The teacher immediately got furious upon hearing Zhou Muzi's words: "Do you know how much effort I've put into securing this audition opportunity? I've had to rely on connections, make introductions, invite people for meals and entertainment—only then did the big director agree to give me a chance. After all, you're first-year students, unlike the seniors in their third and fourth years who have so many opportunities!" The students all stared at her in disbelief. For these students just stepping into the professional world, even a minor supporting role with just a few scenes would be a tremendous attraction. In their eyes, any on-screen appearance—no matter how demanding—was far more meaningful than spending the winter break at home quietly. And when the teacher directly recommended her for the female lead role, that was no small thing—this was truly a leading role, and she might just make her mark instantly. Zhou Muzhi did not change her mind because of the teacher's words. She said, "I have other commitments. I'll pass this opportunity to other students!" The teacher was furious: "What could possibly be more important than this? You've worked so hard to get here—what for?" Zhou Muzhi shrugged and said, "I already have other filming engagements; I simply don't have time to take on new projects!" "What?" the teacher exclaimed, eyes wide open. "What kind of engagements? Which director? Please tell me!" In reality, this was just an excuse. She had hoped to easily deflect the issue, but the teacher's persistence surprised her. So she replied, "It's the Qin Group that I'm promoting—they want a series of advertising videos filmed for them..." "Only a few days for a single ad video?" the teacher remained firm. "Not just one—several in a series." "She continued to tell herself a story: 'The new products from Qin Group are doing exceptionally well, and the management feels it's necessary to refresh a few of the existing advertisements. They're likely to take several weeks to shoot new ones. As the face of Qin Group's cosmetics line, if I were to take on other projects, I'd probably face some pushback!' The teacher nodded and said, 'That's good. Nowadays, most television stations and media outlets are running their own advertisements. It's not uncommon for actors to gain recognition through just one ad. Just keep pushing yourself!' 'Understood,' Zhou Xiaoniu thought with quiet satisfaction—she had finally passed the teacher's test. Though at the Film Academy, students were born to act, and it wasn't guaranteed that anyone would become famous, there was a world of difference between students who had the teacher's support and those who didn't. So, she didn't want to create any friction over such minor matters with the teacher. As soon as the teacher left, she rushed off without even bothering to tidy up her room, her heart already flying toward her beloved." One hour later, Zhou Muzi boarded the flight heading to Plain City. At the Qin family villa, today was a day off, so Fang Fei, Huang Xiaozi, Wang Yujia, and Lin Caivie all came over. As the eldest, Mei Hui took charge, directing the women—including Fang Fang and Shu Jinghua—busy preparing a grand meal in the kitchen. Since everyone would inevitably return home to visit their own mothers around the New Year, this symbolic gathering meal had to be prepared in advance. The elegant CEO carried a stack of plates into the dining room and spotted Qin, lounging idly. "Xiao Feng," she asked, "is Muzi almost here? Why aren't you going to the airport yet? What if she gets disappointed?" Qin replied, "It's still another hour until departure. We can still leave a bit later!" "Alright, just don't delay," the CEO reminded once more. Huang Xiaozi and Fang Fei kept bustling around, chasing each other back and forth, and soon reached the second floor. Wang Yujia snuggled against her brother-in-law, her voice soft and sweet. "Brother-in-law, when will you finally eat me? I'm really anxious!" "Anxious? You're still twenty-four days away from turning sixteen—what could possibly be so urgent?" Qin, the young noble, expressed astonishment. The young girl twisted and turned, adding, "Fang Fei and Fang Zhi are the same age as me. Brother-in-law, didn't you also start with them? I've given up now. Honestly, they've changed so much since becoming cultivators—both in grace, appearance, and complexion. Compared to them, I feel like a duckling who's always been plain and unremarkable!" Qin Feng looked utterly speechless. He remembered exactly how Fei had once said this. It was no longer surprising—student competition had reached a point that was truly unbearable. For instance, if one student recently bought a brand-new smartphone, especially the latest model, he would instantly become the standout in the class, while the others would then ask their parents to upgrade to even better, more expensive models. Only when they truly step into society and have a day when they can earn their own living will they realize how ridiculous comparison really is. Of course, those still clinging to the "living off parents" mindset are an exception. "Uncle Qin, please, please, just say yes!" She started swaying Qin's arm, her tone growing increasingly sweet. Qin Feng is a man of strong principles—when faced with unreasonable requests, he always gives just one answer: "I'll make it happen." "However, before the Spring Festival, Uncle Qin will be very busy. After the New Year, I promise you'll be completely satisfied," he said, puffing out his chest. Wang Xiaoniu beamed with delight: "Yes, yes! Uncle Qin must keep his word—no more half-hearted promises!" "Rest assured," he smiled, proudly gilding his own image. Wang Xiaoniu leaned in to kiss him, and his hands, restless, slipped into her clothes, quickly mastering the two small hills they formed. The smooth, silk-like texture of her skin could no longer be described merely as "excellent to the touch." At that moment, his phone rang. It was a WeChat message from Zhou Muzhi. While it was well known that phone calls were difficult on airplanes, the domestic flight now had IFI capabilities, so internet access was no problem. The message read: "The plane has been shaking all along; the flight attendant said it encountered cold air, and there's significant ice buildup on the exterior of the fuselage." Qin Daxiao immediately replied: "Is the situation serious? Will there be any danger?" Zhou Muzsi responded: "The flight attendant said not at all—since the plane will land soon." Relieved, he exhaled deeply, lifted Wang Xiaoniu, and placed her aside, then stood up and said, "I need to go pick up Muzhi. You stay put, Xiaojia. If you don't behave, then all the promises I made earlier won't count!" "Don't worry, I'll be good," Wang Yujia said with a sweet tone.