Chapter 34

Thinking about it, he didn't know how long had passed before he fell asleep. When he woke up, it was already pitch dark outside. He turned on the light and checked his watch; it was past 2 AM. His stomach growled loudly, and only then did he remember that he had forgotten to eat lunch. He quickly cooked five packets of ramen to fill his stomach, feeling much better and more energetic afterward. Suddenly, he thought about the strange ideas he had yesterday and couldn't help but laugh awkwardly.

He thought to himself, "Why am I worrying about something that hasn't even begun? A relationship between a man and a woman can only be formed when both parties are mutually attracted. I should just let things take their natural course. Why should I be so greedy as to want everything? But I was once a cultivator; how can secular laws and norms bind me? In my actions, I don't seek to have everything go my way, but I do want to act freely without being controlled by others. If all the sisters are in harmony with me, why would I choose just one and abandon the others? As long as they are willing, we can live together for the rest of our lives. Why should we care about the criticism and slander of the secular world?"

After making up his mind, Zhang Chengyuan felt much better. He then thought that he was still young and the sisters' feelings were not yet clear, so it was too early to think about these things. He stopped thinking about them, reviewed the acting techniques he had learned in recent days, and went back to bed.

When he woke up again, it was already bright outside. After practicing some martial arts in the small courtyard, he suddenly had an urge to see the four girls from Fin.K.L. immediately. But then he remembered that they had gone to Atlanta, USA, a few days ago for a performance and were staying there for a while, so they probably hadn't returned yet. The surge of excitement subsided, and his mind cleared. He warned himself, "Inaction is the way to achieve everything. One must not act rashly. If I lose my Daoist heart, I might not be able to maintain my current peak state of 'transforming qi into essence,' and I might even damage my not yet fully recovered spirit."

After this realization, Zhang Chengyuan returned to his room, sat in meditation, recited the *Huangting Jing*, and calmed his mind. He reflected, "In the year since my rebirth, my desires have gradually grown stronger, and today I almost couldn't control them. Once I become a slave to desire, my previous cultivation will be completely lost, and if that happens, life might be worse than death.

As the saying goes, a gentleman loves wealth but obtains it through proper means. In the past year, I have worked hard in the entertainment industry, using my own abilities and efforts. Although I have taken some shortcuts, I have not acted in the dark, and I can hold my head high without any guilt, which has not shaken my Daoist heart. The same should apply to wealth and love. But now, I have been tempted by beauty and developed impure thoughts, which have made my mind unstable and almost destroyed my Daoist heart. It seems I must often reflect on myself, or I will surely repeat today's mistake."

To calm his mind, Zhang Chengyuan, apart from attending school, doing necessary work, and occasionally visiting friends, spent almost every day at home reading Daoist books. Although he had written these books himself and knew them by heart, he always gained new insights each time he read them. These insights were not only about Daoist theory but also about life philosophy, which greatly guided his future actions.

During this period, Park Byung-ryul was very understanding of Zhang Chengyuan's busy academic schedule as a high school student preparing for the college entrance exam, so he did not give him many jobs. On the other hand, his attention was gradually drawn to the company's new model, Kim Tae-hee, who no longer revolved around Zhang Chengyuan every day. Recently, Kim Tae-hee, with her stunning and fresh image, had become a sensation in the fashion and advertising industries, like a sudden and powerful whirlwind that grew stronger and stronger, surpassing even Zhang Chengyuan's popularity from the previous year.

Park Byung-ryul and Zhang Chengyuan believed there were several reasons for this:

1. Kim Tae-hee had the prestigious brand of Seoul National University. While Zhang Chengyuan's fame was partly due to his association with Jang Dong-gun, Kim Tae-hee's beauty and the reputation of Seoul National University were her main assets. Graduates from prestigious universities like Seoul National University have a significant influence in Korean society, spanning politics, finance, business, and the entertainment industry. In equal conditions, graduates from prestigious universities are always given preferential treatment.

2. Kim Tae-hee had an age advantage. Since Zhang Chengyuan was still a minor and a high school student, he could not endorse many products, such as soju, credit cards, financial products, and apartment buildings. Kim Tae-hee, on the other hand, had no such restrictions and could endorse a wide variety of products, more than many established stars. Moreover, university studies are relatively less demanding than high school, allowing more flexibility and even the option to delay graduation, giving her more time and energy to focus on her career.

3. In the advertising industry, when choosing male models, factors such as appearance, physique, and the fit between the model's aura and the product are equally or even more important. For female models, appearance is often the primary consideration, and other factors can be secondary or even ignored, as the aura of a stunning beauty can be versatile and adaptable to most product types. In this regard, Zhang Chengyuan found it difficult to compete.

The first two points were shared views of Park Byung-ryul and Zhang Chengyuan, while the third point was Park Byung-ryul's personal observation based on his years of experience in the advertising industry. Whether this matched reality was a matter of individual perspective.

Park Byung-ryul and Zhang Chengyuan also concluded that in the next two to three years, Zhang Chengyuan's achievements would definitely not match Kim Tae-hee's.

Given that Zhang Chengyuan still had to prepare for the college entrance exam, Park Byung-ryul naturally shifted the company's focus to Kim Tae-hee. However, with his long-term vision, he would not neglect Zhang Chengyuan. Considering that Zhang Chengyuan might resent Kim Tae-hee's newfound fame, he often talked to Zhang Chengyuan, encouraging him to prioritize his studies and wait until next year to make a big move. He also hinted that Zhang Chengyuan was still the company's most valued artist, urging him to focus on his studies and aim for a prestigious university, rather than having unnecessary thoughts.

This left Zhang Chengyuan somewhat puzzled. He had a deep liking for Kim Tae-hee. Although he had given up on pursuing her after learning she had a boyfriend, he remained very friendly towards her. They had developed a close sister-brother relationship during their limited interactions. Since they had known each other for a relatively short time, their relationship was not yet as close as the one between Zhang Chengyuan and the girls from Fin.K.L.

Moreover, with Zhang Chengyuan's inherently aloof personality, how could he lower himself to be jealous of someone, especially a woman?

Not only was Zhang Chengyuan not jealous, but he was also very content with the current situation and not at all worried about the lack of progress in his career over the past few months. As he had previously thought, inaction is the way to achieve everything; he should just let things take their natural course.

While Park Byung-ryul was delighted by Kim Tae-hee's rising success, he also began to worry about the lack of progress in Zhang Chengyuan's career. The Korean entertainment industry is known for packaging idol stars, but most stars shine brightly for a short time before quickly fading away. Park Byung-ryul feared that if Zhang Chengyuan did not advance, he would become a fleeting star, so in June, when he learned that KBS was planning to produce a youth romance drama and was recruiting new young actors, he eagerly obtained the relevant materials for Zhang Chengyuan and insisted that he prepare thoroughly to secure a good role.