He detested this feeling of losing control.
To him, films were works of art.
However, after capital poured in, he could no longer control the actors or the stories.
Especially with the influx of actors who lacked any real talent into the film industry.
They had thrown the entire industry into chaos.
He had become a director solely out of pure dreams and passion.
He wanted to cast actors he deemed suitable and control his own works and stories.
But now, everything bore his name, yet the films were not his own.
He was tired of this market situation, which had persisted for so long.
Song Heqing had been enduring it ever since Xu Linyun was forced into his film by capital.
This historical film was a project he had refined for many years.
But it was ruined by capital.
Xu Linyun was completely unsuited for his role; she was not the best candidate in his mind.
It would be perfect if Xu Linyun could completely disappear from his work.
"Uncle, it's not that serious, is it?" Song Yiming didn't understand.
"You're still young; you don't understand what film is, nor what medical arts are."
Su Qi herself was synonymous with art.
She was like an oil painting.
But Xu Linyun…
She had no formal acting education and was a hot commodity forcefully pushed into the industry by capital. As long as Xu Linyun was cast, a large sum of filming funds would be secured, causing many directors to compete fiercely for it.
Song Heqing couldn't stand it; he truly couldn't stand it.
He just hadn't expected them to extend their claws right under his nose.
Song Heqing took the cigarette from Song Yiming's hand, took a deep drag, then threw the entire cigarette on the ground and crushed it with his foot.
"No one is allowed to dictate my work."
After becoming pregnant, Xu Linyun's demeanor grew increasingly arrogant and reckless.
At times, she displayed no acting skill whatsoever. Because of consideration for Xu Linyun's fragile pregnant state, they wouldn't reshoot scenes.
Was this respect for the artistic work?
This was trampling on his hard work!
Song Heqing's face darkened, his hands tightening on the windowsill.
He absolutely would not allow anyone to trample on his work.
After finishing work, Su Qi drove directly to the hospital.
Li Cuiping and Gu Tangxue were in the same hospital.
After her surgery, Li Cuiping remained in a vegetative state, showing no signs of waking.
Gu Tangxue had been hospitalized since falling into a coma.
To avoid stimulating Gu Tangxue, Su Qi only glanced at her from outside the room.
"Don't worry, I'm here. You're at this stage of pregnancy; you need to eat more and take good care of yourself."
Xu Linchuan, dressed in a white coat, sat beside Su Qi.
Su Qi's heart was filled with complex emotions as she looked at his gentle, jade-like face, meeting Xu Linchuan's eyes, which were full of affection.
"Thank you."
After leaving the hospital, Su Qi drove back to the Su family residence.
For years, Li Cuiping had claimed her adoptive father did business in Hong Kong. It turned out her adoptive father had committed suicide by jumping from a building and had passed away long ago. Li Cuiping had kept it a secret all these years, fearing she and Su Yan would be saddened. The servants in the villa saw Su Qi arrive. Li Cuiping hadn't returned for a long time, and upon seeing Su Qi, they all inquired about Li Cuiping's whereabouts.
Su Qi paid the servants a year's salary and instructed them to take good care of Su Yan.
She then walked towards Su Yan's room.
"Brother."
Knock, knock.
She knocked on the door.
The room was empty; the balcony glass door was open.
After the rain, the green plants on the balcony had all bloomed luxuriantly.
"Brother, it's autumn and getting cold; you need to wear more clothes."
Su Qi picked up a blanket and draped it over Su Yan's shoulders.
Su Yan was startled, then turned his wheelchair, slowly rotating to face Su Qi. "Did something happen to Mom?"
Su Qi had prepared a story before coming, but she hadn't expected Su Yan to see through it so easily.
Suddenly, her throat felt choked.
Her lips moved, but no sound came out.
"No matter how busy she is, she comes back to see me every day and talks to me. She hasn't been back for so long; something must have happened."
Su Yan turned his wheelchair. Having stayed home for a long time, he appeared thin and pale.
"I'm not blaming you, but I hope all our family members are well, and you are too."
Su Qi bent down and took Su Yan's hand. "Brother Su Yan, Huo Tingyun and I are divorced. I am now a free soul. I haven't failed your expectations. I am just myself now, not anyone else."
Upon hearing this, Su Yan's usually impassive eyes flickered slightly.
"What are your plans next?"
"I want to start a film and television company for you. I'm still working hard; I want to fulfill your dream of becoming a screenwriter."
She paused.
Su Qi tightened her grip on Su Yan's hand.
"So, Brother Su Yan, I also hope you can be strong and become yourself, fulfilling your unaccomplished dreams."
Su Yan gently pulled his hand from Su Qi's, raised it, and his fingertips brushed across Su Qi's cheek.
His expression was inscrutable.
"Actually, what I've been avoiding isn't this world, but you."
"What?" Su Qi was stunned.
She didn't understand what Su Yan meant by this.
"I'm disabled; I'm not who I used to be, nor am I a complete person. Everyone in the world mocks me, and that's fine. But I can't bear to see you; your pitying gaze makes me feel defeated."
Su Qi's mind went blank; she seemed to understand what Su Yan was saying, yet also not quite.
Su Yan forced a bitter smile.
"Indeed, you are young and beautiful. I am now just a cripple, someone who can only live in a wheelchair and needs others to care for me, a useless person. I am no longer worthy of you." Su Qi swayed, as if she couldn't comprehend Su Yan's words.
"Brother, don't talk nonsense. You are still the best you. I just hope you can live on bravely. You will always be my best brother..."
Su Yan gazed at Su Qi, the fire in his eyes slowly extinguishing.
"Just a brother? Xiao Xi?"
It had been a long time since Su Yan had called her that.
Su Qi felt a flicker of emotion in her heart. "Brother... you will always be my brother."
"I knew it."
Su Yan gave a self-deprecating smile, then abruptly pulled his hand away from Su Qi's grasp and turned away coldly.
"In your eyes, I will always be just a brother."
His hands clenched the armrests of the wheelchair.
His pale hands showed prominent veins.
"In your eyes, I am just a brother, aren't I?"
Su Qi looked at Su Yan's indifferent back, her heart a mess. "Brother..."
"As long as you live, there is still hope for everything."
She neither denied nor confirmed.
She simply gave an ambiguous answer.
Su Yan slowly turned back. "There is still hope?"
"Brother, I am Xiao Xi, always your Xiao Xi. In my eyes, you are always so perfect. Please, you must also stay strong." Su Yan cupped Su Qi's face, his Adam's apple bobbing.