Video Editor

Inside a quiet coffee shop near Zhejiang University.

The air was filled with the rich aroma of coffee beans and the soft strains of piano music. A few students sat scattered in a corner, quietly discussing something while looking at their laptops and the direction of Suning.

Several female students and waitresses were particularly excited...

Chen Xiaojun sat by the window, unconsciously stirring her gradually cooling latte, unaware of the unusual situation in the coffee shop.

She had just finished a day of rehearsals with the troupe, her face still bearing traces of makeup and fatigue, her brows furrowed with obvious hesitation and struggle.

The occasional sound of a bicycle bell outside the window made the quiet inside seem even more profound.

“Su Ning,” she finally spoke, her voice so soft it was as if she were talking to herself, yet trembling slightly, “I thought about your suggestion for a very long time.”

She raised her eyes, her gaze somewhat unfocused. "Working in the theater troupe is indeed very stable, and it's the most suitable career path for me after seven years of studying drama. The troupe leader also takes good care of me, and next year I'll have the opportunity to participate in the choreography and directing team for the annual blockbuster... Everything seems perfect, but..."

She paused, as if gathering her courage: "But what you said last time, those blueprints for the future... I haven't slept well for a single night in the past two weeks."

Suning, sitting opposite, did not urge them.

He sat opposite her, his tall and straight figure conveying a calm gaze as he looked at the girl.

The sunlight that swept across his sharply defined profile was particularly captivating, causing the female customers and waiters in the café to whisper among themselves.

The occasional glimpses of smugness and madness revealed that they had recognized Su Ning's identity; after all, Su Ning was now, at least, an actor.

“Jun Jun,” his voice was deep and clear, “I know this decision is difficult. The theater troupe can give you a respectable job, a smooth road with a clear end. But ‘Bizarre and Wonderful’ can give you a stage where you can fully display all your talents. Not just acting, but also your insight into the script, your sensitivity to stage direction, and even your creative potential that you yourself are not yet fully aware of.”

Chen Xiaojun's fingertips trembled slightly, revealing the complexity of her emotions.

“Although we are just starting out, we will never settle for mediocrity.” Su Ning’s voice was lower but more powerful. “I need more than just an assistant to handle daily affairs. I need a partner who can offer unique insights into content production, project management, and even future strategy. You understand art, you understand performance, and you have a tenacious spirit to delve into things. These are the qualities I value most.”

He paused for a moment, letting each word sink into her heart: "And I, I can see what kind of works will touch people's hearts in the future, what kind of stories will have a market. But we lack someone who can solidly turn this 'seeing' into reality. That's why I'm sitting here, and why I so urgently hope you can join us."

Chen Xiaojun looked up, her eyes sparkling with a sense of being understood and longed for: "Do you really think... I can do it? I'm just an art student who recently graduated. Apart from rehearsing and performing in the theater troupe, I don't even have any real work experience..."

“I trust my judgment, and I believe even more in your potential,” Su Ning interrupted her, her tone resolute. “An assistant is just a starting point, an entry point for you to quickly familiarize yourself with the entire industry’s operations. What I need is not a subordinate who does odd jobs, but a partner who can safeguard content quality, coordinate resources from all parties, and even independently manage a content department in the future, while I am in charge of the overall direction. Salary and benefits are just the foundation; I will give you promised stock options, making you truly a part of the company, and its future will be closely related to you.”

"Partner?" Chen Xiaojun was shocked by the word, her voice almost choked in her throat.

She had imagined many possibilities, but she never expected that Suning would offer her not just a job, but a weighty trust and a shared cause.

Of course, being a novice, she didn't realize that what Su Ning said was all rhetoric, without any substance.

“That’s right, partner.” Su Ning nodded firmly, his eyes sharp. “This is a risk, Junjun. Leaving a stable theater troupe to join a startup with an uncertain future. You may face financial difficulties, project failures, and even the pressure of not seeing results for a long time. But I can assure you…”

"The road may be bumpy, but the scenery at the end will definitely exceed your imagination. Together we will create works that will leave a lasting mark, not just repetitive performances in the theater company year after year."

A long silence then ensued between the two.

Chen Xiaojun looked down at the coffee in her cup, which had already cooled down, and at that moment she was truly tempted.

The familiar lines from the theater troupe, the smell of wood on the stage, the laughter in the dressing room, and the seemingly endless trajectory of life clashed fiercely in her mind with the future that Su Ning depicted, a future full of unknowns, challenges, and infinite possibilities.

She recalled the fervor of rehearsing plays all night in the drama club during her university days, the excitement of independently directing her first short play, and the artistic ideals that had been gradually worn down by reality.

Finally, she took a deep breath, as if she had unloaded a heavy burden, or as if she had mustered all her courage, and suddenly raised her head, her gaze becoming firm and clear.

“Okay!” she said decisively, her voice trembling with a hint of desperation, yet exceptionally clear. “I’ll resign from the theater troupe as soon as I get back. Su Ning, I believe in the future you envision. I’ll take this risk with you!”

She reached out her hand, a relieved yet expectant smile on her face, her eyes slightly moist: "From now on, please take care of me, President Su... and my partner."

Suning smiled too, a smile as bright and warm as sunlight piercing through the clouds.

He reached out and shook her hand firmly, his palm dry and resolute: "Welcome to the company, Junjun. Let's work together to make 'Bizarre and Unpredictable' the best content company."

The sunlight was perfect, falling on their clasped hands and illuminating the blank employment contract on the table, symbolizing a brand new beginning.

Where Party B signs, there is still a blank space, waiting for a name, a decision, and an extraordinary journey about to begin.

Chen Xiaojun knew that from this moment on, the trajectory of her life had completely changed.

……

Chen Xiaojun was still immersed in the afterglow of the solemn promise she had just made, and the warmth of her hand still lingered from shaking hands with Suning.

She glanced up again, her gaze sweeping across the man's face across the table, and her heart skipped a beat.

The afternoon sun slanted across Su Ning's profile, making his already defined features appear even more striking.

He looked down slightly at the contract terms, his thick eyelashes casting a small shadow under his eyelids, and the natural upward curve of his lips conveyed an indescribable focus and confidence.

The sleeves of the gray knit sweater were casually rolled up to the forearms, revealing strong wrists...

At this moment, he shed the sharpness he had displayed during the negotiations, but exuded an even more fatal attraction, a unique charm that lay between naivety and maturity.

Chen Xiaojun felt her ears getting slightly hot and quickly picked up her coffee cup to cover up her embarrassment.

Just then, the whispers in the corner of the coffee shop grew louder.

Several female students had been gazing in their direction for a long time, and finally couldn't hold back any longer, so they pushed and shoved their way over.

"Excuse me... are you Taozi from 'Under the Zhengyang Gate'?" a girl with a ponytail asked timidly, her face flushed. "Could you... could you sign your autograph for us?"

This question opened a floodgate, and in the blink of an eye, three or four more girls surrounded her. Even the female clerk behind the counter couldn't resist taking out her notebook and joining the line of people asking for autographs.

"I really loved your portrayal of Taozi! Although it was a supporting role, it was exceptionally brilliant!"

"You're even more handsome than on TV!"

"Can we take a photo together? Just one!"

The sudden surge of people made the small coffee shop instantly crowded. Su Ning was clearly taken aback for a moment, then gave a helpless, wry smile.

He glanced at Chen Xiaojun subconsciously, his eyes filled with a hint of apology and unexpected embarrassment.

"Thank you for your love," he said gently to his fans, taking the pen and notebook offered to him. "But I'm just a newcomer actor, playing only a small supporting role. I didn't expect to be recognized."

His humility only made his fans more enthusiastic.

While signing autographs skillfully, Su Ning responded to everyone's questions politely, neither indifferent nor overly enthusiastic, revealing her good upbringing.

Chen Xiaojun sat quietly to the side, watching the man who had just been discussing grand plans with her now being surrounded by a group of excited girls.

This strange contrast made her smile involuntarily...

A few minutes ago, he was a visionary entrepreneur and future partner; now, he has become a star admired by many.

Two completely different identities coexist harmoniously within the same person.

After the last satisfied fan left, Su Ning breathed a sigh of relief, straightened his slightly wrinkled sleeves, and looked a little embarrassed when he turned to Chen Xiaojun.

"Sorry, I didn't expect it to turn out like this." He shook his head and said self-deprecatingly, "It was just a supporting role, and 'Under the Zhengyang Gate' has only been airing for less than three or four months..."

“That shows you acted well,” Chen Xiaojun said with a smile, her budding goodwill growing even stronger. “The character Taozi is indeed outstanding. My colleagues in the troupe were discussing it just a few days ago. I heard that ‘Under the Zhengyang Gate’ became a huge hit after it aired on Beijing TV.”

Suning gently stirred his slightly cooled coffee, speaking sincerely: "Being an actor is just a temporary stepping stone. I hope that one day, when people mention Suning, they will first think of the founder of 'Guangguai Luli' (a brand name), a content creator who has produced excellent works, and not just an actor."

His words stirred something in Chen Xiaojun's heart.

In this fast-paced era, it is rare to find people who can clearly understand themselves and stick to long-term goals.

Two copies of the signed contract were placed between the two, bearing witness to a shared future.

Looking at the man opposite her who had just been recognized by fans, Chen Xiaojun suddenly became even more certain of her choice...

It's not just a career change; perhaps there's also a quietly budding emotion, quietly growing in this sunny afternoon.

……

Suning treated the little incident at the coffee shop as a trivial anecdote and didn't really take it to heart.

In the days following his signing of Chen Xiaojun, he devoted himself entirely to the "Da Ning Capital" matter, and Chen Xiaojun gradually became Suning's special envoy in the "bizarre and wonderful" world.

After all, in Suning's eyes, the current "bizarre and dazzling" company is just a small company, far inferior to the internet companies it has invested in.

The fact that Suning specifically arranged for its assistant, Chen Xiaojun, to keep a close eye on the "bizarre and fantastical" events already demonstrates their admirable character of seeing things through to the end.

But Suning was unaware that on that ordinary Hangzhou afternoon, a few photos taken casually by enthusiastic fans in a coffee shop were spreading quietly on the internet at a speed he could not have imagined.

In 2013, the Chinese internet was booming, with microblogs and WeChat Moments gradually emerging. People had a natural enthusiasm for stories of "grassroots rise" and "accidental fame."

Without warning or any prompting, a wave of enthusiasm, purely driven by netizens themselves, suddenly and unexpectedly arrived.

Initially, only a few scattered posts appeared on Weibo and the film and television sections of various forums: "Who is the actor who plays Taozi in 'Under the Zhengyang Gate'? His acting is so natural!"

"Seeking help from all-knowing netizens, what's this handsome guy's name? I ran into him at a coffee shop today, and he's incredibly handsome in person!" (Attached is a slightly blurry profile photo)
"A list of hidden gems among actors who are famous for their roles but not for themselves—Taozi from 'Under the Zhengyang Gate' definitely deserves a mention!"

That candid photo taken in the coffee shop was like a pebble thrown into a lake, creating ripples far beyond imagination.

In the photo, Su Ning is looking down at the documents on the table with focused attention. The afternoon sun gently envelops him, his profile is clearly defined, and his temperament is calm and focused, creating a subtle and endearing contrast with Tao Zi, who has a slightly roguish air in the drama.

The chemical reaction between these "characters in the play" and "chance encounters in real life" is extremely strong.

The hashtags #TheMostHandsomeSupportingActorInTheZhengyangMen# and #AChanceEncounterWithATalentedYoungActorInACoffeeCoffee# have snowballed in popularity, quietly climbing to the bottom of Weibo's trending topics list.

Then, as if a fuse had been lit, the heat exploded.

More stills and clips from the show have surfaced, and his few lines and expressions have been turned into GIFs and widely circulated.

Netizens started "archaeological digging," unearthing one or two blurry group photos that might be the only ones left from his student days, or stills from the upcoming TV series "Parents' Love."

The media keenly sensed the potential for viral fame and began reporting on it with headlines such as "Phenomenon-level rise to fame," "A talented actor who became an overnight sensation," and "A hidden gem in the entertainment industry."

Without capital operations or press releases, Suning's rise to fame was almost a matter of "mysticism," perfectly matching the public's love for the "treasure discovery" narrative in the internet age.

When his partner handed Suning his phone screen, which was covered with trending topics and news about him, Suning was enjoying a rare moment of peace in his mansion.

He stood there stunned for several seconds before taking the phone and swiping the screen in disbelief.

#Suning'sActingSkills##Taozi'sHeartache##Searching forActorSuning
Three of the top ten trending topics were related to him.

The number of Weibo followers has grown at a rapid pace, from just a few thousand to a number that can be seen with the naked eye. Every time the page is refreshed, the number jumps by a large margin.

Emails and phone calls offering interviews, variety shows, and script requests began to flood his still-unofficially-public work email and phone.

“This…” Su Ning looked at the coffee shop photo of herself on the screen that had been reposted countless times, and was speechless for a moment.

He recalled that Chen Xiaojun said with a smile that day, "This shows that you acted well." At the time, he thought it was just a polite remark, but he never expected that her words would come true.

Standing in his luxurious mansion overlooking the beautiful scenery of West Lake, his phone vibrated incessantly in his hand, notifying him of a constant stream of new messages.

A completely accidental fire, an unprepared actor, and a fledgling business tycoon.

At this moment, thanks to the wondrous power of the internet, the gears of fate began to turn at an unexpectedly rapid pace.

Suning knew that his life and the future of "Bizarre and Unpredictable" "Da Ning Capital" would take a completely different and unknown direction because of this sudden surge in popularity.

...(End of chapter)