Chapter 8: On the Move
Yun Xinyu was preparing to sell her house. Though only a few dozen square meters in size, its location in land-scarce Beijing meant it could still fetch several hundred thousand yuan.
The remaining money she needed to earn herself. Her bank account was nearly drained, and with her father’s next medical payment approaching, she had to scramble to secure at least part of the sum quickly...
Yun Xinyu’s small suburban home sat in an aging apartment building, far from shopping districts and the city center. The one-to-two-hour commute to downtown made it undesirable to most buyers, leaving her without prospects.
Fortunately, she still had her modeling work. A single runway show paid a few thousand yuan, and hustling between gigs all day could net ten to twenty thousand. But opportunities were scarce—there simply weren’t enough shows to fill her schedule.
She’d temporarily abandoned acting, as filming with crews consumed too much time for the paltry wages minor roles offered.
Her true dream wasn’t stardom or fame, but screenwriting—to craft stories from her imagination and see them filmed.
Yet that dream now felt distant. Or perhaps, in the grind of survival, she’d slowly let go of her original aspirations.
Both Ye Xue and Feng Zihao learned of Yun Xinyu’s struggles and offered loans, but she refused.
Ye Xue had just arrived in Beijing and had little to spare, while Feng Zihao spent most of his income supporting his grandparents. Borrowing from either was impossible.
Finally, another young Beijing drifter reached out, asking to rent her apartment short-term. She explained her intent to sell, but he promised to vacate immediately if a buyer emerged.
She agreed gladly and began packing her belongings to move out.
Just then, as she sorted through cluttered belongings beside two mismatched suitcases, Gu Cheng—absent for weeks—appeared at her door.
He scanned the disarray before frowning. “You’re moving out?”
She kept packing, her surprise masked by indifference. “Yes. Why are you here?”
“I need to talk. Stop for a minute.”
She paused, meeting his gaze. “Go ahead.”
He hesitated, eyes darting before steadying. “Let’s get back together.”
Yun Xinyu frowned. Mere days had passed since their breakup. After a weighted silence, she sighed. “As you see, I’m nearly bankrupt. You should find someone better.”
“I know what’s happening. We can face it together—it’s just money! I can give you what you need.”
“Gu Cheng, really—don’t.” Her voice softened. “We had fun, but we’re more like friends.”
“You were right—I don’t love you. Staying together would make us both unhappy.”
Gu Cheng’s thin-skinned pride crumbled. He left with a final murmur—"Contact me if you need help"—before disappearing.
She nodded, then resumed packing.
(End of Chapter)
