**"Deep Sea"** debuted with a box office of 130 million yuan on its first day—a decent score for the summer season. The film has received positive reviews, and its earnings are expected to remain strong, with total projections reaching 4 billion yuan.
Once again, netizens have been impressed by **Yu Wanqiu**'s performance. Though **Chen Jinglan** isn’t her first villainous role, it’s undoubtedly her most striking one. Whether as an undercover operative outsmarting the police or as a ruthless drug queen draped in a trench coat with a disdainful glare, she left audiences in awe.
Moreover, **Yu Wanqiu** and **Jiang Lan** looked stunning at the premiere. Normally, **Jiang Lan** wears simple skirts, T-shirts, and shorts, giving off the vibe of a university sweetheart. But this time, dressed in an elegant little dress, she stood out.
Together, the two shared an inexplicable harmony.
But it was only Monday—four more days until the show aired.
After the premiere, **Yu Wanqiu** attended the celebratory dinner at a five-star restaurant in Shanghai.
At the table, the male lead **Chu Lingnan** asked why **Jiang Lan**, her son’s girlfriend, hadn’t come along. He assumed **Yu Wanqiu** might be paving the way for her to enter the entertainment industry. With **Yu Wanqiu**’s backing, as long as **Jiang Lan**’s acting wasn’t terrible, her future would be bright.
**Yu Wanqiu** smiled and said, *"She went back to the hotel. Cried for an hour, kept saying how amazing Officer Chen was and even wanted an autograph."*
**Chu Lingnan** looked surprised. *"Really? I’ll sign one for her right away."*
In truth, **Yu Wanqiu** knew it was a lie—**Jiang Lan** had only praised *her*, not a word about **Chu Lingnan**.
The dinner ended at 9:30 PM, and by the time she returned to the hotel, it was already 10. **Yu Wanqiu** asked **Little Xu** what **Jiang Lan** had eaten for dinner.
**Little Xu** hesitated. *"She went out and didn’t let me follow. Only took the cameraman."*
Before leaving, though, **Jiang Lan** had asked about **Yu Wanqiu**’s food preferences and their usual restaurants in Shanghai.
Exhausted from the day, **Yu Wanqiu** didn’t dwell on it. She removed her makeup, washed up, and slept soundly until morning.
Her phone showed 9:12 AM.
Having gone to bed at 11 PM, she had woken up naturally and even considered going back to sleep—a thought that startled her. Normally, she slept at 10 PM and woke at 6 AM sharp, even if she stayed up late. Just last week, she’d even indulged in a midnight snack.
She stood in front of the mirror, scrutinizing her face. The older she got, the more she cared about her appearance.
Luckily, she looked fresh.
**Jiang Lan** had promised to treat her to dinner—but it was only 9:30 AM.
As she stepped out of her room, **Chen** arrived with breakfast. *"Jiang Lan bought this for you—shrimp and eel noodles, shumai, layered oil cake, and seafood congee. All still warm."*
**Yu Wanqiu** nodded. *"Did she mention where we’re eating tonight?"*
**Chen** grinned sheepishly. *"Ah, Little Xu’s the one following her around. How would I know?"*
She could tell **Chen** knew but wasn’t saying. *What’s so secretive about a dinner?*
Around 3 PM, **Jiang Lan** left the hotel.
By 5 PM, **Little Xu** knocked on **Yu Wanqiu**’s door. *"Let’s go for dinner!"*
Dressed in a red dress, sunglasses, and light makeup, **Yu Wanqiu** followed.
**Little Xu** drove them to an upscale Western restaurant—a discreet, celebrity-frequented spot known for its privacy and reasonable prices.
The moment **Yu Wanqiu** stepped inside, the soft strains of a violin filled the air.
A waiter escorted her to the reserved table, where an aperitif and a salad arrived promptly.
Glancing toward the music, she spotted **Jiang Lan** in her emerald-green dress, hair elegantly pinned up with a diamond clip, standing beside a small fountain four meters away.
**Jiang Lan** smiled at her.
The piece was *"Souvenir,"* a three-minute melody whose Chinese translation meant *"Memories."*
In the week since joining the show, **Jiang Lan** had initially thought **Yu Wanqiu** was a strict, no-nonsense woman.
And while she *was* that—she was also surprisingly endearing.
As the final note faded, **Jiang Lan** handed the violin to **Little Xu**, then picked up a bouquet of purple freesias and walked toward **Yu Wanqiu**.
*"Last night’s movie was amazing. I look forward to seeing more of your work."*
Freesias symbolized purity and happiness. **Jiang Lan** had deliberated over flowers—roses were too romantic, carnations too formal—but these felt just right.
**Yu Wanqiu** pressed her lips together, hiding a smile. She had to admit—**Jiang Lan**’s little gestures had charmed her.
Even **Lu Shuangchen** hadn’t treated her to such a *ritualistic* dinner in years.
If she told him *"the flowers are pretty,"* he’d probably say, *"Our garden is full of them."*
But **Jiang Lan** had given her *flowers*. She’d thought it was just a meal, but there was music, too.
Who *didn’t* love flowers?
Still, she feigned indifference. *"Why bother with all this? Do you have money to burn?"*
**Jiang Lan** answered honestly. *"It wasn’t expensive."*
The freesias cost a little over a hundred, the restaurant was mid-range, and the violin performance was free—plus, the owner had given her a discount.
Yu Wanqiu knew Jiang Lan was a college student without much family wealth. Spending all this money on her—did Jiang Lan even have funds left?
Before Yu Wanqiu could dwell on it further, the waiter arrived with their dishes: a main course of fish fillet with white cream sauce, followed by steak with rich gravy, a side of Italian vegetable soup, and dessert (a small cake yet to be served).
Jiang Lan had little experience with Western cuisine and fumbled with the cutlery.
Feeling slightly awkward, Yu Wanqiu remarked, “Next time we eat out, hot pot would be just fine.”
Jiang Lan wholeheartedly agreed—though the idea of playing the violin in a hot pot restaurant felt oddly out of place.
She didn’t want Yu Wanqiu to suffer social embarrassment.
While Yu Wanqiu enjoyed the meal, her heart ached for Jiang Lan’s wallet. “What’s your monthly allowance as a student?”
Jiang Lan wasn’t entirely sure, but she recalled it being around two thousand. “About two thousand or so.”
“Is that enough? What do you do if you run out?”
Jiang Lan shrugged. “Just tighten the belt by month’s end.”
Yu Wanqiu didn’t press further. “Do you like acting?”
Jiang Lan shook her head. “You’re not thinking of offering me a job, are you? Acting’s not for me. But if there’s another gig like last time—violin or cello stand-in work—I’d take it.”
Yu Wanqiu nodded and resumed eating in silence. After a pause, she suddenly blurted, “You know what? Lu Shuangchen hasn’t given me flowers in years!”
The words tumbled out, unrestrained. “He’s just a work machine—utterly devoid of romance!”
Jiang Lan sighed. “Aren’t all men like that? They think providing financially is some grand achievement, strutting around like peacocks… Um, Teacher Yu—”
Yu Wanqiu: “Hmm?”
“If Mr. Lu hears me say this… he won’t get mad, will he?”
Yu Wanqiu chuckled. “Who cares? He doesn’t watch variety shows anyway.”
After dinner, Little Xu booked them high-speed rail tickets for 7:20 PM, arriving in City B by 10:00. They’d reach the villa by 11:00.
Exhausted from the early start, Jiang Lan dozed off during the ride. Yu Wanqiu cradled the bouquet of freesias (her refusal to let Chen carry it was deliberate). Back at the villa, she arranged the flowers in a vase with tender care.
Though not her first time receiving blooms, today’s joy lingered. From the moment she woke, happiness had buoyed her. Now, she set the vase on the coffee table, added water, and—just then—her phone rang.
It was Lu Yicheng.
Their calls were rare. Between her hectic filming schedule and his self-sufficient upbringing (he’d never caused her worry), they seldom spoke.
Lu Yicheng had always been mature beyond his years.
But when had she noticed the change? Perhaps during his sophomore year of college, after discovering he had a girlfriend.
The signs were obvious. Typically reserved and hobby-averse, Lu Yicheng had begun staring at his phone, vanishing into his room punctually at night. She’d been home post-filming then, resting, and by 8-something PM, he’d retreat to call his girlfriend.
He hadn’t hidden it—in fact, he seemed eager for her to ask.
But Yu Wanqiu was patience incarnate. Just a relationship—what was there to probe?
Back then, Lu Yicheng had resembled a dragon, zealously guarding its hoard yet unable to resist flaunting a sliver. She remembered once, when matching couple’s cups appeared on their coffee table—adorable, clearly not his taste.
He’d downed water relentlessly that day, making endless bathroom trips.
Catching her glance, he’d brandished the cup: “Mom, this design is really…”
Yu Wanqiu had deadpanned, “A roommate’s gift?”
Lu Yicheng’s pained nod was priceless.
Now, she hung up and switched to video call. “Just arranging flowers,” she said, angling the camera toward the freesias. “Oh, someone gave me these today. Pretty, aren’t they?”
Lu Yicheng: “……”
Yu Wanqiu: “Guess who?”
Lu Yicheng: “Goodbye.”
Her son’s lack of amusement delighted her. After positioning the vase, she prepared for bed.
The next day was Shen Xingyao’s birthday.
A rising idol actress in her early career, Shen Xingyao had starred in numerous romance dramas before shifting to variety shows post-marriage.
Gifts from fan clubs piled high in the third-floor lounge.
The birthday luncheon began at noon. By 10 AM, Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu descended to join the other guests.
Shen Xingyao shimmered in a pastel pink tulle dress, a crystal tiara crowning her head, diamond necklace glinting at her throat—every inch the princess.
Du Wanzhou, draped in sapphire-blue silk with jade bracelets, radiated excitement. As Shen Xingyao slipped away briefly, Du Wanzhou whispered, “For my darling’s birthday, I’ve prepared a surprise.”
Their live-stream, already underway, boasted over five million viewers.
Jiang Lan was a little curious about what the surprise could be. Soon, the staff carried in a one-meter-tall gift box and placed it among the presents from fans.
*What on earth could be inside something that big?*
Before long, Shen Xingyao stepped out of the room with her phone in hand. "Everyone, please stop sending gifts—especially students! Just enjoy the livestream... Chen Hao is on set right now and can’t make it. Anyway, we’ve celebrated so many birthdays together already; one less won’t hurt. We’ll open the gifts soon!"
Shen Xingyao turned the camera toward the pile of presents and noticed the enormous one. "Mom, where did this come from?"
Du Wanzhou smiled. "That’s from me. Open it and see."
Shen Xingyao touched the diamond necklace around her neck. "But you already gave me this! Why another gift?"
Du Wanzhou chuckled. "Since when is too many gifts a bad thing?"
As she untied the ribbon on the box, suddenly—*whoosh!*—a figure burst out from inside, sending colorful ribbons scattering across the floor. Chen Hao wrapped his arms around Shen Xingyao. "Surprise!"
Her eyes lit up instantly. "Weren’t you supposed to be on set? How did you get here?"
Chen Hao, his skin slightly tanned, grinned, revealing a bright set of teeth. "Took leave just for your birthday."
Nearby, Yu Wanqiu watched with a thoughtful expression.
