Warm light spilled through the windows, curtains fluttering as shadows drifted across the marble floor. Song Meiqi scrolled through the comments beneath Star Entertainment's post. The beige walls seemed to melt into the glow of her phone, the room folding in around her.
Haoran and Mengyao. Just friends, the statement read. The world kept moving, but she stayed frozen—caught between what everyone believed and what she knew.
Her chest tightened. Lips parted, fingers trembling over the phone. No spin could hide the truth.
A sharp ring cut through the silence. Meiqi swung her legs over the bed, bare feet brushing the cold marble, sliding into her slippers. Each step to the door echoed softly.
Moments later, she sat across from Manager Li. The living room was heavy with unspoken words. Tight brows and sharp eyes asked the question without a sound: What happened?
Meiqi's black waves fell loosely down her back. Her plain white shirt hung softly, mirroring her exhaustion and heartbreak. She lifted her gaze. "Those photos… they're all true."
"I had my suspicions when the stalker sent warnings…" Her fingers traced the edge of her shirt.
"But it wasn't until Echo posted that teaser photo that I asked my uncle to investigate him…" Her voice stayed even, calm, deliberate.
She slid her phone across the table. Manager Li's eyes widened at the evidence. She had managed the girls since debut, watched their bond grow—and now, seeing Meiqi's pain, realizing Haoran had cheated with Mengyao, it hit like a silent blow.
She let out a quiet sigh. "For now… the statement has been released."
"The public will soon forget this," Manager Li said, folding her hands in her lap and meeting Meiqi's eyes. "Just… don't get caught up in it. Stay away from Haoran. And if you need—take a short break. Rest. Clear your head."
Meiqi nodded, though the words did nothing to ease the heaviness in her chest. When Manager Li left, she stood alone, eyes drifting across the living room.
Everywhere held traces of Haoran—reminders of the life they had built together, the moments they carved out despite exhausting schedules.
He was her first boyfriend, the first man she had let into her life. With him, she had found comfort when anxiety became too much to bear.
She furrowed her brows, clenched her hand, and glanced at the polaroid on the fridge. Now all of it has been replaced by hurt.
Silence stretched. Then, she grabbed an empty box from her bedroom, placing the polaroid, chopsticks, and mug she had bought him inside.
She moved to the bathroom, gathering his toothbrush and small items he had left behind. Back in her bedroom, she lifted the framed photos from the nightstand, her grip firm, then with a sharp exhale, dropped them into the box.
Each movement was deliberate, a clear severing of the life they had shared. When the box was full, the room felt emptier than ever—every trace of him packed away, leaving only the weight of her heartbreak.
…
Meanwhile, inside his office at Star Entertainment, Si Haoran's thoughts were consumed by Meiqi. He stared at the ring on his hand as a memory of her twenty-second birthday flashed in his mind.
At the time, he was filming his first big drama role and couldn't celebrate with her.
"I'm sorry… this should've been the first birthday I celebrated with you as your boyfriend," he said, holding his phone for a video call.
Meiqi shook her head. "It's okay," she reassured him, her voice soft and sweet. "But I'll be expecting more for my twenty-third birthday. You should surprise me."
A smile slowly curved his lips—then her words from last night echoed in his mind: "I let myself fall… trusted you… loved you. And I was wrong."
And his smile disappeared, chest tightening—this wasn't what he had expected. He had to talk to Meiqi and fix this.
He stood up, expression hardening.
"Where are you going?" Old Hu asked, eyes narrowing.
"I'm going to find Meiqi."
"What?! No… you're not going anywhere!" Old Hu snapped.
Haoran furrowed his brows, frustration rising. "Old Hu, I've hurt Meiqi. I can't just let it be. I have to explain to her."
Old Hu's voice sharpened, laced with sarcasm. "Then what? Parade yourself in front of reporters for another dating scandal?"
He leaned closer, voice low but biting. "Look, Haoran, Meiqi and Mengyao already have fame and a solid standing in the industry. But you… you don't. Their fans would destroy you if they knew you'd played both women."
Haoran's eyes flickered as Old Hu's words sank in. His jaw clenched, hands curling into fists. His career—everything he'd worked for—could be destroyed, and the thought hit him like ice, freezing him in place.
…
After visiting Meiqi, Manager Li went to Mengyao's apartment. The living room was thick with tension as Mengyao stared at her, eyes wide with curiosity and nervousness.
"What did Meiqi say?" she asked.
"She already knew about you and Haoran before the concert, but she stayed quiet so it wouldn't affect everyone's efforts," Manager Li replied.
Mengyao's gaze dropped to the floor, her eyes trembling with guilt.
Manager Li sighed. "For now… let things settle. Meiqi needs time to calm down. It's the best for her—and for Everbloom."
…
Later that night, Meiqi leaned back in her seat, the city lights of H. City shrinking beneath her as the plane climbed into the sky, carrying her away from the painful memories.