Tsinghua University

"I think it's time you went home," He Zeqing said, his gaze fixed on the man before him. He took a seat on the couch and glanced around the penthouse. The place seemed as dull and cold as its owner.

Song Chengfeng frowned, irritation evident. "Mind your own business," he replied coldly, clearly signaling that He Zeqing should stay out of his affairs as he settled into the chair opposite him.

He Zeqing rolled his eyes in response. "Do I look like someone who enjoys meddling in others' problems?" he retorted. "If it weren't for my grandfather, I wouldn't even bother to be here." 

Song Chengfeng didn't respond, but it was clear he understood that He Zeqing's involvement was likely due to his grandfather's influence. At the moment, the only person capable of persuading this bothersome man to intervene was his own grandfather. 

After a prolonged silence, He Zeqing asked with mild curiosity, "Why don't you want to go back?" 

"He'll be disappointed." Song Chengfeng closed his eyes and sighed before replying, 

"Are you sure about that?" He Zeqing shook his head, unconvinced. "I find it hard to believe that Old Man Song would be disappointed in his most capable grandson."

The image of his elderly grandfather deepened Song Chengfeng's mood, dragging it further down than it had been. He couldn't erase the eyes of others when they knew what he had done from his mind. 

Despite this, Song Chengfeng was not one to dwell on such stares. He had always been indifferent to others' opinions of him. After all, if he had let public judgement affect him, he wouldn't have risen to become the youngest general. 

"Whatever," He Zeqing said with a shrug. "I've tried. I'll just tell my grandpa that you're too stubborn." He didn't really care about the matter. 

After all, Song Chengfeng was an adult and had the right to make his own decisions. He Zeqing realised that insisting further would only be a waste of breath. 

With a resigned sigh, He Zeqing gave up. Song Chengfeng glanced at his friend briefly before closing his eyes. Since his retirement, life had become so monotonous that he felt no desire to stay awake. It was as if he had lost his sense of purpose. If he could, Song Chengfeng might seriously consider sleeping for years.

Seeing his former soldier friend sprawled on the couch in a lazy posture, He Zeqing couldn't hold back and finally spoke up, "Are you really planning to become a salted fish for the rest of your life?" His tone carried a hint of disdain. 

Song Chengfeng slowly opened his eyes and replied, "What I do is none of your business. Am I using your money?" He Zeqing chuckled at the response, noting that it was the longest sentence Song Chengfeng had spoken all day. It seemed that the man had finally grown irritated with him.

"Well, I didn't realise being a soldier paid so well," He Zeqing said with a hint of innocent curiosity. 

"I make enough to last me for years," Song Chengfeng replied tersely. No longer wanting to engage with He Zeqing, he stood up and walked into his room, leaving his friend alone in the living room. The man knew where the front door was so he could find his own way out.

He Zeqing watched Song Chengfeng's retreating figure, "Do you want to join me? I'm going to visit one of my drama filming sets," He offered. 

Waving his hand, Song Chengfeng refused, "Don't bother." 

He Zeqing persisted, "It's not far, just at Tsinghua University. I'm also meeting my cousin for lunch while I'm there." It was ironic how the usually reserved He Zeqing became so talkative when dealing with Song Chengfeng.

Song Chengfeng, who was about to close his bedroom door, paused when he heard the mention of a certain person. Before he realised it, he found himself nodding in agreement, having subconsciously accepted the offer.

… 

Tsinghua University

Qi Jianyi stood behind a railing on the second floor, holding a bottle of juice and pondering whether fate was truly playing with her. She looked down and saw a young woman in a blue shirt and black jeans, chatting and laughing with her friends. 

While such scenes were typical at a university, the woman capturing Qi Jianyi's attention was no ordinary person. It was Xia Ning, the female lead of the novel into which Qi Jianyi had transmigrated. 

Qi Jianyi couldn't help but lament to herself. Was she cursed? Not only had she been transmigrated to this world, but she also couldn't escape the main protagonists. What was going on? Wasn't she supposed to be a side character without a script?

"What are you looking at?" Ling Xi asked, her curiosity piqued. Her voice jolted Qi Jianyi from her thoughts. 

Sipping her juice, Qi Jianyi gestured toward the filming crew near Xia Ning with a nod. "They're filming here," she said flatly, her tone betraying a lack of interest. 

Ling Xi, on the other hand, gasped with excitement. She nudged Qi Jianyi's arm and said pleadingly, "Let's go down and see it up close!" 

Qi Jianyi shook her head, "You can see it clearly from here. Why bother going down?" She questioned with a hint of amusement. 

"No way! Watching from above isn't the same as seeing it face to face. Jianyi, let's go down, please?" Ling Xi wrapped her arms around Qi Jianyi, swaying her gently and speaking in a coaxing tone.

Despite Ling Xi's adorable antics, she still failed to charm Qi Jianyi who's sexuality was as straight as a ruler. Qi Jianyi chuckled and pushed her away gently. "Go away. Do you think they'd let us step onto the filming set?" she said softly, with the air of someone who knew the industry's unspoken rules from experience. 

"Can't we use your status as the young miss Qi from the Qi family?" Ling Xi countered with a pitiful expression. 

"Ling Xi, haven't you given up on that dream of yours yet?" Qi Jianyi asked softly, lowering her voice so only they could hear. 

Ling Xi widened her eyes slightly, blinking as she answered, "I don't have that thought anymore! I'm just really curious, that's all." Her earnest tone and pleading look suggested she was hoping Qi Jianyi would buy her lies. 

Qi Jianyi shook her head. "Who are you trying to fool, hm?" At Qi Jianyi's response, Ling Xi's forced smile faded, and a melancholic air settled over her. 

"How can I forget? Jianyi, nothing else has ever been so important to me except for that. Sometimes I wish I wasn't born as the eldest daughter of the Ling family. At least then, I could chase my dreams," Ling Xi said with a sad tone, a mocking smile touching her lips. 

Qi Jianyi listened attentively. "Stop smiling, you look awful," she muttered, causing Ling Xi to quickly drop her smile. Despite her feelings, Ling Xi still cared about her image.

Taking her time, Qi Jianyi finally decided to offer some advice. "Ling Xi, have you ever considered that what you have now is exactly what many people in the industry wish for?" she asked, softening her tone. 

Her words were well-founded. In the novel, the female lead initially pursued a career in the industry out of ambition and passion for acting. However, as time went on, even she found herself tempted by the allure of wealth and wondered what it might be like to be born into a rich family, to have excessive resources.

Qi Jianyi had experienced similar thoughts. Coming from a modest background where they only had food when they could afford it, she had grown up worrying about where her next meal would come from and how to juggle part-time jobs. 

Given her family's financial situation, Qi Jianyi took a leap of faith and began writing a novel at fifteen. Her work was published online and quickly gained attention. Her growing popularity eventually led to an offer to publish her book in print. 

She worked tirelessly to meet deadlines and improve her family's circumstances. Qi Jianyi recalled the sacrifices she made in pursuit of success—how she gave up much of her personal life for the sake of her career. She achieved fame and wealth, but at a high cost. 

Thinking back on the friends and the man she once loved so deeply in her teenage years, Qi Jianyi couldn't help but smile wryly. She had believed that youth was on her side and that she could find love again. 

Yet, as years passed, she found herself giving up her popularity and wealth, watching her friends move on happily without her, and accepting that her former lover had found happiness with someone else. 

She was young and foolish. 

When she finally realised what she had lost, Qi Jianyi could only chuckle bitterly and cry in private. She had been adored by many in her mid-teens, only to lose everything in her late teens. 

Life was not always fair.

Just like Xia Ning, Qi Jianyi had often wondered what life would be like if she had been born into a wealthy family. Ironically, by the time Qi Jianyi could barely be moved by the temptation of money, she found herself transmigrated into this novel as the young miss of the Qi family—the wealthiest among them.