A long time after Director Zhu Wenhai had left, the small house atop the hill remained strangely unsettled.
Lin Che tried to go about her usual chores, but nothing seemed to go right. She poured water and missed the cup. She swept the floor only to realize she had been sweeping the same corner for several minutes. When she bent down to put on her shoes, she somehow slipped the left shoe onto her right foot and didn't notice until she stood up and nearly stumbled.
Her grandmother sat on the wooden bed by the window, watching quietly.
At first, she said nothing. Age had taught her that some thoughts needed space before they could be spoken aloud. But when Lin Che walked past her for the third time with a distant look in her eyes, her grandmother finally sighed.
"Cheche," she called gently. "Come here. Sit down for a moment."
Lin Che stopped, as if waking from a dream. She turned around, nodded, and walked over obediently, sitting on the low stool in front of her grandmother. Only then did she realize how tired she felt, as though her mind had been running nonstop while her body lagged behind.
"What's wrong?" her grandmother asked, her voice soft but perceptive. "You've been distracted since that man left."
Lin Che lowered her head. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around something in her palm.
It was the business card Director Zhu had left behind.
She hadn't even realized she was still holding it.
"It's nothing," Lin Che said instinctively.
Her grandmother smiled faintly, not fooled in the least. "You've worn your shoes wrong and nearly walked into the door twice. That doesn't look like nothing."
Lin Che pressed her lips together.
She didn't want to say it out loud. She didn't want to admit that what had shaken her wasn't the film, or the acting, or even the uncertainty—but the number he had left behind so casually.
Thirty-eight episodes.
Three hundred thousand yuan per episode.
The figure echoed in her mind, heavy and persistent.
Without meaning to, she began calculating.
If she really earned that much… she could rebuild the old house, replace the leaking roof, and add proper insulation so her grandmother wouldn't suffer through the winters. She could finally take her grandmother to a proper hospital in the city instead of relying on village clinics and home remedies. She could afford long-term treatment, regular checkups, better medicine—things they had never dared to hope for.
She could even save for the future.
For the first time in a very long while, money wasn't just money—it was possibility.
Her grandmother watched her expression carefully, seeing the conflict flicker across her face.
After a long silence, Lin Che finally spoke.
"What if…" she said slowly, "what if I accept the offer?"
Her grandmother didn't react right away.
Instead, she reached out and gently covered Lin Che's hand, her weathered palm warm and reassuring.
"Then you accept it," she said simply.
Lin Che looked up, startled. "That's it?"
Her grandmother chuckled softly. "What else should it be?"
"But… what if I fail?" Lin Che asked. "What if I embarrass myself? What if I really don't belong there?"
Her grandmother's gaze grew thoughtful. "Then you fail. And then you come home."
The simplicity of the answer stunned Lin Che.
"Cheche," her grandmother continued, her voice calm and steady, "anything you choose must come from your own heart. If you want to go, then go. If you don't, then stay. No matter what you choose, I will respect it."
Those words, instead of easing Lin Che's mind, only made her more conflicted.
If her grandmother had forbidden it, she could have refused without regret.
If her grandmother had encouraged it strongly, she could have gone without hesitation.
But this—this freedom—left her standing at the crossroads alone.
Lin Che lowered her head again, clutching the business card as if it might burn her fingers.
Elsewhere, in a private room of an upscale restaurant in the capital, the atmosphere was entirely different.
Soft music played in the background. Crystal glasses caught the light. The scent of fine tea and delicate desserts filled the air.
Second Madam Gong sat upright in her seat, a satisfied smile never leaving her face.
Across from her sat Ming Mimi.
Dressed elegantly in a light-colored outfit, Ming Mimi looked refined and composed, her every movement graceful. No matter how Second Madam Gong looked at her, she couldn't find a single flaw.
This was the daughter-in-law she had carefully chosen.
"You look even better than the last time I saw you," Second Madam Gong said warmly. "Have you been keeping busy lately?"
Ming Mimi smiled modestly. "Nothing much. I've just been helping my father at the company."
Second Madam Gong nodded approvingly at once. A woman who could balance career and family—this alone made Ming Mimi worth praising.
"I've been thinking," Ming Mimi continued, her tone casual yet deliberate, "that it might be time for me to return to the entertainment industry."
Second Madam Gong blinked in surprise. "A comeback?"
"Yes," Ming Mimi said with a gentle nod. "My father's company is stable now, and I've been away for long enough. If I return at the right time, it could be beneficial."
Her eyes flickered with quiet ambition.
"I heard that Director Zhu Wenhai is preparing a new film," she added. "If I can participate in his project, it would be the perfect opportunity."
Second Madam Gong's expression grew serious.
Even she, who paid little attention to films, knew Director Zhu's reputation. His works were known for quality, depth, and influence. Anyone who starred in his productions inevitably rose in both status and recognition.
"That director is very strict," Second Madam Gong said slowly. "And he's known for being difficult."
"I know," Ming Mimi replied calmly. "That's why I want to try. I heard he hasn't finalized the female lead yet."
Second Madam Gong studied her carefully, then nodded. "You're thinking in the right direction."
After a brief pause, she asked, "Do you need me to intervene?"
Ming Mimi smiled, her expression obedient and confident all at once. "I want to rely on my own ability first. But if that doesn't work…"
She looked up and said softly, "I'll need your help, Mother."
The single word made Second Madam Gong's heart lift.
She laughed lightly, waving her hand. "There's no need to worry. Just tell me when the results come out. I'll make sure everything is arranged properly."