A few days later.
Qi Jianyi entered He Zeqing’s office with a drink in her hand, her steps light and confident. She glanced around the spacious room, taking in the sleek, modern furnishings, but couldn’t spot its owner.
Deciding to make herself comfortable, she chose the plush couch near the large window and settled down, casually placing her drink on the coffee table.
A few monts later, the sound of the door opening instantly broke the silence, and she looked up to see He Zeqing entering the room, his face tight with stress. His usual composed deanor was replaced by a rare, unmistakable sign of tension.
"Oh, you’re here?" he greeted, his voice laced with a mix of surprise and mild irritation, as he walked toward her.
Qi Jianyi couldn’t help but notice the weariness in his eyes and the furrow in his brow. Her lips curled into a playful grin.
"What’s going on with you, cousin?" she teased, her tone light and mischievous. "Did soone steal your woman?"
He Zeqing snorted at her words, his irritation now obvious. With a swift motion, he reached out and ruffled her hair in a half-hearted attempt to restore so semblance of order to his thoughts.
"Is my miserable situation really a happy event for you?" he asked, annoyance seeping into his voice.
Unfazed, Qi Jianyi looked up at him with a proud glint in her eyes. "Of course," she replied, her tone dripping with satisfaction. "I live for monts like this. Watching you in a miserable state is always so... entertaining."
Not wanting to indulge her teasing any longer, He Zeqing quickly shifted the conversation. "How’s the audition going? Have any actors caught your eye?" he asked, his voice slightly more serious as he sought a distraction from his current frustrations.
Qi Jianyi, sensing his desire to move on, didn’t push the matter further. She leaned back against the couch, adjusting her drink before responding. "Well, there are a lot of talented people auditioning. Director Tang and I have already chosen the female lead and made selections for several other characters. The only role left to cast is the male lead." Her tone was thoughtful, reflecting the weight of the decisions that still lay ahead.
He Zeqing raised an eyebrow, noticing a subtle shift in her mood as she spoke.
"What’s wrong?" he asked, his voice filled with concern as he detected the change in her deanor.
Qi Jianyi’s gaze beca distant for a mont as she began to speak, her voice softening. "I t this one interesting actor. He’s not popular, but he’s incredibly talented..." She took a pause, as though carefully choosing her words.
"He’s been in this industry for eight years now, but despite his talent, he hasn’t made any significant breakthroughs."
He Zeqing, clearly skeptical, furrowed his brow. "If he’s as talented as you say, there’s no way he would still be a small-ti actor," he replied, unconvinced. "There must be sothing else at play."
Qi Jianyi shot him a look, her expression unreadable, before responding in a tone laced with quiet frustration. "Cousin, sotis, even the most talented people get buried if everyone keeps stepping on them," she said, her words tinged with dissatisfaction.
The entertainnt industry has long been recognized as one of the most competitive fields in the world. While anyone can attempt to enter, very few are able to truly thrive and sustain a career.
This is because success in this industry requires more than just raw talent as it demands a combination of factors that go beyond the ability to perform.
In today’s world, public attention is often focused on physical appearance. People are drawn to those who fit certain standards of beauty, and in many ways, being good-looking has beco a prerequisite for anyone trying to break into the entertainnt industry.
However, this is rely what the public desires to see. Behind the scenes, those in the industry understand that appearances alone are not enough.
To truly succeed, one must have the right resources, and often, this cos down to wealth. While there are certainly success stories of individuals who’ve co from modest backgrounds, the reality is that the vast majority of celebrities have benefitted from privilege.
Many have been born into families with significant financial ans, which allowed them access to the right connections, opportunities, and training that paved their way to stardom.
"His na is Wen Renyue," Qi Jianyi began, her voice steady but filled with a trace of admiration.
"He’s never had the chance to land any major roles, but he has an incredible ability to interpret the emotions of a character. Take Xu Yan, for example—he portrays the character’s feelings with such depth. He clearly has both the talent and the looks to make it as a big star. Yet, despite all that, he remains stuck in obscurity. The reason? He offended soone, and as a result, no director is willing to give him a chance. Not even Director Tang." She finished speaking, her gaze lingering on He Zeqing as she awaited his response.
What frustrated Qi Jianyi the most, however, was how Director Tang had so readily accepted her opinions on other potential cast mbers, but when she ntioned Wen Renyue, his response was imdiate and firm.
He outright rejected the idea of casting Wen Renyue, dismissing him with a single, unwavering statent: that the actor had offended Su Yunfei years ago, and any director who dared to work with him would face severe consequences.
Hearing this, Qi Jianyi was taken aback. She hadn’t anticipated such a strong reaction, especially one rooted in sothing so seemingly trivial. It wasn’t just that Director Tang had dismissed her suggestion—it was the sheer influence that Su Yunfei held over him.
Qi Jianyi couldn’t help but feel a sense of disbelief. Despite her own position as the daughter of President Qi, and even with He Zeqing’s authority as president, they had failed to sway Director Tang’s opinion in the slightest.
"I like him," she said, her voice tinged with frustration and a hint of defensiveness. "I believe he’s the only one who can truly bring Xu Yan to life. Yet, because he offended a big-na actor, Director Tang won’t even consider him. He just turned down without a second thought."
There was a fleeting mont where Qi Jianyi’s usual composure faltered, her expression softening with a touch of vulnerability as she voiced her frustration.
It wasn’t just the rejection—it was the feeling of being powerless in a world dominated by influence and connections that were beyond her control.
For the first ti, He Zeqing witnessed Qi Jianyi’s genuine frustration. Initially, he had disagreed with her viewpoint, but seeing the palpable distress on her face made him reconsider his stance. He realized that perhaps he should have listened more carefully to her words before dismissing them so quickly.
"Why are you so stressed about this? Do you really like him that much?" He Zeqing asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked at her with a mix of curiosity and concern.
Qi Jianyi, sensing that He Zeqing had begun to soften toward her, decided to play up her frustration even more. She deliberately pouted, nodding her head in affirmation, and maintaining the sa exasperated expression.
"He’s really good," she said, her voice carrying an air of both admiration and annoyance.
"But Director Tang keeps going on about how Wen Renyue offended soone and how I shouldn’t get involved. But who am I? I’m the daughter of President Qi, and my dad is very powerful. I also have you, President He, as my cousin. Let’s see who dares to ss with my first drama!"
She threw in a slight dramatic flair to emphasize her point, her tone laced with a mix of determination and frustration. The combination of her family connections and the power they wield made her feel confident, but also slightly wronged that her authority was being undermined in such a way.
Qi Jianyi didn’t forget to look at He Zeqing with an expression that was a perfect blend of frustration and a touch of vulnerability, like a little sister who had been wronged. Her gaze was intentional, aiming to pull at his protective instincts.
As expected, He Zeqing, who had always taken on the role of the older brother between them, was quick to seize the opportunity to step in and offer his support.
His tone softened, and he looked at her with a mix of concern and determination.
"Okay, okay, don’t be mad anymore. I don’t want you to upset yourself over this," he said, trying to ease her frustration. "Tell , who is the big actor Wen Renyue offended? I’ll have soone look into it and get to the bottom of the situation. If it turns out he’s really innocent, I’ll make sure all the necessary preparations are made for him. I’ll even make him the male lead, just like you want. But..." He paused, his expression turning more serious.
"If it’s proven that he’s a bad person, it might be better for you to consider other options."
He emphasized the last part, making it clear that while he was more than willing to support her, he couldn’t overlook the possibility of casting soone with a tarnished reputation.
His desire to see the drama succeed far outweighed any personal preference, and he wanted to make sure that they made the right decision—both for her and for the project’s future.
Having successfully achieved her goal, Qi Jianyi fought to hide the victorious smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She quickly dropped the na of the actor, knowing it would create the stir she was hoping for.
"His na is Su Yunfei," she stated coolly, making sure to maintain an air of annoyance, as if the re ntion of the na was enough to ruffle her feathers. She was about to elaborate further, but before she could continue, He Zeqing interrupted her with a sharp exclamation.
"Su Yunfei?!" His voice rose slightly, betraying his surprise and concern at the na.
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