The Heiress's Game

After the sponsorship plan for the second season of "Walking with Brilliance" was approved, Chen Cui held meetings for three consecutive days.

In Xingyao Media's conference room, the legal, business, and content teams took turns finalizing the contract terms, commercial rights, product placements, and broadcast schedule for the second season.

She is the core of this family's brand; the cameras are always focused on her, 24/7, in every conflict on the show.

Every memorable quote and every iconic scene that viewers screenshot and share requires her to orchestrate, create, and ensure its success.

But Chen Cui never felt tired.

She rose from a junior assistant to where she is today, boasting over 40 million followers across the internet and a business endorsement schedule booked until the second quarter of next year.

She could go out with people recognizing her, cars picking her up, and teams following her—this was a life she never dared to dream of when she was carrying bags for Gu Mingyue.

She knew better than anyone that this happiness didn't fall from the sky; it was something Gu Yunjin had pulled her out of the mud with his own hands, something she had fought for with her life on the line.

She wouldn't allow anyone to ruin all of this.

anyone.

The meeting finally ended at 9 p.m.

Chen Cui had her assistant buy her some late-night snacks and then drove back to the villa on the other side.

This villa was purchased after the first season of "Walking with Brilliance" aired.

It's a three-story house with a small garden and an underground garage. Although it can't compare to the top-tier mansions in the hillside that cost hundreds of millions, it's still a pretty respectable property in Dahai City.

When Chen's mother, three younger sisters, and one younger brother, a family of six moved in.

The youngest sister clung to the door frame of her room, refusing to let go, saying she had never lived in such a beautiful house in her life.

When Chen Cui entered, the living room was brightly lit.

Chen's mother was curled up on the sofa watching a melodramatic Thai drama, while her eldest sister, Chen Yao, sat cross-legged on the carpet scrolling through her phone. Her second sister, Chen Lin, nestled next to her, was applying a face mask, and her third sister, Chen Fei, was heating up milk for herself in the open kitchen.

Chen Shuo was sitting at the dining table playing mobile games and eating takeout. When he saw Chen Cui come in, he said without looking up, "Sis, put the midnight snack on the table."

Chen Cui walked to the center of the living room and clapped her hands. "Everyone's here? Perfect timing, come over and have a family meeting."

Chen's mother pressed the pause button, Chen Yao put down her phone, Chen Lin removed her face mask, and Chen Fei came over with a glass of milk.

Chen Shuo put his phone in his pocket, wiped his mouth, and moved to the sofa.

Chen Cui sat down on the single sofa in the center of the living room and glanced around at her family.

Have any brokerage firms or intermediaries contacted you recently?

The living room fell silent for a moment.

Chen Shuo spoke first, his tone nonchalant, even carrying a hint of disdain:

"I did contact them. Just a couple of days ago, someone from some talent agency added me on WeChat, offered a bunch of conditions, and said they wanted to sign me and make me a key talent to be cultivated."

They're making empty promises about variety show opportunities, leading roles, and solo albums, as if they're free.

I didn't even reply—Sis, are these people crazy? Don't I know my own limitations?

Without you and Miss Gu, what am I? Do they think I'm stupid?

Chen Cui glanced at him, a hint of approval in her eyes.

Her gaze shifted to Chen Yao.

Chen Yao sat on the sofa, bit her lip, hesitated for a few seconds, and then said, "Sister... someone also contacted me."

"Who?"

"A company called Jinhua Culture claims to be a brokerage brand under some big platform."

"They offered me very good terms—to promote me to the top tier within a year and to tailor-make movie scripts for me."

"We've hired the best director and crew; our goal is to propel me to international Best Actress status within three years."

Upon hearing this, Chen Shuo scoffed from the side.

"An international film queen? These days, these con artists don't even bother to come up with convincing lies, do they?"

"Don't interrupt." Chen Cui raised her hand.

"Yaoyao, are you interested?"

Chen Yao lowered her head and remained silent.

Not denying it is admitting it.

Chen Cui smiled helplessly.

"Yaoyao,"

"Do you know what people in the entertainment industry are best at? Making empty promises."

The bigger and more beautiful the pie in the picture, the less money it costs.

International Best Actress? Tell me, how many actresses from all of Asia make it into the main competition of an international film festival each year?

Who stands behind those actresses? It's capital, directors, and connections and resources accumulated over a decade.

"You're just a nobody who debuted in only one season of a reality show, what makes you think someone can tailor-make a movie for you? Just because you're good-looking?"

Chen Yao blushed, opened her mouth as if to retort, but couldn't find the right words.

"You think those actresses who win Best Actress awards rely on their acting skills? How naive."

Let me tell you, if you want to climb up in the entertainment industry, you have to be willing to go all out.

You have to drink with them, sleep with them, and be available whenever they call. Even if you're on your period, a phone call in the middle of the night will force you to get up and go out to socialize.

You think it's only women who are like this? Men are the same.

Investors have their eyes on you, producers are interested in you, directors want to promote you—are you in or not?

If you don't accompany them, there are plenty of people lining up to do so.

You think you're there to be an actor, but they treat you like a nobody.

The key point is—most people go all out, accompany others, sleep with others, but in the end, they still don't become famous and are essentially taken advantage of.

Chen Yao's face turned from red to white, her lips moved, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Chen Shuo, who was standing next to her, was also shocked. "Sis, what you're saying is too scary... Men have to sleep with you? I don't believe it."

"You don't believe me?" Chen Cui turned to look at him.

"How do you think those boy band idols get big brand endorsements?"

Do you think those young actors who landed leading roles right after their debut relied entirely on their acting skills?

Chen Shuo, you're good-looking, but in this industry, being good-looking is a cardinal sin.

If you don't take the initiative, plenty of others will. And who knows, you might end up sleeping with a man or a woman.

"Men are sleeping with men," Chen Shuo swallowed hard and silently put down the Coke can.

Chen Lin and Chen Fei huddled in the corner of the sofa, barely daring to breathe.

Hearing this, Chen's mother couldn't help but interject, "That's right, listen to your sister. When has your sister ever cheated you?"

"I know what you're thinking."

Chen Cui softened her tone and looked at Chen Yao.

"Do you think that now that I'm famous, I have everything, so I'm suppressing you and preventing you from getting ahead?"

Chen Yao suddenly raised her head: "No! Sister, I didn't—"

"It doesn't matter whether I have it or not," Chen Cui interrupted her.

"I'm keeping you under my thumb because I know what this industry is like."

Chen Yao, you're my own sister. I could never throw you into a place like that and let you be violated. The three of you—"

Her gaze swept over Chen Yao, Chen Lin, and Chen Fei.

"I have a plan for the future of the three of you."

Take it one step at a time, no need to rush.

In the second season, we'll give you more screen time, and gradually bring in more commercial opportunities. Once you have your own fan base, we'll start promoting you separately.

But the order must be as I say, and the pace must be as Miss Gu says.

"I'm putting this out there today—in this family, everyone is entitled to their own ideas."

But when it comes to matters outside, you must listen to me.

It's not because I'm smarter than you, it's because I know better than you how hard it was to get to where we are today.

No one spoke.

Chen Shuo was the first to speak up, raising his right hand as if making a vow: "I'll listen to my sister. I won't pay any attention to those flashy, cheap women out there."

Chen Lin and Chen Fei exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously.

Chen Yao bit her lip, her eyes a little red, but finally nodded heavily: "Sister, I understand. I'll block that person tomorrow."

Chen Cui glanced at her and simply nodded.

"There's one more thing, all of you remember this—no matter what conditions or promises they make, you need to weigh them in your minds. What has Miss Gu given us?"

"Shares," Chen Shuo said.

"Yes, shares, Star Media's stock options for the program 'Walking with Brilliance'."

Chen Cui's gaze swept across everyone's face. "What does it mean when a content company gives you its shares?"

It means she considers you a partner, one of her own.

Go to the entire entertainment industry and see which boss would give stock options to an artist who came from humble beginnings.

No, only Miss Gu did it.

This isn't just empty promises or verbal commitments; it's legally protected stock options written in black and white in a contract.

"Our Chen family owes its current success to Miss Gu. As long as she doesn't fire me, I'll work for her."

"You're the same. Do you think the offers from those outsiders are worth more than stock options?"

No one spoke anymore.

Chen Cui stood up, clapped her hands, and her tone returned to its usual crisp and decisive manner:

"Alright, it's time to have your midnight snack, and time to go to sleep. Yao Yao, come upstairs with me, I have something to tell you in private."