4.1 The Actor Shell

As Cass slowly opened his eyes, the vertiginous reality dawned upon him – he stood on the precipice of a hotel ledge, a sea of people below clamoring for him to take a leap into the unknown, their collective cries urging him to "Jump!"

Amidst the tumult, relentless reporters wielded cameras like paparazzi sentinels, capturing every anguished moment. A blink revealed the cruel clarity of Cass's situation.

The shell he inhabited belonged to Huang Jian, a 21-year-old actor. Jian's life began in an orphanage, abandoned just days after birth. His fortune changed when Huang Luoyang and his wife, Huang Saifei, welcomed him into their hearts and home.

The love they showered upon Jian was profound. Fast forward to his eighth year, and the Huang family expanded as Huang Minglan, Luoyang's sister's daughter, joined them due to her parents relocating abroad. Instantly, Minglan and Jian forged an unbreakable friendship.