I was taken aback and it took a few moments for me to understand what she was trying to say. I rolled my eyes and said, “Oh my god, where did you get that idea? Without your name and reputation, which screenwriter would even consider me? Is it because of my poor writing skills or my status as an art school student? I’m worried that, in order to take care of me, you made up the story about script requests. Qian Mi, you have always been a good friend of mine. ”

“You scared me for a moment!” Qian Mi exhaled and her voice softened. “Wei, you are one of my few friends. If you doubt me, I will be heartbroken. You don’t know, screenwriters these days are not so innocent, the more famous they are, the more they cherish their reputation. Although your scripts are only a part of the story, once they spread, their reputation will be ruined. How could they take such a risk to come in person? Even I am cautious and my agent doesn’t know about our situation.”

“Thank you!” I said very sincerely.

Qian Mi took my hand and pouted, “We are friends! If the investors like your script, I will be the leading lady in the movie. I haven’t been polite to you for such a big favor, and you’re still being polite to me? Drink up!”

“Okay, okay, I’m drinking!”

As I finished my drink, she leaned forward and said, “Last time when I called you to request a script and you said you had divorced  Xiaomin Yu, I wanted to ask for more details, but the director suddenly showed up and I hung up. I didn’t ask you about it again, but it’s better to talk face-to-face about this kind of thing.

Tell me, what happened? Who initiated the divorce between you two? How did you divide your assets? Oh, by the way, who was awarded custody of Qianqian ?”

“He initiated the divorce this time, and as for why, I don’t know. If he wants to leave, he has his reasons, and I have no reason not to fulfill his wishes. I gave him the house and savings, after all, he didn’t even have a job all these years. As for Qianqian… she will always be with me, forever!”

“That bastard  Xiaomin Yu!”  Qian Mi’s anger flared as she slapped her hand on the table. “How dare he kick you out with nothing? I bet he divorced you just to get the house and savings. You are a divorced woman in your thirties with no money, no house, and still have a child to take care of. How difficult must that be? Wei, we can’t let him get away with this. I’ll go with you to find him right now!”

I stood up and grabbed  Qian Mi, who was fuming with anger, “Alright, it’s been over a month since the divorce, and we signed the agreement, which is reasonable and legal. I think it’s better this way, he’s happy, and I’m happy too. He even helped me pack my things when I left. That’s really rare. It’s the first time he  helped me  in all these years.”

Qian Mi’s eyes turned red, and she poked my head with her index finger. “You still laugh? Are you stupid? He’s just afraid that you’ll take his things, and you’re grateful to him? I don’t know what to say to you. You’re making me so angry!” She sat down and poured herself a glass of red wine, and drank up!

I walked over and sat down beside her, hugging her arm. I could feel the slight rise and fall of her shoulder, her breathing, and her heartbeat.

"Even though without our permission, things are running in their own way. The sun rises and sets and flowers bloom and wilt. People on the street come and go, heading toward their destinations. When I arrived, a private car ran two red lights and collided with a taxi at the turning point of the road.

We can think of all this as lovely or messy, but that doesn’t matter because no matter how we think, it is what it is."

“Qian Mi, if it weren’t for you bringing up the divorce, I might have forgotten about it. All I remember is how kind you have been to me. I am grateful for treating me as a friend, taking care of me, caring for me, and always thinking of me.”

I felt her breath pause for a moment, and then it became intense, and her crying voice entered my ears. She didn’t say anything, just cried and hugged my arm. I didn’t know why she was crying so sadly. Maybe my words moved her, or maybe she’s been too tired lately and has been wronged too much. I hugged her like I hugged my kid, gently stroking her hair and humming a song softly.

After a while, her crying gradually stopped. “Do you remember when we sang in the bar?”

“Of course, I remember.”

She chuckled quietly and continued, "When I first went to the bar, I thought I was excellent myself. I thought I was pretty and sang and danced well. I was sure to be the pillar there. My first impression of you was, with a voice like that, you still come to sing, it’s crazy!

But, I was too self-righteous. I could never learn the deep emotions in your singing. You immersed yourself in your world and drew others in, making them your captives. Your hoarse voice was so seductive and charming at that moment. Every time I tried to compete with you, you always received the most bouquets."

I chuckled and patted her, “ You are now a Superstar, and I’m just a furniture salesman. Are you trying to make me jealous of you?”

“Superstar?” Qian Mi snorted and sighed, “The cost of being a Superstar is beyond your imagination.”

I fell silent with no response for a while. Seeing this, she asked, “Have you ever thought about being an actor?”

“Do you think I can?” This is the first time she asked me this question, and I was surprised.

She looked me up and down, smiling, “Of course, look at your face, who would believe you’re 35 years old? You could even play a college student! And those big eyes of yours, I envy them the most, full of charm and agility. I previously played the role of a fox spirit in a TV series, just by standing there, you don’t have to act, everyone will be attracted by you including women!”

As she spoke, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Do you want to?” She shook my arm and asked eagerly, with a hint of expectation and something I couldn’t quite understand in her eyes.

I saw that she wasn’t kidding and thought for a moment before saying, “No, thanks for caring.”

She looked at me in disbelief, as if she never thought I would refuse. “Why not?” She asked.

“For me, the biggest advantage of being an actor is having more opportunities to remind myself that I’m acting at the moment. Maybe I needed it in the past, but now…I don’t need it.”

She frowned and thought for a moment before shaking her head. “I don’t quite understand what you mean, but I really didn’t expect you to refuse.” She sighed, “You know what! If a star came to me before I became famous and offered to be my guide, I would be ecstatic, let alone if that person was my friend. Do you know what you missed? An opportunity  to change your destiny!”

“An opportunity to change my destiny? Perhaps. Qian Mi, what do you think life is?”