Part 2 of Chapter 79

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Please Like Her 30 – (Beware) Brother-Father & original FL scenes + Variety show’s final episode recording

“I knew it.” Lin Yanyan turned to glare at Chi Yan’s back, her teeth almost grinding to dust. She reluctantly sat back down, looking at Shang Lu with a somewhat aggrieved expression and asked, “Is he good to you?”

“Very good,” Shang Lu nodded and peeled an orange in front of him, feeding it to Lin Yanyan.

Lin Yanyan ate it reluctantly and said, “Be more specific.”

Shang Lu : “…?”

How could she explain such things?

Lin Yanyan persisted, “Otherwise, I won’t feel at ease.”

Fine.

Shang Lu reluctantly lowered his voice and told Lin Yanyan a few things.

Although Lin Yanyan almost burst into laughter every time she heard them, as soon as Shang Lu stopped, she pretended to be picky and said, “That’s it. Tell me something else.”

Until the Chi Yan’s voice rang out, he walked out with two plates and looked at Shang Lu, saying, “I need to fry the glutinous rice cake a little longer. Can you bring Da Guai over? Just give it a snack to fill its stomach. I’ll take it for a bath later.”

He was still cooking and not very convenient to deal with the dog.

“Okay,” Shang Lu stood up and wanted to go out directly. Lin Yanyan naturally followed Shang Lu, as Lin Yanyan doesn’t want to be alone with Chi Yan even for a second.

The two entered Chi Yan’s house.

Lin Yanyan looked at the furnishings in Chi Yan’s house with a bit of disdain, saying, “This aesthetic is not good. Look at that sofa pillow; it doesn’t match at all.”

Shang Lu patted Da Guai’s head while responding to Lin Yanyan, “You’re right.”

In fact, the original pillow was on her sofa at home, but she felt that she had to agree with Lin Yanyan at a time like this and couldn’t tell the truth.

Lin Yanyan still looked a little upset. When Shang Lu had finished feeding Da Guai a chicken leg and was about to take it with her, she turned around and found Lin Yanyan looking at her with a teary expression.

Shang Lu was taken aback and asked, “Why are you crying again?”

“I don’t know.” Lin Yanyan’s voice choked up, and she stared at the ceiling. “I just have this feeling of going to marry my daughter. If Chi Yan is not good to you, I won’t let him off. I want to be the bridesmaid at your wedding, the godmother when you have children, and in the future, when your children date, I want to meet your son-in-law or daughter-in-law. Waaah!”

“Okay, okay.” Shang Lu was a bit amused and couldn’t help but laugh. She quickly handed Lin Yanyan a tissue to wipe her tears and said, “We haven’t rushed into that stage yet. We’re just dating. You’re thinking too far ahead.”

“I just prepare myself mentally.” Lin Yanyan replied confidently, her gaze freezing the moment she locked eyes with Da Guai.

She was immediately drawn to Da Guai and bent down to pet the dog, saying, “Although Chi Yan might barely be a match for you, his dog is quite cute.”

After being praised, Da Guai wagged its tail even more enthusiastically and used its mouth to push a chicken leg wrapper out of the trash can, making it clear that he wanted some.

Lin Yanyan couldn’t resist the charms of the Samoyed, so she asked, “Is there another chicken leg? Give it one more!”

“It should be here.” Shang Lu searched the snack cabinet, somewhat puzzled. “I remember there were some here yesterday. Where did they go?”

Since Shang Lu couldn’t find it, she looked at Da Guai and said, “It’s not that Sister won’t give you any; I really don’t know where the chicken legs are. Good boy, let’s go.”

*Woof! Woof woof!* Da Guai responded in this way but refused to leave with Shang Lu. It bit the dog leash and wagged its tail, leading them to the study.

Although Shang Lu thought there probably wouldn’t be any chicken legs in Chi Yan’s study, she couldn’t resist the dog’s insistence.

Shang Lu could only follow behind Da Guai and asked, “Where are you going?”

Da Guai entered Chi Yan’s study and continuously used its mouth to bite one of the drawers, attempting to open it.

With its unwavering effort, the drawer was finally pulled open, revealing something inside : a photo frame.

Hmm? A photo frame?

Lin Yanyan curiously approached and asked, “Where are the chicken legs?”

She picked up the photo frame, intending to search for the chicken legs, but she fell silent the moment she saw what was inside.

Lin Yanyan’s lips twitched as she looked at Shang Lu and said, “I believe he really loves you.”

Shang Lu: “?”

Lin Yanyan turned the special custom-made photo frame in her hand, which had a more spacious interior than a typical photo frame, and inside it was not a photo but an embroidery.

The content of the embroidery was all too familiar to Shang Lu.

Chicken legs with tomato sauce on a green plate.

Shang Lu burst into laughter, stroking Da Guai’s head and asking, “Has Dad taught you that these are chicken legs?”

*Woof!* Da Guai answered like this.

Shang Lu’s lips couldn’t help but curl up, and even the somewhat ugly embroidery seemed much more pleasing to her.

Lin Yanyan : “Are you imagining that Chi Yan is holding this thing up and telling the dog that it’s a chicken leg?”

Shang Lu was a little surprised and asked, “How did you know?”

Lin Yanyan started pulling her hair without expression, looking very distressed.

She knew it! She knew it! Girls in love are all like this!

She won’t be the person Shang Lu cares about the most in the future, but she also has no position to compete with Chi Yan for Shang Lu’s love. Ugh, 😭.

D*mn Chi Yan! D*mn!!!

The breakfast was actually a bit awkward. Lin Yanyan glared at Chi Yan at least a dozen times during the meal.

Before leaving, Lin Yanyan waved her hand and said, “Is your new movie <Salvation Plan> about to be released? I’ll book ten showings, and Song Zeqian asked us to pack our bags and go straight to the set after the Lunar New Year.”

After that, she provocatively glanced at Chi Yan.

Song Zeqian’s crew was staying in a hotel arranged by the production team. Even if Lulu and Chi Yan were in a relationship, the only person who could see Lulu every day was her, Lin Yanyan.

However, Chi Yan smiled gently and said to Shang Lu, “By the way, something was just decided yesterday, and I haven’t had a chance to tell you yet. I met with Song Zeqian and confirmed that I’ll be investing in his new movie.”

Shang Lu was somewhat surprised. “So the job you mentioned yesterday was for this.”

Lin Yanyan : “?!”

Why? How did Chi Yan become their financial sponsor?

Ahhhh! She couldn’t stand it! Let this world be destroyed!

But looking at Lin Yanyan, who was about to go crazy again, Shang Lu immediately changed the subject and asked her, “Why did you come to see me so early in the morning? Is there something you want to talk about?”

Lin Yanyan : “!!!”

If Shang Lu hadn’t reminded her, she would have almost forgotten the main point!

Lin Yan Yan didn’t care about glaring at Chi Yan anymore and immediately said, “My Mom told me this morning. A few days ago, she had afternoon tea with friends, and someone mentioned Jiang Yi. His relationship with his family is very strained right now, but in this situation, he’s still investing in Ning Lin’s new drama, and they started arguing again!”

Shang Lu thought for a moment and asked, “Ning Lin’s new drama?”

“I’ve already found out about everything on my way here,” Lin Yanyan said excitedly at this point, “Ning Lin has been posting a bunch of photos of herself as a teacher in the mountain village for the past two days, saying that she has been doing charity work all these months, just to whitewash her image. It seems like Jiang Yi arranged a web series for her, with a popular traffic celebrity as the male lead, and the writer and director they hired are pretty good. I guess they spent quite a bit of money to get those people. Maybe they are preparing for her comeback.”

Ning Lin was boycotted by netizens spontaneously due to ethical reasons. It wasn’t exactly a complete ban or hiding, but her popularity had plummeted so much that no film crew would actively seek her out. However, as long as there’s capital willing to support her, she might still have some opportunities.

Shang Lu touched her chin, slightly shifting the focus of the conversation, and sighed, “It’s truly a touching love story.”

As the male and female leads, they’ve been through so much chaos, yet they are still together.

At this moment, Chi Yan calmly remarked, “Web series don’t necessarily get broadcast just because they are filmed.”

“Don’t speak in such a villainous tone,” Shang Lu waved her hand at Chi Yan, took a sip of milk, and said, “If she wants to make a comeback, let her do it. We don’t need to concern ourselves with her.”

If Tang Qingqing knew, she should be very happy.

Shang Lu thought this in her heart, and her focus shifted once again.

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Please Like Her 30 – (Beware) Brother-Father & original FL scenes + Variety show’s final episode recording

Shang’s mansion.

The man who had just passed his golden birthday rapidly lost weight in the span of a month, looking utterly disheveled and completely white-haired.

His hair was messy, and there were some unhealed wounds on his face, including his palms. The wounds that had once almost shown bone were healing, but the scars remained.

No one could tell that this was the same man who had once been a powerful figure in the business world, looking so lively just a month ago at his birthday celebration.

Since his failed suicide attempt, he had been confined to this room. There were no objects in the room that he could use to harm himself, and he was under 24-hour surveillance.

He sat despondently at his desk, holding a photo of his wife from the past. The medicine bottle on the table had long been empty, but he hadn’t seen his wife in his dreams since.

When he heard the sound of the door opening, he slowly raised his head and looked toward the doorway.

It was his son, with a faint resemblance to his younger self in his features, just like the man standing beside his wife in the photo.

Looking at the cast on his son’s leg, his expression grew even colder. He said, “You’re blocking my way.”

If it weren’t for Shang Mu’s intervention, he might have already reunited with his wife.

Shang Mu walked in with a crutch, wearing a gentle smile on his face, and he greeted, “Father.”

Shang An closed his eyes, his weariness unhidden on his face, and said, “Get out.”

Shang Mu continued to smile and asked, “Father, have you ever thought about whether, by continuing like this, Mother would be willing to see you?”

Shang An ignored Shang Mu, but the increasingly unpleasant expression on Shang An’s face revealed his inner anger.

He understood this logic, of course, but he was unwilling to admit it.

Under the influence of the medication, he had decided to face death. He thought that, even if he reached the afterlife, he and his wife were so deeply in love that she would forgive him.

But when he was sober, that courage evaporated.

Would his wife really forgive him?

If there was another world underground, would his wife still want to see him? These were questions he didn’t have answers to.

The useless medication had never brought him to his wife. Instead, it had caused him increasing headaches and weakened his body.

But he was unwilling to give up, so he increased the dosage, with no effect.

He experienced various hallucinations, some strange and absurd, and at times, he couldn’t distinguish between dreams and reality. He found himself back where he had first met his wife, waiting and waiting, but he could never find his wife.

He began to feel disappointed, even desperate.

Whether it was towards himself or the medication.

He knew that many things within the company had been handed over to Shang Mu, and he felt like he had been effectively confined at home by his own son. However, he didn’t even have the energy to get angry; he just felt an endless fatigue, even sensing that his waking hours seemed to be dwindling.

Increasingly, distorted and strange images kept appearing, making it difficult for him to distinguish reality from illusion.

In countless midnight moments, he experienced cold sweats and argued with the air, even experiencing occasional incontinence due to fear.

But when he woke up, he would forget all of this, as if nothing had ever happened.

Shang Mu’s voice continued, “Father’s health has improved a lot, so I’m relieved. There are still many matters in the company waiting for Father to handle.”

Shang An sneered, “Are you suggesting that I return to the company?”

“Of course,” Shang Mu responded with innocence, “I’m just concerned about Father’s health. Do you think I’m trying to seize power?”

“Never mind,” Shang An closed his eyes again and said, “Let the company be in your hands. Your mother’s anniversary is approaching, so arrange for someone to send me abroad at the same time as before.”

Shang An and his wife had met after an opera performance overseas. They used to go there for a date every year on the anniversary of their meeting. His wife’s death anniversary was close to that date, and after that, he would spend half a month nearby every year.

For Shang An, his son risked life to save his life, although it wasn’t the result he had wanted. But these shallow father-son feelings had, albeit reluctantly, grown a bit stronger recently.

Shang Mu’s gaze fell on the empty medicine bottle on the table.

He told his father that the medication’s side effect was hallucinations, but he never told his father that those hallucinations would never occur again.

In other words, no matter how many times Shang An took such medication, it would only harm his body, and he would never see his wife again.

When the medication lost its effect and he was placed in a free environment, he naturally wanted to rely on other means to create hallucinations.

Shang Mu didn’t do anything. As a son, he doesn’t have the authority to control his father.

Shang Mu lowered his head and just pursed his lips, obediently responding, “Yes, father.”

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Waking up from a nap.

Shang Lu, wearing slippers, walked towards the bathroom, feeling like she had forgotten something.

What was she originally planning to do yesterday? It got interrupted.

It shouldn’t be related to Chi Yan; it was further back.

It had nothing to do with Shang Mu; it was even earlier.

As Shang Lu brushed her teeth while thinking, there was a knock at the door from outside, followed by Lin Yanyan’s shrill scream, and not even a door could stop her.

“Chi Yan? Why are you at Lulu’s house? What did you do to my Lulu? Ahhh—”

Shang Lu nearly choked on her own foam.

Help! She remembered.

She was originally going to tell Lin Yanyan that she and Chi Yan were together, but Shang Mu’s situation had distracted her, and she had forgotten.

Shang Lu quickly rinsed her mouth and went out to the rescue.

Seeing Lin Yanyan, who looked like she was about to explode, Shang Lu had to pull her aside immediately. “Calm down, calm down.”

Chi Yan, on the other hand, remained calm and glanced at Shang Lu, saying with some helplessness, “You explain.”

After that, he went into the kitchen.

Lin Yanyan immediately accused Shang Lu, “I know you two have a good relationship, and I know you’re neighbors. It’s normal for you to freeload off him as a single woman, but can’t you have some awareness? It’s a man and a woman alone together, and you’re even in your pajamas. You just let him directly into your house?”

Lin Yanyan’s series of remarks made Shang Lu contemplate.

It seems… she did.

Between her and Chi Yan, they had crossed some boundaries from the beginning, but at the time, because they had known each other for so long, they didn’t see any problem.

By the time she fully realized it, they were already together.

Oh, wait, that’s not the main point.

Shang Lu looked at Lin Yanyan and earnestly said, “Yanyan, I need to tell you something.”

Lin Yanyan didn’t consider herself smart, but in times like these, a strange intuition made her cover her ears. “I have a feeling you’re about to tell me something not so good.”

Shang Lu also didn’t take Lin Yanyan’s hand off, but took out her phone and said, “Alright, if you don’t want to hear it, I’ll tell Sister Jiang Jing first.”

Lin Yanyan : “?!”

How could that be? Of course, Shang Lu have to tell her first!

So, Lin Yanyan pressed Shang Lu’s hand, her mouth pouted so much that she could almost hang a bag on it, but still reluctantly said, “Go on, I’m listening.”

Shang Lu was very direct : “I’m in a relationship.”

The little stray hairs on Lin Yanyan’s forehead seemed to stand up at this moment. She stood up directly and asked, “Who? Who!”

Shang Lu didn’t say anything, just glanced in the direction of the kitchen and then shrugged.

Lin Yanyan’s brain froze for a moment.

She blinked her eyes and wanted to ask, ‘How could it be him?’ But then she felt that when it came to Shang Lu, it could only be Chi Yan.

Unexpected, yet also expected.

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Part 3 of Chapter 78

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Please Like Her 29 – No one can get past those twenty years (of living with Brother)

When Shang Lu took the movie ticket and sat down with Shang Mu, he saw that the cinema was already full of people. Shang Lu asked, “It seems very popular. How did you manage to get tickets, and such good seats?”

Shang Mu replied, “I wanted to invite you. I bought tickets for every show these past three days in advance.”

Shang Lu understood, but not entirely. She asked, “Why did you want to invite me to see this movie?”

“Among the things you left behind, there were many horror movie DVDs. I’ve watched all your shows, and you and Ye Lu watched this movie together, and you said you’ve watched it five times,” Shang Mu answered, but then he suddenly realized something was off and asked tentatively, “Don’t you like it? Or have you watched it too many times and don’t want to see it again?”

“No, it’s neither,” Shang Lu shook her head, gazing ahead. “Let’s not talk. The movie is about to start.”

Indeed, the movie was truly terrifying. Most of the people in the audience had previously watched it at home seeking thrills, but screams could still be heard throughout the theater.

Shang Mu didn’t come solely to watch the movie, but the plot managed to startle him, occasionally leaving him with a pale expression.

When they reached a scary scene, even though she knew the content well, Shang Lu, like the other girls around her, would cover her eyes and scream.

Before the scariest scene arrived, Shang Mu reminded her to close her eyes.

Clearly, he had also done his homework and watched the movie in advance.

Shang Lu closed her eyes, feeling them growing a bit tired and even sore.

Thankfully, the theater was dim, and as long as she didn’t speak, no one would notice.

After finishing their meal and the movie, it was time to part ways.

Shang Lu looked at Shang Mu, who was walking with a crutch beside her, looking somewhat comical. She suddenly asked, “Shang Mu, before I was born, did you look forward to me coming into this world?”

“Yes,” this question made Shang Mu stop in his tracks, and he answered, “Back then, I did think about it. If you were a boy, we could have learned swimming and boxing together. If you were a girl, I would have shown you off in front of my friends, making them envy me for having a little sister.”

“I see,” she forced a smile, her face showing a hint of happiness, as if she had also fantasized about such scenes as Shang Mu described. Then she said, “Shang Mu, this time I’m truly letting go.”

Shang Mu froze, not immediately understanding what she meant.

Sipping her cola through the straw, Shang Lu paused for a moment and continued, “Last time, it was actually a lie. It’s not that I don’t care, but I didn’t want to argue with you again, so I said it’s okay.”

With one hand resting on the crutch, Shang Mu said, “I know.”

“But this time is different; I understand you now, so I really don’t blame you anymore.” There was a hint of helplessness in Shang Lu’s eyes as she continued to smile and said, “I’ve been thinking for a long time about how we should get along in the future, but I can’t figure out how we should interact like normal siblings, teasing each other. I’m sorry, Shang Mu, why don’t we just leave it at this? If we need each other’s help, we can contact each other. If there’s nothing, we can both live our lives.”

Shang Mu remained silent for a long time but didn’t avoid Shang Lu’s gaze.

His voice was hoarse, but he agreed, “Alright.”

At that moment, Shang Lu’s phone rang.

Seeing the sender of the message, her expression was a typical shy look of a girl in love.

Shang Mu immediately realized and asked her, “Is it Chi Yan?”

“Yes,” Shang Lu nodded directly, quickly replied to Chi Yan’s message, and then decided to tell Shang Mu, “He’s my boyfriend.”

“That’s good,” was the response that Shang Mu completely expected. He knew how much Chi Yan cared for his sister, so it was only natural for her to fall in love with him.

Shang Mu still cautioned her, “If Chi Yan ever treats you badly in the future, tell me. We’re not afraid of him or Chi family.”

Although Shang Lu didn’t think that day would come, she didn’t object at the moment and just nodded, saying, “Alright.”

They took the elevator downstairs.

Shang’s family car and Chi Yan’s car were waiting, one behind the other. Shang Lu had sent a message to Chi Yan half an hour before the movie ended.

Shang Lu looked at Shang Mu with a cast on his leg and asked, “Do you need me to help you get into the car?”

Before Shang Mu could speak, the driver immediately got out of the car to assist him.

Shang Mu felt that the driver was a little annoying, but he could only say, “No need, since Chi Yan is here, you should go back early.”

“Alright,” Shang Lu nodded in agreement, not looking at Shang Mu anymore, and directly got into Chi Yan’s car.

Seeing Shang Lu approaching, Chi Yan got out of the car to open the door for her and glanced in Shang Mu’s direction.

Both of them nodded to acknowledge each other.

Then Shang Lu leaned out of the car, seemingly determined, and said, “Shang Mu, happy birthday.”

She tossed a keychain to him, which she had casually won at the arcade machine next to her while he was buying popcorn. There was no other gift, so she had to make do with it.

Shang Mu caught the keychain, and at that moment, his eyes turned red, and then he got in the car.

The two cars drove in different directions at the intersection in front, and soon they were so far away that even the license plates couldn’t be seen.

At night.

Chi Yan didn’t ask Shang Lu why she was with Shang Mu, but after seeing her feeling down, he pulled her to sit on the couch at his home and watched a cheesy romantic movie together.

Shang Lu stared at the screen, letting the clichéd plot of the movie continue, and then when she turned around, she saw Chi Yan almost in tears sitting next to her.

Chi Yan wiped away his tears and said, “So touching.”

Shang Lu : “…”

Chi Yan, with red eyes, asked her, “Why aren’t you crying? It’s such a touching love story.”

Shang Lu : “…”

If she remembered correctly, this movie was something she randomly picked, with a rating of 3.7 on a certain website.

Who would cry for such a trashy film!

What’s more important is—

Eye drops were right there on the coffee table, this is too fake!

Shang Lu could see that Chi Yan was trying to give her an excuse to cry. She sighed and said, “I really don’t want to cry.”

“Oh?” Chi Yan looked down at her, a bit puzzled, obviously not entirely convinced.

Shang Lu leaned her head on Chi Yan’s shoulder and said, “Really, I’m quite happy.”

Her voice was gentle as she slowly recounted everything that had happened today.

Chi Yan nodded continuously, responding to every word Shang Lu said, and he held her hand.

Shang Lu smiled and looked at Chi Yan, saying, “I really don’t blame him anymore. He must have had a tough time over the years, maybe even more painful than me, especially when he had to separate from Sister Ah Yin. I’ve thought about it, and if I never see you again from now on, I can’t maintain absolute calm and trust, and I might end up blaming the people who caused our separation.”

So she let go of those years and let go of the matter about the rose manor that had made her cry into her pillow in countless late nights.

Until the end, Shang Lu sighed and said, “It seems a bit regrettable. I know he did his best, but I think I did too. He and I can only be like this now.”

Shang Mu wanted to make amends, so he took her to watch the scariest horror movie, thinking she might like it.

During the movie, she thought of countless possible outcomes between herself and Shang Mu, and in the end, she made that choice.

—Brother, happy birthday.

She thought to herself.

It can only be like this.

It has to be like this.

They both did their best.

It’s just a pity that in the end, no one could cross those twenty years that had passed.

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Part 2 of Chapter 78

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Please Like Her 29 – No one can get past those twenty years (of living with Brother)

Downstairs, peace was restored.

Shang Lu looked at the old butler who was pouring her tea and asked, “You know something, don’t you?”

The old butler’s hands trembled slightly, and he accidentally spilled some tea, but he still pretended to be calm and said, “Miss, what do you mean?”

“About the injuries on Shang Mu.” Shang Lu took a bite of a small biscuit. She still couldn’t believe Shang Mu’s words.

Shang Mu had always been calm by nature and wouldn’t have provoked Shang An’s dissatisfaction so many times.

And Shang An wasn’t mentally ill; he couldn’t randomly vent his frustrations on his children. If it was as Shang Mu said, Shang An should treat them all equally, not just punish Shang Mu.

The old butler looked increasingly troubled and said, “Miss, it’s not that I don’t want to tell you.”

“Speak, or I’ll leave now.” Shang Lu stood up and pretended to leave, saying, “If Shang Mu comes down and doesn’t see me, he’ll probably get even more upset. As long as you tell me, I can pretend I never heard it.”

The old butler hesitated for a moment.

He understood his Young Master’s quirky personality; Young Master would never voluntarily reveal the truth. He also knew that once Miss promised, she wouldn’t lie to him.

He actually… hoped that his Young Master and Miss could reconcile.

So, the old butler compromised and said, “It’s because of you, Miss. Whenever you do something that displeases the old master, he… vents his anger on Young Master. I overheard them argue once, and Master thinks that not raising his sister properly is an older brother’s fault. Since Miss looks so much like the late Madam, Master can’t bear to punish you, so he can only make Young Master learn his lesson this way.”

It was an unexpected answer for Shang Lu, but it also matched Shang An’s personality. It was something Shang An could do.

Shang Lu believed it, but she still found it hard to understand. “Whenever I make a mistake, he’s the one who gets punished, has it always been like this?”

The old butler replied, “It’s always been like this.”

Shang Lu didn’t say anything; she just took a small sip of the hot tea in front of her.

She seemed to suddenly understand Shang Mu.

If she were Shang Mu, doing nothing wrong yet always being punished in place of her sister, growing up with this kind of education, it would be difficult not to feel resentment and aversion.

The old butler added, “But, Miss, neither you nor Young Master have done anything wrong.”

The old butler had watched Shang Mu and Shang Lu grow up, like his own grandchildren.

Many times he feels heartache for these two children, but he can’t do anything because of his own identity.

They have all grown up, and he just hopes that they can both be well.

“I know, thank you,” Shang Lu reluctantly flashed a smile.

When Shang Mu finished his examination and went downstairs, Shang Lu stood up, clearly indicating that she was about to leave.

Shang Mu was prepared for her to leave directly, but he didn’t expect her to ask him, “How about having a meal together?”

Shang Mu looked pleasantly surprised and immediately arranged for a driver to take them to the restaurant.

Shang Lu didn’t know why she made such an invitation.

Perhaps it was because she thought that she and Shang Mu had been considered family for so many years, but they had never had a proper meal together.

Shang Lu asked him, “What would you like to eat?”

Shang Mu replied, “Anything is fine, I’ll eat what you like.”

Shang Lu chose hotpot.

For Shang An, this kind of meal was so simple and low-end that it was not allowed in the Shang family, as it would be considered a chef’s negligence. Because Shang Mu’s leg was still injured, Shang Lu chose a hotpot with both spicy and non-spicy broth.

The two of them ordered a private room and a variety of ingredients were brought to their table.

There wasn’t much to talk about between Shang Lu and Shang Mu, they simply repeated the action of putting food into the hotpot.

Shang Lu didn’t pay much attention to Shang Mu either, she just focused on eating what she liked. When Shang Mu used the serving chopsticks to pick up a few pieces of meat for her, she didn’t refuse.

In fact, Shang Lu felt some regret; she wished she hadn’t invited Shang Mu out for hotpot. Maybe she should have had the two servants from home come inside instead of eating at the table by the entrance. It felt strange for the two of them to be alone together.

Shang Lu felt like there wasn’t much to talk about with Shang Mu, but unexpectedly, Shang Mu spoke up, saying, “I saw Ah Yin last month.”

This Ah Yin is Shang Mu’s first love, a beautiful girl that Shang Lu also remembers fondly.

In an instant, Shang Lu put down her chopsticks and looked at Shang Mu with a face full of curiosity.

She admitted that she was curious and wanted to hear more.

As he mentioned this name, Shang Mu’s expression became even gentler, and he continued, “Before you joined the variety show, I had been abroad for a long time because I received news about her, but I didn’t get to see her that time. Last month, we finally got in touch and agreed to meet. She came to see me, with… her son.”

This twist came too suddenly.

Shang Lu covered her mouth with one hand and took a few seconds to react. “She’s married?”

“Yes, it happened three years ago.” Shang Mu fumbled around the top of his chopsticks with his fingers, his expression filled with nostalgia. “When she went abroad, she realized she couldn’t change the situation and took the opportunity to continuously improve herself, just like I thought. She’s still so outstanding. She said she thought about waiting for me, but she met a man who loved her deeply. He pursued her for several years, always treating her very well, so she chose to enter the bonds of marriage with him. She apologized to me, and I said it was fine. Thankfully, she didn’t really wait for me; otherwise, I would only have found her this year, and I don’t know how many years of her youth would have been wasted.

“Her son is of mixed race, with adorable golden hair, but the lower half of his face looks just like her; you can tell he’s her son at a glance. She told her husband that I was the first love she deeply loved in the past that she once mentioned. Her husband was a bit cautious in his attitude, but still very polite. I could see that he loves her very much, and she loves him too, which is why she was so open about my existence. I even had someone investigate her husband specifically. He comes from a good family with well-educated parents. He has stable employment, and he once saved an elderly person from drowning. He’s a kind person, and he deserves her.”

Shang Mu’s voice grew lower, and he began to show signs of uncontainable emotion. He said, “She’s doing well. She found someone better than me to spend her life with. She’ll be very happy, and I have no regrets.”

In reality, there aren’t so many fairy tales. Reuniting after many years may not necessarily be a romantic reunion; it might also mean that things have changed.

Shang Lu also liked that Sister very much and felt some regret but could only offer comfort, saying, “Shang Mu, this proves that you should also move on. You’ll have a new life too.”

“Yeah,” Shang Mu didn’t deny Shang Lu’s words but closed his eyes.

There were some things they both didn’t say but thought about at the same time.

If only they hadn’t been born into such a family.

If only they didn’t have such a father.

Unfortunately, in this world, there are no ‘ifs’ in everything.

This is their fate, whether they acknowledge it or not, it’s already set.

After finishing their meal, Shang Mu suddenly suggested, “There’s a movie theater upstairs. Do you want to go watch a movie together?”

Shang Lu looked at him in confusion, feeling that this invitation was even more sudden.

Shang Mu explained, “It’s a classic foreign film that’s only showing in China for a limited time, and today is the last day.”

Shang Lu found his words intriguing, but when she received the movie tickets, she couldn’t help but smile.

This is indeed a classic foreign film.

There are really coincidences in this world. What they’re about to watch is the horror movie she watched together with Ye Lu during Xiao Taoyan’s recording.

She had originally watched it five times, and the last time she watched it with Ye Lu was the sixth time, so this is now the seventh time.

---

Please Like Her 29 – No one can get past those twenty years (of living with Brother)

Shang Lu placed her phone aside, rarely not directly replying to Lin Yanyan but instead acting as if she hadn’t seen it.

She held a sweet potato and ate it, the sweet and sticky taste permeating her mouth. She took one bite after another, from nibbling at first to almost swallowing without chewing.

It was an indescribable sense of annoyance.

She thought she would be numb after hearing things related to Shang Mu, but she couldn’t help thinking about the message Lin Yanyan sent her.

—Stop thinking about it, it has nothing to do with me.

Shang Lu told herself this way. With a big piece of roasted sweet potato in her stomach, she felt uncomfortable from forcing so much food into her stomach.

She stopped eating and poured herself a sip of warm water, drinking it in small sips.

No, she needed to find something to do.

After tossing the newly changed bedsheets into the washing machine, Shang Lu sat back at the table, picked up her phone.

She told herself that she didn’t care about Shang Mu’s situation; his life and death had nothing to do with her.

She was just watching the excitement, adding insult to injury.

So Shang Lu replied to Lin Yanyan’s message.

[ Shang An has never hurt me. Is he in serious condition? ]

This ‘he’ naturally referred to Shang Mu.

Seeing Shang Lu’s denial, Lin Yanyan thought that she had seen a lot of Shang Lu’s skin, which was indeed fair and flawless. She breathed a sigh of relief.

[ That’s good ]
[ I don’t know, after all, I haven’t seen it with my own eyes, but the nurse said it was like he had been abused, it was terrifying. My Sad also said that your brother was in the hospital a few years ago because of a love affair that your family didn’t agree with, and his ribs were kicked and broken… so scary. Why does he always suffer so much? It seems like your choice to stay away from this family is right! What a violent maniac! ]

Because of a love affair that your family didn’t agree with, his ribs were kicked and broken.

This statement left Shang Lu slightly stunned.

She desperately searched her memory for any related scenes but came up empty-handed. At that time, the few times she and Shang Mu had met were spent arguing, and aside from that, she had never really looked at him.

Shang Lu flipped through the information.

All kinds of old scars all over his body, not a single good spot.

These two simple sentences kept appearing in her mind. After a while, she finally replied.

[ Is Shang Mu still in your hospital? ]

Lin Yanyan replied.

[ He went back a long time ago; it seems like a regular fracture, nothing serious. ]

Shang Lu’s fingers slid on the screen, finding the profile that had long been put on the blacklist, and sent a message.

[ Where are you? I want to meet you; I have something to ask you. ]

Shang Mu almost instantly replied to her message.

[ I’m at home. ]
[ I can go out, anywhere you want, you choose the location. ]

When Shang Lu moved out of the Shang’s mansion, Shang Mu came to see her for the first time. At that time, she had said she wanted to return to that home, and the only possible reason would be if Shang An had died, or she had died.

Shang Lu also understood Shang Mu’s meaning and replied to him.

[ Doesn’t he want to die? It’s almost the same, don’t trouble yourself. ]

One hour later.

At the entrance of the Shang’s mansion.

This was the place where she had lived for more than twenty years, every blade of grass and every tree was familiar to her.

When she left last time, she hadn’t expected to return voluntarily.

The moment he saw Shang Lu, the old butler’s voice was filled with joy : “Miss? Miss, you’ve really come back!”

The butler had always been decent to Shang Lu, so she asked in a gentle tone, “Where is Shang Mu?”

The butler replied, “Young Master is waiting for you. He said you were coming back and was so happy that he had the servants prepare many of your favorite dishes for you.”

Shang Lu hummed in acknowledgment and walked into the house.

Even before entering the room, she could smell the sweet aroma of cake.

The coffee table was filled with a variety of desserts, and some of her favorite fruits were neatly cut. Shang Mu had a cast on his leg and looked somewhat disheveled as he sat on the side.

They haven’t seen each other for a long time.

For Shang Lu, the person in front of her is familiar, but he looks somewhat unfamiliar.

His eyes no longer show the cold indifference she remembers; instead, they carry a hint of anticipation and even caution.

Shang Mu looked at her, wanting to say something, but he only managed to say two words, “Please sit.”

Shang Lu placed her bag on the side of the sofa and sat down. She looked at Shang Mu, her gaze falling on his leg encased in a cast, and said, “The bond between a father and son is truly deep.”

As they are blood relatives, just like he used to do to her, she also know how to use the most indifferent words to hurt him.

But Shang Mu wasn’t offended. He even smiled faintly in response, “Dying would be too easy for him.”

Shang Lu pursed her lips and asked, “How is he doing now?”

“He’s almost gone mad. He’s awake less and less every day. I begged him to take care of his health and consume fewer hallucinogenic drugs, but he wouldn’t listen,” Shang Mu explained casually. “I don’t know where he heard that using drugs can create hallucinations. If it weren’t for me stopping him, he might have overdosed long ago. But I’m busy too, and if I ever neglect to control him, it might be troublesome.”

“That’s his choice,” Shang Lu replied, unconcerned.

Suddenly, Shang Mu asked her, “Do you want to see him? He’s like a dog, not quite human, not quite a ghost, crawling on the ground.”

Thinking about that image made Shang Lu shiver. It wasn’t out of sympathy; she just didn’t want to witness it, as it wouldn’t bring her any pleasure.

Call it avoidance or weakness, but she cared less about how Shang An was doing. What she hoped for was to not hear any news related to him.

Her visit today wasn’t about Shang An; the conversation had veered off track.

Shang Lu looked at Shang Mu and got straight to the point, “Did he used to hit you often?”

This abrupt change of topic made Shang Mu instinctively deny, “No.”

“If you lie, there’s no need to continue this conversation,” Shang Lu said, her tone clear and her attitude evident.

Her expression was calm and indifferent, but it concealed an undeniable sense of anger.

Shang Mu was unsure how to interpret her gaze; she seemed to be genuinely concerned about him.

Shang Mu lowered his head and slowly rolled up his sleeve, revealing several shocking scars on his arm.

The longest one among them, almost ten centimeters in length, looks uneven.

Indeed, it’s true.

Shang Lu closed his eyes and asked, “Does he often hit you?”

“Yes,” Shang Mu rolled down his sleeve and said, “It’s been like this for years. Whenever I make a mistake, I get beaten, and I’ve long been used to it.”

A brief silence.

However, Shang Lu stared into his eyes and said, “Tell me the truth, Shang Mu. Apart from your first love, I can hardly recall any of your actions that would displease him.”

If getting beaten is a consequence of making mistakes, then he wouldn’t have so many scars on his body.

Shang Mu avoided Shang Lu’s gaze and said, “When he’s in a bad mood, he takes it out on me as well.”

Shang Lu was half-believing, but she didn’t press further. Instead, she muttered, “So, is this his retribution now?”

“Yes, it’s retribution. Maybe it’s punishment from Mom in heaven.”

Shang Mu didn’t choose to tell the truth because he knew that no matter what, Shang An was their biological father, and the less Shang Lu knew, the easier she could live.

Shang Lu accepted this explanation, or perhaps she also hoped for it.

And at this moment, a private doctor arrived to give Shang Mu another check-up.

Two servants hurried over to support Shang Mu.

However, Shang Mu refused to go upstairs and instead looked at Shang Lu, asking her, “Will you still be here when I come down?”

Shang Lu’s intention to leave was seen through, but she still took a step back and said, “I’ll wait for you to come down before I leave.”

Shang Mu only agreed to go upstairs after this.

---

Please Like Her 28 – You kissed me and now you’re trying to act like it never happened?

Shang Lu never thought of herself as the proactive one in matters of kissing, but without much thought, she still did it.

Looking at the Chi Yan’s completely blushing cheeks, she reached out to touch them and said, “Chi Yan, you’re shy.”

Of course, when she said this, she wasn’t doing much better herself, just trying to appear calm.

Chi Yan was amused by her actions and wanted to say something, but his gaze landed on her soft and tender lips, with a look that didn’t hide certain thoughts.

Shang Lu didn’t push her luck. She withdrew her hand and instead lightly tugged at Chi Yan’s clothes, reminding him, “We’re outside.”

There were people nearby, and it wouldn’t be good if someone saw!

Chi Yan’s voice carried a laugh, but she deliberately asked, “I didn’t say anything; what are you thinking?”

Shang Lu naturally didn’t answer that question.

A man’s large hand gently rubbed her head and said, “Alright, let’s go home.”

All the way until she was sitting in the passenger seat, no, until they got out of the car, entered the elevator to go home, Shang Lu couldn’t understand.

Is this really how they’re going home? Chi Yan isn’t going to continue the previous topic? He’s actually asking about her recent situation; then, her kissing or not kissing makes no difference at all.

The development is not as she had imagined, making Shang Lu feel an inexplicable sourness in her heart, as if there’s a lump in her chest that she can’t breathe out or swallow.

Shang Lu is not someone who keeps grievances in her heart; she clearly realizes that she’s not happy right now, so she must speak up.

Chi Yan held her suitcase with one hand and was about to unlock Shang Lu’s door with the other, but Shang Lu blocked his way inside.

Chi Yan didn’t expect to be stopped by Shang Lu at the door and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Shang Lu looked at Chi Yan and asked very directly, “Don’t you have anything to say? I’ve kissed you, and your response makes me feel a bit… upset.”

Based on her understanding of Chi Yan, it shouldn’t be like this.

He should say he likes her, he should say he wants to be with her, and then she would agree.

It shouldn’t be almost cold and suddenly left aside like this.

Even on the way, although the two were chatting, he never looked in her direction.

Chi Yan’s was very soft, replying under Shang Lu’s somewhat resentful gaze, “From that moment on, I couldn’t think of anything else except wanting to continue kissing you.”

After saying that, his lips drew closer.

Within a distance of less than a centimeter, their warm breath could land on each other’s faces, but the kiss still didn’t fall.

Shang Lu was stunned.

Her eyelashes trembled, but she immediately closed her eyes.

The warm kiss landed on her forehead, a fleeting touch.

The next moment, Shang Lu felt strong arms wrap around her waist, and in an instant, her feet left the ground, and Chi Yan princess-carried her inside.

The luggage that was in the way was placed next to the shoe cabinet by the entrance, and Chi Yan closed the door from the inside with his foot.

He walked briskly inside, placed Shang Lu on the sofa, and put a cushion behind her waist.

On the way back, she had complained of some back pain.

He adjusted Shang Lu to the most comfortable position on the sofa, knelt on one knee between her legs, and leaned over to envelop her in his own shadow.

Chi Yan first kissed the corner of her lips a few times. Seeing that she didn’t resist, he finally placed a real kiss on her lips.

Starting with gentle teasing and sucking on her lips, his tongue briefly parted her lips, guiding her to get used to the feeling of kissing him but not rushing, just using his tongue to trace the shape of her lips.

Unlike the aggressive gaze he had, his kiss was gentle, making it impossible for anyone to refuse.

Shang Lu’s hands circled Chi Yan’s neck, tilting her head back, and feeling his tongue’s warmth as it entwined with her own, flexibly coaxing her to surrender and completely yield to him.

Their breath grew increasingly rapid.

Though Chi Yan had adjusted her to the most suitable position on the sofa, for some reason, her body had softened, and she could only tighten the hands circling Chi Yan’s neck to support herself, more like inviting his kiss to continue.

It was unclear how much time had passed.

Shang Lu extended her hands to cover her face, curling up in the corner of the sofa, ignoring Chi Yan.

Though she had agreed, and it could even be considered her initiative, she couldn’t control the redness that had spread across her entire face.

Chi Yan also covered his face, looking somewhat aggrieved, and said, “You kissed me and now you’re trying to act like it never happened?”

Shang Lu angrily picked up a cushion next to her and threw it at Chi Yan.

Initially, Chi Yan’s kiss was gentle, but after she couldn’t resist her curiosity and extended her tongue to explore the new territory in his mouth, he seemed to change.

From sucking on the tip of her tongue to the base, it now felt a bit numb, far from the comfort it used to be.

Shang Lu, who was initially dissatisfied, found her irritation dissipate when she noticed a more pronounced split on the corner of Chi Yan’s lower lip.

She didn’t seem to hold back much either.

The kiss became more intense, and when she realized that saliva was trickling down the corner of her lips, it was a completely unexpected situation. Shang Lu felt quite embarrassed and bit him.

But even though there was a taste of blood in her mouth, he didn’t let go; he only gave her a moment to swallow before continuing the kiss.

It might be over now, but the speed of her heartbeat only increased.

Shang Lu wanted to cover her ears, but then realized it wouldn’t block out the sound of her racing heart. She felt both embarrassed and annoyed.

Chi Yan, on the other hand, wasn’t annoyed. He brought his face closer and wanted to say something but saw Shang Lu suddenly cover her mouth.

Chi Yan felt innocent and said, “I just wanted to talk to you.”

Shang Lu realized she had overreacted, glared at Chi Yan with irritation but was pulled into his arms before she could say anything.

She leaned entirely against him, resting her chin on his shoulder.

Chi Yan held her in his arms and whispered in her ear, “I’ve missed you so much.”

Realizing what Chi Yan meant, Shang Lu’s face turned even redder. When Chi Yan finally released her, she hugged him back.

She said, “Chi Yan, keep holding me, hold me tighter.”

Chi Yan naturally followed her words and tightened his arms.

She was completely in his embrace, as if cut off from the rest of the world. In this moment, she could just relax and not think about anything.

Shang Lu’s voice was low as she asked, “Chi Yan, will you choose me forever, forever, forever?”

“Why would I need to choose?” Chi Yan’s voice seemed a bit puzzled. He said, “I’m on your side, and I’ll always be on your side.”

Shang Lu closed her eyes and said, “Then I believe in you.”

At this moment, all Chi Yan needed to do was take the final step to solidify the relationship between the two, so he said, “Shang Lu, I want to be with you.”

She then replied, “We are already together.”

Chi Yan continued to emphasize, “I want to be with you forever, forever, and forever.”

“Okay,” Shang Lu said as she moved out of Chi Yan’s embrace, reached out, hooked her pinky with his, and smiled, saying, “You have to believe in me too.”

---

The next day, when she woke up, Shang Lu sat on the bed, thinking about what had happened last night, and then she lay down again.

She pulled up the blanket and covered her entire face.

Deep breath.

Exhale—

Inhale—

Calm down, be calm.

She really was together with Chi Yan. Since last night, they were no longer friends, but a couple.

He was her first love.

In Shang Lu’s memory, her first impression of the term ‘first love’ was the girlfriend that Shang Mu brought home.

That gentle Sister who spoke to her with a kind smile, and because of her presence, Shang Mu and she had a brief period of peaceful coexistence, even resembling normal sibling interactions at times.

At the time, Shang Mu had said that the girl was his first love, and also the person he liked the most.

So, ‘first love’ was a sweet term, representing a wonderful person.

Shang Lu was a little uneasy, not because she didn’t know how to handle the changing relationship with Chi Yan, but because she didn’t know how to tell the people around her about this change.

For example, Lin Yanyan, everyone from Xiao Taoyan, Wang Rong, Xue Zishan, and Xiao Mi.

The people around her probably didn’t notice the change in her and Chi Yan’s relationship, especially Xiaomi, who was still a child and definitely wouldn’t understand these things. How could she suddenly accept that ‘the older brother next door has become her sister’s boyfriend’? That should be very strange.

Shang Lu scratched her head in distress and suddenly felt that no matter how she put it, it wouldn’t feel natural.

And right at this moment, Shang Lu’s stomach growled, and the scent in the air became even more enticing than before.

Shang Lu sniffed and made a judgment.

Hmm… it seemed to be corn and shrimp porridge, her favorite egg custard shumai, and hot roasted sweet potatoes.

Shang Lu was hungry, so she got up from the bed.

One second before walking out the door in her slippers, she returned to the bathroom and looked in the mirror.

Her hair was messy, and she was wearing childish pajamas. Should she change into something else?

With this thought, Shang Lu froze when she reached for the clothes.

What was she doing?

They had been neighbors for so long, yet she had never seen how she looked when she got up in the morning. Now, her attempt at dressing up seemed too fake.

While Shang Lu was struggling with her thoughts, she suddenly remembered what Chi Yan had said last night: he had to go to the company during the day and they would have dinner together at night.

Right.

Chi Yan wasn’t here today, she wouldn’t see him at all.

Shang Lu instantly breathed a sigh of relief, walked out, and took the breakfast out of the kitchen.

While eating, she brushed her phone and opened the conversation window with Lin Yanyan.

After confirming a relationship, a girl should tell her best friend first, so she wanted to tell Lin Yanyan first.

Just as Shang Lu was thinking about how to articulate it, she suddenly saw a message from Lin Yanyan.

[ Lulu, just now my Dad told me that something seems to have happened at your home. Last week, your Dad wanted to commit suicide, and your brother rolled down the stairs to stop him. They both have been lying in my family’s hospital for a few days. ]

Shang Lu : “…?”

What?

Shang An wanted to commit suicide, and Shang Mu stopped him.

Forgive her bluntness, but that’s weird.

And Lin Yanyan’s second message followed.

[ The nurse saw all kinds of old scars on Shang Mu when she was changing his clothes. There wasn’t a single good spot on his body. I heard it from my Dad. Have you always been treated like that too? Scum! Trash! I’m so angry! ]

Shang Lu was taken aback.

Was Shang Mu covered in scars?

All the ignored memories surfaced at this moment.

It seemed she had once grabbed Shang Mu’s arm, and his reaction to her touch had been excessive.

And she had seen Shang Mu coming out of the study, looking a bit strange at times.

Suddenly, Shang Lu thought of something, she picked up her phone and glanced at the date.

Today was Shang Mu’s birthday.

—Not an important day.

---

rokumi’s note : Ahhh! Finally! They’re officially a couple!!!

*The last part about the Shang’s was a mood killer though.*

---

Part 3 of Chapter 76

---

Please Like Her 27 – I miss you a little bit

Something strange was happening.

There was a row of people sitting in front of the cake shop, they had brought chairs, and some were even wrapped in blankets. They seemed prepared to stay here until morning.

Shang Lu turned to Meng Zhichuan and asked, “What’s going on here?”

Meng Zhichuan stroked his chin and said, “It looks like scalpers in line.”

Naturally, Shang Lu didn’t believe it. The shop was popular, but it wasn’t that extreme, was it? It was too much to come and queue a night in advance.

So she went up and asked, “What are you doing?”

“Of course, we’re queuing,” a friendly man replied and advised Shang Lu, “If you want to buy, you’d better grab a spot quickly. This place is really hot right now, and you won’t be able to buy anything if you come during the day.”

Another man, half-asleep, still chimed in, “After Ou Yi’s group came here to queue and were photographed by fans, this place became even more popular. Their fans specifically ask us to queue for them to get the same as their idols.”

The previous man scolded him, “Why do you care about what others do? Let’s make money; that’s a good thing!”

Shang Lu didn’t quite understand and asked, “Doesn’t this shop offer delivery? Why do we need to wait in line?”

The two men just laughed at her, “Is this your first time in the capital? This cake shop is really popular. We don’t understand it either, but young people love it, and there’s no delivery service. Not just now, even on regular days, you have to wait in line for hours.”

—Not only is there delivery, but they also have a membership card.

Shang Lu wanted to say it but hesitated for a moment.

She raised her head and looked at the contact information next to the cake shop sign, then cut out a phone card and made a call, “Hello, can I inquire about getting a membership card? The one that includes delivery service. … You don’t provide that service to the public? Then how come my friend told me she has one? Card number W1.”

The person on the other end replied directly, “You can tell from the card number, right? W1, the only one¹, there’s only one like it.”

Shang Lu was stunned and took a moment to say, “Okay, I understand. Thank you.”

At this moment, she finally understood why Chi Yan had a strange expression when she asked why he didn’t give his mother a membership card.

The card in her hand was the only one.

Meng Zhichuan was shivering with cold beside her and asked directly, “Ancestor, what do you want to eat? Can we buy it quickly and go back?”

“No need anymore,” Shang Lu shook her head, bought a roasted pear for Meng Zhichuan from the roadside and placed it in his arms. She then took her luggage from the car and said, “You can go back.”

Meng Zhichuan looked at her in bewilderment, “Where are you going?”

Shang Lu replied, “I’m waiting for someone to pick me up and take me home.”

Meng Zhichuan : “?”

Meng Zhichuan : “Are you not satisfied with the car or the agent? I knew it; you must have a new agent outside! If there’s something you’re not happy with, just tell me, and I’ll talk to the company. We’ve been through thick and thin for so many years. Now that you’re famous, I’ve benefited from it. You can’t just abandon me at this time…”

“Stop,” Shang Lu interrupted Meng Zhichuan’s sudden concern and said directly, “I don’t plan to change companies; I just want to have a relationship.”

Meng Zhichuan : “???”

Meng Zhichuan was so shocked that he almost dropped the roasted pear in his hand, “Who is it? Is it Ye Lu, Xu Ze, or Ou Yi? It can’t be Meng Li or Cheng Zhe, right? Is it…?”

Meng Zhichuan was about to ask about everyone in the entertainment industry whom Shang Lu had worked with, but then Shang Lu pushed him into the car.

Shang Lu stood on the roadside, waved towards Meng Zhichuan and said, “I’ll tell you once it’s confirmed, goodbye.”

Meng Zhichuan opened the car window and stuck his head out, asking, “Are you kidding? It’s your rising period! This is the time for you to focus on your career…”

Shang Lu stood on the roadside, looking troubled, and said, “Xu Ze’s agent even asked me today about the remaining time on my contract.”

“Don’t worry about anything, I’ll take care of it. Just enjoy your youth. If you don’t date now, are you going to wait until you’re 35 or 40? Goodbye, I wish you both happiness.”

Meng Zhichuan stepped on the gas, and both he and the car disappeared in an instant.

Shang Lu laughed and then sent a location to Chi Yan using her phone.

[Are you coming to pick me up?]

Twenty minutes later.

The familiar car parked by the roadside.

Chi Yan got out of the car, helped Shang Lu put her luggage in the trunk, and asked, “What are you doing here?”

“Bored, just came to take a look.” Shang Lu replied, looking puzzled. “How did you get here so quickly?”

She was prepared to wait for a long time.

“Don’t worry, I wasn’t bypassing red lights or speeding, I just took a shortcut.” Chi Yan replied while taking something out of the car, keeping it tightly covered in his hands and handed it to Shang Lu.

Shang Lu used her index finger to poke Chi Yan’s hand and asked, “What is this?”

Chi Yan slowly opened his hands, revealing a roasted sweet potato that was still steaming even in the cold winter.

Shang Lu was amused, accepted the roasted sweet potato with both hands, and asked, “Did you bring this all the way here?”

Chi Yan nodded, “I saw it on the way, and I remember you said you liked it.”

Shang Lu was about to say something but then sniffed the air and tried to lean into Chi Yan’s car, but he abruptly stopped her.

Chi Yan seemed a little flustered and pretended to be calm as he asked, “What’s wrong?”

“No, something’s not right,” Shang Lu said seriously. “I can smell the aroma; there can’t be just one; there should be at least five.”

Chi Yan breathed a sigh of relief and explained, “The old man selling roasted sweet potatoes had frozen hands, so I bought the rest to let him go home and rest.’

Shang Lu smiled with her eyes squinting and said, “Alright, we’ll reheat the leftovers tomorrow morning and eat them.”

“Okay,” Chi Yan nodded in agreement, raised his hand to help Shang Lu tuck the stray hair that the wind had blown across her face behind her ear, then turned to open the car door and said, “Let’s go home.”

However, Shang Lu did not get on the car, but instead, when Chi Yan was preparing to walk around to the other side of the car, she actively held his hand.

Chi Yan stopped in his tracks, not looking back, and his body was slightly tense.

Her hand was very soft and a bit cold.

Shang Lu asked him, “Is Xiao Mi doing well lately? Is everything the same as before I left?”

Chi Yan replied, “Yes, it’s the same.”

Shang Lu asked again, “What about Da Guai and Xiao Guai? Are they the same as before I left?”

“The same, they eat and sleep every day, waiting for you to come back,” Chi Yan said, then turned and took a step back, lowering his gaze to look at her.

But Shang Lu also lowered her head deliberately and avoided eye contact with him.

This time, it was Chi Yan’s turn to ask, “Why don’t you ask me?”

Shang Lu was cooperative, or perhaps what she originally wanted to ask was this: “And you, are you the same as before I left?”

“The same.”

There was no need for any hesitation. In the moment Shang Lu let go of Chi Yan’s hand, he gently hooked her ring finger, and his voice lowered slightly but sounded more resolute: “I’m still the same as before you left, still only like…”

Before Chi Yan finished speaking, he suddenly stopped. A momentary surprise flickered in his narrow eyes, but it was quickly replaced by joy.

Shang Lu held a warm roasted sweet potato in one hand, pressed her face against his chest, and grabbed his clothes with the other hand.

She pressed her ear to his chest, listening carefully for a while, then raised her head and said, “Chi Yan, your heart is beating very fast.”

“Can my heart not beat fast when you’re in my arms?” Chi Yan embraced Shang Lu with one hand, pulling her closer, and half-jokingly said, “If you kiss me one day, I might have to lie in an ambulance.”

Shang Lu looked at Chi Yan seriously and expressed her current thoughts: “Chi Yan, my heart is also beating very fast. And I think, I might miss you a little bit.”

As she spoke, Chi Yan tried to hide the curve of his lips that couldn’t be concealed, and gently tapped her brow bone with his other hand, saying, “Just a little bit? You’re getting more heartless, I’ve been thinking about you every day.”

The moonlight was gentle, and it made his eyes and brows appear as gentle.

Not with the playful and nonchalant smile of the past, but with sincerity, his gaze at her was like looking at his most cherished treasure.

And at this moment, he held her in his arms without any distance.

He completely belonged to her.

Even if she did nothing, just looking at him like this could make his heart overflow with more love.

Because she was the source of all his love.

Shang Lu suddenly tiptoed and planted a soft kiss on Chi Yan’s cheek.

She said, “Chi Yan, I miss you this much.”

---

1. the Chinese word is 唯一(wéi yī); 唯(wéi) means only and 一(yī) means one ↩︎

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Part 2 of Chapter 76

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Please Like Her 27 – I miss you a little bit

In fact, from the moment Song Zeqian chose Ye Lu, everyone understood the kind of doubts they would face next. But Song Zeqian handled the script in a way that, using information asymmetry, made Ye Lu’s performance perfectly fit the role. They all had confidence in Ye Lu’s acting.

Shang Lu yawned and suddenly changed the topic, saying, “I suddenly remembered our first meeting in the show. At that time, no one had high expectations for us, and many people even disliked us.”

“Yes,” Lin Yanyan also felt a bit emotional, holding her face with her hands. “Back then, I didn’t dare to think that so many people would like me, or like us.”

Going from being relatively unknown to being A-list celebrities was once her dream, and now it had become a reality.

Jiang Jing also joined in the laughter, saying, “I still remember our first meeting. We weren’t very harmonious at first, and I was worried you guys might fight. I had no idea how we would get through the many episodes that followed.”

“Yeah, that moment when Shang Lu clashed with Lin Yanyan became famous,” Ye Lu couldn’t help but laugh, even imitating Shang Lu’s expression from back then. “Because I have no manners, hahaha! That was the legendary scene of evil defeating evil!”

Shang Lu laughed while covering her eyes, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Lin Yanyan’s face turned red in an instant, and she began to tease Ye Lu, asking, “Where do you think you’re good? In the episode when Ning Lin came, she asked you if I disliked her, and you actually said, “Isn’t it obvious? She ran so fast.” It’s this scene that earned you the title of the Ultimate Straight Guy in the entertainment industry! Die! Straight! Guy!”

Ye Lu was amused and defended himself, saying, “I was being sincere! I answer all questions. Unlike Xu Ze, who completely ignores people! He’s rude!”

Xu Ze replied, “… I didn’t say anything.”

Why did the conversation lead to harm towards him?

As they chatted like this, the initially somber atmosphere was relieved.

Jiang Jing understood Shang Lu’s intention in bringing up this matter and said with a smile, “At the time, no one had high expectations for us, and the opportunity for Xiao Taoyan’s program team to work with us was based on a foundation of malice and dislike. I made a big decision to come there, and who would have thought the situation would turn out like this.”

“Right,” Lin Yanyan thought it made sense, and her eyes lit up. She raised her glass full of confidence and said, “If we can change their minds once, we can certainly change them a second time.”

Shang Lu smiled and agreed with her, “Absolutely.”

Glasses were raised, and they were all filled with orange juice, clinking in the air.

Accompanied by a full-throated shout from Ye Lu, “We will win!”

Song Zeqian, never one to miss an opportunity, quipped, “It all sounds so uncultured.”

Ye Lu was unfazed and instead asked, “So, Director Song, care to offer a cultured summary?”

Song Zeqian thought for a moment.

Then he said, “You’re right, we will win.”

A chorus of sighs and laughter followed.

In unison, everyone exclaimed, “Director Song! So uncultured!”

Laughter filled the dining table, and smiles adorned everyone’s faces.

Song Zeqian set down his glass and sighed in resignation, “Stop laughing and eat.”

The dinner table remained lively and animated.

After a hearty meal, the door was repeatedly knocked on as the agents and assistants came to pick up their respective artists. It was like a kindergarten dismissal, with the teachers and students waiting for parents to arrive.

After two weeks of training, Meng Zhichuan looked at Shang Lu in surprise and said, “You’ve lost so much weight!”

“Of course,” Shang Lu lay in the car, raised her hands and even a foot to gesture to Meng Zhichuan, “Fifteen days, exactly fifteen days. Do you know what kind of life I’ve been living? I only had one piece of cake.”

Although the program team had prepared a lot for her, under the devilish gaze of Song Zeqian, Shang Lu had to negotiate for a long time to get the privilege of eating a piece.

Meng Zhichuan chuckled at her and said, “Alright, I see you’re doing well. You do look prettier and more photogenic than before.”

“Heh,” was Shang Lu’s reply.

As Meng Zhichuan drove towards her home, Shang Lu suddenly said, “Wait, don’t go home just yet, let’s go… to the west side of the city.”

She then mentioned the name of the cake shop.

Meng Zhichuan couldn’t understand, “That shop is closed at this hour.”

Shang Lu replied seriously, “I know, there are many other places to eat nearby, let’s go take a look.”

Meng Zhichuan asked, “Didn’t you just ate dinner?”

Shang Lu : “I can still eat, I want to go.”

Meng Zhichuan : “…”

Alright.

Shang Lu took out her phone and replied to a message from Xue Zishan, her gaze stopping on her chat with Chi Yan.

These days, he had been messaging her. Sometimes it was about interesting things that happened to Xiao Guai or Da Guai, sometimes about the desserts he had made himself, and the last message was sent two hours ago.

[Are you coming back tonight?]

She knew Chi Yan was waiting for her, but Shang Lu still hadn’t replied.

Today was the deadline she had set for herself.

She knew the answer in her heart, but at the moment of making the actual decision, she felt strangely nervous.

She wasn’t the type to avoid things, but it was normal to be a bit weak in such matters, she comforted herself.

Shang Lu looked at the scenery outside the window. The car had gradually reached a commercial street.

On the roadside, there were many shops, couples holding hands, families strolling together. It was an ordinary night, but it looked warm and beautiful.

The evening breeze on her face was comfortable and pleasant.

Shang Lu closed her eyes, enjoying this rare moment of quiet rest.

Meng Zhichuan saw that she was really tired and played a gentle and soothing piece of light music.

Shang Lu felt her eyelids getting heavier.

But she couldn’t sleep because she had something on her mind.

It wasn’t until the car arrived at the west side of the city, in front of Shang Lu’s favorite cake shop, that she finally woke up.

Perhaps because Chi Yan had bought it, the shop seemed to have been renovated, and the storefront looked even more beautiful than before.

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Please Like Her 27 – I miss you a little bit

After understanding Song Zeqian’s intentions, everyone looked at the scripts in their hands, and the only word that could describe their inner feelings was ‘admiration.’

This move is truly brilliant.

Ye Lu was deceived, thinking that he was the only antagonist among the five children and was full of expectations for such a ‘challenging’ role.

For the others, they were also looking forward to seeing their own transformations.

Because Song Zeqian allowed them to witness sufferings, whether it was such events happening in reality or Ah Zhi’s courage and determination, it was very inspiring to everyone.

Everyone wanted to do their best to present their best selves.

Next, Song Zeqian subjected them to a week of intensive training.

By the fourth day, Lin Yanyan felt that she was on the verge of exhaustion. Taking advantage of the fact that Song Zeqian was primarily focusing on the scenes between Xu Ze and Jiang Jing, she and Shang Lu rested in their room for a while.

The two lay side by side on the bed.

Lin Yanyan looked up in despair and said, “I feel like my brain is empty right now, except for the lines. It’s so painful; I really want to sleep.”

What responded to her was Shang Lu’s steady breathing.

Just as they had laid on the bed, Shang Lu had already fallen asleep.

Lin Yanyan : 🥺

It seemed like Shang Lu was even more tired than her.

Well, Shang Lu and Jiang Jing had the most significant roles in the play, and Song Zeqian had the strictest demands on both of them in their daily training.

Lin Yanyan remembered that she had gotten up in the middle of the night to find something to eat, and she saw Shang Lu and Jiang Jing were both awake, wrapped in blankets, studying the script on the sofa together. When she woke up this morning, she saw that Ye Lu had already been grabbed by Song Zeqian to rehearse a scene for half an hour.

Lin Yanyan swallowed all the complaints that had been on the tip of her tongue.

She wasn’t the hardest working one, and everyone was putting in the effort.

In fact, what Meng Li said that day also had a great impact on Lin Yanyan. She didn’t want to be the only flaw in this film; she couldn’t drag everyone down.

Lin Yanyan climbed up quietly, covered Shang Lu with the blanket, and poured herself a large glass of iced Americano to drink.

It was so bitter.

But she had the spirit to drink it up.

The door was knocked from the outside, and Song Zeqian’s voice sounded: “Shang Lu, come out. Lin Yanyan, prepare your lines on page 53. It’s your turn in half an hour.”

Shang Lu had been sleeping lightly, and when she heard his voice, she got up and headed outside.

The training was on its seventh day.

The task assigned by Song Zeqian for the day was to have them perform all the scenes from the first day again, putting them together for everyone to watch and compare.

Everyone’s performances had visibly improved since the first day. Their understanding and grasp of the roles had deepened, bringing them closer to their characters.

Song Zeqian, as usual, started by sharply critiquing the shortcomings in each person’s performance, watching as the heads that had been habitually lowered after days of criticism suddenly perked up. He said, “But, you all passed. I admit that you are the most suitable choices for your respective roles.”

After Song Zeqian said this, all the lowered heads lifted up.

Lin Yanyan jumped up from her chair and exclaimed, “Hooray!”

Finally receiving recognition, her confidence grew even stronger.

Shang Lu and Ye Lu also got up, cheering enthusiastically. The atmosphere in the room became more cheerful.

Song Zeqian led them to the second-floor living room, where everyone discovered a sumptuous and delicious meal spread out on the dining table.

Song Zeqian said directly, “I’ve already contacted your agents. They will come to pick you up in two hours. After finishing your meal, you can start packing your bags.”

After spending so much time together in isolation, parting ways was indeed a bit difficult for everyone.

As they looked into the eyes that seemed to want to say something sentimental, Song Zeqian reminded them with an expressionless face, “This will be your last meal here, so be mindful of what you eat. If your weight doesn’t meet the requirements when we start shooting, you’ll all be on a strict water and boiled vegetable diet.”

For actors, the ideal weight for appearing on variety shows and for film roles can be different.

So Song Zeqian had specified the required weights for each of them based on their characters.

Jiang Jing needed to gain weight, while everyone else needed to lose weight.

Lin Yanyan’s face instantly fell, and she said, “Director Song, can you be an angel for a little longer?”

Song Zeqian smiled at her but didn’t say anything, his expression saying it all.

However, the meal didn’t go smoothly.

Just as everyone had taken their seats, Song Zeqian’s phone started ringing.

Song Zeqian didn’t answer the call but kept hanging up. He furrowed his brows in annoyance only after seeing one of the callers and eventually answered the phone.

I don’t know what was said over there, but Song Zeqian’s face became much worse. He directly said, “I understand.”

Then he hung up the phone.

Everyone realized that something was wrong.

Jiang Jing asked with concern, “What happened?”

“Nothing,” Song Zeqian denied directly, but his expression clearly conveyed ‘there is something.’

Shang Lu took a bite of his steak and asked vaguely, “Aren’t we a team? What secret can’t be shared?”

Others nodded in agreement.

A pair of worried and concerned eyes fell on Song Zeqian, and eventually, he relented.

Song Zeqian calmly said, “It’s not a big deal, just that an investor said they have other options. Don’t worry, focus on your acting, I will handle everything for you.”

Song Zeqian’s new movie had been planned with the team and investors for a long time, and it couldn’t be changed easily.

Ye Lu, who was originally slow to catch on, had a sense of the situation.

A few days ago, Song Zeqian had briefly given them access to their phones to call their families, and Ye Lu saw that his Weibo had been flooded with messages related to him.

The biggest controversy in the public eye right now was the fact that his idol had turned into an actor and was going to star in Song Zeqian’s movie.

Because everyone knew that the original choice for this role was Meng Li.

Replacing Meng Li with him was like a change from heaven to earth.

At first, netizens had high hopes for this movie, expecting it to bring Song Zeqian back to the peak of his career. Now, they were starting to ‘predict’ that this movie might lead to Song Zeqian’s downfall.

People were saying that Song Zeqian didn’t care about his reputation and just looking for traffic by hiring traffic celebrities. Now he even brought in Ye Lu who had never acted before. Some even mocked Song Zeqian, wondering if the hype about him was all talk and no substance. In reality, the script was so bad that no serious actor wanted to be a part of it, and only the cast of Xiao Taoyan agreed to help him save the day.

In short, there were all sorts of opinions, and what was initially a highly anticipated movie had turned into a subject of criticism and controversy. This was likely the reason an investor wanted to pull out; Song Zeqian’s production had a high entry threshold, and this kind of risk was something they couldn’t afford to take. After careful consideration, they decided to withdraw.

Everyone fell into a momentary silence.

Lin Yanyan sneered, “How much do we need they withdrawn? My Dad can cover it.”

Song Zeqian looked at her and exposed the truth directly, “Your family doesn’t support your acting career.”

There’s no way to ask her family to invest in the movie she’s starring in.

Lin Yanyan’s expression froze, but she still said, “I’m the only daughter in my family. If things get really bad, I can resort to crying, making a scene, or even threatening suicide. I can still get the money.”

Shang Lu, on the other hand, calculated for a moment and gestured a number to Song Zeqian, “I can contribute this amount. Will it be of help?”

Upon hearing this, Lin Yanyan immediately began calculating her own assets and even mentioned, “My Dad gave me several properties, all in prime locations. Selling them should yield a substantial amount of money.”

Others also expressed that they could contribute some money, and everyone could pool together.

Song Zeqian seemed to be amused by them, saying, “I’ve already said that you guys just need to focus on acting well. There’s no need for actors to crowdfund for the movie. Even in the worst case, I can sell my own house, so there’s no need to sell yours.”

Ye Lu lowered his head, and his usually arrogant face now showed some self-blame as he said, “It’s all because of me that they don’t have confidence.”

When Ye Lu said this, the lively atmosphere in the room suddenly became somewhat quiet.

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Part 3 of Chapter 75

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Please Like Her 26

“Huh?” Lin Yanyan became the one in Song Zeqian’s production team to wear a perplexed expression and asked directly, “Aren’t we about to start filming? Are we changing actors now? Who’s going to replace him?”

Jiang Jing also looked at Song Zeqian with a puzzled expression.

The filming will start soon, where could they find more suitable candidates now?

Song Zeqian remained silent.

Because, in his mind, there was a very suitable candidate that came to him in an absurd way, and he couldn’t even bring himself to say it directly.

To others, Song Zeqian’s silence seemed like a dilemma.

However, when he looked at Ye Lu for the third time, Ye Lu touched his arm and said, “Why are you staring at me? I don’t have any actor friends to introduce to you.”

Song Zeqian closed his eyes.

So be it.

There are so many good actors in the world; he couldn’t possibly fail to find a suitable candidate to play the role of the second son.

But in his mind, numerous faces of actors flashed by, and in the end, the one he least wanted to see was the one that stopped.

Finally, Song Zeqian seemed to accept his fate.

He looked at Ye Lu with a serious expression and asked, “Are you considering acting?”

Everyone : “?”

What did Song Zeqian mean by this?

Ye Lu : “?”

Did he have a hearing problem, or did Song Zeqian have a mental lapse?

“Not considering,” Ye Lu rejected without hesitation, and even made a joke at Song Zeqian’s expense, “I’ve said it so many times, I’m an idol, not an actor. Are you too desperate because your actor ran away right before the filming starts?”

Shang Lu naturally knew that Song Zeqian would never treat his film so casually. The only possible reason for his statement was that he was serious.

Shang Lu tentatively asked, “Because the scene where he just rode a pig is similar to a scene in the script?”

“More than that,” Song Zeqian replied, “On the way here, I also saw a collection of videos of him acting arrogantly, which is also very similar.”

Everyone : “…”

Wow, unexpected reasons are piling up.

Ye Lu immediately defended himself, “Don’t tarnish my reputation. There were reasons behind those actions!”

Clearly, Song Zeqian didn’t care whether he was genuinely being arrogant and continued, “Do you remember the episode of ‘True or False Friends’? It was because of Ye Lu that I made a wrong judgment that day. It made me realize that surface foolishness can confuse reality and fiction, and that’s when the second son character’s personality was finally set.”

And most importantly, the chemistry between Ye Lu and Shang Lu is right, although it hasn’t reached the level he requires yet, but it’s there.

Ye Lu is arrogant and unruly, while Shang Lu is perfunctory and cooperative, their movements and stillness perfectly complement each other.

Everyone fell silent.

It sounds like this character was created just for Ye Lu.

Ye Lu : “Are you calling me foolish?”

Song Zeqian : “…”

—Is this the main point?

Ye Lu scratched his head and said, “Thank you, but I still don’t want to act.”

Song Zeqian couldn’t understand and asked him directly, “Why are you so resistant? Don’t you like acting?”

“I don’t dislike it,” Ye Lu thought for a while, looking somewhat confused, but he said, “Actually, I don’t really understand, but everyone says idols shouldn’t act. I’m the most qualified idol, so I naturally have to follow this rule and not disappoint my fans.”

Song Zeqian then refuted Ye Lu’s statement: “What everyone hates is not that idols go to act, but that idols who are both weak in singing and dancing take the stage that others dream of as a springboard, and then turn to acting after they have gained traffic. When they are criticized for their poor acting, they will explain that it is normal for idols to be a little worse. When they are criticized for their stage performance, they will say that they have already turned to acting. They want to enjoy the benefits of both sides, but they don’t put in effort on either side.”

Ye Lu : “!”

Is that so?

Others : “!”

Song Zeqian is really good at criticizing.

Song Zeqian continued, “If you can succeed in both idol singing and dancing and have a successful film or TV work, then you’ll be even more outstanding. As long as you can do well, your fans won’t be angry. They will only take pride in you and consider you their pride.”

Ye Lu : “!”

Oops, he’s starting to be tempted.

Others : “!”

Song Zeqian’s mouth isn’t just for criticism; it’s also for painting a rosy picture.

Actually, Ye Lu still didn’t quite understand what Song Zeqian was saying, but as long as he thought that his fans would take pride in him, he couldn’t resist the power of this statement.

Ye Lu said : “It’s possible, but I’ve never acted before. Can I do it?”

Shang Lu also looked at Song Zeqian with some concern.

To be honest, she still didn’t quite understand Song Zeqian’s current decision. In any case, Ye Lu had never acted in a single play, and even though the role of the second son had the least lines, he was still one of the main characters. Especially the character’s performance had the most significant difficulty in portraying the nuances of good and evil. Song Zeqian had chosen Ye Lu for this role, but could Ye Lu’s performance really satisfy Song Zeqian?

If they were to replace the cast later, it would only delay things further.

However, Song Zeqian looked at Ye Lu and said, “I believe in myself.”

Ye Lu thought for a moment and replied, “I can give it a try, but filming must not interfere with my stage performances.”

Song Zeqian immediately responded, “We can negotiate the timing.”

When Ye Lu nodded, Song Zeqian continued, “Everyone, cancel the break time. I will arrange for your luggage to be sent over. Now, all of you come with me, and the training begins.”

Everyone : “?”

Huh? Isn’t this a bit too sudden?

So, on that day, everyone embarked on a journey to the villa arranged by Song Zeqian.

The cameraman, holding a camera, asked, “Director, can we still use this footage?”

The director laughed heartily and said, “Keep it. We’ll give it to the fans as a gift when the movie is released.”

---

The next morning.

After a grueling training session, everyone had a good night’s sleep. However, when they woke up, they saw Song Zeqian, whose eyes were bloodshot, and Ye Lu, who was reading the script while showering him with praise.

With surprise in his voice, Ye Lu said, “Why did no one told me this is the role of a major villain boss. This is so cool, I want to play it!”

Everyone : “?”

The second son is a major villain boss? What is Ye Lu talking about?

Lin Yanyan tugged at Shang Lu’s sleeve and whispered, “Don’t talk about acting; he hasn’t even understood the script, has he?”

But Song Zeqian looked at them and said, “None of you brought the script, right? Good, I’ve prepared new ones for you.”

There were several scripts on the coffee table.

Song Zeqian was reminding them to read the scripts for this project.

Everyone immediately picked up a script and began reading, all falling into silence.

Because of the script they see now is different from what they’ve been seeing all along.

But all the changes are on the second son, with numerous psychological descriptions added to him.

Including these psychological descriptions in the script is a mistake that only beginners make, and it’s obvious that Song Zeqian intentionally do it.

With these added psychological descriptions, without major changes to the plot, they’ve actually turned the second son into an antagonist.

Shang Lu : “…”

She suddenly understands the red bloodshot eyes in Song Zeqian’s eyes and the dark circles under his eyes. He must have stayed up all night to create this ‘new’ script.

Having Ye Lu play ‘evil’ with ‘good,’ his lack of acting skills has become an advantage, making it appear to the audience that he is trying to conceal the ‘good’ with the ‘evil’ unconsciously leaking out in order to protect his family, putting on a show to deceive others.

Whether it’s the first or second script, it all makes sense.

It perfectly solves the biggest challenge they faced when casting at the beginning.

Ye Lu is actually the most suitable choice for this role.

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