Chapter 40: World Two [Complete] Part 2

“Auntie, to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings, I must give you a heads-up on some matters…”

The call ended after half an hour, just as Shu Heng finished her daily workout. She wore a sports tank top, ready to shower, special drink in hand. She took a couple sips after uncapping it. The Eldest Miss still wasn’t convinced—she aimed to be the one staying awake last in bed.

“Done with work, Teacher Li?” Shu Heng asked casually.

“Pretty much.” Li Jianwei tossed her phone on the bed and proactively grabbed a towel. “Want me to lather you up?”

“Of course! Thanks, Teacher Li~” Shu Heng blew her a kiss, kicking off a lovely evening.

–

Director Zeng was a relatively strict director. Her rule for the lead was no guest spots on other sets during filming—not even a few minutes.

As the undisputed protagonist, Shu Heng got repeated reminders from Director Zeng before shooting started. Only after confirming her schedule was clear did they break ground on the pioneer’s anniversary.

Watching the rising green smoke, satisfaction flashed in Director Zeng’s eyes. Then the clapperboard snapped, and the film destined to go down in cinema history officially began shooting.

Shu Heng worked gruelingly hard. Without Li Jianwei by her side, she probably couldn’t have snapped out of character after shoots, and might even develop mental issues from a year of immersive role-playing.

The history of that era was too heavy. The more she learned, the more she regretted—the pioneers who perished for the great cause, falling just short of victory.

“Wahhh, I can’t even handle BE endings in novels—what pressure can I take?!” One night, Shu Heng broke down crying uncontrollably.

In the end, she not only clung to Li Jianwei but moved Panda and Fa Cai’s beds to the bedroom to barely calm down.

For a rich Eldest Miss, living in hotels for a year straight was torture, so she bought a 100-plus-square-meter house near the main filming location and brought both cats over to live together.

Li Jianwei would frantically hug her Teacher Li whenever she was home. If not, she could hug Panda and Fa Cai to calm down, allowing her to detach from the role.

Shu Heng’s tireless efforts had not been in vain. After the film smoothly premiered during National Day, Shu Heng was pushed to an unprecedented height. She was even officially commended for her acting and recognized for her portrayal of the predecessor.

In the second year after the film’s release, Shu Heng finally attended the award ceremony as wished, nervously waiting for the host to announce the final list of winners.

When she heard her name called, Shu Heng was stunned for a moment before wanting to share the moment with Teacher Li.

But when she turned around, she discovered that Teacher Li was no longer in the audience. Instead, Teacher Li had transformed into the presenter and was waiting for her on stage.

【Wow wow wow, so sweet! Teacher Li, as a senior award winner, presenting the award to Teacher Shu Heng. This power couple is too shippable!】

【Did you hear that? I said there was no news because they were focusing on their work. All those breakup rumors were just brainless hype from marketing accounts!】

【Today is another day of tearing up over the beautiful love story of Teacher Li and Teacher Shu Heng!】

【Today is another day of wanting to join the Li-Shu family!】

【Wait, isn’t the topic veering off in a weird direction?】

【Huh? What’s this? Shu Heng is retiring from the industry? It’s not April Fool’s today, right? Who retires from entertainment right after winning Best Actress!】

【What? Going home to inherit the family business and help fulfill the predecessor’s last wish by funding a charity foundation to give girls without higher education a new opportunity?】

【This is great! If it funds girls in the mountains, then they can live freely under a sky without any haze.】

Shu Heng had not originally planned to retire so soon, but once the atmosphere was right, the words naturally came out.

The Eldest Miss had entered the entertainment industry for her dream of becoming a film queen, and now that the dream had come true, it was time to say goodbye to showbiz and move on to the next stage of life.

Of course, her portrayal and deep understanding of the predecessor was also a major reason for Shu Heng’s decision.

A brand-new era had indeed arrived, but it was still some distance from the perfect society dreamed of by the predecessors. As someone who could help build that beautiful society, Shu Heng felt it necessary to do something.

Li Jianwei was somewhat surprised that her lover had made the decision so quickly, but it did not stop her from supporting it wholeheartedly.

Over a year had passed, and Auntie Shu had probably already dealt with those self-important fools, paving the way for Shu Heng to take over.

–

Shu Heng’s bold retreat at the peak of her career quickly trended online, and netizens argued about it for a long time.

Some thought Shu Heng was hyping herself up, others believed she had an epiphany and retired to do charity, and still others felt she really had a family business to inherit.

When Shu Heng appeared publicly alongside her own mother, the netizens supporting the first two views quickly vanished, while those wanting to join the Li-Shu family grew even more.

In this way, Li Jianwei kept scouting new talents in the entertainment industry, starting from project investments, using the resources from those investments to promote newcomers, and finally achieving the perfect cycle of big profits leading to studio expansion.

Shu Heng gradually accumulated experience, learning management knowledge by following behind her own mother. One year later, she became a manager; two years later, a director; and three years after that, a powerful vice president. Her position in the company rose like a rocket.

After experiencing more people and events, Shu Heng looked back and noticed something off.

When she pursued Teacher Li, it seemed like she was the one taking the initiative, but Teacher Li never refused and even actively gave her opportunities! Wasn’t that playing hard to get?

Shu Heng chose to question her during bedtime activities, asking fiercely, “Teacher Li, be honest with me. That night when I was under the influence and holding you, did you also want to do something to me?”

“Fine, I admit it. I was indeed moved at the time, but being moved doesn’t mean I have to act on it.” When settling scores after the fact, Li Jianwei smiled and begged for mercy.

“Then why weren’t you proactive afterward? If we hadn’t joined that travel variety show together, would there have been no place for me later?” Shu Heng bit down on the erect red fruit, expressing her dissatisfaction with actions.

Li Jianwei couldn’t help but gasp. The Eldest Miss’s teeth were as sharp as ever. “If we hadn’t recorded it together, I would have invited you to dinner after the show wrapped, as thanks for the resources you gave me. I think we still could have developed something.”

“Really?” Shu Heng started nibbling on her ear.

Li Jianwei coaxed her patiently. “Really. I was just a little slow on emotions, not a block of wood. How could I remain unmoved by such a cute and tempting Eldest Miss?”

“Perhaps I fell in love with you at first sight without realizing it. Please forgive me. At that time, I only had my career on my mind and didn’t know the Eldest Miss would be my one and only treasure.”

Easily placated, Shu Heng began humming and hawing. Even though she had gained considerable authority in front of her subordinates, able to intimidate many with a single glance.

In front of Li Jianwei, however, Shu Heng remained the pampered Eldest Miss who had grown up spoiled.

Who could blame her? The more mature Shu Heng became, the more she discovered Li Jianwei’s love for her.

For example, when Shu Heng became vice president, she learned that several cousins had tried to replace her position and even attempted to bribe Li Jianwei.

But they were too arrogant and underestimated Li Jianwei too much, ultimately being dealt with by her own mother and Li Jianwei in tacit cooperation.

It was also then that Shu’s Mother revealed the smokescreen she had once laid. She had tried to tempt the other party with benefits on the first meeting.

Shu Heng had asked at the time, “Mom, if Teacher Li had agreed, what would you have done?”

“If you really like her, I’d make her spend her life by your side coaxing and spoiling you. If not, she’d naturally be a discarded pawn.” That was Shu’s Mother’s answer.

Fortunately, that day never came. In the end, Li Jianwei and Shu Heng achieved success in their respective fields.

Li Jianwei became an untouchable figure in the industry, with everyone acknowledging that joining her studio guaranteed at least a period of fame.

Shu Heng focused on real industry, appearing multiple times on CCTV interviews. During meetings, she appeared on camera as a National People’s Congress representative alongside Li Jianwei, giving CP fans plenty to ship almost every year.

Born just three months apart, Li Jianwei and Shu Heng fulfilled their wish at the end of their lives to go hand in hand to another world.

The one handling their affairs was a junior from the Shu Family—strictly speaking, a promising talent Shu Heng had selected from her own grandchildren, who ultimately became the legal heir to their industries.

As her consciousness fell into chaos, Li Jianwei found her life flashing before her eyes.

But much of the content in the life flash was extremely unfamiliar to her. When had she become a tech CEO? Wasn’t that Professor Liu Zhen and her partner Hua Ke?

And there was such a beautiful starry sky. By the time she and Shu Heng could freely roam the stars, they were already over seventy, settling for a holographic experience instead.

“How is it? Has your consciousness recovered?” A familiar voice appeared in Li Jianwei’s mind.

“Same as last time. A bit effective, but not much. The stimulation to the deep consciousness is probably too mild.”

“Then let’s switch to another one.” Moments later, the voice sounded again. “Switch to this one.”

“Y-Your Highness, th-this… isn’t this inappropriate? If we guide the Marshal’s consciousness into such a world, the Marshal will definitely… will…”

“It’s fine. I’m not a muddled crown prince, and I’ve never doubted that my Marshal would betray me.” The familiar voice turned decisive. “This is an order. Do as I say.”