Huayu: You were supposed to be a top star, but you've become capital?

Just as Lin Shen was driving to The Opposite House Hotel to prepare for the Gucci dinner, in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, a thousand miles away, the city lights were just coming on.

In a high-end residential community in Huizhou District, Zhou Ye, a first-year high school student who had just finished a week of boarding school life, was enjoying her precious weekend.

She casually tossed her schoolbag aside and curled up on the soft carpet in the living room, her eyes glued to the television screen.

Inside was the movie "Gu Jian Qi Tan," which was a huge hit during the summer season.

On the screen, Baili Tusu (played by Lin Shen) is confronting Ouyang Shaogong, with sword energy crisscrossing and special effects exploding. However, Lin Shen's expressive eyes and aloof temperament firmly capture Zhou Ye's heart.

Zhou Ye watched intently, clutching a pillow in her arms, occasionally clenching it tightly due to the tension of the plot.

"Xiaoye, put your schoolbag away properly, the coffee table is a mess!" came Mom's voice from the kitchen.

"Okay, okay, watch this part!" Zhou Ye replied perfunctorily without turning her head, her eyes fixed on the screen.

She was busy catching up on her studies when the show became a hit during the summer vacation and didn't have time to watch it. Recently, her deskmate recommended it to her every day, so she crammed on it at school. Once she started watching, she became completely hooked and fell in love with the actor named Lin Shen who played Baili Tusu.

Before long, the aroma of food wafted out. Zhou Ye sniffed, finally managing to tear her eyes away from the TV and glance at the dining table.

Wow, braised fish, poached chicken, garlic bok choy, and stewed soup—it's much more plentiful than usual.

"Mom, what's the occasion today? Why are you making so many dishes?" Zhou Ye asked, without moving her body.

"Your father is back today, isn't he?" Zhou's mother came out carrying a bowl of soup.

"Oh." Zhou Ye's attention was quickly drawn back to a close-up shot of Tu Su on the TV, and she only gave a vague reply.

The sound of the door opening made Zhou Ye's ears twitch, but she didn't get up until she heard her father's familiar and happy voice: "I'm home!"

"You're back? Did you finish with the samples?" Mrs. Zhou greeted him and took the bag from her husband's hand.

"It's all settled! Mr. Lin has reviewed the final version and basically confirmed it. Now we're just waiting for them to place the order and start the process!"

Mr. Zhou's voice was filled with barely suppressed ease and joy. This large order from the capital was of paramount importance to him.

"The forest is deep?!"

Zhou Ye, who had been lounging in front of the TV, suddenly sat up straight as if a spring had been pressed.

She didn't even have time to put on her slippers, and ran barefoot to the entryway, grabbed her dad's arm, and stared wide-eyed at him:

"Dad! What did you just say? Lin Shen? Which Lin Shen?"

Mr. Zhou was taken aback by his daughter's sudden enthusiasm:

"This is Mr. Lin, right? Didn't I tell you before that there's a big client in Beijing who wants our factory to make a batch of garment samples, with very high design requirements?"

"ah?!"

Zhou Ye's excitement instantly vanished, and she muttered, "I thought it was Lin Shen, the one who played Baili Tusu..." Her tone was full of disappointment.

"Mr. Lin... I think that's Lin Shenlai." Mr. Zhou recalled the self-introduction of the young boss when he came to inspect the factory last time, and said uncertainly.

"?! Really, Dad?!"

Zhou Ye's eyes lit up again, and she grabbed her father's arm and shook it.

"Of course it's true! What are you doing today? You're acting so strangely." Mr. Zhou was both amused and exasperated by his daughter's rollercoaster-like emotions.

While setting out the bowls and chopsticks, Zhou's mother explained, "Your daughter has recently become obsessed with watching 'Swords of Legends.' The actor who plays Tu Su is named Lin Shen, and she's completely smitten."

Mr. Zhou suddenly realized, "Oh! So that's it! That makes sense now. Mr. Lin is indeed a big star. I've seen the news."

He only knew that the client was a young boss with great ideas, knowledgeable about clothing, and generous with his money. He didn't delve too deeply into the details of the client's celebrity status, since for him, the most important thing was to complete the order, deliver on time, and ensure smooth payment.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ye was so excited she almost jumped up, and pulled her father towards the TV in the living room:

"Dad, look! Isn't that him?! Isn't it?!"

On the television screen, there was a close-up of Baili Tusu.

Mr. Zhou squinted and took a closer look. Although he had only met Lin Shen once, his outstanding and unforgettable face, coupled with the composure and professionalism he displayed far beyond his years during their conversation, left a deep impression on him.

"It's him! No mistake, it's Mr. Lin!" Mr. Zhou nodded affirmatively.

"ah--!!!"

Zhou Ye's scream instantly filled the entire living room. She grabbed her father's arm and jumped up and down.

"Dad! Dad, you know Lin Shen?! My God! You actually know Lin Shen! Get me his autograph! I want an autographed photo! I want a signed autograph! Write 'To Zhou Ye'!"

Mrs. Zhou shook her head, laughing and scolding, "You crazy girl, you've gone crazy chasing after celebrities! Your old man just took their order, it's business!"

Mr. Zhou, however, was infected by his daughter's excitement and waved his hand with a smile:

"Oh, no problem, no problem! It's no big deal. Besides, Mr. Lin said before that he'll come to our factory again to check on the quality of the bulk orders when he has time. Dad will ask him for it for you then!"

"Yay! Dad, you're the best! I love you!"

Zhou Ye excitedly made a victory sign and hugged her dad's neck, giving him a big kiss.

After the initial excitement, Zhou Ye's eyes darted around, and she moved closer to her father, a fawning smile plastered on her face, her voice so sweet it could smack:

"Dad~ Dad~ My dearest dad~"

Mr. Zhou knew there was more to the story as soon as he saw her expression, so he was in a good mood and cooperated.

"What's wrong? Just say it."

"It's...that..." Zhou Ye hesitated for a moment, but still managed to say it.

"When Lin Shen... oh no, when Lin Sheng comes to the factory, could you... take me with you? I just want to take a look! I promise I won't cause any trouble!"

"Aren't you supposed to be in class?" Before Mr. Zhou could answer, Mrs. Zhou, wearing an apron, glared at him.

"Oh, it's just one day off! What's the big deal! And what if... what if he comes over on the weekend?"

Clinging to her last shred of hope, Zhou Ye looked at her father and pleaded, "Dad, please? I beg you!"

Looking into his daughter's expectant eyes, Mr. Zhou thought about it and realized that it wasn't entirely impossible, since the exact time of Lin Sheng's arrival had not yet been determined.

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Well... we'll have to wait for Mr. Lin to confirm the time first. If it's a weekend, or if your school has any special days off, we can consider it. If it's a regular school day, let's not think about it anymore. We'll talk about it later, okay?"

Zhou Ye's little mouth immediately pouted so much it could hold an oil bottle, but she knew this was already the biggest concession her father had made, so she mumbled an "Oh".

"Alright, alright, let's eat first! The food's getting cold!" Mrs. Zhou said, ending the impromptu family meeting.

At the dinner table, Zhou Ye's mind was clearly not on the food; after taking a couple of bites, she couldn't help but ask:

"Dad, Lin Shen...is he even more handsome in person than on TV? Is he fierce? Is he easy to talk to?"

Mr. Zhou recalled that brief meeting: "He was even more energetic and handsome in person, and very polite. But when it came to clothing and fabrics, he was very professional and had very clear requirements. He didn't seem like he was just dabbling in it at all."

As for whether he's fierce or not... I think he's quite reasonable, but his standards are very high, and you can't be careless.

Zhou Ye's eyes lit up as she listened, as if she had obtained some exclusive information, and she even ate an extra bowl of rice.

She was already starting to think about what to wear if she could actually go to the factory, how to appear natural and unpretentious, and what if... what if she could get a word in with them?

She recalled Tu Su's appearance on TV, and remembered seeing in recent entertainment news that Lin Shen was launching a clothing brand called Trajectory...

So that's what Dad was processing – clothes based on the track.

A strange sense of connection grew in Zhou Ye's heart. She secretly glanced at her father, who was chatting and laughing, and suddenly felt that his ordinary polo shirt seemed much more pleasing to the eye.

"By the way, have your math exam results come out yet?" Zhou's mother suddenly turned the topic to Zhou Ye.

Zhou Ye's heart tightened, and she quickly pulled herself back to reality, burying her head in her food: "It's...it's not all approved yet..."