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Without money to live on, he would temporarily find other work. Xu Yuqing supported himself by working as an online tutor or visiting students' homes to help them with their studies.

He had scored outstandingly on the college entrance exam and ranked near the top in university as well. Tutoring elementary or middle school students was more than manageable for him, and the money he earned could barely sustain his life.

The reason he had kept holding on was, first, that he liked acting. Acting was his dream, and he did not want to give it up. Second, the contract he had signed with Star Universe Entertainment had only been for five years. Three years had already passed, and it was about to expire.

With the day he could finally break free of Star Universe Entertainment, escape the company's restrictions, and end this hopeless waiting drawing near, how could Xu Yuqing not feel hopeful and expectant? As long as he left Star Universe Entertainment, he could act again!

At that moment, Xu Yuqing felt like a bird about to break free from its cage. He could not help but feel a surge of excitement and joy.

Just then, the doorbell rang. He went to open the door. "Sister Liu, you're here."

The person outside was his agent, Liu Rong—Sister Liu—who had managed him ever since his debut. She could be rather forceful, but she was actually a good person.

Over the past three years, whenever Xu Yuqing had run into trouble, Sister Liu had almost always been the one helping him. She lent him money, found him jobs that could earn money, and told him that if he still wanted to make a living as an actor, he had to maintain his image and physique at all times. Therefore, there were some jobs he simply could not do because they would affect those things.

The two sat on the sofa, and Liu Rong got straight to the point. "I asked around. Some smaller companies may not have many resources, but they're still legitimate companies, not the kind that are just empty shells set up to scam actors."

"I've already spoken to a manager at one of them. Once your contract with Star Universe Entertainment officially ends, their company is willing to sign you. But you may have to start from scratch, making guest appearances on set and working your way up from minor roles."

"But you don't need to lose heart, Yuqing. Your looks and overall image are so good, and you're still young. That's capital. As long as you keep going, there will always come a day when you rise again."

Xu Yuqing's spirits lifted. "Don't worry, Sister Liu. I won't lose heart. As long as a company is willing to take me, as long as I still have a chance to act and appear on screen, and give an answer to the fans who have been waiting for me, that would be an incredible blessing to me. I'll keep going!"

Sister Liu nodded, her expression relieved. "It's good that you think that way. Keep this mindset, and afterward..."

Just then, her phone began to ring. Someone was calling.

"I'll take this first." Seeing a familiar number, Sister Liu could not help frowning. A bad feeling rose in her heart. She got up from the sofa and went to the balcony to answer it.

Xu Yuqing opened his phone as well and entered his fan community, looking at the messages and support his fans had left him over the past three years, as well as the words they had used to argue with haters on his behalf.

He had never had the courage to respond before. The road ahead had been uncertain, and he had not even found hope for himself. He was afraid that if he responded, he would burden his fans with the weight of his life as well. He should not drag them into his difficulties; keeping an appropriate distance was better for both sides.

But now, things were finally about to brighten up. Hope was within reach. Looking at the fan community page, he could not help smiling faintly. Perhaps he would soon be able to respond to the fans who still supported him. He was back, and he could keep acting.

Hearing footsteps, Xu Yuqing looked up with a smile. "Sister Liu, look, quite a few fans are still supporting me... Sister Liu, did something happen?"

Xu Yuqing's words gradually became hesitant, because Liu Rong's face had suddenly turned rather unpleasant, her expression grave.

He could not help rising to his feet as well. "Sister Liu, what's wrong?"

Liu Rong said, "Yuqing... The manager from that small company just called. He said their company can't sign you anymore."

Xu Yuqing's smile was somewhat forced. "Why? Sister Liu, didn't they agree..."

Why had they suddenly changed their minds at the very last moment?

Liu Rong sighed. "Star Universe Entertainment is probably putting pressure on them behind the scenes."

She herself belonged to Star Universe Entertainment, so the company had ultimately discovered her efforts to find Xu Yuqing a new place to go.

She could not help frowning, unsure how the company had found out.

Besides, Xu Yuqing was about to end his contract. It was perfectly normal for him to leave once it expired and look for another company. She had merely lent a hand, done a small favor. Why did the company have to keep refusing to let Xu Yuqing go? Thinking of what had happened three years ago, Liu Rong could not help cursing Star Universe Entertainment inwardly for being inhuman. They had pushed an innocent person into this state. Their methods were vicious, their hearts black as pitch.

But Star Universe Entertainment was a major company in the entertainment industry. It controlled countless resources, held the rights to major IPs and projects, had many popular actresses and actors under its banner, and had produced hit dramas and award-winning films. Its capital was immense, with few able to rival it. Its influence in the industry was obvious.

She and Xu Yuqing were both merely ordinary people. Like ants trying to shake a tree, they naturally could not fight a behemoth like Star Universe Entertainment. They could only wait for the chance to end his contract and rely on that piece of paper, on the restraints of the law, to leave Star Universe Entertainment.

Xu Yuqing wiped his face, his expression bitter. "It's okay, Sister Liu. Star Universe Entertainment is probably warning you not to help me. You shouldn't get involved in this anymore. You've already helped me so much. If this company doesn't want me, I'll find another one. At worst, I can strike out on my own. It'll just be harder, but maybe I'll have more choices then."

Though he was saying words to comfort himself, both Xu Yuqing and Sister Liu knew how difficult it was for one person to make it in the entertainment industry. Sometimes, all one lacked was a single opportunity, yet that very opportunity might never come in an entire lifetime.

"We have to look on the bright side, Sister Liu," Xu Yuqing said. "You said it yourself—I have decent looks. As long as I persevere, I'll make it eventually."

Sister Liu wanted to smile, but another call came in just then.

She lifted her phone and glanced at the screen. Her expression immediately changed, and she hurried to the balcony again to answer it.

After she left, Xu Yuqing gripped his phone tightly and lowered his head, his expression turning dejected and pale. He had thought there was finally a little hope, but it had still turned out like this... But it was okay. Once he completely ended his contract with Star Universe Entertainment, he would be free again. Then he would work harder, visit film sets every day, and submit résumés. He would definitely get an opportunity to act.

Xu Yuqing encouraged himself. Thinking that way made him feel much better.

But when Liu Rong returned, one look at her expression made Xu Yuqing's heart skip a beat. He had a premonition that something else had gone beyond their control...

"Yuqing..." Liu Rong's expression was stiff as she handed him the phone. Her voice was dry. "It's President Gao."

The president of Star Universe Entertainment, Gao Su.

Xu Yuqing took the phone and heard the man on the other end say in a low voice, "You got my younger brother sent to prison, and you think you can just end your contract and leave the company that easily? Let me tell you, impossible. I told you I'd wait for you to beg me. That still stands three years later."

Xu Yuqing said urgently, "The contract states everything clearly in black and white. I want to end it, and even you, President Gao, can't violate the law, can you? What, does Star Universe Entertainment have the power to cover the sky with one hand? Can you pressure every production crew and control everyone so I can never act again?"

"Why not?" The voice on the other end was casual, even letting out a cold laugh. "Crushing you is as easy as crushing an ant. The only reason I didn't wipe you out before was because I wanted to play you to death slowly—to watch you struggle and struggle, work and work, only for it all to be futile. To watch your hope be destroyed and see how laughable your posture becomes. Now, your hell is only beginning. Look forward to it."

The call ended. There was no sound from the other end, while Xu Yuqing's expression slowly became blank and lost.

He had thought he could finally leave Star Universe Entertainment, only to discover that in the end, he was still trapped in darkness, with no light on the road ahead. No—perhaps he was about to fall into an abyss.

Not long after, Xu Yuqing learned of Star Universe Entertainment's covert maneuvers. The company had spread word that anyone who signed him would be making an enemy of Star Universe Entertainment. And if he wanted to leave and break free of the company, he would have to pay Star Universe Entertainment an enormous penalty for breaching certain clauses in his contract.

Those clauses looked harmless at first glance, but traps hidden between the lines were enough to drag him down. Even if he hired a lawyer and went to court, the matter would not be easy to resolve anytime soon.

Star Universe Entertainment intended to drag things out, consume his youth and time, and crush him.

And lawsuits required both connections and money. Did he have those connections? Did he have that much money to burn?

No. He had neither.

Even if he had money and could hire a lawyer, what lawyer would dare fight Star Universe Entertainment?

Unless it was an especially elite lawyer in the industry, but people like that were rarer than phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. They were simply beyond Xu Yuqing's reach.

And he did not have enough money to hire one even once. He probably could not afford even half a consultation.

With that thought, Xu Yuqing almost fell into despair. He could not see any way out. Just when he had believed his life had already hit rock bottom, he had never expected that after this twist, it could grow even darker and sink even lower. In an instant, his heart dimmed, and every step became difficult.

Only a week had passed, yet Xu Yuqing already looked far more haggard and exhausted.

That morning, he had not even shaved. With nowhere to turn for help, he had not even had the strength to pick up a razor.

Liu Rong came again that day and asked him what he planned to do now.

Though she had some connections, she could not help Xu Yuqing either.

Xu Yuqing gave a bitter smile. "It seems Star Universe Entertainment has made up its mind not to let me develop in the entertainment industry. As soon as I show any sign of rising, the Gao family will suppress me. Even if I eventually succeed in ending my contract, as long as Star Universe Entertainment exists in this industry, I'll have little chance of developing here."

He almost had no way out at all. No, there was still one: beg President Gao, sell himself, violate his principles and bottom line, cast aside his conscience, and stain himself black. Only then—only if he did that—could he return to the entertainment industry and perhaps even obtain better resources than before.