Chapter Eleven: Ling Nan's Invitation

There is an old saying, “The best time of the day is the morning.” But for Zhou Xiaoqi on her holiday, this saying held no meaning at all—she wished she could sleep until the world turned upside down, if only to escape the turmoil in her heart.

After parting ways with Cui Hao and his wife last night, she hadn’t returned home immediately, but wandered the streets alone for a long time. She knew her feelings for Cui Hao had been a mistake from the start, so she had no intention of letting them continue. In the eyes of the world, such love was wrong, a destructive force aimed at someone else’s family—even if she herself had never intended to cause harm. Most of the time, destruction doesn’t have to be spoken or acted upon; the very idea itself is flawed. Even if they were to be together, they would be scorned by all.

A few mornings later...

The warm sunlight bathed Zhou Xiaoqi’s face, but before she could enjoy it, her phone rang. “Hello, is this Zhou Xiaoqi?” came a sweet voice from the other end.

“Yes, this is Zhou Xiaoqi. And you are?” Still groggy with sleep, Zhou Xiaoqi stared at her phone in confusion.

“This is the Film Academy. We’re calling to inform you that you’ve passed the preliminary exam. Please come to campus tomorrow at 2 p.m. sharp for the second round.”

The news jolted Zhou Xiaoqi awake instantly, and she thanked the caller over and over again in her excitement. After hanging up, she immediately called Xue Ran. “Xue Ran, I just got a call from the Film Academy about the second round. Did you get yours?”

Judging by the sleepy voice on the line, Xue Ran was clearly still half-asleep and barely aware of what she was saying. “Mm, not yet. I really can’t. I’m too tired. If I get the call, I’ll let you know.”

Before Zhou Xiaoqi could respond, the line went dead with a series of beeps. Feeling somewhat helpless, she set the phone down and prepared to get a little more sleep. Today was bound to be a restless day. Just as she was about to lie back down, her phone rang again.

“Brother Lingnan, what brings you to call me so early? Is something up?” Although she and Lingnan were on good terms, this was the first time he had ever reached out to her proactively.

“Oh, it’s nothing really. Didn’t you mention last time you were applying to the Film Academy? Did you get in?” Lingnan’s voice was as cheerful as ever.

“I just got the call this morning. They want me there at two tomorrow for the second round. I think I should be okay?” Even as she spoke, Zhou Xiaoqi wasn’t entirely sure.

“Xiaoqi, are you certain you want to go to the Film Academy?” Lingnan pressed her once more for her answer. Deep down, he didn’t want her to go, but if she insisted, he would support her.

“Yes, I do.” This time her answer was free of hesitation or doubt.

“All right, then. I support you. Here’s what we’ll do—come to my bar at noon. I want to introduce you to someone. He’s got some investments in the entertainment industry.” Lingnan had made up his mind. Since he couldn’t change her decision, he would at least make sure she had some protection. That way, he wouldn’t have to worry about her being taken advantage of.

“Okay, thank you, Brother Lingnan.” Lingnan’s concern touched her deeply. Ever since she started high school, she had lived apart from her family, and now she lived alone. Other than the most basic greetings, her family barely communicated with her at all. Lingnan’s gesture felt like a beacon lighting up her heart.

Zhou Xiaoqi knew that since coming of age, she had to make her own decisions—her future path would be hers alone to walk. Thinking about the introduction Lingnan had mentioned, she began to get ready, breaking away from her usual student style. Today she chose a long white dress that reached her ankles, paired with simple white heels. Her hair, usually cascading freely over her shoulders, was gathered into a lazy yet tidy and playful bun. For the first time, she put on a touch of makeup. Already beautiful by nature, Zhou Xiaoqi appeared even more exquisite after her careful preparations, the kind of beauty one wanted to keep hidden away.

Inside the bar...

Lingnan sat casually in a booth, talking on the phone, his smile showing just how pleased he was. “All right, be here at noon sharp. Remember the girl we had share a booth with you last time? Her name’s Zhou Xiaoqi. She’s applying to the Film Academy. You have your own talent agency, right? Come and see if she’s a good fit. If so, sign her. Good... We’ll talk more when you get here.”

After hanging up, Lingnan felt confident that things would work out.

When Cui Hao received Lingnan’s call, he was somewhat surprised. Although he didn’t know Zhou Xiaoqi very well, her personality seemed ill-suited to the Film Academy—it was, after all, an industry built on social connections. Cui Hao once again realized that Zhou Xiaoqi was not as vulnerable as she appeared. This side of her piqued his curiosity, making him want to discover more.