Sister Li's real name was Li Zhenzhen. It was a rather rustic-sounding name, and she indeed came from a rural background.
Born into poverty, Li Zhenzhen left the countryside for the Capital City shortly after graduating from middle school in her teens to make a living. Like countless other people who drifted to the capital in search of opportunities, she had worked as a restaurant waitress, swept streets, sold insurance, and handed out flyers.
However, she was smarter and more emotionally intelligent than most. Seizing the opportunities that came her way, she managed to break into the entertainment industry. Starting out as a lowly assistant, she eventually founded the renowned Rainbow Agency Company, which became well known throughout the industry.
Li Zhenzhen's life story of struggle and success could easily be adapted into an inspirational television drama.
Yet what people in the entertainment circle talked about most was not her career, but the five-year marriage she once had.
Back then, her ex-husband Zhang Shaoqiu had been a small-time entertainer who had debuted several years earlier but never managed to become popular. Although he was handsome, luck had never been on his side. The few productions he appeared in only gave him minor roles, and the records he released sold disastrously. He never found the influential mentor or opportunity he needed to make it big.
At a reception one year, Zhang Shaoqiu met Li Zhenzhen, who was then working hard to build her own career. He immediately began pursuing her passionately.
At the time, people throughout the entertainment industry, including Li Zhenzhen's friends, were pessimistic about the relationship. They believed Zhang Shaoqiu had ulterior motives. The two differed greatly in appearance and social standing, and Zhang Shaoqiu was also younger than her.
Nevertheless, Li Zhenzhen accepted his courtship. Six months later, they were married, and the following year, they welcomed their son, Zhang Junzhi.
While managing her talent agency, Li Zhenzhen devoted herself wholeheartedly to supporting her husband's career. As a result, Zhang Shaoqiu's fortunes began to change. He gained recognition through a television drama and soon became a highly sought-after star.
After achieving fame, however, Zhang Shaoqiu changed.
He spent most of the year away from home, and countless rumors about romantic affairs began to circulate around him.
Their marriage, which existed more in appearance than in reality, dragged on for several more years. Feeling that he had finally become successful enough to stand on his own, Zhang Shaoqiu proposed a divorce.
Li Zhenzhen agreed without hesitation.
Her only condition was custody of their son.
Later, whenever people talked about the matter, many felt indignant on her behalf, calling Zhang Shaoqiu an ungrateful traitor and comparing him to Chen Shimei, the infamous symbol of a man who abandons his loyal wife after attaining success.
Yet Li Zhenzhen never spoke ill of her ex-husband on any occasion. On the contrary, she often said good things about him.
In her view, having once shared a beautiful chapter of life together was enough.
Such tolerance and broad-mindedness earned her the respect of many people, while making others despise Zhang Shaoqiu even more.
After the divorce, Zhang Shaoqiu quickly married a young former model. A few years later, that marriage also ended in divorce.
For a time, his career continued to flourish. Endorsements and appearances poured in endlessly, and he made money hand over fist.
But good times never last forever.
As the market changed, Zhang Shaoqiu gradually faded from prominence.
Especially in recent years, he had fallen to the ranks of fourth- and fifth-tier celebrities. He still possessed some name recognition, but he could no longer compete with the trendy young idols dominating the spotlight. Nor could he match many of his rivals in acting or singing ability. His position within the entertainment industry had become increasingly awkward.
Most importantly, even though Li Zhenzhen had always been generous and had never used her connections or influence within the industry to suppress him, there were still many people who simply disliked him.
Among the virtues that Chinese society had upheld for centuries were remembering those who stood by you in times of poverty and never abandoning the wife who shared your hardships. Even if such values seemed outdated in today's entertainment industry, few people could bring themselves to admire someone as ungrateful as Zhang Shaoqiu.
Lu Chen disliked him as well.
A smile hung on his face, but there was no warmth behind it.
"Hello, hello!"
Zhang Shaoqiu's skin was thick. Smiling, he extended his hand toward Lu Chen.
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
Lu Chen shook his hand indifferently.
Sister Li frowned and asked, "Do you need something else?"
Zhang Shaoqiu was momentarily stunned.
In his memory, his ex-wife had always been obedient, gentle, and considerate toward him. Even after their divorce, she had gone out of her way to preserve his dignity. Whenever they met, she remained cordial and never openly turned against him.
Now, however, Sister Li was clearly displaying her displeasure toward him, and he found it difficult to adjust.
Of course, Zhang Shaoqiu was no ordinary person. He quickly suppressed his surprise and replied with a smile,
"Nothing special. I just happened to run into you and thought I'd like to see you and Junzhi."
As he continued talking, Sister Li's expression gradually softened, as though she had been reminded of the beautiful memories of the past.
She looked at Zhang Shaoqiu and asked softly,
"Shaoqiu, with Lu Chen and Lu Xi here today, and with our son present, I'm not afraid of embarrassing myself. I just want to ask you one question. During all those years we were husband and wife... did you ever love me?"
Zhang Shaoqiu's expression stiffened.
After hesitating for a moment, he nevertheless nodded and said,
"Yes."
Smack!
A loud slap landed squarely on his face, instantly leaving him stunned.
Sister Li withdrew her hand and said,
"You're lying."
"You…!"
Zhang Shaoqiu's face flushed bright red. The immense sense of humiliation caused the veins on his forehead to bulge. Acting on impulse, he raised his hand as if to strike back.
But a powerful hand clamped down on his wrist like a steel vise, preventing him from moving.
The one who intervened was Lu Chen.
Looking at him coldly, Lu Chen said, "Mr. Zhang, you're not welcome here."
With a flick of his arm, he shoved Zhang Shaoqiu away. The latter staggered backward two steps and nearly crashed into the door.
Only then did Zhang Shaoqiu finally regain some composure. He realized that staying any longer would only bring him further humiliation. So he turned around and left immediately, looking utterly miserable and disheveled as he fled.
Sister Li let out a long breath and said to Lu Xi with a bitter smile, "I'm sorry for making a spectacle of myself in front of you."
Lu Xi shook her head.
"Well done!"
She was not a fool. It was obvious to her that Zhang Shaoqiu's appearance here was suspicious. There was a very good chance he had come with some ulterior motive.
Moreover, although he looked refined and gentlemanly on the surface, everything about his speech and mannerisms carried the air of a performance.
In other words, he was fake.
Sister Li had undoubtedly seen through his true nature long ago. Perhaps she had been blinded by love back then, but now she had finally awakened.
Kindness was not weakness.
Tolerance was not submission.
That slap had been well deserved.
As a woman, Lu Xi especially understood and supported Sister Li.
Sister Li then turned apologetically to her son.
"Junzhi, I shouldn't have done that in front of…"
Zhang Junzhi cut her off directly.
"Mom, I think Sister Lu Xi is absolutely right!"
Sister Li nodded and gently wrapped her arms around her son.
Tears shimmered in her eyes.
…
On November 18, Lu Chen led his newly assembled team of fifteen people on a flight to Hong Kong.
On the same day, 'The Smiling, Proud Wanderer' officially debuted at the Capital City branch of Xinhua Bookstore.
The entire first print run… 1,000 deluxe hardcover sets and 2,000 paperback sets, sold out on the very first day.
The printing plant owned by Mountain Sea Publishing House immediately went into full-scale production. Newly printed copies not only continued supplying the local Capital City market but were also shipped in a steady stream to destinations all across the country.
Having moved from the online world into physical publication, The 'Smiling, Proud Wanderer' had entered a broader stage, one far more suited to its true potential.
Like a young swordsman who had just left home and stepped into the real Martial World.
The sword was drawn… And ripples spread across the land.
(End of Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 60 chapters on my patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395