Han Yize stared at Huo Yuxin in disbelief. His hold on her wrist loosening, which she took advantage of at once and freed herself.

"Don't look for me anymore and focus on Ye Mingyu. I really don't want to have anything to do with you now, so let's end it all here." She continued.

"No." Han Yize shook his head. "Did you return just to mess with my life and leave me again?"

"You are wrong." Huo Yuxin glowered at him. "I came back because I have had enough of running away. I have had enough pretending that I'm okay when I'm not. My life doesn't revolve around you and I want to start a new one without you in it. So please, stop this nonsense already and don't drag me into your family affairs." She said before turning, leaving Han Yize on his own.

She also didn't mention the fact that Han Yize's had too much blood on his hands. He'd kill people out of whim and never regretted it. Huo Yuxin didn't want to be involved in any of his wrongdoings, because she knew Han Yize wouldn't be able to avoid retribution soon.

Han Yize stood there for a long moment, as if he couldn't believe that Huo Yuxin would easily leave him like this. Her words continued to ring in his mind as he left the apartment building, realizing what could have truly happened in the past.

When he arrived at his parents home, he found Ye Mingyu laughing at something his mother just said. The two women ceased their conversation when they noticed their arrival.

"Yize, you're finally home. I thought I would need to call you again and drag you here myself." His mother said.

However, Han Yize stood still as if he didn't hear what his mother had just said. Huo Yuxin's words earlier were starting to sink in his mind. Seeing his mother, he then knew the reason why Huo Yuxin abandoned her.

"What are you doing just standing there?" Ye Mingyu said, playing the role of the filial daughter-in-law easily. "Mother went through all this trouble just to cook for us."

His eyes then turned to Ye Mingyu and his hate for this woman rose to another level. Han Yize wanted nothing but to strangle her to death and throw her remains somewhere no one would be able to find her remains.He believed that she was the very reason Huo Yuxin didn't want to get back with him, not realizing that even if Huo Yuxin still had any remaining affections for him, she wouldn't be able to turn a blind eye on his misdeeds.

"I'm tired. I have a long day today and would need to leave early for a business trip." He told his mother, purposely ignoring Ye Mingyu's presence. Han Yize swore that he would make Ye Mingyu suffer throughout their marriage. She would regret messing with him and crossing the line.

—

While Ye Mingyu had willingly stepped out of the limelight, good things continued to happen to Xiao Rufeng. Aside from her engagement to Yan Xiuchen, she would be working on a film with Bai Qingyue. It wasn't announced in public yet, but the script was based on one of the proposals Lu Jinglin sent to Su Xiaofei a couple of months ago.

"Are you sure you want to use this script?" Lu Jinglin asked Su Xiaofei, looking nervous and tense at the same time. They met today to discuss the contract and the details of the film Bluemedia would be producing.

Su Xiaofei had just officially returned to work and instead of moving back to Guangshang, she and her mother decided to handle the company management from Shenjing. They left Fang Yi to oversee things back in Guangshang. While Su Xiaofei missed being near Xi Qian, she knew that her friend would be alright, now that the latter was living with Li Xiran.

"What are you worried about? I think this script is really good. A-Feng also thinks the same. Give yourself some credit, Sister Lin. I'm not doing this out of pity. I truly see potential in your work." Su Xiaofei replied.

She had heard about Lu Jinglin's circumstances from her husband, but to see that Lu Jinglin's father was able to ruin her to the extent that she couldn't be confident with being herself, broke Su Xiaofei's heart. It must have been hard for Lu Jinglin to grow up without anyone helping her nurture her talent.

Maybe it was because Lu Jinglin had been suppressed by her father her whole life that it was awkward for her to accept compliments from other people. From the moment she started being conscious of her surroundings, she had always doubted herself and her capability.magic

"A-Feng really said that?"

She couldn't believe that her own cousin would say it. Lu Jinglin knew how much of a perfectionist that man was and everything was supposed to go according to his plans. If Lu Qingfeng believed that her work was good, then maybe Su Xiaofei was really telling the truth.

"Yep. Actually, he's the one who picked this script amongst the others. He said that the role would surely work for Miss Bai, but it would be challenging for Xiao Rufeng. What do you think, Rufeng?"

Since they were about to sign a contract, minus Bai Qingyue, Xiao Rufeng was also present to meet Lu Qingfeng's cousin for the second time. She was surprised when she found out that the scriptwriter of the script Zhang Ling handed to her was this very woman.

"I really don't mind, Feifei." She smiled at her manager. "It will be hard for me to portray a role like this, but this is excitingly challenging for me. Has Miss Bai accepted the role?"

"En. She has already signed the contract, although I told her to wait until both of you came to a decision." Her manager sighed.

Su Xiaofei rubbed the space between her brows, remembering how eagerly Bai Qingyu showed up at her office that morning, demanding the contract for her to sign. She was starting to think that her mother's peculiar actions was what made Mo Yuchen agree to release her from the Golden Star.

Xiao Rufeng inwardly smiled. Su Xiaofei was pretending that she didn't care about her birth mother, but she could see that the queen was starting to grow on her.

"Then there's no reason for us to stall the film. Since you already found a director, then what else are we waiting for?"

"I have something to tell you before you sign that contract." Su Xiaofei said with all seriousness, immediately getting both women's attention.

"The producer of this film won't be Bluemedia alone. A-Feng and Yan Xiuchen both decided to inject funds into this film." Su Xiaofei then glanced at Lu Jinglin. "He didn't want you to worry about the production cost and he wanted to make sure that your father won't dare to undermine you again, if this film was to be successful."

Lu Jinglin lowered her gaze and fidgetted in her seat. She knew how important this project was for her, but she was scared to face yet another failure. How many times did she end up disappointed in the end? No matter how much work she puts in, she always finds herself lacking and failing in so many ways.

If the film failed, not only would lose face in front of Lu Qingfeng and his wife, but this would be yet another heartache she would have to endure for a long time. Her father would also use it against her and remind her that her value was limited as a bargaining chip for an arranged marriage she never wanted to partake in.

"My debt to him is piling up." She muttered guiltily, but was loud enough for Su Xiaofei to hear.

"I don't think that he sees it as a debt. It's more like he's investing in you, Sister Lin. A-Feng did that because he believes that you have potential. Same to you, Rufeng." Su Xiaofei told her friend. "Yan Xiuchen only wants to spoil you. He said that since you wouldn't accept any expensive gifts from him, he might as well help you produce a film you could be proud of. I don't think both of you would want to disappoint them."

"If you put it that way, how can I not agree?" Xiao Rufeng smiled, before signing the contract in front of her. Zhang Ling then took it from her and the three of them waited for Lu Jinglin's turn.

Lu Jinglin shut her eyes and mustered all the courage she had before finally signing the contract. Although Su Xiaofei and the director approved of her work, she needed to rework some parts to improve it. It wasn't the failure that held her back anyway, it was her fear of failure that kept her from moving forward. She knew this, yet it wasn't easy to free herself from it.