Gu Tingyan drove away from the villa early in the morning and sent Chu Sheng a message: “Going on a business trip for a while. If you don’t have time to watch the kids, have A Zhong take them to Mom and Dad’s place.”
“I’ll take you all out to play next time.”
Chu Sheng heard the sound of the engine downstairs. She went to the bathroom to wash up before replying to Gu Tingyan: “Okay.”
After sending the message, Chu Sheng went to wake Gu Yichen up, made him a sandwich breakfast with milk, and took him to kindergarten.
After dropping off the child, Chu Sheng finally messaged Su Tuantuan: “I’m coming over now.”
Chu Sheng had joined Gu Tingyan’s company a year ago and became an artist under his banner.
The Gu family controlled the majority of film and television resources in the entertainment industry, and outsiders referred to Gu Tingyan as the “Young Master.”
He was a true power player in Jingquan—someone with real influence, connections, and resources. He owned numerous businesses, and Xingchen Entertainment was built single-handedly by Gu Tingyan.
Su Tuantuan was her best friend and also her manager.
Su Tuantuan received the call and drove over to pick up Chu Sheng. She looked at Chu Sheng standing by the roadside and honked the horn. Chu Sheng opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat.
Su Tuantuan’s eyes lit up: “I got word on Director Chen’s location. We can stage a chance encounter.”
Elder Chen’s international status was formidable. His productions were rare, and he had an eccentric personality—particularly picky and strict.
But every one of his films was a masterpiece. Whoever became his lead actor or actress was essentially guaranteed the position of Best Actor or Best Actress.
His new film had been in preparation for a full three years. Six months ago, news had already been released that he would hold an open national casting call, and half the entertainment industry was buzzing with anticipation.
Chu Sheng buckled her seatbelt and smiled: “I’ve put my dear Tuantuan through a lot.”
“Getting paid to do a job—nothing to complain about.”
Su Tuantuan drove while glancing at Chu Sheng from the corner of her eye: “You and your husband—everything okay?”
Chu Sheng’s expression didn’t change: “Mm.”
Su Tuantuan looked at her and said, “I did some digging. Five years ago, Chu Sheng disappeared because she lost her memory. She fell into the sea and was rescued by someone.”
“But everyone thought she was dead.”
“Three months ago, she only regained her memory.”
“She came back three days ago.”
Chu Sheng’s hand paused, and her gaze faltered for a moment.
She pressed her lips tightly together, turned to look at Su Tuantuan, and asked, “You’re saying Chu Sheng regained her memory three months ago?”
“Yes.”
“I heard she was saved by a local fisherman in Country M. She was unconscious for a long time.”
“When she woke up, she didn’t remember anything.”
Country M?
Chu Sheng’s heart instantly tightened, and her mind raced with thoughts.
Three months ago, Gu Tingyan had gone on a business trip to Country M.
If Chu Sheng was alive, she would have called Gu Tingyan immediately.
Three months ago, Gu Tingyan had indeed received a phone call.
At that time, they had just been driving back from the old estate. Gu Tingyan received a call, and whatever was said on the other end made his expression turn strange.
After hanging up, Gu Tingyan turned to Chu Sheng and said, “I need to go on an urgent business trip for three months.”
That very day, Gu Tingyan rushed abroad. When she called him, he rarely picked up.
So he hadn’t gone on a business trip—he had abandoned her to go find Chu Sheng.
Gu Tingyan had stayed abroad for three months.
He had been with Chu Sheng the whole time.
Su Tuantuan saw how terrible her expression looked and asked anxiously, “Huahua, are you okay?!”
Chu Sheng forced a smile onto her face: “I’m fine, just didn’t sleep well.”
The car stopped in front of a tranquil wooden house. The building was set apart from the city, surrounded by large groves of bamboo.
The road was smooth and flat, with shops nearby—an ancient town left over from old times.
The wooden house was not far from the town, with vegetables growing in the fields beside it and a small stream running through.
Chu Sheng looked at this familiar place and asked, “Isn’t this your home?”
Su Tuantuan smiled mysteriously: “Three months ago, Director Chen rented this place.”
“If my grandpa hadn’t sent me photos saying a chess master had arrived, I never would have known that the elusive Director Chen was staying at my house.”
Su Tuantuan opened the trunk. Inside were things she’d bought for her grandpa, as well as Director Chen’s favorite four treasures of the study—she’d paid a fortune at auction for them!
To fight for the female lead role in Director Chen’s new film, Chu Sheng had put in tremendous effort memorizing the script. She was very interested in it and had prepared for a long time.
Su Tuantuan shoved Director Chen’s gift into Chu Sheng’s hands and carried two bags through the door herself: “Grandpa! I brought Huahua back!”
The two entered and saw two people sitting under the osmanthus tree by the entrance, playing Go.
Grandpa Su saw his granddaughter return and quickly turned around, spotting the two at the door: “Tuantuan! Huahua!”
Chu Sheng smiled and greeted, “Grandpa Su.”
Chen Wuzhi held a black piece in his hand, raised his eyes, and looked at Chu Sheng with a calm expression.
Su Tuantuan pretended to look at Chen Wuzhi in surprise: “Grandpa, who is this?”
Grandpa Su smiled and introduced him: “This is the chess master I told you about!”
Su Tuantuan exclaimed in feigned surprise: “So it’s him.”
Chen Wuzhi sat there with an upright posture, looking at Chu Sheng with a faint, inscrutable smile.
Qin Shu’s scalp prickled from the laughter. She stepped forward with the items in hand, smiling as she greeted, “Director Chen.”
Su Tuantuan’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Qin Shu. “Why would you confess without even being asked?”
Director Chen hated nothing more than people trying to cozy up to him or use connections!
Qin Shu gave a helpless smile. “A man as brilliant and resourceful as Director Chen must have already guessed why we’re here.”
Chen Wuzhi held a chess piece in his hand and spoke calmly, “I remember you. You’re Qin Shu.”
“In the film Qi Wuming, you played the second female lead, didn’t you?”
Qin Shu paused, then nodded. “Yes.”
Chen Wuzhi’s expression didn’t change as he commented, “Mm, you acted well.”
He looked up at her. “Do you know how to play chess?”
Qin Shu smiled modestly. “Just a little.”
An hour later.
Chen Wuzhi held his chess piece, staring at the gentle and soft-spoken Qin Shu across from him with a sour expression. He hadn’t won a single game.
This girl—was she playing the fool to catch him off guard?
Young people these days had no sense of restraint!
Grandpa Su never expected that his tenant who was so skilled at chess was actually the famous Director Chen of the entertainment industry—Chen Wuzhi, a name renowned internationally!
The official audition was set for four days later.
Su Tuantuan and Qin Shu settled in and stayed there.
Qin Shu had been away for three days, and Gu Tingyan hadn’t called even once. It was as if he had vanished from the world.
Qin Shu clutched her phone, staring at his profile picture. She wanted to send him a message, tapping into the chat before backing out again.
She noticed that Chu Yu’s Moments had been updated. With a light tap of her finger, she scrolled into the feed, and sure enough, she found Gu Tingyan there.
Qin Shu saw that Chu Yu had posted a photo. She paused.
The caption read: Wishing all lovers a speedy union~
In the photo, Gu Tingyan sat in a private booth, his long legs crossed, seated in the center of attention as people fawned over him.
His profile was captivating, lips curved in a smile. His suit jacket was casually draped over the sofa, shirt buttons slightly undone, collar loose, revealing his delicate, exquisite collarbones.
The man exuded lazy elegance with a hint of rakish charm.
To Gu Tingyan’s left, pressed close against him, sat Chu Yu in a seductive red dress—fiery, alluring, and captivating.
To his right, thigh brushing against his, sat Chu Sheng in a white dress—pure and innocent.
What a sight—the young master Gu, the CEO Gu, with beauties on both sides, basking in their favor.
All his brothers from the circle were there. In the booth, there were only two women; the rest were all men.
And the only two great beauties present were both gathered around Gu Tingyan.
Chu Yu attentively poured wine for Gu Tingyan. “Tingyan-ge, if you came out without her, won’t your wife be upset?”
“Why didn’t you bring your sister-in-law along to have some fun?”
Before Gu Tingyan could speak, Jiang Xubai snorted. “Even if she came, she wouldn’t know how to have a good time.”
Jiang Xubai added, “Qin Shu can’t keep up with this scene. Don’t invite her and ruin the mood.”
Chu Yu pressed her lips into a smile. “Really? I thought maybe she didn’t dare to come.”
“After all…” She dragged out her words and fell silent, leaving plenty of room for imagination.
Chu Yu chuckled lightly. “My sister is back.”
Chu Sheng’s lips curved slightly, but she said nothing.
Gu Tingyan said flatly, “She doesn’t like these kinds of occasions. Don’t bother her.”
A young heir beside them burst out laughing. “Call your sister-in-law over and let her see you flanked by these two beauties of the capital—she’d be furious.”
Lu Ziqian lounged with his legs crossed, swirling a glass of red wine. “Your Tingyan-ge will probably be sleeping on the couch tonight.”
Gu Tingyan frowned, thinking Qin Shu was fully capable of doing exactly that.
Gu Tingyan stood up, walked over to Lu Ziqian, and pulled him up to switch seats, kicking him lightly. “Get over there, if you still want me to get back into your sister-in-law’s good graces.”
Lu Ziqian was forced to give up his seat. He sat down between Chu Yu and Chu Sheng, feeling like he was sitting on pins and needles.
This kind of favor from beauties wasn’t something just anyone could handle.
Chu Sheng watched Gu Tingyan’s retreating figure, and the curve of her lips faded.
So he was actually afraid Qin Shu would throw a tantrum at him.
Qin Shu stared at the photo—the glitzy, decadent nightlife scene made Gu Tingyan’s face look even more handsome, and the women beside him even more beautiful and striking.
Qin Shu gripped her phone, staring at the WeChat page, but she didn’t send a message.
Qin Shu felt that her marriage with Gu Tingyan was coming to an end.