I really didn't intend to make a living based on my looks.

It was almost ten o'clock when Li Xue got home.

The staff quarters in the workers' new village were quiet. Two of the motion-activated lights in the stairwell were broken. She climbed up to the fifth floor in the dark, took out her key, and opened the door.

"You're back?" Mother poked her head out of the room. "Why are you so late?"

"I was recording a show, and afterwards I had a meal with some friends."

"What friend?"

"Just... a friend I met on the show." Li Xue changed her shoes and hung up her bag.

The mother didn't press further, but turned and went to the kitchen: "I left you some food, it's still warm, would you like some?"

"No, I've already eaten."

Li Xue walked into the living room, where her father was sitting on the sofa watching TV.

He works as a workshop foreman at a nearby factory and had just finished get off work.

He glanced at his daughter, said nothing, but moved aside to make room for her.

Li Xue plopped down on the sofa and let out a long sigh.

"Are you exhausted?"

"It's alright, just standing all night."

My mother came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of sliced ​​watermelon and placed it on the coffee table.

She works as a cashier at a nearby supermarket, standing from morning till night.

When does school start?

"Oh, Mom, do you really dislike me that much?" Li Xue took a slice of watermelon. "Sit down, I have something to tell you."

Li's mother sat down next to her, rubbing her calves.

"A few days ago at school, someone came looking for me again."

"Who is it?"

"A talent scout from a Korean entertainment agency," Li Xue said, munching on watermelon, "the one who contacted me in Shenzhen a few years ago. He switched from SM to JYP, and he came all the way to Beijing Dance Academy to see me a few days ago."

The mother's expression changed instantly: "Here we go again? How did he know you were at the Beijing Dance Academy?"

"They said they'd been keeping an eye on things and knew I was going to the Beijing Dance Academy."

Li Xue threw the watermelon rind into the trash can, saying, "I was saying you're becoming more and more like a star, I can't miss this opportunity."

"Isn't this just a charade?" The mother's voice rose considerably. "You came to see me in Shenzhen four years ago, and now you've followed me all the way to Beijing? What kind of person are you?!"

"He said this time is different; he's at JYP, which is better than SM..."

"What the hell? Who cares what he says?" Li's mother interrupted her. "You're a young woman, going to South Korea where you don't know anyone, signing a ten-year contract! Ten years! Do you even know what ten years means?"

She became more and more agitated as she spoke, "You're twenty this year, and you're signing a ten-year contract, so you can't come back until you're thirty! By then, your dance will have been delayed, your studies will have been delayed, and what if things aren't reliable over there?"

"Mom, I know, I didn't agree."

"It's good that they didn't agree," Li's mother breathed a sigh of relief. "These people really know how to find people; they even tracked us down to the school."

The father, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke up.

"What did he say?"

"They said they wanted me to become a trainee, train for a few years, and then debut," Li Xue wiped her hands, "saying I was the type they were looking for, and that there was a vacancy for a Chinese member or something."

"You don't want to go?" her father asked, looking at her.

"No," Li Xue shook her head decisively. "I finally got into the Beijing Dance Academy, and I haven't even mastered my major yet. Why would I go to Korea? Besides, I've trained in dance for so many years, isn't it all for getting into a good university? If I go and become a trainee halfway through my studies, wouldn't that be giving up halfway?"

At this time, Li Yitong had no intention of becoming an actress at all. All she could think about was opening a teahouse that combined dance and living a peaceful life.

For a Shandong girl, stability is more important than anything else.

It wasn't until after graduation, when she helped a friend from the film academy shoot a short drama that lasted only a few minutes, that she first felt the allure of being in front of the camera, and the desire to become an actress quietly began to stir within her.

The father nodded and said nothing more.

The mother, however, got even more worked up: "And that ten-year contract, you wouldn't last that long even if you were sold! They're dreaming, signing a ten-year contract so they can get all the good things. Listen to your mother, you can't believe in these things, there's no such thing as a free lunch!"

"Alright, alright," her father interrupted, "the child didn't go, so what are you yelling about?"

"I'm just worried!" Mrs. Li glared at him. "I said four years ago that this was unreliable, and you said back then to let the child think about it himself."

"What did I say? I told her to think it through herself."

"That's just vague talk!"

Li Xue was exasperated watching her parents bicker again because of her.

"Stop arguing, I already said I'm not going, what are you still arguing about?"

Li's mother glared at her again, then suddenly remembered something: "Oh right, you said you were having dinner with friends, what friends? Male or female?"

"It's a man," Li Xue said without hiding it.

"A man?" Li's mother's attention shifted instantly. "What does he do? How old is he?"

"Mom," Li Xue said, both amused and exasperated, "we just met on a TV show and had a meal together."

"Didn't you say it was just acting? How come you're eating now?"

"They helped me, so what's wrong with me treating them to a meal?"

"You invited them?"

"Yes, I treated."

Li's mother's expression softened slightly: "What does the young man look like?"

"He's alright looking, and quite tall."

"What's the use of being handsome? The key is character."

"They helped me, they're a really nice person."

"How did I help you?"

"Well... during the recording of the show, I forgot my lines, and he helped me out of that awkward situation." Li Xue vaguely brushed it off, "Mom, don't ask anymore, it was just a meal, not a romantic relationship."

Before the mother could say anything more, the father spoke up: "Alright, the child has already said no, why are you asking so many questions?"

His mother glared at him, but didn't ask any further questions.

Li Xue stood up and stretched: "I'm going to take a shower, I'm exhausted."

"Hey, wait a minute," Mrs. Li called out to her, "If that talent scout comes looking for you again, don't pay any attention to him."

"Okay, okay."

"And that man, does he have a government-affiliated position?"

"mom!"

"Alright, alright, I won't ask anymore," Mrs. Li waved her hand. "Go take a shower."

As the sound of rushing water filled the air, she heard her mother call out from outside, "What do you want for breakfast tomorrow?"

"Anything is fine..."

"What does 'anything is fine' mean?"

"Noodles!"

"Okay. By the way, I harvested your QQ Farm for you; someone stole your two radishes."

"Mom! Who stole it?"

"I don't know, I think her name is something like Chen..."

"Jiang Chen? I treated you to dinner, and you stole my radish? I'm not letting this go!"

……

On the other side of the city, at Jiang Chen's home.

"Others are still working hard in their sixties and seventies, while you? You choose comfort, just waiting to die!"

"So you're just planning to slack off all day, huh? Go ask around, which child these days doesn't hope their father will become a dragon?"

"You need to pull yourself together. Life is short, and you only get a few chances to gamble. You're only 45!"

Jiang Chen stood in the center of the living room, his spittle almost spraying onto his elderly father Jiang Daqiang's face.

Jiang Daqiang huddled in the corner of the sofa, still holding the now-cold cup of tea, looking completely innocent.

I'm only 43 years old (by Chinese reckoning).

"The Chinese age system is for young people; you middle-aged people shouldn't bother with these traditional things."

"You said you're only 43 years old, which is exactly what? It's the time to take risks."

"If not now, when?"