The next day, I received a call from Julian.

His tone carried an undisguised arrogance and curiosity.

"Hello? Is this Aiden? Heard you're looking for me?"

"It is."

"I can't refuse a favor for Chloe. Speak, what is it? My time is very valuable." Everything he said was meant to highlight his status.

"I want to talk business with you." I got straight to the point.

"Business?" Julian sneered, as if he’d heard the funniest joke in the world. "What kind of business could you possibly talk with me? Don't think that just because your father is Marcus, you can reach the sky in a single bound. In the Beijing circle, you're still a bit too green."

This "confidently average man" truly lived up to his reputation.

"Is that so?" I countered faintly. "What if this business concerns shares in Star Shine Media?"

Star Shine Media was the talent agency where Vanessa and Julian were signed.

On the other end of the line, Julian’s breathing clearly grew heavier.

"What do you mean?"

Chapter 3

"Star Shine Media is currently in talks for Series A financing, and the lead investor is a venture capital firm under our Su Corporation."

I leaned against the floor-to-ceiling window of my office, watching the bustling traffic below, my voice steady and ripple-free.

"And I happen to be the person in charge of this project."

On the other end of the line, Julian fell completely silent.

His so-called pride as a "Prince of the Beijing Circle" was fragile and vulnerable in the face of absolute capital.

After a long pause, he spoke dryly, a trace of unnoticeable tension in his voice.

"You... what do you want?"

"I don't 'want' anything," I chuckled lightly. "I just feel that Mr. Julian is exceptionally talented and shouldn't always have to play second fiddle. You should hold a seat at the table with Star Shine’s shares, shouldn't you?"

This was a lure he could not refuse.

Although Julian was a first-tier male star at Star Shine Media, he had no real power, and even less in the way of shares.

He had always wanted to shake off Vanessa's shadow and develop independently, but his resources and connections always fell a cut short.

"Why should I believe you?" Julian’s voice was full of vigilance.

"You don't need to believe me." I turned around, looking at my own reflection on the glass. "You only need to make a choice. Will you continue to be Vanessa's 'good bestie,' watching her hoard all the resources for herself? Or, will you cooperate with me and take back what should have belonged to you?"

I added more fuel to the fire.

"As far as I know, in order to secure the Su Corporation's endorsement this time, Vanessa traded away the most important movie resource the company has for the second half of the year with Vice President Wang. The lead actor for that movie was originally supposed to be you, right?"

"You!"

Julian’s voice spiked instantly, filled with the irritation and shock of being exposed.

This matter was a secret among the company's top brass, and it had taken him a great deal of effort just to catch a hint of wind about it.

He hadn't expected me to know every detail.

"What do you say, Mr. Julian? Interested in coming out to talk?"

"...Time, location."

Julian said these words through gritted teeth.

"Eight o'clock tonight, at the 'Guanlan' Club."

After hanging up, the curve of my lips deepened.

Vanessa, do you think your greatest reliance is your beauty and acting skills?

No, it is the hearts of the people around you whom you've played in the palm of your hand.

Now, I am going to let you see how painful it is when those hearts bite back.

At 7:50 PM, I arrived early at the private room in the 'Guanlan' Club.

Not long after I sat down, the door to the room was pushed open.

However, the person who entered was not Julian, but Vanessa.

She had traded her designer labels for a simple white dress; she wore no makeup, her hair was scattered messily, and her eyes were red. She looked pitiful and fragile, like a little white flower battered by wind and rain.

This was her most practiced look.

Every time we fought, as long as she put on this appearance, my heart would soften.

Unfortunately, that wouldn't work today.

I leaned back on the sofa, too lazy to even lift my eyelids, merely asking calmly.

"Where is Julian?"

Vanessa’s body stiffened. She hadn't expected this to be my first sentence.

She bit her lower lip, tears swirling in her eyes.

"Aiden, do you really have to treat me this way? Between us, can we really not even have a proper conversation?"

She walked over to me, slowly squatted down, and looked up at me, placing her posture extremely low.

"I know I was wrong, I really know I was wrong. I shouldn't have said those things, I shouldn't have sent out that memo... Won't you forgive me? Let’s start over, just like before."

Her voice was soft and light, carrying a pleading tremor.

If it were the old me, I might have already pulled her into my arms with a heart full of pity.

But now, I only felt immense irony.

"Just like before?" I finally opened my eyes, looking down at her. "What kind of 'like before'? Is it you continuing to be ambiguously involved with other men outside, then coming back to tell me you love me? Or you continuing to enjoy everything I sacrifice for you, then turning around to tell others I’m just a gullible fool?"

Vanessa’s face paled, and the tears finally fell.

"That’s not... that’s not how it is... Aiden, I had my reasons..."

"Reasons?" I sneered. "What reasons could you have? Was it against your will, or were you forced by circumstances? Vanessa, put away your acting tricks. I’ve watched them for two years, and I’m already sick of it."

My words were like a knife, stabbing fiercely into her heart.

She looked at me in disbelief, as if she didn't recognize me.

"Aiden... how did you become like this?"

"Become like what?" I countered. "I just stopped playing along with your acting. Are you feeling disappointed that your number one audience member isn't buying a ticket anymore?"

"No! That’s not it!" She grabbed my hand excitedly, her nails digging into me painfully. "I love you! I really love you! Believe me!"

"Love me?" I laughed as if I had heard the biggest joke in the world. "You love me, so you used my father’s company as a stepping stone for your advancement? You love me, so after my father exposed you, your first thought wasn't an apology, but rather finding my sister and Julian to try and save your endorsement?"

I shook off her hand, stood up, and looked down at her from my height.

"Vanessa, your love is nothing but a precise calculation. Calculating how much benefit I can bring you, calculating how much utility value I still have. Now, I’m telling you: my utility value is gone."

The door to the private room was pushed open again at that moment.

Julian walked in.

He saw Vanessa squatting on the floor and me standing to the side, cold as frost. His eyes flickered, but he quickly regained his composure.

He walked over to Vanessa and reached out to help her up.

"Vanessa, why are you here?"

Vanessa acted as if she had grabbed a lifeline, grabbing his arm and crying, "Julian, please help me explain to Aiden. We are innocent; we are just best friends, right?"

She was trying to use her old trick, dragging her "male bestie" in to act out a scene of "pure friendship."

Unfortunately, she chose the wrong actor.

Julian’s face showed some embarrassment, and he discreetly pulled his hand back.

"Vanessa, get up first. Let's talk properly."

His distance stunned Vanessa.

She looked up at Julian, her eyes filled with confusion and hurt.

"Julian, you..."

I watched this ridiculous scene, feeling that the timing was just right.

I walked to the main seat, sat down, poured myself a cup of tea, and spoke slowly.

"Mr. Julian, it seems your information is a bit outdated. I invited you, not the great star Vanessa."

Julian’s expression sank. He glanced at Vanessa, then back at me, and finally chose to sit in the seat opposite me.

That choice said everything.

Vanessa was completely stunned.

She looked at Julian, then at me, her lips trembling, unable to say a single word.

Her most loyal "knight," in the face of self-interest, had abandoned her without hesitation.

"Su... Young Master Su." Julian cleared his throat, trying to make his posture look less subservient. "You invited me, what is it exactly you need?"

Even his form of address had changed.

From "you" to "you (honorific)."

I didn't answer him immediately, instead looking at Vanessa who was still stunned in place.