This time, Yu Shuman responded quickly. Since she no longer needed to work part-time and was currently on break, she replied instantly. This made Qin Ran feel as if Yu Shuman had set her up as a special contact.
The chat window showed that Yu Shuman was typing, and after a while, she sent her reply:
[Hello, Boss. After participating in the variety show, I feel like I've officially entered the entertainment industry. But there are still many things I don't understand. I'll work hard and follow Li Jie's arrangements. Please rest assured.]
Yu Shuman assumed that Qin Ran, as her boss, was reaching out to give her a pep talk. It wasn't surprising that Yu Shuman thought this way; they hardly ever chatted on this account, and when they did, it was always formal. From her experience as an employee, Qin Ran knew that workers generally didn't enjoy being contacted by their bosses—it often meant more work.
But this time, as her boss, Qin Ran had a specific reason for reaching out.
Qin Ran typed out her reply:
[That's not what I meant. I'm asking about your career plans. I want to know your thoughts. Your manager has shown me the plans, and you'll have many group activities as part of your debut. Since you came from a talent show, you'll be operating as a group in the beginning. But there will be plenty of free time, and you could use that to learn more skills. I don't recommend continuing as a singing and dancing idol for too long; you know that career isn't sustainable. I believe in you and hope you'll consider a longer-term path. What do you think?]
After sending this long message, Yu Shuman didn't respond right away. The "typing" indicator disappeared, leaving Qin Ran to assume that her senior was deep in thought.
Yu Shuman likely didn't want to pursue being an idol because she knew the career was short-lived. Many idols have short-lived popularity and struggle to sustain their careers. Besides, she had no experience or foundation in singing and dancing. Her fans might quickly lose interest and move on to someone else.
This is why so many idols transition into acting, seeking longevity through screen appearances.
After a long pause, Yu Shuman finally replied. She chose to be bold and confessed directly to Qin Ran:
[Boss, to be honest, I want to be an actress.]
It was good that she could admit it. Qin Ran smiled, pretending to be surprised by Yu Shuman's aspirations. She replied:
[You want to be an actress?]
Yu Shuman took a moment to respond, explaining that she did want to be an actress, though she knew it was a far-fetched dream. Still, she hoped her boss would allow her to pursue it.
Qin Ran, of course, had no intention of saying no, but she maintained her boss persona, replying:
[I can allow you to pursue acting, but I don't want you to become just another cookie-cutter performer—rigid and unable to deliver lines convincingly. If you want to be an actress, you must do it seriously. Don't rush into acting; first, attend some training classes and get your acting skills up to par. Then we can talk about other opportunities.]
After reading over her message to make sure it struck the right tone, Qin Ran sent it to Yu Shuman. She knew her senior well—if Yu Shuman wanted to do something, she would give it her all. But in reality, many obstacles could prevent her from fully committing, such as worrying about whether her boss would be displeased. A company boss typically wants their talent to start making money as quickly as possible, so agreeing to a transition from idol to actor was already a big concession.
But Qin Ran knew Yu Shuman's potential, so she had prepared in advance to support her transition. On the other end, Yu Shuman was overwhelmed with emotion. She eagerly sent a voice message: "Okay, Boss! I won't let you down!" She quickly followed up with a text: "I'll bring 99 Entertainment its next film queen!"
Qin Ran, after listening to the voice message, replied with just four words: [I'll be watching.]
The next day, Li Jie contacted Yu Shuman. Yu Shuman, surprised, asked, "Li Jie, you just got back. Shouldn't you rest for a bit?"
I wish I could rest, Li Jie thought, but your junior didn't give me a chance. The moment Li Jie landed, Qin Ran had whisked her off to the company, leaving her with no time to rest. She had barely slept, working nonstop to arrange Yu Shuman's upcoming schedule and training sessions.
Li Jie met Yu Shuman at a café near the university. She ordered a strong coffee to keep herself going, her makeup carefully concealing the dark circles under her eyes, and explained Yu Shuman's upcoming schedule.
"The boss must have talked to you already. Your first priority is to study. Don't worry about getting acting opportunities. 99 Entertainment has a solid reputation, and your senior colleagues can help recommend you to various projects. There will be plenty of opportunities, but whether you can seize them depends on you."
Yu Shuman nodded seriously, "I understand."
She had impulsively promised her boss that she would become a film queen, so she knew she had to take her training seriously.
Li Jie nodded in approval and began outlining the schedule. The small café table was covered with documents Li Jie had brought, along with her tablet and Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Yu Shuman couldn't help but admire her professionalism.
"We've already arranged the training classes, including several acting workshops for beginners, led by reputable industry professionals. Besides acting, you'll need to work on your posture. This is something many modern actors overlook, especially in period dramas where they're supposed to play nobility but end up moving like commoners. It's a big reason why they often get mocked."
"But good posture isn't something you can master overnight. Ideally, you'd start with modern idol dramas, but period dramas are popular and high-budget. As a young actress, you'll need to break into those."
As Li Jie spoke, she handed Yu Shuman the details for the training courses and showed her some negative examples on the tablet. Although Li Jie thoughtfully blurred out the names, the costumes and posture made it clear who the actors were.
One clip featured a male actor who had been mocked for "walking like a lady," while another showed a female lead criticized for having such poor posture that even the background extras looked more like aristocrats than she did.
Yu Shuman didn't find it funny; she shivered at the thought of becoming the next laughingstock. She was determined to learn and ensure that she embodied the characters she portrayed.
Seeing the resolve in Yu Shuman's eyes, Li Jie smiled. "I'm not showing you this to make fun of them. It's to remind you that if you don't take your training seriously, their fate could be yours tomorrow." Yu Shuman nodded firmly, promising to study hard.
Li Jie continued to organize her schedule. "Once you finish your exams, you'll start attending the training classes. I'll give you a break for the New Year, but after that, you'll join your debut group for promotional activities. During your free time, you'll still need to attend classes. Your schedule will be pretty full."
Both of them knew that the debut group wouldn't last long. Each member had their own management company, and after the initial wave of promotional activities, they would likely go their separate ways, leaving their future careers in the hands of their respective companies.
Yu Shuman and Li Jie spent the entire afternoon at the café, going over the details of her schedule. Once everything was sorted, Li Jie packed up her documents and tools into her large handbag. Yu Shuman couldn't help but glance at the bag, marveling at its capacity.
Li Jie misinterpreted the look, thinking Yu Shuman had noticed that her bag was the latest model from a luxury brand. She playfully winked at Yu Shuman. "Like it?"
Yu Shuman hesitated but nodded. "Yes, it's very nice."
Li Jie patted her prized bag. "I just bought it while I was on vacation. It's from the latest limited edition, handmade with genuine leather. It was pretty expensive." The bag wasn't just expensive—it was the kind of price tag that even a top-tier manager like Li Jie had to think twice about. Her vacation wasn't cheap either, costing far more than just a few tens of thousands of yuan. Given all the overtime she'd put in before, Qin Ran had made sure to cover the expenses generously.
Thinking about how she had brazenly handed the receipt for the bag to Qin Ran, Li Jie had to stifle a laugh. She was in such a good mood that she even ordered four more cups of coffee to go. Yu Shuman assumed she was getting them for her colleagues and made small talk as they waited.
Once the coffees were ready, the server handed Li Jie a takeout bag, which she immediately gave to Yu Shuman. Surprised, Yu Shuman took it and heard Li Jie say, "These are for your dorm mates. Cherish these last few weeks of student life because after your final exams, you'll be moving into the company dorms. But don't worry—our company's dorms are top-notch."
Yu Shuman thanked her, knowing that the four cups of coffee were nothing to Li Jie. As they left the café together, Li Jie bundled up in her coat and got into her car. After she drove away, Yu Shuman headed back to her dorm with the coffees.
On her way, she ran into Qin Ran. She waved and smiled, wanting to run over but couldn't because her hands were full. Thankfully, Qin Ran waited for her. As soon as she reached her, Yu Shuman handed her one of the coffees.
"Here, schoolmate, take this to warm your hands. It's still hot."
Qin Ran had no choice but to accept the coffee with both hands. The cup was warm to the touch, with a paper sleeve around it to keep the heat in.
Yu Shuman whispered, "Li Jie treated us, so don't worry about the cost. Enjoy it."