Yu Qinzhou lowered his head and looked at Ming Qi’s eyes.
Every time this topic came up, Ming Qi’s anticipation and joy were completely unhidden.
So genuine it was almost endearing.
He pinched Ming Qi’s cheek, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.
“I’m very much looking forward to it. When the time comes, you treat me to the movie, and I’ll buy you popcorn and cola.”
“Okay.”
Meng She stood nearby like a decorative vase in the villa, silently listening to their conversation. He thought that if Ming Qi had fallen in love with someone else, as his manager, he would never be this calm. But Yu Qinzhou was different. His identity was worlds apart from Ming Qi’s, yet his sincerity toward Ming Qi was real.
The emotional value he gave Ming Qi couldn’t be measured in money.
As he thought this, Meng She quietly shifted his steps, preparing to sneak away. But as he turned, his eyes brushed past an antique vase nearby, and he suddenly sighed. Why did he feel like he was the vase just now? That vase was worth millions, and what was he worth?
He sighed again.
By the time he came back to himself, Ming Qi and Yu Qinzhou were already looking at him. Ming Qi gently pulled down Yu Qinzhou’s hand from his cheek and said seriously, though a bit hesitantly, “Brother, don’t worry, I’ll take you to the movie too.”
Meng She: “……”
That wasn’t the issue.
…
After receiving confirmation from Meng She, Director Zhou Xingxiu’s assistant quickly delivered part of the script and a confidentiality agreement, also scheduling a solo audition three days later.
“Only three days. Seems like a tough test ahead.” Meng She sighed.
He put the printed script down and didn’t disturb Ming Qi further, instead picking up Xiao Ba, who was about to jump onto Ming Qi’s head and cause trouble, and headed to the living room.
Meng She dressed Xiao Ba in its outdoor outfit again, then noticed a box handed over by Cen Jing. He took it casually, about to ask what it was, but when he saw what was inside, his pupils trembled.
“Is this real?”
Xiao Ba raised its tail high and meowed, as if answering him.
Cen Jing smiled as if translating, “Of course it’s real. How could Mr. Yu give his own son a fake one?”
Meng She: “……”
He was worse off than a vase in the villa, and worse off than a cat.
Inside the box were dozens of different-colored gemstone necklaces for cats.
Cen Jing added, “Xiao Ba likes them. It even sleeps holding them.”
Meng She gave an “oh.” “If I had them, I’d sleep holding them too.”
Then he calmly pushed the box toward Xiao Ba and said seriously, “Your Highness, please pick one. I, your humble servant, will help you put it on.”
Cen Jing: “……”
He genuinely thought Meng She would make a great actor.
Xiao Ba finally chose an emerald green one. Meng She’s fingers trembled slightly as he fastened it.
“What if it gets damaged?” he asked.
Cen Jing adjusted his glasses. “Then we buy another.”
Meng She: “……” Goodbye.
He then took Xiao Ba out for a walk with a leash. Along the way, they met other residents walking their cats. Xiao Ba always lifted its tail proudly and circled around them in a very arrogant manner.
Meng She suspected it was showing off its emerald necklace.
He clicked his tongue and recorded a video, uploading it to his usual short-video account with the caption: The only way I’m more noble than the prince is that I’m not on a leash / smile
He never expected Xiao Ba to go viral faster than Ming Qi ever could.
By the time he realized what was happening, his phone had already been flooded twice with notifications. He stared blankly at the rapidly rising likes and comments.
[LOL I’m worse off than a cat]
[Is that real jewelry?? If it is, I’m fighting rich people]
[Why would anyone put gemstones on a cat? Impossible! Absolutely impossible!]
[Isn’t this harmful for cats? The cat might already be sick… I volunteer to examine it for free.]
[Above comment is hilarious]
When Ming Qi came downstairs after reading the script, it was already dinner time. He saw Meng She sitting on the sofa with a very serious expression.
Noticing footsteps, Meng She immediately looked up.
“Qiqi, I need to tell you something.”
He looked unusually solemn, and Ming Qi instinctively thought something was wrong with work. His mind already ran through the possibility of Zhou Xingxiu’s production canceling the role.
Until Meng She said,
“Your cat’s about to buy me a Cullinan before you do.”
He shoved the phone in front of him.
Ming Qi: “……”
As expected of the child of him and Yu Qinzhou—truly surpassing the master in every way.
With Xiao Ba’s first appearance, there would inevitably be a second, a third.
But although Meng She joked about “earning a Rolls-Royce Cullinan,” he never actually treated Xiao Ba as a money-making tool. He didn’t change his account name, nor did he delete those messy old videos. Instead, he continued posting whatever he felt like, occasionally uploading Xiao Ba’s videos whenever he had time to take the cat out.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and Ming Qi went to Futai City to meet Zhou Xingxiu.
Zhou Xingxiu was a director who rose to fame at a young age. In middle age, he suddenly decided to go abroad for further study, and now he had finally returned, intending to create a brand-new work as his final “answer sheet” to himself.
When Zhou Xingxiu saw Ming Qi, he didn’t bother with small talk and went straight to the point.
“I’ll give you a scene. Act it for me. If I’m satisfied, I’ll immediately announce you as the male lead. If I’m not satisfied, you can go home—”
His gaze then flicked to Meng She beside him.
“You can book a ticket for six in the evening today. You’ll be back in the capital by eight.”
Meng She: “……”
Putting everything else aside, Director Zhou was quite considerate.
Meng She forced out a smile that didn’t quite feel real.
“I believe Director Zhou will be satisfied with Qiqi.”
The audition lasted over half an hour. Meng She, waiting outside, grew a little anxious. Although he had boldly spoken earlier in front of Zhou Xingxiu, in reality… there was still something to worry about.
Fortunately, when Zhou Xingxiu pushed the door open again, there was a smile on his face.
“Alright. Let’s sign the contract.”
He called over his assistant, who handed over a contract that had already been prepared, then tossed out a line:
“Dinner tonight, we’ll talk details.”
After that, he turned and left.
The assistant, noticing Meng She’s widened eyes, couldn’t help but laugh.
“Don’t mind him. That’s just how Director Zhou is.”
Meng She waved his hand.
“I get it. He’s got personality.”
That night’s dinner included only Zhou Xingxiu, Ming Qi, and another confirmed supporting actor—Huo Chengtang.
Ming Qi didn’t know much about Huo Chengtang, only that he was a relative of Zhou Xingxiu. When Zhou Xingxiu went abroad for study, Huo Chengtang had also been expanding his business overseas. Rumor had it that he had even been nominated for a highly prestigious Best Actor award abroad recently. For someone like that to play a supporting role for him… Ming Qi found it slightly surreal.
“Mr. Ming, nice to meet you.” Huo Chengtang had a face with soft, gentle features. When he smiled, it was easy to feel favorably toward him. “I’ve long heard Mr. Ming is very outstanding. I finally get to meet you.”
Ming Qi didn’t know who he had heard that from, so he could only touch his nose and reply,
“You flatter me, senior.”
After brief greetings came the meal and work discussion.
Zhou Xingxiu was clearly more focused on work, talking endlessly while barely touching his food. Huo Chengtang, noticing Ming Qi listening so attentively almost the entire time, chuckled and lowered his voice.
“You don’t need to keep paying attention to Director Zhou. Eat something first.”
Ming Qi quickly nodded.
But he still listened carefully—and still didn’t eat much.
Fortunately, Zhou Xingxiu finally finished his thoughts, patting Ming Qi’s shoulder with satisfaction.
“I didn’t misjudge you. When Old Zhang mentioned you to me, I already knew you were a good actor. Work hard—don’t miss any awards you deserve.”
“I will,” Ming Qi replied with a soft smile.
After watching Zhou Xingxiu and Huo Chengtang leave, Meng She clicked his tongue.
“Director Zhou is really confident. He says things like ‘don’t miss any awards you deserve’ like it’s nothing.”
“But Director Zhou really is amazing,” Ming Qi said.
Meng She nodded.
“Yes. Back then Ming Yun and Director Zhou used to compete. After Ming Yun left, it’s basically been Zhou’s world.”
But in recent years Zhou Xingxiu had gone abroad, and many talented young directors had started rising domestically.
It was unclear whether the old wave would be pushed onto the shore by the new.
…
Since this was a work trip to Futai City, and Yu Qinzhou was also returning to the capital in two days, Ming Qi didn’t stay long. He flew back the next day.
Before boarding, he sent Yu Qinzhou a message, but there was no reply. Ming Qi guessed he was probably busy.
Meng She handed him a coffee. Noticing the chat window on his phone, he casually asked,
“Did Mr. Yu say when he’s coming back?”
“Day after tomorrow,” Ming Qi said after taking a sip. “Around ten in the morning. I want to pick him up.”
“Go ahead. Just don’t get photographed by paparazzi when you’re already famous.”
But as he said this, Meng She never imagined that Ming Qi wouldn’t be photographed by paparazzi—
he would be photographed by ordinary people at the airport instead.
Two hours later, the plane landed on time in Beijing. Ming Qi put on his mask and walked toward the parking area in front of the terminal, with Meng She following behind.
Although Ming Qi knew he wasn’t famous enough for people to recognize him on sight, he still walked quickly.
Just as Meng She was about to tease him for his long legs, his gaze suddenly froze on the people ahead.
A group of eight men, all in suits, exuding an overwhelming presence at first glance.
Meng She couldn’t help nudging Ming Qi’s lower back.
“Qiqi, your husband!”
Ming Qi instinctively looked up.
At a glance, he saw Yu Qinzhou.
Compared to the others, Yu Qinzhou was actually the most casually dressed one. His expression carried a hint of laziness as he stood with one hand in his pocket, talking to Xi Yixiu about something interesting. His thin lips curved slightly.
Then, in the next second, Ming Qi saw Xi Yixiu point directly toward him.
Yu Qinzhou looked over.
After a brief moment of surprise and mild shock, the smile in his eyes deepened.
“Wow,” Xi Yixiu said, clicking his tongue in admiration. “Even this can be an encounter? Fated connection, right, Yu Dong?”
Yu Qinzhou glanced at him.
“If you know, you can move people along.”
Xi Yixiu made a silent “discarding the useless tool” gesture toward his assistants and secretary team behind him, then shrugged.
“But the exit is right where your person is.”
Yu Qinzhou ignored him and strode forward first with his long legs. Just as the distance between him and Ming Qi was narrowing, a young man carrying large and small bags suddenly rushed out from behind Ming Qi.
The young man moved quickly. As he brushed past Ming Qi, he accidentally bumped into him, and the force sent Ming Qi stumbling forward.
Ming Qi’s pupils dilated. Meng She, right behind him, also changed his expression and blurted out a curse, reaching out in panic to grab his arm—but he caught nothing but air.
Fortunately, Yu Qinzhou had already arrived in front of him and caught him firmly.