They walked together through the exhibition again, slower this time. Every item, every photograph, now held a different meaning. It wasn't vanity, it was memory. It wasn't fame, it was faith.
Each piece reminded him of a day when he thought he wouldn't make it. When the industry was cruel, when rejections piled higher than praise. When all he had was belief in himself, in his craft, in the stories he acted.
Now those days stood here, framed in glass. He stopped in front of a final photograph, one taken during his very first shoot. A younger Kai smiled back, bright-eyed and fearless.
For a long moment, he just stared. A lot of things were running through his mind, and in the corner, he just wanted to say "Thank you" to himself for never giving up and staying strong no matter what life threw at him. Saying that one word to himself just… to the years. To the struggle. To the version of himself who never gave up.
Ryan watched him, his expression soft. "Worth it?" he asked.
Kai smiled faintly, eyes glistening. "Every second."
Ryan chuckled. "Good. Because this took months of planning and several near heart attacks."
For the first time in years, he didn't feel the weight of fame pressing down on him. He felt lighter. Being loved is what it is called?
He turned toward Ryan and said quietly, "Let's open the doors tomorrow. Let the fans see it too. They deserve it. This isn't just mine, it's theirs."
The soft echo of Kai's footsteps faded as the last video clip ended. The lights dimmed slowly, leaving the golden glow of the exhibition dancing faintly over the glass frames and the digital screens that had showcased his life. The silence that followed was sacred like a prayer at the end of a journey.
Kai stood in the middle of the hall, motionless, trying to breathe through the tide of emotions washing over him. He wasn't sure when he'd last felt this… full. Not of pride or accomplishment, but something gentler, gratitude.
His heart still ached pleasantly from Ryan's message. The thought lingered as he turned around, running a hand through his hair. "Where are they?" he murmured. Surely, all of these photos, every arrangement, couldn't have happened without his people. His team. The ones who believed and supported him.
He smiled faintly, that quiet, tired smile that reached his eyes only halfway. "Ryan," he said, glancing over, "where are the culprits who did all this?"
Ryan's lips twitched into a restrained grin. "Somewhere close."
"Hmm?"
"Come on," Ryan said, gesturing toward the far side of the exhibition hall. "There's something else you need to see."
Kai frowned but followed. The corridor curved slightly, ending in a set of glass doors frosted from the inside, warm light spilling through the gaps. The faint hum of laughter drifted from behind it.
Ryan pushed open the door. And then ''Surprise!!!"
The sound hit him like an explosion, loud, joyful, utterly unexpected. Balloons cascaded from above, ribbons fluttered down, and dozens of his employees stood there, grinning from ear to ear, clapping and cheering.
Kai froze at the doorway, eyes wide, before his lips parted into the most genuine smile he'd worn all day.
"Oh my..." he began, but before he could finish, Evelyn ran up, handing him a small bouquet of white lilies.
"Congratulations, Sir!" she said breathlessly.
The room burst into laughter and applause again. Someone popped a confetti cannon, and golden dust shimmered through the air.
Ryan grinned, clapping his hands. "Told you it wasn't over."
Kai smiled softly, shaking his head in disbelief. "You all are unbelievable," he said, voice thick with warmth.
One of the makeup artists piped up teasingly, "Say 'bonus,' sir!"
The whole room erupted in laughter. Kai chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "We'll see about that," he said. "Maybe I'll consider it if you stop trying to give me surprises every time I come back from a shoot."
The café room, a space made for the fans to take a break Warm fairy lights hung from the ceiling, intertwined with golden streamers. The tables were lined with desserts, coffee, and small gift boxes. On one wall, someone had painted in elegant cursive:
"Ten Years of Kai Arden Ten Years of Dreams."
The atmosphere buzzed with laughter, clinking cups, and the hum of conversation. Kai walked around slowly, while each person greeted him genuinely. He knew every face here. The makeup team, the stylists, the photographers, the drivers, every one of them had played a role in his journey.
And in the corner, standing quietly among them all, was Alina. Alina had never been part of such an event before, at least, not one filled with so much raw admiration for a single person. She stood near the edge of the crowd, her clipboard pressed against her chest, watching the room glow with energy.
For the last week, she'd been coordinating one of the most detailed tasks: the return gifts for fans. She had been the quiet organizer behind the sets of perfume bottles, hand-tied bouquets, artisanal chocolates, and the tiny envelopes that held the lucky draw numbers.
It was chaos. Beautiful chaos. But she had loved every second of it. And seeing it all now, the way the team celebrated Kai, the emotion in his eyes, the genuine joy that filled the space, Alina understood why everyone spoke of him not just as a star, but as something more.
He wasn't adored because he was famous. He was loved because he made people feel valued. Her gaze softened as she watched him move through the crowd, smiling and thanking everyone individually. He didn't just nod politely; he remembered names.
She couldn't help but smile. "No wonder people adore him," she murmured under her breath.
The room shimmered with affection for him, a living, breathing proof of how much he was loved. Alina felt something stir deep inside her chest. It wasn't jealousy or admiration; it was something softer… more complex. Watching him laugh with his team, his people, made her heart ache in a strange, bittersweet way.
This is his world, she thought, her lips curving into a faint, almost wistful smile. He belongs here among lights, applause, and endless faces that adore him.
She had seen him in so many forms, the star. The phenomenon. The man everyone called Kai Arden. And now, this version. It was hard to believe they were the same person.
Ryan clinked a spoon against a coffee cup, calling for attention. "Alright, everyone! Let's begin with the official celebration!"
A cheer erupted. He gestured toward Kai. "Ladies and gentlemen, our man of the decade!"
Applause filled the room again, loud and unrestrained. Someone whistled. Someone shouted, and Kai chuckled, holding up his hands. "Alright, alright," he said as he was trying to silence the crowd.
The laughter quieted. All eyes turned to him. He looked around the room, faces he'd seen for years, and some new ones. As he was seeing at the sea of people, the ones who had built his world with loyalty and effort, and something inside him shifted.
And then… he saw her. At first, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. No… that can't be. She was standing at the far corner, still, quiet, away from the spotlight. The soft glow from the café lights kissed her features, the same calm eyes, the same soft posture he remembered.
Alina? His heart stopped for a beat. He blinked, and for a moment, he truly thought he was dreaming. Maybe it was exhaustion, maybe his mind was still somewhere between reality and nostalgia. She couldn't be here; she wasn't supposed to be here.
But she was. Right there, in a dark green dress, her hair gently falling over her shoulders, her eyes fixed on him with an expression he couldn't quite read.
He forgot the crowd. He forgot where he was standing. He forgot the words he was about to say. It was as if time had slowed everything, fading into a blur, everyone fading into silence. It was just her.
The girl who had filled his house with warmth without even trying. He still hears her laughter echoing faintly in the back of his mind. He remembers those moments when she sat at the dining table eating the food he made for her, and how she loved every bite as he secretly watched her from his door, peeking. It's the one he thought about more often than he should.
For a fleeting moment, he didn't care that this was his tenth anniversary, the peak of his career, his celebration, his triumph. He just wanted to know why she was here. And… how much he had missed her.
Ryan nudged him slightly. "Kai," he whispered, smiling like he knew exactly what had caught his attention.
Kai blinked, forcing himself to breathe. He managed a small smile to cover the pause, though his heart was still thundering against his ribs.
He looked back at the crowd, but his gaze found her again. She was the only person who could catch the attention of Mr Kai Arden. It was way too hard for him to focus on anything else except Alina, and he wished she would know the effect she had on him.
"Uh… thank you, everyone," he began, his voice steadier than he felt. The audience smiled, clapped softly, and listened. He continued, words flowing automatically about gratitude, about the people who made his journey possible, but underneath every line, his thoughts drifted back to Alina.
Was she here? Did she even know that seeing her here did to him? And then he saw it, a small, fleeting curve of her lips when their eyes met again. That single smile was enough to undo him completely.
He managed to finish the speech, the audience erupting in applause, but as soon as he finished the thank-you speech, he scanned the crowd. She wasn't at the corner anymore. Where she was standing a moment before
For a second, panic flickered in his chest. He stepped down from the small stage, his eyes searching through the whole cafe. He finally caught a glimpse of her again near the table filled with gifts, talking to someone, her hands busy organizing the small boxes.