Five years after our breakup, Julian Vance's sister exposed me on a reality show. "My brother used to date this girl. total gold digger." "After they broke up, she sent him hundreds of texts begging to get back together." "But, you know, I deleted all of them." Netizens locked onto me, a washed-up actress, as the suspect. To grab the headline, a paparazzo dug me out from a pile of "dead bodies" on set. I wiped the dirt off my face and smiled at the camera. "We really aren't close. Otherwise, would I be playing a corpse here?" The interview went viral. Julian flew back from abroad. That night, I saw him at my apartment door. "Not close? So who was I sleeping with all those years? A ghost?" Chapter 1 After Chloe's explosive clip aired, it fermented overnight and trended #1 on Twitter. On screen, she smiled nonchalantly, acting like the judge, jury, and executioner of gold diggers. "Anyone with eyes could see she was after our money. My brother thought she was so innocent." "You know, that 'innocent' act is the scariest. None of our friends liked her." "But my brother was bewitched. He almost cut ties with the family for her." "My mom wanted to force them apart, but I told her not to lose her son over a gold digger." "Eventually, I went undercover and used some tricks to reveal her true colors." "I saved my brother's life. Families like ours need a match of equal status for everyone to be happy." Chloe entered showbiz as a "Chaebol heiress." Publicly, she was the daughter of Vance Real Estate. People naturally assumed the brother she mentioned was the heir to Vance Real Estate. But in reality, Vance Real Estate was just a small asset of the Vance Empire. Anyway, you can't check your phone while playing a corpse. The guy next to me filled me in on what Chloe said. Somehow, the clues linked back to me, the has-been actress. "Is it really not you?" The director yelled "Cut!", and the paparazzo and I crawled up together. This guy was dedicated. He snuck in to play a dead body just to get a scoop. I dusted off my gray robe and grinned. "Really not me. If I could hook up with a billionaire heir, would I be playing a corpse here?" He spat out a blade of grass. "Don't act. I've tracked you since your debut. I could never get a pic of your ex-boyfriend. Now this leak matches perfectly." I ignored him, digging a crumpled business card out of my jeans pocket under the robe. I shoved it into his hand with a flattering smile. "Boss, call me if you have work. Dead bodies, corpses, background trees... I can do it all. My skills are top-notch." This paparazzo, Mike, bought stock in "Scarlett" when I debuted. In my prime, he bought a house in LA by selling my scandals. Now that I was a flop, only he hadn't given up, hoping for my comeback tour. He cursed and grabbed the card. "I swear, if you were a stock, I'd have lost my underwear by now." "Scarlett, you used to be so glorious. How did you end up like this?" I sighed and rubbed my hands. "Heroes don't brag about the past. Just throw some work my way, Mike, and I'll be grateful." I stretched my neck and shouted at his back, "Bro, I'll play anything! Just give me a role!" The autumn wind was cold. I wrapped my robe tighter. If he hadn't mentioned the past, I might have forgotten. Glorious? Yeah, it was glorious once. Chapter 2 I debuted at eighteen, scouted from film school. By nineteen, I was a superstar. Magazines criticized me daily but couldn't deny my fame. Variety called me the brightest star in the galaxy. I lived up to the hype, rocketing to the top. Chloe always said I was after her brother's money. Others didn't know, but Julian Vance knew best. I met him when I was nineteen. My future was limitless, and I was arrogant. He didn't know how to woo a girl, only how to throw money. "Be with me, I'll fund your movie." I threw the money in his face. "I need your funding? Directors are lining up to give me scripts." He smiled, not angry, and stopped his bodyguards from attacking me. After that, he changed tactics. He lowered his noble head. He rode the bus with me to remote sets. He stayed in my rental, cooking soup for me. I took it for granted, patting his shoulder. "I'm a superstar. People line up to cook for me!" "When I win the Oscar, when I'm famous worldwide, you'll have bragging rights. Out of everyone, you picked me, a treasure." Julian ran his fingers through my hair, agreeing with my nonsense unconditionally. "That's why I have good taste. I knew you'd make it since day one." Back then, Julian seemed like any other rich kid, except for his devastatingly good looks. He really loved me then. The patience cultivated from a privileged upbringing was all spent on me. I got famous early. Young, aggressive, proud. I didn't know how to bow. No one restrained me. I offended many people along the way. I did whatever I wanted in that circle at such a young age. Not because I was powerful, but because Julian was always cleaning up my mess. Those years, if he handed me a sword, I dared to draw it. Actress marrying a billionaire. A classic trope. I thought, I'm a star. Marrying Julian wouldn't bring him much glory, but he wouldn't lose out. So I naively thought it was just a matter of me saying "yes." Chapter 3 Later, I learned what a true gap in status meant. Julian's mother didn't like me. His friends looked down on me. With my pride, I should have broken up with him. But I couldn't. I couldn't leave him. I couldn't stop loving him. I bowed my head. I compromised. I refused to retreat. Chloe entered the picture then. She was Julian's adopted sister. Her father was the Vance family driver. He died saving Julian when she was five, so the Vances adopted her. Maybe out of gratitude, maybe childhood friendship. Chloe had a lot of influence in that circle. When she first met me, she was incredibly enthusiastic. "Brother, is this the sister-in-law you found? She's beautiful." She linked arms with me, pointing at the circle of snobs. "Be nice to my sister-in-law. With me here, no one bullies her." In my confusion, I treated her as an ally. I asked her what Julian's mom thought of me. How to please her. Chloe comforted me. "Don't worry, Auntie is all bark and no bite. You and my brother just need to hold out. Maybe get pregnant first, give her a grandson, she'll be happy." "Or just wait. When my brother gets older, she'll compromise." I wasn't stupid enough to use a baby as a bargaining chip. But Chloe's words gave me confidence. I thought Julian's mom was like any mother. She couldn't beat her child's will. So when Chloe said Julian's mom wanted to see me, I believed her. I did my best makeup, wore my most appropriate dress, and went nervously. It was the first time I met Julian's mother face to face. In a setting clearly not meant for me, I intruded rudely. That moment, I saw deep disgust in her eyes. I looked at Chloe, hoping she would speak up. She smiled and said ambiguously, "Auntie, don't blame her. She just wanted to please you so much, she lost her sense of propriety." My pupils shrank. I felt cold all over. The incident blew up. Julian flew back overnight. Seeing me, his eyes were tired. "Scarlett, I said I was planning. I was finding a way. Why the rush? Do you know what occasion that was? How many VIPs were there? You barging in like that, what does my mom think of you?" I knew he was fighting his family for us. Many sleepless nights, he hugged me, whispering to hold on a little longer. So I knew I was wrong. Red-eyed, I said, "I'm sorry. I was too anxious. It was Chloe. She told me..." Long confrontation with his family drained his patience. "Why blame her? Even if she tried to help, you're an adult. Can't you read the room?" He didn't believe me. He thought I was a gold digger in a hurry. Chapter 4 After that, endless fights and cold wars began. Chloe still pretended to be my friend in public. But behind my back, she despised me like the rest. I decided to leave Julian because the messy relationship stalled my career. Before the breakup, Chloe sent me a video. In it, Julian sat on the sofa, surrounded by familiar faces. His mother said sternly, "How long will you be with that girl?" Julian didn't look up. Lazy tone. "Just playing. Why the rush?" Along with the video came a text from Chloe. "Sister-in-law, don't misunderstand. My brother is like this. Bad mouth. He said he was 'playing' with all his exes, but he gave them money and resources. Dating him for a few days sets you up for life." I didn't confront Julian with the video. I broke up directly. But Julian thought I was throwing a tantrum. He humored me patiently. To disgust him, I said cruel things. "Yes, I found a better sponsor. Whatever you can give, others can too!" "You think your family is royalty? I don't care!" Arguments exploded. Entanglement. Often, I wonder. If Julian had let go then. If I hadn't had that lingering affection. Maybe I wouldn't have walked into Chloe's trap. I wouldn't have been framed as a mistress sleeping with a director at my peak. Explicit photos everywhere. I wouldn't have lost every penny to breach of contract fees. I wouldn't be playing dead bodies now. But there are no "ifs." Love tripped my early life and threw me into prison. Chapter 5 I looked down and lit a cigarette, swiping the screen. The clip's heat was still rising. I read the comments. "Wait, this sister feels like a 'Pick-me girl'. Vance Real Estate owner is named Vance. Is she biological? Does she like her brother? It sounds like she broke them up. The girl didn't even take any money." My finger paused on this comment for a few seconds, then scrolled past. My interview video was also trending. Looking at the free publicity, I felt regret. If I had a PR team now, I could push clips of my old roles. Find some marketing accounts to praise my acting and past achievements. Maybe a director would see it and give me a villainess role. I stomped out the cigarette and turned to go upstairs. Headlights flashed. A black car stopped a few steps away. I looked over curiously. The back door opened. A long leg stepped out. I looked up. The man wore a crisp coat, black turtleneck framing a slender neck. Years later, Julian hadn't changed. High above, noble. Pale skin, sharp brows, narrowed eyes. Looking extremely unapproachable. I scoffed, put my hands in my pockets, and turned away. "Take another step—" Julian called out, voice cold and unfamiliar. I stopped and turned. "Here for the hundred texts? I sent them. But shouldn't you blame Chloe? Why pick on me? She deleted them." Julian smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You should thank her for deleting that trash. If I saw them back then, I might not have let you off so easily." Hate me? Easy. I leaned against a tree, lit another cigarette. Facing Julian's ugly expression, I smiled brightly. "Boss, if I sleep with you, can you get me a supporting role?" Julian's face stiffened. He looked me up and down, then asked indifferently. "Scarlett, where is your shame?" I smiled indifferently. "In my line of work, dignity and shame don't put food on the table, right?" I had shame. No one cared about face more than me back then. But I'm human, not a god. Even thick shame... Was ground to dust over these years. Chapter 6 That night, Julian left with a dark face. His car blew exhaust in my face. The next day, his assistant knocked on my door. Just in time. I almost considered the creepy director who touched my butt a few days ago. Julian's assistant was an old face. Seeing me sign the contract without hesitation, he reminded me sternly. "Mr. Vance said, as long as you behave, he won't treat you badly." I replied perfunctorily, "I get it. From now on, if Boss Vance says go East, I won't go West." "Bro, when can you give me a script? Give me a hint?" "You! How did you become..." He stopped, packing the contract noisily. I knew what he wanted to say. Scarlett, how did you become so mercenary? So thick-skinned? The old Scarlett wouldn't even look at resources Julian offered. I called out to him. "Hey, old friend. Let me know when Julian is getting married. Give me a heads up." Assistant Xu didn't reply and left. Julian and I "reconciled" just like that. Calmly, as if nothing happened. I moved into the Malibu beach house. I brought nothing from my rental. That night, I dressed up carefully. Midnight passed. Julian didn't come back. I leaned on the sofa, figured it out, and smirked. I dumped the food and changed into comfortable pajamas. At 3 or 4 AM, half-asleep, a coldness covered my waist. I woke up and saw Julian in the night light. His features were blurred in the dim light. I didn't know what year it was. "How did you get this scar?" He pressed the huge scar on my waist slightly. Old wound. No pain anymore. But I frowned dramatically. "Scratched it on set." Julian smiled thinly. "With such a big scandal, you still had roles?" I sighed. "Someone has to be a body double. I have a good figure. Using me is a bargain." His face darkened. He pulled the quilt over my head. Out of sight, out of mind. The next day, people came in waves. Scripts for me to pick, luxury endorsements without probation, my first comeback event... Staring at the papers on the table, I suddenly laughed. Why was I so high-and-mighty before? WeChat voice messages popped up. I clicked. Mike's voice. "Scarlett, why is everyone saying you're making a comeback?" "Be fair. What's going on? Which role are you taking?" "Let me be the source this time, please! If the info is real, I promise to hype you up big time." In this circle, if there's profit, we are friends. I took a photo of the script I chose and sent it to him.
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