Off Course

The physical edition goes on preorder the evening of December 9. Follow wb @Jiang Tian Yibanban for updates. I first met Xie Lingyun at the start of our freshman year. Summer’s heat still lingered, and the sun blazed overhead. With a large suitcase in hand and a sheen of sweat on her forehead, Qi Qiao stood among the line of incoming students, waiting to check in. Rows of unfamiliar, fresh-faced students stood nervously, full of anticipation. Nobody dared speak loudly; they only murmured in their hometown dialects to the parents who had come with them. Suddenly, an awed exclamation rose from the crowd. Qi Qiao turned to follow everyone’s gaze. Beneath the green canopy of a parasol tree a few meters away stood a handsome young man, tall and long-legged. He wore understated but obviously expensive white clothes and black trousers. His right arm was in a cast and sling, and his face was pale with a sickly tinge. Qi Qiao thought he looked like a quiet, delicate young man. Then she heard him snap irritably at the burly man following close behind him: “Quit following me, damn it. Who brings a bodyguard to school?” So much for the delicate, sickly young man. Turns out he was a spoiled brat with a nasty temper. - Qi Qiao never expected to fall for Xie Lingyun, but it happened all the same. He was born to shine, standing high above everyone else. When she was fretting over the exorbitant price of equipment for her major, the amount he casually squandered was enough to make anyone gasp. Falling for Xie Lingyun meant veering off course. - Years later, the two most outstanding students in their directing program had taken very different paths. One was a top-tier star, while the other had become an award-winning but notoriously ill-tempered genius director, known for his perpetual scowl. They met again at a dinner party. Xie Lingyun looked bored, his face cold. Who knew what had upset the young master this time? The actors who had been itching to go strike up a conversation all thought better of it. Amid the glittering lights and flowing wine, Xie Lingyun spotted a familiar face. Her red dress swayed as she moved, radiant and captivating. They were old classmates, yet she pretended not to know him. Xie Lingyun took a sip of wine. He no longer felt like leaving. Even when asking someone to speak to her, he had to maintain his dignified air and send his assistant instead. “Go tell her I want her to play the lead in my film.” The assistant hesitated. “Isn’t that a little too direct? Teacher Qi’s schedule is really hard to book.” Xie Lingyun replied, “We’re close. Why should my invitation be like everyone else’s?” Less than three minutes later, the assistant returned. “Boss, Teacher Qi said she’s not interested. She also said, ” “What?” “She said she doesn’t know you.” Xie Lingyun: ? The man narrowed his eyes and surveyed the graceful figure that drew every gaze in the room. They didn’t know each other? Hah. Who was the one who’d sobbed against his back until her eyes were red? [Tips] ① One-on-one romance, happy ending, updated daily at 10 p.m. ② No real-life inspirations. This is a fictional entertainment industry, so please don’t associate the characters with any real celebrities. ③ Information about the directing profession comes from books and online sources. Please point out any errors. Theme: People may fail to recognize a towering tree, until it rises above the clouds.