"That! He wrote that line? Did he do it intentionally?" Jiang Yue, the third contestant on the program, couldn't help exclaiming.
She had always been curious about Little Shuying's meteoric rise. Back then, after her own son failed the audition, she had been furious when she learned that a little girl had succeeded where so many talented children had failed. Unwilling to accept it, she personally went to the audition site to see what had happened.
And there, she witnessed a scene she would never forget. A tiny girl stood before the casting directors and calmly delivered a line that wasn't even in the script. "This story that began with a sword shall end with a sword!"
The moment those words left her lips, the entire room fell silent, and Yue had been stunned.
The coldness in the girl's gaze.
The indescribable pressure in her aura.
The sharp, decisive emotion carried within the line itself.
Everything was executed flawlessly.
It wasn't merely acting; it was as if the young Ying Zheng had truly stepped out from the pages of history.
At that moment, Yue understood. Her son and the children of wealthy artistic families, the young talents who had spent years studying performance, all of them had lost fairly.
Little Shuying had not only portrayed Young Ying Zheng perfectly but had also enhanced the character through lines she had seemingly created herself. Those words struck directly into the hearts of the director, the judges, and every audience member present.
But now... Yue found herself frozen. Yu Ye, a man who had grown up in an orphanage and possessed no formal educational background, had actually spoken those lines first. Not only that, those words had apparently been delivered deliberately.
He had intentionally acted weak and ignorant, allowing Little Shuying to internalize the lines and complete the character-building process herself. The more Jiang Yue thought about it, the more unbelievable it became.
Finally, she raised the microphone. "Are you really an ordinary person?"
The question echoed throughout the studio, and it wasn't just her question; it represented the doubts in everyone's heart.
At that moment Guochang suddenly seemed to realize something, and his eyes widened. "Wait! When Little Shuying first received the script, she was only supposed to play the First Emperor's daughter, a supporting role. The script's lines were gentle and reserved."
"So why did Yu Ye keep feeding her those domineering lines? And why did he subtly guide her into accepting those lines as part of the character?" The more Zhao Guochang spoke, the more shocked he became. "So... When Little Shuying first told Ye she was auditioning for a supporting role... Was he already preparing her for a much bigger role?"
The moment he finished speaking, the audience erupted and a chill ran through countless viewers. Could it be... Could Yu Ye have predicted everything from the very beginning?
However, Cheng immediately shook his head. "Impossible. I'll bet anything that's impossible."
He looked around at the crowd. "Think about it. What kind of life has Yu Ye lived? He grew up in the slums. He repairs cars. He delivers food. He does roadside assistance. As long as a job can earn money, he'll do it. So how could someone with that background plan something this far ahead?"
Cheng continued confidently. "In my opinion, those lines were probably copied from some novel he bought. He wanted to show off in front of his daughter, or maybe he even did it on purpose. Many parents from difficult backgrounds are extremely stubborn, and they only care about one thing: forcing their children to study. No entertainment. No hobbies. No distractions. They believe studying is the answer to everything."
"Maybe Yu Ye deliberately taught her the wrong lines because he didn't want her to succeed in acting. Maybe he wanted the audition to fail so she'd return to school." The moment those words were spoken, the studio instantly split into two camps.
One side supported Guochang's theory.
The other believed Cheng's explanation.
For a time, neither side could convince the other. However, most people still found it difficult to believe that Ye possessed such foresight.
Meanwhile, Professor Shanzhan stared at the screen and frowned deeply. "How could that be possible? If Ye really intended for his daughter to obtain the best role from the very beginning... Then that level of planning would be terrifying."
He adjusted his glasses. "Does that fit the profile of a man in his early thirties who is carrying so much pressure and illness?"
Beside him, Cihai remained silent as his mind replayed several critical scenes.
The first, Ye took his daughter to buy books as he intentionally purchased workbooks for her. Meanwhile, he bought novels and other reading materials for himself.
The second, Little Shuying, was memorizing the supporting-role dialogue.
Yet Yu Ye repeatedly fed her those domineering lines. Naturally rebellious toward her father, Little Shuying rejected his words at first. But without realizing it, she began modifying the lines in her own mind. Gradually, the domineering temperament became part of her understanding of the character.
Even she never realized she had been subtly influenced. So by the time she stepped into the audition room, she was no longer speaking those bland, generic lines. She wasn't reciting empty words, but she was speaking with genuine authority.
Real dominance.
Real conviction.
And that was why, while every other child delivered ordinary dialogue, Little Shuying's performance struck like lightning. When she spoke those words, Director Xuejian's shock was inevitable.
At this point, Cihai felt goosebumps rising all over his body. "This... This isn't merely being good at planning; this is calculating every possibility and executing it silently. And he did all of it... For his daughter?"
The thought itself sounded absurd, yet the evidence seemed to point in that direction. Such a man should never have remained trapped in a slum.
His methods.
His foresight.
His ability to manipulate situations.
Every step appeared frighteningly precise.
Had he truly buried all of that talent for the sake of one child?
"No. No, that's impossible. How could someone like that exist?" Cihai smiled bitterly.
Throughout his career, he had produced countless popular programs, and he had interviewed celebrities, scholars, entrepreneurs, and geniuses. Yet he had never encountered anyone like Yu Ye. Not once. Not a single time.
At the same moment, discussions exploded across media platforms. Most viewers there were loyal fans of Little Shuying, and among them, one belief was particularly strong.
Women can rise through their own strength!
Girls can change their own destiny!
Thus, the hottest comments instantly flooded the screen.
"This is ridiculous. You're giving Ye way too much credit. He was obviously just joking around. Little Shuying was the one who truly understood the role."
"Exactly. A random remark doesn't create a genius. Talent belongs to Little Shuying herself."
"People are acting as if a few lines from Ye suddenly turned her into the protagonist. If it were that easy, every parent could create a superstar."
"Little Shuying succeeded because she was extraordinary. Ye might have helped a little, but the real achievement belongs to her."
Back in the studio.
Nana clearly shared that opinion. Looking toward Guochang, she asked seriously, "Do you really think acting is that simple? Little Shuying says a few domineering lines, and suddenly the director makes her the protagonist? How could that happen? What truly earned her the role was her talent."
"Her temperament."
"Her performance."
"Her hard work."
"Even if Yu Ye contributed something, it could only have been a tiny push. Nothing more."
She paused dramatically. "Which is why our production team has invited a very special guest. A legendary director who retired years ago, Director Chen Xuejian!"
Thunderous applause erupted, and the audience immediately rose to their feet. An elderly man with snow-white hair slowly stepped onto the stage with the assistance of staff members. Despite his age, his presence remained commanding.
After taking his seat among the special guests, Xuejian looked toward Little Shuying, and a warm smile appeared on his face. More than ten years had passed, and the little girl he once discovered had become a star shining across the entertainment industry.
"Very good. You've done very well. Back then, I believed you would become the hope of cinema." He sighed emotionally. "I simply didn't expect you to surpass even my expectations. You've reached the very peak."
The audience erupted into cheers, then Chen Xuejian grew serious. He looked around the venue before addressing everyone's doubts. "First, I chose Little Shuying because of her domineering lines. Second, her temperament. Third, her acting tension. And finally... The combination of all those qualities."
The moment he finished speaking, deafening applause filled the arena once more. Countless young fans felt their hearts racing as they finally had their answer. The goddess they admired had earned everything through talent and effort.
No shortcuts.
No privileges.
No hidden advantages.
Just ability.
That was why so many young people admired Little Shuying; she represented hope. Proof that someone from the bottom could rise and proof that destiny could be changed.
In the last row of the audience, a young man clenched his fists tightly. "My parents never cared about my education, but I believe I can rise too."
He looked toward the stage with burning determination. "Look at Little Shuying; she really did it. She earned this herself."
"One day...I'll become someone like her." His voice was firm.
Beside him, an old man merely smiled.
The young man's girlfriend glanced curiously at the elderly stranger. Few elderly people attended idol events, so this man was especially unusual. His eyes were also the brightest she had ever seen, and sometimes she thought he was crying. Yet there were no tears, only a strange radiance.
A light that seemed to contain countless stories.
Countless regrets.
Countless memories.
It was as though those eyes had witnessed every joy and sorrow the world had to offer.
Wise beyond imagination.
Yet unbearably lonely.
The girl shook her head and smiled. What a strange old man. But for some reason... The sadness hidden within those eyes made her heart ache.