Brilliant Hopes [Metaphysical Showbiz]

As night fell, Qin Gui came home after class and took a cup of coffee from the fridge.

She passed through the living room, where her younger sister, Qin Yue, was crouched on the sofa watching TV on the big screen. "Big sis, you're home!"

"Mm."

Qin Gui was drinking her coffee, so she just nodded at her sister in response. Remembering she still had to finish her film assignment, she turned to go back to her room, but her sister called after her.

"Big sis, look! He's that male star I told you about, the one I really like, Su Xuan!"

Qin Gui glanced up at the TV.

The man on screen wore a white shirt. His thick black hair was soft and tousled, and his clear, gentle eyes were the kind that invited romance. His gaze was tender when he looked at people.

"...Yes, I'm very happy to be able to play this role."

When the interview ended, the scene changed to Su Xuan walking the red carpet in a suit. He wasn't looking at the camera. A frenzied barrage of flashes surrounded him like snow during an avalanche. He was swallowed up by it, his face deathly pale, his eyes black and lips red.

Qin Yue's excited voice sounded in her ear. "Big sis, do you think he's good-looking? He's really popular lately, and he's a great actor too!!"

Qin Gui stood still, staring at the man on the screen for a full five seconds.

She said, "Mm. But he looks like he's about to die."

[Heiress from an acting dynasty, freshman film director x self-made, A-list male star]

Qin Gui was born with yin-yang eyes and could see how long people had to live, especially those who were about to die.

That day, her words proved prophetic. Not long after, scandal broke around popular actor Su Xuan. His name stayed on the trending lists for days, and everyone condemned him. They made memorial portraits and hurled every kind of abuse at him, demanding he leave the entertainment industry.

She guessed that Su Xuan would probably die because of this. She had no intention of getting involved, because her experience growing up had taught her that people's fates were predetermined. No matter how hard she tried to change them, it was useless.

But Qin Gui had a film she'd been preparing to shoot for a long time. She searched all over the entertainment industry for an actor, even holding open auditions for unknowns, but couldn't find anyone else suited to play the protagonist she'd imagined.

There was only Su Xuan.

So that day, she brought her script and knocked on Su Xuan's door.

--

◎ Cool and detached, wanting no part of the world x fragile and obsessive

◎ Qin Gui x Su Xuan

○ An entertainment-industry story with supernatural elements.

○ The heroine comes from an elite family throughout the story. Other people are the ones who curry favor with her; she never has to curry favor with anyone. No bankruptcy plot.

○ Ensemble of women / multiple storylines running in parallel / mutual salvation / personal growth / famous director vs. award-winning actor / each other's muse and confidant

○ A story about going from accepting one's fate to refusing to believe in fate.

Theme: Those with dreams will be favored by fate.