While Peng Guoqing was calming the rich kids at the airport, Wang Shuang, far away in Shanghai, was calling home.
What to say once the call connected?
Wang Shuang wanted to tell his family he’d be staying in Shanghai for the Spring Festival.
Yes, while Xie Qian and Wen Ying were heading back, Wang Shuang was staying put.
The excuse of “following Xie Qian wherever he goes” no longer held. To accommodate Li Mengjiao… no, to honour Li Zhentao’s trust, Wang Shuang decided to stay in Shanghai for the holiday.
Continuing filming during the Spring Festival wasn’t because Yuan Fenghui loved playing the slave driver—it was unavoidable.
Because Li Mengjiao’s schedule was only free during the winter break!
Originally, the timeline wasn’t so tight, but Wen Ying had refined the script, requiring not only new scenes but also revisions to previously shot footage… Yuan Fenghui offered triple pay to keep the crew working.
With rising production costs, Yuan Fenghui wasn’t worried but thrilled.
Having navigated the entertainment industry for years, Yuan Fenghui knew that no matter how clever the hype, a star’s fame was fleeting without solid work to back it up.
A classic film or a widely sung hit song—if an artist lucked into one, they could live off it forever. Multiple hits? They’d be on track to superstardom.
Yuan Fenghui was delighted that *Galaxy with You* could be polished to perfection.
This drama would not only rake in profits for Tianjiao but also solidify Li Mengjiao and Yun Chen’s popularity, even boosting supporting actress Zhang Yangning. Working through the holiday? No big deal. If Yuan Fenghui were in charge, she’d have the cameras rolling 24/7!
Worried Li Mengjiao might be too delicate, Yuan Fenghui kept feeding her motivational pep talks.
The bigger a star’s fame, the tighter their schedule. Spending holidays away from home might become normal for Li Mengjiao!
Li Mengjiao nodded eagerly.
The naive girl didn’t find staying away for the holiday upsetting—instead, she thought celebrating in a new city was exciting.
She’d never experienced it before, so this was the perfect chance to try!
Li Mengjiao might be oblivious, but her mother wasn’t.
Li’s mother was heartbroken, wanting to rush to Shanghai to be with her daughter, but she couldn’t leave home.
Li Zhentao’s job meant he had to attend social events during holidays, and without his wife by his side, many occasions were inconvenient.
Needing his wife at home and wanting to toughen up Li Mengjiao, Li Zhentao stopped his wife but called Wang Shuang, entrusting his daughter’s care to him.
“Keep an eye on Mengjiao.”
“Uncle Li, no need to tell me twice. I’ve got this!”
Wang Shuang and Li Mengjiao had been playmates since childhood, and he always felt he was the one looking out for her. Even without Li Zhentao’s request, Wang Shuang wouldn’t leave Shanghai—but Li Zhentao’s solemn trust made him feel elated. It was like, after turning eighteen, everyone’s attitude toward him had shifted.
His dad transferred Tianjiao Film shares to him, and Li Zhentao entrusted him with serious responsibilities.
Being trusted by the older generation felt amazing!
It was Wang Shuang’s first time not spending the holiday with his parents, and he was still figuring out how to convince them. But when the call connected and he explained, his mother, Mrs. Wang, was overjoyed:
“You’re not coming back for the holiday? Perfect! Your dad and I booked a luxury overseas vacation tour. Not getting your ticket saves us a bundle!”
Mrs. Wang’s response was brutal.
After hanging up, Wang Shuang realised something.
If he hadn’t called, his mum hadn’t even asked if he was going… So, she wasn’t planning to bring him along in the first place?!
Young Master Shuang’s composure cracked for a moment.
The Wang couple didn’t feel sorry for their son at all.
They’d finally raised him to eighteen—couldn’t they enjoy some couple time?
The idea of an overseas holiday was Wang Jun’s. His wife worked too hard at Tianjiao, so the holiday was for her to unwind. Staying in Chengdu meant social obligations; abroad, it was all shopping, eating, and indulgence—a reward for his wife!
As a seasoned slacker, Wang Shuang was a pro at adjusting his mood. After a brief sulk, he cheered up.
No vacation? Fine, abroad’s overrated anyway.
With Xie Qian and Wen Ying leaving Shanghai, he, the intern producer, would be Teacher Yuan’s most trusted assistant!
Being an intern producer was temporary. Wang Shuang was convinced he’d soon become indispensable at Tianjiao Film.
…
Following the train of thought that “Xie Qian is awesome,” Peng Guoqing, back home, made several calls to his dad’s secretary, all asking the same thing: how’s the transfer going?
The secretary was on the verge of a breakdown, “Young Master Peng, you specifically requested Chengdu’s top provincial school. Their admission standards are high—”
Getting a total slacker into a school like that across provinces was no easy feat!
She didn’t dare say it, but she thought Peng Guoqing should pick up on the unspoken half of her sentence.
When it came to shamelessness, how could she outmatch Peng Guoqing? He retorted confidently:
“So, you’re saying my dad’s not capable enough?”
“I didn’t say that!”
The secretary gasped.
Peng Guoqing shamelessly pressed, “That’s exactly what you mean. If my dad was capable enough, what school couldn’t I get into?”
The secretary underestimated his audacity and was left speechless.
Mr. Peng worked so hard, yet his only son was such a spoiled brat. Fate could be so unfair.
Suppressing her frustration, the secretary assured him, “After the New Year, you’ll definitely be able to report to Chengdu’s top school… Also, you should show more respect to Mr. Peng. He’s your father!”
Peng Guoqing noticed she’d dropped the formal “you” for a plain “you” and chuckled, “Thanks then. I knew my dad couldn’t be *that* useless.”
—Relying on your dad and feeling superior about it?
The secretary hung up.
Beep beep beep…
Hearing the busy tone, Peng Guoqing’s smile turned cold.
Three months, max. That secretary would be out, courtesy of his mum.
Did he need a secretary meddling in how he dealt with his dad?
Using his mum’s logic, anyone sticking up for Old Peng like that definitely had a thing for him.
Well, young women fresh out of school, not yet exposed to many high-quality men, meeting someone like Old Peng—rich, not bad-looking, exuding mature charm—it’s hard not to be a little smitten!
When Mrs. Peng got home and saw her son looking glum, she patted his head, “Qingqing, what’s wrong? Out of money? Don’t be upset, just ask Mummy. I’ve got plenty!”
As she spoke, she rummaged through her bag, pulling out a stack of cards—beauty salon memberships, shopping cards, and several bank cards. She picked one and handed it to Peng Guoqing.
When it came to money, Mrs. Peng was brimming with confidence.
If she ran out, she’d just ask her husband. She could never spend it all, so she saved it for her son.
It was all Peng Guoqing’s money, whether given now or later. With Mrs. Peng spoiling him like this, it was hard for Peng Guoqing *not* to turn out spoiled.
Peng Guoqing took the bank card his mum shoved at him, still looking glum.
“Mum, I’ve got a question… If I really want to impress someone who lacks nothing, where do I even start?”
Mrs. Peng, in a rush for a beauty appointment, didn’t ask if the person was male or female and said casually, “Who in this world lacks nothing? You’re just not trying hard enough. Think carefully—what does that person need? Give them that. Even if you can’t do it right away, show them how hard you’re trying!”
