Yu Tian walked onto the red carpet, smiling brightly and waving to the crowd. The photographers eagerly responded with enthusiastic shouts:
"Look this way!"
"Tian, over here! Give us a smile!"
Though Zoe had received some attention from the photographers earlier, there was a clear difference. The press favored Yu Tian, seeing her as an up-and-coming actress with a genuine filmography, while Zoe, in their minds, was a starlet who rose through scandal.
Despite the fact that media coverage and hype are part of the game, many reporters still hold professional ideals. They often lean toward supporting new actors like Yu Tian, whose hard work and talent merit recognition.
Zoe straightened her posture, gracefully maintaining her composure, her smile unwavering as she waited for Yu Tian to join her in the seating area. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, they exchanged smiles, but Yu Tian spoke softly with an almost saccharine tone that concealed a sting.
"Shameless," she murmured with a smile.
Surprised, Zoe glanced at her, keeping her voice low. "Did I offend you somehow?"
"Ha, you know exactly what I'm talking about," Yu Tian replied. "You're the type who learns where Chi's staying, goes there, sets up the paparazzi for a scandal, and then plays innocent by issuing some statement as if you're the victim. Disgusting."
Zoe was taken aback. So this was all because of the rumor from the other day, which Yu Tian believed she'd orchestrated. But instead of defending herself, Zoe merely smiled serenely and replied, "Do you like Chi?"
Yu Tian's face turned red, her eyes shifting nervously as she hastily denied it, "What nonsense are you spouting? I just feel bad for him, getting caught up with someone as scheming as you."
"Miss Tian, it's important to have proof before making accusations."
Yu Tian scoffed dismissively. "Well, if you keep up this act, you'll be the one needing to issue a clarification."
The threat halted Yu Tian's smirk, and after a moment's hesitation, she regained her smile.
"I don't have any connection to Chi beyond professional," Zoe continued in a calm tone. "Unless you're fond of him, there's no reason for such a harsh reaction. Even if you do, that's hardly a license to insult me. And honestly, if I had been behind the rumor, don't you think your dear Chi would've confronted me?"
"That's only because he's too kind-hearted to deal with the likes of you!" Yu Tian insisted.
"Ha," Zoe chuckled dismissively, recalling the harsher side Chi's manager had shown. Kind-hearted? Hardly. But she let it go, figuring Yu Tian had fallen too hard to see the reality.
Suddenly, cheers erupted from the photographers' side of the carpet. Chi had arrived, clad in an elegant black suit that exuded confidence, more like he was attending an award show than a store opening. He was undeniably handsome, and as Yu Tian's gaze locked onto him, her face lit up like that of a love-struck student.
Zoe observed Yu Tian's reaction, amused by the straightforward infatuation. She saw a bit of her own younger self in Yu Tian, that pure, open fondness. It almost made her feel forgiving, and any irritation she'd felt melted away.
Chi took his seat a few spots away, Zoe carefully avoiding even a glance in his direction to prevent any fodder for the rumor mill. However, when the brand's representatives insisted on positioning her beside him for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Zoe reluctantly complied, maintaining a discreet half-step's distance.
The event concluded, and Zoe changed before leaving. Just as she walked past Chi's waiting room with Lan, she noticed Yu Tian inside, speaking to Chi with a dreamy look. Chi smiled back politely, but Chi's manager, Hu, spotted Zoe in the hall, scowling as he moved to shut the door with an irritated mutter: "Annoying."
Zoe chuckled at Hu's reaction, though whether she truly wasn't bothered was a mystery to all but herself.
In the car, Lan glanced at her phone, raising an eyebrow. "We're trending again."
"Another rumor with Chi?"
"Exactly. Probably bought by the brand; the hashtag's soaring."
Zoe scrolled through the social media topic page, finding a series of images from the event. The brand's post led the lineup with over a dozen photos, including three solo shots of Chi and several group pictures. Zoe's images followed, featuring her elegantly showcasing the brand's jewelry, gestures intentional and poised.
"Some of Chi's fans are accusing you of milking the scandal," Lan said carefully, gauging Zoe's reaction. "A lot of celebs who face online hate fall into that spiral, you know… I just worry you're pretending to brush it off when it's getting to you."
But Zoe only laughed softly. Sunlight filtered through the car window, casting a golden glow over her gentle smile. To Lan, the scene looked like something out of a film, timeless and serene.
"Relax," Zoe said simply. "It's all good."
The following week was packed with back-to-back engagements, keeping Zoe so busy that she barely had time to think. By Monday, she finally had a morning off, lazily stretching in bed until her coffee order arrived. Close to noon, she met Lan to discuss some potential projects. Riding her current wave of buzz, they hoped to land a solid role to solidify Zoe's momentum. Lan knew that to build a lasting career, Zoe needed a memorable role—a role that could pay dividends for years.
Zoe's agency, Chengqian Entertainment, was part of the larger Chengqian Group, which had its own production arm. Today, Zoe was scheduled to meet with some of the production team to discuss possible collaborations.
Lan escorted her to the seventh-floor conference room, where they waited. But when the elevator stopped on the fifth floor, in walked none other than Ruoxue Wei.
Ruoxue, a top actress with twelve years in the industry, had risen through the ranks from "prettiest freshman" to the leading actress of major dramas. Dressed in a chic black jacket, she glanced at Zoe with a barely polite smile, studying her with a cool, assessing gaze before striding off on the seventh floor.
"Her aura is intense," Lan whispered once they were alone. "And I don't think she's too fond of you."
"Really? Why not?" Zoe chuckled lightly.
"Well, word is she doesn't like anyone younger or prettier getting close. She's already maneuvering to secure her position before the next wave of top actresses."
Zoe nodded, amused. "Guess we're all after the same thing."
"Exactly," Lan added. "But hey, don't be too picky later. Now's the time to play by the agency's rules a bit; get one good role under your belt. They're picky over at production, so it's best to go in with an open mind."
When they finally reached the conference room, it was empty. Lan frowned as she confirmed the location. "Strange… I'll check in with them."
"It's fine, we'll wait." Zoe settled into a chair with a calm smile. She wasn't about to let a wait phase her.
After thirty minutes, a man finally entered. Handsome and polished, he strode in with a charming smile, extending his hand as he apologized. "Sorry for the delay, Miss Zoe. I was detained by an important guest."
Zoe stood, meeting his gaze with poise. "No worries, you must be busy."