Chapter 1 16.18 0 Chapter 1 I spent days glued to the ticketing app , pulling all - nighters , before I finally man- aged to snag two front - row , center - stage tickets to the Starlight Gala , headlined by my boyfriend's idol . I was about to screenshot the confirmation to send to him when a message from him popped up first . " Kiki's a die - hard fan and couldn't get a ticket . I gave yours to her . " " Besides , watching the livestream at home is the same for you . The venue is just a loud , crowded mess . " I stared at my now - empty ticketing app . After a moment of silence , I sent a voice message to my own brother , who also happens to be his idol . " Ash , I need a favor at the gala tonight . The girl sitting in my seat ... yeah , can you call her up on stage and ask her where she got her ticket ? " 1 The second I sent it , a video call from my brother , Asher Chang , came through . " That bastard Leo messing with you again ? " His voice cut through the backgr- ound noise , sharp and commanding . I didn't say anything . I just sent him the screenshots of Leo's messages . He read them and let out a low curse . " Front - row tickets ? I told you I had house seats reserved for you through Wang , but you said no ! " Chapter T " You had to go on about wanting the ' shared experience of working for someth- ing together . ' Is this your shared experience ? " " Nina , are you an idiot ? " I sniffled , holding back the wave of emotion . " Ash , I just need you to do me this one favor . " He's been in the entertainment industry for years . He understood my intention instantly . The fury on his face morphed into a smile so cold it could freeze water . " Right . Got it . " " I'll have Wang leave your original house ticket at the VIP entrance . Just pick it up when you get here . " " Tonight , your big brother is going to get you some payback . You're in for a good show . " As soon as Asher hung up , Leo called . His tone was matter - of - fact , laced with an undercurrent of blame . " Nina , why are you throwing a tantrum ? Not answering my texts or calls . " " Kiki told me you seemed upset . " I ignored his opening salvo , my voice like ice . " Leo , what gives you the right to touch my tickets ? " He seemed taken aback by my directness but quickly found his footing . " I was just trying to cheer her up . She's been so stressed with her grad school applic- ations , she's lost weight , she's on the verge of a breakdown . " " You're her best friend . Can't you be a little more considerate ? " 16.18 Chapter 1 16:18 His logic was so twisted it was almost funny . " She's stressed , so she needs my tickets ? Am I her mother or her therapist ? " He clearly wasn't expecting this kind of pushback from me . He shifted tactics , smoothly sliding into his usual manipulation . " Besides , are you going to see me , or are you going to see Asher Chang ? You're not even his fan , so what does it matter where you sit? " " Kiki has waited years just to get a glimpse of him . Can't you just help make her dream come true ? Why are you being so selfish all of a sudden ? " My heart turned to stone as he belittled the sleepless nights I'd spent , reducing my efforts to a meaningless " what does it matter where you sit . " All my effort , in his eyes , was worth nothing . My voice was quiet but clear . " I got the tickets so I could go with you to see your idol . Is that concept really so hard to understand , Leo ? " My calmness seemed to enrage him . His voice rose , thick with disappointment and accusation . " Why are you making such a big deal out of this ? It's just a ticket ! " " Kiki already said she'd take a ton of high - def pictures for you . She even promi- sed to try and get you some signed merch . Isn't that enough ? " He seemed to think my issue was the material loss . His tone softened into a patronizing drawl . " Alright , alright , stop making a scene . I know you worked hard . " " I'll treat you to a nice dinner to make up for it ." " You just be a good girl and watch the livestream at home . Kiki and I will send Chapter 1 you updates . " His condescending generosity made my stomach turn . I couldn't stand to hear another word from him . I hung up the phone . Then , I turned , opened my closet , and pulled out the haute couture gown Asher had sent over last week . Tucked inside the box was a pass . Embossed in gold foil were the words : ARTIST FAMILY - ALL ACCESS . Oh , I wasn't just going to the gala . I was going to make an entrance . That evening , another message from Leo arrived . " What are you up to ? The show's about to start . Don't forget to tune into the livestream , babe . " It was followed by a forty - second voice memo . " Kiki said the fan club is planning a surprise for Asher tonight . They need to pass a giant light - up banner around the outside of the stadium . " " There's a huge crowd , and they're short - handed . It's just a few of them . " " Since you're not doing anything anyway , could you go help them out ? Keep an eye on things ." " You'd be doing it for Asher , too . Kiki would be really grateful . " I listened silently , my mind flashing back to our freshman year . Leo had entered a campus singing competition . To support him , I'd stayed up for nights on end , hand - making him banners and a light - up sign . The day of the show , I excitedly presented them to him . He'd looked at them with disgust . 16:13 Chapter 1 " What's all this tacky stuff ? It's so childish . It'll throw me off my game . " 16.18 @ And then he'd tossed everything I'd worked so hard on into the nearest trash can . Now , to please Kiki , he was shamelessly trying to use me as free labor to carry some stupid fan banner . I fought back a wave of nausea and replied with a single word : " Okay . " He immediately sent a " pat on the head " sticker , his tone oozing with condesc- ending approval . " I knew you were the most understanding . See ? I take good care of you . " " Kiki will be so touched when she finds out . Just wait by the East Gate , some- one from the club will contact you . " I closed the chat and saw Kiki had just updated her social media . A nine - photo grid of selfies , geotagged right outside the concert venue . Her caption read : " Finally about to see the light I've chased my entire youth . Thank you to my little sun for always supporting me ~" In the photos , she wore a full face of glamorous makeup , posing cutely for the camera . And on her wrist was the silver chain - link bracelet I had personally woven for Leo . The one with the small charm engraved with my initials : NJ . Beneath the post , Leo's comment was a stab to the heart . " You're the brightest star tonight. " I sneered and shut my phone , unable to look at the filth any longer . I took the black velvet gown from my closet and changed . The person in the mirror looked back at me , her eyes cool and clear , stripped of 16.18 Chapter 1 " What's all this tacky stuff ? It's so childish . It'll throw me off my game . " 16:18 D And then he'd tossed everything I'd worked so hard on into the nearest trash can . Now , to please Kiki , he was shamelessly trying to use me as free labor to carry some stupid fan banner . I fought back a wave of nausea and replied with a single word : " Okay . " He immediately sent a " pat on the head " sticker , his tone oozing with condesc- ending approval . " I knew you were the most understanding . See ? I take good care of you ." " Kiki will be so touched when she finds out . Just wait by the East Gate , some- one from the club will contact you . " I closed the chat and saw Kiki had just updated her social media . A nine - photo grid of selfies , geotagged right outside the concert venue . Her caption read : " Finally about to see the light I've chased my entire youth . Thank you to my little sun for always supporting me ~ " In the photos , she wore a full face of glamorous makeup , posing cutely for the camera . And on her wrist was the silver chain - link bracelet I had personally woven for Leo . The one with the small charm engraved with my initials : NJ . Beneath the post , Leo's comment was a stab to the heart . " You're the brightest star tonight . " I sneered and shut my phone , unable to look at the filth any longer . I took the black velvet gown from my closet and changed . The person in the mirror looked back at me , her eyes cool and clear , stripped of Chapter 1 their usual warmth and compliance . I didn't go to the crowded East Gate . Our family's black town car bypassed the sea of fans and pulled up smoothly to the venue's VIP entrance . Asher's manager , Wang , was already waiting , imp- eccably dressed in a suit . " There you are , my little princess . Asher's been asking about you nonstop . " Wang greeted me with a professional smile , handing me a laminate pass . " C- ome on , let's get you inside . Too many fans out here , it's not safe . " I nodded , but just as I was about to follow him , a sharp , theatrically surprised voice called out from nearby . " Nina ? " It was Kiki . She was clinging to Leo's arm , about to go through the general admission line , when she spotted me . " What are you doing here ? Aren't you supposed to be at the East Gate with the fan club ? " Leo saw me too . He froze for a second , then his brow furrowed in annoyance . He dropped Kiki's arm and strode towards me , his face showing no pleasure at the unexpected meeting , only irritation . " What are you doing here ? " he demanded . " The fan club has been waiting for you at the East Gate . They said you weren't answering your phone . Are you throwing another childish fit ? " His voice was loud , drawing the attention of fans still waiting to enter . Kiki scurried over , expertly grabbing his sleeve to play her favorite role : the peace- maker . Chapter 16.18 0 . She looked at me with feigned concern , her voice dripping with honey . " Nina , are you lost ? " " This is the staff entrance . We fans aren't allowed through here . " " You should hurry to the East Gate , or you'll miss the fan event . Everyone will be mad at you . " I watched their pathetic little performance , finding it utterly ridiculous . I ignored Kiki and looked straight at Leo . " I'm not going to the East Gate . I'm going in through here . " Leo scoffed as if I'd told the funniest joke in the world . He looked me up and down , his eyes filled with contempt . " You're going in through here ? " " Nina , do you have any idea what this is ? This is the VIP and artist entrance ! Who do you think you are ? Asher Chang's relative ? " Kiki covered her mouth with her hand to hide a smirk , then quickly arranged her face into a look of concern , though the triumphant glint in her eyes was unmi- stakable . " Nina , stop messing around . I know you're upset about the ticket , but you can't act out like this just to get attention ... " " The security guards will throw you out . It'll be so embarrassing . " Just then , Wang , who had been standing beside me , poked his head back out . He looked impatient but kept his tone respectful . " Miss Chang , what's the hold- up ? Asher is getting antsy . " Wang's gaze flickered over Leo and Kiki . He paused for a beat , a flicker of prof- essional recognition , but his training kept him from asking questions . His words , however , made Leo and Kiki freeze on the spot . I dangled the pass Wang had just given me , a slow , meaningful smile spreading across my face . Chapter 1 " Sorry , but it looks like my pass works just fine here . " 16:19 Their faces went rigid , their eyes glued to the laminate in my hand , to the wor- ds ARTIST FAMILY printed in bold letters . " How is that possible ? " Leo sputtered , lurching forward to snatch the pass and examine it . Wang blocked him with a firm arm , his expression turning sharp . " Mr. Shen , please compose yourself . " Kiki's face cycled through shades of white and green , her eyes wide with disbe- lief and a twisting envy . Her mind raced , her lips trembling as she voiced the ugliest possibility she could conjure . " Nina , how did you get that? " " What ... what is your relationship with this man ? " I couldn't be bothered to explain . I just offered a light , airy reply : " A relationship you two could never hope to achieve . " That single sentence seemed to ignite Leo's fragile ego . His brain concocted a ridiculous explanation that , to him , made perfect sense . A tidal wave of fury washed over his face , mixed with disgust and the sting of betrayal . " Nina , I get it now ! " he snarled , pointing a trembling finger at me . " You're so desperate to be a groupie , so obsessed with getting close to Asher Chang , that you'd go and sleep with his staff ? " " You make me sick ! " Kiki immediately seized on this line of attack , her expression shifting to one of profound disappointment . " Nina , how could you have so little self - respect ? You have to be a rational fan ! " Chapter 1 " Sorry , but it looks like my pass works just fine here . " Their faces went rigid , their eyes glued to the laminate in my hand , to the wor- ds ARTIST FAMILY printed in bold letters .