It Was Just One Romance [Showbiz]

A former sister-in-law who hides her ambition behind a mild-mannered persona x a demonic, Buddhist-minded, tearful, devoted, up-and-coming actor Female lead: Jing Xin (real name Li Yongyong) Male lead: Zhang Zhaoran (There are no huge golden fingers. The leads are two struggling actors in the entertainment industry who support each other. Yes, but checking their bank balances would make them feel better.) (Neither lead is based on a real person, though some jokes draw on things in the industry. Please enjoy the story without reading too much into it.) (The industry details may lean toward realism. I did my best to make things plausible, but still made them up. The romance is lighthearted, and this is a sweet little story. Enjoy!) 1 When Li Yongyong was twenty-two, her boyfriend of three years dumped her. He wanted to join a talent competition and pursue his dream of becoming an entertainer. The faithless man did pretty well for himself: his show aired, he gained countless fans, and he became a rising star overnight. Their relationship was soon exposed, and cyberbullying from extreme fans turned her life upside down. The male celebrity was busy rising to fame and couldn't care less about the disaster that had befallen her. The people sent by her ex-boyfriend's rivals contacted her one after another. “Want to be famous? After all that abuse, don't you want to fight back? You could expose his dirt online and play the victim, ride his fame to get your foot in the door. With your looks, you could become a huge star.” She politely turned them down one by one. No thanks. I can make it big without exposing his secrets. Life is long. I'm going to make something of myself. I want my voice to ring out loud and clear. 2 The male-skewing drama starring Zhang Zhaoran premiered, and its popularity soared past ten thousand, staying high. It topped all the charts, finally shedding his label as an actor on the verge of a breakout. His fans were triumphant: See? With a face like that, you can conquer the world. I always said my guy was bound to become a huge star sooner or later. But their excitement didn't last long before they realized the female lead he'd worked with was no innocent. Her agency kept pushing the two of them as a couple to chase traffic, manufacturing fake romantic moments at promotional events. Even her publicity schedule revolved around his. She was like a piece of gum stuck to his shoe. Veteran fans secretly cursed her: Keep your sense of superiority to yourself. Do you think I can't tell whether my guy likes you? Did you see his face when he found out he'd be working with that other woman? That woman: If I have to have a sister-in-law, I'd rather it be you. That woman: Please stop letting this fake keep making a fool of herself. Get rid of her already! 3 After wrapping up her new show, Jing Xin returned to her little home in her hometown to take a break. On an ordinary, lovely evening, she ordered takeout, scrolled online, and saw her name trending for no reason again. She lit a cigarette and watched the homepage fill with posts about how well Zhang Zhaoran and another actress looked together, both dressed in finery and chatting at a gala. The comments were full of ship fans comparing her unfavorably to the actress. Unflattering photos were flying everywhere. It made no sense. Halfway through her cigarette, the doorbell rang. Jing Xin opened the door. The leading man, who had been seen chatting with the actress in formalwear at the gala in the photos on her phone, stood there in a hoodie and baseball cap. “How did you find me?” she asked in surprise, quickly stamping out her cigarette. Zhang Zhaoran stepped in from the shadows, and she saw that his eyes were red. The visitor shut the door behind him. The instant it clicked shut, he grabbed Jing Xin by the neck and kissed her hard, taking in every trace of the tobacco scent he hated. “Am I really not as good as him?” he demanded, backing her up as he took off his outerwear. “When you dated him, it was ‘just one relationship,’ but with me you have a hundred reasons why we can't. Aren't you supposed to be so carefree?” Jing Xin panted, wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes. Zhang Zhaoran knocked her hand away and buried his face in the crook of her neck. “Tell me you like me. Yongyong. Don't make me jealous of a man who's beneath me.” Theme: Let the world hear my voice