I became a movie star at the age of three; Dilraba and I are childhood sweethearts.

Xiao Chen brought the last dish to the table and sat down next to Dilraba.

"Let's eat. You've worked hard."

He didn't respond to Huang Lei's comment, and didn't even glance in that direction.

For him, this level of provocation was less important than the heat of the pan.

Wow! This chicken is amazing!

Dilraba was the first to pick up her chopsticks. After just two bites, her eyes narrowed into slits with happiness.

"Brother Chen, did you secretly add some kind of magic to it?"

Jay Chou didn't care about his image anymore, gulping down noodles and shouting indistinctly.

"Now this is what you call a meal! Yesterday's meal... oh well, let's not talk about it, that was a survival exercise."

As soon as he said that, everyone laughed knowingly.

Huang Lei held his chopsticks, looking at the people at the table praising him endlessly, and his competitive spirit rose again.

He didn't believe it.

Even if a young man in his early twenties wins a Best Actor award and can write songs, can he really be a master of cooking?

He picked up a piece of braised chicken and put it in his mouth.

In that instant, the rich broth burst on the tongue, the chicken was tender and juicy, and the spiciness carried a subtle hint of sweetness.

Next came the delicious soup, its rich and flavorful taste so intense it made your eyebrows fall off.

Huang Lei's hand holding the chopsticks froze.

This tastes even better than what he's had in those time-honored restaurants in Beijing.

awkward.

An unprecedented sense of embarrassment overwhelmed him instantly, like a tidal wave.

He glanced at Xiao Chen secretly.

The young man was bending down to help Dilraba pick out slices of ginger from the vegetables, his movements delicate and natural.

His profile was almost perfect under the light, and the sense of composure that emanated from his very bones made this so-called "elder" look like a clown.

"Well... cough, it's actually not bad."

Huang Lei forced himself to save face and stuffed the remaining half of the steamed bun into his mouth.

"It's about the same level as when I was at my peak, there's still room for improvement."

Jay Chou shook his head as he listened, muttering something under his breath.

"That's what you call trying to save face, Mr. Huang. You should go back to school and practice your acting skills."

Huang Lei was completely humiliated.

He felt like everyone around him was laughing, and every camera was recording his embarrassment.

The show can't be filmed anymore.

The supposedly "encyclopedic" persona crumbled into dust in front of Xiao Chen.

In terms of fame, he is an international superstar.

In terms of connections, Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui doted on him like a younger brother; in terms of skills...

She's a woman who can cook and also win an Oscar.

Huang Lei here is just like a nouveau riche who only knows how to talk.

I just can't stand it anymore.

Huang Lei made an excuse before he had even finished dinner.

"Ouch, I think I strained my back while I was in the field. I need to get back to the city to get it checked out right away."

He stood up, and without waiting for anyone's response, picked up his luggage and walked out.

"Xiao Chen, work hard. The entertainment industry is a deep and murky place."

Before leaving, he didn't forget to put on his elder's airs one last time.

Xiao Chen raised his head and gave a standard and polite smile.

"Teacher Huang, take care on your journey and be careful on the road. Don't 'twitch' your tongue again."

Once the fleeing figure had completely disappeared into the night, a burst of unrestrained laughter erupted from the Mushroom House.

"They're finally gone."

Lin Junjie let out a long sigh and collapsed onto the bamboo chair.

"I've never met such a talkative person in my life. Listening to him talk about planting trees, I feel like I could get a doctorate."

Leslie Cheung slowly peeled the shrimp.

"Some people are like that; they love to teach others, but it's actually a sign of extreme insecurity."

"If we were on set today, he'd probably be teaching Ah-Chen how to act like Jack."

Jay Chou laughed heartily and leaned his head on Xiao Chen's shoulder.

"A teacher acting? That's too much for me to bear."

"I guess they'll also teach me how to sing 'Blue and White Porcelain' and how to write melodies for Lin Junjie."

Xiao Chen slapped his head away, his eyes showing a hint of disgust.

"Alright, everyone's gone. Let's talk about something cheerful."

He took out a guitar and casually strummed a few chords.

The clear, crisp sound of the piano echoed through the tranquil valley; it was a variation of "Baby".

He transformed the original dynamic rhythm into a folk-style song.

The moonlight spilled into the courtyard, draping a silver veil over these people who stood at the pinnacle of the entertainment industry.

There were no more noisy commands, no more deliberate showing off.

This is the true "life we ​​yearn for".

Dilraba rested her chin on her hand, gazing intently at Xiao Chen as he played the piano.

"Brother Chen, when are you going back to the film set?"

Xiao Chen stopped what he was doing and calculated the time.

"Let's do it first thing tomorrow morning, the director's been pressuring us."

"Playing an emperor is much more tiring than this; you have to sit on the dragon throne every day and listen to those people arguing."

Mei Yanfang looked at him tenderly.

"Ah Chen, don't take on just any job in the future. You need to get some rest."

"Wang Jinhua was still talking to me that day, saying that you are too hardworking, like you are made of iron."

Xiao Chen smiled, his mind drifting back to Wang Jinhua's always caring face.

In this world, apart from his mother Ye Huimei who lives far away in Beijing, Wang Jinhua is his closest relative.

The success of Shishiba Culture today is inseparable from Aunt Hua's strategic planning.

What has allowed him to get to where he is today is the clarity he gained from being reborn, and the physical appearance that drives countless people crazy.

That night, we talked for a long time.

They talked about the Hong Kong Film Awards back then, and that Grammy single that shocked the world.

Xiao Chen doesn't talk much, but every time he speaks, he gets straight to the heart of the matter.

That wisdom beyond his years earned the sincere admiration of his peers, such as Jay Chou and Lin Junjie.

The next morning, the mist had not yet dissipated.

Xiao Chen had already packed his bags.

He glanced back at the small, charming house.

His childhood sweetheart and his mentors and friends are here.

Outside the mountains, even more spotlights and challenges await him.

Beijing, Hengdian.

The crew of "Empresses in the Palace" is still filming in full swing.

As one of Shishiba Culture's major productions this year, this drama has received a significant amount of the company's resources.

Xiao Chen, the most handsome and highest-paid "emperor" in history, is preparing to amaze the world once again.

A black van sped along the highway.

Xiao Chen closed his eyes, and lines from the script floated into his mind.

That was his battlefield.

In this arena of fame and fortune, he has always been the player who controls the overall situation.

As for those "teachers" who tried to jump out and teach him how to do things, they were ultimately just a small episode on his road to glory.

When he opened his eyes again, the languidness he had shown in the Mushroom House was gone from his deep eyes.

Instead, there was the calm and dignified composure that belonged to emperors.

"Brother Chen, we'll be at the film set in half an hour."

The assistant in the front row whispered a reminder.

"Um."

Xiao Chen responded, his slender fingers gently tracing the script on his knee.

It’s just a good show.