The second half of junior year flew by, and before long, it was summer break. Yu Shuman's political intrigue drama was set to air during the summer, and she had been busy with promotional activities, including media interviews and fan events. She appeared in a simple outfit—black jeans, white sneakers, and a T-shirt with the show's logo. Her interviews were poised, and she handled every question with ease.
But one question caught her off guard.
"Ms. Yu Shuman, I recently read in my hometown newspaper about a thank-you letter from a principal in a remote mountain area. He expressed his gratitude for your continuous donations to their school. While this may not be widely known, I wanted to ask—what has motivated you to stay committed to charity work?"
Yu Shuman was momentarily stunned but quickly remembered her regular donations to support the people who had once helped her and her family. Assuming the question referred to that, she smiled and responded.
"Honestly, I haven't donated much. I've said before that I owe my current life to the kindness of strangers who helped me during a difficult time. They made it possible for my mother to recover and for me to continue my education. Now that I have the means, I want to repay that kindness and extend it to others. What I've contributed is minor compared to the real heroes—the people who helped me in the first place."
The journalist seemed taken aback by Yu Shuman's humble response, thanking her once again for her donations to the school. Yu Shuman was unsure why the journalist looked so surprised, but she didn't dwell on it.
However, the issue soon spiraled when more people began to investigate the extent of her donations. The amount donated in her name turned out to be staggering—far more than anyone expected. Some even questioned how Yu Shuman could afford to give away such a large sum.
While other celebrities were being caught up in tax evasion scandals involving millions, it was revealed that Yu Shuman had donated a figure close to one hundred million. This left many wondering: How could she afford this?
Speculation erupted online. Some netizens questioned if the donations were a publicity stunt, or if Yu Shuman had some hidden source of income. The issue grew so heated that some people even demanded that she publicly disclose her income.
Income details are a personal matter for anyone, and the pressure mounted. Yu Shuman, confused and overwhelmed, had no idea what to do, since she hadn't made such large donations. Her manager, Sister Li, immediately suspected the culprit: Qin Ran.
Only Qin Ran would be capable of using Yu Shuman's name for charity and intentionally keeping it a secret, waiting for the day the truth would surface.
Faced with no other choice, Qin Ran had to own up to it. She asked Wu, her assistant, to clarify the situation, explaining that several large donations were, in fact, made by Qin Ran herself using Yu Shuman's name. With clear financial records and donation receipts under Qin Ran's name, the public quickly accepted this explanation, and the narrative shifted from scandal to admiration.
Unexpectedly, instead of being upset, Yu Shuman sighed in relief. "You know, you could have just told me. I think doing charity is a great thing—it's not wasting money." Qin Ran, relieved that she wasn't in trouble, rushed to hug her, feeling grateful. Just as she was about to express her emotions, Yu Shuman suddenly tugged at her ear.
"Manman?" Qin Ran asked, puzzled.
Yu Shuman raised an eyebrow. "But, Xiao Ran, one of those accounts looks awfully familiar."
Qin Ran was dumbstruck. Yu Shuman continued, "It looks just like the account of a certain 'social benefactor.' The same one I've been donating to every month."
Qin Ran's mind raced. She had entrusted Wu to manage these donations and handle the clarification. But it seemed Wu had made a significant oversight. As she mentally screamed, "Wu, you've doomed me!" Yu Shuman tilted her head and gently asked, "How many other things are you hiding from me?"
Qin Ran's heart skipped a beat. She instinctively looked at Yu Shuman, mouth slightly open. Qin Ran was skilled at bending the truth when needed—she could craft an airtight lie that Yu Shuman wouldn't see through. She could have said she'd been planning to help from the start, that she'd inherited a fortune but could only access a small amount before turning 18, and that she'd spent what little she had on helping Yu Shuman.
But that would be manipulative. While Qin Ran didn't mind small lies—like pretending her private island was rented instead of owned—she refused to lie about something so fundamental as how they met. If she did, Yu Shuman's question wouldn't be about "what are you hiding" but rather "what have you lied about."
Qin Ran didn't want to face that possibility. What she feared most was Yu Shuman discovering the truth: that they were living in a novel, and that her fate was controlled by others. Qin Ran worried this revelation would crush Yu Shuman's spirit, no matter how strong and vibrant she seemed.
While Yu Shuman was naturally optimistic and full of life, Qin Ran couldn't be sure how she'd react to such a harsh reality. She wanted to shield Yu Shuman from the truth, from anything that could hurt her.
Caught between honesty and protection, Qin Ran found herself in an impossible situation. It was only when it involved Yu Shuman that Qin Ran felt this powerless.
Yu Shuman, sensing Qin Ran's inner turmoil, softened her grip on Qin Ran's ear. "Xiao Ran, don't look like that. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"I just want you to know how grateful I am. Regardless of how it happened, you saved my mother's life and gave me the opportunity to keep studying. If I make things harder for you now, it would be so ungrateful of me."
Yu Shuman leaned in and kissed Qin Ran's forehead. Qin Ran, who had been frowning moments ago, began to relax under Yu Shuman's gentle touch.
Qin Ran sighed heavily, burying her face in Yu Shuman's embrace. "But even if I never tell you?"
"That's okay," Yu Shuman replied softly. "Everyone has things they don't want to talk about. Even couples have their own secrets."
Yu Shuman's words provided a great deal of comfort to Qin Ran, helping her to let go of some of the weight she had been carrying. After a long, quiet embrace, Qin Ran hesitantly asked, "But, if I never tell you… will it make you sad?"
Yu Shuman smiled, stroking Qin Ran's hair. "To be honest, yes, it might. But it's not something I can't handle."
Her words made Qin Ran freeze for a moment.
Yu Shuman continued, "There are other things you do that make me a little unhappy too—like when you ignore me when I say stop—but those things are bearable."
Qin Ran blushed at the sudden mention of intimate moments. Yu Shuman, ever straightforward, added playfully, "I'll wait until you're ready to tell me. Even if I have to wait until we're both old and gone, I'll find you at the Naihe Bridge and ask you what you were hiding before you drink the soup."
{Naihe Bridge: a bridge every soul has to cross before being reincarnated}
Her teasing words brought a smile to Qin Ran's face, breaking the tension. Qin Ran laid her head in Yu Shuman's lap, pouting playfully. "Then don't drink the soup. We'll just stay together in the next life too."
{Souls crossing the Niahe Bridge said to drink the Mengpo soup at Naihe Qiao so they will forget everything in their current lives and prepare for reincarnation.}
Yu Shuman smiled down at her, brushing a kiss against her cheek. Her voice was soft and filled with affection. "Alright, we will always be together."
With that, the tension between them faded, and Qin Ran no longer felt as conflicted. She knew that one day she would tell Yu Shuman everything—but only when the time was right, when Yu Shuman was strong enough to handle it, and when Qin Ran herself was ready.
The donation scandal eventually blew over, replaced by admiration for Yu Shuman's charitable spirit. Although a few cynics accused her of using the story for publicity ahead of her drama's release, they were quickly silenced. As one netizen aptly put it, "At least she's actually donating money. You should try that instead of complaining."
When the political drama finally aired, it sparked widespread discussion, drawing in new fans captivated by Yu Shuman's acting and charm. But for Yu Shuman, all the buzz meant little, as she was already deep into preparations for her next film.
This time, the shoot would only take about four months, but no matter how short the separation, Qin Ran always hated seeing her go.