Her eyes quickly landed on the large engraved plaque reading 50. Drawing a deep breath, she walked over, turned the handle, and pushed the door open before stepping inside.
The room burst with noise and light. Nearly forty people had already gathered inside, actors and actresses she had worked alongside for months, directors chatting animatedly in one corner, photographers with half-filled glasses in hand, equipment assistants laughing loudly at some joke.
The air smelled of expensive wine and perfume, while the tables were piled high with food and bottles.
For a moment, Tang Yu stood frozen by the door, watching the cheerful scene. Everyone else seemed so carefree, so full of joy, while her own heart was heavy with the pain of betrayal.
Tang Yu, you're the late comer! Punish yourself with a glass of wine!" the director called out loudly, waving his hand with a grin pasted on his face. She couldn't refute this request after all, this was what all brought them here...
Before she could even take a seat, a glass was already shoved into her hand. The ruby-red liquid shimmered under the lights, and without hesitation, Tang Yu lifted it to her lips and gulped it down in one go.
The alcohol slid down her throat like fire, burning with every swallow. She almost coughed, but forced herself to hold it in, her expression calm.
It was her first time drinking, yet she was surprised, beneath the harsh sting was a faint sweetness that lingered on her tongue making her yearn for more.
"Woah! What a good drinker you are!" someone shouted, clapping their hands in amusement. Laughter and cheers erupted around her. None of them knew it was her very first taste of alcohol.
Tang Yu forced a small smile, but inside, her chest felt heavy. Her heart was a mess of bitterness and grief. She wanted, no, needed the numbness.
Maybe if she drank enough, she could drown out the sorrows that were gnashing ger heart.
"Fill her glass again!" another man yelled, already pouring more into her cup.
Glasses clinked, bottles tipped, and soon the atmosphere grew louder and wilder. Stories flew across the table, jokes were shouted, and laughter shook the room.
The smell of alcohol grew thicker as one by one, people slipped deeper into drunkenness.
Tang Yu sat among them, the glass in her hand refilling again and again, her lips pressing against it with desperate resolve. She didn't drink to join the fun, she drank to forget the pain.
"Some rooms have been prepared for anyone who can't hold their liquor. You can rest anytime you feel like it and you are welcome..." someone reminded them as they loudly cheered up
With that reassurance, nobody held back anymore. Bottles emptied faster, glasses clinked louder, and people drank without restraint. After all, where do you get to have such free fun. They didn't spend a coin on anything.
Tang Yu, however, began to feel her head spinning and very heavy. Her vision blurred, the room tilting every now and then. When she finally looked around, most people were gone. Only two men remained with her in the 'now' quiet VIP room.
"Tang Yu, you are drunk, let's take you to a room so that you can have some rest," one of them politely offered.
Too dizzy to think properly, she gave a small nod. They came to her sides, helping her up. Her legs felt heavy, and her steps unstable as they guided her down the hall to one of the reserved rooms.
The moment they entered, the door shut behind them with a loud click, like it had been locked from the inside.
Tang Yu frowned weakly, her voice hoarse. "Why… why are you locking the door?" Why lock the door when they haven't stepped out of the room yet.
They set her down on the bed, but instead of leaving, the men exchanged some sneaky glances and loudly smirked.
"It's just the three of us now, what a beautiful lady you are!" one said, his tone low and mocking. "Director Chen gave you to us as a… special gift, you know. And with such a gift, where do you want us to go?"
He stepped closer, his hand brushing against her arm intimately.
Even through the haze of alcohol, Tang Yu felt her skin crawl. She shoved his hand away, her voice shaking. "Stop it!"
"I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Whatever you're intending to do, it's illegal! You should know that!"
But her protest only made them laugh at her naivety.
"You don't have to worry about anything..." the other man drawled, leaning closer. "We will be quite gentle with you, so fragile and tiny…"
Her heart immediately dropped. Panic clawed through her drunken haze. She tried to push them again, but this time, rough hands grabbed her wrists, forcing them down against the bed.