a bright smile.
It was her favorite homade chili sauce from childhood, passed on from her mother via Gao Junfeng.
Bzzz bzzz bzzz— the phone on the table vibrated, screen lighting up.
【Xu An: “Qiuqiu, your company’s team-building trip is this Friday evening in Wushan, right?”】
Cheng Qiuqiu picked up the phone, unlocked it, and typed back: “Yeah, that’s right.”
【Xu An: “Which hotel are you staying at?”】
Cheng Qiuqiu: “Shangri-La Hotel in the Harbor District.”
【Xu An: “Wow, your company’s really generous—everyone staying in a five-star hotel.”】
【Xu An: “There’s sothing I hadn’t told you—I’m actually in Wushan too, here filming. Just arrived yesterday, I’ll be here for a while. Looks like we can finally et up—surprised?”】
Seeing that ssage, Cheng Qiuqiu paused slightly. Then she rembered Xu An had indeed posted about a new role on their Monts feed.
She quickly replied: “Snowy Night, First Light or Chasing the Sunset?”
【Xu An: Snowy Night, First Light. Big-budget adaptation of a popular IP, all-star cast. Sadly, I’m just a small supporting role. Staying in a four-star hotel nearby.】
Cheng Qiuqiu bit her lip, a bit excited as she replied: “I rember Luo Wanyin from the Echo girl group has a cao too—will she be in Wushan during this ti?”
She was a diehard Su Yu fan, but also loved Echo—after all, Su Yu ca from that group.
She always kept an eye on the team mbers.
【Xu An: “Unfortunately, no. She’s a top-tier star and only doing a guest appearance. The crew had to work around her schedule.”】
【Xu An: “But Bei Yuwei is here. She’s playing the fourth female lead. Heard she has quite a few scenes, shooting till the end of the month.”】
“Bei Yuwei...” Cheng Qiuqiu murmured softly.
Across from her, Gao ngting raised an eyebrow mid-bite. “What is it, Qiuqiu? So celeb gossip?”
“No, senpai.” Cheng Qiuqiu shook her head. “Just heard from Xu An that Bei Yuwei’s filming in Wushan right now.”
“Huh?! Bei Yuwei is in Wushan? What are the odds?” Gao ngting’s eyes lit up.
Bei Yuwei had helped a lot with boosting Songi Fashion.
And since they’d be going for a team-building trip, another run-in could easily cause a buzz again—with an unimaginable advertising effect.
Especially now that they were in the process of branding and needed publicity.
But she quickly cald down—knowing the odds of this happening were slim.
Last ti, it worked because of its coincidence and drama, which created the viral effect.
Now, even if they paid big money to hire Bei Yuwei for an endorsent, it probably wouldn’t have the sa impact.
Still, they could consider other options—maybe get He Yiyi to livestream or shoot so content near the filming location, ride the wave of Bei Yuwei’s popularity a bit.
The more she thought about it, the more doable it seed. Gao ngting imdiately picked up her phone and jotted the idea into her notes app.
“Oh right, Qiuqiu,” Gao ngting looked up excitedly, “do you know where Bei Yuwei’s crew is filming? Like the set, or hotel?”
Cheng Qiuqiu replied right away, “I’ll ask. I should be able to find out.”
With that, she started typing quickly, chatting with Xu An.
Since both of them were fans of Su Yu and had also been classmates for three years in high school, her friendship with Xu An was pretty solid. This kind of favor was no big deal to ask.
After a mont, she looked up and said, “She’s staying at a five-star hotel downtown. There are three filming locations. The exact one depends on the shooting schedule.”
“Oh, got it.”
As they ate and chatted, Gao ngting gradually learned more about the film from Cheng Qiuqiu.
It was a historical martial arts fantasy film, originally a novel. The adapted ani had already gone viral online, and now the movie was highly anticipated.
Produced jointly by Huayi and Bona, and backed by well-known dostic film companies like Tencent, Jiangzhu Film, and Taopiaopiao.
A true big-budget production, backed by the country’s top teams.
The leads were both A-list dostic stars, with plenty of well-known veteran actors in supporting roles.
The production budget alone exceeded 100 million yuan. Adding in actor fees, PR, and marketing, the total cost was nearing 200 million.
With elents like “sword energy in the snow” and “chanical mysticism,” the movie included over 1,500 visual effects shots.
A white Bentley Continental rolled out of the underground garage.
Inside, Tang Song wore a proud, triumphant smile, still replaying the sultry mories of the morning with his big sister.
Last night, with the help of [Recovery Potion] and the “High Spirits Buff,” the big sister had finally let go of her reservations and ended up crying—literally crying real tears.
She had agreed to many shaless requests.
Even though she could barely stand afterward, this morning she still followed his request and put on a short black skirt with sheer stockings, role-playing a sweet high school girl to play a “ga” with him.
That sense of domination had left his heart racing—it was hard to calm down.
As the car passed the neighborhood entrance, Tang Song looked through the window at Building 9 in the distance, frowning slightly.
Co to think of it, the female CEO had already been on a business trip for a week, busy with launching the branch office and scouting locations for the flagship store. She had barely reached out to him.
She only replied when he ssaged first, and even then, their conversations were mostly about work.
It was the first ti Tang Song truly understood what the term “workaholic” ant.
No wonder the CEO had brought up not wanting to get married.
Xie Shuyu really wasn’t girlfriend material—let alone wife material.
If Tang Song only had her as a partner, they probably would’ve broken up by now.
After nearly 20 minutes of stop-and-go traffic, the car finally arrived at Yunxi Tower.
Tang Song locked his car and headed into the elevator.
It was peak office hour, and the elevator was packed. Several won noticed the master-class hottie standing in the corner and subtly moved closer, trying to get his attention.
Various perfu scents mingled and filled the space.
Tang Song’s face stayed calm and composed, showing no emotional reaction at all.
He’d been a heartthrob for a while now and had learned the basics of self-control.
Exiting the elevator, he stepped into the Songi Fashion office area. This text is hosted at novel⸺fire
Employees greeted him warmly one after another.
But instead of heading straight to the CEO’s office, he purposely detoured toward the branding departnt.
His gaze quickly landed on Cheng Qiuqiu, who was working diligently in a corner.
【Cultivating... 37%...】(Not yet sprouted)
The [Dream Seed] was growing vigorously and at a fast pace. It should sprout later this week.
He was really curious about this item that could peek into and influence people’s dreams.
“Good morning, President Tang!”
“Morning.” Tang Song smiled and waved at everyone. When his eyes t Cheng Qiuqiu’s, he nodded slightly.
Cheng Qiuqiu only gave him a faint glance before lowering her head and continuing her work, as if completely unfazed.
Tang Song didn’t linger. He turned and walked deeper inside.
Passing by the Executive Vice President’s office, he paused and gently knocked on the door with his slender fingers.
“Co in!” ca Gao ngting’s soft, cheerful voice from inside.
Tang Song pushed open the door and saw his partner chatting with her assistant, Tan Qi.
Sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the office in warm light.
Gao ngting wore a sleek black business suit and a white inner blouse, exuding total boss energy.
Her soft brown hair flowed neatly over her shoulders, her makeup was understated, and her features were delicate and elegant.
She radiated a unique, refined aura.
Noticing him walk in, Gao ngting smiled brightly. “President Tang, what perfect timing. I was just about to discuss sothing with you.”
Tan Qi quickly stood up. “President Gao, I’ll go talk to Director Yu about the details now.”
“Alright, go ahead.” Gao ngting nodded.
Tan Qi gave Tang Song a slight bow, then quickly jogged out and gently closed the door behind her.
Gao ngting stood up and waved the folder in her hand. “Co here, President Tang. Our team-building trip is coming up. This is the proposal from HR and Admin—take a look and see if anything needs adjusting.”
Tang Song grinned and took the folder from her hand, casually placing it on the desk.
The next second, he wrapped his arm around her waist and leaned down to kiss her, gently sucking her sweet lips.
Gao ngting’s body trembled slightly, but she didn’t push him away.
Feeling Tang Song’s warmth and tenderness, she quietly closed her eyes and let his presence wrap around her.
After a while, seeing her flushed cheeks, Tang Song’s hand slid downward, tracing her waistline and landing on her firm, round butt.
“Mn—” Gao ngting bit his tongue, her body trembling even more.
A mont later, she pushed hard against his chest and scolded him with embarrassnt and frustration, “Hey! Let go! This is an office—what do you think you’re doing?”
Tang Song gently patted her and reluctantly let go, laughing softly, “I know you’ve been working hard lately, so I thought I’d give you a little love hug.”
“You’re awful. So improper!” Gao ngting lightly punched his chest, then adjusted her slightly rumpled outfit.
She was a very sensitive person, and even this level of intimacy made her feel a bit overwheld.
The two of them exchanged a few playful words.
Then Tang Song finally picked up the team-building proposal and started flipping through it.
Gao ngting leaned in beside him and explained in a low voice, “Our livestreaming operations can’t pause, so the plan is to split into two groups.
We’ll avoid the Mid-Autumn holiday and stagger the trips.
Group one will be part of the operations team, functional support staff, and non-core supply chain roles—about 45 people.
Splitting up reduces managent pressure and improves the travel experience...”
Tang Song nodded occasionally, clearly satisfied.
The company was now on the right track, and this was Songi Fashion’s first team-building event—it was aningful.
The proposal was thorough, covering everything from travel arrangents to itinerary planning, implentation details, and budget estimates.
There was even a risk managent section.
“Worth ntioning—Bei Yuwei is in Wushan right now, and where she’s staying isn’t too far from us. I plan to have Yiyi livestream around her hotel or filming location, ride a bit of her traffic.”
Hearing that, Tang Song raised an eyebrow and murmured, “Bei Yuwei...”
He really did seem to keep crossing paths with that top-tier female celebrity.
He wondered—this trip to Wushan, would they run into her again?
......
Wushan City, Hongfenglin filming site.
In the celebrity rest area, the atmosphere was a little tense.
Bei Yuwei kept her head down, flipping through the script in her hands, her expression calm. “Sister Ruixi, the brand contacted . They chose over renewing your endorsent deal, which ans they value market popularity more.”
Li Ruixi took a sip of coffee, the corner of her mouth curling into a faintly aningful smile. “Heh, true enough. After all, not everyone can go ‘viral overnight’ like you did, Sister Yuwei. But you know, fa that rises quickly tends to fall just as fast. As for , I’m taking the steady route, one step at a ti.”
Bei Yuwei looked up, her sweet smile flawless. “The steady route? You’re right, Sister Ruixi. After all, so people have been acting for years and still can only land third female lead roles.”
“You!” Li Ruixi’s eyes instantly turned cold, her tone laced with sarcasm. “Maybe you should worry more about how much screen ti you have left.”
Bei Yuwei replied in a low voice, “I heard your last drama didn’t even break 0.5 in ratings?”
Li Ruixi took a deep breath, her voice growing sharper. “Don’t think that just because you’re hot right now you can sit back and relax. In the entertainnt industry, trends change faster than your acting skills! And... I’ve heard you’ve been surrounded by negative press lately. If sothing big breaks, you won’t be able to afford the breach of contract penalty.”
Bei Yuwei’s fingers tightened slightly, her knuckles turning pale, but the smile on her face remained as sweet as ever, as if Li Ruixi’s words hadn’t affected her at all.
Just then, an assistant hurried over and said softly, “Sister Ruixi, it’s ti for makeup.”
Li Ruixi stood up, shot Bei Yuwei a cold, condescending look, then turned and strode away.
Watching her back disappear at the door, Bei Yuwei’s lips pressed tightly together, a shadow flickering in her eyes.
Li Ruixi and she were the sa type of actress, with a lot of overlap in resources and endorsents.
On top of that, in this film, one was the third female lead and the other the fourth—it was inevitable they’d clash.
Unlike Bei Yuwei, Li Ruixi had a powerful investor behind her.
Taking advantage of that, she’d not only paid marketing accounts online to spread fake rumors and create comparisons, but also pressured the writers to give her more side plots, cutting down Bei Yuwei’s scenes.
It had already been a while since her last breakout role ended, and Bei Yuwei’s popularity was steadily declining.
She desperately needed more exposure, and Snowy Night, First Light, this big-budget film, was undoubtedly the perfect opportunity.
But thanks to Li Ruixi’s interference, most of her highlight scenes had been deleted—her role was almost a cao now.
This was sothing she absolutely could not accept.
As a textbook traffic star, Bei Yuwei may have skyrocketed from one drama, but she wasn’t yet high-ranking.
And that show wasn’t even produced or funded by Tang Zong Entertainnt.
She and her manager had repeatedly reported this to the production higher-ups, but it barely made a dent.
Producer Gao Miao had promised to “help coordinate,” but then proposed conditions she found utterly unacceptable.
After refusing, he even humiliated her with his words.
Now she was completely cornered.
This was Bei Yuwei’s first ti acting in a film, her first step onto the big screen—imnsely significant.
Not to ntion the haters, rivals, and others were all waiting to watch her fail.
Ambitious as she was, there was no way she’d just give up like this. So, she decided to play her biggest card.
Tang Song.
Just thinking of that magnetic man made her heart beat faster.
“Aiya—” the lounge door suddenly swung open.
“Da-da-da—” hurried footsteps approached.
Bei Yuwei closed her script and asked nervously, “Sister Bing, any news from the company?”
Manager Sister Bing shook her head, expression serious. “Nothing for now. Did Mr. Mo reply to you?”
Bei Yuwei bit her lip and glanced at her phone. “No.”
【Mr. Mo: “Got it.”】
Still that sa calm, indifferent reply—totally not the reaction she expected.
At the Juxing Huicui banquet, she’d seen firsthand how warm Mo Xiangwan was toward Tang Song—they were clearly good friends.
Plus, Tang Song was a shareholder in the company.
Logically, Mo Xiangwan should’ve stepped in directly, given Huayi a call, and smoothed everything out.
But 14 hours had passed—and nothing happened.
Could it be that Mr. Mo asked Tang Song, and he denied everything?
The thought left Bei Yuwei feeling anxious and conflicted.
She admitted that she had gotten close to Songi Fashion and Tang Song because she wanted backing.
She wanted fa—sustained fa.
But she didn’t think she’d done anything wrong.
Even a hot star like her, without capital protection, could easily be seen as “expendable” by the powerful.
Just like now.
Sister Bing sat down beside her, lowered her voice, and said, “Yuwei, this President Tang you ntioned—is he the one who appeared at the Juxing Huicui banquet?”
“Mm.” Bei Yuwei nodded.
Sister Bing paused, worry flashing in her eyes. “A man like him definitely isn’t short on won. And you haven’t actually developed anything solid with him... I’m afraid—”
She paused, then continued, “Honestly, your role in Snowy Night, First Light is just a minor one. With your current fa, one or two more big hits and you’ll truly make it in film. There’s no need to rush.”
“No!” Bei Yuwei pressed her lips together. “This is my first movie—I don’t want it to be a regret. We’ve promoted it for so long. If I barely appear in the final cut, it’ll damage my reputation.”
“Sigh—” Sister Bing sighed, saying nothing more.
In truth, she felt helpless too.
Bei Yuwei was still young, and after going viral, she had beco deeply entangled in the chase for fa and fortune—hard to pull back now.
But there were many ambitious stars, and even more who wanted to be famous.
Resources were limited. If you wanted them, you had to pay a price.
Expecting soone like Mr. Mo to intervene in another company’s affairs based only on a photo with a shareholder? That was wishful thinking.
“Sister Yuwei, it’s ti for touch-up,” her assistant Taozi ran over and gently reminded her.
Bei Yuwei nodded, stood up, and headed for the door.
Just as she stepped out of the lounge, Sister Bing’s phone began to vibrate.
She glanced at the screen, and her heart skipped a beat. She lowered her voice. “It’s Director Li from the Film Project Departnt.”
Bei Yuwei’s heart leapt. She imdiately stopped walking, eyes fixed on Sister Bing.
Answering the call, Sister Bing spoke warmly and respectfully. “Hello, Director Li!”
“Yes, yes, we’re currently on the Snowy Night, First Light set. Yuwei is right beside .”
“Mm, oh—okay, I understand!”
“Thank you, Director Wei. Sorry to trouble you. Goodbye!”
After hanging up, Sister Bing’s face lit up with excitent. She grabbed Bei Yuwei’s arm and whispered, “Director Wei said your issue has been taken care of. Just sit tight—things will be resolved soon.”
Bei Yuwei’s face flushed red, her heart pounding, but she forced herself to stay composed. “That’s good.”
Everything going smoothly ant her guess had been right.
Tang Song really could cover her.
More importantly, Mr. Mo had acknowledged her connection with Tang Song—which ant she finally had backing.
Tang Zong Entertainnt’s resources would surely start leaning in her direction.
She worked to steady her emotions. Her expression slowly returned to normal as she pushed open the makeup room door and stepped inside.
Hearing the door open, Li Ruixi shot Bei Yuwei a cold glance, her lips curling into a mocking smile, but she didn’t say anything.
Bei Yuwei ignored her gaze and walked straight into the dressing room. After changing into her costu, she calmly sat down in front of the makeup mirror.
Two makeup artists quickly gathered around and began doing her makeup.
More than twenty minutes passed.
Sister Bing suddenly cried out in shock and quickly rushed over to Bei Yuwei’s side. “Yuwei, sothing’s happened! Sothing big!”
Bei Yuwei’s eyes snapped open. She asked nervously, “What is it, Sister Bing?”
Sister Bing was breathing heavily, her face flushed, her voice filled with barely contained excitent. “Just got the news!
Producer Gao Miao has been exposed—there are audio recordings and evidence of him coercing actresses, plus tax issues and contract disputes.
Tang Zong Entertainnt has issued an internal industry notice, blacklisting Gao Miao and banning him from all film and TV projects, variety shows, or comrcial activities.
Other entertainnt companies, directors, actors, writers—all of them have spoken out online, jointly boycotting Gao Miao.”
Bei Yuwei’s eyelid twitched, her mind struggling to process.
Gao Miao wasn’t just the producer of the film—he was also a senior executive at the investing company, with deep resources and a massive network. He was a behind-the-scenes power player in the industry.
All she had done was ntion him briefly—how did it blow up into a full-on blacklist?
Li Ruixi, who had overheard their conversation, was stunned for quite a while. She couldn’t help but ask, “Where did you get this news from?”
As soon as she spoke, there was a rapid knock at the door.
Monts later, several figures stepped into the dressing room.
Through the mirror, Bei Yuwei saw chief director Lu Ming, executive producer Xu Yulan, screenwriter Zhao Ding, and others.
A strange feeling rose in her heart—she seed to know what was coming but didn’t dare be sure.
Director Lu Ming walked straight up to Bei Yuwei, his voice warm and sincere. “Yuwei, I’ve always had concerns about the previous script cuts. They really affected your character’s integrity and developnt. I just talked with Zhao Ding, and we’ve co up with a preliminary revision plan—adding back several key scenes.”
Screenwriter Zhao Ding imdiately stepped forward, smiling as he enthusiastically explained his ideas for the revisions, full of passion and sincerity.
His tone carried a hint of flattery and cautiousness, as if afraid Bei Yuwei might be unhappy.
Li Ruixi’s expression grew increasingly sour. She couldn’t help but speak up: “Director Lu, wouldn’t these changes affect the overall pacing of the film? It’s already got a fixed runti—adding too many subplots might make it feel draggy.”
Lu Ming frowned, his tone turning cold. “Ruixi, this is an internal crew adjustnt. No need for you to worry.”
Li Ruixi wanted to argue more, but when she saw Lu Ming’s firm gaze, she ultimately held her tongue.
Bei Yuwei took a deep breath, her face blooming with a sweet smile. “Thank you, Director Lu and Writer Zhao. I’ll give this role my all—I won’t let everyone down.”
In the dressing room, the group chatted for a while longer, and the atmosphere was very pleasant.
After Lu Ming and the others left, Li Ruixi gritted her teeth and quickly followed them out.
She was clearly unwilling to let this go—she wanted answers.
The dressing room fell quiet again.
Bei Yuwei could no longer hide her excitent, her eyes sparkling. She whispered, “It worked!”
Sister Bing’s heart was pounding as she nodded. “Yeah, Yuwei, this ti it really—”
Before she could finish her sentence, her phone suddenly rang.
She glanced at the screen, and her expression changed slightly. In a low voice, she said, “It’s the talent director! Let take this!”
She quickly picked up, her voice respectful. “Hello? Director Wei.”
“Mhm, yes, I’m listening.”
“Um… I see… Alright… I understand…”
After hanging up, Sister Bing turned to Bei Yuwei, her tone complicated. “Yuwei, Director Wei said all filming for Snowy Night, First Light is temporarily paused. Once things settle here, you need to go to headquarters.”
“All filming is paused? Go to headquarters? Why?” Bei Yuwei’s face turned pale with shock.
Sister Bing took a deep breath and said quietly, “Chairwoman Su wants to et with you.”
Bei Yuwei looked stunned. “Which Chairwoman Su…?”
“Miss Su Yu.”
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