The 'Involution King' Second Female Lead Quits [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 38

Chapter 38: The Test from a Parent

It was Li Jianwei’s habit to plan her every move, especially after learning that Shu Heng’s mom hadn’t explicitly opposed their relationship over the phone. Instead, she scheduled a meeting for three days later, and Li Jianwei immediately dove into researching how to win over a strong-willed parent.

From Shu Heng’s description, her mom was very open-minded and had an excellent judge of character. As long as Li Jianwei went and met her, they were 100% sure to get along.

“Mom said she’ll respect my personal choices in love. As long as I’m happy, the other conditions can be relaxed,” Shu Heng said confidently.

Li Jianwei nodded along, but her mind was already at work, figuring out her strengths. She was extremely confident in her appearance. Unless Shu Heng’s mom just happened to dislike her type, there wouldn’t be any issues there.

Besides her looks, her personality was good. Most importantly, the young miss was very fond of her, so that was also not a problem.

Her career, however, might be a minor issue. She was in a critical period of her career, which meant she would be very busy and couldn’t spend a lot of time with the young miss, let alone see her every day. As a career-driven person, Shu Heng’s mom would definitely understand this, but understanding didn’t necessarily mean she would be lenient, because she had to consider things from Shu Heng’s perspective.

After thinking it through, she found that her only minor flaw was being too busy with work. Li Jianwei’s confidence returned. Of course, her confidence didn’t stop her from deliberately coaxing Shu Heng the night before to leave some undeniable marks on her neck. It was summer, after all. She couldn’t wear a turtleneck and a scarf, could she? The marks would at least show that the young miss was in an active position in the relationship, which might have some unexpected effects.

…

Li Jianwei’s first meeting with Shu Heng’s mom was at a high-end restaurant. They were picked up by a private car right after they landed and were taken to a private room by an assistant.

“Mom!” Shu Heng happily hugged her mom, and then with a smile, she introduced Li Jianwei. “This is Teacher Li, a senior in the industry and an excellent artist who won Best Actress two years ago. And she’s also my girlfriend!”

Shu Heng’s appearance was at least 50% inherited from her mom. The moment Li Jianwei saw her, she felt a sense of closeness, and her nervousness faded a bit.

“Little Li, I’ve heard of you. Didn’t you endorse your hometown last year?” Shu Heng’s mom said with a smile, extending her hand. The years had left some traces on her face, but they weren’t flaws; they were like medals of honor.

Li Jianwei bent slightly, in the posture of a junior, and shook her hand. “Hello, Auntie. I had the honor of becoming the ambassador for my hometown’s tourism and culture bureau last year in a collaboration.”

“I saw that promotional video. It was very well made,” Shu Heng’s mom’s smile was flawless. She motioned for her daughter and Li Jianwei to sit down and told the waiter to start serving the food.

By the time the fifth hot dish was served, Shu Heng’s mom’s questions had shifted from asking about Li Jianwei’s personal details to her career plans and development.

Li Jianwei’s heart tightened. She knew this was the test. She began to calmly present her prepared speech. “Before I turn 30, I plan to focus on acting. I want to meet more directors and producers and build connections in the industry.”

“After 30, I plan to separate my studio from the company to a certain extent and sign some new artists to nurture. I’ll also try to transition from an actress to a producer or other behind-the-scenes role. I’ll venture into new fields and be more cautious about the scripts I take on. One excellent work every three to five years will be enough. I’ll focus more on quality.”

Shu Heng’s mom listened attentively. She had already done some preliminary research on Li Jianwei before the meeting. From the time she learned about her daughter’s relationship to meeting her partner, Shu Heng’s mom only had three days of buffer time, but for her, that was more than enough to find out most of Li Jianwei’s career history in the entertainment industry.

In Shu Heng’s mom’s opinion, Li Jianwei’s general plan for the future was sound, and her abilities were more than enough to execute it. She was clearly a person with a clear mind and a strong career drive.

“But in that case, will you still have time to spend with Shu Heng?” Shu Heng’s mom put down her chopsticks and her eyes became more critical.

“The income as an actress is indeed good, but it’s certainly not easy, especially when you’re a lead actress. A TV show or film usually takes at least three months to make. Doesn’t that mean you and Shu Heng will be apart more often than you’re together? Once you’re apart, you won’t see each other for a long time?”

“Mom, I can visit her on set,” Shu Heng couldn’t help but join the conversation, defending her girlfriend. “And I’m an actress now too! We can be in the same show! Then there won’t be a problem.”

“Auntie, I’ll slowly adjust my schedule. I usually take at least two months off after finishing a show,” Li Jianwei immediately added, not letting the young miss be the only one defending her, lest she appear to be a manipulator in Shu Heng’s mom’s eyes.

“When I’m on set, my freedom isn’t restricted. There are usually break times. I’ll use that time to see Shu Heng and balance my career and my relationship.”

“That’s right! When it was my birthday, Teacher Li took time off from filming and spent four full days with me!” Shu Heng was also quick to add.

A hint of helplessness flashed in Shu Heng’s mom’s eyes. She hadn’t even started to test Li Jianwei, and her daughter was already so eager to protect her? Was this what they called siding with an outsider?

“How long have you two been together?” Shu Heng’s mom had no choice but to change the subject.

Li Jianwei answered truthfully. “We officially got together on November 21st last year. It’s been almost ten months.”

Shu Heng’s mom subconsciously glanced at her daughter, and seeing Shu Heng’s innocent expression, she had to look away and continue her questions. “Do your parents know you’re with Shu Heng?”

Li Jianwei: “My mom knows. My dad probably doesn’t know yet.”

This answer surprised Shu Heng’s mom. The news she had from her daughter was that they had been keeping their relationship a secret, so she assumed Li Jianwei’s parents were completely in the dark.

Shu Heng was also a little surprised, but mostly she was happy. Teacher Li had told her family about their relationship without even telling her! This was a sign that she was truly in her heart! Teacher Li loved her so much!

Shu Heng’s mom didn’t want her daughter to keep siding with Li Jianwei, so she picked up her chopsticks and put a spare rib in her bowl, continuing her questioning. “When did you tell your mom? Was it in the last few days?”

Li Jianwei hesitated a little. “I think I should apologize to Shu Heng. I actually told my mom about my relationship with Shu Heng after I finished filming the promotional video for my hometown.”

“Ah?” Shu Heng’s mouth dropped open. “Is that something to apologize for? Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Eat more. Don’t waste it,” Shu Heng’s mom put another spare rib in her daughter’s bowl. Under her mom’s watchful eye, Shu Heng had no choice but to put the spare rib in her mouth and start chewing, temporarily losing her ability to join the conversation.

Shu Heng’s mom put down her chopsticks. Her expression was still pleasant, but the scrutiny in her eyes only intensified, especially after she spotted the marks on Li Jianwei’s neck. Her eyes became sharper. “What do your family elders think about it?”

“My mom doesn’t have any objections to me having a girlfriend, but the specifics will have to wait until she meets her,” Li Jianwei was still honest. There was no point in hiding this.

“Since you came out to your family so early, why didn’t you take Shu Heng with you? Is it because your parents can’t accept Shu Heng’s profession? Or do you not believe that you and Shu Heng can have a future?” Shu Heng’s mom’s questions became pointed.

“Not at all. At that time, Shu Heng and I had only been together for a month. I wanted to wait until our relationship was more stable before taking her back,” Li Jianwei replied calmly and without arrogance. She had anticipated this question.

“My view is that my family should be aware of my personal relationship status to avoid unnecessary trouble. But meeting the parents is not a casual thing. My original plan was to take Shu Heng home at the end of the year.”

“At that time, we would have been together for a year. My parents would be able to better understand that Shu Heng and I aren’t just in a simple relationship, but that we intend to spend our lives together.”

Her words were sincere. At least Shu Heng’s mom couldn’t detect any falsehoods, and her expression softened. As for the young miss, if she hadn’t been finishing her second spare rib, she would have hugged her Teacher Li and given her a loving kiss.

Wahhh, Teacher Li really loves me so much! I have to love Teacher Li just as much!

“Indeed, meeting the parents is not a casual thing,” Shu Heng’s mom started eating again, which meant her interrogation of Li Jianwei was temporarily over.

Li Jianwei, having passed the first test, also secretly breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that her preparations had been sufficient.

…

After dinner, Li Jianwei, having been approved by Shu Heng’s mom, also got the chance to return to the old family home with Shu Heng.

The Shu family’s wealth could be traced back over a hundred years. They had received many honors after the founding of the country and had cooperated with many of the nation’s reforms. The Shu family truly flourished after the reform and opening up of China, rising to prominence by expanding their business through foreign trade, meticulously investing in real estate, and running high-end hotel chains and supermarkets.

After Shu Heng’s mom successfully gained a voice in the family, she also invested heavily in the internet industry at the turn of the century. Although she didn’t manage to build an internet empire, she still held shares in many large corporations and hadn’t been left behind by the times.

Therefore, the Shu family’s structure was much more complex than Li Jianwei’s. Shu Heng’s mom wasn’t an only child. She had an older brother and a younger brother and sister.

Shu Heng’s mom lived in the old family home, as did her older brother, who hadn’t amounted to much, and her younger brother, who hadn’t married out. The former lived in the largest house in the center of the estate, while the latter’s residence was relatively secluded, like a distant branch family in ancient times.

As Shu Heng was her mom’s only daughter, anyone with ambition and a plan was trying to get information when they heard she was bringing her partner home. When they learned that Shu Heng’s partner was a female celebrity, many were stunned for a long time, followed by the silent glee of some.

Shu Heng was Shu Heng’s mom’s only child. If she liked women, didn’t that mean she couldn’t have children? If she didn’t have children, then wouldn’t they have a chance to take her place?

However, these people had some sense and didn’t try to get their young ones to cozy up to Shu Heng while she was home. So, the blissfully happy Shu Heng had no idea that some of her relatives had their eyes on the things her mom intended to leave to her.

Shu Heng’s dad had little presence in the family. If Shu Heng’s mom didn’t need a good-looking accessory for herself, she would have probably divorced him a long time ago. Shu Heng’s dad had no say in his daughter having a girlfriend. He only knew that Li Jianwei, who his wife brought home, must not be an ordinary person. So, after meeting her, he did nothing but praise her and didn’t dare to have any opinions on his daughter’s love life.

Shu Heng’s relationship with her dad was decent, largely because he had worked hard to play the role of a loving father. Li Jianwei could tell from his skillful way of making and pouring tea that he had tried very hard to stay in this family.

Wait, how could Li Jianwei tell? Naturally, because she had seen male artists who were kept by their benefactors in the industry, and their skills were probably only half as good as Shu Heng’s dad’s.

During these few days at the old family home, Shu Heng was surprisingly well-behaved. Her main activity was simply cuddling with Li Jianwei under the covers and maybe getting a little intimate in the bathroom. Li Jianwei figured this was the power of a parent’s presence.

While Shu Heng was called away by her dad to make some afternoon tea, Li Jianwei had the rare chance to enter Shu Heng’s mom’s study for the first time. Even Shu Heng’s dad didn’t have many opportunities to enter this room filled with important documents.

“I won’t beat around the bush. You should be aware of Shu Heng’s situation. Everything I have will be left to her,” Shu Heng’s mom skipped all the pleasantries and went straight to the point. “Shu Heng is a simple person. She might not be able to hold onto what I’m leaving for her.”

“My original plan was that if Shu Heng wasn’t interested in the family business, I could hire professionals to manage it and let her live off it. I could even pick this professional from the people in this house.”

“But after seeing you, I think I might have another option,” Shu Heng’s mom smiled. “I won’t interfere with your plans until you’re 30, but after that, you can come work for my company and try being my assistant.”

“If you have the ability, I don’t mind handing the company over to you. Of course, I’ll still leave the majority of the shares to Shu Heng.”

Li Jianwei listened quietly until Shu Heng’s mom finished speaking.

“Since you’re being so direct, I’ll also skip the useless parts and be honest with you,” Li Jianwei replied with a standard smile. “Shu Heng is indeed a little simple, but she’s not unintelligent. She just hasn’t had enough experience.”

“You’re only in your early fifties. You can definitely spend a decade training Shu Heng to be a competent successor. Shu Heng has the ability. Just give her a little time, and she’ll definitely grow into the person you’d expect her to be.”

Shu Heng’s mom’s surprise was unconcealed. “Do you think you can’t be a company leader?”

“On the contrary, I believe I can achieve something equally remarkable on my own. I don’t lack a foundation in the entertainment industry. Compared to traditional industries, a career in the entertainment industry is more suitable for me,” Li Jianwei’s smile became more confident.

“If you’ve investigated me, you should know that I’ve made many investments in the past year, with returns of over 300%. If I can maintain this, even if I don’t reach a net worth of ten billion, I can still have a stable cash flow of two billion.”

“I don’t think that giving up the field I’m good at and choosing a relatively unfamiliar industry would prove my ability.”

“Everyone has a position that suits them. Sometimes, it’s best for everyone to stick to their own duties.”

Her words were impeccable. Shu Heng’s mom even felt that if she were in Li Jianwei’s shoes, she couldn’t have given a better answer. This realization made Shu Heng’s mom feel a mix of emotions. Li Jianwei had seen through her test with a single glance, which showed she was a very astute and intelligent person. She just didn’t know if this was Li Jianwei’s genuine thought or if her acting skills were so superb that even she couldn’t tell.

“If you change your mind, you can come find me anytime,” Shu Heng’s mom didn’t jump to conclusions. Just as Li Jianwei said, she could still shine in her position for another decade or so. That was enough time for her to see Li Jianwei’s true nature.

Knock knock—

The knock on the study door came at the perfect time, signaling the end of their probing conversation.

“Mom, Teacher Li, here are the cookies and little buns I baked. Come try my cooking!” Shu Heng appeared with two plates, humming a tune as she placed them on the desk.

Shu Heng’s mom and Li Jianwei both gave a big thumbs up to Shu Heng’s hard work, each eating several pieces and praising them.

“Hehe, Mom, are you and Teacher Li done chatting?” Shu Heng asked with wide eyes.

Shu Heng’s mom instantly felt the cookies in her hand weren’t as tasty, but she composed herself. “We’re done. You young people go have fun now.”

“Okay! Then I’ll take Teacher Li with me. Mom, you should rest and not work all the time,” Shu Heng said with a big smile, pulling Li Jianwei’s hand and walking out.

“Goodbye, Auntie,” Li Jianwei could only say a quick goodbye, letting the young miss lead her away.

After their backs disappeared, Shu Heng’s mom sighed with a smile. She hoped this Li Jianwei was as good as she seemed. That way, her daughter could have an easier life and not have to struggle so much.

…

Shu Heng was a bit restrained at the old family home. She found an excuse to leave in less than seven days, and as soon as she got home, she pulled her dear Teacher Li into a passionate session.

“Wahhh, Teacher Li, how could you tell Auntie without me knowing! I would have given her that textbook as a New Year’s gift if I had known!” Shu Heng grumbled, her voice full of complaint.

“Hmm? What textbook? You prepared a gift for my mom?” Li Jianwei winced as she was suddenly bitten. Her movements paused.

“Didn’t you say Auntie… Auntie likes Professor Liu Zhen… I… I went and threw a bunch of money at Professor Liu Zhen… and got her signature as a bonus…”

Shu Heng’s words were fragmented, and she couldn’t help but bite Li Jianwei’s shoulder again until her body’s trembling subsided.

“It’s in my safe. But Professor Liu Zhen also told me that she’s about to publish a paper, and she specifically mentioned my name in the acknowledgments!”

The young miss immediately perked up after recovering, and she was about to get out of bed to show off her hard work.

This made Li Jianwei feel a little defeated. Had her skills regressed? How could the young miss be so distracted during their intimate time?

In the end, Shu Heng didn’t manage to get out of bed again. She was only carried to the bathroom by Li Jianwei an hour later. That’s it.

…

Because Shu Heng wanted to wait for Professor Liu Zhen’s paper to be published, she wasn’t in a hurry to meet her girlfriend’s parents. Instead, she started a couple’s magazine cover shoot with Li Jianwei, excitedly preparing for their public announcement on November 21st. If there had been enough time for the young miss to master a new skill, Shu Heng would have edited a fan-made video of them to release on the 21st.

After a passionate kiss at night, the young miss ceremoniously put a ring made of pink diamonds on Li Jianwei’s finger.

The next day, at 13:14 (1:14 p.m.), they posted on Weibo together.

[Shu Heng V: Let me introduce you, this is my girlfriend. ❤️@LiJianweiV]

[Li Jianwei V: Hello everyone, this is my girlfriend. @ShuHengV]

As soon as the two posts went up, Weibo crashed within half an hour, with the site being slow for over five minutes, which drove the gossip-hungry public crazy.

[OMG OMG OMG! Today isn’t April Fool’s Day! The couple I ship is actually together!]

[Ahhhhhh! My ship is real! I’m going to cry! Ahhhh, my ship is real! (screaming) (excitedly crawling and twisting)]

[I knew it! The moment I saw their magazine cover, I knew Li Jianwei and Shu Heng were perfect for each other!]

[Hmph, I smelled the sweet scent of love the first time Li Jianwei and Shu Heng appeared in the same frame.]

[They’re already wearing rings. They must not have just started dating. So when did they get together?]

[It must have been after filming. Love can easily blossom during a trip, right?]

[Hahaha, so Jing Siwen was completely an outsider? Was she an obstacle or a wingwoman for the couple?]

Jing Siwen was both amused and annoyed when she found herself on the trending topics. To be honest, she admired Li Jianwei and Shu Heng. Not many couples in the industry would go public after confirming their relationship. Most of them were together for a common interest, and once the situation changed, their relationship would end.

[Jing Siwen V: I’m definitely a wingwoman! You two remember to send me a red envelope! And you have to treat me to dinner!]

Jing Siwen didn’t miss this opportunity. She was going to make a name for herself in the variety show industry, and a certain level of exposure was very useful to her. Shu Heng had a good impression of Jing Siwen and was happy to interact with her, and in no time, she had put Jing Siwen and her hashtag in the top ten trending topics.

Li Jianwei and Shu Heng were happy to receive blessings from netizens, and Jing Siwen was also grinning from ear to ear with the sudden attention. The only people who were relatively busy were Sister Lu and Sister Qin, who were watching every platform to make sure no jealous artists were causing trouble.

As for a certain person who had been abandoned by his company and was facing a huge debt, ready to leave the entertainment industry, he was seething with anger when he saw the news. But all he could do was grit his teeth, because he was now a public pariah and couldn’t even leave his house for a while.