The film and television city starts from the courtyard

Zhao Shucheng wasn't joking when he said that. Now that he was back and had made his choice, he wouldn't hide his actions.

I didn't tell my family before simply because I was worried about their opposition. But now that my career is starting to take off and is developing well, I'm no longer afraid of them finding out.

Qin Qian stared at the phone after it was hung up, seething with anger. Since Zhao Shucheng couldn't cover for her, and she couldn't let her parents know she had come to see Tan Hui, she could only quickly book a plane ticket abroad, hoping to get to the rented apartment before her father.

Unfortunately, Qin Qian hadn't anticipated that due to the impact of 9/11, flight restrictions were very strict. The airspace near Zhao Shucheng's city was closed, and flights were scarce, so she could only try to catch the earliest available flight. But fate had other plans; she ended up on the same flight as the couple, even sitting in front of and behind them. She had to wear a hat, mask, and sunglasses, keeping her face hidden the entire way.

After finally getting off the plane, she quickly took a taxi to her rented apartment, but her father beat her to it. Fortunately, her father didn't think too much about it; he just felt that it was inconvenient for Zhao Shucheng to live with two girls, so he moved out himself.

“Since Xiaochuan doesn’t live here, then call him. I’m here, and he didn’t even come to pick me up.”

Qin Qian hesitated and did not respond when she heard her father's request.

"What, did something happen to that brat?"

"No, how could that be!"

"Then make a call!"

"Um, Dad, don't worry, here's what happened..."

Qin's father never expected that Zhao Shucheng would secretly return to China, and even stay in the capital. He had been back for so many days without going home to visit, and even deliberately kept it a secret from his family.

"This brat, he's got a problem if you don't discipline him for two days. Do you know how hard it is for your mother and me to earn money? We sent you abroad to study, and now you're giving up your studies to go back and start your own business. Do you think we need the pittances you earn?"

"Dad, Xiaochuan might have his own ideas."

“Having ideas is not allowed. I was planning to have you and your brother apply for immigration abroad, but now that he has dropped out of school, he definitely won’t be able to immigrate.”

The more Qin's father thought about it, the angrier he became. Now that he saw that his daughter was alright and that the place was relatively safe, he immediately booked a return ticket and prepared to bring Zhao Shucheng back.

Zhao Shucheng had already guessed that his father would find out and that he would definitely want him to continue studying abroad, but he would not compromise.

After all, while things may seem better abroad right now, the pace of development in China is unmatched. If I have the opportunity to make a name for myself in this world, I certainly won't go abroad to be a slave or an object of exploitation.

Xie Qiao accidentally learned that the English Club and the Drama Club were going to rehearse the play Jane Eyre together. Knowing that this was one of the few opportunities for her to get close to He Xiaozhou, she immediately asked her roommate Xiao Qianxi to introduce her to the Drama Club.

"Qianxi, you're still studying so late. You must be tired. Here, take a break and have something to eat."

Xiao Qianxi looked at Xie Qiao and said, "I can't accept something for nothing. Tell me, what do you want me to do for you? Do you want me to copy some homework, or do some homework for you?"

Xie Qiao said, "I heard your drama club is going to make a movie with the English club. Are you still recruiting? I want to join."

Xiao Qianxi was somewhat surprised that Xie Qiao suddenly wanted to join the drama club again, but she naturally thought it was fine, especially since the drama club did need more people.

Unfortunately, Xie Qiao was too happy too soon. Although she joined the drama club, as a newcomer, she couldn't participate in rehearsals from the start and was only assigned to work in the props group.

However, Xie Qiao was unaware at this moment that she had already told Zhao Shucheng and Lu Qianran the good news that she had joined the drama club and that she would be rehearsing a play with He Xiaozhou.

Zhao Shucheng didn't really approve of Xie Qiao's actions, but since they were childhood friends, he decided to go and see.

After arriving at the auditorium, Zhao Shucheng sat in the stands and watched the people on stage rehearse their performance.

After waiting for a long time, Xie Qiao still hadn't come on stage, so Zhao Shucheng guessed that she must have just joined the company and hadn't been assigned any roles yet.

Xie Qiao was indeed a little disappointed, after all, she was still thinking of rehearsing the show with Xiao Chuan Ge, but now they didn't have any time to spend alone together.

However, she knew this was a rare opportunity to spend more time with Xiao Chuan Ge, so she cherished her time in the drama club. Even though she was currently working in the props department, she still actively prepared, memorizing all the characters' lines and doing her logistical work well.

To Xie Qiao's surprise, things took a turn for the better. When the director was casting the female lead, everyone else stumbled and struggled, but Xie Qiao delivered her lines accurately and fluently.

Unfortunately, the director was satisfied with everything else, but the only drawback was that Xie Qiao was too tall and didn't look good standing next to He Xiaozhou. Moreover, she didn't fit his image of the female lead, so Xie Qiao was ultimately rejected.

Xie Qiao was disappointed to be rejected despite all her preparations. She arrived at the school gate and saw Zhao Shucheng preparing milk tea for the students.

"Qin Chuan!"

When Zhao Shucheng saw that it was Xie Qiao, he smiled and said, "Qiao Qiao, what brings you here? Shouldn't you be rehearsing at the drama club at this time?"

"Don't even mention it, I lost the lead role election and was still assigned to menial tasks."

"Who is the female lead?"

"You know this person, she's my roommate Xiao Qianxi. The director said that she fits the image and temperament of the female lead in her mind."

"Really? That's good too. Actually, you don't necessarily have to fight for the lead role. Supporting roles can be brilliant sometimes too. Besides, don't forget why you joined the drama club in the first place. It was to rehearse with Xiaochuan. As long as you have the opportunity to spend time together, that's enough. Why are you putting the cart before the horse now?"

Xie Qiao was visibly taken aback by Zhao Shucheng's words. Yes, when did she forget her original intention for joining the drama club?

"Qin Chuan, thank you. I feel much better now. But your business is doing well, with so many people queuing up."

"You know my business is doing well, but you don't even offer to help. Can't you see I'm overwhelmed with work?"

"Never mind then, I need to go try to get a role later, I'll be going now!"

Zhao Shucheng watched Xie Qiao's departing figure helplessly. It had happened countless times before; as soon as Xie Qiao heard news of He Xiaozhou, she would immediately forget everything else, oblivious to everyone else, and even less to Qin Chuan standing right behind her. Fortunately, Zhao Shucheng wasn't a simp, nor was he like the previous Qin Chuan. If Zhao Shucheng truly liked someone, he would never hide it; he would confess directly instead of keeping it bottled up inside.

When Yang Cheng learned that Xiao Qianxi had been chosen as the female lead, he immediately paid for the entire costume out of his own pocket, just to please Xiao Qianxi.

Because of her roommate status with Xiao Qianxi, Wang Ying was dragged to the drama club by Yang Cheng. She also had to watch the person she liked flirt with Xiao Qianxi, which made her feel extremely awkward.

The costumes Yang Cheng brought excited everyone in the drama club, and Xiao Qianxi was very grateful for everything he had done. However, when Yang Cheng asked for her contact information, Xiao Qianxi didn't have a cell phone, so Yang Cheng had to leave disappointed.

In reality, Xiao Qianxi already knew Yang Cheng's character from Wang Ying and knew that he was a playboy, so naturally she couldn't be attracted to him.

On the contrary, she had a good impression of He Xiaozhou. When she was moving props before, she accidentally dropped her key, and it was He Xiaozhou who picked it up for her.

Now that they are the male and female leads, they naturally have to rehearse their lines together. Unexpectedly, after spending time together, they discovered that they had a lot in common and hit it off immediately, finding themselves getting along very well.

Xie Qiao was originally peeking at He Xiaozhou from the side, but she found that Xiao Qianxi and He Xiaozhou were rehearsing their lines. The two of them chatted more and more happily, which made her extremely curious to know what they were talking about.

"Hey, how's your training going?"

"Qiaoqiao, let me do it, let me do it!" He Xiaozhou saw Xie Qiao pushing the props alone and quickly went to help.

Xiao Qianxi quickly helped move the props, as if nothing had happened.

However, when Xie Qiao returned to the dormitory, she continued to praise He Xiaozhou every day as usual, thinking that the other party was excellent in every way.

Something was different in the dormitory today; Xiao Qianxi joined Xie Qiao in praising He Xiaozhou.

Ever since Wang Ying learned that Yang Cheng had a crush on Xiao Qianxi, she had been paying close attention to Xiao Qianxi. So when she heard Xiao Qianxi praising He Xiaozhou, she immediately sensed something was wrong.

She could tell that Xie Qiao actually liked He Xiaozhou, but now Xiao Qianxi clearly also had feelings for He Xiaozhou. She wondered if there would be any conflicts between them in the future because of men.

The next day.

When Wang Ying passed by the school gate again, she inexplicably walked up to Zhao Shucheng and said, "Mr. Qin, am I not bothering you?"

"No need to disturb us, it's still early, so there aren't many customers yet."

"That's good. I'd like to talk to you."

"Okay, what do you want to talk about?"

Wang Ying hesitated for a moment before saying, "You know that Xie Qiao actually likes He Xiaozhou, who is also your Little Boat Brother, right?"

"Yeah, what happened? Did Xie Qiao confess his feelings?"

"No, that's not it. I just want to ask you, since you also like Xie Qiao, are you really not bothered or worried at all by watching her like someone else?"

Zhao Shucheng smiled and said, "Wang Ying, do you know what 'like' means?"

"Liking someone is simply liking them; it means wanting to see them, being happy for them, and feeling sad for them..."

Zhao Shucheng smiled and said, "What you said is all right, but also wrong. Actually, Xie Qiao and I grew up together as childhood sweethearts. We used to chase and play together in the alley when we were little, so we gradually became the best of friends and hoped to never be separated."

"But influenced by the yearning for love among the students around me, some people understand what true love is, some people mistake kinship for love, and some people mistake admiration for love."

“I used to be like that too, so I regarded my childhood friend Xie Qiao as an indispensable person in my life. But when my life was threatened, I realized that the person I liked the most was actually myself.”

Wang Ying looked at Zhao Shucheng in disbelief and said, "You mean, you don't like Xie Qiao anymore?"

"It's not that I dislike it. There's a poem that's quite interesting: 'Life is precious, love is more precious, but freedom is the most precious of all.' But at this moment, I feel that love is not more precious than life, so I chose life. From now on, love will only be an embellishment in life, not an indispensable one."

Wang Ying was completely dumbfounded, never expecting Zhao Shucheng to say such a thing.

"If Xie Qiao fails to confess to He Xiaozhou, won't you take the initiative to pursue her? Actually, given your friendship since you grew up together, she might just say yes to you right away."

Zhao Shucheng laughed and said, "Who knows? Anyway, my biggest goal right now is to make a name for myself. Once my milk tea shops are all over the country, I'll be rich and powerful. What kind of woman can't I find? Even if I can't find the feelings I had back then, it won't be a wasted life."

"Qin Chuan, sometimes I find you a scary person. The things you say don't sound like what people our age should say."

"Oh, how should I put it? I can't bear to part with her, I can't live without her, I can't live without her? Wang Ying, you must have had a good life growing up, you must have never experienced hunger or had a gun pointed at your head."

Zhao Shucheng looked into the distance and said, "But I experienced all of this during my time abroad. I went hungry a lot during my time at the Work-Study University, and I also faced life-or-death situations, so naturally I have changed a lot."

"The reason you think I shouldn't act this way is simply because of what Xie Qiao told you about me, but people can change. She's completely focused on He Xiaozhou and probably didn't even realize that I came back injured before, let alone be interested in knowing what I went through."

Wang Ying suddenly felt a little sorry for Zhao Shucheng. The person he liked couldn't see her, just like she was never Yang Cheng's choice, and he only treated her as a brother.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said those things."

Zhao Shucheng smiled at Wang Ying and said, "Why are you apologizing? This has nothing to do with you. I just wanted to tell you that there are many choices in life, not just romantic love. Besides, romantic love is just a small love. People shouldn't be entangled in romantic love, but should show more care for others, society, or nature and make due contributions."

"Your starting point is too high, isn't it? I don't know about grand love or small love, I only know that if the person I like doesn't like me back, I can't be as carefree as you. I can only silently keep this feeling, maybe I can wait until the day it comes to a result, maybe I'll never get it."

Zhao Shucheng smiled and said, "Wang Ying, actually you and I are the same kind of people, except that you've retained your original innocence, and I hope that innocence will never disappear." (End of Chapter)