Han Lianmeng’s Studio.
Han Lianmeng’s fingertips gripping her phone turned white, her teeth clenched tightly. With a sharp “smack,” she threw her phone down.
A trace of malice flashed in Han Lianmeng’s almond-shaped eyes. Why did it have to be Qiao Shu? Her acting skills weren’t any worse than Qiao Shu’s!
She was clearly the most suitable person to play Yu Shujia, so why did Liu Zhongran choose Qiao Shu?
Her father’s investment offer to Liu Zhongran had been rejected.
No, Qiao Shu must have slept her way to the role.
With Qiao Shu’s abilities, there was no way she could have landed such a coveted role, let alone act alongside the top star Jiang Tu.
Han Lianmeng was consumed with jealousy.
She had envied Qiao Shu since childhood.
Qiao Shu took her mother’s surname, and her name was chosen through a joint discussion between Han Xing and Qiao Lanshan.
The character “Shu” symbolized beauty and grace.
Coincidentally, Qiao Shu lived up to the meaning of the name, a testament to how much Han Xing and Qiao Lanshan had doted on her back then.
What a pity, though—times had changed. The once-loving couple’s relationship had shattered, and now Han Xing’s favorite was her, not Qiao Shu.
Han Lianmeng took a deep breath and picked up her phone from the floor. “I can’t let Qiao Shu have it so easy.”
“Hello, Grandma! Have you had lunch yet? Oh, by the way, Grandma, didn’t Sister and Brother-in-Law get their marriage certificate? Why haven’t they come home for a meal?”
Han Lianmeng’s tone was gentle. Listening to Grandma Han’s angry tirade against Qiao Shu over the phone, she curled her lips into a cold smile.
“Alright, Grandma will call Qiao Shu right away. If you hadn’t reminded me, I would have forgotten.”
“That wretched girl takes after her cheap mother—no sense of propriety, no respect for this family!”
After hanging up, Han Lianmeng’s lips curled into a sneer. Qiao Shu and Jiang Tu had no feelings for each other, and they still had filming to do. Let’s see how they’d find time to come home.
When the time came, Qiao Shu would have to trouble Jiang Tu to accompany her back to the Han Family. Would Jiang Tu even be willing to go with her?
She liked Jiang Tu too.
But she wasn’t the one who married into the Jiang Family.
Nor was she the one who had a childhood engagement with Jiang Tu.
Noon, Qianshui Bay.
“Ding-dong, ding-dong—”
Qiao Shu picked up her phone from the table. A notification popped up in the bar—a screenshot sent by Zhang Qian via WeChat.
[Qian Jie]: Thanks to Jiang Tu, you’ve finally made it to the trending searches after two years in the industry. [Celebration]
[Qian Jie]: Documenting your first time trending.
Qiao Shu’s lips twitched slightly. It was indeed worth documenting.
[Qian Jie]: I have a feeling you’re going to blow up.
Qiao Shu couldn’t help but send a question mark in response.
[Qian Jie]: Jiang Tu is the definition of star power. Every actor who works with him gets a boost.
[Qiao Shu]: …
Suddenly, the phone in Qiao Shu’s hand vibrated. The caller ID showed no saved contact—just a string of numbers.
It was a number she knew all too well.
She let the phone ring again and again. The caller seemed patient, determined to keep calling until she answered.
Qiao Shu swiped to answer and put it on speaker. Grandma Han’s sarcastic voice immediately filled the room.
“Qiao Shu! Why aren’t you answering your phone?”
Qiao Shu rolled her eyes. “I was in the bathroom and didn’t hear it. What do you need?”
“Come home with Jiang Tu for a meal tomorrow.”
Qiao Shu was about to speak but was cut off.
“You have no reason to refuse me. Don’t use Jiang Tu as an excuse—it shouldn’t be hard for you two to take a day off, right?”
Qiao Shu gritted her teeth. “Alright, I understand. Is there anything else? If not, I’m hanging up.”
“You—”
The other end was left fuming before abruptly hanging up.
Qiao Shu lowered her gaze. She didn’t want to see them, didn’t want to return to that house where she no longer had a place.
Qiao Shu had no intention of returning to the Han Family. Tomorrow was the opening ceremony for Capturing Fleeting Light, with filming officially starting in the afternoon.
She needed to fully understand the character of Yu Shujia.
With Jiang Tu involved, it would be hard for her not to become popular—provided she had acting skills. Acting ability was the most important thing.
For the past six months, she had been attending acting training classes, and her skills had improved significantly compared to before.
Wasn’t it just about portraying romance? She would learn it.
The next day, on set.
Capturing Fleeting Light was filmed at Huai University. It was mid-December, and the university students hadn’t yet started their winter break.
The opening ceremony was held in Hengdian.
The entire crew of Capturing Fleeting Light wore beige sweaters paired with uniformly black pants.
Qiao Shu and Jiang Tu stood in the center.
After the group photo, it was time for photos among the actors. Qiao Shu and Jiang Tu held bouquets of flowers as they faced the camera.
Qiao Shu smiled with red lips as she looked at the camera. She had thought of a good solution: imagining Jiang Tu as someone else, so she wouldn’t feel nervous.
After the opening ceremony, the production team officially announced the cast. Ten o’clock was the best time for announcements in the entertainment industry.
【TV Drama Capturing Fleeting Light v: #CapturingFleetingLightCastAnnouncement# Writing a letter at dusk, carrying the afterglow of the sunset and the romance of the galaxy.】
【@Jiang Tu v @Qiao Shu v (listed in no particular order, sorted alphabetically by name)】
【@Xu Yili @Du Qianyi】
Qiao Shu and Jiang Tu reposted the official announcement one minute apart, with Jiang Tu reposting a minute earlier than Qiao Shu.
Jiang Tu’s online fan base had already issued a notice not to control the comments this time, so the official announcement’s comment section was filled with both fans and casual viewers.
【Wow! Just looking at the poster, I can tell this is going to be a hit. What an amazing production team—everyone’s visuals are off the charts. Xu Yili is actually the second male lead?】
【Jiang Tu is so handsome…】
【The female lead is so pretty. With that short hair, she looks like a high school student, but isn’t this a university youth campus drama?】
【Looking forward to Xu Yili’s first drama.】
【They’re actually equal in billing? Who is this Qiao Shu? How can she be billed equally with Jiang Tu?】
Because of this comment, Jiang Tu’s fans got into an argument with a casual viewer from the entertainment industry.
【Let’s not talk about billing. Our family doesn’t care about billing. Just look forward to Jiang Tu’s performance.】
【Don’t care about billing? You’re only saying that because your idol’s name is listed first.】
The likes, comments, and reposts on Qiao Shu’s Weibo quickly surpassed a hundred, while Jiang Tu’s had already broken ten thousand.
On set, after the opening ceremony, filming officially began. The crew was divided into Group A and Group B, with Qiao Shu and Jiang Tu in the same group.
Their first scene was Yu Shujia and Chi Ye’s first time living together after two years of dating.
Liu Zhongran was adjusting the camera. He looked at Qiao Shu and the others and asked, “Do you want to rehearse the scene?”
Qiao Shu thought it was absolutely necessary to rehearse. She lifted her eyes to look at Jiang Tu, who was also looking at her.
Their eyes met, and Qiao Shu resisted the urge to look away. Seeing this face every day made it hard not to be moved, especially since she was someone who appreciated good looks.
Jiang Tu wore a white shirt paired with black pants, tall and slender, with his short hair casually falling over his forehead. His outfit truly made him look like a university student.
Jiang Tu nodded. “Okay.”
“Shujia.”
Jiang Tu immersed himself in the role in an instant.
Qiao Shu was stunned for two seconds. Was he starting already? She quickly snapped back to reality. “What’s wrong?”
“Are you sure you’re not leaving?”
“I’m sure.” Yu Shujia clenched her hands, lowered her eyelashes, and felt her ears burning beneath her short hair.
The girl in front of her hung her head, wearing a light-colored dress that revealed a section of her fair and delicate ankles.
Chi Ye chuckled lightly, “Alright.”
The next second, he took the girl’s hand, “This is a one-bedroom apartment, no guest room.”
Yu Shujia passively let Chi Ye lead her, and in an instant, the two sat down beside the sofa.
Yu Shujia grabbed a nearby cushion and hugged it, her beautiful fox-like eyes freely scanning the living room.
“Then where do I sleep tonight?”
“On the living room sofa.”
Yu Shujia widened her eyes in shock, “Chi Ye! You’re actually making a girl sleep on the sofa?”