Mr. Zhao's influence was truly astounding.
Overnight, Zhou Wanqing's name was plastered across every corner of the city.
From subway light boxes to massive posters on office buildings, to prime-time television commercials, her delicate, slightly innocent face was everywhere.
She was famous. Impossibly famous.
When she returned home, she didn't even bother to give me a second glance. Her high heels clicked impatiently on the floor as she tossed her designer bag carelessly onto the sofa.
"Lu Mingqian, why does this place reek of poverty? Can't you ever clean up?"
She pinched her nose, her brow furrowed in disgust. The scorn and loathing in her eyes were like daggers, tearing me apart.
I said nothing, just quietly hung up the coat she'd taken off.
My silence seemed to be the perfect outlet for her rage.
"I'm talking to you, have you gone dumb? Look at you, so pathetic. Moping around the house all day like some bitter housewife. If it weren't for me, you'd still be waiting to die in the mess of your bankrupt company!"
She grew more animated as she spoke, hands on her hips like a triumphant rooster.
"Oh, right. I'm moving into the riverside villa next week. Mr. Zhao arranged it for me. You can stay here in this dump and rot."
Still, I didn't argue. I just watched her quietly, watching the woman I once thought I'd spend my life with become twisted beyond recognition by fame and fortune.
Finding me boring, I suppose, she scoffed and slammed the bedroom door.
The door blocked out her voice, but it couldn't contain the volcano of rage about to erupt inside me.
The time was near.
A few days later, I received a call from Mr. Zhao, his voice brimming with unconcealed triumph.
"Mingqian, my boy, great news! I've landed Wanqing the top-tier luxury endorsement for VCA! The press conference is next week. Her ad will be playing on every giant LED screen in the city. This is a staggering fortune!"
I leaned back on the sofa, my fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. My voice was calm.
"Is that so? Then you must congratulate her."
"Hahaha, she's making you look good!" Mr. Zhao laughed. "You're a lucky man, my friend."
"To celebrate, I've prepared a gift for her as well," I said softly. "A video. I plan to give it to her at the press conference. A little surprise."
On the other end of the line, Mr. Zhao's laughter stopped dead.
"A video? What kind of video?"
"A record... of her and Lin Jingxuan's journey. A testament to their struggle for their dreams, and a bond stronger than steel."
I could picture Mr. Zhao's face darkening on the other end of the line.
The press conference was a star-studded affair.
Zhou Wanqing, dressed in a haute couture gown sponsored by VCA, stood center stage, basking in the flash of countless cameras and the frenzied screams of her fans.
She clutched her award, her eyes filled with tears, her voice choked with emotion.
"Thank you, everyone. Thank you, Mr. Zhao. But most of all, I want to thank the man behind me, my husband, Lu Mingqian. When I had nothing, he was the one who gave his all to support me..."
The applause from the audience was thunderous.
She looked in my direction, flashing a triumphant, almost charitable smile.
I smiled back.
Just then, the massive LED screen behind her flickered.
The commercial that had been playing on a loop went black.
A murmur went through the crowd.
After a split second of silence, the screen lit up again.
But the image was no longer the glamorous Zhou Wanqing. It was a dimly lit bedroom.
In the video, Zhou Wanqing was entangled with a shirtless Lin Jingxuan. Their moans and dialogue, amplified by the venue's state-of-the-art sound system, echoed clearly into every corner.
"That loser Lu Mingqian is probably at home washing my clothes right now..."
"Don't you worry, baby. As soon as I make it big because of you, the first thing I'll do is throw him out like trash."
*Giggle* "You're so good to me..."
The venue fell deathly silent.
It was followed by a tidal wave of shrieks and curses.
"Slut!" "Liar!" "Get out of showbiz!"
The fans went wild. The signs and water bottles in their hands rained down on the stage.
Zhou Wanqing stood frozen, the color drained from her face, leaving it white as a sheet. She stared at the sordid image of herself on the screen, then at the furious crowd below. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor.
I sat in my corner, quietly watching the spectacular drama I had orchestrated.
My phone vibrated.
I answered it calmly, and before the person on the other end could speak, I shouted in a panicked, tearful voice:
"Mr. Zhao! Something's happened! Something terrible at Wanqing's press conference! You have to do something, help her! She can't be ruined like this!"
There was a long silence on the other end of the line.
After a long moment, Mr. Zhao's low, meaningful voice came through.
"Lu Mingqian..."
"You... you're a madman."