Sebastian said to me, “I need a partner who can keep up with me. You’re just holding me back.” I hung up with a smile, then immediately called all the brands he was collaborating with to terminate their contracts. My boyfriend was a rising star in the entertainment industry. We had agreed to keep our relationship secret for the sake of his career. Today, he was supposed to come celebrate my birthday with me. Instead of him showing up, I saw a video announcement of his relationship with Rachel, a popular young actress. In the video, he was smiling brightly, just like when I first met him. The content was a vlog of their recent overseas trip together. During that time, he had told me he was filming abroad for work. I felt like such a fool. I called him to confront him about the trending video. “Sebastian, what’s going on with the Hot Search?” He laughed scornfully, “Isn’t it obvious? Natalie, Rachel and I are together now. She can offer me the best resources. I need someone who can keep up with me, while you’re just holding me back.” After hanging up, I called all the advertisers working with Sebastian and told them to immediately terminate their collaborations with him. If there were any contract termination fees, I would cover them. For the past few years, I had been secretly helping Sebastian connect with major brands, linking him to various resources, elevating him from an unknown trainee to today’s hot commodity in the entertainment world. But he never knew about any of this. In his eyes, I was just a plainly-dressed, makeup-free fangirl who loved him to the bone. When we first got together, he was still a new trainee at his company. At that time, his company released a dance practice video of him that had zero views and zero comments. I became the first person to click on it, and his first fan. I followed him on Twitter and sent him encouraging private messages. He said he was so excited he cried. Back then, I thought he was down-to-earth, bright, and had clear goals. After we secretly got together, I felt bad that he wasn’t getting attention from his company and had no resources. So I privately pulled some strings to gradually elevate him to where he is today. But he had long since been blinded by the spotlight and applause. This wasn’t the first time Sebastian and Rachel had trended together online. The last time was when they were filming together and the media caught them spending five hours in a hotel room. At the time, I confronted Sebastian with the media reports. He just impatiently said, “We were just discussing the script. Should we have done that in the hotel lobby? Do you trust those gossip reporters more than me? I really can’t talk to you anymore.” We parted on bad terms after that, and his attitude towards me grew increasingly cold. I even wondered if my distrust had pushed him away. Looking back now, I was overthinking it. Sebastian had long wanted to kick me aside and fly to Rachel. Early the next morning, announcements of multiple brands terminating their collaborations with Sebastian successively trended online. Netizens were all speculating whether Sebastian had done something wrong or offended some big shot. Of course, no one would know it was all because of one word from me. Those brands wouldn’t dare reveal my name either. My family was a top financial group in the country. Offending me would be like cutting off their own funding. Rachel’s fans, who were congratulating the couple just last night, immediately flooded Sebastian’s social media with insults. “Have some self-awareness and stop dragging our sister down.” “If you know what’s good for you, break up now. Don’t bring our Rachel down with your bad luck.” “Are you just a gold digger?” “Are you using your relationship with our Rachel to distract from your own scandals? Gross. Rachel, run away fast!” Some netizens even started their own wild speculations: “I heard Rachel has a powerful backer. This relationship announcement must have angered the backer, so they stepped in to cancel all of Sebastian’s endorsements.” I laughed out loud when I saw this comment. It was pretty much on point. Except I wasn’t Rachel’s backer getting angry. I was more like Sebastian’s behind-the-scenes backer. But actually, Rachel did have a powerful supporter. More accurately, someone who saw her commercial value and decided to promote her. That person happened to be my childhood friend who grew up with me but we never got along – Zachary. To be honest, before last night’s relationship announcement video, I always thought Rachel would end up with Zachary. After all, Zachary was handsome and rich, albeit with a bit of an attitude problem. Thinking of this, I suddenly wondered if I should comfort Zachary. We’ve known each other for so many years. It’s normal for two heartbroken people to comfort each other, right? I sent him a message: “Don’t be sad, there are plenty of good women out there.” Zachary replied instantly: “?” “It’s okay, I know you’re upset. Go ahead and cry if you need to.” “You’re crazy.” Never mind, he must be in a bad mood after the breakup. I won’t hold it against him. I glanced at Twitter and saw the trending topics had changed again. This time it was a statement from Sebastian’s company, basically saying they would take legal action against netizens spreading rumors. They also announced the cancellation of all of Sebastian’s upcoming schedules. The underlying message was clear – Sebastian was being frozen out of the industry. (Note: Being “frozen” in the entertainment industry means an artist is sidelined and not given any work or opportunities by their company, often as punishment.) Looking at this trending topic, I couldn’t help but smile. It felt so satisfying. Later, some brand representatives called me, saying Sebastian’s manager was blowing up their phones asking why they suddenly terminated the contracts. The overwhelmed representatives asked if they should make up some excuse. I just snorted coldly, “Then tell him it’s because his artist brought this upon himself.” When I loved you, I could give you everything. But now that I don’t love you anymore, I’m taking all my love back. A few days later, Zachary invited me to attend a cocktail party with him. I rarely attend these kinds of social gatherings because I really dislike the superficial socializing. But thinking I should keep the heartbroken guy company, and that I could use some distraction myself, I agreed. I wore a custom-made spaghetti strap cocktail dress that hugged my curves, put my hair up in an elegant updo exposing my smooth shoulders and neck, and did glamorous makeup – very different from my usual look. When Zachary saw me, his pupils dilated, but his face remained as cold as ever. He took off his suit jacket and draped it over my shoulders, saying curtly, “The AC will be cold at the party. I won’t be responsible if you catch a cold.” I pouted and tossed his jacket back at him, “This looks awful.” Zachary didn’t say anything, but his face got even colder. At the venue, I ran into an old acquaintance. Sebastian walked right past me wearing the custom suit I once bought him. He probably didn’t recognize me immediately since I looked so different from usual. That suit cost six figures, but to avoid making him feel burdened, I had told him it was just a $10,000 off-the-rack suit. Sebastian’s work had all been suspended now, so the fact that he was here meant Rachel must be here too. I suddenly realized Zachary’s purpose in inviting me today – it was to make his ex-girlfriend jealous. Who knew this ice-cold jerk had such sneaky thoughts. I immediately linked my arm through Zachary’s, giving him a look that said “I get it.” After all, my ex was here too. Might as well let Sebastian feel some regret. Zachary looked down at my arm linked with his, “What, using me to make your ex jealous?” ? How dare he accuse me first when he was the one who wanted to make his ex jealous? I was just going along with it. “It’s rare for all of us to gather. I’m helping you, so you need to help me too. Don’t be stingy.” I tried to reason with him patiently. Unexpectedly, Zachary tossed out another “You’re crazy.” But he didn’t remove my arm. Hmph, men. Denying it verbally, but their bodies are still honest. Afterwards, Zachary and I started making awkward and fake compliments to various business people and entertainment bigwigs while sipping champagne. While chatting, I kept looking around but didn’t spot Rachel. Just then, a short, plump middle-aged woman approached us. I remembered her. She had inherited her husband’s massive fortune last year and loved dressing up extravagantly to attend various parties. Each time she had a different young man as her date. There was a hand around her waist, wearing a very familiar watch. I looked up and – wow, it was Sebastian. “Well if it isn’t little Sebastian,” Zachary started with his sarcastic tone before I could say anything. “You know each other?” The woman looked at Sebastian in surprise. Sebastian finally recognized me then, pointing at me in confusion, “Natalie?” “Yes, Charlotte, we’re old acquaintances,” Zachary said with a smile, patting my hand on his arm. Sebastian and Zachary didn’t actually know each other, but Zachary knew about my relationship with Sebastian. “Sebastian, how come we don’t see Rachel today?” I joined in on the sarcasm. “Rachel is old news for Sebastian now,” Charlotte said, stroking Sebastian’s hand. Her face scrunched up, the bright red lipstick almost reaching her ears as she grinned. I clearly saw a flash of disgust cross Sebastian’s face. Zachary and I exchanged a knowing glance, smiling. Poor Rachel, she was just a pawn in the end. Perhaps our little exchange irritated Sebastian. With Charlotte’s words boosting his confidence, he looked at me scornfully. “Haven’t seen you in a few days and you’ve already climbed up the social ladder?” As soon as Sebastian finished speaking, Charlotte hurriedly covered his mouth, looking at me in panic. “What nonsense are you saying? Apologize quickly.” Clearly, brains are a good thing to have, but Sebastian didn’t possess them. “Don’t worry, Charlotte. I know this woman well, no need to fear her,” he said. “Hmph, Charlotte, is this your date?” I raised my chin, my tone slightly threatening.
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