The Third-Rate Road

A portrait of a washed-up actress who sees things clearly and builds her career on her own terms | Easygoing, but never resigned to fate Sheng Wei broke out as an actress at nineteen. By twenty-nine, no one even knew who she was. Now she has no buzz, barely any fans, and is about to be kicked out of the entertainment industry! To make a living, Sheng Wei has no choice but to audition for the role of a naive, sweet rich heiress. No way! Who wants to watch a twenty-nine-year-old pretend to be young? Sheng Wei didn’t work her way into this industry just to play that kind of part! Her agent says, “Forget it, sis. Let’s terminate your contract.” Her friend says, “Face reality.” But she says: “I may be a third-rate actress, but I want to try living a first-rate life.” Later, at a theater festival, Sheng Wei stands beneath the spotlight. She is neither overwhelmed by the attention nor aloof and detached: “I’m grateful to the person who said I was only fit for a third-rate path.” “Now, ” Her gaze sweeps over the old acquaintances in the audience, their expressions varied, and the corners of her lips lift slightly. “This path isn’t impossible to walk, either.” *The heroine isn’t a slacker. She’s clear-eyed and practical. *No real-life inspirations. Please don’t read this as referring to anyone. *The story focuses on her career. The romance serves the career plot, and the love interest is mostly a background character. *This is not a wish-fulfillment story. Not a wish-fulfillment story. Not a wish-fulfillment story. The heroine never becomes hugely famous, even by the end. Theme: Do your work diligently. Content is king.