Of course, Zoe decided not to post that screenshot. If she were the one to post it, there was no doubt—she'd be accused of staging drama, grasping for attention. She'd be labeled insincere and manipulative, her explanations dismissed as desperate excuses.
At 9 p.m., the program team sent over the updated script. It had returned to its original version, with everyone getting roughly equal screen time. How much would actually make it into the final cut? That would depend entirely on each person's performance and how much usable content they delivered.
At 9:30, Zoe left the hotel gym, only to run into Yan in the hallway. Dressed impeccably, with makeup perfectly done, Yan looked like she was on her way to meet someone. Sure, celebrities always looked presentable when out and about, but it was unusual to be dressed up as if for a photoshoot this late at night.
When their paths crossed, neither woman acknowledged the other. They both passed by coldly, as if neither was worth a glance—like lifelong rivals feigning disinterest. Just as they brushed shoulders, though, Yan sneered, "How's life under a sugar daddy treating you?"
Zoe smiled sweetly back, countering, "Jealous, sis?"
Yan's practiced expression of indifference shattered, her face contorting with fury. "I would never stoop so low."
"Then why are you spouting such nonsense?" Zoe shot back, unruffled.
Yan scoffed. "Oh, I see. You've got some bite. Do your fans know the 'sweet, innocent' Zoe they adore can be so vicious?"
"I don't have fans, Yan. I'm just popular. Unlike you—no longer relevant, but still clinging to loyal supporters," Zoe replied with a faint smirk.
Yan's face turned an angry red. "Don't get too full of yourself. Let's see how long this fame lasts."
But Zoe didn't keep the verbal sparring going. Instead, she gazed at Yan with a soft, almost maternal expression that belied a sharp, unfiltered pity.
"I never set out to compete with you," Zoe said softly. "But you attacked me from day one. Do you think I'm gloating?" She stepped closer, lifting Yan's chin slightly. "No, I just wanted to see you like this—furious. Because the angrier you are, the more it proves you care. It shows that I have something you don't."
"You—" Yan stammered, her face turning even redder.
Zoe took a step back. "Don't let it upset you too much. You're at the age where you really need to watch your health."
With a triumphant smile, Zoe turned and left, her poise unwavering. Behind her, Yan's face twisted with an icy rage.
But around the corner at the end of the hallway, Song stood, watching the entire scene with a look of shock. Deciding on impulse not to switch hotels after all, he'd stumbled onto this spectacle as soon as he arrived. This was a side of Zoe he had never seen—neither gentle nor sweet. Here, she was powerful, crushing Yan with a casual, brutal elegance.
Once his surprise faded, Song found himself unexpectedly… thrilled. Far from being put off, Zoe's duality only made her more intriguing in his eyes.