The woman’s gaze was far too complicated, nothing like the pure “fan” she claimed to be. Luo Ding was momentarily stunned.
To be introduced to him by the channel’s director, combined with her appearance and demeanor, it was clear this person carried significant weight. For someone young or inexperienced, her mere presence would be overwhelming—first, because of her age, and second, because her background was shrouded in mystery. If Luo Ding had been younger, he might have reacted with nervousness or tried to mask his uncertainty.
But he wasn’t that kind of person anymore.
Luo Ding smiled politely and nodded, neither humble nor arrogant. “Hello, thank you for your support.”
Like someone who’s used to standing on big stages.
Yu Chanjuan’s eyes grew more complicated, tinged with curiosity and a bit of confusion.
She recalled how her elder son, Yu Shaotian, had described Duan Xiubo to her. According to him, his younger brother had a somewhat cold personality. Skilled at pretending and doing so very well, this coldness wasn’t known to many. Based on the details Yu Shaotian had provided about Duan Xiubo’s way of handling situations, she had a clear picture of his nature.
Polite but distant with strangers, mature and calm, never speaking more than necessary, often using a smile to deflect any unwanted attention. In movie behind-the-scenes clips, Duan Xiubo was always seen quietly sitting behind the director, focusing on the monitor, seldom interacting with other actors. From all this, Yu Chanjuan had believed she had a solid understanding of her younger son’s personality, whom she hadn’t seen in decades.
But the person she thought she knew had been completely shattered just now.
The hearty laughter, the banter, the unguarded joy—it was all too real, almost undignified in its genuineness. If Duan Xiubo was faking this, there was no reason to go to such lengths.
Recalling the very few tabloid stories that had surfaced about Duan Xiubo since his debut, even the most recent rumors about his private relationship with actress Yan Jingjing, which he had bluntly dismissed on a show, she was now sure that this man, whose eyes couldn’t tolerate dishonesty, had a genuinely close and unguarded relationship with Luo Ding.
Yu Chanjuan knew she shouldn’t be concerned about such matters. After all, Yu Shaotian also had his lifelong close friends, and it was absurd for a parent to interfere in their children’s friendships. Especially since her relationship with Duan Xiubo was nowhere near as good as her relationship with Yu Shaotian. But she couldn’t help but worry. The internet and tabloids had been shamelessly pairing these two men, and what if it became a self-fulfilling prophecy?
Who would bear the responsibility?
The thought of how Duan Wanqing, Duan Xiubo’s father, had suddenly called her a few days ago to inquire about the young man sitting in front of her and his relationship with his son, filled Yu Chanjuan with an ominous premonition.
*****
“You may go now,” Yu Chanjuan said, instructing her assistant to leave after they were escorted to a rooftop café inside the broadcasting station.
The assistant gave Luo Ding an excited glance before scurrying off, clearly thrilled.
Luo Ding, still trying to figure out who this woman was, remained silent.
Yu Chanjuan scrutinized Luo Ding for a long time before deciding not to hide the truth any longer. She hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Actually… I’m one of the major shareholders of Triumph Entertainment. My name is Yu Chanjuan.”
Luo Ding, unfamiliar with the inner workings of Triumph Entertainment, took a moment to recall before his face lit up with understanding. “Oh, so you’re the one. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Is Yu Shaotian your…?”
“…My son,” Yu Chanjuan replied. She noticed that even after mentioning Yu Shaotian, Luo Ding made no effort to bring up Duan Xiubo. There wasn’t even the slightest hint of recognition that he was meeting the mother of a friend. It became clear that Duan Xiubo had not told him about his connection to her son.
A strange feeling of disappointment washed over her.
Luo Ding glanced around and noticed the assistant hiding behind a plant, sneaking peeks at him. He smiled in her direction.
He was completely unsure why these two were here. Luo Ding knew little about Triumph Media and had no desire to dig deeper. In his previous life, he had worked at Universal, and Triumph and Universal had long been rivals. As an artist, he had no reason to care about the inner workings of the opposition. In this life, he was content at Yaxing Studio, enjoying ample resources, a bright future, and a comfortable working environment. He had no intention of switching companies. Yu Chanjuan’s status didn’t intimidate him.
In the entertainment industry, especially in Hong Kong in his early years, Luo Ding had met plenty of gang bosses who were the real deal, wielding guns and knives. People didn’t scare him easily. As long as there was no direct conflict, he could handle himself.
Luo Ding sipped his coffee, noticing that Yu Chanjuan hadn’t touched hers, likely finding it subpar.
The rooftop café was tastefully decorated, and from their seat by the window, they had a panoramic view of the surrounding cityscape. The setting was pleasant, but it was clear that whoever spoke first would lose the upper hand.
Yu Chanjuan hadn’t expected Luo Ding to remain so calm. Even after she revealed her identity, his attitude didn’t change, which led to a growing sense of appreciation for him.
She sighed softly.
“You don’t have to be nervous. I don’t have any ulterior motives. I just wanted to meet you and maybe become friends.”
Luo Ding turned to her, his smile gentle. “It’s an honor to befriend someone as esteemed as you, Ms. Yu.”
His calm and understated demeanor only made Yu Chanjuan more intrigued.
“Aren’t you a little curious?” she asked. An older woman suddenly showing up and wanting to be friends would seem odd to most people.
Luo Ding nodded. “A bit.”
Yu Chanjuan studied him for a moment longer, realizing that the persona she had seen on stage—slightly slow to react—might not have been an act. Even now, his responses were somewhat delayed.
She thought about his recent projects. She hadn’t had time to see *Hidden Dragon* in theaters, but *The Legend of Tang* had caught her attention when it aired on TV. The character Fu Zhu, played by Luo Ding, though not a major role, had left a deep impression on her. Even though the character had died halfway through the series, audiences hadn’t forgotten him.
No matter her personal feelings, she had to admit that Luo Ding was a talented and capable actor.
“Have you ever thought about joining Triumph Media?” Yu Chanjuan suddenly felt a spark of interest in recruiting him. She had a feeling this young man wouldn’t settle for being second-tier, despite his growing fame. If he had ambition, his future was bound to be extraordinary. If he joined Triumph, he could become a real star.
Luo Ding smiled politely as he declined. “I’m quite happy at Yaxing Studio.”
“A young person should plan for their future,” Yu Chanjuan said, disapprovingly. “Being happy and having a future are two different things. Yaxing Studio is a fine company, and I’ve heard that Gu Yaxing treats his artists well, but no small company can compete with the resources of a big one. What do you think is more important—your future or a temporary sense of happiness?”
Hearing her speak like this, Luo Ding realized their values were different, and arguing with a woman, especially someone in her position, wasn’t wise. But he couldn’t ignore her either, as it would offend her. He pondered for a moment and then responded, “When I joined Yaxing, I was barely twenty, homeless, and broke. I survived by modeling for shopping catalogs just to earn enough to eat. Yaxing was struggling at the time, too. The entire company had fewer than twenty employees, including untrained trainees. Our office was in one of Gu’s properties, and the dormitory was just a free single-room apartment.”
Women love a good story, no matter how wealthy they are. As Luo Ding started speaking, Yu Chanjuan’s expression grew more serious, and she listened intently.
Luo Ding played the sympathy card. “The artists had no work, and the company had no income. Gu Yaxing was paying out of his own pocket to train us and buy clothes. He took me from a complete amateur model to where I am now. All of the trainees were incredibly talented. Gu worked tirelessly to find us opportunities and exposure. Slowly, some started to make it. I wasn’t the first, and I won’t be the last. But the company couldn’t keep everyone. I’m sure you know that many of Yaxing’s stars eventually went to Universal.”
Yu Chanjuan knew that very well. Triumph had been rivals with Universal for years. She was happy to add a little fuel to the fire. “Poaching one or two stars is one thing, but Universal goes too far.”
“Exactly,” Luo Ding said. “Those people chose their future over temporary happiness. Gu Yaxing has helped me so much. If I leave him after getting famous, how am I any different from them? I understand and appreciate your offer, but sometimes in life, you have to make emotional decisions. I need to stay and help him.”
Yu Chanjuan was moved by his story, her eyes misting slightly. Yes, everyone makes emotional decisions. Even though she had always valued profit above all else, hadn’t she also once blindly married a man who, aside from his looks and assets, was utterly worthless? She had borne two children with him, raising them with all her heart. Even now, with one foot in the grave, the memories still surfaced, vivid and poignant.
She didn’t agree with Luo Ding’s values, but she couldn’t deny that his explanation made her like him more.
Luo Ding handed her a handkerchief. Yu Chanjuan was about to reach into her bag but paused and accepted the handkerchief instead. It wasn’t until she felt the soft, luxurious fabric in her fingers that she realized she hadn’t experienced such thoughtful care from a man in decades.
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