One reason the screenwriter agreed to give Yu Shuman a chance was because Qin Ran had previously given her one. Qin Ran had invested significant money into her debut mystery script, and later, her political intrigue drama. Now, when Yu Shuman asked for a chance at a new role, how could the screenwriter refuse?
Although Yu Shuman had this opportunity lined up, she still needed to wait for the political drama to finish filming and be released. In the meantime, she had plenty of time to hone her skills.
Playing a cold, ethereal female artist was not an easy task—especially with Yu Shuman's naturally bold, vibrant appearance. Her striking features made it difficult to convey the subtlety of a quiet Daoist priestess. She and her stylist, Lucy, tried various makeup looks to tone down her natural brightness, but Yu Shuman was still unsatisfied. The upturned corners of her eyes gave her an air of sharpness that was hard to suppress.
Frustrated, Yu Shuman worried she wouldn't be able to pass the audition, even if the screenwriter was supportive. She didn't give up, though, and even enrolled in a traditional Chinese painting class. Though starting at her age was challenging, Yu Shuman attended every session, determined to understand the essence of the character.
Lizi, her agent, thought this effort was a bit excessive, especially since Yu Shuman hadn't secured the role yet. If it were anyone else, Lizi would have scolded them. But this was Yu Shuman, and Qin Ran's motto had always been: "As long as she's happy."
With such a lenient attitude from the boss, Lizi held her tongue. Besides, to her, Yu Shuman was already the "boss lady," and it wasn't her place to argue.
Yu Shuman threw herself into her studies, turning Qin Ran's study into an art studio filled with ink, brushes, and rice paper. She practiced sketching figures, horses, and banners, all the while contemplating the feelings of Gong Suoran, the historical figure she was aiming to portray.
Gong Suoran's The Lady Banished to the Frontier depicted the story of Wang Zhaojun, a Han dynasty figure who was married off to the Xiongnu. It was filled with sorrow and national grief. Yu Shuman tried to immerse herself in Gong Suoran's emotions as she painted. What pain must she have felt? What reverence for Wang Zhaojun?
Gong Suoran lived during the Jin dynasty, a time of foreign rule, and as a Daoist priestess, her heart surely ached for her country. It was impossible to truly understand her feelings from a distance of over a thousand years, but Yu Shuman could sense the weight of her sorrow and respect for Zhaojun, whom she had depicted so vividly on paper.
As Yu Shuman gently sketched the outline of a woman on the paper, her expression softened. In that moment, she felt confident that she could portray Gong Suoran.
While Yu Shuman was working on improving her skills, Qin Ran was also busy. Recently, the top real estate mogul's investment in an overseas land deal had tripled the original cost, far exceeding even Qin Ran's expectations.
When she received this news, Qin Ran couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. Wu, her assistant, commented, "It seems Mr. Zheng is really determined to get that land. His expectations must be sky-high." The initial acquisition had already cost so much—who knew how much more the development would require?
Qin Ran wasted no time forwarding this information to a female real estate mogul she was in contact with. The woman wasn't foolish and had plenty of business acumen. Upon learning that Mr. Zheng had overextended himself financially to secure the land, she promptly began taking action.
During recent discussions with this real estate mogul and Zhao Er, the atmosphere was light, as the former was in high spirits. She even shared some juicy gossip: "I heard that Mr. Zheng is so tied up with this overseas land deal that he's having trouble securing further loans. He tried to get additional funding from domestic banks, but was rejected."
"Now the authorities are worried about whether he can repay what he already owes."
Qin Ran sipped her coffee, her expression calm. Zhao Er, always up to date with the latest information, added with a smirk, "It looks like Mr. Zheng's days as 'the nation's richest man' are numbered. And speaking of delays, remember how Ling Miaohan was supposed to get engaged to Pei Qi at New Year's? It's been three months, and there hasn't been a single invitation sent out. You'd think by now people in our circles would have received something."
"Who knows, maybe the wedding is off."
Zhao Er's tone was gleeful as she spoke. She had no love for Ling Miaohan, largely because Ling Miaohan had often disrupted her plans to meet with the eldest son of the Ling family, either by showing up first or by causing him to leave early. While Zhao Er understood that it was the eldest son's decision, her dislike for Ling Miaohan was deeply rooted.
Now, watching the Ling family in turmoil brought her joy. Zhao Er's words drew smiles from the others as they continued chatting, and eventually, Zhao Er leaned in conspiratorially. "Recently, I've noticed someone quietly buying up shares of Ling Group and Pei Group. Quite a few people have caught wind of this, but it seems neither of those families have. I guess they've been too busy to notice."
Though Qin Ran's acquisition of shares was done discreetly, stock movements were hard to fully conceal. Many had noticed the fluctuation in shares and figured now was the perfect time to buy. However, they were cautious not to make the prices too high, choosing to act in secret and gradually push the prices down.
Zhao Er, eyes gleaming with curiosity, then asked directly, "Xiao Qin, could it be that you're the one buying up the shares?"
Zhao Er was sharp enough to realize that the mysterious buyer wasn't just interested in profits. The group of followers who were speculating on the shares might even end up losing money if the market didn't turn in their favor. If Qin Ran was the one behind the acquisitions, everything would make sense—she wasn't after profit but was playing a strategic game to make life difficult for the Ling and Pei families.
Qin Ran saw no need to deny it. She trusted Zhao Er, knowing that their mutual interests aligned for now, and so she confirmed, "Yes, it's me. But don't get involved—you'll only lose money."
Zhao Er swirled her coffee, impressed. "Xiao Qin, you sure know how to spend. It's like money just falls into your lap."
Qin Ran smiled but didn't respond, excusing herself shortly afterward to head home. After all, she had dinner to prepare for Yu Shuman.
She had tasked their housekeeper with buying ingredients for a special meal—sour fish. Though a deceptively simple dish, it was actually quite difficult to get right, especially the delicate task of filleting the fish.
Of course, she could have asked the fish market to prepare the fillets for her, but she didn't want to rely on others every time. What if they were traveling abroad, and Yu Shuman craved sour fish? It wasn't like there would always be someone around to help. In her enthusiasm, Qin Ran forgot that they would likely have a personal chef on hand during their travels.
Determined to master the recipe, Qin Ran put in hours of practice, learning how to properly fillet the fish. It wasn't easy, even for someone who had been cooking for over a year like Qin Ran. The fish fillets turned out uneven, with bones still stuck in some pieces. She even had to wear gloves while handling the fish to avoid getting pricked by the bones.
After much trial and error, and with the housekeeper's guidance, Qin Ran finally prepared a respectable dish of sour fish. When Yu Shuman returned from her art classes and work, she was greeted by the sight of the dish on the dining table. Qin Ran beamed with anticipation. "Manman, try it and see how it tastes."
While Qin Ran's cooking was good, it wasn't outstanding, and sour fish was a dish that tested even experienced cooks. The fish pieces were uneven, and some were still a little bony. But seeing how much effort Qin Ran had put into the meal, Yu Shuman was deeply moved.
The best way to show appreciation for Qin Ran's hard work was to eat every bite. Though imperfect, the dish tasted wonderful, especially with the tangy broth poured over rice. Yu Shuman ate two bowls of rice, rubbing her full belly contentedly afterward.
The scene wasn't the most elegant—Yu Shuman slouched in her chair, stomach full, not at all ladylike. But to Qin Ran, it was an adorable sight.
Yu Shuman, slightly embarrassed by how much she had eaten, teased, "Xiao Ran, you made too much. I'm stuffed!"
"You didn't have to eat that much," Qin Ran replied absentmindedly, still tidying up the table. Though she was feared in the business world as a cold, calculating figure, at home, she was just Yu Shuman's doting junior, the type who wore bunny aprons while cooking. She picked up the dishes and headed to the kitchen, but not before hearing Yu Shuman's gentle voice behind her: "But you made it. I couldn't let it go to waste."
Yu Shuman was simply too sweet, and Qin Ran's heart swelled with affection. She hurried through the cleanup, eager to get back to her beloved.
Yu Shuman was pushing herself to become a better actress, while Qin Ran was busy making life difficult for others. Both of them were striving in their own ways.