“Chi Nian!”
The woman’s suddenly raised voice snapped Chi Nian back to attention.
Chi Nian sighed. “Sister Wang, don’t be angry.” High blood pressure would rise; in severe cases, it could even trigger a cerebral hemorrhage.
Of course, she wasn’t foolish enough to say the latter part out loud.
“Fine, I won’t be angry.” Wang Shengnan took a deep breath, her sharp gaze sweeping over Chi Nian. “Tell me, why did you suddenly want to leave the entertainment industry?”
Wang Shengnan had managed Chi Nian for ten years, accompanying her from a lovable child star praised by everyone to someone now criticized by all and entangled in scandals. She couldn’t say she knew Chi Nian like the back of her hand, but she could usually guess most of her thoughts.
But this time, she really couldn’t tell what Chi Nian was planning.
This was the same Chi Nian who, even while being shouted at across the internet to “get out of the entertainment industry,” still believed that “notoriety is also fame,” continuing to film dramas and appear on variety shows as usual.
“The College Entrance Exam is coming. I want to focus on studying,” Chi Nian reluctantly gave a reason.
As if!
Don’t ask—if asked, it was because of the all-encompassing radiance of the female lead’s halo!
As a supporting female character in the control group, Chi Nian didn’t have much else, but she did have awareness.
Rather than following the plot line and being smeared until she committed suicide, passively exiting to make room for the female lead, it was better to say goodbye proactively and switch industries.
“Cherish life, stay away from the female lead”—she had firmly remembered this eight-character motto left behind by countless transmigration predecessors.
Thinking of the ending in the book, Chi Nian’s petite body trembled. It was truly miserable—jumping off a building to commit suicide. Tsk, the brain death rate was extremely high; not only was there no saving it, it wasn’t even aesthetically pleasing.
Fortunately, her ambitions did not lie in the entertainment industry.
In her previous life, relying on talent and hard work, she had become an Associate Chief Physician at the age of 26. Doctor Chi declared that she would dedicate her life to a medical career.
As for the female lead—goodbye forever!
Hearing Chi Nian’s words, Wang Shengnan’s expression softened slightly, but only for a moment.
College Entrance Exam? Studying?
Thinking of Chi Nian’s behavior over the past few years, Wang Shengnan sneered. How could she possibly believe that?
Chi Nian was stung by the sneer on her manager’s face and couldn’t help but let out a long sigh.
Original Owner, just what kind of mess did you leave me!
Chi Nian’s curled, thick eyelashes trembled. Then, upon second thought, she was someone who was about to leave the entertainment industry and pursue medicine. The mess belonged to the actress Chi Nian—what did it have to do with her, the future Doctor Chi?
However, what followed proved that the mess left by the Original Owner still had something to do with the future Doctor Chi.
Recalling some of Chi Nian’s brainless actions over the years, Wang Shengnan suddenly had a realization. “You’re not planning to use quitting the industry to attract attention, are you? Then come back after getting into college?”
As she spoke, Wang Shengnan nodded, believing she had figured out Chi Nian’s little scheme.
She had been wondering why she wanted to quit for no reason. So this was the plan. It was indeed more clever than the petty tricks she used before.
However…
“The idea is good, but I advise you not to do that.” Wang Shengnan looked at Chi Nian with a serious expression.
Leaving the industry was easy, but getting back in wouldn’t be so simple. If she got into college, that would be fine. If she didn’t and then plunged back into the industry, she would only attract more criticism.
Chi Nian paused. It seemed that over the years, “Chi Nian” had truly left a deeply ingrained impression on this manager.
Her sincere attempt to quit the industry had actually been turned into a whole imagined drama.
Worried that her manager would imagine even more, Chi Nian simply laid her cards on the table. “Sister Wang, I’ve recently found my dream. I don’t want to act anymore.”
Wang Shengnan scoffed, intending to give this troublesome artist a good lecture, but when she turned her head, she saw that Chi Nian’s almond-shaped eyes were filled with seriousness.
At that moment, Wang Shengnan seemed to see that little girl from years ago—the one with twin ponytails, a chubby baby face, who had told her she wanted to act.
Back then, she had been moved and had secured her a role in Director Zhang’s film. The little girl had only been eight years old at the time, not even fully literate. The thin script had been filled with crooked pinyin notes. Even then, she had felt that the little girl would definitely become famous.
The little girl had entered the industry early, and Wang Shengnan had cared for her like a daughter—teaching her to read, buying her small cakes, helping her braid all sorts of hairstyles. The little girl would tug at her sleeve and act coquettishly.
Later, the little girl grew into a young woman. The childish pinyin disappeared from the scripts. To maintain her figure, small cakes were blacklisted. Her permed and dyed long waves fell naturally, beautiful without needing elaborate braids. She also had her own circle of friends.
At some point, their relationship had become nothing more than that of a female actress and her manager.
How long had it been since she had seen this version of Chi Nian?
One year? Three years? Or even longer?
Wang Shengnan felt a little dazed.
Looking at the light flickering in Chi Nian’s eyes, Wang Shengnan remained silent for two seconds before looking at her. “Tell me your dream.” Just like back then.
“To become a doctor—a top neurosurgeon.” Chi Nian slowly spoke, using the most solemn tone, declaring a vow whose weight only she herself truly understood.
Looking at that face, almost like an enlarged version of the past, Wang Shengnan found herself unable to distinguish between present and past. Ten years ago, she had also been moved by a similar determination in those eyes.
Rubbing her throbbing temples, Wang Shengnan snapped back to reality.
When people reached middle age, they tended to reminisce. Look at her—she had almost forgotten that this little ancestor in front of her had never passed any exams, big or small. Studying medicine? Even getting into an average acting school would be difficult for her.
Still, seeing how serious Chi Nian looked, Wang Shengnan felt a headache coming on.
She truly couldn’t figure out what this little ancestor was thinking now.
If she believed her, then for her artist, the leap from actress to doctor was no less than going from being universally hated online to clearing her name. If she didn’t believe her, then Chi Nian’s determined expression didn’t look like an act. Besides, if this little ancestor had such acting skills, she wouldn’t have ended up in her current state.
For once, Wang Shengnan didn’t know what to say.
Memories from years ago flashed before her eyes. In the end, Wang Shengnan swallowed the rebuttal that had nearly slipped out and let out a deep breath.
Forget it. Perhaps this was for the best.
Thinking of Chi Nian’s current situation in the company, Wang Shengnan gradually calmed down.
Whether Chi Nian wanted to use quitting the industry as a publicity stunt or truly wanted to study medicine, temporarily leaving the industry might not be a bad choice for her now.
Otherwise, who knew what those people in the company—who fawned over the powerful and trampled on the weak—might do?
Although Chi Nian had changed somewhat over the past two years, she was still a child Wang Shengnan had watched grow up. It was inevitable that she would consider her a bit more.
Wang Shengnan looked at Chi Nian. “Alright. If you want to leave the industry, I won’t oppose it. You don’t have many endorsements anyway, and it’ll be easy to explain to the company. The senior management happens to favor a new rising star. Once you leave, it’ll make room for her.”
Speaking of that rising star favored by senior management, Wang Shengnan rolled her eyes in disdain.
Chi Nian knew who she was—the female lead. But since she was leaving the industry, the female lead had nothing to do with her anymore.
“Thank you, Sister Wang!” Hearing the answer she wanted, Chi Nian couldn’t help but smile brightly. She rushed forward and hugged Wang Shengnan.
Wang Shengnan’s lips twitched slightly, though her hands didn’t stop moving as she pushed Chi Nian away in disdain.
“But…”