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Director Lin Lili is not a household name among ordinary Chinese people. Compared to Zhang Yize, who directed China's first Olympic Games, or Feng Gangxin, who often boasts that his films are on par with Hollywood blockbusters, his name is not so well-known. However, this Chinese director has won the Academy Award for Best Director twice for two of his works, and his status in the international film industry is absolutely unique. Su Tong herself, frankly speaking, really likes this director's works. When she opened the envelope and saw the simple and unadorned invitation inside, her hands trembled a little, and she felt quite flattered.

She still remembers one of her college roommates, a fujoshi (a female fan of BL), who cried her eyes out after watching the film, cursing the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television for being a slut who wouldn't allow such a good film to be shown just because it was about homosexual love. However, Su Tong couldn't comfort her at the time. Su Tong herself was very objective about same-sex relationships and didn't think they were better than heterosexual ones. Even so, she felt a tightness in her chest after watching it. It was a completely Western story, yet director Lin Lili had infused it with so much Eastern restraint and unspoken emotion, leaving her speechless with a heavy heart. Later, when the release announcement came out, Su Tong specifically went to grab 3D tickets for the first day. After watching it, she was still unsatisfied, moved by the story and touched by the scenes. Later, she was half-heartedly dragged by a female colleague to see it again.

The invitation was handwritten, and along with the envelope were some explanations confirming that the letter was indeed from Director Lin. In the letter, Lin Lili specifically stated that although he knew she was not an actress, he felt that she was the most suitable person for the role the first time he saw her photo. Therefore, to show his sincerity in inviting Su Tong, he specially wrote this handwritten invitation to Su Tong to play a role in his new film. Although it was called a new film, it was not actually a formal Hollywood blockbuster. It was just a documentary-style film that Director Lin Lili was preparing to shoot after returning to China. It was expected to be about an hour and a half long. Since Su Tong had not yet officially participated, it was only briefly mentioned that it was about a Chinese-American male protagonist who had lived in country A since childhood and fought for his motherland from his youth to old age during the period from the early 20th century to the establishment of the new China.

As for Su Tong's role, although we can't say anything specific about her right now, it is indeed related to the photos that first surfaced online. She is a girl who is very good at dancing and was sent to country A by her family to save her life. Her ancestors were related to the male protagonist, so she received a lot of attention from him in country A. She is not the female lead, but a supporting character with mental problems. She doesn't have any romantic scenes, and her final fate is suicide.

While in City C, Su Tong had been mostly idle, but she hadn't paid much attention to entertainment news. Now, after seeing the invitation, she went online and browsed Weibo, Tianya, and Tieba, only to learn that renowned Hollywood Chinese director Lin Lili had returned to China yesterday and announced a new film he was preparing in Beijing to dedicate to the Great Celestial Empire. The male lead had been confirmed as Lin Zhen, an award-winning actor who had starred in two Hollywood blockbusters. This news had been making headlines online recently, but what Su Tong didn't know whether to feel honored or amused was that, amidst such big news, her own little scandalous affair as an internet celebrity was still a hot topic of discussion online.

The news photos of her this time originally came from a famous online community. A user named "Brother Dare to Say Brother Never Masturbates" posted them last night. The photos showed Su Tong wearing a purple dress and shopping on Jiefang Road in City C. The paparazzi's shooting skills were excellent. Xiao Yang next to her was always just out of the picture, while Su Tong was photographed clearly and artistically, giving her a cool and slightly melancholic look.

Su Tong's beautiful candid photos, compared to the unremarkable appearance of Bei Sheng, an internet celebrity who recently appeared on a domestic entertainment program, have sparked another wave of online discussion. These photos, along with the news revealed by a relevant insider that director Lin Lili intends to invite the "ancient dance goddess" to participate in his new film, immediately dropped another bombshell on the already lively internet. Director Lin's new film has already attracted widespread attention both domestically and internationally even before it has officially started filming.

In this way, regardless of whether Su Tong participates or not, she has made a certain contribution to the publicity of this film. Director Lin Lili never likes to pretend to be high-minded. He will promote the film when necessary and hype it up in the best way possible. He will do everything he can to make the best quality film and never go against the box office.

Su Tong felt a little confused. In fact, during her college years, she had received offers from several production teams of period dramas and movies because of her outstanding talent in classical dance and her good looks. However, she had never thought about acting when she was a teenager. This was the first time she had the urge to give it a try.

Moreover, she knew that with her current appearance, unless she was kept as a mistress and truly lived a secluded life, she would never be able to live a quiet and unremarkable life again.

But once she entered the entertainment industry, security, sex, unspoken rules, backstabbing—everything became a problem. The chaos and complexity of the entertainment industry frightened her. If someone like her didn't have a background, she would probably be devoured by those lustful people on the very first day. In the capital, who else could she find a backer for? So she couldn't make up her mind for a while.

After shutting down the computer and soaking in the pool of water in the space, all the physical fatigue seemed to disappear, but the heart felt even more depressed and tired. Suddenly, I thought of Xie Chengjing, who now owes me a debt of gratitude that I can never repay. If I could be as ruthless and decisive as him, I wouldn't have these hesitations and troubles.

In City C, I always wanted to go home. But once I got home, I felt overwhelmed by all the things that were happening. I felt that the beautiful White Queen Castle in City C would have been a paradise if it weren't for the intrusive Xiao Yang and the utterly annoying Xiao Feihuang.

The next morning, Li Qiang somehow found out that Su Tong had returned to H Province and rushed over early in the morning. Fortunately, Su's parents were very relieved because of Su Tong's return and were in a good mood to go fishing with Uncle Yang's family, so they didn't run into Li Qiang.

When the photos of Su Tong that he posted first went viral online, Li Qiang was filled with regret and felt he would never see Su Tong again. He wanted to apologize to her but lacked the courage. The news of Su Tong being kept by a sugar daddy had been circulating widely online, sparking much discussion. Everyone agreed that Su Tong possessed unparalleled beauty. Li Qiang, however, was both skeptical and terrified that it might be true. He subtly inquired with his sister, Li Li, about Su Tong's injury. He had originally planned to visit her, but after sending his photography work and materials to a famous domestic magazine, he was accepted for a job as a photography assistant. He went there for initial training, and now, with rumors circulating online that Su Tong was going to act in a movie, he learned from a middle school boy next door—whom he had "bribed"—that Su Tong had returned home, and rushed over.

Then he stood downstairs at Su Tong's house and kept calling her. Su Tong didn't expect it to be him at first. When she opened the window and looked out, she was stunned. She already knew that Li Qiang liked her, and most people would not want to hurt someone who likes them. After a moment of hesitation, she put on a sisterly and caring smile and said, "Li Qiang, why are you here so early?"

When Li Qiang saw Su Tong, his eyes shone as if they held all the stars in the world, yet also held a pleading look, a hint of fear of rejection. He mustered his courage and called out loudly, "Sister Su Tong! Su Tong! I have something to tell you! Can you come out for a moment?"

To be honest, Li Qiang's feelings and his online confession touched Su Tong deeply, but also made her feel a little sad. Seeing him reminded her of herself when she stood foolishly outside Gu Nian'an's classroom for three hours in the dead of winter, hoping to "bump into" him after class. But she was no longer at the age to enjoy being chased by young boys, and she knew that it was best not to give him hope at this time. Su Tong's expression turned indifferent, and she simply said, "Go back. I know what you're going to say."

"Please come down! Su Tong, please come down! Su Tong! I'm begging you!" Li Qiang refused to leave and shouted from outside. The young man in his twenties was clutching the hard ring box in his pocket as if it were his own heart, and he was almost crying.

Hearing the commotion, a neighbor opened the window and looked out curiously. When he saw that it was a young man calling out Su Tong's name, who was already in her late twenties, he immediately became very interested in watching the show.

Su Tong didn't care about any of this. Although it would be cruel for a while, she could only say, "Li Qiang, go back. Your sister will worry. I don't treat you like a child, and I know your feelings. But because I believe you're not a child anymore, I also believe you know that we can't be together. I'm not right for you, and I don't like you. Li Qiang, thank you for liking me. I will always remember that. But right now, you're just giving others something to talk about and adding to my troubles. Go away."

Then he closed the window and called Li Li to come pick him up. Su Tong knew Li Qiang a little. He could stand downstairs at Su Tong's house and wait for her without caring about himself, but he couldn't bear to let Su Tong be talked about because of him. He stared at the fourth floor for a while before walking out of the alley in a daze. He saw his sister sitting in the car, smiling at him. Tears immediately streamed down his face.

Seeing Li Qiang leave, and then receiving a reply from Li Li a few minutes later saying that she had received Li Qiang's text message, Su Tong finally breathed a sigh of relief. Who hasn't loved one or two people in their youth who ultimately didn't have a happy ending? Soon, very soon, he would find the person he truly loved.

Su Tong had just recovered from Li Qiang's situation that afternoon when she received two emails, one from the city's TV station and the other from a branch of a Fortune 500 company, saying they had approved her job applications. One was for human resources management, and the other for sales manager—both high-paying, easy positions that usually require fierce competition. However, Su Tong knew very well that she hadn't even sent a resume, let alone had an interview or written test.

So she called Xiao Yang. He seemed to be in a meeting or banquet somewhere, and it was a bit noisy around him. He first said, "Wait for me," and then seemed to walk a bit before speaking to Su Tong. His voice was magnetic and tinged with amusement: "Tongtong, what's up? Did you call me for something?"

Su Tong had gotten used to his intimate tone when he spoke to her. No one could say anything cold to him when he spoke so kindly, so she asked him directly, "Um, I just wanted to ask you, did you arrange the sales manager positions for me at the city TV station and that company?"

“Yes, that’s right. Actually, this was arranged a long time ago, but we’ve only just found these two most suitable ones. I know you want to work, but you’re too beautiful,” Xiao Yang paused here, his voice low, praising Su Tong’s appearance with nothing but love and admiration, tinged with a hint of tenderness. He continued, “If you apply for a job in an unfamiliar company on your own, it’ll make you more likely to attract unwanted attention. I know the people at both the TV station and this company, so you won’t have any trouble working in either place. Plus, it’s close to your home, so you can spend more time with your aunt and uncle. I hope you can live a freer and happier life. What, don’t you like it?”

Su Tong shook her head. "No, it's very good."

Then she hung up the phone. This was indeed good, and basically aligned with her initial career goals, but it wasn't what she wanted. With that, Su Tong no longer hesitated, made up her mind, and told her parents directly when they came home that evening. (166 Reading Network)