The city never sleeps, especially not when Chen Yuna walks out of her dressing room. Cameras flashed like starlight, voices called her name with excitement, and staff members scurried around her with clipboards and radios. But Yuna was calm, her heels clicking with grace, her red dress fluttering slightly with every step. She smiled when she had to, nodded when necessary, and passed through the hallway like a queen on a red carpet.
At twenty-four, Chen Yuna was one of the most promising actresses of her generation. She wasn't just a pretty face—her acting had depth, and her voice carried strength. Brands wanted her, directors waited for her, and fans adored her. She had starred in three major TV dramas, five films, and countless commercials. Social media loved her quirky behind-the-scenes moments, and her beauty tutorials often trended.
But the truth was, Chen Yuna wasn't born with a silver spoon. Her family, the Chens, owned Chen Skincare Group, a once-glorious cosmetics brand started by her grandmother. Her father, Chen Baorong, currently ran the company, and though he was a smart man, the business had started to decline due to heavy competition from international brands.
Yuna knew about the family struggles, but she didn't talk about them. In public, she wore elegance like a mask. In private, she was playful and full of energy.
"Yuna-jie! You were amazing!" her assistant, Meimei, gushed, handing her a smoothie. "They're already talking about your performance on Weibo. Trending number 3!"
Yuna sipped the drink and gave a tired smile. "Let's aim for number 1 next time."
"Your mom called," Meimei added, lowering her voice. "She wants you to come home tonight. She said it's urgent."
Yuna frowned slightly. "Urgent? Did she say why?"
"No. Just that your dad's been acting... off."
By the time Yuna reached her family's house in the northern part of the city, the stars had faded behind thick clouds. The mansion wasn't overly grand, but it was warm and surrounded by flowering trees her mother planted years ago.
Inside, the atmosphere felt heavy.
"Mom?" Yuna called as she stepped in. "I'm back."
Her mother, Mrs. Chen, appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands nervously. "You came quickly."
"What's wrong?"
Her father's voice echoed from the living room. "Come here, Yuna."
Yuna walked in and found her father sitting on the couch with papers scattered before him. Some were company reports, others looked like contracts. His expression was tired, his eyes sunken.
"You look exhausted, Dad," she said gently.
He nodded. "Business is difficult lately. Our main investors pulled out last week. We tried to hide it from you, but... the losses are bigger than expected."
Yuna sat beside him, heart sinking. "How bad is it?"
"If we don't get new funding soon, Chen Skincare might not last another six months."
Her mother sat across from them. "We didn't want to burden you. You're already busy with your career. But... this company is your grandmother's legacy. We can't lose it."
"I want to help," Yuna said instantly. "Whatever it takes. I can use my influence, maybe convince my brands to invest—"
"We've already tried," her father interrupted softly. "They're not interested in backing a company with falling numbers."
Yuna leaned back, overwhelmed. She had faced tough roles before. Cried on cue. Performed in the rain for twelve hours straight. But this... this felt real.
"I'll find a way," she said quietly. "I promise."
Later that night, in her room, Yuna stared out the window, replaying everything.
Chen Skincare wasn't just a company. It was part of her identity. Growing up, she had watched her grandmother stir creams in their kitchen. Her first commercial was for one of their lip balms when she was only seven. This wasn't just business. It was family.
She scrolled through her phone, checking her endorsement deals. Everything looked fine—for now.
Her mind wandered to her latest project: a major TV series that could push her into international fame. It was with Bright Media, one of the biggest entertainment agencies in the country.
She'd been fighting for the lead role with another actress—Liu Rena.
Rena had the looks and the followers, but not the talent. Still, she had connections. Deep ones.
Yuna had won the role.
Or so she thought.
A knock on the door snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Come in."
Meimei peeked in. "Sorry, just thought you should know—your name is trending again."
Yuna raised an eyebrow. "Number 1?"
Meimei shook her head. "Number 7. But... it's not for something good."
Yuna grabbed her phone and opened the app.
#ChenYunaUnprofessional#BrandDrop#BehindTheScenesAttitude
"What is this?" she whispered, clicking into the threads. Leaked messages. Screenshots. Fake ones. It painted her as rude, demanding, and ungrateful.
Meimei's voice trembled. "Someone's trying to ruin you."
Yuna's hands shook. "This isn't real. This... this isn't me."
"But people are believing it."
By morning, three sponsors had pulled out. Two more were "re-evaluating their partnership." Calls went unanswered. Her team was in chaos.
Yuna sat in her kitchen, pale and quiet.
Her phone buzzed. It was her manager.
"We might be able to control the damage," he said quickly. "But only if we act fast. We need a bigger name to stand beside you. Someone powerful. Someone that'll shut everyone up with just his presence."
She was silent.
He added, "There's someone asking to meet you. A potential... investor."
"Who?"
"Jiang Hangzhou."
Yuna blinked.
The name sounded like thunder.