I was taken aback and it took a few moments for me to understand what she was trying to say. I rolled my eyes and said, “Oh my god, where did you get that idea? Without your name and reputation, which screenwriter would even consider me? Is it because of my poor writing skills or my status as an art school student? I’m worried that, in order to take care of me, you made up the story about script requests. Qian Mi, you have always been a good friend of mine.”

　　Qian Mi exhaled, her voice softening, “Wei, you’re one of my few friends. If you doubt me, I’ll be heartbroken. You don’t know, screenwriters these days aren’t as innocent as they seem. The more famous they are, the more they treasure their reputation. Although your scripts are just part of the story, once they spread, their reputation will be ruined. How could they take such a risk? Even I am cautious. My agent doesn’t know about our situation.”

　　“Thank you!” I said sincerely.

　　Qian Mi took my hand and pouted, “We’re friends! If the investors like your script, I’ll be the leading lady in the movie. I haven’t been polite to you for such a big favor, and you’re still being polite to me? Drink up!”

　　“Okay, okay, I’m drinking!” I said, sipping the wine.

　　She leaned forward and said, “Last time when I called you to request a script and you said you had divorced Xiaomin Yu, I wanted to ask for more details, but the director suddenly showed up, so I hung up. I didn’t ask you about it again, but it’s better to talk face-to-face. Tell me, what happened? Who initiated the divorce? How did you divide the assets? Oh, by the way, who got custody of Qianqian?”

　　“He initiated the divorce this time, and as for why, I don’t know. If he wants to leave, he has his reasons, and I have no reason not to fulfill his wishes. I gave him the house and savings, after all, he didn’t have a job all these years. As for Qianqian… she will always be with me, forever!”

　　“That bastard Xiaomin Yu!” Qian Mi slapped the table in anger. “How dare he kick you out with nothing? I bet he divorced you just to get the house and savings. You’re a divorced woman in your thirties with no money, no house, and still have a child to take care of. How hard must that be? Wei, we can’t let him get away with this. I’ll go with you to find him right now!”

　　I stood up and grabbed Qian Mi, who was fuming with anger. “Alright, it’s been over a month since the divorce, and we signed the agreement. It’s reasonable and legal. I think it’s better this way. He’s happy, and I’m happy too. He even helped me pack my things when I left. That’s really rare. It’s the first time he helped me in all these years.”

　　Qian Mi’s eyes turned red, and she poked my head with her index finger. “You still laugh? Are you stupid? He’s just afraid you’ll take his things, and you’re grateful to him? I don’t know what to say to you. You’re making me so angry!”

　　She sat down, poured herself a glass of red wine, and drank it in one go. I walked over, sitting beside her, and hugged her arm. I could feel the rise and fall of her shoulder, her breath, and her heartbeat.

　　“Even though without our permission, things are running in their own way. The sun rises and sets, and flowers bloom and wither. People on the street come and go, heading toward their destinations. When I arrived, a private car ran two red lights and collided with a taxi at the turning point of the road. We can think of all this as lovely or messy, but that doesn’t matter. No matter how we think, it is what it is.”

　　“Qian Mi, if it weren’t for you bringing up the divorce, I might have forgotten about it. All I remember is how kind you have been to me. I’m grateful for treating me as a friend, taking care of me, always thinking of me.”

　　I felt her breath pause for a moment, then it became intense, and her crying voice entered my ears. She didn’t say anything, just cried and hugged my arm. I didn’t know why she was crying so sadly. Maybe my words moved her, or maybe she’s been too tired lately and has been wronged too much. I hugged her like I hugged my kid, gently stroking her hair and humming a soft song.

　　After a while, her crying gradually stopped.

　　“Do you remember when we sang in the bar?” she asked.

　　“Of course, I remember,” I chuckled softly.

　　She smiled, “When I first went to the bar, I thought I was excellent. I thought I was pretty and sang and danced well. I was sure to be the pillar there. But then I heard you sing, and with a voice like that, you still came to sing? It was crazy! But I was too self-righteous. I could never learn the deep emotions in your singing. You immersed yourself in your world, drawing others in, making them your captives. Your hoarse voice was so seductive, so charming. Every time I tried to compete with you, you always received the most bouquets.”

　　I chuckled and patted her, “You are now a Superstar, and I’m just a furniture salesman. Are you trying to make me jealous of you?”

　　“Superstar?” Qian Mi snorted and sighed. “The cost of being a Superstar is beyond your imagination.”

　　I fell silent for a moment. Seeing this, she asked, “Have you ever thought about being an actor?”

　　“Do you think I can?” This was the first time she had asked me this question, and I was surprised.

　　She looked me up and down, smiling, “Of course, look at your face. Who would believe you’re 35 years old? You could even play a college student! And those big eyes of yours, I envy them the most. They’re full of charm and agility. I played the role of a fox spirit in a TV series once. Just by standing there, you don’t need to act. Everyone would be attracted to you, even women!”

　　I couldn’t help but laugh. “Do you want to?”

　　She shook my arm eagerly, her eyes filled with expectation, and something I couldn’t quite place. I saw that she wasn’t kidding and thought for a moment before saying, “No, thanks for caring.”

　　She looked at me in disbelief, as though she never thought I would refuse. “Why not?”

　　“For me, the biggest advantage of being an actor is having more opportunities to remind myself that I’m acting at the moment. Maybe I needed it in the past, but now…I don’t need it.”

　　She frowned and thought for a moment before shaking her head. “I don’t quite understand what you mean, but I really didn’t expect you to refuse.” She sighed, “You know what? If a star had come to me before I became famous and offered to be my guide, I would have been ecstatic. Let alone if that person was my friend. Do you know what you missed? An opportunity to change your destiny!”

　　“An opportunity to change my destiny? Perhaps. Qian Mi, what do you think life is?”