Ethan Vance pushed open the creaking kitchen door, the rich scent of warm rice soup immediately washing over his cold face. The moment he stepped onto the dry floorboards, Chloe Bennett marched straight toward him, her cheeks flushed with a fiery, protective irritation."Where on earth have you been lurking all evening, you big dummy?" Chloe demanded to know, crossing her arms tightly over her chest as she glared at him. "The storm stopped ages ago, yet you just disappeared without telling anyone where you were going exactly. Do you have any idea how worried we have been, waiting for you in this house?!"Ethan smiled gently, unbuttoning his damp jacket with complete calmness. "I just went down to the city center to clear my head, Chloe. It turned out to be quite an interesting public show.""A public show? Do you take me for a complete fool, Ethan?" Chloe huffed loudly, her big eyes narrowing in deep, envious suspicion. "The entire neighborhood perimeter was completely blocked off by

Director Arthur Sterling let out a low, slow chuckle, his greasy face stretching into a lecherous smile. His heavy eyes swept down across Chloe’s body, his tone thick with a dark, predatory undertone."Well, now that I look closely at you, a prime vacancy actually just opened up for the absolute main role," Arthur murmured, leaning his heavy frame closer to her. "But a massive breakthrough like that depends entirely on how much you are truly willing to sacrifice behind the scenes tonight."Completely innocent and desperate for any honest career breakthrough, Chloe did not catch his disgusting implication at all. Her big eyes lit up with pure hope, and she nodded her head eagerly. "I am willing to work eighteen hours a day, Director! I will do absolutely anything to prove myself for this role!"Sensing the dangerous trap instantly, Ethan Vance stepped forward, his handsome face turning completely dead, mechanical, and freezing cold. He did not say a word, but his long arm reached out sm

Director Arthur noticed his cousin’s rising rage and immediately raised his iron bar, screaming violently to please her. "You ungrateful street rat! How dare you insult the young master in front of Miss Cynthia! Guards, teach him a good lesson right now!""Stand down, Arthur!" Cynthia commanded fiercely, her authoritative voice cutting through the director’s shout like an icy wind.She stepped closer to Ethan, her breathing heavy as her mind raced with a malicious desire to completely crush his pride in front of the entire production crew. She looked at Chloe, a cruel, vindictive grin slowly replacing her anger."You think this girl has real talent, Ethan?" Cynthia sneered loudly, her voice echoing down the crowded corridor. "Fine. Let us hold an immediate public screen test right here on the main stage. I am going to let her perform in front of every producer in the city, just to show you the true, terrifying gap in our social status."Director Arthur Sterling's eyes darted greedily

Director Arthur Sterling and Cynthia Sterling broke into loud, maniacal laughter, their arrogant voices echoing off the tall studio walls. They looked at Ethan Vance as if he were a complete lunatic, thoroughly amused by his quiet confidence."Did you hear this broke loser, Miss Cynthia?" Arthur mocked loudly, pointing his finger at Ethan's simple boots. "He actually expects us to believe that a tattered street beggar can somehow alter a multi-million-dollar film budget with his mind!""He has completely lost his sanity," Cynthia sneered, her eyes full of immense disdain as she waved her bodyguards forward. "Your pathetic ten seconds are already up, Ethan. Guards, drag this trash out of my building right—"Just then, the heavy double doors at the far end of the corridor burst open with a loud, violent bang. A short, chubby assistant director named Colin came running down the hallway, gasping for air and sweating profusely as his face twisted in total panic."Director Arthur! Miss Cynth

Brenda rushed forward on the stage, her face full of panic as she reached out to grab her arm before she could even head toward the exit hallway. "Please stop, Cynthia! We cannot just march into their main office without an appointment!""The security team will throw us out, and the legal consequences will ruin us," Brenda warned. "They hold all our distribution contracts, and causing a scene there will completely destroy your status in the city!"Cynthia yanked her arm away fiercely, her eyes burning with pure anger as she glared back at her manager. "I do not care about your warnings or their security guards, Brenda!""My family helps fund half the major projects in this district," Cynthia shouted. "They will either give me a meeting right now or deal with the Sterling Apex Group!""If you go to our headquarters today, you will only embarrass yourself, Cynthia Sterling," a calm woman's voice suddenly echoed from the entrance of the backstage corridor.A beautiful woman stepped out f