Caught in Affairs with Superstar

Zhou Yun was a little tipsy.

She spoke with a charming smile.

"Sister Lan, it wasn’t until today that I realized I am not a carefree person at all. I am just infatuated with the feeling that carefree exudes, but I’m not genuinely, thoroughly carefree." Zhou Yun said, "It really saddens me to discover the truth about myself."

"Xiao Yun, nobody’s perfect. You really don’t need to evaluate yourself by this standard."

"I know, I know." Zhou Yun nodded, "I won’t do it anymore. There’s no standard or not. I just need to accept those imperfect sides of myself, accept my desires for worldly things, accept that I’m just like everyone else, with flaws that I can’t change. Most of the time, the sense of satisfaction is just an illusion in an idealistic state. I will gradually come to accept all of this."

"Many people might spend their whole lives without realizing the things you’ve talked about with me tonight."

Zhou Lan put her arm around Zhou Yun’s shoulder.

"Xiao Yun, I know you’re someone who thinks a lot, and your personality inevitably leads you to think a lot. But sometimes thinking too much isn’t a good thing, and you surely know that. I just hope that you can think more, but don’t let your thoughts confine your real life. You’re in an industry that’s far removed from ordinary people’s lives, and very few people can share the same experiences as you in your current position. Many things you have to digest on your own, which is what worries me the most. You’re still very young; everything is going well now, and your career is thriving. However, you are bound to face many storms, even standing at the forefront to face them, and it’s not something we can face with you just by wanting to stand by your side." Zhou Lan said, "Honestly, I don’t know if we will continue working together forever, even though we are so close now, have set up a studio, and have several young people moving forward with us. But nothing lasts forever, and no one knows what the future holds. I just hope you can remain resilient in this industry until the end. I was once cowardly, timid, and hesitant, but now I dare to stand up to others, dare to reject unreasonable things, dare to give up great opportunities. This confidence comes from what we’ve achieved in the past two years, so you say you must accept that you’re not as idealistic as you thought. I also have to accept the version of myself that I once deemed inadequate."

Zhou Lan chuckled as she spoke these words.

"But it’s okay. Accepting oneself or not, time will flow objectively, and as long as we stand firm, we will eventually achieve the peace of mind we desire."

Zhou Yun softly exclaimed, "Wow."

"What’s the matter?" Zhou Lan asked.

Zhou Yun said, "I thought these issues were things only I would be so tangled up in, but it turns out you also think about them, Sister Lan."

"What do you think? As long as people have brains, they tend to think about things unrelated to concrete life and work." Zhou Lan said, holding her chin with her right hand, "You’re not the only one facing this significant transformation. The people around you are too. I am, Xiaoju is too. Your career changes have brought immense changes to ours. The people we meet, the experiences we have, the world we see, all change at a pace others can’t easily comprehend. And we have no one to turn to for advice, just like you. We have to digest these changes ourselves and strive to keep up with them because falling behind means being eliminated."

"Mm."

"I actually think you’re quite fortunate. Look at the people in your team. They’ve all turned out to be reliable. Many overnight sensations, and often the artist manages to hold their ground, but the team gets dazzled by the fame and fortune, causing many diva-like incidents. It’s usually not the artist’s fault, but their staff getting carried away, messing up many things. Look, whether it’s Xiaoju or Cao Jun, including Liu Yun who joined later, these people closest to you have all managed to keep themselves grounded and not get carried away." Zhou Lan said with a smile, "That’s great, especially after we set up the studio. Chengqian can’t really interfere with our decision-making anymore. We have more freedom and control. I think this is our best time. You’ve been working under high pressure for the past two years without taking a break. You may not feel it, but your body is telling you it can’t keep up. You need to rest and catch your breath."