Yu Youqing's college classmates' group chat.
"Didn't Yu Youqing switch careers?"
"What a pity. If she hadn't had such a bad attitude and offended the higher-ups in two productions in a row, she might have become a rising star in Lan Province's TV industry. She might not be any worse than Tang Yidong."
"Still lacked real-world experience. Back in school, all her effort went into grades and acting skills."
"By the way, who wrote and directed this 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday', or whatever it's called?"
"Apparently, it's by a rookie director and a rookie screenwriter. Since Tang Yidong got injured, White Lover couldn't be shot for two weeks, so this short drama came into being."
"Eh? So Yu Youqing is basically acting in White Lover's backup fill-in drama?"
"I mean, technically, yeah, but also not really. Both are airing in Gold Time on Jin Hui TV. It's not like one is clearly better than the other. Who knows, maybe 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday' will be like Hidden Dragon, a few years back—only two episodes and it exploded in popularity."
"She only got this lead role because Tang Yidong got injured. If it were me, I'd feel guilty shooting this—it's like stepping on an old classmate."
"Now that you say it, it does feel a bit awkward…"
Most people avoided bringing up Yu Youqing's past in detail, but some had no regard for her feelings at all. What normal person would be so tactless, posting that kind of stuff in the group?
They knew full well that Tang Yidong hated Yu Youqing the most—so they said those things to please Tang Yidong, hoping she'd help them get a role or open doors for them.
As for Tang Yidong's motive?
It was simple—step on Yu Youqing, who used to be the brightest star in their class, to elevate herself.
Back in university, everyone always said she couldn't compare to Yu Youqing. But now, after graduation, she had a successful career and had left Yu Youqing far behind. Naturally, people like to flaunt what they lacked in the past.
Of course, some were just plain jealous of Yu Youqing. Even if it was just a backup role, a lead is still a lead—and for classmates still stuck as extras, it was the kind of opportunity they salivated over. Psychologically, they were no different from Tang Yidong—taking a few shots at Yu Youqing felt satisfying.
No matter how harmonious college relationships seem, it's all surface-level. In this world, aside from your parents, very few people genuinely want to see you doing well.
Before long, the group chat had racked up two or three hundred messages on the topic.
"Even though I haven't seen Yu Youqing in a long time, as her classmate and roommate for four years, I really do hope this drama gets amazing ratings, rave reviews, and skyrocketing scores." —Tang Yidong, putting on a magnanimous front as she continued to twist the knife.
"December is almost over, and the New Year's right around the corner. How about a class reunion before the holiday?"
A lot of people chimed in to agree with Tang Yidong's suggestion.
At the end, she even tagged Yu Youqing's account.
Yu Youqing hadn't spoken up in the group chat, but they all knew she was watching. Even if she didn't say anything, it would still eat at her inside—and that's exactly what Tang Yidong wanted.
If Yu Youqing replied, she'd be dragged into the inevitable comparisons at the reunion. If she didn't reply, she'd seem rude—people would say she was either guilty or too stuck-up to mingle with her old classmates.
Society and school are two different things. Being a top student doesn't mean you're smart in the real world. In this industry, only famous actors get to choose who and what they reject. If you haven't made it yet, acting aloof only makes people think you're difficult to work with.
"Sure."
Yu Youqing's account suddenly responded.
Tang Yidong was genuinely surprised.
She actually replied?
Idiot. Tang Yidong laughed inwardly. When the time comes, White Lover and 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday' will have both aired. The two shows are directly connected—the main drama and the backup—and each of them plays the female lead. You showing up is basically turning yourself into my backdrop, making me look even better.
—
That evening on set, Jing Yu noticed something was off with Yu Youqing.
During breaks, she kept checking her phone and chatting apps.
"What's wrong?" he asked casually.
He didn't pry—he wasn't the type to read over someone's shoulder—but he did catch a glimpse of her closing the chat app.
"It's nothing, Jing Yu-laoshi. Something earlier disrupted my state of mind, but now… It's not important anymore." Her expression grew serious.
Let those people laugh and snipe all they want in the group chat.
"We just need to give this performance everything we've got. Everything else… doesn't matter." She smiled at Jing Yu.
She'd expected Tang Yidong to cause trouble the moment she agreed to this role.
Four years of college had shown her exactly what kind of person Tang Yidong was. Honestly, Yu Youqing wasn't even all that concerned with fame or career advancement. She studied acting because she simply loved it.
But everyone has their pride.
Even if she didn't want to compare herself to Tang Yidong, that woman had already put her up on the shelf to be measured against.
So in that case—
She wouldn't lose. She didn't think she'd lose.
What was there to fear?
—
Later that night, during filming, Jing Yu clearly noticed the change in her.
Her performance was just as beautiful and elegant as before, but there was a sharper, more focused energy behind it now.
In some scenes, even when Director Gao Wencang felt it was a wrap, she'd pause thoughtfully and ask for a retake.
"Can I tell you something from the heart?"
"I've actually been watching you for a long time…"
Under the night sky, Shou Aimei tilted her head slightly and said those words. Jing Yu, as Gao Shan, looked at her profile—soft lights dancing on her face, her eyes glimmering.
"Aimei… would you be my girlfriend?" Jing Yu's character said, his face tinged with hesitation.
A long dialogue sequence followed, raising the emotional temperature.
And when Yu Youqing turned around and replied, "Please take care of me," the atmosphere in the studio changed.
Even though it was just a performance, everyone watching felt a pang of envy.
That classic expression—smiling through tears. Her eyes held both happiness and sorrow.
Gao Shan's confession was their beginning… and also their end.
From tomorrow onward, she and Gao Shan would no longer be lovers.
Jing Yu was visibly moved. Yu Youqing's performance was so powerful that even he was swept up in her emotions.
—
After filming wrapped, it was already past midnight. The crew was finishing up. Jing Yu and Yu Youqing stood off to the side, each holding a hot milk tea bought by Gao Wencang's assistant.
It was bitterly cold—autumn heading into winter—and the warmth of the drink helped thaw their frozen hands.
"You were on fire tonight," Jing Yu said with a smile. "There were a few scenes where I felt completely overpowered by your energy."
"This drama needs the female lead to shine," Yu Youqing replied calmly, her gaze clear.
"Your performance was perfectly on point. Gao Shan's character just doesn't have as much room to shine as Shou Aimei."
"Which is why, for this show to succeed, my performance has to be even more exceptional. Otherwise, how could we beat White Lover in the ratings?"
Jing Yu was stunned for a moment.
"White Lover? Why are you so fixated on that show?" he asked.
There were tons of popular dramas in the Zhou Federation, but Yu Youqing seemed to only care about White Lover.
She looked at him, took a sip of her drink, and then said—
"Because the female lead of White Lover is Tang Yidong. And I can't stand her."
"I don't want to lose to her."
Short and blunt.
Jing Yu didn't ask for more.
"My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday—Director Gao Wencang is an excellent and professional director. Producer Liu Neng is responsible and talented. And you, Jing Yu-laoshi, wrote this amazing script and brought Gao Shan to life with precision."
"All of you are just as good as the team behind White Lover. Which means—I can't lose to Tang Yidong either."
"Ratings. That's the battleground."
"But… It's not that simple," Jing Yu said quickly. "Even if we don't think our show is worse, the ratings depend on things like marketing and funding too."
Now he understood why Yu Youqing had been so intense tonight.
"But losing is losing. Winning is winning." Her eyes met his.
"All that other stuff—just excuses."
"Opportunities are limited. For me, this might be the only time in my life I get to play a female lead. And for you, Jing Yu-laoshi, this might be your only shot as a screenwriter."
"Can you accept 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday' going down in history as a backup show to White Lover?"
"The only way to destroy that perception is to beat White Lover in the ratings."
Jing Yu stared at her, dumbfounded.
He lowered his head and thought for a moment.
"…I'm sorry."
He was apologizing—not to her, but for himself.
For all those days, he'd treated this as just another gig to make a living.
Sure, they said they wanted to beat White Lover, but deep down, he knew—anything could happen. Even grandmasters make mistakes. And if the station didn't prioritize 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday', it was totally possible they'd lose to a well-funded, capital-backed rival.
Lose once? Try again.
That's what adults say.
But that's also how adults run away.
Jing Yu had always left himself an escape route.
Yu Youqing didn't.
From the start, she never intended to lose.
She knew the reality—after Tomorrow, she might go right back to being that no-name actress no one cared about. If this drama lost to White Lover, she might never get another chance to play a lead, never get to challenge Tang Yidong again.
She didn't want her first, and possibly last, leading role to be remembered as a backup to White Lover.
She wasn't someone who craved to win just for the sake of it.
But if someone wanted to use her as a stepping stone to raise themselves, she'd never let it happen.
And that belief—that difference in mindset—was why her performance tonight completely overpowered Jing Yu's.
Her words had shaken him awake.
He didn't have infinite chances either. Every show in this world needs "fan value" to materialize. My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday's production will use up the original body's soul fragments. If it didn't go viral, if it didn't gather enough fan value, then all those "classic" stories in his head would be nothing but castles in the sky, dreams in a mirror, flowers in the water.
He couldn't offer up his soul just to manifest a script into the world. That would be idiotic.
Opportunities are always limited.
"I'd like to take back what I said earlier. We're going to win." Jing Yu took a deep breath.
Until the outcome was decided, all you needed to do was believe—and fight like hell for it.
Thinking you might lose only weakens your resolve. When you should be giving 120%, you'll only give 80%.
—
The next day, on set.
Gao Wencang reviewed their footage carefully.
Yu Youqing's performance was still outstanding, but Jing Yu's Gao Shan had transformed.
Still the same gentle, handsome character—but no longer overshadowed by her.
There was confidence in his eyes now. And it showed.
The scenes looked significantly better.
"What the hell... Could it be that Jing Yu really is that gifted as an actor? His skills feel like they've leveled up in just a few days."
Gao Wencang was thrilled—but couldn't help thinking that.