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

"What exactly happened?"

Xie's mother sat down, shook Xie Ci's arm, and pressed, "You'd better explain yourself clearly."

Xie Ci leaned back on the sofa, exuding an unusual sense of relaxation.

He turned to look at his mother, his eyes shining: "Mom, let's both go to the concert the night after tomorrow."

"Are you going to everyone?"

Xie's mother blinked. "Aren't there only two tickets? If Fu Hua isn't going, your dad and I will go?"

"No."

Xie Ci sat up straight, his voice brimming with barely suppressed excitement, "Fu Hua went, but she won't sit with us..."

"Not sitting together?"

Xie's mother raised her eyebrows: "Does she already have a ticket?"

"No, Mom, don't ask anymore. You'll find out when the time comes."

After saying that, Xie Ci got up, whistling as he went upstairs.

Xie's mother was left alone, completely bewildered.

The hot spring hotels in Beidaihe are filled with steam.

Su Yurou and Fu Chaochao were soaking in the open-air hot spring pool.

The autumn sun shone through the sparse clouds.

It casts shimmering light on the water's surface.

Fu Chaochao leaned against the edge of the pool with her eyes closed, her complexion looking better than a couple of days ago.

But a faint melancholy lingered between his brows.

Su Yurou gently massaged her shoulders.

She said softly, "Chaochao, don't think about those unhappy things. If you really want to go abroad, after you graduate from high school, Mom will send you to the best music academy to study."

"Is it true, Mom?"

Fu Chaochao opened her eyes, her voice filled with excitement: "You really want me to study abroad?"

"certainly,"

Su Yurou raised her hand and brushed a stray hair from Fu Chaochao's forehead: "Mom, when have I ever lied to you?"

Fu Chaochao's gloomy mood vanished instantly.

However, she still asked the question that had been on her mind for the past few days.

"Mom, I just don't understand... I've practiced for so long, why does he say I have no warmth? What exactly is warmth?"

Su Yurou didn't understand this question either.

In her opinion, Chaochao was already quite talented.

She started practicing piano at the theater when she was three years old. What would take others ten days or half a month to memorize, Chaochao only needed one or two days.

I can endure hardships that others cannot.

Su Yurou knew very well how hard she worked.

Over the years, regardless of how much homework I had...

Chaochao goes to the theater to practice piano every day after school.

They've won so many awards they're practically overflowing.

Those leaders often praised the child for having artistic talent.

Could all of this be fake?

"An artist's perspective is different from that of an ordinary person."

Su Yurou comforted her, "Look at those great painters, weren't they also criticized for their poor painting skills during their lifetimes?"

"When you go to a better school and have better teachers, your talent will be recognized..."

Before he could finish speaking, the sound of two women talking and laughing came from the pool next to him.

"...Did you hear? Steinberg is having a solo concert at the city theater!"

"Really? Wasn't he supposed to be here to select students?"

"We've got her! I heard it's a young girl surnamed Fu, only a teenager, but incredibly talented! Steinberg really likes her!"

Her surname is Fu? Could it be... her?

Fu Chaochao's voice trembled: "Mom, has Steinberg changed his mind?"

"Mom, do you think he chose me again?"

Her surname is Fu, and among the people who performed on the same stage with her,

Only she has the surname Fu.

The sounds of water, laughter, and voices.

All sounds became blurred at that moment.

Fu Chaochao shook Su Yurou's arm: "Mom, let's go back to Beijing, let's leave now..."

Su Yurou's expression shifted slightly; she knew, of course, that the person those two were talking about wasn't Chaochao.

Instead, it was Fu Hua.

But didn't Jingqiu say that she had already rejected Steinberg?

So what's going on now?

Her mind was buzzing, like a million bees were flying around.

Has Steinberg changed his mind?

Or... did Fu Hua agree?

"mom……"

Fu Chaochao's voice was cheerful, "Don't just stand there, let's go?"

Su Yurou forced herself to calm down.

She took Fu Chaochao's hand, her tone calm: "Don't worry, Chaochao, is it possible this is just a rumor? What if it is..."

"Mom, whether it's a rumor or not, I have to go back and find out."

Fu Chaochao's attitude was firm: "In case Steinberg really changes his mind, I can't let him not be able to find me."

"Oh well."

Su Yurou was stunned for a moment, then stood up from the pool: "Let's go back now and ask the theater for clarification."

The mother and daughter didn't even have time to pack their luggage properly; they quickly changed their clothes and rushed to the train station.

When they returned to Beijing, it was already evening, and the two took a taxi directly to the city theater.

The back counter was brightly lit, and staff were busy at work.

The air was thick with the scent of cosmetics and tension.

Su Yurou pulled Fu Chaochao inside, but they were stopped by an unfamiliar stagehand.

"Comrade, we can't go backstage, the performance is about to start."

"I am the director of the theater company. I am looking for Mr. Steinberg."

"director?"

The stagehand reached out, his expression softening slightly: "May I see your work ID?"

Su Yurou touched her pocket and then remembered that she had left her ID at the hotel.

Su Yurou tried to keep her voice calm and composed: "Comrade, I really am the director of the theater troupe. My name is Su Yurou, please let me in."

"That won't do. Commander Wang said tonight is very important. Anyone without proper identification is not allowed to pass."

"I'm a student Steinberg chose, why won't they let me in?"

Fu Chaochao yelled at the stage manager.

The other person was surprised: "What's your name?"

"Fu Chaochao."

A hint of smugness flickered in her eyes.

The stagehand glanced at her, then looked at Su Yurou beside her.

His gaze was somewhat complicated: "As far as I know, Mr. Steinberg's chosen student is Fu Hua, not Fu Chaochao."

"Fu Hua...how is that possible?"

Fu Chaochao's voice trembled, "She can't play the piano at all?"

"I don't know about that."

The stagehand's tone was curt. "Anyway, the person playing with Mr. Steinberg today is named Fu Hua. She's already inside."

"mom……"

Fu Chaochao grabbed Su Yurou's arm, her nails digging into her flesh. "I don't believe it... I want to see it with my own eyes..."

Her eyes narrowed, and she shoved the stagehand aside, rushing backstage like a madwoman.

Su Yurou hurriedly chased after her.

The backstage corridor was packed with actors, musicians, and staff.

Fu Chaochao pushed through the crowd and rushed to the innermost dressing room.

This is the troupe's best dressing room; Steinberg always prepares for his performances here.

The door was tightly shut.

Just as she was about to push the door open, the door to the dressing room opened from the inside.

Lin Jingqiu came out and saw the mother and daughter; her expression changed instantly.

"Yu Rou? Chao Chao? What happened to you...didn't you go out for a walk to relax?"

"Jingqiu!"

Su Yurou grabbed her hand, her voice trembling, "Huahua rejected Steinberg, so what's going on with this performance?"

Lin Jingqiu's eyes darted away for a moment.

He finally nodded: "Yes, he declined, but Steinberg personally invited Huahua to perform a duet with him on stage."

Why?

Tears streamed down Fu Chaochao's face. "Why did he choose Fu Hua? She hasn't even had proper piano lessons! How could she possibly be chosen?"

"Every morning!"

Su Yurou stopped her.