Zi Yan sat in her private lounge, staring at the note in her hand.
"Enjoy your victory while it lasts. It won't be long before you fall again."
Her fingers tightened around the paper. The meaning was clear—someone wanted to warn her, or worse, threaten her.
Her mind instantly went to Wang Qian. The woman had stormed out of the audition room earlier, clearly furious about losing. Was she behind this?
But Wang Qian wasn't the only enemy she had. Guo Bao, Wang Yin, and their supporters also had reasons to see her fail.
She took a deep breath and set the note aside. Whoever sent it wanted her to be scared, to lose focus. But she wouldn't let them win.
Just then, her phone buzzed.
It was a message from her manager, Li Mei.
Li Mei: "Congratulations! You nailed it! But be careful. Wang Qian is furious, and there are rumors that she's planning something."
Zi Yan wasn't surprised. Wang Qian wasn't the type to accept defeat easily.
Zi Yan: "Understood. I'll be careful."
She put her phone away and took another sip of tea. The battle wasn't over yet. It was only just beginning.
The next morning, Zi Yan arrived at Celestial Film Studios for the first official meeting with the production team. She walked through the large glass doors, her heels clicking against the marble floor.
Inside, the atmosphere was busy. Staff members rushed around with scripts and schedules. Some actors were already discussing their roles.
Zi Yan greeted a few familiar faces before heading toward the meeting room. As she entered, she immediately noticed Wang Qian sitting in the corner, her arms crossed.
When their eyes met, Wang Qian smirked. "Enjoying your moment?" she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Zi Yan remained calm. "I'm here to work, not play games."
"Good," Wang Qian said. "Because this industry is cruel. One mistake, and you're out."
Zi Yan didn't respond. She already knew that.
The director, Zhang Tian, entered, silencing the room. He went over the schedule, the expectations, and the script. Everything seemed professional—until the casting assistant spoke.
"Unfortunately," the assistant said, looking slightly nervous, "there has been a… change to the cast."
A murmur spread through the room.
Zhang Tian frowned. "What kind of change?"
The assistant hesitated before saying, "Wang Qian has been added to the film as the secondary female lead."
Zi Yan's eyes narrowed.
Wang Qian smiled smugly. "I told you, Zi Yan. I don't lose that easily."
Zi Yan knew exactly what had happened. Wang Qian had used her connections to secure a role in the film. It wasn't uncommon in the industry—if you had enough power, you could force your way into any production.
Zi Yan wasn't intimidated, but she knew this meant trouble. Wang Qian wouldn't just act. She would cause problems.
The first scene was an action sequence. Zi Yan's character had to escape from a group of assassins, and Wang Qian's character was supposed to help her.
The fight choreography was carefully planned. The stunt coordinator walked through every movement, making sure everything was safe.
But when the cameras started rolling, Wang Qian didn't follow the script.
Instead of helping Zi Yan's character dodge an attack, she deliberately pushed her too hard.
Zi Yan's balance slipped, and she barely managed to stop herself from falling. The crew gasped.
The director immediately called "Cut!" and walked over. "What happened?"
Wang Qian put on an innocent expression. "Oh, I'm sorry. I was just acting naturally. I thought it would look more real."
Zi Yan wiped her hands on her costume, keeping her expression neutral. "If you want real, then let's make it real," she said.
The director sighed. "Be careful. We don't want injuries."
They reset the scene and started again.
This time, Zi Yan was prepared.
When Wang Qian tried to push her again, Zi Yan shifted her weight at the last second, making Wang Qian stumble instead.
Wang Qian barely caught herself, her face flashing with embarrassment.
Zi Yan smiled slightly. If Wang Qian wanted to play dirty, then she'd better be ready to lose.
During the lunch break, Zi Yan went to her dressing room. As she entered, she noticed something strange—her water bottle was open.
Her eyes darkened. Someone had tampered with it.
She didn't drink it. Instead, she pretended to take a sip and set it back down. Moments later, she excused herself and secretly switched bottles with one from another actress's table.
Then, she waited.
Fifteen minutes later, the actress who had taken the switched bottle rushed to the restroom, her face pale.
Zi Yan's suspicion was confirmed—someone had tried to drug her.
A cold chill ran through her. This wasn't just competition anymore. Someone wanted to destroy her.
She clenched her fists. They had picked the wrong person to mess with.
That evening, as Zi Yan was leaving the studio, a black car pulled up beside her. The tinted window rolled down, revealing a middle-aged man in a sharp suit.
"Miss Zi," he said, smiling. "May I have a word?"
Zi Yan didn't recognize him, but she could tell he was powerful. His aura was calm, but his eyes held a dangerous glint.
"I'm in a hurry," she said, stepping back.
The man chuckled. "No need to be nervous. I represent someone… interested in your career."
Zi Yan's eyes narrowed. "And what does this 'someone' want?"
He handed her a small card. "A partnership. If you work with us, your success is guaranteed."
Zi Yan looked at the card. The logo belonged to a well-known entertainment company—but one infamous for controlling its artists through hidden contracts.
She smiled coldly. "Not interested."
The man's expression didn't change, but his voice lowered. "Think carefully, Miss Zi. Many stars regret rejecting us."
Zi Yan met his gaze. "Then I guess I'll be the first who doesn't."
Without another word, she turned and walked away.
The black car stayed for a few seconds before driving off.
Zi Yan knew she had just made a new enemy. But she didn't care.
No one would control her fate.
And if they tried, she would make them regret it.