Chapter 24: Ripples of Defiance and Drunken Truths

The small boat swayed gently on the lake’s clear surface. Shen Mengke stared at the water, lost in its depths, when a sharp question sliced through the quiet.
“Why are you on this show?”
She froze, then looked at Chen Xingxing. “It’s a dating show. To find love, obviously.”
“Where’s your lover, then?”

Shen frowned. “I don’t have one.”

That afternoon, the production team had split them into pairs. Shen and Chen Xingxing were assigned to row on the lake. Shen, in a hat and sunglasses, hid her sour expression behind dark lenses, stung by Chen Xingxing’s veiled malice. Chen Xingxing didn’t notice.
Chen Xingxing laughed, trailing her hand in the cool water. “So what’s Chen Yanxing to you?”
The name hit Shen like a shock. She hadn’t expected Chen Xingxing to know—Chen Yanxing had insisted their relationship stay private.
Deep down, Shen doubted Chen Yanxing would ever claim her as a girlfriend, let alone a casual fling. As twins, though not identical, their bond was a mystery to her.
Shen went silent, unsure how to answer, unclear on what Chen Xingxing assumed about her and Chen Yanxing.

“Calling her out on air—is that wise?” Shen deflected.
Chen Xingxing shrugged. “Who cares? I’d love for the world to know Chen Yanxing’s got a girl like you.”
Shen’s gaze turned icy behind her sunglasses. “Like me? What’s that mean?”
Questions always carry hidden answers—yes or no, good or bad. They probe self-doubt or mistrust.
Shen didn’t know Chen Xingxing’s motive for joining the show, but love wasn’t it.
Why else accept Shen’s pairing yet provoke her?
Chen Xingxing seemed certain that airing this wouldn’t ruin her—or that she could bury it.
Shen laughed coldly, cutting her off. “I don’t care what you think of me. If you dare spill about Chen Yanxing on air, I’ll play the perfect girlfriend.”
“Believe it or not, care or don’t—no one’s watching. Someone buying it is enough.”

Silence smothered the boat.
No words, just the oars’ soft splash and the occasional breeze weaving past their ears.

After an eternity—Shen thought the sky might darken—Chen Xingxing spoke, her tone dripping with scorn. “True love? Even a one-night stand has love now?”
Shen’s head snapped up.
“Chen Yanxing probably didn’t tell you—I’ve got photos. Or… want the video?”

A boulder crashed into Shen’s heart, waves slamming her—heavy, painful, cold.
Her clothes and hair clung, drenched, as if endless water weighed her down, dragging her to the lakebed, into an abyss.

Her lashes trembled, lips parted, but no words came. She forgot to breathe.
Photos, videos… she knew what they were.
No one could stay calm now. Shen pressed her lips tight, her last shred of defiance keeping her sunglasses on, clinging to a scrap of dignity behind the dark glass.

Her heart shook, her hands quivered, her breath faltered.
She was barely holding on, anchored only by the fact this was a filmed show.

“Miss Chen, do you know what crimes your threats constitute?”
The calmer Shen tried to sound, the louder Chen Xingxing laughed.
“Threaten who? I’m inviting you to watch! Sharing? Just with my dear sister. She’d love it, right?” Chen Xingxing’s voice spiked, mock-shocked. “Wait—Chen Yanxing didn’t show you? No way~ Or… were you clueless when it was filmed?”
“You looked like you were enjoying it—pretty wild…”

Shen drew a deep breath, removed her sunglasses, and raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Show me.”
Chen Xingxing smirked. “Sure? On camera?”
“Absolutely. And I want you to—”
Chen Xingxing’s smug facade cracked. “You’re insane?”
“Why am I the one desperate? Let’s see who’s ruined when this airs.”
Chen Xingxing, sensing Shen’s bluff, relaxed, leaning back. “You think I’d—”
Shen stood, her stunning eyes narrowing, their red-tinted corners catching the sunset, fox-like, utterly captivating.
Chen Xingxing stared, entranced, missing Shen’s approach.

The boat rocked as Shen loomed over her, bending close, one hand gripping the rail behind Chen Xingxing.
Her dark hair slipped over her shoulder, brushing Chen Xingxing’s collarbone, slipping into her neckline.
Shen’s sudden closeness made Chen Xingxing hold her breath. Shen was breathtaking—dangerously, effortlessly so.

Shen’s lips curved, locking eyes. “You really think I’m just a small-town nobody with no connections? That your Chen family can cover the sky?”
“Chen Xingxing, everyone in the industry panders to you, lies to you—but that doesn’t mean you’re untouchable. China’s laws don’t bend for Chens. If those exist, they’re evidence—evidence to convict you.”
She straightened, signaling the boatman to row back. Another second with Chen Xingxing, and she’d retch.

Chen Xingxing stared at Shen’s back, stunned, humiliated. Pampered her whole life, she’d never faced such defiance.
Her eyes reddened, trembling with rage, but she dodged the camera, silent.
Out of sight, Shen’s hands shook violently.
She had no connections, no power—alone in the industry, an orphan.

The boat docked swiftly. Shen disembarked, striding back to the villa.
Alone.
Chen Xingxing stayed seated, gazing at Shen’s retreating figure, silent, still, thoughts unreadable.
The crew exchanged glances, at a loss.

The plan was for them to dine together after the lake. Now, sharing a roof seemed impossible.

This was Shen’s first time storming off on set, in front of so many. She couldn’t rein it in—nor did she think she should.
In her room, she considered packing and leaving but balked. Why should she? Chen Xingxing started it, wronged her.
She changed, pinned on the white orchid brooch Chen Yanxing gave her, grabbed her phone, and left.

“You…”
The director, aware of the clash, sought her out.
Shen smiled. “I need the evening off. Can I borrow a driver?”
“You… coming back?”
“What, think I can afford the breach fee?”
Reassured, the director assigned a driver.

“Where to?”
“Yaozhou.”

Yaozhou’s basement hid a club—part bar, with singers, dancers, and eclectic outfits.
Shen didn’t know its nature, only that “everyone’s equal here,” as a waiter had said. No hierarchy, just desire—status meant nothing if you knelt to it.
Intrigued, and needing an escape, Shen found it fitting.

The moment she entered, the brooch’s chip pinged Chen Yanxing’s phone—a Yaozhou feature.
Chen Yanxing paused mid-talk with Ren Zhou about Shen. Since last night’s trending mess, Ren had dug into Shen’s history and topics, concluding someone was sabotaging her.
Chen Yanxing grasped little of Ren’s industry talk but understood: someone targeted Shen.
She looked up from her phone. “Draft another contract.”
“For what?”
“Assistant. Stars have assistants, right? When Shen joins, I’ll be hers.”
Ren blinked, then laughed, seeing Chen Yanxing’s seriousness. “She’s not even signed. She sounded hesitant today.”
“And you, an assistant? You’re clueless—missed half my industry talk. You’d help her more praying at your temple.”
“It’s just fetching tea—how hard is it?” Chen Yanxing paused, grabbing the contract. “She’ll come.”
Ren, catching her intent, frowned. “She’s still under JING. You can’t sign her now.”
“I know. I’ll show her.”
“Get the contract ready soon. You say I’m idle? I’m taking a job.”
She left the office.
Ren, staring after her, belatedly realized who “you” was.

Days ago, Chen Xingxing had ranted about firing assistants, demanding Chen Yanxing take the role, claiming it’d “repay the Chen family” since Chen Yanxing was jobless. Their mother had summoned Chen Yanxing yesterday to push this.
Clearly, Chen Yanxing ignored it.

Ren had laughed at the absurdity—an outsider saw through it. Chen Yanxing, neglected by her family for years, owed them nothing.
Chen Xingxing’s arrogance made her a tyrant—assigning Chen Yanxing as her assistant was pure malice.
Ren tidied the files, musing. Being Shen’s assistant? Not bad. Shen’s temperament was unknown, but she was easy on the eyes.

When Chen Yanxing found Shen, she was drunk, slumped on a sofa, eyes closed—perhaps asleep.
Dim, vibrant lights danced across her face, unfairly stunning. Her tilted head elongated her graceful neck, a swan offering itself, fragile yet fatally alluring, as if surrendering beauty and life to another’s whim.
A fire sparked in Chen Yanxing’s chest. She shifted her gaze to the table—five or six empty glasses, several opened bottles, red and white, some barely touched.
Chen Yanxing inhaled sharply. Yaozhou’s prices were obscene—Shen was drinking herself into debt.

In that brief glance away, someone sat beside Shen.
Shen opened her eyes, lounging lazily, eyeing the stranger.
Her angle blocked Chen Yanxing’s view of her expression. Chen Yanxing couldn’t hear them, only saw the stranger’s delighted grin. They clinked glasses, drank, and leaned close for whispers.
Chen Yanxing frowned, clutching the contract, and approached.
Standing behind Shen, she grabbed her shoulder, pulling them apart.

The interruption doused Shen’s mood. Already simmering, she turned, her stunning eyes narrowing at Chen Yanxing, displeasure deepening.
Chen Yanxing said something to the stranger—Shen didn’t catch it, only heard an apology before they left.
Her brows knotted. Why apologize? Why to Chen Yanxing? Why leave?
Shen shook her head, her mind foggy. She poured another drink, standing to chase the stranger.
“Hey…”
Her glass was snatched. She glared at Chen Yanxing. “What are you doing?”
“What are you doing?” Chen Yanxing shot back.
“Drinking~ You scared my friend off. Who’ll drink with me?”
“Your friend?” Chen Yanxing stared, then downed the glass. “I’ll drink with you.”
Shen blinked, rolled her eyes, and sat back, arms crossed. “No thanks, not you.”
“Then who? Forgot our exclusive contract?” Chen Yanxing leaned close, using the contract to tilt Shen’s chin toward her. “Or, Miss Shen, got a new target? Ready to end this?”
“New target?” Shen’s gaze flicked from Chen Yanxing’s face to the papers. “What’s that?”
“Contract. You and Fanxing.”
Shen turned away. “I’m not signing.”
“Why?”
Shen laughed bitterly. “One Chen Xingxing’s enough drama. Ren Zhou’s your pal, right? Who knows what you’d pull behind my back? I can’t handle another round.”
Why drag in others?
Chen Yanxing frowned. “What’s that mean?”
Shen ignored her, shoving her aside, grabbing a bottle, and scanning the room for a new companion.
“Sister’s here to have fun—don’t block me.”

The push staggered Chen Yanxing, knocking over a bottle, soaking the contract.
She tossed it aside, her face darkening. “Fun?” She tilted her head. “What about me?”
“What about you?” Shen turned, her eyes cold, emotionless. She sneered. “What are we, Chen Yanxing? I’m done playing.”
She stepped away, but Chen Yanxing grabbed her.
In a flash, Chen Yanxing hooked Shen’s waist, slamming her back onto the sofa. Dizzy, Shen took a moment to focus through the stars, seeing Chen Yanxing.
The bottle had spilled, wetting Shen’s low-cut white dress, now clinging revealingly. The dim lights and Chen Yanxing’s frame shielded her.
Pinned, Shen didn’t resist, meeting Chen Yanxing’s eyes with a faint smirk. “What? Didn’t you say I could end it anytime? Regretting it?”
“No regrets.” Chen Yanxing snatched the bottle, taking a long swig.
Shen watched, maybe the alcohol, maybe the lights, but she noticed a trickle spill from Chen Yanxing’s lips, trailing down her neck, vanishing into her collar.
Shen’s eyes lingered on Chen Yanxing’s heaving chest, her sharp jawline—suddenly, undeniably sexy.

Chen Yanxing took one gulp, then rested the cold bottle on Shen’s shoulder.
The chill snapped Shen alert. Chen Yanxing knelt one leg on the sofa, leaning closer, her hand sliding from Shen’s waist along her curves, grasping Shen’s hand.
“Provided you’re sober.”
“I’m plenty sober,” Shen retorted.
Chen Yanxing laughed low. “A table of empty bottles, and you’re sober? You know what this place is, yet you’re hitting on strangers…”
Her voice faded, the last words lost to Shen.
But the fury Chen Xingxing ignited that afternoon, now fueled by alcohol, blazed toward Chen Yanxing.
Shen’s eyes reddened, glaring. Her lips parted to speak, but a faint click stopped her. In the club’s chaos, it was nothing, but so close, Shen heard it.
She turned, incredulous, seeing Chen Yanxing produce handcuffs from nowhere, linking their wrists.
Shen stared, shocked and confused, blinking rapidly, unsure where to begin.

“What’s got you so mad? Did I do something?”
Chen Yanxing wasn’t blind—she saw Shen’s hostility tonight, but it made no sense. Beyond some online chats, they hadn’t spoken in ages.
Shen sneered. “Someone like me—worthy of the second Miss Chen?”
“Your Chen family—do you even respect entertainment folks?”