[The Qiao Residence · Morning Breakfast Table]
The Qiao household had always been synonymous with elegance, order, and impeccable taste—
—but the moment the words "Qiao Fei is going to act" were dropped,
the entire breakfast table instantly transformed into a full-scale variety show.
Qiao Dad (the first to explode):
"Great—! That's wonderful, Fei-Fei!"
He slapped the newspaper down, eyes shining like a stock market limit-up.
"I've been saying this all along—my daughter is far too beautiful to be confined to just a ballet company!"
"The whole world is finally going to know my daughter is a fairy!"
He was practically vibrating.
"My old classmates are going to see this—I'm posting about it tomorrow!"
Qiao Mom: "...Calm down. She's acting, not becoming your bragging trophy."
Qiao Dad coughed immediately and straightened up, pretending to be dignified.
"N-No, no. I'm supporting diversified development for my child…
and incidentally letting everyone admire how outstanding my daughter is."
Qiao Mom (the only rational one in the family):
"Fei-Fei, Mom isn't against it…
but you've only just recovered. Filming is exhausting."
"Nights shoots, wire work, repeating emotional scenes over and over…"
She held Qiao Fei's hand (actually Ye Xiaoxiao's), worry written all over her face.
"Can your body really handle it?"
Qiao Fei's spirit: Mother, I'm perfectly fine—ah no wait, she's the one acting, not me…
Ye Xiaoxiao: "I—I'll be careful…!"
Eldest Brother (calm + rational):
He lifted his coffee, studied his sister for a moment, then spoke evenly—genuinely supportive.
"Trying it isn't a bad thing.
Dance is your foundation; acting is simply another stage."
He nodded.
"If you can stabilize both fields, you'll have more choices in the future."
Qiao Fei's spirit, touched: "…Big brother really is the most normal one."
Second Brother (medical representative):
Fresh off a shift and visibly sleep-deprived,
he snapped awake the moment he heard the news.
"Fei-Fei, if you feel anything wrong, come to me immediately."
"Cough, fever, muscle strain, sprain, emotional breakdown, overwork, stiff neck, leg cramps—"
Qiao Mom rubbed her temples. "Son, she's filming, not going to war."
Second Brother replied gravely,
"Sometimes filming is worse than a battlefield."
Ye Xiaoxiao: "…I will survive. Thank you, Second Brother."
Third Brother (the most youthful one):
"Then I'll handle transportation!"
He shot his hand up instantly, like he'd just won a quiz round.
"I know film sets. I've got friends in the industry—I'll protect you!
And you were just in a car accident. Driving is off-limits. Leave it to me!"
Qiao Fei's spirit: "…Third brother is reliable. Just very loud."
Ye Xiaoxiao's inner thoughts: Qiao Third Young Master as my driver… somehow that's even more pressure?
The only person at the table whose soul was quietly crumbling—
was Ye Xiaoxiao (inside Qiao Fei's body).
Holding her milk, she thought numbly:
"…I just wanted to see Qin Mu…
how did I end up being launched into the entertainment industry by the entire family…?"
Qiao Fei's spirit mimed patting her back.
"Don't be scared. They just love me too much—
uh, I mean, they love you now."
[Outside the Film Set · Morning]
Qiao Yi's car came to a steady stop at the entrance.
Before Qiao Fei (Ye Xiaoxiao) could even unbuckle her seatbelt,
Qiao Yi reached over and locked the door.
"Wait."
Big-brother mode fully activated.
"Fei-Fei, don't overwork yourself on set.
If anyone makes unreasonable demands, refuse."
"And if anyone tries to take advantage of you—
especially male celebrities—call me. I'll come back and destroy them."
Ye Xiaoxiao froze.
Qiao Fei's spirit: "…Third brother is performing his nagging guardian routine again."
But warmth welled up inside Ye Xiaoxiao.
She'd been an only child her whole life.
No one had ever fussed over her like this.
Being protected so openly…
it was unfamiliar—and comforting.
She smiled and turned back.
"Third Brother, you're great. You just worry too much.
I'm not a kid anymore. I'll take care of myself."
Qiao Yi studied her closely, as if checking whether her words matched her resolve.
She waved.
"Drive safely. I'm going in!"
She closed the door lightly and jogged toward the set.
Morning light wrapped around her—each step carrying the feeling of a new beginning.
[Qiao Yi · Inside the Car]
Qiao Yi sat in the driver's seat, watching her figure grow smaller—
then brighter.
He frowned slightly.
His sister after waking up… was truly different.
Before, Qiao Fei had been like a perfect porcelain doll—
every emotion carefully measured, every word filtered, every movement flawless.
But now—
She smiled naturally.
She spoke lightly.
She waved.
She even turned back playfully.
He had loved who she was before—
his precious, carefully protected sister.
But who she was now…
somehow made him feel even more at ease.
He chuckled softly.
"…Yeah. This version isn't bad at all."
He started the engine, though his gaze lingered where she'd disappeared.
No matter how much his sister changed—
he would always protect her.
[Film Set · Outside the Styling Department]
The set buzzed with activity—
lights, equipment trucks, voices overlapping.
And at the center of that chaos—
was a sudden presence.
Not sunlight.
Jiang Wei.
But today's Jiang Wei was nothing like his usual flamboyant visual assault.
No sequins.
No explosive colors.
No jacket that looked ready for an intergalactic fashion show.
He wore a top-tier cashmere trench coat in a restrained palette,
the tailoring so sharp it looked sculpted.
Clean. Sleek. Commanding.
Almost… unfairly handsome.
It was restraint taken to the extreme—
a quiet authority more eye-catching than any celebrity.
The moment Ye Xiaoxiao stepped onto the set and looked up—
she froze.
Her feet felt glued to the ground.
Her eyes locked onto Jiang Wei.
Qiao Fei's spirit immediately floated in front of her, frowning suspiciously.
"Ye Xiaoxiao, why are you staring at that bastard Jiang Wei again?"
Xiaoxiao murmured, dazed,
"Brother Wayne… today he…"
Qiao Fei: "Today he what?"
Xiaoxiao rushed to explain:
"He's not wearing sequins!
No crazy reds or purples!
He actually looks calm, low-key, and… normal!"
"So—so is this version of him normal,
or is this actually even more abnormal??!"
Qiao Fei: "..."
At that moment, Jiang Wei was looking down at some documents.
Suddenly—
he felt a burning gaze land on him
(it was Xiaoxiao's confusion).
He looked up.
And saw Qiao Fei (Ye Xiaoxiao) staring at him blankly.
His entire system short-circuited.
Heart rate: maximum.
Outwardly, he maintained composure—moving in slow motion like he was filming a commercial.
Inside, however:
—She's looking at me!!
—That gaze is so intense—am I dazzling her?!
—As expected! Subdued, refined Jiang Wei is unstoppable!
—Just watch. I'll win you over sooner or later!!
A triumphant, confident, overly dramatic smile curved his lips.
The kind that declared:
"My light—
you're not getting away."
Qiao Fei's spirit watched coldly.
"…Ye Xiaoxiao, I seriously suspect this man didn't become normal today."
"…He became even more abnormal."
Ye Xiaoxiao: "???!"