Jian Xingsui was somewhat confused.

However, Fu Jinxiao looked very mysterious, so he was too embarrassed to ask too many questions. While sitting in the car, he was thinking about the contract termination and was lost in thought. When the car was turning, the other car suddenly braked because the other car changed lanes illegally, which brought Jian Xingsui back to his senses and calmed him down.

Fu Jinxiao, sitting next to him, glanced at him and asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Jian Xingsui immediately turned around and saw that Fu Yingdi was looking at her, so she replied, "I was thinking about... my management company."

“The contract termination is in the past.” Fu Jinxiao sat beside him. The man had been looking at the script and documents in his hands since earlier. He put them down and turned to look at him, saying, “No matter what happened in the past, if you keep living in the pain of the past and don’t focus on the future, you won’t be able to live well in the present either, understand?”

Jian Xingsui understood and, fearing he might misunderstand, explained, "I know. I was just thinking about what I should do now that I've terminated the contract with them."

Fu Jinxiao asked with a hint of seriousness, "Do you want to retire from the entertainment industry?"

Jian Xingsui couldn't quite put his finger on it. He used to love music and wanted to make music, but after realizing that he might not have a place in the entertainment industry, he had to give up. But now, many things seem to have had a butterfly effect and become different. It seems that he can still make music, and he can still... stay in this industry.

Looking up at Fu Jinxiao, Jian Xingsui had no intention of saying anything against her conscience or lying in front of him. Although they weren't close, there was always a subconscious trust between them.

"Actually, I don't want to leave the industry," Jian Xingsui told the truth. "I'm just afraid I won't do a good job."

Fu Jinxiao smiled and said, "No one is born knowing how to do everything. A butterfly doesn't know it can fly until it emerges from its cocoon, and a tortoise doesn't know it can win until it races with a hare. Just like me, when I entered the entertainment industry, I was just an unknown person."

Jian Xingsui was somewhat stunned when she heard his voice.

The boy had dark eyes, and when he looked at Fu Jinxiao, he leaned forward slightly. His fair skin was like pure milk, and he exuded a sweet fragrance. When he looked at her earnestly, he was both well-behaved and adorable.

Before Jian Xingsui could figure it out, Fu Jinxiao raised an eyebrow and said in a deep voice, "What I meant was to tell you not to be afraid of difficulties, but to be brave enough to try and conquer hardships. But what do you mean by staring at me like that?"

The distance inside the carriage wasn't far.

Fu Jinxiao sat languidly, a hint of mockery in his handsome eyes, and said slowly, "Could it be that you're planning to try to overcome yourself and conquer me?"

!!

Jian Xingsui suddenly came to her senses and hurriedly said, "No, no, I, I wouldn't dare."

Fu Jinxiao clicked his tongue, a little regretful: "Being too timid isn't always a good thing. You need to change this flaw of yours."

Jian Xingsui's ears turned bright red. He didn't even dare to ask what exactly needed to be changed, but he dared not disobey his senior's instructions, so he stammered and nodded, "I... will try my best to change it."

Fu Jinxiao then curled her lips into a smile and nodded casually.

The driver who witnessed the whole thing: "..."

Brother Fu, can you please be a decent human being?

I never knew you had this habit of bullying younger people!

Having been Fu Jinxiao's driver for many years, he had come to understand Fu Jinxiao's character. There were many temptations in the industry. Fu Jinxiao had a great reputation and high power. The Fu family was also a well-known conglomerate. In his daily life, not to mention those who wanted to sleep with him, there were all sorts of young people who wanted to woo him. However, Fu Jinxiao never let anyone get close to him. He was cold and distant, and his boundaries were clearly drawn.

But now...

The driver felt like he was witnessing a big bad wolf bullying a little white rabbit, but he decided against looking any longer.

…

Half an hour later, the car arrived at the Shen family's manor.

Upon entering, the room was filled with a fragrant aroma, indicating that the meal was indeed of a very high standard. Two women were chatting on the sofa in the living room. Xu Enzhen was a gentle and beautiful woman, while the lady opposite her was a very fashionable and aloof beauty with blonde hair, exquisite makeup, and countless pieces of jewelry.

Jian Xingsui entered the door and respectfully greeted, "Mom."

When Xu Enzhen saw the children return, she immediately got up to greet them: "Sui Sui is back! Oh, Jin Xiao is here too. Did you two come back together?"

Fu Jinxiao greeted her politely, "Hello, Auntie, I apologize for bothering you."

Xu Enzhen quickly replied, "No, no, what's the problem? Oh dear, what's this? You just came all this way, why did you bring a gift?"

Fu Jinxiao gave a polite smile: "It's just a small token of my appreciation."

When Xu Enzhen opened it, she was surprised to find that it was the silk thread she had been looking for. She couldn't stop smiling and said, "You're such a thoughtful child. How did you know I wanted this?"

Fu Jinxiao said humbly, "I heard you mention it a couple of times last time. I happened to have some from a friend, so I brought it to you."

Xu Enzhen was overjoyed.

It's no wonder that the industry has such a high opinion of Fu Jinxiao. The eldest son of the Fu family is very smooth and knows how to get along with people. Although the silkworm thread is not worth a fortune, it is very hard to find. It is generally difficult to obtain without connections. The Shen family is large and wealthy and of course has nothing to lack, but Fu Jinxiao is very good at giving gifts, and he always manages to keep the scale just right.

This is also one of the reasons why Xu Enzhen is optimistic about this son-in-law. She thought that if her daughter Sui Sui could find such a good family and such an excellent husband in the future, what else would she be worried about?

Xu Enzhen pulled Jian Xingsui aside and said, "Thank you so much for tonight. Did our Sui Sui cause you trouble today too?"

Fu Jinxiao said, "It was just a small favor, nothing to bother you. Sui Sui is a good child, and we've known each other before. Auntie, you're too kind."

Xu Enzhen was even happier: "That's wonderful."

Jian Xingsui always felt that her mother was too good, and that there was some deeper meaning behind it.

The group walked to the sofa, and the stylishly dressed woman stood up. Her gaze fell on Jian Xingsui, and she asked with suspicion, "You are...?"

Jian Xingsui was a little nervous and bowed deeply: "Hello, Auntie, I am Jian Xingsui."

He couldn't help but feel nervous in the face of this woman who seemed aloof and distant, partly because she was Fu Jinxiao's mother.

After a long silence, the woman suddenly walked over warmly, shook Jian Xingsui's hand, and said, "Hello, hello, I'm Lina, a good friend of your mother. You can call me Mom..."

Fu Jinxiao coughed lightly.

Lina then smiled and changed her address, saying, "You can just call me Aunt Lily!"

Jian Xingsui was a little stunned at first, but then thought she might have misheard, so she obediently responded and called out in a clear voice, "Aunt Lily."

Lina's heart melted instantly when she looked at the well-behaved and sensible child in front of her.

She had always wanted a soft, obedient, and adorable child, but life is often disappointing. She gave birth to Fu Jinxiao. When she was little, she would tease him and then look at his expressionless face, and she felt like a fool. As for being obedient and soft, forget about it.

“Sui Sui…” Lily held his hand: “I heard about what happened to you. You really suffered before. But don’t worry, those things will never happen again. The men in our family may not be anything else, but they are all incredibly caring. You can rest assured.”

Jian Xingsui: "Huh?"

Something just doesn't feel right.

Xu Enzhen chimed in from the side, "Don't worry, of course you can rest assured."

Jian Xingsui: ?

A small head, a big question.

Seeing his embarrassed expression, Fu Jinxiao smiled and sat down not far away to watch the show leisurely.

Jian Xingsui was pulled along by Lily and talked for a long time, and finally got a little scared. She unconsciously looked to Fu Jinxiao for help. After receiving the poor little thing's look, the movie star Fu finally restrained his nonchalant attitude and said to Xu Enzhen, "Auntie, I can smell the aroma of chicken soup. Did you cook it yourself today?"

Xu Enzhen quickly responded, "Yes, yes, I almost forgot. Now that everyone's here, let's eat."

Jian Xingsui asked, "What about my brother and father?"

“They often work overtime,” Xu Enzhen waved her hand. “No need to wait.”

Jian Xingsui then nodded.

Lina then stopped talking, let Jian Xingsui go, and walked towards the dining table. Once there, Jian Xingsui naturally helped Xu Enzhen serve soup and rice, and helped Lina get her bowls and chopsticks, going back and forth very diligently.

The Shen family is different from other wealthy families. Xu Enzhen doesn't like having many outsiders hanging around the house, so she only keeps Wu Ma at home to help out. The family members do most things themselves, but everyone enjoys and is used to this lifestyle because they only feel happy when they are busy for their family.

Lina was very grateful: "Thank you, Sui Sui, you're so hardworking."

Jian Xingsui was very respectful and followed the rules very well. He said softly, "It's my pleasure. I think you must be thirsty from talking. Shall I get you another bowl of soup?"

Touched by the child's thoughtfulness and filial piety, Lina said, "Thank you for your trouble."

Jian Xingsui was happy to do these things. In the past, no matter what he did in the Jian family, he could not win their favor and was even considered to be inferior. He always thought that he might not be good enough. But here, he gained recognition, so he smiled and said, "No trouble at all, you are too kind."

Just as Jian Xingsui was about to turn around to serve the soup, Fu Jinxiao stopped him. The man pressed him down with a firm but not too strong grip: "Sit down, I'll serve it. Don't move."

Jian Xingsui looked up at him with some surprise.

Fu Jinxiao got up, went to the kitchen and ladled out two bowls of soup, one for her mother and one for Jian Xingsui.

Lina glanced at Jian Xingsui's bowl and saw that there was a little more carefully selected meat. She nodded in satisfaction. He knew how to take care of his wife. That was really good. She used to think that this child was destined to be single forever, but now there was finally hope. Moreover, his daughter-in-law was so cute and more than enough for him. She would have to help him out.

Lina coughed lightly and said, "Son, you should drink more too. Didn't you hurt your leg while rushing to a show the other day? You've been working so hard, and now that you can finally rest, you should replenish your energy."

Jian Xingsui paused, looking at Fu Jinxiao with some surprise, and asked anxiously, "Are you injured?"

Fu Jinxiao gave her mother a cool glance and knew exactly what she was up to.

"It's nothing serious," Fu Jinxiao said slowly to the person beside her. "It's just an old wound reopening. A little rest will do the trick."

Jian Xingsui knew.

Years ago, when actor Fu was filming, he fell off a horse due to a mistake by the crew. The injury was very serious and left him with old injuries that could recur if he was overworked or subjected to violent collisions.

Jian Xingsui looked reluctant, even a little guilty: "I still need to go to the hospital to see if it recurred. If so, it must be very painful. Why didn't you rest after coming back today? I'm so sorry to have troubled you and Sister Wang to accompany me to the company to deal with the contract termination issue. I really..."

Fu Jinxiao put down her cutlery and said, "It's my choice to go with you. What's it to you?"

Jian Xingsui was taken aback.

Fu Yingdi appeared somewhat assertive at this moment. He glanced at the person beside him, a hint of mockery in his eyes: "I have a private doctor. I saw him a couple of days ago and there's nothing serious. You can rest assured. My health is fine right now, no need to worry. If you really want to express your gratitude, contact Meican in a couple of days and sign the contract."

"...?"

Jian Xingsui asked, "What contract?"

"The contract with Fenghua Entertainment." Fu Jinxiao took a sip of soup with a spoon before slowly putting down his cutlery and saying, "Isn't there no company signed with us right now?"

Jian Xingsui never expected that she would be able to sign a contract with the legendary and famous Fenghua Entertainment!

Although he didn't understand many things, he knew that Feng Hua Entertainment was a leading entertainment company in the industry, and the artists they signed must be promising and talented.

Jian Xingsui felt like she'd been hit by a pie, and asked excitedly yet cautiously, "Really? It's Fenghua Entertainment, the one you're at too? I can really do it too?"

Fu Jinxiao raised an eyebrow: "Why not?"

The two sat together, quite close to each other. The movie star turned around, his deep, sexy voice tinged with amusement: "Or do you still not want to be in the same company as me?"

Jian Xingsui didn't think that way at all; he quickly retorted, "No!"

I felt a little shy after saying it out loud.

Fu Jinxiao extended her fair hand in front of him, her handsome face losing its nonchalance, and her eyes becoming serious: "Well then, I'm very happy to have you join us. On behalf of Feng Hua, I welcome you in advance."

Jian Xingsui looked at Fu Jinxiao's outstretched hand. The warm yellow light of the restaurant fell on him, making the man seem to be glowing. For a moment, he even doubted that he was dreaming. He could actually work in the same company as his idol. Their story had not ended. Fu Jinxiao reached out his hand to him.

Jian Xingsui grasped Fu Jinxiao's hand, the warmth of their touch burning in his heart. He humbly said, "Thank you for the opportunity. I will work hard. In the future... please guide me."

Fu Jinxiao's gaze fell on the boy, and a smile appeared on her lips: "Yes, please guide me."

Jian Xingsui was still immersed in joy and somewhat lost in thought.

Fu Jinxiao softly urged, "Let's eat."

Jian Xingsui nodded: "Okay."

After watching for a while, Lina realized that Sui Sui had feelings for her son. She knew her son's temper well; if he didn't like someone, he wouldn't say a word and could subtly criticize them. But when he met someone he liked, he would reveal his true colors and act like a rogue, constantly trying to make them talk.

This should work out; there's finally some hope for this childhood betrothal.

Lina then asked Xu Enzhen, who was standing next to her, "Did you get the paternity test results? Has Sui Sui's household registration been transferred?"

Xu Enzhen was eating when she nodded and said, "I got it. I got it when the police transferred it to the court. The household registration was only processed a couple of days ago, so it will take a few more days. The name on the household registration will be changed by then."

Lina nodded, then smiled at Jian Xingsui and said, "From now on, you'll have the surname Chen. Will you feel uncomfortable?"

Jian Xingsui saw that Xu Enzhen was also looking at him. He stopped what he was doing, thought about it seriously, and replied, "There might be a little bit, but it's okay. I really like the surname Shen, and I also... I really like it here."

As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Enzhen's eyes flickered slightly, she pursed her lips, and revealed a relieved and happy smile.

Lina also said, "That's good. It's better to end this sooner rather than later. Changing your household registration and surname means a new life. Your future and path will be brand new. Come here, kid, I have something for you."

Lina was sitting next to Jian Xingsui, and he curiously moved closer.

Lina took something off her wrist—a jade pendant woven from rope. The pendant was crystal clear and clearly of extraordinary quality. She wanted to put it on Jian Xingsui, but Jian Xingsui hesitated, "Auntie..."

Lina took his hand and said, "This was given to me by my mother when I got married. It's an heirloom in our family. This jade pendant also symbolizes protection and safety. I don't have much to give you since we're meeting for the first time. I just hope that you will have a smooth and peaceful life in the future."

Jian Xingsui looked at the pendant in his hand and listened to Lina's words. His hand, which was being held, trembled slightly. He looked up and met Lina's dark eyes, which were filled with emotion and a bit of flattery. He hadn't received anything good in all these years, and now that he suddenly had this, he was a little apprehensive: "It's an heirloom. Auntie, this is too precious. I can't accept it."

"If you can't ask someone else to, then who can?" Lina patted his hand. "What kind of relationship do I have with your mother? Why are you being so polite with me?"

Lina winked at her son behind her; this was something meant to be passed down to her daughter-in-law.

Fu Jinxiao received the signal, glanced at her helplessly, then put down his chopsticks and said to Jian Xingsui in a low voice, "Since your mother gave it to you, just keep it. Don't feel burdened. She's been wanting to find someone to give me this bracelet for many years so that my dad can get me a new one."

He showed no mercy in exposing his elderly mother's true colors.

Lina glared at him: "You brat, if you hadn't kept quiet, would I have waited this long?"

Fu Jinxiao ignored him and only let Jian Xingsui eat.

Xu Enzhen smiled and instructed, "Sui Sui, make sure you wear it carefully. This is your Aunt Lina's gift. I've heard that this jade pendant is very effective. It will definitely protect you in the future."

Jian Xingsui nodded seriously: "Don't worry."

Shen Xingchen, who was diligently eating across from her, complained, "Mom, why don't I have any ancestral bracelets?"

Xu Enzhen glared at him: "You're not ready yet. Besides, you seem to live such an easy life, why would you want a bracelet? How about I give you a family heirloom slap?"

Shen Xingchen rolled her eyes helplessly: "Fine, then you can keep it for yourself."

Jian Xingsui watched them bicker and smiled. He touched the jade pendant on his hand, and for some reason, a little expectation for the future also emerged in his heart. During this period, he felt a lot of wonderful things, so wonderful that it felt a little unreal. Now he doesn't ask for anything else, he only hopes that the future will be smooth and that everyone can be safe and sound.

...

next day

At the Feng Hua Entertainment building, after Jian Xingsui finished signing his contract, Wang Meican shook hands with him: "Suisui, I'm so glad you can officially join us. From now on, I'll be your manager."

Jian Xingsui said very respectfully, "Thank you, Sister Wang. To be honest, I really didn't expect you to accept me. I'm sorry for troubling you."

Wang Meican smiled and said, "It's no trouble at all. Your family is one aspect, but I also think you are a promising talent. I haven't mentored any newcomers in a long time. In recent years, I haven't had to worry about anything at Jinxiao. It just so happens that I have the energy to mentor some newcomers and give it a break."

Jian Xingsui was still very grateful: "Sister Wang, don't worry. Although I don't have any special strengths, I will definitely work hard and never let you worry."

Wang Meican likes obedient children, unlike Fu Jinxiao, who is good enough if she doesn't cause trouble for herself all day long. So she quickly helped Jian Xingsui up: "It's okay, it's okay. But Suisui, now that you've signed with me as my artist, there are some things I still need to tell you. It's nothing big, but the first thing is that you must tell me in advance if you're in a relationship."

Jian Xingsui was taken aback, clearly not expecting this, but still nodded shyly: "Don't worry, definitely."

Wang Meican was relieved. After all, she knew that Fu Jinxiao wouldn't tell her. Fortunately, Jian Xingsui was sensible and saved her a lot of trouble. She was smart to keep the young couple in her hands so that she could handle anything that happened immediately.

Wang Meican gave herself a mental pat on the back before getting to the point: "Then let's discuss work. Actually, I agree with you pursuing music, but right now, we have a variety show offer that hasn't been finalized yet. It depends on online opinion and your popularity."

Jian Xingsui asked in confusion, "What is it?"

"Don't you know yet?" Wang Meican thought for a moment and understood: "It must be that your previous agent didn't mention it, Wang Gangqiang. After the talent show, they will launch a large-scale reality show called 'Starlight Splendor.' The team is very strong. Several mentors from Jin Xiao and Tu Ya have signed contracts, and members of the boy group that debuted from Starlight will also participate."

Jian Xingsui seemed to have heard about this. The production team of this variety show is really amazing; the lineup alone is enough to generate a lot of buzz.

Wang Meican pushed up her glasses: "Moreover, the director of this reality show is not the original director of Starlight, but the great director Su Ji'an. He directed and filmed several popular reality shows in the past two years, so if you can get Starlight, it will be a very good resource."

Jian Xingsui hesitated: "But weren't these guests already booked?"

Wang Meican showed him her phone: "It's your good fortune. A couple of days ago, after watching several episodes of 'Starlight,' Director Su decided to add an extra spot."

Jian Xingsui: "Add whom?"

“It depends on the audience.” Wang Meican clicked on a channel on Weibo: “This spot is actually a spot for those who are disappointed. It is decided by the public and netizens. The list of 102 contestants will be posted, and netizens will vote for their best contestant. The first place winner will qualify to participate in ‘Starlight Splendor’.”

Jian Xingsui heard about this for the first time today, and she was both happy and moved: "It seems that Director Su really understands the audience."

Wang Meican nodded: "Moreover, Director Su opened up a channel, which gave all 108 contestants the right to vote. They could not vote for themselves, but rather all of them would collectively vote for the contestant they felt most sorry for and give them this opportunity."

Jian Xingsui thought to herself that she hadn't even noticed these messages because of all the things that happened during the contract termination!

Wang Meican could tell he'd noticed her just by looking at his goofy expression. She smiled and said, "Although there are still two days until the voting ends, the public's votes and many contestants' choices have already been made public. Would you like to take a look?"

Upon hearing this, Jian Xingsui's heart began to race.

He knew this was an opportunity. If he could get it, he could reunite with Shen Xingchen and Ning Ze. He might even have the chance to meet and work with Fu Jinxiao and Teacher Tuya again. Although this also meant he might have to confront An Ran again, it didn't seem like much compared to the allure of the former.

Wang Meican set up the page for him and placed the ranking list in his hand: "See where you are."