The question troubling Chen Ru was no big deal to Xie Qian. If Chen Ru asked him directly, he’d answer confidently.
The National Day holiday spanned several days, and Wen Ying probably wouldn’t rush home right after the ratings celebration.
Wen Ying, Wang Shuang, and Li Mengjiao—three academic underachievers together without supervision during the holiday—wouldn’t they go wild?
So Xie Qian felt he needed to go to Hunan to keep an eye on them.
When it was time to assign practice tests, he wouldn’t go easy!
On the morning of the 1st, the three met at the airport. Wen Ying noticed Xie Qian with his usual backpack plus a suitcase, and her heart sank.
Xie Qian’s travel style was minimalist—a backpack sufficed. With his looks, he didn’t fuss over clothes, buying whatever was decent and comfortable locally. So why drag a suitcase for a simple celebration?
Having finally convinced Yuan Fenghui to let her attend, Wang Shuang, oblivious, was all joy, unaware of the looming crisis.
Seeing Xie Qian board with the suitcase, Wang Shuang helpfully lifted it for “Teacher Xie.”
“…Huh.”
Underestimating its weight, Wang Shuang nearly failed to hoist it. An air hostess lent a hand to stow it. Wang Shuang muttered, “Xie Qian, what’s in here? It’s so heavy!”
“Useful stuff,” Xie Qian said curtly.
Wang Shuang didn’t press, but Wen Ying felt uneasy, sensing the suitcase on the overhead rack was Xie Qian’s “magic weapon.”
“Got a problem?” Xie Qian’s glance came.
Wen Ying denied it, settling quietly by the window.
Tianjiao covered their travel costs. Wen Ying was a valued screenwriter, Xie Qian an investor in *The Princess’s New Clothes*, Wang Shuang a shareholder’s son. Still, Yuan Fenghui, ever frugal, booked economy class.
Xie Qian and Wang Shuang, both tall, were cramped. Wang Shuang boasted he’d raise the business travel budget when he became a major Tianjiao shareholder.
Xie Qian and Wen Ying didn’t bother responding to his inflated ego.
How would Wang Shuang become a major shareholder? With the 400,000 from selling his “Shrimp King” shares or his 2,000-yuan monthly intern producer salary?
“Hey, what’s with those looks? Looking down on me?” Wang Shuang protested.
His banter made the flight pass quickly. Yuan Fenghui, busy with Li Mengjiao and Yun Chen’s TV appearance, couldn’t pick them up. Zhang Yangning drove instead.
“Teacher Yuan said to take you to the hotel first,” Zhang Yangning said.
Wang Shuang grumbled again about the suitcase’s weight. Zhang Yangning envied their camaraderie. At the hotel, Xie Qian opened the case.
Who brings a suitcase of study guides to a TV ratings celebration?
Xie Qian, that’s who!
Guides for grades 11 and 12, three sets total.
“One for each of you,” Xie Qian said, meaning Wen Ying, Wang Shuang, and Li Mengjiao.
Wen Ying’s fears came true, her face blank. Wang Shuang’s bravado deflated. “Everyone?!”
Can’t they just enjoy the celebration?
Are slackers or intern producers unworthy?
Zhang Yangning’s envy turned to pity. This girl, who’d paid to break her contract with Mr. Guan, now looked at Xie Qian with awe. Li Mengjiao, fearless, studied between gigs not out of discipline but necessity.
What a terrifying scholar!
Wen Ying, numb, wanted to dodge the study guides, asking Zhang Yangning about the gala. “Yangning-jie, did the Miracle Boys do anything?”
Zhang Yangning shook her head. “They were quiet, didn’t do anything.”
Xie Qian cut to the chase: “Are they still in Hunan?”
Zhang Yangning’s expression shifted. “…Yes!”
With their status, the Miracle Boys’ schedules were packed. They should’ve left after the gala, but they stayed, recording shows today. “Teacher Yuan only learned their schedule this morning. Whatever Mengjiao and Yun Chen record, they record too.”
Weren’t they deliberately competing with Li Mengjiao and Yun Chen?
Those shows were meant to promote *The Princess’s New Clothes*, booked for Li Mengjiao and Yun Chen.
Now, the Miracle Boys copied their every move, stealing their spotlight… bullying Teacher Yuan!
Zhang Yangning hated her own low profile, unable to help.
Wang Shuang, unfazed by Xie Qian’s study guides, bristled. “They follow whatever Mengjiao and Yun Chen do like leeches. Teacher Yuan can’t handle them?”
No way!
In Wang Shuang’s eyes, Yuan Fenghui was as formidable as Xie Qian or Wen Ying. If they faced this, they’d fight back.
Zhang Yangning didn’t know how to answer.
Did Teacher Yuan have no way to deal with them? She wasn’t sure.
Yuan Fenghui seemed remarkably calm!
Wang Shuang couldn’t sit still, wanting to head to the station.
Wen Ying checked with Xie Qian. He didn’t want to get involved, but if he didn’t, Wen Ying and Wang Shuang wouldn’t focus on studying. He closed the suitcase. “Let’s go check out the station.”
The hotel wasn’t far, so the four walked. Outside, fans held Miracle Boys posters, waiting.
No one waited for Li Mengjiao or Yun Chen—their schedules were secret, unlike the Miracle Boys’.
Zhang Yangning led them inside. Yuan Fenghui was overseeing Li Mengjiao and Yun Chen’s recording, monitoring everything from performance to post-production edits.
“You’re here,” Yuan Fenghui said, approaching. “Just off the plane? Why not rest at the hotel?”
Wang Shuang scanned around, spotting Li Mengjiao surrounded by cameras, grinning carefree, and Yun Chen nearby.
Worst of all, the Miracle Boys were there too.
When the host asked Li Mengjiao a question, Yu Tianlin snatched the mic.
What a schemer!
Seeing Li Mengjiao unharmed, Wang Shuang was still upset. “Teacher Yuan, we can’t rest!”
Yuan Fenghui found Wang Shuang’s fussing immature. “When you grow some composure, I’ll raise your pay. It’s a small matter, and you’re this worked up?”
A small matter?
What counts as a big one?
Yuan Fenghui pulled Wen Ying aside, sharing her real concern. “Cao Shao commissioned a script from Zhang Guangzhen. You know?”
Wen Ying, occasionally in touch with Zhang Guangzhen, nodded. “Teacher Zhang said it’s nearly done.”
Yuan Fenghui sneered, “Not done. Sent back for a rewrite because Yu Tianlin wants to star in it.”
