Inside the fast-food restaurant, the air conditioning kept the room pleasantly warm.
Xu Yinsheng was hungrily devouring her second bowl of pork knuckle rice—a second helping the owner had served her, seeing that she hadn’t eaten enough.
Xu Yinsheng felt a little touched.
There really were still good people in this world.
But… her eyes dimmed, and even the pace at which she ate the pork knuckle slowed down.
One more month, thirty days.
That meant she would have to spend thirty days alone on the island—powerless and with no influence—and manage everything herself: food, clothing, shelter, and transportation.
Should she ask the owner if the restaurant needed help?
She wouldn’t ask for a salary, just food and lodging.
Xu Yinsheng shook her head.
Forget it, she wouldn’t trouble him.
Though this shop had many customers, the space was small, and the owner could manage on his own.
After finishing this second bowl, she would leave, find a place to get through the night, and the next day see if any shops were hiring part-time workers.
She’d lower her wage demands to outcompete the others—someone would need her.
***
Meanwhile, in the main surveillance room, Li Yuan was holding a small meeting with a few scriptwriters.
He slammed down several freshly revised scripts on the table, looking at the faces before him—some young, some old—and sighed with frustration, his disappointment barely contained.
“Everyone, you’re at least somewhat known in the industry, so stop with those cliched ‘older uncle rescues younger woman’ storylines. We’re not shooting cheesy romance dramas for quick cash. Learn from The Truman Show! We need innovation, we need inspiration! Inspiration!!”
At that moment, Bai Yu came over carrying a cup of hot cocoa.
Li Yuan grabbed it from him.
“Bai Yu, you have the most awards among this group. Give me a suggestion. I’ll notify the weather team to bring on a heavy snowfall, then contact the fast-food owner to buy you some time.”
“A suggestion?”
Bai Yu shook his head slightly, taking two sips of the cocoa.
“It’s already been handled.”
He then took a white sheet with several lines of text from a staff member behind him and handed it to Li Yuan.
“This is the owner’s confirmed script for the next month.”
“I’ve read it. Your boss’s mental state is… uh… abstract.”
***
Back at the fast-food restaurant, Xu Yinsheng finished her second bowl of pork knuckle rice and downed a cup of hot water.
The uncle in the kitchen was still busy, even though Xu Yinsheng was the only customer left inside.
The heating was strong, and she felt warm all over, like she was wearing a layer of cotton clothing.
Full and half-reclined in her chair, her eyelids drooped slightly, and a wave of drowsiness washed over her.
Outside, the snow had eased significantly.
The streetlights cast dim glows, and passersby hurried along as if each had a destination unknown to her.
But what did any of that matter?
Unconsciously, Xu Yinsheng drifted off to sleep.
After an unknown amount of time, the door creaked open, and another customer entered.
A woman in her twenties, dressed in a fleece-lined light blue coat with a scarf wrapped tightly around her neck, hiding her delicate face.
A pair of sunglasses sat on the bridge of her nose, lending her an air of intellectual beauty.
Her eyes brightened as if she’d spotted someone, and she quickly approached the red-haired woman dozing at the table, a flash of delight in her gaze.
“Yinsheng, what are you doing here?”
“Who are you?”
Xu Yinsheng struggled to open her eyes, still heavy with sleep.
She felt she had seen this woman before, but the memory was hazy—after all, Xu Gongzi had been acquainted with countless women, too many to keep track.
Her limited mental capacity certainly wasn’t allocated to remembering all these girls.
Could this be one of her ex-girlfriends?
The woman reached up and removed her sunglasses, revealing a pure, innocent face, smiling warmly at the red-haired woman.
“Yinsheng Jie, it’s me.”
“Yumo?!”
***
Main Surveillance Room.
Li Yuan finished reading the remotely sent script and wore an expression as if he had lost his mother.
Typos, chaotic sentence order, incomprehensible plotlines, and indescribable scribbles.
Is this what being asked by the client to create a ‘colorful black’ or ‘dazzling white’ experience feels like?
Boss, maybe you should spend some time in a mental hospital first.
Li Yuan sipped his cocoa, calming the whirlwind of emotions stirred by the script—like eating a spicy dish that upset his stomach.
He stood up and shook the script loudly to catch everyone’s attention.
“The boss says there’s a change in plans.
Our focus will now be on the manor owner and the disobedient maid.
There will be no cameras inside the manor.
We will transition into a think tank.”
“At the same time, some staff will be laid off, but don’t worry, everyone’s salary will remain the same.”
“Also,” Li Yuan took a deep breath, fearing he might pass out at any moment.
Old chairman, I miss you so much—this new chairman is seriously ill!
“And I will explain the script personally handwritten by the chairman…”
***
Qin Yumo thought she was incredibly lucky.
First, she befriended a wealthy woman on the cruise ship, enjoying several free fancy meals.
Just posting about these meals on social media gained her many followers, and a group of guys in the comments called her “Sister” so sweetly it made her heart melt.
Then, she was notified by the original production company to shoot a large-scale drama similar to The Truman Show.
Though she was an extra, the pay was very good.
Now, because she’d once crossed paths with the immersive drama’s ‘lead actress,’ and after volunteering herself, she was promoted from extra to supporting actress.
What’s more, the director personally promised that if she performed well, she would be signed afterwards and given resources.
“Yinsheng Jie, you really are my lucky star!”
Qin Yumo dragged Xu Yinsheng to a rented room assigned by the production team.
Though small, the room had everything: a bed, bathroom, heating, and a toilet.
Small but fully functional.
Xu Yinsheng took a shower first, then changed into a clean, tidy outfit.
She felt reborn.
Qin Yumo took the opportunity to brew two cups of oolong tea.
After the hot shower, Xu Yinsheng’s spirits noticeably improved.
She dried her hair, sat on the sofa, and sipped the warm tea.
A few sips later, her pale face regained some color.
She looked at Qin Yumo, who was playing with her phone, and asked, “Yumo, are you here to watch the charity concert too?”
“Me?”
Qin Yumo hesitated for a moment before realizing the question.
She tucked her long hair behind her ear, answering casually—but in fact listening to lines through her wireless earphones.
“I’m just working.”
“Working?” Xu Yinsheng vaguely recalled Qin Yumo once said her dream was to become a star and had joked on the ship that if she had resources, she would help her.
Sigh, life really does crush ideals.
“Yeah, working.”
Qin Yumo nodded, put down her phone, took Xu Yinsheng’s hands in hers, and looked at her with hopeful eyes.
“Yinsheng Jie, let’s become maids together!”
“Ah?”