The other cars followed close behind.Outside, the city was brightly lit up, and there were dazzling lights of green and red on the road.Roses were abloom on both sides of the road, seemingly fighting for attention.Xyla Quest rolled down the window half-way. A breeze brought the soothing scent of flowers to her…“The show was great, wasn’t it?” Xyla asked.“Not too bad,” Stanley Batton said.“How do you think Noah Smith performed?” Xyla asked.“Not bad at all,” Stanley said.“What about Morty Wayne and Jay Corben?” Xyla chuckled.“They did well too,” Stanley said truthfully.“Do you think they’ll get even more popular?” Xyla asked.“Yes…” Stanley said.Xyla chuckled a little before opening Weibo again.The list of trending topics was still flooded with content related to Teenage Idol.Apart from the original topics, Xyla discovered a brand new topic in the seventh spot, ‘#Noah Smith#’.The marketing accounts must have started sharing information related to Noah. Xyla i
The things that appeared the most in the topic were pictures of the two looking at each other on the stage. In fact, lyrics to the song ‘The Truth is Real’ were added to the pictures.“We used to share all our hidden love and secrets in packed halls. Even if thousands of people are cheering for me, I couldn’t care less.”When Jay Corben saw the lyrics, he searched for the song ‘The Truth is Real’ on his phone’s music application. He then plugged his earphones in and started listening to the song earnestly.While listening to the song, Jay watched Morty Wayne remove his makeup.By then, the two of them were the only people left in the huge dressing room. Everyone else had left.Jay watched him without a care in the world…After removing the foundation and eye-liner makeup on his face, Morty looked even cuter. He was like a young and innocent student.Sensing Jay’s gaze on him, Morty turned to look at Jay. “What is it?” Morty asked with a chuckle.“Do you want to grab something t
“I can’t be bothered to explain,” Noah Smith said.“It’d be bad if people started spreading rumors of us being in a relationship,” Catherine Batton said.“I don’t mind,” Noah said.Catherine was speechless.“Did you watch my debut performance?” Noah asked.“Yeah… I did… You’re pretty good. I like your stage name too. It sounds great,” Catherine said.Meanwhile, Noah was sitting in his sapphire-blue Porsche parked within the vice president’s residence. A glimmer of light appeared in his eyes when he smiled after reading the text from Catherine.He immediately gave Catherine a call on the phone.Catherine very quickly picked it up.“Have you gone back to school?” Noah asked.“Not yet,” Catherine said.“When are you going back?” He asked.“Probably tomorrow,” she said.“Hmm… Would you like to come out for supper?” Noah asked.“No. I don’t feel like moving.” Catherine rejected him right away.“Forget it then…” A look of disappointment appeared in Noah’s eyes.“I’m going to
After dinner, Xyla Quest cleaned up the dining table and went upstairs. She filled the bathtub with warm water, pampering herself with peaceful music and a clay mask while taking a bath. She was playing the piano cover of ‘Castle in the Sky’. After a long day, a hot bath with some soothing melodies was exactly what she needed. Sheer exhaustion invading her body and mind had instantly disappeared. After the bath, she dried her hair, put on some skincare products, and then plopped down on the bed. She stole a glance at the clock. It was already one o’clock in the morning. However, Stanley Batton had not come back yet. Turning off the lights, she pulled the blanket up and went to sleep. Stanley came home soon after Xyla fell asleep. After parking the car, he went straight into the house. Instead of heading upstairs to find Xyla, he shuffled to the living room and sank into the couch. He rolled up the white sleeves. The new injection mark on his left arm was exceptional
Xyla Quest did not sleep well that night. Strange dreams had kept her tossing and turning all night. In her dreams, different people were chasing after her, and she was constantly running for life. At seven o’clock in the morning, her eyes snapped open. Ripples of pain seared through her brain in the very next second. She held her heavy head, her hands subconsciously flailing around the empty spot beside her, only to find that Stanley Batton was not there anymore. The bedsheet was cold. He must have gotten up long ago. Xyla casually stretched her arms, then went into the bathroom with confounding buzzing in her head. When she set foot into the bathroom, her gaze inadvertently fell upon the laundry basket at the corner. There was a bloodstain on the white dress shirt. She recognized it right away. Stanley wore that shirt yesterday. Xyla instantly picked up the shirt and took a closer look at the stain. The bloodstain was near the upper sleeve. It was not big, only ab
“Master? Why didn’t he tell us he’s coming back?” Xyla Quest narrowed her eyes and stared at the old man in the back seat of the car. Stanley Batton, who had now seen the man, immediately got out of his car. Xyla followed along and hopped off the car excitedly. Ron Batton slowly got out of his car too. He was wearing a traditional white tai chi outfit, looking benevolent yet refreshed. “Grandpa, what are you doing here? Why didn’t you inform us in advance?” Stanley asked. Ron gazed at Xyla and smiled. “I missed you guys so much. That’s why I’m here.” “Master, you should’ve told us earlier. We could’ve gone to the airport and picked you up.” As Xyla spoke, she skipped toward Ron and hugged his arm intimately. Ron grinned at Xyla dotingly and patted the back of her hand. “I wanted to surprise you, my dear. Are you guys going out now?”Xyla nodded. “Well, I was going to work, but now that you’re back, I think I’m changing my mind.”The smile on Ron’s face widened, his fond
“Are you sure you’re not going to tell Xyla about it?” Ron Batton asked.“Please don’t let her know,” Stanley Batton mumbled.Ron managed a curt nod, then patted Stanley’s shoulder.***Meanwhile, something unusual was about to happen at the Sullivan family’s house.Emily Quest was sitting in front of the dressing table, earnestly applying her favorite lipstick. Her lips were bright red, matching very well with her heavy makeup and her black straight hair. She looked demonically flirtatious in that red, short silk halter dress. Knock knock knock…Someone was knocking at the door. Smirking, Emily casually wiped the overdrawn lipstick off the corner of her lips and stole a glance at the door through the mirror. “Come in…”Soon, the door was pushed open.Tom Sullivan frowned as soon as he saw her. He plodded on with a gloomy face until he reached her side. “What do you want?”“Close the door,” Emily ordered. Tom glowered coldly at her before returning to the doorway and c
Her phone screen showed an article about Noah Smith on Weibo. The article said that they had recently gotten wind of Noah Miller’s appearance in one of the Goose factory’s talent shows later this year. Noah Miller would be taking the role of mentor for Fire Up Street Dancing Season 2. In fact, Georgie Clementine had the marketing accounts let the cat out of the bag. Their company intended to win Noah some attention and enhance his popularity before his debut. Xyla Quest logged onto her Weibo account without hesitation. The article had exceeded fifty thousand likes, shares, and comments in less than five minutes. Countless Noah’s fans were expressing their delight in the comment section.“I refuse to believe this since there’s no official announcement made by X Entertainment. Please don’t give us false hope.”“I’ll be overjoyed if it’s true! I’m looking forward to seeing my boy! Noah Miller! Mom loves you!”“It’ll be great if the news is true. However, if some other compani
Xyla quickly reached for Hannah’s hand. “Is that right? Hannah, you’re amazing…! You’re practically on par with Leon!”Hannah laughed, slightly embarrassed. “Not at all.”“Oh, cut it out. If you hadn’t helped me, how could I have improved so quickly?” Leon chuckled.“I guess I’ve lived up to my promise.” Hannah giggled along.Back then, she had promised Leon that she would become someone deserving of him.She claimed that she would grow with Leon.Without a doubt, she had done it.Now, Hannah had become a successful woman many would often speak of. She earned her rightful seat next to Leon as the CEO of Dragon Group.Stanley also turned to look at Hannah. “Yes, Hannah’s very capable. She’s our family pride.”Hannah laughed. “I was lucky to be accepted by your family.”In fact, Hannah genuinely felt grateful toward the Batton family over the years she had spent with them.They had helped her through all the hardship she encountered when she was poor and down on her luck.Aft
“Hannah, I’ve taken the first step for you. Are you willing to walk by my side for the rest of our lives?” Leon asked, serious.“Yes, I am…” Hannah answered without missing a beat.“I’ll protect you. From now on, you don’t have to worry about a single thing.” With that, Leon placed both hands on Hannah’s face and kissed her on the lips.The moment their lips touched, everything felt surreal…Hannah could feel pink, light bubbles floating all around her. It felt as if all the flowers in the world were blossoming at once.In Hannah’s dark, depressing life, Leon was her only salvation.He was a ray of hope that led her out of hell, so she could see light once more.Hannah thought she would never have anything to do with Leon after she quit school.Even until now, she still remembered how sorrowful she was on her last day of school.But now… Not only did she get the opportunity to interact with him once more, but they also became a couple.Their driver sighed to himself while
Over time, Leon’s feelings for Hannah grew deeper, stronger, and more intense.He had grown used to having her with him all the time.Thus, he hoped she would stay by his side for the rest of his life.Upon hearing his words, Hannah’s mind went blank.What did her dream guy just say?Was she dreaming?Hannah quickly pinched her palm at the thought in an attempt to discern between dream and reality.Her palm hurt. That meant this wasn’t a dream. It was real!Hannah felt even more dumbfounded…This meant Leon actually liked her! He was confessing to her, wasn’t he?Did her dream guy actually reciprocate her feelings?Never in her wildest dreams did Hannah imagine she would go through such an experience.Excitement jammed her mind, so much that she was rendered speechless. There were many things she wanted to say, and yet, she couldn’t utter a single word.Her heartbeat increased rapidly, and her entire body began to shake. Sensing her trembling body, Leon tightened his e
Immediately after, the men in black pulled out guns from their pockets, which they aimed at Raymond’s head.Raymond panicked instantly, going pale.He subconsciously retreated a step back. “Who are you? Don’t you know what you’re doing is illegal?”Leon sneered. “You don’t deserve to know my name. In this city, I am the law.”Leon’s domineering words made him seem even more imposing.At this moment, Hannah felt as if he was a guardian angel sent from Heaven to protect her.Something about him seemed oddly sacred and heavenly.“Mr. Batton, do I shoot him in the head?” One of the men dressed in black asked.“Mr. Batton? Are you Stanley Batton’s son?!” Fear was beginning to spread through Raymond. For one to have Batton as his surname and act this arrogantly in Atlantis, he could be none other than a member of the renowned Batton family.“How dare you address our president by name?!” Another man in black leveled Raymond with a chilling glare.Suffice to say, Raymond was terrif
Terrible pain ached at every part of Hannah’s body as she collided with the cold, hard ground.The pain was such that all her bones felt close to breaking. Everywhere hurt badly.At that moment, Hannah felt like a fragile doll made of clay that had been forcefully slammed hard against the ground until it broke into small pieces.Her mind went blank from the stinging agony.She braced herself and looked at the cold eyes staring back at her, filled with terror. Stammering, she asked, “Mr. Gray… What is the meaning of this?” “What’s the meaning of this? Ha! Don’t you know what’s good for you? You dumb b*tch… You’re lucky that I set my sights on you!”“How dare you refuse my feelings! Not just that, but you even made up a story to deceive me!”“Even when you saw me, you tried to trick me again!”“Do you think I’m stupid? That I can’t think? Do you honestly think I’d fall for your lies again and again?” Raymond went, his tone steadily rising into a furious roar.He then got on o
Although the sun had long sunk beneath the horizons and darkness had set in, the lively city wasn’t about to be silent anytime soon. Hannah felt deeply unsettled, so much that she didn’t leave right away.Instead, she waited in front of the bar, filled with hesitance and anxiety.Should she really leave?Would Rihanna truly be able to sort things out?The man was Raymond Gray… Neither Rihanna nor the bar could afford to upset him, lest they face terrible repercussions.Hannah remained standing on the same spot, uncertain. She really didn’t know what to do.Finally, she came to a decision. She took out her phone and tapped open a ride-hailing application on her phone.Yet just as she did that, she instantly closed it. Afterwards, she began pacing back and forth in worried circles, going to and fro aimlessly. Right as she was trapped in her worried musings, a group of people exited the bar. Raymond Gray, dressed in black, sporty attire, led all of them in a flamboyant manner.
A handsome waiter quickly walked in and looked at Rihanna. “Ms. Jensen, Mr. Gray out there insists that Hannah should get on stage to sing another song. I told him that Hannah would only sing three songs today…”“He lost his temper and claimed he’d destroy our bar if Hannah refuses to sing another song…” The waiter added. He was visibly trembling by the end of the sentence.Hannah figured Mr. Gray was probably the only son of the new mayor of Atlantis there weren’t many people with Gray as their surname in Atlantis. There were even less people who were arrogant like him. He was the only one.Hannah had heard about how terrible this person could be. He was known to be a womanizer too.Due to his powerful background, he looked down on everyone else. He didn’t respect women at all… Moreover, he had a relatively cruel personality. One could almost describe him as being a pervert.There was once when an owner of a bar offended a female internet celebrity he was dating. He directly hired
Hannah Roland smiled politely at Lina Cohen. “Nice to meet you… Thank you in advance!”“No problem… Do let me know if there’s anything you don’t like about your makeup too,” Lina said.Hannah nodded. “Okay, sure…”“By the way… Do all the signers here get such good treatment? I’m surprised we’re even assigned our own makeup artists,” Hannah asked carefully as she wasn’t aware about things like these..However, Lina smiled without answering Hannah’s question directly. She held Hannah’s hand casually the next second, “Come here. I’ll start doing your makeup now…”Hannah nodded…Lina was a very professional makeup artist. She took an hour to finish Hannah’s makeup.An hour later, Hannah’s appearance transformed completely.Lina permed Hannah’s long, black hair into natural-looking curls.Hannah had intricate peach-colored makeup on her face which made her appear lively and youthful.Once Lina was done with Hannah’s makeup, she happily retrieved a long, white dress from a clothes
Hannah Roland smiled without saying anything.***Hannah arrived at the bar where she worked at seven o’clock the next evening and walked into Rihanna Jensen’s office.Rihanna was going through paperwork in her office. When she saw Hannah, she immediately stood up and smiled at her. “Hannah, you’re here…”“Here’s the contract…” Rihanna said before pushing a thick stack of paper to the center of the table.Hannah quickly stepped forward and skimmed through the document. She then picked up a pen and signed it…Rihanna smiled upon seeing this. “Okay… I’ll transfer the money into your account tonight… I’ve told our big boss about your situation. He’s fine with my decision to pay your salary in advance. In fact, he even told me I did a good job…”“He said you can sing without worrying about a single thing… If you need any help in the future, do let us know…” Rihanna added.Hannah felt glad when she heard this, and became teary-eyed. “Thank you… Please thank our big boss for me too.