Starting a new chapter in life

He Jin'an swallowed hard and nodded: "That's right, take five hundred, thank you!"

The bank counter processed the transaction very quickly. After he signed the receipt, he took back his bank card and 500 yuan, put the money in his wallet, went to a public phone booth, inserted his IC card, and dialed his home phone.

"Mom, why are you giving me so much money? I thought you could only give me about ten thousand." An'an got straight to the point.

"I don't want you to be too strapped for cash. You're asking me for a thousand yuan a month, which is definitely not enough for your normal expenses. I'm worried that you won't eat well in order to save money. Your body is still developing, and you can't cut back on food and clothing."

Besides, our family doesn't need you to skimp on food. You can eat, drink, and spend as you please, as long as you don't spend recklessly or go to shady places. If you need more money, just call me and Mom will deposit more for you." Jingyan was very generous.

"Um, Mom, how much savings do we have?" An'an thought for a while before finally asking.

Jing Yan blinked on the other end of the phone, "Five or six hundred thousand, how about it? What, do you need it?"

"I'm working part-time here now, and I've gained a lot of experience. I'm thinking that after I graduate from university, I'll go to Beijing and open a film and television media company there."

"That way, once Zhizhi and Lu Xiaoxiao graduate, they can come directly to our own company. Putting aside everything else, at least their safety shouldn't be a problem." An'an voiced her thoughts.

"But even if you start a company, do you have actors, directors, and a bunch of staff? Most importantly, can you sell what you produce and make money?"

We don't know much about this, so you need to have your own plan. Once you've thought everything through, Mom will give you the 600,000 yuan savings account.

"It would be best if we made a profit, but it's okay if we lose it. Our family can afford it. If all else fails, we can sell that house near Ci'en School in Beijing. We can get a lot of money from that. If we make a profit, that house is yours; consider it your private property." Jing Yan offered a huge promise.

He Jin'an was also shocked. He had always known that his mother was generous with money and doted on her children. He had seen his mother dote on his older brother Ci'en before, but today was the first time he had faced such a vast maternal love.

"Mom, you're so good to me." This was the first time He Jin'an had been so direct.

Jing Yan chuckled: "You're my child, of course I love you. It's just that I've always raised you rather loosely, mainly because you're both obedient, but you've certainly given each other plenty of love."

Oh, by the way, we also own a villa in Shanghai's Xuhui District, which has always been rented out. However, the rent has increased significantly in recent years, and it's now two thousand yuan a month.

I've seen it; it's very similar to the layout of many old Shanghai TV shows. If you like it and find it useful later, that apartment can be left to you too.”

“What about Zhizhi, Mom? You can’t favor one over the other. I’m the older brother, so I can skip it. The better and more expensive things can go to my younger sister first.” He Jin’an acted like a good older brother.

"Do you remember the little courtyard house we lived in when you were little, before we moved to Changxing Island? We're leaving that one for Zhizhi." Jingyan had originally planned to give one house to each of the two children.

"That set? Wasn't it sold?" An'an was too young back then, and Jingyan hadn't mentioned it all these years, so she assumed it had been sold long ago.

"Oh, it wasn't sold. It was rented to your Aunt Yuan's mother. Your Aunt Yuan has been doing quite well in the construction industry these past two years. She's already bought them a small high-rise apartment, and it's beautifully decorated."

They were originally going to move there, but they couldn't bear to leave our two oddly shaped kang beds, which were comfortable to live in, and also because of the old neighbors in the neighborhood, so they're still staying there.

"When you grow up, you'll probably be able to move out. After all, your Aunt Yuan isn't comfortable letting them live alone when they get older," Jing Yan explained briefly.

An'an is truly relieved now. Knowing her family's financial situation, she can work with confidence and boldness after graduation. Indeed, having money as a safety net gives her confidence.

"Should we tell Zhizhi about your future plans? After all, you changed your career path for her sake," Jingyan asked her son.

"No way. If I do well, she'll find out when she graduates. It'll be time to move her then. But if I don't do well and tell her beforehand, won't that give her something to laugh at me for? I'm the older brother, I don't want to embarrass myself like that."

An'an quickly stopped her, saying, "What a joke! From childhood to adulthood, there have been very few times when they could be peaceful and warm siblings. When they were little, they had two older brothers, and the two of them were relatively peaceful. But after their brothers left one by one, the two of them bickered more often than they had a deep sibling bond."

Jing Yan laughed: "Alright, then I won't interfere in your siblings' affairs anymore. It's true that you're close in age and have a good relationship, but you still have to quarrel. Okay, you can spend your money without worry, and you don't need to worry about the family. Taking good care of yourself is more important than anything else."

An'an obediently agreed, and the mother and son's phone call finally ended.

After Shen Runze came to Beijing, he visited Zhizhi at school several times and introduced himself to her classmates, saying that he was her uncle who had settled in Beijing. Perhaps because he had a proper parent around, even though he didn't come often, the rumors about Zhizhi had subsided considerably.

With Shen Runze as her backer, things went much more smoothly for Zhizhi. Chu Han and Chen Bin continued to bring ingredients to her door for meals, just like before, and Zhizhi and Xiaoxiao didn't refuse.

Take what you deserve, ask for what you want. You're using us as a shield, so we'll treat you as a meal ticket for cooperation. We'll provide the labor, you provide the money—fair competition!

Chu Han knew his strategy had backfired. He had been deeply impressed by Zhizhi and Xiaoxiao when he met them at the restaurant before enrolling in school. He couldn't help it; Xiaoxiao's face was undeniably captivating, and he was drawn to her at first glance.

Although Zhizhi may not be as beautiful as Xiaoxiao, her cheerful, sun-like personality is more attractive to him, especially since she is a confident person.

Of course, if she weren't confident enough, she probably wouldn't have gotten along so well with Lu Xiaoxiao. After all, everyone wants to be the protagonist of their own life, rather than being overshadowed by the brilliance of those around them and relegated to a supporting role.

He initially thought it was just an accident and felt a pang of regret. However, after starting classes, he spotted her among all the students. He was thrilled, realizing it wasn't just an accident, but also a matter of fate.

Later, when he was looking for a place to live, he saw that Jingyan and her friends lived across the street, and he had already made up his mind to rent room 302, even though it wasn't close to He Anzhi.

Being close to her mother should have been an advantage, but unexpected things happen. Two groups of people had the opportunity to live right across from each other. What does that mean? It's fate.

Not long after the start of the semester, quite a few girls began pursuing him, but he paid them no heed. What truly caught his attention were the suitors eager to woo Shen Anzhi.

However, his family's long-term upbringing had left him unsure how to be passionate. His aloofness and self-restraint had almost become his trademark. He was anxious, afraid that Shen Anzhi would be chased away. What was the fastest and most effective way to do this?

Of course, it's because she already has a boyfriend who is excellent in every way, so he uses ambiguous words and actions to make everyone think they are dating.

This did indeed keep those boys away, but unexpectedly, it attracted some stubborn girls who privately caused trouble for Zhizhi. Fortunately, He Anzhi wasn't some parasitic plant; instead of being a man-eating flower, she not only suffered no losses but also taught them a lesson, giving her a bit of a mafia boss vibe.

He had initially thought that He Anzhi would eventually be his through gradual influence, but when he told his father about it during this holiday, he was shocked by his father's sigh.

After inquiring about He Anzhi's usual behavior, his father was heartbroken:

"Silly son, you've missed your chance. That girl might not have even been interested in you to begin with, and now you're forced to fend off other suitors for you. Unless she's out of her mind, if she had any other choice, you wouldn't be her option."

You're out of the running. If you still want to stay by her side, being a friend is the best option. Friends are loyal, they'll go to great lengths for you, not only to fend off unwanted suitors, but they'll even fight for you.

But a romantic partner… she probably wouldn't be interested in someone who needs her help. That girl is likely the type to admire strength, and you don't give her the impression of being strong; she might even think you're a useless piece of trash besides your looks.”

He wanted to refute, but he had to admit that there was always a hint of disdain in He Anzhi's eyes when she looked at him. She thought it was well hidden, but he was a child carefully cultivated by a large family, and it was hard to ignore such a blatant look.

He knew that if he hadn't been so generous, always using money as an excuse, He Anzhi would probably have taken the house back. But what could he do if he regretted it? Since she didn't mind being friends with him, he would keep this position for now, and deal with the rest later.

Zhizhi didn't think that much about it. Her personality was greatly influenced by Jingyan. She could see that her parents had a good relationship, but what she saw more was her father's protectiveness of her mother.

She's not looking for a boyfriend right now, but if she does in the future, she'll definitely find a guy who will simply protect her regardless of whether he's right or wrong.

If she can't find someone, then it's fine to live alone. Anyway, her mother promised her that even if she never gets married, her mother wouldn't think it's because she's not good enough, but only that no one is good enough for her.

There's nothing I can do, I'm just that confident, blindly confident.

Shen Runze's development in Beijing was indeed not smooth. Fortunately, he had enough savings. Otherwise, someone with no background would probably have had a mental breakdown if he came to Beijing to work as a migrant worker.

He went to film studios and television stations, but didn't meet the right people. However, the six months or so he spent there wasn't entirely fruitless; he at least learned about the processes of television and film production.

Later, by chance, a historical romance drama set in the Song Dynasty was in production, and the original stand-in couldn't come to work part-time because of a problem. Shen Runze, who spent almost every day at the production, seized the opportunity to recommend himself.

After the director saw his calligraphy on set, he decided to appoint him as a pen stand-in, which finally gave him the opportunity to officially enter the industry.

With a start, everything else fell into place. He naturally followed the director around doing odd jobs, because the director loved shooting ancient palace dramas, and the camerawork, set design, and even the costumes and props had a very antique charm.

The arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, which are featured in palace dramas, happen to be Shen Runze's strengths. Although he may not be a master, his skills would be top-notch when used in a drama.

After becoming more familiar with the scene, he gradually built up a network of connections, getting to know many experienced directors and producers. In addition, he had some money on hand, which he could sometimes use to subsidize productions when they faced funding shortages.

Would anyone let him take money for nothing? There had to be a share of the profits. Even though several of his TV dramas didn't get airing, and his investments went down the drain, the directors he supported wouldn't forget his kindness and would give him more opportunities to advance his career in other ways.

In less than two years, Shen Runze became somewhat famous in the film and television industry. If he weren't so old, some people would have wanted him to make cameo appearances in films and television dramas.

In the past two years, He Jin'an has also managed to obtain a university degree and graduated smoothly. After his graduation defense, he didn't even go home, but went straight to Beijing to find Shen Runze.

When the uncle and nephew met, one had a management diploma and experience working odd jobs on film sets, while the other had a decent network of connections. The registration of their film and media company went smoothly.

Of course, money is essential, but while we didn't have a lot of big money, we did have some small amounts, which was enough for the early stages of starting a business. So, Ping An Media Company was quietly established.

Zhizhi and Xiaoxiao were able to take part-time jobs in their spare time starting in their junior year of college. However, neither of them lacked money and they didn't plan to enter the workforce so early. But sometimes, when an opportunity comes, you can't avoid it.

A film crew for a campus drama approached the film academy, looking for a girl with a pure and innocent temperament and a bright and beautiful appearance to play the female lead.

Because the original work describes her as having the face of a fairy and the temperament of a daffodil, looking at the actresses in the industry today, those who are glamorous lack that purity, and those who are pure don't have the looks.

This novel has a huge readership, so the director didn't dare to cast the actors casually, fearing backlash. He could only try his luck at the school to get the actors out of trouble.

Lu Xiaoxiao was a minor celebrity at the university. She was top-notch in singing and dancing, and was also good at piano and guzheng. In addition, she was good-looking. Not to mention the students, she was also considered a big name by the teachers. The teachers all thought that she would definitely become famous in the future.

As soon as the director finished explaining the casting requirements, the teacher next to him immediately thought of Lu Xiaoxiao and quickly mentioned it to the director. The director was already anxious, so he couldn't sit still and immediately asked the teacher to take him to the classroom to find her.

Upon reaching the classroom window, the director spotted Lu Xiaoxiao immediately without the teacher even pointing. "Are you talking about the girl in red sitting in the middle?" the director asked.

The teacher nodded repeatedly: "Yes, that's her. She has a very aggressive look. I've always thought she would be perfect for playing a femme fatale."