While accompanying my kid to a casting call, I was squatting by the road eating a boxed lunch from the crew when I ran into my ex-boyfriend, whom I hadn't seen in six years. Suppressing his excitement, he looked at me with feigned indifference: "Chloe, didn't you run away without even saying goodbye?" "Still so useless after six years? You even chased me here?" Liam Song is an internationally renowned director, and my former secret boyfriend. We had agreed to go public after I won the Magnolia Award. But backstage at the ceremony, someone drugged him. I rushed to save him, but amidst the chaos, countless reporters stormed in. Thinking I would do anything for the award, he cut ties with me in front of the cameras: "To be an artist, you must first have morals. Those who are shady and seek shortcuts don't deserve to be called actors." After that, I was blacklisted by every major award and became a pariah in the industry. Overwhelmed by cyberbullying and huge breach-of-contract penalties, I announced my retirement and left Beijing. I never expected to run into him again six years later on the set of Southern Trees. Looking at my silence, Liam pulled an outdated diamond ring from his pocket and threw it at my feet. "Pick it up and put it on. I can marry you." 1 The diamond ring on the ground was one I had polished by hand 9,999 times six years ago, intending to propose to Liam. But when I left, I threw it in the trash. How did it end up in his hands? Seeing me stare at the ring in silence, his face darkened. His bro, looking exasperated, slapped him on the shoulder. "You finally found Chloe, why are you still acting tough? Forgot how you were practically suicidal trying to find her for six years?" Then he looked at me urgently: "Chloe, since you left without a word, Liam has been looking for you for six years." "These six years, he missed you like crazy. He even created the movie Southern Trees for you." "Why are you holding back? You schemed so hard back then, didn't you just want to marry him today?" Scheming. Unscrupulous. These labels have stuck to me since the day I got involved with Liam. Director and actress—it sounds like a transaction ripe for gossip. Especially since he was a famous director and I was a no-name actor who hadn't even reached the D-list. But Liam's love was very presentable. Whenever his industry friends questioned my motives, he would righteously tell them: "Chloe and I are truly in love. One day, she will become the best actress in the country!" I held my breath back then too. My pride made me want to stand at the same height as him through my own efforts. For the next three years, I refused every resource Liam offered. The first thing I did every day was run to various film sets. I played corpses, I worked as a stand-in. Finally, in the fifth year, a villainous supporting role I played got scolded into viral fame. Excitedly, I went to find Liam to share my joy. But the moment I opened the door, I saw an impossibly beautiful woman holding his arm. "Chloe, let me introduce you. This is Wendy. She's been developing her career abroad and just returned today." The familiar room was filled with my favorite flowers and balloons, but all of it was to celebrate another woman's return. That day, I suppressed my sadness and shared the cake I bought with them. After Wendy left, Liam mysteriously held up a confetti cannon. As confetti drifted down, he hugged me and sincerely congratulated me: "Chloe, congratulations. You've finally been seen." Because I loved him, the gloom that tormented me all night was easily soothed by him. In the days that followed, I continued to hustle on sets. Everyone called me "Desperate Chloe." But only I knew I wanted to stand beside Liam openly. Wendy, who had returned, was already somewhat famous and skyrocketed to stardom with her beauty. When she attended events with Liam, just standing together made fans scream "ship it." But not me. If I got close to Liam, the internet would explode with "D-list actress tries to seduce famous director." Liam wanted to go public out of anger at the comments, but I still had my pride. I stopped him, saying I didn't care, and turned to work harder on my acting, sweeping up supporting actress awards. Two years later, when my agent recommended I audition for the lead in Liam's movie, I cried tears of joy. I thought I finally earned the chance to stand with Liam. But at the audition, Wendy was there too. Her casual remark, "With Sister Chloe's relationship with Liam, this lead role must be yours," ruined everything. The disappointment in Liam's eyes almost drowned me. That day, Liam kicked me off the set. We had the biggest fight of our eight-year relationship. 2 Although Liam explained later that he was afraid Wendy's words would be heard by others and spread rumors disadvantageous to me. Because he knew how scared I was that people would attribute my efforts to nepotism. But I was still sad for a long time. I could see it. Back then, he almost instantly assumed I wanted to secure the lead role through our relationship. After all, everyone in the industry knew that being a "Liam Girl" could rocket a nobody to the A-list. After that, I turned down all scripts related to Liam and took a role in an arthouse film by another director. While I was disconnected filming, Wendy became the lead in Liam's movie. Meanwhile, netizens dug up their childhood history, discovering their families had arranged a "baby engagement." Overnight, the Liam-Wendy CP (couple pairing) took the internet by storm. By the time I finished filming, netizens had even photoshopped their wedding photos. When I confronted Liam, he was impatient: "Chloe, if Wendy and I liked each other, we would have been together long ago. Where would you fit in?" His attitude stabbed me like a knife. Increasingly panicked, I leaned against his chest, carefully asking for a promise. "Liam, when I win the Magnolia Award for Best Actress, let's go public, okay?" I thought, once I'm Best Actress, I'll be worthy of him. Liam agreed immediately without hesitation. My anxious heart was smoothed over. But soon, Wendy started appearing frequently in our chat logs. "Wendy's understanding of the character matches mine perfectly. Filming with an actor like her is exhilarating!" "Wendy had an idea today that gave me instant inspiration." Wendy, Wendy... It seemed without her, we had nothing to talk about. So I became silent. Liam didn't notice; he was busy marveling at finding his muse. But Wendy noticed. She called me out and handed me a glass of water like we were chatting casually. "You've gotten enough from Liam. When do you plan to leave him?" This sentence erased all my efforts over the years. I trembled with rage. "Every role I got was through my own effort, nothing to do with Liam!" I spoke firmly, as if that could cancel out her humiliation. But she laughed disdainfully, like she heard a funny joke. "Sure, you and Liam haven't gone public, but everyone in the circle is sharp. You think they don't know about you two?" "Those scripts that came to you, dare you say they weren't because of his face?" "Chloe, fooling others is fine, don't end up fooling yourself..." Her words were a loud slap in my face. My straightened back could never straighten again. That night, I received an invite for a top-tier variety show. Liam was also invited. When I asked if he would go, he was on a call with Wendy discussing the script. He put down the phone, asking me in a weird tone: "Didn't you say you didn't want to appear with me? Or is your movie coming out and you want to leech off the hype?" I froze, then looked at him agitatedly: "Why would you think that of me? Did Wendy say something to you? She..." Liam interrupted me unhappily: "Enough, Chloe, it has nothing to do with her." "If you want to use my fame, let's just go public now. All this sneaking around is too troublesome." Before, when he suggested going public, I refused but felt warm inside. Now, it felt like a poisoned needle, piercing my heart full of holes. 3 After saying that, he picked up his phone and continued discussing the script with Wendy. My agent and I declined the variety show invite. But the next day, "Chloe Suspected of Pursuing Director Song and Rejected" trended, hitting #1 instantly. The movie I was in capitalized on the hype, and the box office was ten times higher than expected. Later at a gathering, one of Liam's friends toasted me: "Chloe, you've been with Brother Song for ten years, finally tasted the sweetness. Without that trending topic, how could your movie do so well?" As soon as he finished, Liam punched him. "Chloe's success has nothing to do with me! Say that again if you dare!" A good gathering turned into a brawl. When I dragged him home, he wiped the blood from his mouth and asked meaningfully: "Heard you were nominated for the Magnolia with that movie?" I lowered my head to treat his hand, humming a "yes." He scoffed, then kissed me recklessly. The taste of blood made me want to retch. After the kiss, he rubbed my swollen lips. "Chloe, if I weren't a famous director, would you still be with me?" A sense of sadness and powerlessness wrapped around me. I wanted to ask: Liam, did you forget? When we got together, you weren't a famous director yet. The Song family had been in business for generations. When they learned Liam wanted to direct, his father cut him off. All his early works were supported by my meager earnings from bit parts. But I couldn't ask. Liam's suspicion of me was a seed planted when Wendy appeared. Nothing I said could uproot it. I thought it was time to end this unequal love. Love is like building a house. Without trust, the foundation is unstable. No matter how glamorous it looks, it will collapse sooner or later. The day of the Magnolia Awards, I went backstage to find Liam. I wanted to tell him, win or lose, our promises were void. We're breaking up. But when I found him, his face was flushed, breathing heavy—obviously drugged. The entertainment industry never lacks dirty tricks and hidden eyes. Worried someone was setting him up, I supported him to leave. But at the door, countless cameras stormed in, flashes blinding me. "Director Song, what is your relationship with Chloe? Is she really your secret girlfriend as rumored?" "Ms. Chloe, you're competing with Wendy for Best Actress. Is exposing your relationship with Director Song a ploy to boost your chances?" Acting-wise, I was leagues ahead of Wendy. Traffic-wise, I wasn't even a fraction of her. Everyone thought I directed this scene to suppress Wendy and win. Liam thought so too. He felt he was a tool for my ambition. I fulfilled his friends' words: I was with him for profit. He pushed disheveled me away, eyes full of disappointment and disdain: "Chloe, for an award, you'd drug me and stage this?" I looked at him in shock: "Drug? I didn't! Liam, I just..." "Enough! I don't want to hear your excuses!" Liam pulled himself together, adjusting his clothes. He knew acting was my life's pursuit, that any slander would destroy my efforts. Yet he faced the cameras, word by word: "I have no relationship with Chloe." "To be an artist, you must first have morals. Those who are shady and seek shortcuts don't deserve to be called actors." With that, he left without looking back, leaving me to be crucified by reporters. Because of Liam's "accusation," I was removed from the Magnolia list, and contracts were cancelled. Crushed by debt and cyberbullying, the Film Association blacklisted me as a "tainted artist." I became a rat crossing the street. I couldn't stay in the country, fleeing abroad like a deserter. In six years, I cut ties with everything back home. I never thought accompanying my kid to an audition would bring me face to face with the person I never wanted to see again. Ignoring the ring, I tossed the lunch box and turned to leave. But Liam grabbed me. His face was pale, but a hidden panic was visible in his eyes: "Chloe, not even a word? Do you want to avoid me that much?" I sneered, pushing him away: "Liam, I don't think we have anything to say. Stay away from me, unless you want the paparazzi to splash more dirty water on me." Remembering six years ago, Liam's face went white. He picked up the ring and held it in front of me. "Chloe, the past is past. Stop making a scene, put it on..." He tried to force the ring onto my finger. But the moment my hand opened, he froze. Staring dead at the pigeon-egg diamond on my ring finger. "This is..." Before he could finish, a little girl in a princess dress ran over. She stood between us, arms spread to protect me. "Bad man, let go of my mommy!" 4 A ring on the ring finger wasn't enough to prove I was married. Liam simply thought it was fake, a prop. But the daughter raised the heart he had just put down. The diamond's color was beautiful. Liam's gaze moved over me, asking in disbelief: "You... married? And had a child?" "That diamond isn't cheap. Did you marry for money..." I understood his implication. Years ago, he thought I drugged him for an award. Now he thought I married a nouveau riche for money. Without opening his eyes to see how beautiful my daughter is—her dad must be breathtaking. I picked up my daughter, looking at Liam with cold eyes. "I am married, but it's not as dirty as you think." "I'm not so poor I can't afford a diamond." His thoughts exposed, Liam's fists clenched unnaturally. If you looked closely, you'd see his knuckles turn white under the trembling. Whenever Liam was embarrassed or breaking down internally, he did this. After so many years, his habit hadn't changed. Only things have changed. I'm no longer the girl who cares about his feelings. I walked toward him with my daughter. His empty eyes colored instantly, but my next words hit him like a club. "Narrow path. Move." Liam ignored it, staring at my daughter who looked like me, voice tight. "Is she really your daughter?" Impatience rising, I was about to speak when my daughter's childish voice interrupted. "Uncle, we're looking for Daddy. Can you move?" "And I am Mommy's daughter. Asking like that is rude." Two sentences made Liam's eyes red. His voice raspy. "Chloe, you said you'd marry me. Why break your promise and have a child with someone else?" "Remember? You said if we had kids, boy or girl, the first one would be named Song Muqiao (Song adores Qiao)." "Do you remember..." I scoffed. "Liam, bringing up the past, is it fun? We broke up ages ago, didn't we?" Something triggered him. He grabbed my shoulders excitedly, shouting. "We didn't break up!" "You left without a word six years ago! I've been looking for you!" "Chloe, you abandoned me and had a child with another man. Did you consider my feelings?" Sensing my daughter's fear, I shook off his hands and slapped him. "Are you crazy!" "Did you consider my feelings back then?" "One word from you can make or break a person." "Liam, you destroyed me." My words made Liam breathe fast, eyes flickering. Yes, how could he not know Director Song's words could kill? After a long stalemate, Liam explained. "I was... angry at the time. I didn't expect..." I smiled. "Didn't expect what?" "Didn't expect irrational fans doxxing me, sending razor blades? Didn't expect being secretly filmed and pointed at whenever I went out? Or didn't expect the overwhelming hate online?" "I almost died. See the scar on my wrist? I did that myself. The penalty fees were suffocating!" "What did I do wrong? Just loved an excellent director?" "Because of your angry words, everything I worked for was denied." "Where does Director Song get the confidence to think I'd marry you after all that? Do you deserve it?" 5 Liam staggered, red eyes full of pain. Looking at me with guilt. "Chloe, I'm sorry... I didn't know." "I was too impulsive. Thinking you drugged me... I couldn't control myself. Not verifying it in time was my fault." "But when I understood everything, you were gone." Liam cried as he spoke. He looked truly regretful. But I just wanted to laugh. He actually did it. "If you really felt sorry, why didn't you clarify to the media after finding out?" "Afraid of damaging your reputation?" Liam is such a hypocrite. But in the adult world, there is no right or wrong, only interests. Then, Liam started talking about others' difficulties. He wanted to clarify for me. But the girl who drugged him had a poor family. Sick parents, a brother in school. She was forced to do it, she needed money. If exposed, she'd have no future. And I had some achievements. Liam thought time would make people forget. "So? You want to say you had difficulties, and want me to praise your kindness?" My reaction was different from what he expected. He was speechless, at a loss. "Chloe, I'll compensate you." "I'll clarify for you right now. I'll give you whatever you want. I just beg you to forgive me." Clarifying now is useless. I will never forget those pains. I looked at Liam coldly. "I don't need it." "Liam, do you know? For six years, seeing news about you made me want to vomit." Liam's eyelashes trembled, looking dazed. His head buzzed, blank. Seeing me leave, he snapped back. He reached out, but I dodged. Seeing my disgust, he withdrew his hand awkwardly. But he blocked the path completely. To pass, physical contact was unavoidable. I looked at him impatiently. Liam didn't move. "Move!" Liam looked hurt, voice tight. "In such a hurry to find him?" "Is he better than me? Can he give you more?" "As long as you want, I have endless resources. Chloe, why not choose me?" I looked at him silently. Maybe guilty, he couldn't meet my gaze and looked away. "Liam, when we were together, you weren't a famous director. Likewise, I wouldn't marry someone for resources." "In those years, I fought for everything I wanted. Remember that. I never relied on you. Instead, in your poorest years, I supported your dreams." No matter how many times I say it, he doesn't believe it. Is it love or resources? He still doesn't get it. This time, I was really annoyed. I shoved past him and left with my daughter. Smooth sailing. The only thing affecting my mood was Liam's lingering scent and his gaze following us.
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