Trading Trash for Cash

Yin Shanshan still refused to buy it, her brows furrowed tightly in displeasure as she let out a cold snort and retorted, "You don't need to play word games with me here. I've been in this industry longer than you. Director, ever since the show started, I have tried my best to cooperate with your work, but this matter is absolutely unacceptable."

Yangyang was sitting at a desk on the other side of the room doing his homework—a desk that the production crew had specially provided later to assist with his studies. Fang Wei's son, Xiaotian, was not present. Just as the atmosphere between the director and Yin Shanshan reached a deadlock, Yangyang suddenly stood up from the desk and walked toward them.

His little face was full of distress. Walking up to Yin Shanshan, he tugged at his mother's hand and spoke in a soft voice, his tone practically pleading, "Mom, I also want Dad to come and join the show. Suisui and Niannian both have their mom and dad accompanying them when they play games, and I'm so envious."

Hearing such words come from a child's mouth, Fang Wei and Wang Zan beside them were both moved, but Yin Shanshan's expression merely softened for a fraction of a second before she fiercely frowned again.

"Yangyang, what did I tell you? In this world, the only person you can rely on is yourself—even parents must be excluded! What you need to do is study hard and make yourself strong; nothing else will be of any help to you. Can't we continue filming the show and playing games just because your father isn't here?"

Left feeling aggrieved by this lecture, Yangyang pouted his lips slightly.

"But Suisui and Niannian have Uncle Qin to help them, and they can win first place in all the games."

Not knowing which nerve this sentence touched, Yin Shanshan raised her voice even higher after hearing it. "What do you mean by that? Can you do nothing without his help? Yangyang, you are so disappointing. How did I educate you?"

After being yelled at like this by Yin Shanshan, Yangyang did not dare to speak again. He silently turned around, walked back to the desk, and sat down with his back to everyone, picking up his pen once more. Yet, his retreating figure exuded an unmistakable sense of loneliness, no matter how one looked at it.

By this time, the live broadcast had long since ended, and all the cameras in the room had been turned off under Wang Zan's instructions. Fang Wei couldn't help but advise, "Shanshan, the child has been away for so long and just misses his father. You shouldn't be so harsh on him."

Who would have thought that Yin Shanshan would refuse to accept it? With a cold snort, she cast a sideways glance at her and asked pointedly, "Is that so? Do you mean that you also agree with the director's arrangement and are ready to bring your husband to join this show?"

"..."

Fang Wei did not answer. She lowered her head and fell into silence, clearly harboring some unspeakable difficulties.

Thinking that Fang Wei's hesitation stemmed from the fact that her husband was a private citizen, Wang Zan patiently persuaded her from the side, "We all know your situation, but it doesn't matter if he's an ordinary person. You've been retired from the industry for so long, and your fans are all very curious about the man who made you willingly give up a brilliant career to return to your family. This is also a good opportunity to introduce him to everyone. Think about it."

Unexpectedly, the director's earnest persuasion did not yield the anticipated result. As soon as he finished speaking, even Fang Wei—who was usually so agreeable and submissive—gently shook her head.

"No need. My husband is not suited for such a program; he will definitely not show his face."

Wang Zan's confidence took a hit. He had thought this proposal would receive the wholehearted support of the other guests, only to be rebuffed by the very first one.

Reluctant to give up, he continued to urge them, but Yin Shanshan remained unyielding while Fang Wei kept her concerns to herself. As the hour grew late, Wang Zan had no choice but to temporarily leave their room and shelve the plan for the time being.

Xiaotian walked in from outside. Acting as if she hadn't seen him at all, Yin Shanshan said coldly to Fang Wei beside her, "Don't forget who rescued you from that kind of man. Coming on this show is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—don't ruin your future for the rest of your life just because of a few casual words from those people!"

With that, Yin Shanshan turned and walked out with a cold expression. Meanwhile, Fang Wei instinctively covered her son's ears, looking down to see Xiaotian's innocent face as tears welled up in her eyes.

Fang Wei's shoulders trembled slightly, and tears began to stream down the corners of her eyes.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

Looking bewildered, Xiaotian raised his hand to wipe away the tears on his mother's face, but Fang Wei's tears only flowed faster.

Sitting at the desk, Yangyang listened to everything happening behind him, remaining silent and refusing to turn back. Yet, the hand holding his pen gripped it so tightly that his fingertips turned white, and the words beneath his pen had long since warped and skewed together.

"Mom is fine, Xiaotian. Don't be afraid."

Fang Wei sniffled and pulled her son's small body into her embrace, patting him on the back rhythmically and offering patient comfort. Xiaotian's emotions quickly stabilized, but the tears on Fang Wei's face only flowed in greater abundance.

Right at that moment, the door—which Yin Shanshan had left unclosed upon her departure—was knocked on from the outside.

Fang Wei instinctively raised her head. Since it was already very late, she assumed the director had returned to try and persuade her again. To her surprise, the person standing outside the door was actually Su Wanting.

Su Wanting was holding a small bowl containing half a bowl of pitch-black medicine. Steam rose from the medicinal broth, and a bitter aroma drifted in from the doorway.

Su Wanting immediately noticed Fang Wei's reddened eyes and the tear tracks covering her face. For a moment, her knocking hand hung awkwardly in mid-air, unsure whether she should step inside or not.

Sniffling, Fang Wei raised a hand to wipe away the tears on her face and forced a smile that looked worse than crying, feigning composure.

"Miss Su, is there something you need this late?"

In that instant, Su Wanting understood Fang Wei's intention. Lowering her gaze slightly to pretend she hadn't noticed anything, she stepped inside with the bowl of medicine.

"The medicine was just brewed, so I brought it for Xiaotian to drink. Drink it while it's warm, and after a good night's sleep, he should be fine by tomorrow morning."

Silently lowering her head, Fang Wei took the bowl of medicine from Su Wanting's hands.

For some reason, she didn't quite dare to meet Su Wanting's open and honest gaze. Ever since the show began, she had harbored hostility toward Su Wanting because of Yin Shanshan. Yet, as their interactions increased, her judgment of Su Wanting gradually grew ambiguous.

Especially after just experiencing that conversation with Yin Shanshan, and then connecting it to the sweet daily life shared between Su Wanting and Qin Jingchen, the sourness in her heart intensified uncontrollably.

"Thank you, Miss Su."

"It's nothing. In life, people always encounter all sorts of things—sometimes a bowl of herbal soup can fix it, and sometimes it can't."