"Rising starlet Liang Meixiu dazzled at the Golden Crane Awards last night, securing the title of Best Rookie Actress of the Year. Known for her sweet smile and humble persona, she outshone the other nominees with her performance in Falling Petals.
Interestingly, fellow nominee Ivy Kang (Kang Yuwei)once touted as the frontrunner, left the ceremony empty-handed. Industry insiders claim that the two actresses are 'close friends,' with Liang Meixiu even extending a personal invitation to Ivy Kang for her after-party celebration at Club Zenith, the most exclusive nightlife hub for A-listers."
"Wow, Meixiu deserves it! She worked so hard. Meanwhile, Ivy Kang is just a pretty face with zero acting skills."
"Wasn't Ivy supposed to win? Guess the rumors about her attitude being difficult are true."
"LMAO, her rival invited her to the party? That's a slap in the face if I've ever seen one."
"Maybe Ivy should stick to modeling. She's beautiful, but acting? Not her lane."
"Ivy Kang trending for losing >>>>>>"
"She better not pull a diva stunt at the club tonight. Don't embarrass yourself, sis."
Backstage at the Golden Crane Awards,
Kang Yuwei held her champagne glass loosely, her crimson lips curved into the faintest of smiles. Cameras still flashed for Liang Meixiu in the distance, every cheer piercing her like needles.
She didn't flinch. She never did.
But when her manager whispered in her ear, "We have to go to the after-party. It's networking, Yuwei," her hand tightened around the stem of the glass until it nearly cracked.
The after-party at Club Zenith… invited by Meixiu herself. What a joke.
The neon lights of Club Zenith spilled onto the velvet carpet like molten gold, a playground for the elite, the corrupt, and the curious. Luxury cars lined the street, their glossy paint reflecting the flashing cameras stationed at the entrance.
When the black sedan pulled up, the crowd of reporters stirred.
The door opened.
Ivy Kang stepped out.
Her silver gown shimmered under the cameras' ruthless light, diamonds like frost against her pale skin. To outsiders, she looked every bit the dazzling actress, her crimson lips curved in a smile so perfect it could be painted. But beneath the spotlight, her fingers dug into the clutch in her hand.
The first shout cracked through the noise...
"Ivy! Ivy Kang! How does it feel to lose the Rookie of the Year award to your co-star Liang Meixiu?"
Flashes exploded.
"Rumors say you and Miss Liang aren't on good terms. Did she invite you to mock you tonight?"
"Is it true your popularity is dropping because of your 'attitude problem'?"
"Fans online are saying you've lost your momentum. Care to comment?"
A hundred voices, a thousand clicks, and every word sharpened like knives.
Ivy's smile didn't falter. She lifted her chin, the perfect actress playing the perfect part.
"Liang Meixiu is talented," she said, her voice smooth but hollow. "She deserved her award. As for tonight..." her gaze slid toward the glowing entrance of Club Zenith, "...I'm only here to celebrate her success."
The reporters pounced on every syllable, twisting them into headlines even before she'd stepped inside.
Her manager tugged at her arm urgently, whispering, "Smile, Yuwei. Just keep smiling."
So she did.
But deep down, she wondered how much longer she could endure this charade.
Yuwei's sharp eyes scanned the crowd. Her gaze landed on Meixiu, radiant in her soft ivory gown, surrounded by elite actors who showered her with praise. The lady's smile was effortless, innocent, like sunlight spilling across the room.
Yuwei clenched her fist under her clutch and bit her lower lip. She had thought of turning away, of slipping out before anyone noticed. But something kept her rooted in place.
She was about to step back when Meixiu's eyes caught hers. Without hesitation, the rookie actress moved through the crowd, leaving polite laughter behind.
"Yuwei… you really came! I'm so glad," Meixiu said, her voice warm and open. "I knew you wouldn't ignore this invitation."
"I only came to congratulate you, I still have important things to attend to, so I will take my leave," Yuwei replied, her tone polite but icy, eyes averted.
"Important things?" A snide voice cut through the air. One of the senior actors laughed, leaning in with a teasing smirk. "What would a rookie actress be doing that's more important than celebrating a friend's big win? You're just embarrassed you lost the award."
A ripple of laughter followed. Yuwei's jaw tightened, the edge of her composure fraying, but Meixiu didn't flinch. Instead, she regarded Yuwei calmly, her gaze patient, as if willing the humiliation to bounce harmlessly off.
"Come on," Meixiu said softly, stepping closer and gesturing toward the bar. "Let's have a drink. Forget the noise for a moment."
Yuwei paused. The world seemed to slow, the laughter and flashes fading into a dull roar. For a brief second, she felt a part of her that wanted to explode, to prove she wasn't the loser everyone assumed she was.
Yet beneath that, an unspoken truth gnawed at her. Meixiu wasn't here to mock her. Not really... right?
With a slow exhale, Yuwei allowed herself to follow, the flash of cameras trailing them like tiny stars falling in.
Yuwei and Meixiu settled onto the plush leather stools at the bar, the hum of conversation around them dimming slightly as they leaned in. The bar gleamed under soft amber lights, bottles reflecting like jewels along the back shelves.
The bartender approached, setting two crystal glasses before them. "Nonalcoholic cocktails, ladies," he said with a polite nod. Meixiu shot him a secretive glance. He returned a subtle, knowing smile and stepped away.
"To my award and to you for always supporting me," Meixiu said, lifting her glass with an effortless cheer. Her smile was warm, inviting, almost disarming.
Yuwei mirrored her gesture, the tension in her jaw slightly easing. They clinked glasses, and Yuwei took a careful sip of the cocktail.
As the conversation flowed and Yuwei sipped again. Then a third time. A strange warmth spread through her chest, her vision swaying ever so slightly.
Why am I suddenly dizzy?
"Yuwei?" Meixiu's voice sounded concerned, almost distant, as if coming from across a fog.
Yuwei blinked, tried to speak, but she couldn't. The world tilted, the bar spinning around her. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed forward, unconscious.
Meixiu's smile softened into something sharper, more calculated. Beneath the warmth, an unreadable glint shimmered in her eyes.
I will help you get the spot you've always coveted… but everything comes at a cost.
She snapped her fingers.
The bartender reappeared silently, lifting Yuwei into his arms as though she weighed nothing. He carried her through the thrum of music and chatter, out of sight from the prying eyes and flashing cameras.
Meixiu watched them go, her smile returning.
When Yuwei eyes fluttered open, the world was different. The bass, the cameras, the gilded laughter of Zenith...gone.
A low light shined in the corner of an unfamiliar room, its glow catching on polished wood and a haze of cigar smoke.
Her body felt like lead against the leather sofa. Panic clawed at her chest. She tried to sit up, but her limbs refused to obey.
A voice drifted from the shadows. Calm. Patient. Almost gentle.
"Awake at last."
Her pulse spiked. Slowly, a figure stepped into the half-light. An older man...his silvered hair slicked neatly back, his tailored suit immaculate, his eyes sharp with the ease of someone long used to power.
"What… what's happening? Who are you?" she whispered hoarsely, her voice barely more than a breath, a wave of heat coursed through her body.
The man smiled faintly, like a teacher humoring a child. "You've always wanted more, haven't you, Ivy Kang? More roles, more recognition… more glory." He leaned forward, resting one hand on the armrest beside her. "Ambition has a price. And tonight, you've finally stepped into the game where it's decided."
Yuwei's heart pounded the voice sounded familiar. Her instincts screamed at her to escape. She tried to speak, to push him away, but her voice barely formed words,
"Wh… what do you want?" Her voice cracked, weak.
He leaned closer, his expression unreadable, but the weight of his gaze pinned her in place.
"Patience," he said softly. "Everything comes at a price, doesn't it? And… I think it's time you learned yours."
The room felt stifling. Yuwei's mind raced, trying to piece together how she had gone from the glamorous Club Zenith to this terrifying situation. The last thing she remembered was the drink… and Meixiu's smile.
Her eyes widened in realization. Meixiu...what had she done to her?
The old man chuckled lowly, as if reading her thoughts. "Don't struggle just yet. So we can enjoy this together."