Short dramas have a bright future and can make money, that's true, but they're currently still at the bottom of the entertainment industry's hierarchy of disdain.
It will probably be a long time before we can escape the bottom.
Shen Yu naturally wouldn't let Chi Li touch this.
"A money tree is a money tree." Shen Xunye completely missed the point. "What do you mean by your money tree?"
Shen Yu: "..."
I can't be bothered to talk to this kind of love-obsessed idiot.
Shen Qiang couldn't help but laugh, "With your personality, you shouldn't even bother making money. Are you really willing to break up with your boyfriend?"
"... Of course I'm reluctant." Shen Xunye looked unhappy, grabbed Chi Li's hand, and fidgeted with it absently. "But he'll be very busy in the future, I can't just stay at home like a waiting-for-husband statue, can I?"
Besides... if she keeps sticking to him all the time, Chi Li might get annoyed one day.
Maintaining a proper distance will allow you to rekindle passion when you finally meet... absence makes the heart grow fonder, after all.
Anyway... he's determined to make that money.
"Is it really that urgent?" Chi Li curled her fingers and gently traced them across Shen Xunye's palm. "You're not planning to stay in the Raising House anymore?"
"I'm not staying any longer." Shen Xunye said firmly, "I'm afraid that if I stay any longer, I won't want to leave."
He had little confidence in his self-control.
Chi Li quietly pursed her lips.
"You won't be able to stay there permanently anymore," Shen Yu said to Chi Li, "But you can't officially leave yet."
Logically speaking, Chi Li's overwhelming popularity should have already transcended the Raising House and "ascended" to new heights.
However, if the company intends to make the show a success, it will still need to rely on his popularity to sustain it, since the current popularity of "The Raising House" can be said to be 80% due to Chi Li's breakthrough into the mainstream.
He can go on "external business," but he cannot completely withdraw from the business.
Otherwise, the glory of the Raising House will surely disappear at an extremely fast pace.
Chi Li nodded to indicate that she understood. "Okay, Mr. Shen."
"Don't be so polite." Shen Qiang tossed a coin around, "Just call this kid Big Brother or Second Brother."
Shen Yu: "Hmm."
Chi Li: "... Next time for sure."
Shen Yu chatted with Shen Qiang for a while about the latest developments in the film industry, then ended the conversation and asked him to take Chi Li back to the Raising House.
As for Shen Xunye, he had to stay behind for intensive training.
With his two older brothers watching him, and wanting to show his determination, he was too embarrassed to cling to Chi Li. He only hugged her for a short while before letting Shen Qiang take her away.
Shen Qiang personally drove the person safely to the Raising House.
On the way here, he listed all the good and bad people in his circle of acquaintances in the entertainment industry, as a heads-up for Chi Li.
As they got out of the car, she reassured Chi Li, "He's quite smart and learns quickly, so you don't need to worry about him. Besides, whether he succeeds or not, someone will be there to back him up."
Chi Li raised her hand and touched her face. "Is my worry obvious?"
Actually, he wasn't worried.
I just feel that... I'll probably have a long time of not being able to adjust to the Raising House without Shen Xunye.
Or to put it another way, it seems he... has started thinking about him.
"A little." Shen Qiang smiled and took the gift bag from the back seat of the car, handing it to Chi Li. "I heard Xiao Wei wrote you a check directly. I'm not as materialistic as her. Here, this is a gift I carefully selected."
"Thank you." Chi Li took it, pursed her lips, and smiled at Shen Qiang.
"Your older brother is a man of action; his gift will likely be reflected in your future resources," Shen Qiang explained on Shen Yu's behalf. "As for the gift from the elders, we'll probably have to wait a while."
"... It's nothing." Chi Li, somewhat amused and exasperated. "Actually, I'm not really used to receiving gifts either."
"You'll have to get used to it." Shen Qiang took a cigarette out of his pocket but didn't light it. "Unlike you, the Shen family is quite large... There will inevitably be people eager to curry favor with you, rushing to offer gifts."
Chi Li spoke slowly, "It seems like I suddenly have a lot more family."
They also received a lot of attention.
... It's a little... uncomfortable.
"Yes." Shen Qiang reached out and ruffled Chi Li's hair. "In the future, don't always try to solve things yourself. Learn to complain. Save your energy for more meaningful things."
Chi Li blinked twice quickly. "Okay."
"Okay, I'll be going now." Shen Qiang opened the car door, got into the driver's seat, and gave one last piece of advice. "Don't be too nice to that guy and then be reluctant to dump him later. Listen to me, if you get tired of him, just find someone else. There are plenty of good men out there."
Chi Li chuckled. "... I know."
After returning to her room to shower and tidy up, Chi Li, as usual, began browsing news online.
Today, Chen Anyan's name is all over the trending topics list.
He used Chen Hao's interview to create a perfect public image for himself.
In three words, it would be: beautiful, strong, and tragic.
Born into an ordinary family, I experienced unfair competition at almost every important stage of my life, but I always managed to turn the tide through my own abilities. And now, I still maintain an upward trajectory.
Chi Li didn't seem to care about this.
It's a good thing for him that someone eager to perform is emerging from the Raising House.
Ultimately, the responsibility of boosting viewership will have to be handed over to someone else.
After briefly browsing through the other content, he subconsciously clicked on the chat software.
Shen Xunye's chat window remained pinned to the top, without any red dot appearing.
He gritted his teeth and gently ground them together.
He then exited the chat app, opened the camera app, and turned on the front-facing camera.
Holding the phone, I changed the angle several times.
Finally, he chose a pose where he turned slightly to the side, tilted his head back, and looked up at the camera.
This angle captures his wet eyes and slightly red lips, while also allowing the loose collar of his bathrobe to open just right.
The crossed legs and bare feet at the bottom of the image create a complete composition that exudes a sense of homely laziness and silent allure.
Chi Li pressed the shutter.
A soft 'click' sounded particularly clear in the quiet room.
The photo freezes in time.
Chi Li didn't check it carefully before sending it to Shen Xunye.
Without waiting for a reply, he tossed his phone aside, turned off the light, crawled into bed, closed his eyes, and counted sheep to fall asleep.
Meanwhile, Shen Xunye, who was still listening to his elder brother's earnest teachings, heard a special notification sound from his phone.
After patiently waiting for Shen Yu to finish speaking, he indicated that he needed to request a 5-minute break.
Shen Yu glanced at his phone, then granted his request without asking any questions.
Shen Xunye couldn't wait to grab his phone, unlock it, and enter the chat interface.
He opened the chat window with Chi Li and subconsciously zoomed in on the photo.
The next second, a rush of blood and qi surged to his head.
In the picture, Chi Li's eyes have a deliberately seductive, wet look. Her lips are slightly parted, her robe is disheveled, and large areas of her skin are exposed.
In the dim, ambiguous light, every inch looked exceptionally delicious.
Like a fruit that ripens quietly in the night, glistening with dew, waiting to be picked.