After the release of "Yesterday's Sun," it received excellent reviews, driving the box office to rise steadily, breaking through among a slew of commercial blockbusters. No one anticipated that it could achieve such miraculous results. A ten-year-old film re-released from the archives, with the endorsement of the famous director Jin Jingyao, certainly had its legendary aspects. However, no matter what, the real director He Wei had been dead for eight or nine years, and the lead actress Li Ling was an obscure, eighteenth-tier actress. They didn't contribute much to the box office. What moved the first batch of viewers was the film's sharp topicality: ten years ago, someone dared to bring the tragedy of transgender individuals to the screen. Many people said they saw a long-lost innocence in the film. He Wei's narrative style was not sentimental but extremely calm, restrained, and powerful. He captured a kind of cruel poetry. At the end of the film, Mandelstam's poem quickly began to be recited all over the internet. Many bloggers posted videos of themselves sitting in the cinema, crying loudly while reciting the poem, repeatedly saying, "This is the most touching film I've seen this year." The famous investor Chen Fei posted several long, emotional articles in memory of his late friend, booking entire theaters to promote the film. In his articles, he wrote that in an era when hot money was flooding into the film industry, everyone around was making big money, but only He Wei was still devoted to creation. He was foolish, but he always held the greatest passion and highest idealism for art. The late director was elevated to a god-like status, with public opinion almost unanimously praising and reminiscing about him. At this moment, an insider suddenly revealed that they wanted to talk about the truth of those years. In a live broadcast, the person, thin and wearing a bear mascot head, with their voice altered, spoke with conviction and hatred, mentioning that they were on set back then and saw with their own eyes what Director He did to the lead actress Li Ling. For He Wei, it was for the sake of art. But for the nineteen-year-old newcomer actress, it was outright bullying. The masked insider spoke while choking with pain. An overseas TV station interviewed the director's widow. Mrs. He also hated her late husband to the core, claiming that the film was about their daughter, but it was He Wei's cold-bloodedness and indifference that killed their daughter. Video clips went viral online, causing a public outcry and an immediate reversal of attitudes towards He Wei. Truth and falsehood, reality and illusion, became a battleground for fierce debate. Some still supported He Wei, saying, "That's how directors of their generation made films" and "He Wei wasn't a bad person; he just wanted to make a good movie." More people, however, condemned He Wei, questioning his character and the legitimacy of the entire film. —Does a director have the right to harm an actor in the name of art? —The entire film is so hypocritical; those so-called bold expressions and astonishing artistry are built on the exploitation, harm, and violence against young women. —Can the quality of a work be evaluated without considering the creator's moral ethics? —Take it down! —Take it down! The discussion grew increasingly intense, the incident fermenting day by day. "Yesterday's Sun" turned from a classic into a stain, with adulation backfiring into resistance. Some even called for the film to be taken down to set things right. On the day when the call for the film's removal was at its peak, Jin Jingyao reposted his VCR on Weibo. In the video, he told the reporter, "I had no personal relationship with Director He Wei, nor did I particularly admire his character." "The reason I helped this film get released was solely for the lead actress Li Ling." "She made the film with a clear conscience and did nothing wrong."In just a few hours, this Weibo post was shared tens of thousands of times, and the VCR's view count skyrocketed to millions. Rewatching the video, netizens suddenly realized that the young director's words seemed to carry a cold sense of foresight. Ten years ago, Li Ling was sacrificed, and ten years later, Li Ling was almost sacrificed again. In this battle of public opinion, with all sides arguing and condemning, no one still cared about her. He Wei died, and the so-called "removal" meant nothing to him. The only one truly "removed" was Li Ling. Her works could be taken down again and again. Her name could be erased again and again. It was like this ten years ago, and it is still like this ten years later. A few days later, the well-known domestic media outlet "Danqing" published a special report titled "The Ten Years of a Disappeared Actress." The first third of the article faithfully restored the truth of the past: why "Yesterday's Sun" could not be released, and what roles each person involved played. Ten years is not too long. Although Chen Fei and Mrs. He refused to be interviewed by "Danqing" reporters, many people were still alive and willing to tell the truth. The latter two-thirds of the article recounted Li Ling's ten years. The reporter contacted many of her colleagues. Most of the people who had worked with Li Ling spoke highly of her, praising her serious work attitude, good nature, and cheerful personality, saying she was fun to talk to. "But I don't know why she never became famous," said an anonymous industry insider. "It's quite a pity." "I heard she offended someone, but I don't really believe it. She was polite even to the tea workers." In fact, Li Ling had never disappeared. She had always been active in the industry, acting in many plays, enduring much hardship, and working hard to survive. However, this industry is very cruel. A small number of people at the top of the pyramid occupy all the wealth and fame, while the countless bones trampled underfoot go unnoticed. Surviving is very difficult. The lives of small actors are cheap. The article concluded by saying that "Li Ling" is not just one person but also a code name, a reflection of many bottom-tier actors in the industry. She had talent and was hardworking, but these were not enough to make her famous. She struggled through harsh realities. "May she always be illuminated by today's sun." After the article was published, neither Chen Fei nor Mrs. He made any public statements. Chen Fei privately attempted some public relations, trying to pressure "Danqing" to delete the article. But "Danqing" is a major media outlet with official backing, so the matter ended inconclusively, and Chen Fei only ended up tarnishing his own reputation. When Jin Jingyao first approached Mrs. He, she had already anticipated this day. She quietly moved with her husband and transferred her son to a new school. Even so, local British media often camped outside her door, taking photos and causing her constant distress and anxiety. After the turmoil, "Yesterday's Sun" not only was not taken down but its key was extended, allowing it to be shown in some art theaters for a longer period. More and more people went to the cinema, but not for He Wei, only for Li Ling. Before "Yesterday's Sun" was released, Jin Jingyao had actually anticipated everything. He knew that the living would not repent, and the choices they made ten years ago would be the same choices they would make ten years later. So he once again entrusted Nicole Yang and contacted "Danqing." What he wanted to return to Li Ling was never just a film, but the truth. Merits and demerits can be left for the public to judge. But the premise is that everything should be exposed to the sunlight. No more secrets. - Li Ling no longer made public statements and declined all media interviews except for those with "Danqing." Her manager thought she was foolish. Why not take the opportunity to start a live stream and talk about the past? Li Ling said, "Should I also sell some products, like elderly goat milk powder and health supplements?" The manager was shocked. "Wow, you're really quick-witted." Li Ling: "..." "Forget it," she said tactfully. "Do you ever get into fights with the dog downstairs for no reason?" Ten years had passed, and Li Ling no longer wanted to get entangled with those people. After all, the average lifespan of a dog is only about a dozen years. They were all old now, but she was still very young. She would live better than them, better than all of them. She wanted to seize the present. Of course, the main reason was that Li Ling had been very busy lately, busy being a dorm supervisor for elementary school students. After meeting Jin Jingyao at the cinema that day, they had met a few more times intermittently. Afterward, Director Jin said he needed to stay home to edit his film and couldn't go out much, so they switched to communicating via WeChat. On WeChat, he was very active every day, sending good morning and good night messages on time, and often drawing little mummy figures holding a triangle ruler triumphantly. He seemed very sunny and healthy, so Li Ling didn't realize it was all an act. Until one day, she received a call from Xiao Liu, who said in a panic that his cousin had gone missing again. He told Li Ling how Director Jin had locked himself in his studio for the past two months, working day and night in a self-destructive manner. "Have you seen him when he's writing a script?" Xiao Liu said seriously. "It's ten times scarier than that." Li Ling was stunned. "But I just saw him a few days ago, and he seemed... normal." Xiao Liu clicked his tongue. "If you say he seemed normal, then he was definitely faking it." He exaggeratedly made a grimace. "You know how good my cousin is at pretending." Li Ling indeed understood. She went next door and knocked. Behind the door, it was as quiet as a grave, with no response. She tentatively said, "Should I just open the door?" Xiao Liu looked at her skeptically. "You know my cousin's password?" "Yes, he told me," Li Ling said, confidently pressing six digits. There was a click. Xiao Liu looked at her with a hint of reverence. The password was incorrect. Li Ling: "..." "Haha!" He laughed gloatingly. She was embarrassed and angry. "I just got one digit wrong. Let me try again." Li Ling confidently tried again. ...Still wrong. She felt very embarrassed, thinking she might need some elderly goat milk powder herself. Suddenly, the door opened from the inside. Jin Jingyao looked at them with a very gloomy expression. Xiao Liu was so scared he took three steps back. Li Ling stared at him for a while, her expression gradually becoming blank. "Director, should I call an ambulance for you?" she said tactfully. The young man stood in the dim room, shirtless, wearing only a pair of pajama pants. He was very thin, his skin pale to the point of being sickly, almost like a vampire. His voice was also very hoarse, as if he hadn't slept for days. "What's up?" he asked, staring at Li Ling, his voice even raspier. Li Ling said, "What's wrong? Am I not welcome? Then I'll leave." Xiao Liu looked at her in shock: How did Li Ling become so bold in talking to his cousin after not seeing her for a while! He thought his cousin would sneer, but instead, Jin Jingyao said stiffly, "No. Wait a moment." Jin Jingyao closed the door and reopened it after a while.He was draped in a black long robe, meticulously tied, and it seemed he had washed his face. There was a shallow cut on his chin, probably from shaving too hastily. "Come in," he said, turning sideways. Li Ling didn't think much of it and walked in confidently. Xiao Liu followed her, shocked and in tears. "Why are you crying?" she asked, puzzled. Xiao Liu choked up, "After all these years, this is the first time my cousin has let me into his home." Li Ling: "..." No wonder they are cousins. The air conditioning in the room was set very low, making it feel like stepping into a bone-chilling ice cellar. The curtains were tightly drawn, not a sliver of light coming through. Only the cold, eerie glow of the monitor illuminated the room, resembling a deep sea devoid of oxygen. The large desk was cluttered with several computers, messy sketches, and coffee cups. A pair of boxing gloves lay on the floor, and a tall standing punching bag in the corner had been beaten to shreds. Xiao Liu breathed a sigh of relief and whispered to Li Ling, "It's better than his office." Li Ling: "..." She still found it hard to believe. The last time she was here, it was a model room, and now it had turned into a garbage dump. Taking advantage of her distraction, Jin Jingyao silently hid the unsightly sketches. They were all inappropriate drawings of Li Ling. Li Ling walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, pressed a button beside it, and opened the curtains, letting the sunlight in. She also adjusted the air conditioning to an environmentally friendly temperature. Then, she called Jin Jingyao over and gave him a ten-minute-long lecture. Xiao Liu looked even more terrified from behind. Li Ling was so bold, daring to scold her cousin. He thought she would be murdered on the spot. But Jin Jingyao just lowered his head without any reaction, simply saying "Got it," and then slowly turned around, obediently putting the cups into the dishwasher. "..." Xiao Liu shivered as if he had seen a ghost. After a while, Jin Jingyao asked Li Ling if she was thirsty after talking so much and poured her a glass of water with a clean glass. Li Ling wasn't very thirsty, so she took a polite sip and intended to return the glass to him. Jin Jingyao lowered his head, looking very thirsty, and drank the water from her hand. They. Actually. Drank from the same glass. Xiao Liu shivered again, his eyes almost popping out. He weakly said, "Cousin, I'm thirsty too." Jin Jingyao gave him a cold look, "Get lost." Xiao Liu: "..." He felt a strange sense of comfort: thankfully, his cousin was still his cousin, not possessed by some strange person. He was still crazy and uncontrollable. Only Li Ling could put a leash on him. So he could only wish them to drink more hot water together. Worried that the director might really die from overworking on editing, Li Ling had to report to Jin Jingyao's house every day to supervise him, making sure he ate well and slept on time. Accompanying him through this period, she gradually understood how torturous this process was for Jin Jingyao. Being an actor was easy; once the film wrapped, everything was over. For a director, wrapping up was just the beginning. Editing was another process of self-examination, involving breaking and reshaping once again. Jin Jingyao became increasingly dependent on her, almost to a pathological degree. Eventually, he even wanted her to be by his side while he worked. Only when Li Ling was within his sight could he feel at ease. Even if she left for an hour, he would become restless and anxious. But Li Ling couldn't be with him every minute and second; she always had other work to do. "The Atheist" required her to go back for reshoots. Originally scheduled for three days, she managed to compress it into two and immediately took the fastest flight back. By the time she left the airport, it was already dark, and after a while, it started to rain. Li Ling hurried home, sending several messages to Jin Jingyao along the way, but he didn't reply. She grew increasingly worried, fearing something might have happened to him. As she stepped out of the elevator, she could barely make out someone sitting by her door in the dim light. She was startled. "Director, why are you sitting here?" Li Ling went over to help him up, touching Jin Jingyao's arm. His exposed skin was damp and cold, with an unnatural pallor. He lifted his head, water dripping from his face and clothes, completely soaked. In the darkness, his profile glistened faintly with moisture, as if he had been in the rain for a long time. Li Ling was even more shocked and asked him what was wrong. As soon as she spoke, he grabbed her hand, pulling her down, and with his other hand, he held the back of her neck. "Mm..." His palm moved from the back of her neck to her chin, cupping her face with one hand, and kissed her without warning. His lips and tongue were cold yet fervent, almost frenzied. In the dim light, Li Ling tried hard to discern his gaze. He stared at her with intense focus, his eyes deep and terrifying, like an addict looking at a poppy flower. He wanted to devour her, and be devoured by her. The rain intensified, pounding on the glass with a heart-pounding sound. Her mind was foggy, forced to taste the strong flavor of vodka. He hadn't just been in the rain; he had drunk a lot. This was unusual; he was always disciplined and never touched alcohol while working. Vodka was like a contagion. She felt drunk too, in a state between headache and dizziness, very ambiguous. One foot in a dream, the other still in reality, teetering on the edge of a cliff. In the intermittent kisses, Jin Jingyao pressed her hand, inputting a password, as if hoping she would remember that string of numbers. The room was very dark, and they almost fell onto the carpet together, but he held her wrist, barely maintaining balance. He had a strong scent of rainwater. She was pinned against the wall, tasting cold rain and strong liquor, so cold she could hardly breathe. The night tore away the last layer of pretense. His breathing grew more rapid, as if he really intended to swallow her whole. Li Ling's hand was forced to intertwine with his. She struggled to break free, turning her face to ask, "Director, wait a minute, what's going on..." Jin Jingyao silently kissed her neck and shoulders, each kiss forceful to the point of pain, as if trying to leave a mark on her skin. "I finished editing," he said softly. Li Ling was taken aback. This was something to be happy about, but she didn't understand why his tone was like this. It didn't sound like relief; it was more repressed, struggling, almost devoid of emotion. It seemed like he was afraid of something. Because of fear, he was eager to seek an answer from her, a definite answer. Li Ling wanted to hug him. Her slightly trembling fingers hooked onto something, which fell to the ground with a thud—it was the TV remote. A faint light came on, showing an old action movie on the movie channel. The male lead was gripping the female lead's shoulders, seemingly about to crush her shoulder blades. The female lead reacted quickly, one hand choking his neck, the other twisting a knuckle duster, aiming directly at his eyes. In the storm, their bodies covered in mud, they fought hysterically, relentlessly, all for the instinct to survive. Li Ling only had time to glance at the screen before Jin Jingyao turned her face back. He pressed down on her deeply, like a knife carving into her skin, the force was too great, causing her to frown in pain. Two cold fingers lifted her chin. He gazed at her, pecking a kiss on her brow, his movements becoming gentle again. Lightning flashed outside the window, illuminating his handsome face for a brief moment. Then came a clap of thunder. Everything seemed to turn into a movie, yet more shocking than any film. Jin Jingyao lowered his head and gently bit the tip of her nose. "Look at me first.""