Not every minor is deceitful, but Captain Luo was particularly unlucky, encountering two minors: one with a mature soul in a youthful guise, skilled at playing the fool to outsmart others, and another, an intellectual prodigy forced into early maturity. In short, minors like Wen Ying and Xie Qian are extremely rare, yet Luo somehow met both.
Captain Luo developed a deep psychological shadow over the term “minor,” hanging a large sign in his emotional consultancy office: “No clients under 18.”
Last year, following Wen Ying’s advice to rebrand “Lovebird Investigation” as an emotional consultancy, Luo’s career took off.
The office moved from a street-side shop to a commercial building.
The curly-haired landlady no longer received Luo’s rent; he now paid directly to the building’s property management.
With a more upscale office, clients trusted him more, willingly paying higher fees.
As business expanded, Luo hired several retired military comrades as helpers, and together they made the “emotional consultancy” thrive.
One particularly capable old comrade was sent out on a long-term job before even officially joining the company.
But once gone, it was like a meat bun thrown to a dog—gone for good.
Luo was so furious he slammed his desk.
Xie Qian’s actions weren’t a conspiracy but an open scheme.
Luo was angry Xie Qian poached his old comrade but had to admit Shanghai offered far broader prospects for his friend.
In Rongcheng, Luo’s consultancy had no shortage of routine work, earning some money, but it was all trivial tasks like catching cheaters, which was tedious and strayed from Luo’s original dream of being a private detective.
…Why not try Shanghai?
The thought sprouted like grass seeds in Luo’s heart.
A real man aims for the world; staying in his hometown offered little promise.
As soon as the idea emerged, Luo slapped himself twice: “I must be possessed!”
Xie Qian had persuaded his old comrade but never Luo. Was he willingly letting Xie Qian brainwash him from afar?
The seeds were sown, and the stirring in his heart couldn’t be fully slapped away; they’d sprout when the time was right.
…
The first monthly exam of Grade 11 was scheduled for September 30 and 31, just before the long holiday, with results announced afterward—a longstanding tradition of the provincial key school to put students at ease.
Good or bad results wouldn’t ruin the holiday mood—a thoughtful arrangement!
Wen Ying loved this tradition, as did every underachiever.
Except Wang Shuang!
Wang Shuang was in a phase of self-inflation.
Claiming he understood the teachers but unsure of his exact scores, Wang Shuang was eager for quicker grading.
To his bravado, Xie Qian offered to pull strings through his cousin Lin Lin to prioritise Wang Shuang’s papers, but at the last moment, Wang Shuang backed out!
“Forget it, let the teachers grade in order.”
A bad result would ruin his National Day mood!
Wang Shuang chickened out, wanting to attend the ratings celebration for *The Princess’s New Clothes* in Hunan during the holiday.
On September 22, *The Princess’s New Clothes* aired its 19th episode, with a viewership of %, just % shy of *Jade Forest*’s record high. By the 20th episode, it surpassed *Jade Forest*’s finale, and viewership kept climbing. On September 28, episode 24 hit a plot climax, breaking 4% viewership that night!
Hunan TV and Tianjiao’s highest expectations for the drama were met by episode 24, prompting the station to hold the ratings celebration early.
Set for October 2, the event invited the main crew of *The Princess’s New Clothes*. Though Wen Ying was the second screenwriter, her recent online popularity earned her an invitation. Yuan Fenghui told her, “Director Fan specifically asked for you. It’s during the holiday, so just go.”
Director Fan, who pushed Hunan TV to secure exclusive rights to *The Princess’s New Clothes*, was close to Tianjiao and belonged to a different faction from Liang Dan and Mr. Guan, making him a valuable connection in Yuan Fenghui’s eyes.
Wen Ying liked Director Fan too.
He had believed in her before she gained fame. Now, with some recognition, how could she refuse his invitation?
But under Xie Shenxian’s subtle reminder, Wen Ying said she’d need her parents’ consent.
This time, Wen Ying wouldn’t sneak off. Trust is hard to build but easy to break, and her cold war with Manager Chen wasn’t pleasant.
Besides, during the lawsuit with Han Qin, Chen Ru stood firmly with Wen Ying, so Wen Ying reciprocated by giving her mother more trust.
As long as it didn’t affect her studies and had a legitimate reason, Manager Chen could be reasoned with, right?
The celebration was a prime networking opportunity. Yuan Fenghui planned to bring all “Tianjiao’s Four,” and tonight, Hunan TV’s National Day gala featured Li Mengjiao and Yun Chen as must-invites. Maximising benefits, Yuan Fenghui also secured a performance slot for Zhang Yangning.
Zhang Yangning hadn’t performed at such a major event in ages!
If he hadn’t joined Tianjiao and stayed with Mr. Guan’s company, he’d have no chance at this year’s gala, not even Xu Mei, let alone the less popular Zhang Yangning.
But now, under Yuan Fenghui’s wing, who was fiercely protective and eager to spite Liang Dan and Mr. Guan, Zhang Yangning was added to the lineup.
Zhang Yangning earned a performance fee.
Not as high as Li Mengjiao or Yun Chen’s, but still decent.
And Yuan Fenghui didn’t restrict his song choice!
That thrilled Zhang Yangning more than the fee.
With a performance tonight and rehearsals that afternoon, Li Mengjiao, still mid-exam, flew to Hunan with Yun Chen and Zhang Yangning at noon. This was the conflict between stardom and studies. Without Xie Qian’s tutoring, Li Mengjiao’s grades would’ve plummeted, possibly forcing her to take a leave like Xu Mei.
Wen Ying and Li Mengjiao were invited to the celebration, but Wang Shuang shamelessly tagged along, calling Yuan Fenghui outside the school gate to beg.
Wen Ying asked Xie Qian, “Wang Shuang, the intern producer, is going. You’re an investor—coming?”
Xie Qian had planned to visit Shanghai during the holiday, but Wen Ying’s question changed his mind.
“I could go—”
Wang Shuang hung up and rushed over, “You’ll never guess who Li Mengjiao and Yun Chen are performing with tonight!”
