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 ! " " How are you any different from those stalker fans who do anything to see their idol ? " she continued , shooting a worried glance at Leo . " You're Leo's girlfr- iend ! Have you thought about how this makes him look ? " I watched their faces , twisted and ugly with jealousy , and finally , I laughed . " You two really don't need to worry about me . " My smile vanished , my eyes turning cold . " You should be more concerned about yourselves . " I turned and whispered something in Wang's ear . He nodded , instantly unders- tanding , and made a quick phone call . Less than a minute later , a member of the venue's security team hurried over . " Excuse me , you two , " he said politely . " Our system shows that due to a last- minute technical issue , your seats have been urgently reassigned . Please come with me . " Before they could even process what was happening , two towering security guards were escorting them away from the VIP entrance . On Wang's phone , I watched the security feed with great interest . I saw them being led from their front - row seats , all the way up to the most remote corner of the stadium's top tier . A spot fans nicknamed " Listen - Only Lane " because of the giant support pillar that blocked most of the stage . I paid the two clowns no more mind and followed Wang to the dressing room marked " ASHER CHANG - PRIVATE . " The man who was a superstar on stage stood up the moment I walked in . " There you are , you little brat . Finally decided to come see your big brother . " Asher pulled me into a huge hug . " You've lost weight again . Has that Shen kid not been taking care of you ? " Chapter 1 I told him everything that had just happened at the door . "They think you slept your way in ? Their imaginations are pathetically limited . " He ruffled my hair , his voice soothing , but with a hard , dangerous edge . " Don't worry . This is one Starlight Gala they will never forget . " The show began . The music swelled , and Asher burst onto the stage from a rising platform . The entire stadium erupted , the screams threatening to tear the roof off . Out of habit , I scrolled through my social media . Sure enough , Kiki had posted again , gushing about being at the show while also taking subtle digs at me for using " underhanded means " to get close to Asher . Just then , Wang's phone began to vibrate nonstop . He showed it to me . The core fan groups for Asher were exploding . Kiki's post had been immediately shared by her friend , one of the fan club admins . A narrative was quickly forming . People were breathlessly describing how some industry plant had not only slept her way backstage but had also abused her connections to maliciously move a true , die - hard fan from a prime front- row seat to the nosebleeds . The rumors escalated , growing more vicious with each retelling . Someone had even dug up my university information and started attacking me personally . " She uses her looks to seduce staff members , she has no shame ! " " Stalkers like her should be kicked out of the fandom ! " " My heart breaks for our angel Kiki . She had to suffer such a huge injustice and still pretend to be strong . " I stared at the vile comments on the screen , my expression growing colder by the second . Chapter 1 When Asher came backstage after his first set , he saw my face immediately . He glanced at the phone in Wang's hand , and a dangerous glint appeared in his eyes . " Excellent . " He wasn't angry . He was smiling . " They've built the stage themselves . It would be a shame not to give them a starring role . " He turned to Wang . " Tell the director to move up the fan interact- ion segment . " The host came back on stage , beaming . " We have a surprise for you all ! It's time for a special fan interaction ! " Asher took the microphone , his eyes scanning the massive crowd . He smiled . " Tonight , I want to invite a very special fan to the stage , " he announced . " She's holding a ticket that means the world to me . " A single , brilliant spotlight shot out , controlled by the director , and landed prec- isely on the front row . On the now - empty seats where Leo and Kiki were supp- osed to be . The light lingered there for three long seconds , building the suspense . Then , slowly , dramatically , the beam began to travel upwards , climbing past row after row of cheering fans , a solitary beacon sweeping across a sea of people . Finally , under the watchful eyes of thousands , it came to a stop in the highest , most remote corner of the stadium , and landed squarely on Kiki . Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Kiki froze , as if she'd been turned to stone . Then , in a split second , her stunned expression morphed into one of pure , unadulterated ecstasy . She thought this was it . Her idol , having heard of her plight , was giving her , his most loyal fan , this incredible public validation . Leo jumped to his feet , clapping Kiki on the shoulder , his face alight with vicarious triumph . Tens of thousands of eyes , along with every camera in the stadium , were now fixed on her . Trembling with excitement , she frantically smoothed her hair and clothes . With Leo's proud , encouraging gaze upon her , she straightened her back and strode confidently towards the stage . " Hello there , " Asher's voice boomed through the arena , amplified and clear , laced with a playful curiosity . " I'm so glad you could make it to the gala tonight . But I have to ask ... " He paused , looking at Kiki , who was now standing center stage , her face flushed with excitement . " Where exactly did you get that front - row ticket ? " Kiki's heart was pounding . She saw the question as a fun test , part of the show . She launched into the perfo- rmance she had been mentally rehearsing . " I worked hard and got it myself ! " she exclaimed , her voice trembling with manufactured sincerity as she gazed at him . " I watched the ticketing site for days and set a million alarms . I pulled so many all - nighters , but I was fast and lucky , and I got it ! I just ... I love you so much ! " She finished her speech with tears welling in her eyes , a performance worthy of an Oscar . From the cheap seats , Leo , lost in the glory of the moment , was shouting his support at the top of his lungs . " She didn't sleep for days trying to get that ticket ! She's your biggest fan ! " The crowd , moved by this display of devotion , began to applaud . Asher's smile never faltered , but his eyes turned to ice . " Is that so ? " he asked softly , his voice carrying to every corner of the stadium . " Because , you see , I specially prepared that ticket for someone very important to me . " The applause began to die down as the audience sensed the shift in tone . " To surprise her , I had a unique , one - of - a - kind mark put on it . There's only one like it in the entire world . " He looked at Kiki , whose face had begun to pale , and delivered the final , fatal blow . " It's supposed to have my sister's name on it . " The words hit the silent arena like a thunderclap , striking both Kiki and Leo speechless . The triumphant 776 1621 Chapter smile on Kiki's face froze and shattered , the color draining from her cheeks , in the rafters , Leo was stuck mid - cheer , his arm still raised in the air . " Sister ? Asher Chang has a sister ? " " Then what's going on with that ticket ? " A murmur rippled through the crowd as the atmosphere turned electric . Asher's gaze went right through the shell - shocked girl on stage , landing on the entrance . He turned to the main camera , to the millions watching the livestream , and spoke , his voice perfectly clear . " And now , I'd like to ask the true owner of this ticket , my sister , to please join me on stage . " At a signal from Wang , I stepped out from the shadows of the wings . The spotlight instantly swung from a petrified Kiki and onto me . In that moment , the entire world was watching . I walked calmly to the center of the stage , poised and confident in my black velvet gown and understated , elegant makeup . After three seconds of stunned silence , the stadium and the internet exploded . " SISTER ? HOLY CRAP ! ASHER CHANG HAS A SISTER ?! " " SO THE GIRL ON STAGE IS A LIAR ? SHE DIDN'T JUST LIE , SHE STOLE THE TICKET FROM HIS ACTUAL SISTER ? " " OH MY GOD , THIS IS THE DRAMA OF THE YEAR ! BETTER THAN ANY TV SHOW ! " ' POOR SISTER ! WHAT KIND OF AWFUL PEOPLE DOES SHE KNOW?! " Up in the nosebleeds , Leo was completely catatonic . He stood like a weathered statue , his mind a total blank , utterly unable to process a reality that had just shattered his entire worldview . Nina Chang ... was Asher Chang's sister ? The quiet , boring , slightly - beneath - him girlfriend he'd always taken for granted was the sister of the superstar he'd idolized for years ? mpossible . On stage , Kiki was swaying on her feet . She watched me approach , her expression shifting from shock to panic to a bottomless , soul - crushing despair . She knew it was over . I reached Asher's side . He put a natural , protective arm around my shoulder and addressed the crowd , his voice filled with pride . " Everyone , I'd like to formally introduce you to my little sister , Nina Chang . She's also the one person I want- ed to see here most tonight . " Then , Asher gently took the ticket from Kiki's trembling , white - knuckled grasp . The camera zoomed in for an extreme close - up . There , in the bottom right corner , was a beautifully stylized " Nina , " foil - stamped onto the 16.21 Chupter 2 ticket stock . The proof was undeniable . 1631 Asher held up the ticket , his voice turning cold . " This was supposed to be my Mid - Autumn gift to my sister . But it seems some irrelevant people got their hands on it through less - than - honorable means . " Under the scrutiny of millions , Kiki finally broke . All pretense of composure gone , she began to babble , trying desperately to save herself . " It wasn't me ! I didn't steal it ! It was Leo ! He gave it to me ! " " Leo stole Nina's ticket for me ! I swear , I didn't know anything about it ! " Faced with total public humiliation , she didn't hesitate to throw the boy who had just been her biggest cheer- leader under the bus . With her finger pointed at him , Leo instantly became the villain of the story . Every camera , every eye in the house swung to him . He stood there , mouth agape , his face ashen . He couldn't say a word . What could he say ? That he had proud- ly stolen his own girlfriend's ticket to impress another girl ? Asher's gaze was like a knife , pinning the pathetic figure in the stands . " Oh ? Leo Shen ?" He turned to me , as if clarifying a minor detail , and asked deliberately , in front of everyone , " Nina , is this the boyfriend you told me about ? " I took the second microphone from the host . I looked down at the man in the rafters , the man I had once truly loved , the man who now looked small and utterly humiliated . And I announced to the world , my voice clear and calm , " As of right now , he's not ." Instantly , hashtags like #AsherChangSister , #TicketThiefLeo , and #KikiLinExposed didn't just trend , they detonated across every social media platform . The clip of Kiki's on - stage implosion and memes of Leo's dumbstruck face went globally viral , becoming the biggest joke of the year . Asher's fans , especially those who had been duped into attacking me , were now incandescent with rage . Kiki's friend , the fan club admin who had started the rumors , was doxxed within minutes . Boycotts were organized , and every misdeed the pair had ever posted online was dug up and put on display . Kiki was escorted off the stage by security . I heard she collapsed backstage , crying hysterically , her makeup a ruined mess , screaming that Leo had destroyed her life . And Leo , under a hail of boos and laughter , covered his face and fled the stadium like a beaten dog . His phone was blowing up with furious messages from classmates and friends . On stage , to soothe the crowd and make up for my ruined surprise , Asher announced he was adding a spec- ial song to the setlist - my favorite from when we were kids . He said it was a belated gift for me . The entire stadium lit up with phone flashlights , a galaxy of stars , as they sang along with him. It was beautiful . After the show , my parents called . They had seen the whole thing on the livestream . They fussed over me , 16.21 Chapter 2 then gave their full support for my decision to " take out the trash . " 1621 Wang informed me that Kiki's friend had been permanently blacklisted from all official fan organizations , and the company's legal team was already drafting a lawsuit for slander and defamation . My phone was vibrating in my pocket . It was Leo . He had sent hundreds of messages , starting with shocked questions ( " Why didn't you tell me who you were ? " ) , devolving into rambling excuses , and finally ending with pathetic , groveling apologies . " Nina I was wrong , I swear I didn't know , Kiki tricked me , that bitch lied about everything ! " " Please forgive me , I really do love you ! " I didn't bother to read them all . I just blocked his number and every account he had . I saw on a security mon- itor that as Kiki was being led away , she was still clutching the bracelet I had made for Leo . The irony was staggering . Everything she had schemed and fought for had turned into a public farce . And the prize she treasured so dearly was just the trash I had thrown away . The next day , the university acted faster than I expected . My academic advisor called me in , expressed the school's deepest sympathies , and assured me that both Leo and Kiki would be dealt with severely . That afte- rnoon , the university published an official statement . Due to " serious misconduct , including deception and slander , which has brought severe disrepute to the institution , " both students were given a major demerit on their permanent records and were disqualified from all academic awards and honors for the year . It was a death sentence for their academic careers . Kiki was socially crucified . Everywhere she went , people whispered and pointed . She couldn't handle the pressure . A week later , she officially withdrew from the university and was never seen on campus again . Leo didn't leave , but his existence was a special kind of hell . He had lost his girlfriend , his reputation , and his status as an admired campus figure . Overnight , he became the school's biggest laughingstock . He tried desperately to win me back , waiting for me for an entire day outside my dorm . When I finally appeared , he looked haggard , his eyes bloodshot as he rushed forward and grabbed my wrist . " Nina , please , just give me one more chance . I swear , I love you for you , not because of who you are ... " His words made me laugh . I looked at him calmly . " You love me ? " " You love me , so you gave away something I cherished to another girl ? " " You love me , so you tried to make me your personal assistant for her fan club ? " " You love me , so when she was slandering me , you stood with her and called me selfish ? " He was speechless , his face pale . He immediately started trying to shift the blame . " It was Kiki ! It was all her fault ! She was the one who kept whispering things about you , she manipulated me , she tricked me ! I was just confused , Nina ! " Watching him try to squirm out of his responsibility , the last shred of pity I had for him evaporated . Chapter 2 " You weren't confused , Leo . You're just selfish . You never loved me , " I said , pulling my arm free and taking a step back . " You loved the idea of me . The easy , convenient accessory who never caused you trouble and fed your pathetic ego . " " You love playing the hero , saving the damsel in distress . Too bad for you , I'm not a damsel . And I don't need saving . Girls like Kiki are your type . You two deserve each other . " I left him with one final thought , his eyes wide with disbelief and despair . " And by the way , don't ever call yourself a fan of Asher Chang again . You're not worthy . " I walked past him and into my dorm without looking back , the sound of his choked , broken sobs following me . Back in my room , I packed up everything that had to do with Leo - including a cheap necklace he'd given me that I had once treasured - and threw it all in the dumpster downstairs . Asher sent me a picture from the Maldives , all blue skies and white sand . The caption read : " The world is toc big to waste a single second on people who don't deserve you . I've booked the tickets for our world tour. We leave whenever you're ready . " Looking at the photo , my mood lifted instantly . With a brother like him , who needed the fake affection of a boy like Leo ? My roommates gathered around , offering their support . " You're so much better off without him , Nina ! " " Seriously ! And that Kiki is a two - faced witch ! " " I propose we celebrate your glorious return to single life by going out for the spiciest hot pot in the city ! " " Yes ! And the most expensive wine ! Our Nina can afford it ! " Their words made me smile . They were right . I looked out the window at the bright , clear sky . The heavy cloud that had been hanging over me for so long had finally disappeared . It was a messy , dramatic end to a toxic relationship , but the conclusion was imme- nsely satisfying .