I entered Huayu Entertainment in 2016.

Several girls were chatting in Wang Zi'an's living room, but Wang Zi'an did not join their conversation.

Wang Zian sat in front of the computer, looking at the photos on the screen one by one with Lao Li; Lao Li had brought all the retouched photos he had taken a couple of days ago.

Mother Tian was very curious about this thing and watched from the side.

Zhou Ye's set of photos featuring colorful dresses, Zhang Ruonan's set of photos featuring a white shirt taken from her boyfriend's perspective, and the makeup and styling of the two of them shot in a studio.

Each photo is meticulously edited and has a high-quality feel, not the kind that makes people look like plastic, but rather retains the natural texture of the skin.

Every time a new photo pops up on the screen, she can't help but let out a soft "Wow!" and sincerely exclaim, "This photo is so beautiful! No wonder it got so many likes."

She glanced back at the group of people chatting with her daughter, and the thought that her daughter could take such beautiful photos made her heart sink a little more.

Wang Zian arranged the photos in a rhythmic pattern, added music, and edited two new beautiful photo videos.

He imported the video into the living room projector, and the image spread across the white wall. He turned around and called out to the girls, "Come and see, the latest video."

He turned around and shouted to the girls who were chatting, "Come and see, this is the latest video!"

Upon hearing the word "video," all four heads on the sofa simultaneously lifted up.

Zhou Ye was the first to jump up from the sofa and run barefoot to the computer; Tian Xiwei followed closely behind, and Liu Haochun and Zhang Ruonan also came over.

Wang Zian clicked on one of them, and a video featuring Zhou Ye's beautiful photos began to play.

In the upbeat rhythm, she changes her appearance again and again on screen.

Wearing a school uniform and sitting at a desk, with slightly curled ends, she looks back at the camera with a clean and innocent look in her eyes; wearing a deep red halter dress and standing on the lawn, her long hair blowing in the wind, the angle of her turn is precisely between coldness and aloofness; then there's the one in the colorful dress laughing, and the one in the yellow dress with a cold face.

Every single one is of her, yet each one is slightly different.

The main focus is on a contrast in temperament.

"Wow~!" Tian Xiwei cupped her face in her hands, her voice full of genuine amazement, "Zhou Ye, you're so handsome! How can you pull off so many styles at the same time?"

This one is so cool and sophisticated, and this one has such a sweet smile.

"Our behind-the-scenes team is really impressive. Senior Brother Li's filming and the two makeup artists are very capable."

Zhou Ye was a little embarrassed by the praise. She was still being modest, but the curve of her lips betrayed her.

"But your makeup and styling are so beautiful!" Tian Xiwei was so excited she was almost incoherent, gesturing to her face with her hands. "I don't know if I could pull this off?"

"Of course," Zhang Ruonan replied with a smile, her tone firm and gentle. "After filming starts tomorrow, you and Haocun will be treated equally and will receive what you deserve."

Professional makeup and styling, professional lighting, professional post-production. We don't discriminate based on who came later.

Liu Haochun, who had been standing quietly at the back of the crowd, unconsciously raised the corners of his mouth slightly after hearing these words.

Her doe-like eyes reflected the light projected onto the wall by the projector, and within that beam of light, one meticulously sculpted face after another took turns blooming.

She quietly took her hand off the cushion and placed it on her knee, her fingers curling slightly.

Next up was a video of Zhang Ruonan.

If Zhou Ye's videos are a contrast and clash of styles, then Zhang Ruonan's videos are a complete, gentle, and irresistibly uplifting summer story.

Every photo is taken from her boyfriend's perspective: she's smiling while holding daisies, standing sideways under the shade of a tree looking back, squatting on the grass playing with a cat, and sipping lemonade with her head down.

The music is still a slowed-down version of old love songs, languid and warm.

After watching it, another round of discussion ensued.

Tian Xiwei pointed to the last photo on the screen and said, "This smile is the most beautiful."

Zhou Ye shook his head and said, "No, no, no, I think the picture of her in the blue shirt is the best."

Zhang Ruonan sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, smiling as she watched them argue about which of her photos looked best.

Prince An did not participate in this discussion.

He turned off the projector, closed the computer, and winked at Zhang Ruonan.

Zhang Ruonan nodded in understanding, got up and took out several pre-printed documents, including employment contracts, from her canvas bag.

She sat down next to Aunt Tian and handed her the contract.

"Auntie, this is the employment contract we prepared."

It contains many details; you can take it home and review it at your leisure, or have a lawyer you know go through it for you.

Mother Tian glanced at the neatly bound, clearly defined contract and took it from her.

She flipped through a few pages and saw that the salary figures were exactly the same as what she had heard in the video yesterday, without any reduction or any ambiguous preconditions.

But she also saw another part of the contract, which also had very clear requirements: shooting time, makeup and styling coordination, confidentiality clauses, non-compete restrictions, each with specific standards and explanations of breach of contract.

The conditions are excellent, but the rules are also strict.

She closed the contract, looked up at Zhang Ruonan, and then at Wang Zian.

These two children are both very good at doing things like adults.

"I understand, I'll give you an answer the day after tomorrow!" said Mrs. Tian.

Then she glanced at her daughter, Tian Xiwei, who was leaning on the sofa armrest, her head close to Zhou Ye's, excitedly discussing what to film and what to wear tomorrow.

She knew in her heart that she was not far from agreeing.

In the evening, Tian's mother and Tian Xiwei were driven back to a nearby hotel arranged in advance by Zhou Ye and Zhang Ruonan, while Liu Haochun was driven back to Beijing Dance Academy by Wang Zian.

Before getting into the car, Tian tide smiled and said goodbye to Wang Zi'an, leaving behind the words, "I'll definitely do my best tomorrow!"

Then he skipped and hopped, pulling his mother into the car.

When only Liu Haochun remained, the atmosphere suddenly became quiet.

···

The road from the neighborhood to the Beijing Dance Academy isn't far, but the traffic is sparse at night, and the constant traffic lights prolong the journey.

There were only two people in the carriage.

Unlike when she arrived, when she arrived, Sister Nan and she were chatting casually in the back seat, and the noise in the car never stopped.

Now that Sister Nan is gone, and Zhou Ye is gone too, the carriage is so quiet that you can hear the faint hum of the air conditioning vents and Zhou Jielun's singing.

Liu Haochun sat in the back seat of the passenger seat and didn't say a word from the moment he got in the car.

Prince An did not speak first.

He could tell that the girl wasn't unwilling to talk; she just had something to say but hadn't decided whether or not to.

As the car drove along a road lined with sycamore trees, the beams of streetlights swept across the windshield, illuminating Liu Haochun's face every few seconds.

Wang Zian glanced at the rearview mirror; she was leaning back in her seat, her hands on her knees, her doe-like eyes flickering in and out of the light streaming through the window.

The shadows of her eyelashes cast fine, slightly swaying lines on her face.

"What's wrong? Are you still nervous, or still hesitant?"

There were only two people in the carriage, and Liu Haochun did not retreat into her polite and safe shell as she had during the day.

Her voice was still soft, but it had a candor that she didn't have during the day. "I participated in the casting for Director Zhang's film 'Shadow' before. I auditioned for a princess role."

"Hmm~! And then?"

"They told me to wait for news!"

Liu Haochun looked at Wang Zian's eyes, illuminated by the streetlights, in the rearview mirror.

His gaze was steady; he didn't urge her or give her perfunctory answers, but simply waited quietly for her to finish speaking.

She suddenly felt that she could tell this person the words that had been on her mind for so long.

"I received a reply a few days ago. Director Zhang said I have a lot of talent and performed well."

Suddenly, she gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"But the competition for this role is fierce, and there's a possibility I won't be chosen."

"He said it was okay, he still had a movie called 'One Second' to film. He also told me that he hoped I could be patient and not rush to expose myself, but first hone my basic skills."

Wang Zian drove carefully, gently activating the turn signal with his right hand, and the car turned right onto a quieter side road.

How confident do you think you are?

"I have absolutely no confidence whatsoever!"