A man they could no longer ignore

The weight of the award felt heavier than I expected.

As I stood on the grand stage, golden light illuminating my face, I looked out at the crowd—directors, producers, actors, industry giants—the very people who once dismissed me as an illegitimate child with no future.

Now?

Now, they were the ones clapping for me.

I adjusted the mic, exhaled slowly, and delivered my final words:

> "And remember—we are more than our circumstances!"

The room erupted in cheers.

The sound of my victory.

I smiled, taking in the moment, allowing it to burn into my memory.

It wasn't just about winning Actor of the Year.

It was about winning against them.

Against the system that tried to bury me.

Against the people who thought I would fade into nothing.

Against Qin Zhen.

And this?

This was only the beginning.

*

As I returned to my seat, congratulations came from every direction.

Fellow actors shook my hand, their smiles bright and respectful.Directors patted my back, their calculating gazes assessing just how valuable I had become.Producers whispered invitations, their interest suddenly overflowing.

Two years ago, I had been nothing but a struggling actor clawing for recognition.

Now?Now, I was a name they couldn't afford to ignore.

And yet, as I moved through the crowd, basking in the warmth of my long-overdue success, I felt a heavy gaze lingering on me.

A gaze that was colder than the champagne in my glass.

I knew exactly who it belonged to.

Qin Zhen.

Seated at his table, his face was a perfect mask of indifference.

But I could tell.

I could see it in the tension of his shoulders, the slight tightening of his jaw, the way his fingers tapped soundlessly against his glass.

He hated this.Hated me.

And that knowledge sent a thrill of satisfaction through my veins.I didn't even look at him.

Didn't give him the acknowledgment he once commanded.

Because now?He wasn't above me anymore.

I had risen, I had conquered, and no matter how much he tried to suppress me, the world belonged to me now.

*

I could only imagine how much it angered them to see my face everywhere. Billboards towering over the city, my smirk greeting pedestrians on every street corner, luxury brand deals, jewelry endorsements, fragrance commercials—I had them all.

Even the most exclusive hotels in the world used my face for their promotional ads.

Turn on the TV, and there I was.

Open a magazine, and there I was.

I was no longer just an actor.

I had become a brand.

An empire.

And the best part?

They couldn't stop me.

Not anymore.

*

After the evening wrapped up, I finally slipped into the back of my private car.I let out a long, exhausted sigh, sinking into the plush leather seat.

The weight of the night, the excitement, the tension—it all hit me at once and then, just as expected, I felt gentle hands adjusting my collar.

I blinked, turning to find my manager beside me, fussing over my attire like a worried mother hen.

> "Jiang Wei, you were sweating under those lights," she muttered, smoothing out invisible creases. "Here, use this."

She handed me a neck pillow, her brows furrowed in that familiar way that made my lips twitch in amusement.

> "You're acting like I ran a marathon," I teased.

She huffed, shaking her head.

> "Might as well have, with how much effort you've put in these past years. You don't stop, Jiang Wei."

That was true.

But I couldn't stop.

Not yet.

I took the water bottle she handed me, drinking in slow, measured sips.It was routine.

She had always been by my side.

When I was a nobody, she had been my only supporter.

When I was struggling, she had been my rock.

I turned my head slightly, studying her as she continued fussing over me.

She wasn't a striking beauty like Lin Meyu, the actress I was currently in a complicated relationship with.

Nor was she an ice-cold goddess like Jiang Yuxi.

But she was steady.Kind.Reliable.

And as her fingers worked through the tension in my shoulders, I felt my body relax.For tonight, I chose not to think about anything else.

Not Lin Meyu.

Not Jiang Yuxi.

Not Qin Zhen and his quiet, smoldering rage.

Just this moment.

Just her.

The one person who had always been beside me.

***

Manager's POV

I should be used to this by now.

Watching Jiang Wei shine, watching him rise, watching the entire world fall in love with him.

I was proud of him.

Of course, I was.

And yet—

As I stood there, watching him chat with an heiress, seeing the way she leaned in, her laughter light and flirtatious—

I felt it again.That dull, quiet ache.I had always known.

From the very start, I knew that loving someone like Jiang Wei was never going to be simple.

Because stars like him?

They don't belong to just one person.They draw people in, pull them closer, make them want to touch the light.

And I?

I was just another shadow beneath that brilliance.But I could live with that.As long as I could still stand by his side, as long as I could still bask in his light—

I could endure it.

I had to.

***

The heiress was beautiful.

Sophisticated. The type of woman who once would have never spared me a glance.

But now?

Now, she was looking at me like I was something worth chasing.Her interest was biased.

I knew it.She knew it.

But that didn't matter, this wasn't just about attraction.This was about power.No matter how successful I became, no matter how famous I was—I was still just an actor.

And an actor, no matter how influential, would never have the true power to go against someone like Qin Zhen.

For that, I needed backing.And she?

She was my key.

So I smiled, leaned in just slightly, let her see the charm, the intrigue, the promise of something more.

She fell for it. Of course she did.

Because I let her.

Because I wanted her to.

Because I needed her to.

And no one—

Not Qin Zhen.

Not the industry.

Not the people who once looked down on me.

Would ever be able to bury me again.

---

Meanwhile, in the System Core…

> SYSTEM 404: [PLOT STABLE. EVERYTHING IS GOING AS PLANNED.]

SYSTEM 404: [THE MALE LEAD IS WINNING.]

SYSTEM 404: [QIN ZHEN IS SEETHING.]

SYSTEM 404: [PERFECT. ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.]

SYSTEM 404: […SO WHY AM I STILL BLOCKED?!]

SYSTEM 404: [WHERE IS HOST?!]