In March, Shanghai’s deep night was heavy with fog. When one stepped into the darkness, it felt as if they were drifting through mist.

Ni Kai Lun drove through the underground parking garage security gate, looking up to see the foggy night sky between the towering buildings—a sheet of blackness.

When she pushed open her door, the lights were on.

A figure was sprawled on her sofa.

Eyes slightly closed, small face with red lips—the lipstick smudged—black hair in disarray, wearing a dark green silk dress. Her stockings had been removed, rolled into a ball, and tossed onto the carpet. From under the dress emerged bare, white, and slender calves.

Like a colorful ghost wandering out from a deep mountain forest.

Ni Kai Lun bent down and patted her bottom. “Why didn’t you go back to your own home?”

Huang Xi Tang, with her face buried in a cushion, whispered, “My mother is still awake.”

Ni Kai Lun’s expression showed understanding. She tossed her crocodile skin bag aside and sat down beside her.

Xi Tang moved over slightly, bending her legs and pressing them against Ni Kai Lun’s arm, gently rubbing.

“Hey,” Ni Kai Lun nudged her, “Remove your makeup before lying down. Are you going to sleep with all that powder on your face?”

Xi Tang mumbled in agreement but was too lazy to move.

Ni Kai Lun said, “Ou Li Zu got hyaluronic acid injections last month. Do you think you’re still young?”

Huang Xi Tang sat up. Ou Li Zu was a new girl in the company, with a voluptuous figure and sweet smile, embodying a young and sexy style.

Xi Tang asked, “Injections at twenty?”

Ni Kai Lun replied, “She’s probably in her twenties.”

Xi Tang responded with a disinterested “Oh.”

Another one who changed her age. In this circle, age seemed like a monster that female celebrities feared.

Ni Kai Lun looked her up and down. “Only formal drama school graduates like you have verifiable records and documents that schools can check, otherwise…”

Xi Tang waved her hand. “Not me.”

Ni Kai Lun complained irritably, “You became famous too late. In another two years, all the male actors will be younger than you, and you won’t be able to pair up with them anymore.”

Xi Tang sighed languidly, “Not just late—I’m not even famous yet.”

Ni Kai Lun kicked her thigh. “Go remove your makeup! Being such a lazy female celebrity, I think you’re bringing about your demise!”

Xi Tang went with a downcast expression.

After washing her face, she came out to find Ni Kai Lun tidying up the makeup bag, who casually tossed her a bottle of essence water.

Xi Tang caught it and sat on the sofa, staring blankly into space.

Ni Kai Lun stared at her bare face for a while, commenting with great dissatisfaction, “Those years of grinding away in Hengdian have completely ruined your once-good skin.”

Xi Tang heard this, pouted at her, and made a listless face.

Ni Kai Lun became annoyed seeing her carefree attitude. “Don’t dismiss this. Do you think you can hide in film crews forever? This industry is cruel. When you go out for commercial activities and stand on stage, compared to other female celebrities—with your poor complexion, sallow face, several shades darker than others—entertainment reporters and fans will all mock you. Then you’ll understand how cold the world can be.”

Xi Tang instantly felt her head grow larger, quickly grabbing the toner and haphazardly patting it all over her face.

Ni Kai Lun was finally satisfied and glanced at her sideways. “Coming back so early, how was your date with Dr. Xie?”

Xi Tang answered honestly, “We had dinner, then I came back.”

“Didn’t watch a movie?”

“No, it wasn’t convenient.”

Ni Kai Lun knew she wasn’t making excuses. “The Last Khotan Princess” had already been airing for some time, and ordinary people were beginning to recognize her face.

Last time, she and Ni Kai Lun were eating at a restaurant near the company. That day, Xi Tang was dressed casually without any disguise. As soon as they entered, a lady at a neighboring table recognized her. The table seemed to be a gathering of middle-aged aunties. After that woman’s excited shout, they were immediately surrounded by a circle of enthusiastic middle-aged and elderly fans. Ni Kai Lun, with her worldly experience, put on airs and spoke with the aunties in her Hong Kong-accented Mandarin, introducing herself as Xi Tang’s manager. Heaven knows she had been in mainland China for almost twenty years and could speak very standard Mandarin. Somehow, that group of aunties particularly liked her approach, and all of them were excited. Then Ni Kai Lun decisively and quickly directed a dozen people to take a group photo before immediately pulling Xi Tang away. Since then, Ni Kai Lun has also become cautious. Later, when Xi Tang went out, she was protected by layers of people, from managers to assistants and makeup artists, almost completely isolated from crowds.

Seeing that Huang Xi Tang was lost in thought again, Ni Kai Lun said lightly, “Dr. Xie is not bad.”

Huang Xi Tang looked up at her briefly. Since she had known Xie Zhen Bang, Ni Kai Lun had never expressed any opinion. She thought the company didn’t like their artists dating.

Xi Tang’s eyes held only a cool indifference.

Ni Kai Lun said, “Girls should still date, otherwise there’s no rosy glow on your face.”

“I asked Xie Jun to Google your name. Not only was he not scared away, but he also came to me and said he respects your public image.” Ni Kai Lun found it amusing and couldn’t help but laugh.

Xi Tang’s meeting with Xie Zhen Bang wasn’t exactly coincidental. The second time they met, he asked for her phone number. He stood in the hospital corridor, taking a pen from the pocket of his white coat and handing it to her. His expression was open and forthright, his healthy tan skin, his smile revealing a set of white teeth.

Xi Tang had no reason to refuse him, as he had just diagnosed her mother’s illness. She could only politely smile and accept his pen.

The next moment, Ni Kai Lun rushed in from outside the corridor and ferociously knocked the pen out of her hand.

Xi Tang could only smile apologetically at him.

“I’m sorry,” the foreign-educated young doctor’s eyes smiled slightly behind his glasses as he casually spread his hands and shrugged, with a hint of half-serious, half-joking teasing: “What happened? Are you not yet sixteen?”

“Quite handsome, Western-educated,” Ni Kai Lun began speaking, seeming increasingly pleased as she talked. She poked Xi Tang: “Hey, this is the kind of man female celebrities love to marry, much better than those greasy middle-aged rich businessmen with big ears. No wonder your mother is so concerned. I’m telling you…”

Xi Tang listened motionlessly, then suddenly interrupted her: “Enough, Kai Lun…”

She covered her face with her hand.

Ni Kai Lun stopped.

Xi Tang was silent for a long time, then said quietly, “I’ve tried, but it’s hard to get involved.”

Ni Kai Lun heard the desperation in her tone. It had been almost five months since she returned from Beijing.

The last breakup with that person had been excruciating, taking half her life away.

This time, though she emerged physically intact—not only escaping unscathed but also gaining considerably—her soul was slowly withering. Ni Kai Lun knew she wasn’t better; she just didn’t mention it.

She was still trying to maintain a facade.

Xi Tang covered her face: “He’s so passionate, I feel very guilty.”

Ni Kai Lun comforted her: “It’s just a date, not asking you to pledge eternal love. Nobody’s a fool. A man enjoys your beautiful appearance, and intelligent and lovable personality. If one day he doesn’t get what he wants, he’ll naturally leave.”

Xi Tang looked up at her but said nothing more.

Ni Kai Lun pulled her into an embrace. Xi Tang stared with a wooden expression, her eyes wide, but she had no tears left.

After a while, Ni Kai Lun returned from taking an urgent work call to find Huang Xi Tang still curled up on her sofa, staring blankly.

Ni Kai Lun observed her profile from behind. Huang Xi Tang was immersed in her thoughts. When silent, her upturned nose revealed a sense of stubborn repression. The company had done test shoots of her short clips, projected on the hundred-inch screen in the sixth-floor audiovisual room. Her face occupied half the large screen, the twenty-four frames almost frozen, the entire screen filled with close-ups of her emotional expressions. Her beauty withstood the scrutiny of high-definition camera lenses in long shots lasting several minutes. Even the tiny freckle at the corner of her eye without makeup was breathtakingly beautiful.

Ni Kai Lun silently calculated—there was still a period drama contract in hand, several endorsements and variety show activities being negotiated, and good scripts that needed to be found…

She knew this industry too well. For actresses around thirty, these were the precious final golden years. A woman’s beauty typically reached its peak, life experiences had matured, and there was no better time for grasping and interpreting roles.

A female actor’s youth fades quickly. If she couldn’t become a big star in these few years, she would never have a chance.

Huang Xi Tang needed to seize the opportunity—to return to the big screen.