The fake heiress loves to act? The max-level boss isn't interested in playing along.

Lin Jingqiu subconsciously looked to the side.

Su Yurou's face turned even paler.

The Paris Conservatory of Music... that was her dream.

She also had musical talent when she was young and wanted to attend that school.

But the circumstances at the time did not allow it.

Later, she married Fu Xiao and had children.

So I buried this dream deep in my heart.

And now, this dream opportunity...

Because of Fu Hua, she fell into Lin Jingqiu's hands.

"Commander, I..."

Lin Jingqiu spoke with difficulty, "This is inappropriate. Fu Hua is Yu Rou's daughter. This opportunity should be given to..."

"Should be what?"

Commander Wang interrupted her, "Mr. Steinberg designated you. He said that although Fu Hua refused to study music, you deserve a lot of credit."

He hopes you can learn the most cutting-edge teaching concepts.

"To come back and nurture more musicians like Fu Hua—no, more soulful musicians like Fu Hua."

He looked at Su Yurou with a complicated expression: "Comrade Su, let's leave it at that. Jingqiu, get ready to leave next month. The theater will handle the paperwork for you."

Lin Jingqiu opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

She looked at Su Yurou; her friend's face was as white as a sheet, and her eyes were vacant.

It was as if his soul had been ripped out.

"Yu Rou..."

She called out softly.

Su Yurou shook her head, turned around and walked out of the office.

He staggered, as if he were drunk.

In the corridor, Fu Chaochao was still waiting at the door of Steinberg's dressing room.

Her eyes were red and swollen, and her makeup was ruined from crying.

Seeing her mother come out, she rushed over: "Mom, did Fu Hua really reject Steinberg?"

Su Yurou hugged her daughter, tears streaming down her face.

I cried for my daughter.

I also cried for myself.

"mom……"

Fu Chaochao was heartbroken: "Why, why? Fu Hua has everything, but I have nothing. Mom, what did I do wrong?"

Su Yurou hugged her daughter tightly, unable to speak.

"Let's go home."

Su Yurou was exhausted, both physically and mentally.

"Mom, my costume is still in the dressing room. I'll grab it and come right away."

Fu Chaochao wiped away her tears and walked towards the dressing room.

After the performance, Steinberg was surrounded by the media and staff.

Fu Hua took advantage of the chaos to retreat to the backstage lounge.

She was sitting in front of the mirror removing her makeup when the door was suddenly pushed open with a bang.

Fu Chaochao stood at the door, her eyes red and swollen.

Her makeup smudged because of the tears.

He looked like a trapped beast driven to the brink of despair.

She stared intently at Fu Hua, her chest heaving violently.

"Fu Hua".

These two words were practically squeezed out from between his teeth.

Fu Hua put down the brush in her hand and looked at her calmly: "Is there something you need?"

"What's up?"

Fu Chaochao let out a sharp laugh, a laugh filled with bitterness, "You stole my older brother, you stole Mom and Dad's attention!"

You stole all the attention from my classmates, and now all I have left is the piano. And you still want a gun? Why won't you leave me alone?

She couldn't go on, tears welling up again. "Why did you come back? Why didn't you just die in the countryside?!"

That's a vicious remark.

But Fu Hua's expression did not change at all.

She even sighed softly.

"I didn't steal anything."

Fu Hua's voice was calm, as if she were stating a fact.

"These things never belonged to you in the first place."

She paused for a moment, then added, "Besides, I can't control other people's choices."

"You're lying!"

Fu Chaochao rushed up to her, her finger almost poking her face, "You did it on purpose! You deliberately played the piano in the music store, deliberately let Steinberg see you, deliberately stole my opportunity!"

She did find out the details clearly.

Fu Hua took a step back, avoiding the finger that almost touched hers.

This action enraged Fu Chaochao, and she raised her hand to slap him—

"Every morning!"

Qin Che's voice came from the doorway.

He stood there, watching the scene with a complex expression.

Fu Chaochao's hand froze in mid-air.

The ferocity on his face vanished instantly.

She put on a pitiful expression.

She withdrew her hand and covered her face.

Her shoulders trembled as she began to cry, "Brother Qin Che... I... I'm just so heartbroken. Fu Hua, she doesn't understand anything, yet she got everything. What should I do? What should I do in the future?"

Qin Che walked in, his gaze lingering for a moment on Fu Hua's calm face.

Then she looked at Fu Chaochao.

He reached out and patted her shoulder, his tone gentle but distant: "Chao Chao, don't be like that. The performance was a great success. You should be happy for her."

"Happy?"

Fu Chaochao looked up with tearful eyes, "How can I be happy? Steinberg said my playing lacked warmth, but he said Fu Hua has a soul."

"Brother Qin Che, I've practiced the piano for over ten years, how could I possibly be inferior to a wild girl from the countryside?"

These words made Qin Che frown.

Fu Hua had already picked up her schoolbag.

She nodded slightly to him: "I'll be going now. You two chat."

She walked out of the lounge, her steps steady, her back straight.

It was as if nothing had happened.

Qin Che watched Fu Hua's figure disappear at the end of the corridor.

An indescribable emotion welled up inside me.

He recalled that at the family reunion banquet, he had also looked at Fu Hua's back in the same way.

At that time, he chose Fu Chaochao.

Because she was a girl he had known since childhood and whose parents approved of her.

But now...

Does he really know and understand Fu Chaochao in front of him?

This hysterical girl, like a shrew,

She wasn't the one he wanted, nor was she suitable to be the future daughter-in-law of the Qin family.

"Brother Qin Che,"

Fu Chaochao grabbed his arm, her voice choked with emotion, "You'll always be on my side, won't you?"

Qin Che withdrew his gaze and looked at Fu Chaochao, who was crying her eyes out.

The slight wavering in his heart was suppressed again.

He gently patted the back of her hand: "Mmm. Don't cry, your makeup is ruined."

But he didn't say, "I will always stand by your side."

Some words, once spoken, require responsibility.

Qin Che suddenly realized that he wasn't so sure anymore.

A week later, on Saturday morning, the Qin family came to visit.

It wasn't the usual reciprocal visit.

Instead, it was Political Commissar Qin and his wife with Qin Che, dressed formally and with serious expressions.

Fu Xiao greeted them in the living room, a bad feeling creeping into his heart.

Sure enough, after exchanging pleasantries, Political Commissar Qin put down his teacup.

He cleared his throat: "Old Fu, we're here today to discuss something important."

Fu Xiao's heart skipped a beat: "What is it?"

"Regarding Qin Che and Chaochao's marriage."

Political Commissar Qin glanced at his son, Qin Che, who sat beside his parents with his head down.

His fingers unconsciously traced the rim of the teacup. "We feel... the two children are still too young,"

Qin Che is about to graduate and be transferred to another region, and Chaochao also needs to prepare for the college entrance examination, so perhaps... we should put the wedding on hold for now.

The words were phrased tactfully, but the meaning was clear.

The Qin family wants to annul the engagement.

The living room was deathly silent.

The teacup in Su Yurou's hand fell to the ground with a "clatter," splashing hot water all over the floor.

Her face was deathly pale, and her lips trembled as she said, "Political Commissar Qin... what do you mean by this?"

The marriage was arranged long ago, and Qin Che himself agreed to it at the family reunion banquet. How could this be…”

"It's precisely because we grew up together that we need to think things through more clearly."

Qin's mother spoke up, her tone gentle but firm, "Yu Rou, we are all parents, and we all want the best for our child."

Chaochao is a good girl, but we feel... she and Qin Che might not be a good match.

"Not suitable?"

Su Yurou's voice shrieked, "What's wrong with her? What's wrong with Chaochao that makes her unworthy of Qin Che?!"