Chapter 76: Su Wanyi
Xu Youyou took her time freshening up before leaving the master bedroom and walking to the front hall, where she greeted Xie Ran.
“It’s Saturday, no rush. Let’s talk over breakfast.”
The table was filled with Xu Youyou’s favorite breakfast dishes. Xie Ran sat across from her.
Unlike Xu Youyou, who leisurely enjoyed life, Xie Ran was like a workaholic. Before even picking up his chopsticks, he spoke up, “I have a college classmate, a junior from the Literature Department, who’s in trouble. I hope we can support her the same way we did with Song Zhibai—give her an advance payment once she joins.”
As he spoke, his face carried a trace of nervousness.
If his boss were anyone else, they might suspect he was trying to sneak someone into the company.
But Xu Youyou didn’t doubt him. Instead, she asked, “Do you think she’s an exceptional talent?”
Xie Ran nodded. “She won an industry silver award for a script she wrote back in college. She was incredibly talented, but after graduation, she got married and had a child instead of continuing her career. Now, her marriage is falling apart, and her child is seriously ill and may need treatment abroad. Her ex-husband refuses to pay, and she’s desperate.”
“Boy or girl?” Xu Youyou asked.
“A very adorable little girl.”
Xu Youyou sighed inwardly, feeling sorry for them. “If you think she’s worth it, we’ll cover the cost. A single mother raising a child is tough—make sure her salary is on the higher side.”
Hearing this, Xie Ran finally relaxed. “Boss, I really don’t know how to thank you. I wouldn’t have dared to ask if I had any other options.”
Xu Youyou agreed purely out of respect for Xie Ran—after all, keeping someone like him was worth far more than any act of charity.
But in the next second…
[Congratulations, Host! You have completed a treasure-hunting task independently, without the system’s help. Reward: 20 training hours.]
Xu Youyou’s eyes widened in surprise. She asked Xie Ran seriously, “What’s your classmate’s name? Tell me more about her situation.”
Afraid she might change her mind, Xie Ran quickly replied, “Her name is Su Wanyi. She was two years below me. In her freshman year, she won an industry silver award for a script she wrote, but she didn’t take it seriously at the time.”
“After graduation, her in-laws didn’t want her to work, but she never completely gave up on writing. This time, when she came to me for help, she brought a script with her. It’s a modern romance drama, and I think it suits Song Zhibai perfectly.”
Xie Ran had come prepared. He even took out an analysis report and handed it to Xu Youyou.
Xu Youyou glanced at it and immediately felt a headache coming on—so many industry terms! The phrase she saw the most was “fan economy.”
Xie Ran explained, “Boss, I know you want to turn Song Zhibai into a top star. The more successful projects he has, the stronger his position. One hit drama can propel him forward, two can solidify his status, and several can make people associate him with quality productions. With the right creative team, his rise to the top will be smoother.”
Xu Youyou understood this logic well. Plus, Su Wanyi was recognized as a talent by the system. She nodded. “Since you say the script is good, let’s start production. Once Song Zhibai finishes his current project, he can join this one immediately.”
Xie Ran added, “If everything goes well, this script might produce three or four top-tier stars for our company.”
“If you’re so confident in Su Wanyi’s script, start casting now,” Xu Youyou said. “For a romance drama, the actors—both male and female—must be stunning. If they’re not good-looking, what kind of idol drama is it?”
Xie Ran was already prepared. “I’ve sent scouts to major universities to find the most attractive students. While it’s an idol drama, we’ll also provide acting training—if their performances are too awkward, the audience won’t buy it.”
Xu Youyou continued, “For an idol drama, we need the real deal—luxury cars, mansions, everything must be authentic. Don’t worry about expenses. If necessary, I can provide some props myself.”
Xie Ran’s eyes lit up. Luxury cars and mansions could be rented, but top-tier jewelry was hard to come by. If Xu Youyou was willing to help, that would be invaluable.
Once Xie Ran left, Xu Youyou returned to her bedroom and opened her system interface.
[Su Wanyi: A top-tier screenwriter whose talent was wasted due to family life. While raising money for her daughter’s medical treatment, she sold her painstakingly written script, only for it to be credited to someone else. The drama became a massive hit, but instead of enjoying the success, she was left with nothing. With her daughter’s passing and her ex-husband’s relentless pressure, she eventually chose to leave the country in despair.]
Reading this, Xu Youyou felt a deep sense of regret. If Su Wanyi hadn’t married right after graduation, she would have been wildly successful by now. Truly, men only slow you down.
Since she wanted to keep Su Wanyi, Xu Youyou decided to go all the way. She called Xie Ran again.
“If Su Wanyi plans to take her daughter abroad for treatment, I know a medical agency that can connect her with the best teams. They charge a bit more, but overseas treatment options are much better. Her child’s illness shouldn’t be delayed—send them as soon as possible.”
Xie Ran hadn’t expected another surprise. As soon as he relayed the news to Su Wanyi, she burst into tears.
“The boss wants to arrange medical treatment abroad for your daughter, just like how she helped Song Zhibai’s mother. Don’t overthink things—just focus on taking care of your child. You might even find inspiration for new scripts while you’re abroad. Consider it a way to repay her.”
Su Wanyi had once been a golden girl, believing her life would be smooth sailing after marrying her childhood sweetheart. But after discovering his infidelity, facing her in-laws’ resentment for having a daughter, and then dealing with her child’s illness after their divorce, her life had been nothing but hardships. Now, for the first time in years, things were looking up.
If not for Xie Ran holding her back, Su Wanyi would have rushed over to kneel in gratitude before Xu Youyou.
That same day, Xu Youyou contacted the medical agency. Since Su Wanyi already had a passport, it only took a couple of days before she and her daughter boarded Xu Youyou’s private jet and flew abroad.
Even after returning to Shanghai, Xu Youyou didn’t rest. She hired a calligraphy teacher—she still had a letter written by Zeng Gong that she hadn’t sold yet. Instead of rushing to cash in, she wanted to learn more about calligraphy first.
For the next few days, Xu Youyou rarely left her home, fully immersing herself in her studies. But just as she was enjoying her peace, trouble found her.
Since she was focused on learning, she had set her phone to silent mode. After finishing a calligraphy lesson, she noticed several missed calls.
Recognizing the number, she called back.
“Auntie Wang, it’s me, Xiaoxu. Did something urgent happen?”
The caller was Auntie Wang, her former landlord. When Xu Youyou first came to Shanghai, she had no family or friends, and Auntie Wang had looked after her.
On the other end, Auntie Wang’s voice was filled with frustration.
“Xiaoxu, I didn’t want to bother you, but the Gu family keeps coming around looking for you. When they can’t find you, they block my door. My house has been empty because of them—I really don’t know what to do anymore…”
