Chapter 122: Shen Jin Feels the Itch to Go

The entire internet was aware of the scandal surrounding Lan Qing, yet within the industry, no one considered it a matter of any real consequence.

Shen Jin, however, felt a deep sense of regret after seeing the news. Had he known earlier, he would have made his move sooner, sparing him the need to pick up someone else's leftovers. As he watched the released video, he clicked his tongue, preparing to offer some commentary.

The apartment door opened. His agent walked in carrying takeout. "Watching the news about Lan Qing?"

"I am." With the matter resolved and no further concerns on his mind, Shen Jin’s usual demeanor returned.

The agent played along, pretending to be oblivious as he handed back Shen Jin’s phone. Shen Jin took it casually, tossed it onto the table, and turned his attention back to the Weibo feed on his tablet. "Has Lan Qing offered any explanation yet?"

"Probably just fishing for attention." After all, it had trended, even if for the wrong reasons. The agent sat down. "I’ve finalized the film collaboration for you. I’ve also checked into the lead actress; it’s..."

Before the agent could finish, Shen Jin refreshed his feed and saw a new trending topic. His brow furrowed as he read the latest update. He turned to his agent, pointed at the screen, and asked, "Who did you say the lead actress was?"

"A newcomer, Bai Rou." The agent glanced at the screen and frowned as well, surprised to see that the female lead had been changed to Lan Qing.

The agent quickly pieced it together. "The crew mentioned new investment this morning. It must be Lan Qing’s benefactor who put up the money and demanded she be given the lead."

"Forget it." Shen Jin had been looking forward to having some fun with Bai Rou for a few days on set, but no matter how innocent she was, she wouldn't be as interesting as a Lan Qing who had just been "broken in."

Besides... Shen Jin looked at the comments below with a suggestive glint in his eyes. It was always more thrilling to steal a taste right under the investor's nose.

Seeing the look on his face, the agent immediately understood what he was thinking. "Huang Hong is not someone you can afford to provoke."

"I know, I won't do anything that would make it obvious." Shen Jin wasn't a fool.

The agent chuckled. "You’d better keep your head down." He added, "Don't go out for the next few days. There are reporters squatting at the gate of the complex."

Shen Jin gave a lazy acknowledgement. "I’ve got it."

"Here is the script. Study it well these next few days." The agent had plenty to do; he placed the printed script on the table and gathered up the phone and tablet. "Don't spend too much time reading things online. Focus on the script. If you handle this role well, there’s a strong chance you’ll be nominated for a Best Actor award. Once you have that title, your future in the industry will be bright."

Shen Jin knew what was important and what wasn't, so he perked up immediately upon hearing his agent's advice. "Don't worry, I'll study the script carefully."

The agent said nothing more and left the apartment.

Left alone, Shen Jin glanced at the script, then pulled a second phone from the gap in the sofa cushions. The group chat on WeChat was still buzzing with messages and tags directed at him.

[Are you really not coming, Brother Jin?]
[The stuff from last night was top-notch, a pity you weren't there.]
[There’s even purer stuff coming in a week. Want to come and give it a try?]

Shen Jin felt tempted. He calculated the time—there was still half a month before the film began shooting. It wouldn't be impossible to squeeze in a trip. After a moment of contemplation, he couldn't resist; he typed out a message and committed to going.

***

Sang Yijia did not return to her apartment, choosing instead to head to the villa with the Sangs. Sang Qiwu had work to attend to and had to return to check on the martial arts studio.

Before they arrived, Mother Sang had arranged for cleaning staff to tidy the place and had hired a butler team. It had been years since Sang Yijia had seen domestic staff at the villa. Usually, when her parents lived there alone, a cleaning service would come four days a week, but there was never anyone else around. Now, seeing the vast villa filled with people, it felt as if it had finally come to life.

"Are you not comfortable with so many people around?" Mother Sang noticed her daughter's reaction and frowned, worried she might be adjusting poorly.

Sang Yijia shook her head repeatedly. "No, Mom, not at all. I actually think it’s nice. It feels lively."

"I see." Mother Sang wasn't fond of having strangers around; she preferred doing things herself. But now that Yijia was back, she wanted to spend more time with her, which was why she had brought the extra help in.

"Jiajia, what would you like for lunch? Should Dad make something for you?" Sang Zheng felt he would be ignored by the mother-daughter duo if he didn't speak up.

Mother Sang immediately looked displeased. "You cook? Are you trying to send us back to the hospital?"

Sang Zheng: "..." It wasn't that bad. But facing his fierce wife, he didn't dare argue. "Alright, then, dear. You cook, how about that?"

"It was always going to be me." Mother Sang glared at him, then turned to Sang Yijia, her expression and tone softening completely. "Jiajia, is there anything you want to eat?"

"Tell Mom, and I'll make it for you."

"Anything you make, Mom, I’ll love." Sang Yijia wasn't a picky eater. She had never had the opportunity, nor the luxury, to be picky, so she had grown up eating whatever was available.

Mother Sang tapped the tip of Sang Yijia's nose. "Then I'll make sweet and sour pork ribs, and how about pineapple stir-fried pork?"

These were two of her favorites. "Yes, thank you, Mom."

Once the menu was set, Mother Sang headed to the kitchen. With nothing else to do, Sang Zheng pulled Sang Yijia to the sofa and turned on the TV. "Come, come, let's watch some television."

"What do you want to see? You can watch anything here." Sang Zheng had learned how to operate the modern system and kept asking her, "Your mother and I both have premium memberships, so even the early-access shows are no problem."

Sang Yijia felt a warmth in her heart. "Dad, let's watch whatever you were watching before. It’ll be a nice way for me to relax."

"What I watch, you probably won't like," Sang Zheng said, though he obediently pulled up the drama he hadn't finished last time.

Sang Yijia was curious about what her father usually watched. When the screen flickered to life, it picked up right where it left off.

"I am Zhao Zilong of Changshan!"

Sang Yijia’s mouth twitched. If she recalled correctly, Sang Zheng had been watching this exact show for as long as she could remember. Over a decade later, didn't he ever get tired of it?

She glanced over to see Sang Zheng watching with intense focus, as if the plot were still perfectly fresh despite having seen it dozens of times.

Sang Zheng did watch the dramas Yijia starred in, but most of her roles were minor, and she would disappear from the screen before he knew it. Unwilling to let her see that he didn't have much of her work to show, he had opted to re-watch *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*. Who would have thought she would offer to watch it with him?