Lian Wei was on her way to the variety show Show of Life.
She wore a simple blue dress, white sneakers, and pink socks. In her hand, a medium-sized suitcase with clothes and a few skincare products—essentials for keeping her appearance flawless in front of the cameras.
Show of Life was a cohabitation reality show that brought together ten celebrities in a modest villa, where they had to share food, complete tasks, and manage a limited budget for fifteen days. The program was famous for turning celebrities into popularity phenomena, forming unexpected friendships and, occasionally, couples that drove the internet wild.
Produced in Yuncheng City, the capital of Long Cheng, the show had become one of the most-watched in Asia. Each season gathered idols, actors, dancers, and influencers. Participating was synonymous with skyrocketing fame.
Lian Wei, an up-and-coming star, accepted the invitation without hesitation. She had risen to fame after starring in the drama When the Birds Fly, a story about second chances and childhood sweethearts reunited. Her performance moved millions across China and made her a well-known name throughout Long Cheng. Her crying scene in the finale went viral, and soon, Lian Wei dominated the trending topics on Weibo and even Twitter, gaining international attention.
After that, she shocked the audience by playing a psychopathic villain in the live-action adaptation of When She Was Beautiful, a dark and elegant fantasy. The role earned her a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress.
But Lian Wei wasn't one to settle.
Her true goal was the Oscars.
Following the advice of her agent, Xiao Na, she agreed to join Show of Life to "humanize" her image and grow even closer to the public. At twenty-two, with ten million followers on Weibo and three million on Twitter, she wanted to cement her fame.
The reality show was about to begin. The host, Qiao Liang, a veteran of the entertainment industry, was known for conducting the program with charisma and elegance.
The guests, accompanied by their agents and assistants, gathered at Yuncheng International Airport. From there, the production team would take them to the filming location two hours away.
At exactly 2 p.m., Qiao Liang started the live broadcast.
"Welcome to Show of Life! The guests are all here, and now we'll do the introductions before heading to the villa!"
The live audience and online viewers erupted.
Show of Life never revealed its cast beforehand, making every premiere a national event. Unexpected reunions—rivals, ex-lovers, siblings, or former colleagues—always produced iconic moments.
The introductions began. Qiao Liang received the official list of guests from an agent and read aloud:
"This year is going to be amazing! Let's start with her, the student sweetheart Cha Eun Ha! The young actress recently debuted in the school drama Love H2O, playing the charming mermaid Anabel. Welcome, Eun Ha!"
Eun Ha walked onstage with her cute persona, but shot a frosty glance at someone among the guests, surprising fans. Qiao Liang, sensing the tension, pressed on:
"And alongside her, the veteran Mo Chen, the acclaimed actor who starred with Eun Ha in Love H2O!"
The crowd cheered.
"Actually," Mo Chen replied with a polite smile, "contrary to the rumors, I'm not that much older than Eun Ha. I'm thirty, she's twenty-seven. We could be friends."
The way he emphasized could made clear there was something more. Social media exploded with theories.
"Speaking of which," Qiao Liang continued enthusiastically, "Mo Chen, you also acted with Lian Wei in When the Birds Fly… Looks like you're great friends. Is that true, Wei Wei?"
The actress stepped onstage radiant, greeting everyone with a smile and a kiss on the cheek.
"Good afternoon, Qiao Liang. Yes, that's true. I met Mo Chen during the audition for the role of Brie. He encouraged me, gave me a few tips, and when I got the part, I invited him to lunch to thank him. Since then, we've been great friends."
"What a beautiful friendship!" the host remarked. "And you, Mo Chen?"
"She's talented," the actor replied. "I knew she'd succeed. When I saw how grateful she was, I also knew she was different."
The audience sighed, split between curiosity and shipping them.
"And what about the rumors of rivalry between Wei Wei and Eun Ha?" Qiao Liang teased, laughing. "Some say Mo Chen is the cause."
Lian Wei answered first:
"There's no rivalry at all. Eun Ha and I worked together on a commercial, but we didn't get very close. I like them both and, if I may, I ship this couple so much!"
The crowd burst into laughter.
"Wei Wei, behave!" Eun Ha replied, laughing nervously. "But yes, we're friends. Ask Mo Chen."
The actor sighed and finally ended the suspense:
"Since we're being honest… Wei Wei and I are just friends. As for Eun Ha…" — he paused — "we dated before Love H2O and broke up during filming. The looks you saw were real. I still love her."
The audience screamed. Eun Ha turned red to her ears. Qiao Liang cleared his throat, scrambling to regain control.
"R-right… moving on! Our next guest is the Korean idol who conquered Long Cheng: Kang Jimin!"
The young man walked in smiling.
"Good afternoon, hyung Qiao Liang, veteran Mo Chen, noona Eun Ha, and Wei Wei!" he greeted, mixing Korean and Mandarin.
"Good afternoon, Jimin," the host replied, amused. "How was it leaving Korea and building a career here?"
"My family, though Korean, has lived in Long Cheng for years," he explained. "So adapting wasn't too hard. I found friends, fans, and opportunities here that changed my life. But Korea is still my home."
The audience melted at his charisma.
"And now," Qiao Liang announced excitedly, "our final guest… the most mysterious man in the industry! Winner of two Oscars and countless Golden Globes… Xiang Chen!"
The place erupted in applause.
The actor appeared, tall—1.90 meters of pure presence—with cold, refined features.
"Xiang Chen, brother, what convinced you to come?" Qiao Liang teased. "I thought you'd forgotten the show even existed!"
"Yan is taking care of my dogs, Ice and Fire," the actor replied, ignoring the joke. "I wouldn't leave them with my sister, Xiang Mei."
The host laughed, used to his friend's dry humor.
"These are Kang Jimin, Mo Chen, Cha Eun Ha, and Lian Wei."
Xiang Chen looked at each of them briefly… then his eyes landed on Lian Wei.
For a fraction of a second, a subtle smile curved his lips.
"It's a pleasure," he said in a deep voice.
The entire studio seemed to hold its breath.
The "stainless steel man," as he was known, smiled—and it was for Lian Wei.
Social media went into meltdown. Within seconds, the ship #WeiChen was trending on Weibo.
The only one who didn't understand anything was her.
Lian Wei, distracted, thought his greeting was nothing but politeness. But Qiao Liang, who had known Xiang Chen since childhood, noticed the unusual glint in his friend's eyes.
He knew what no one else knew:
Xiang Chen was the anonymous CEO of one of the largest corporations in the world—the Xiang Corporation, Forbes-listed yet always shrouded in mystery.
Few knew he came from an aristocratic lineage in Long Cheng, with a fortune dating back to his great-grandfather.
And there were other secrets:
Secrets involving powerful families—the Xiang, Kang, and Qiao—and a girl who went missing 20 years ago…
A girl raised in Long Cheng as nothing more than a promising actress.
✨ End of Chapter 1 ✨