Chapter 2
Chapter 2
The Realest You was a major reality program that had been in the works since before the New Year. It was trending now because rumor had it that Sang Ge would be among the guests.
Even after dominating the news for days, the famously private director remained a mystery.
Word online said he would not only appear on the show, but choose the lead for his next film from among its guests.
The battle for a place in the cast instantly became a clash of titans.
Sister Liu gazed at the opportunity and sighed. “If you could get on that show, you might finally clear your name and make a comeback.”
We exchanged smiles.
I had only just returned to the industry. I could not even land a commercial, much less something like this.
Opportunities did not fall from the sky.
Capitalists did not run charities.
This time, however, an opportunity really did fall from the sky.
Standing in front of the seaside villa where The Realest You was being filmed, I still found it hard to believe.
With a wig and makeup on, I merely looked thinner than before.
Before I left, Sister Liu told me this was my chance to turn things around. In truth, clearing my name did not matter much to me. I only wanted to make people happy for every extra day I remained alive.
Facing a camera for the first time in years, I had just summoned the signature smile of the nation’s Happy Daughter when the cameraman abruptly swung his lens behind me.
I turned. My smile froze.
Sang Ge and Jiang Siyu approached side by side, the sea breeze lifting the hems of their clothes. Sang Ge had fully grown into his looks, his features striking beyond compare.
“Sang…” The first syllable escaped me before my throat closed.
He and Jiang Siyu brushed past without sparing me a glance.
I lowered my head and stared at my toes, never before so grateful that he remained brilliant and irresistible.
Against his light, my darkness did not seem quite so humiliating.
“You.” Jiang Siyu suddenly turned and pointed at the suitcase behind her. “Take that to my room.”
I glanced over my shoulder. She curled her lips and pointed directly at me. “Yes, you, Ding Guchun.”
It felt rather jarring. She had spent the past two years marketing herself as a sweet, innocent girl, yet in front of me she no longer bothered pretending.
“Jiang Siyu,” I said evenly, “we’re live.”
Her face changed at once. In an instant, she replaced her expression with her usual sugary smile. She was probably scrambling for a way to salvage the situation; even her lips went pale.
Then I drawled, “Just kidding.”
The whiplash left her choking on her anger. When she looked around and saw that Sang Ge had not waited for her and was already far ahead, she gritted her teeth, grabbed her own suitcase, and ran after him.
The production team had invited me for one reason: the attention generated by my feud with Jiang Siyu.
By striking back, I had merely given them what they wanted.
After unpacking in the room assigned to me, I stepped outside and ran straight into Sang Ge. He was staying across the hall.
He seemed to have just washed his hair; his fringe was still damp.
People said fame polished a person, and success had made him look even more distinguished. Only his aloofness remained unchanged from the prickly boy I once knew. Calling his name earlier had been pure instinct. Now reason had returned.
Remembering that he did not want to speak to me, I lowered my eyes and waited for him to leave first.
His mocking voice came from above me.
“Doesn’t your rich boyfriend let you eat?”
I looked up. Sang Ge’s gaze was cold, fixed on the bones jutting from beneath my clothes. Instinctively, I tugged my sleeves lower to hide my thin wrists. “I’m dieting,” I said softly.
He gave a derisive laugh. “You’re working awfully hard to marry into money.”
It was blunt. Humiliating.
I opened my mouth, but Sang Ge was already walking downstairs.