It seemed like the Weibo post by Fu Jinxiao had ignited a firestorm.

The online community was in an uproar. Even Jian Xingsui was in disbelief when he saw the post, frozen in shock.

Shen Xingchen ranted beside him, "How can Fu Jinxiao be so biased? He hasn't even followed me!"

Ning Ze smirked.

While not verbose, he had keen observations. He had noticed Fu Jinxiao's particular interest in Jian Xingsui early on, so this recent attention wasn't a surprise to him.

Jian Xingsui still held his phone, his hands trembling with excitement.

Shen Xingchen noticed his friend's state, "Dude, I get it, but are you really that shaken?"

Jian Xingsui's chest heaved, "Maybe you can't understand my feelings right now. I used to be just a nameless fan, always leaving comments and silently supporting my idol on Fu Jinxiao's Weibo. But I never dreamed that one day he would follow me back."

Shen Xingchen's voice echoed in his ears, "Have you lost your mind?"

Snapping back to reality, Jian Xingsui met Shen Xingchen's puzzled gaze, hesitating for a moment, "Are you okay? Are you upset?"

Jian Xingsui quickly shook his head, even taking a screenshot of the follow notification. Laughing lightly, he replied, "No, I'm not upset. I'm ecstatic."

Shen Xingchen looked confused, "Really?"

Jian Xingsui nodded vigorously, "Yes!"

As the group was engrossed in conversation, a noise came from outside.

Following that, a tall man stood at the entrance of the dormitory. Shen Minglang frowned, exuding an elder brother's authority: "Shen Xingchen, how much longer are you going to dawdle? It's almost 3 in the morning."

Called out by name, Shen Xingchen shrank back, "Just a moment, I'm packing up."

Jian Xingsui let out a soft chuckle.

As Shen Xingchen was packing up the last of his snacks, he asked, "Xingsui, it seems like no one from your family came this time, did they?"

Jian Xingsui's grip on his suitcase tightened as he nodded slightly, "Yeah, they said they were busy and couldn't make it."

On this debut night, a competition among the top 16 contestants, almost all of the families had shown up. Be it those who made the cut or not, everyone was present except for the Zhang couple. They claimed to have had issues at their shop. Having faced disappointments repeatedly, Jian Xingsui had learned not to harbor much hope.

He used to feel dejected when his expectations for familial affection went unmet. But now, his heart remained still, unaffected by such sorrows.

Puzzled, Shen Xingchen asked, "Where are you planning to go now?"

Jian Xingsui began, "I...”

The question had caught him off guard.

After moving out of the cake shop, he had been staying at the company dormitory. Now that he had a falling out with the company over a million-dollar issue, he couldn't go back there. Going home wasn't an option either.

"I'll head out and find a hotel to rest for a bit," Jian Xingsui remarked. "There should be one nearby."

Shen Xingchen inquired, "You're planning to stay at a hotel?"

Jian Xingsui nodded in confirmation, "Yeah."

With a pointed look, Shen Xingchen asked, "Do you have the money for it?"

"..."

Jian Xingsui was at a loss for words!

He had joined the Starlight contest primarily because he needed money. The consolation prize of twenty thousand was his target. However, now that he had made it to the finals, he wouldn't get that consolation money. His mobile payment app showed a balance of just under a thousand, which he had earned from his part-time job with the production crew.

Hesitantly, Jian Xingsui queried, "I believe I can afford a modest hotel. Do you know of any affordable ones nearby?"

Shen Xingchen burst into laughter.

The laughter made Jian Xingsui blush.

Shen Xingchen approached and placed a hand on Jian Xingsui's shoulder, suggesting, "Forget about the hotel. Stay at my place."

Startled, Jian Xingsui uttered, "Huh?"

"You haven't found a place to stay, right?" Shen Xingchen stated confidently, "Then stay at my place for a couple of days. Once you find somewhere else, you can move."

Jian Xingsui, who hadn't experienced much true friendship in his life, was taken aback. The idea of staying over at a friend's place was rare for him, a privilege saved for close relationships. Thus, when Shen Xingchen made the offer, Jian Xingsui's initial reaction was one of surprise and unease: "Is that really okay? Won't I be imposing? You'll want to spend time with your family when you're home. With me there, won't it be..."

Shen Xingchen was impatient, "What's there to disturb? My house has plenty of rooms, and you're my bro. If I can't even help with this, how am I going to keep my reputation in the future?"

"..."

The corner of Jian Xingsui's mouth twitched.

From the side, Shen Minglang's voice chimed in with agreement, "Xingchen is right. You're good friends. Helping out in times of need is only natural. If you're willing, you're always welcome at our house."

Jian Xingsui turned in surprise. With even the elder brother speaking up, it'd be inappropriate for him to decline, and deep down... he was genuinely pleased.

"Then..." Jian Xingsui took a deep breath, standing taller, he smiled at Shen Xingchen and then bowed deeply to Shen Minglang, "Thank you for your kindness. I'll accept your gracious offer."

Shen Minglang's fondness for this polite young man deepened.

A rascal like his own brother needed the influence of a courteous, humble friend like Jian Xingsui. If he could replace all the bad influences with someone like Jian, he'd have half as much to worry about.

Shen Xingchen turned to Ning Ze, asking, "What about you, Ze?"

Ning Ze replied, "My company has sent a car for me."

"Alright then." Shen Xingchen was unworried, "Let's head out; it's getting late."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Carrying their suitcases through the hallway, past rows of dorm doors, the familiar path lit by the white corridor lights held countless memories. Training was tough, but now as graduation approached, the nostalgia set in. Within these walls, they were just trainees. From today onward, everything would change. It was a farewell to the training grounds and the past.

Reaching the ground floor, no one spoke.

There were many students in the stairway of the rear building. Reaching the parking lot, parting ways with Ning Ze, Shen Xingchen was the first to shout, "Mom, Fu bro!"

Upon hearing the shout, Jian Xingsui was taken aback. Looking up, he saw a slender, handsome man near a minivan — the famous actor, engaged in conversation with Xu Enzhen. At the shout, he turned, and while it was Shen Xingchen who had called out, his gaze settled on Jian Xingsui.

Their eyes met, the moment lingering.

Oblivious Shen Xingchen approached, grumbling, "Why aren't you paying attention to me?"

Fu Jinxi's face held its usual gentle smile, "Do you need me to boost your profile now that you've made it to the center stage?"

"Well... not really." Shen Xingchen, confident as ever, retorted smugly, "I've got my own popularity."

Fu Jinxi's dark eyes shifted to Jian Xingsui.

Jian Xingsui met his gaze.

Boosting profile...

Was Fu bro trying to boost his own profile?

Most artists in the entertainment industry despise being used for clout, yet he still paid attention to him.

Jian Xingsui felt a mixture of nervousness and anticipation, gazing at Fu Jinxiao. Although he had so much to say, he was at a loss for words and just stood there, somewhat dazed.

Fu Jinxiao chuckled softly, "About to leave and you have nothing to say to me?"

Jian Xingsui answered hurriedly, "No, I do!"

Fu Jinxiao remained patient, standing still and quietly looking at him.

Finally, Jian Xingsui voiced out the appreciation he had been holding back, "Thank you for following me on Weibo."

Upon uttering those words, he felt a pang of regret, not for the gratitude, but for the inadequacy of his expression, given the depth of his feelings.

Fu Jinxiao raised an eyebrow, "Is that all?"

"Huh?"

Was he implying that Jian wasn’t taking the moment seriously?

Jian Xingsui didn’t expect a second chance. Setting his luggage aside, he clenched his fists and bowed deeply to Fu Jinxiao, his voice quivering, "I also want to thank you for your guidance over the past three months. I’ll forever remember your kindness."

"..."

Fu Jinxiao was rendered unusually silent.

He had just intended to tease the younger man, hoping for a simple compliment. He hadn’t expected such sincere gratitude that made the moment feel almost ceremonial.

Amused, Fu Jinxiao asked, "You're really this grateful to me?"

Jian Xingsui nodded vigorously. His gaze was always pure and sincere. Even though he wasn't articulate, his genuine emotions always shone through.

In that moment, Fu Jinxiao seemed to understand why he was drawn to Jian Xingsui. Perhaps being in the entertainment industry for so long had made such purity rare. Or maybe someone as jaded as him was naturally drawn to such unfiltered brightness.

From his pocket, Fu Jinxiao produced a business card and handed it to Jian Xingsui.

Confused, Jian Xingsui questioned, "What's this?"

"My card, with my number. You also have my WeChat," Fu Jinxiao said, pointing to the card and smiling, "Since you’ll remember for a lifetime, make sure to stay in touch."

Jian Xingsui’s eyes widened as his mind processed this gesture, feeling as if fireworks were going off in his heart.

Stay in touch...

A personal card...

Clutching the card, he nodded eagerly, half-wishing he could pinch himself, fearing this was all a dream.

Shen Xingchen, coming over, teased, "Happy now, aren't you? If you're pleased, just show it. What's with the restraint? Lots of people admire Fu Jinxiao; it's no shame that you do too."

Flustered by Shen's candid comment and with reddening ears, Jian Xingsui shot him a glare and turned to Fu Jinxiao, wanting to clarify.

But Shen Xingchen pulled him away, "Alright, Fu Jinxiao, we better get going."

Fu Jinxiao raised an eyebrow without interference.

Xu Enzhen shook her head from behind, murmuring, "This child..."

Fu Jinxiao spoke up, "No worries. As for you, it's getting late. It might be best for you to head home and rest. I'll surely pass on your regards to my mother, and will visit again soon."

In front of elders, Fu Yingdi always maintained his grace and poise.

Sure enough, Xu Enzhen smiled and responded, "Indeed. You too should rest early."

After seeing Xu Enzhen into her car, Fu Jinxiao turned to Shen Minglang, suggesting, "You should take them home earlier. I'll be heading home too."

Shen Minglang adjusted his glasses, "Only you can make my mother this happy. She still wishes you were her son-in-law."

Fu Jinxiao replied leisurely, "Honestly, I have no intentions of settling down. I'm not particularly interested in either men or women. Moreover, marital fate is something predetermined by the heavens and can't be forced."

Shen Minglang merely shrugged, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Fundamentally, both he and Fu Jinxiao are individuals of a rational and indifferent nature. But Fu Jinxiao isn't bound by family businesses, giving him more freedom. Shen Minglang is curious about who would eventually win him over.

...

Meanwhile,

An Ran, coming out of the cultural center, didn't immediately return to the Jian residence but met up with his agent instead.

As soon as he got into the car, the agent, who looked concerned, asked, "Have you seen the Weibo posts?"

"I have," An Ran sighed as he sat back, "I never expected my fans to clash with those of Jian Xingsui. Now, it's escalating."

His agent, a woman in her 30s known as 'Sister Li' in the industry.

Sister Li, slightly overweight, sighed, "Jian Shao had approached me not long ago to deal with Jian Xingsui's studio. He paid a million for him to drop out. His ragtag studio accepted as if they'd never seen money before. But despite the payment, Jian Xingsui didn't drop out. Now, even though the show's producers suppressed his votes, the online sentiment is affecting you."

Worried, An Ran responded, "What should we do? Sister Li, this isn't my fault!"

Sister Li shot him a glance, "Are you sure about that?"

The unruly behavior of An Ran's fans is, naturally, related to his indulgence.

He always followed a fan-pampering image, often sharing personal moments with fans. His excessive leniency gave fans the liberty to act recklessly. Without such behavior, why would fans act so audaciously?

Hesitant, An Ran said, "Regardless of whose fault it is, we need to find a solution, Sister Li. They can't keep badmouthing me like this."

Sister Li sighed, "Our main concern is Jian Xingsui. Once his popularity wanes, we'll be out of the spotlight. I'll pressurize his studio tomorrow. We can't let that million go to waste."

An Ran nodded in relief after hearing her.

Honestly, he felt quite stifled tonight. In his past life, no matter how low he fell later on, at least he debuted as the lead in this show. At that time, even though Shen Xingchen participated, he dropped out early due to conflicts. So, An Ran easily got along with Fu Yingdi and secured his lead position.

But now, everything was different.

Shen Xingchen's roommate was Jian Xingsui, and for unknown reasons, they never fought. Hence, there was no dropout. When he had an illustrious debut, who would have questioned him about being of royal blood?

It's Jian Xingsui again. Why does he always get in my way?

An Ran sat in the car for a long while, finally mustering the courage to dial the number of the Zhang couple. Soon, he heard Zhang Xiangyang's voice on the other end, "Hello, Ran Ran?"

A smile graced An Ran's face as he whispered, "Dad."

Though he had returned to the Jian family, he still affectionately addressed the Zhang couple in private this way.

Hearing the familiar call warmed Zhang Xiangyang's heart, "Ran Ran, your mom and I saw your successful debut. Congratulations! All your hard work paid off. We had some commitments, so we couldn’t be there in person to see it."

An Ran chuckled, "It's alright. I understand the challenges you both face."

Zhang Xiangyang let out a relieved sigh.

But to his surprise, An Ran's tone shifted, "Dad, I wanted to ask you something."

Zhang Xiangyang inquired, "What is it?"

"It's about... Jian Xingsui. Is he truly your biological child?" An Ran seized the opportunity to ask, "The report the other day, you got it. But I don't know about the blood relation between you two. At the cultural center, I noticed Jian Xingsui's blood type is B. Both you and mom are type A. How could he be your biological child?"

Zhang Xiangyang was taken aback. In that moment, he felt as if his blood had frozen. He had anticipated that this secret might be uncovered one day, but he hadn’t expected it to be so soon.

Perspiration formed on his forehead, he hesitated, "Ran Ran, please let me explain... "

An Ran interjected, "Dad, mom, I trust you both. There must be some misunderstanding. It's an issue you should resolve with Jian Xingsui. But given his recent setback from the elimination, perhaps you can take him back to our hometown to start anew? As I recall, living expenses there are much lower. You could help him set up a shop or something. It would provide a stable livelihood, right?"

Zhang Xiangyang was momentarily speechless.

After a pause, he said, "Ran Ran, you mean you haven't told Jian Xingsui about the blood type discrepancy?"

An Ran gave a light laugh, "I felt that it’s a matter you should discuss with him, so I didn't take the liberty."

As Zhang Xiangyang breathed a sigh of relief, he also felt a constriction in his chest, "Understood, understood. We'll consider your suggestion."

Only then did An Ran hang up the call.

With his astuteness, he had an inkling of the truth. That’s why he felt the need to intervene. Even if the Zhang couple ended up incarcerated, if Jian Xingsui's true lineage belonged to an even more illustrious family than the Jians, would there still be a place for him in the entertainment industry?

He had already lost the center position. If Jian Xingsui was granted more opportunities in the future, would his painstaking rebirth be reduced to just a stepping stone?

No, he wouldn’t let that happen.

In this lifetime, he would squash every threat!

...

Meanwhile,

At the grand mansion of the Shen family.

This was Jian Xingsui's first visit to the Shen residence. He was taken aback by its magnificence. It wasn’t a house, it was an estate. Although the Jian residence was grand, it paled in comparison to the opulence of the Shen’s.

Shen Xingchen mumbled, "Mom, I'm really hungry. Can we ask the housemaid to prepare something?"

Occasionally, Xu Enzhen would glance at Jian Xingsui, lost in thought.

For some reason, she felt an inexplicable closeness to this young man. When she learned about the setbacks he faced in his career, her mind would always wander back to the sight of Jian Xingsui, hiding and crying in the stairwell, overwhelmed by helplessness. He was just a young man in his early twenties, yet burdened so heavily. As a mother, Xu Enzhen's heart ached deeply, even though he wasn't her child.

"All you think about is food," Xu Enzhen shot her son a stern look, but turned to Jian Xingsui with a gentle smile. "Are you hungry, dear?"

Jian Xingsui, surprised by the lady's question, hesitated before nodding slightly.

Shen Xingchen clamored, "I'm hungry too! I'm hungry!"

Xu Enzhen remarked sarcastically, "As if you'd starve."

Jian Xingsui stayed silent, but after they disembarked, Xu Enzhen approached him warmly, "Xingsui, if you're hungry, tell me what you'd like to eat. I'll prepare it for you."

Overwhelmed, Jian Xingsui responded cautiously, "It's alright, ma'am. I'm fine with anything."

Xu Enzhen shook her head disapprovingly, "You must be famished after spending so long training and performing. I noticed you barely ate tonight. Go freshen up, and leave the rest to me. I'll take care of everything."

Touched by her kindness, Jian Xingsui felt warmth in his heart. "Thank you, ma'am," he said with gratitude, his eyes misting over.

With affection, Xu Enzhen reassured, "No need for thanks. Consider this your home and don't be shy."

Jian Xingsui nodded in acknowledgment.

Their harmonious interaction painted a picture of maternal love and filial piety, leaving Shen Xingchen incredulous. In mock outrage, he exclaimed, "Mom, am I hearing this right? I'm told to wait, but my little bro gets to order?"

Suppressing her laughter, Xu Enzhen retorted, "Is there something you can't eat?"

Shen Xingchen lamented, "Are you even my mother? Jian Xingsui seems more like your real son!"