Feng Sha was scheduled to air in mid-April. The press conference was in mid-March. For the two weeks leading up to release, they would be recording various variety shows. With Ning Xi’s massive fanbase and strong backing from the streaming platform, the show was getting great promotional resources.
Qingli attended every event. Normally, directors didn’t appear on stage—she would sit in the audience. But if she got called out, she’d go up, say a few words, or play a quick game.
When they got an invitation from the hit indoor variety show “Youth Unstoppable,” Qingli didn’t think much of it. She brought the cast and went.
Only when they arrived did she realize—well, damn. The producers had invited the Royal Power team, too.
Once she got the program rundown, she immediately understood:
They were 100% here to stir up drama.
The show was massively popular, known for controversy and trending topics. Every episode practically guaranteed multiple hot searches.
This time, it was obvious the producers intended to dominate the trending charts. Two production teams with a long-standing undercurrent of rivalry, and a previously fallen-out “golden couple,” were both invited to the same show—it was practically begging for drama.
The program was split into two teams: one representing Royal Power, the other Phoenix Kill. The teams would compete, and the winning team would receive a top-tier promotional reward—three in-program advertisements during the show’s actual broadcast.
These weren’t just verbal shout-outs, but official ads embedded during the show.
After reading through the schedule, both Ning Xi and Kong Li’s eyes lit up with fighting spirit.
“Director Su, don’t worry,” Ning Xi said with determination. “I’ll do my best—we have to win!”
“That’s right! We’ll give it everything we’ve got!” Kong Li added.
Qingli smiled cheerfully. “I’m joining too—let’s do this together!”
“Okay!” the two of them responded in unison.
Since Qingli was now a guest participant and not just an observer in the stands, she needed to have her hair and makeup done. She closed her eyes and let the stylist work.
Unlike when she’d first arrived at the hotel—worn out and low-energy—Qingli now maintained a consistent fitness routine and had fully recovered. Her complexion had improved dramatically, and with the makeup artist’s skilled touch, her appearance was practically transformed.
Ning Xi, who had finished getting ready a bit earlier and was snacking on something, suddenly turned to glance at Qingli. He had sensed something… and couldn’t stop staring at her.
Qingli thanked the makeup artist and took a sip of the milk tea the crew had provided. Catching Ning Xi’s gaze, she smiled. “What’s the matter?”
As she tilted her head, the loose curls on her shoulder slipped gently down. Her smile curved softly, her eyes sparkled, and her features were bright and refined—no visible trace of age. Every gesture carried the allure of a confident, elegant woman.
Ning Xi had only seen her profile earlier, but now that they were face-to-face—sitting right next to each other—the shock hit him full-on. This… this didn’t look like the same Director Su at all. It was like she had become a completely different person.
He paused mid-breath, his cheeks flushing as he instinctively averted his eyes. But then something clicked in his memory, and he glanced back again, staring for several more seconds before hesitantly asking, “You look familiar. Have we met before?”
He racked his brain, but couldn’t quite place her.
The truth was, they had seen each other once, five years ago. At the time, Qingli had been wearing makeup similar to now, but only briefly. She had put on a mask shortly afterward. In their more recent encounters, she’d gone bare-faced due to her hectic filming schedule. The visual disconnect was too great for him to connect the dots.
So it made sense that Ning Xi didn’t recognize her.
Qingli didn’t expose him. Instead, she replied with a light laugh, “Then think carefully.”
“So we have met before!” Ning Xi frowned harder, deep in thought.
Before he could dig further, a staff member came to inform them it was time to go on stage.
—
“Uncle-in-law, we’re about to see Auntie—nervous?” Su Yan grinned as he nudged the person beside him.
Since they were divided into two teams, they wouldn’t be entering one by one but would appear together on stage using rising platforms.
Qingli’s team stood on the left; the Royal Power cast stood on the right.
At that moment, Su Yan and He Tianzhuo were already on the right-side lift. The hosts hadn’t cued them yet, so they were still beneath the stage and could only make out vague movements from the opposite team under the lights.
He Tianzhuo smiled calmly at Su Yan’s question. “What’s there to be nervous about?”
Su Yan frowned slightly and lowered his voice. “I am a little nervous. My aunt… she’s never treated me like this before. Ever since I made her mad last time, she hasn’t contacted me once.”
He said he didn’t care, but that wasn’t entirely true. Back then, they’d both let pride get in the way and ended up in an ugly standoff. Neither had reached out since.
Hearing this, He Tianzhuo also recalled that awkward moment on New Year’s Eve when Qingli rejected his call. The memory still left a sour taste in his mouth.
He had already started to regret his choices after seeing Phoenix Kill’s teaser trailer. And now, hearing Su Yan bring it up again, he couldn’t help but feel frustrated with himself—why had he been so stubborn? Why leave the production over something as petty as pride?
He sighed. “Your aunt has always had a soft heart. After the shoot, let’s go apologize together. She’ll probably forgive us.”
Su Yan scowled at the idea of apologizing.
He’d never had to apologize to anyone growing up. Plus, his aunt had taken 40 million from him in compensation. Saying sorry felt like adding insult to injury. So he muttered vaguely, “We’ll see.”
He already had dinner plans with Zhao Muyun anyway.
He Tianzhuo wanted to press the issue, but the host began announcing their appearance.
As the lift rose slowly, everyone straightened their expressions. The audience erupted into cheers as they emerged onstage.
Just then, He Tianzhuo heard the host introduce Su Qingli:
“And now, please welcome your favorite screenwriter Liuli—also the director of Phoenix Kill—Su Qingli!”
He Tianzhuo couldn’t help but turn and look.
There, at the center of the stage surrounded by the show’s leads, stood a slender woman in a figure-hugging red gown. Her voluminous curls cascaded down her back, and her exquisitely painted face radiated elegance. Her red lips added a touch of fire to her poised appearance—she exuded the confident charm of a mature woman.
She looked nothing like the casually dressed, no-frills woman he remembered.
He Tianzhuo stared, dumbfounded. Then he looked down at himself and was suddenly struck by an odd sense of inferiority. The two of them standing together now, they hardly looked like a couple at all.
Beside him, Su Yan gasped. “Uncle-in-law, that’s my aunt? My god, she’s gorgeous! It’s like a whole new person!”
Just then, the cast members began stepping off the lift. Kong Li, who was shorter, was wearing extremely high heels and twisted her ankle slightly stepping down. She stumbled and bumped into Qingli, who also lost her balance.
Qingli was wearing heels as well and began to tip sideways.
Ning Xi, standing right next to her, reacted quickly. He caught her by the waist and pulled her into his arms, preventing the fall.
The familiar posture made Ning Xi’s eyes widen in shock.
Meanwhile, He Tianzhuo’s face turned green.
Could it be… Su Qingli seduced the male lead just to get back at me?!
In that moment, a series of thoughts flooded his mind—how she refused to come home for the New Year, how she didn’t respond to his scandal, how Ning Xi had been conspicuously absent from the New Year’s variety shows…
The more he thought about it, the more wrong it all felt—and the worse he felt.
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152