Liang Qiao joined Luo's company at eighteen.
Before meeting Luo Fei, she was just a promoter at a bar.
That night, Luo Fei was out with a group of wealthy young men.
She couldn't recall who it was among the crowd who threw money at Liang Qiao, insisting she accompany them for drinks.
Eighteen-year-old Liang Qiao was youthful and beautiful, possessing the allure that drew attention.
But she refused.
That was not the path she wanted to take.
Her eyes held a stubbornness and a touch of the wildness of someone new to the world.
Until Luo Fei casually blocked the man's unwelcome advances, saying, "I've got my eye on this one, you can pick someone else."
Liang Qiao's heart immediately began to pound.
She knew clearly that this handsome man in front of her was rescuing her.
The young men soon got drunk, stumbling about in a stupor.
In Liang Qiao's peripheral vision, half of Luo Fei's face remained obscured by the lights, his expression unreadable.
When he rose to settle the bill, he swayed precariously. Liang Qiao quickly moved to steady him, "Are you alright?"
Luo Fei narrowed his eyes, seeming to scrutinize her identity.
His gaze made Liang Qiao uncomfortable, a blush creeping onto her cheeks, "Are you... drunk?"
"No," Luo Fei leaned most of his weight against her, his warm breath brushing her cheek.
Liang Qiao grew more flustered but did not pull away.
"Take the wallet from my pocket and pay the bill," Luo Fei instructed in a low voice.
"Oh, okay... yes..." Liang Qiao nodded clumsily and then reached into his suit pants pocket.
Her cautious and nervous movements elicited a light chuckle from the man.
Liang Qiao snatched her hand back as if scalded, "You... don't laugh at me." she stammered.
"I'm not laughing at you."
He simply found her endearing.
"Hurry up, get the money. Don't you want me to go back?" Luo Fei urged.
Under his prompting, Liang Qiao timidly reached in again. Through the thin fabric, she could feel the man's scorching warmth.
Fortunately, the bar's lighting was dim, obscuring her shy face.
She pulled out Luo Fei's wallet, "Here."
Luo Fei glanced at her lazily, his tone languid, "Take it yourself. Take more, consider it a tip."
Liang Qiao didn't listen. She opened the wallet, which clearly looked expensive, and meticulously calculated the cost of the booth and the drinks.
Then she tucked the wallet back into Luo Fei's pocket, "All done."
Luo Fei wanted to laugh. He hadn't encountered such a simple girl in a long time.
He suppressed his amusement, his long arm encircling Liang Qiao from behind, "Take me to the hotel? Hmm?"
Liang Qiao stammered, "Aren't you going home?"
Home?
Where was his home?
Luo Fei remained silent, his aura instantly chilling.
Receiving no answer, Liang Qiao tactfully stopped asking, "Which hotel? Shall I take you?"
Luo Fei lifted his gaze, his fingers pinching her soft cheek, "Take me to the Four Seasons Green Hotel."
Liang Qiao asked him to wait a moment while she asked for leave from the floor manager.
The floor manager, being experienced, offered her some advice.
Liang Qiao earnestly replied, "No, I'll be back right after I take him there."
The floor manager sighed and waved his hand, saying no more.
Luo Fei wasn't actually that drunk, and he knew the others weren't either.
It was just that in their circle, everyone was a master of pretense.
Watching Liang Qiao struggle to support him, Luo Fei good-naturedly lightened his weight.
On the way, he asked Liang Qiao her name. Liang Qiao obediently replied, "Liang Qiao."
"With earrings like strings of pearls, and a hairpin like a phoenix's crown, what a beautiful name."
Liang Qiao pursed her lips, remaining silent.
She hadn't had much schooling and didn't understand profound knowledge.
After taking Luo Fei to the hotel bed, Liang Qiao prepared to leave.
As she turned, Luo Fei pulled her back, causing her to fall onto the bed.
He cupped Liang Qiao's earlobe, coaxing in a low voice, "Don't go, stay with me, okay?"
Liang Qiao's heart pounded.
The man's features were so close, each word he spoke felt like a gentle brush against her heart.
Liang Qiao bit her lip, saying nothing.
This response was enough.
The air grew thick with heat, and the man's passionate kiss landed on her face.
Luo Fei whispered promises to Liang Qiao with utmost tenderness.
That night, the floor manager never did get to see Liang Qiao return.
Luo Fei was Liang Qiao's first man.
He was a distinct presence in her life.
The next morning, Liang Qiao woke up very early.
She got up, enduring her soreness, and prepared breakfast for Luo Fei.
Luo Fei showed no happiness upon seeing it. He leaned against the headboard, lit a cigarette, and said, "Liang Qiao, come with me. You don't have to do this anymore. Just be good, and I'll give you everything else."
Liang Qiao nodded bashfully.
From then on, she quit her bar job.
Under Luo Fei's arrangement, she entered his company.
She knew Luo Fei was good to her, so she worked with exceptional effort and dedication. If she lacked formal training, she would strive to learn.
Luo Fei hired many acting coaches for her.
Two months later, Liang Qiao's demeanor changed completely.
Luo Fei was very pleased with her and tailored a television drama specifically for her.
He would also often drive to the set to see her.
The two were like lovers in the throes of passion.
Liang Qiao also came to understand Luo Fei better.
It turned out he was the illegitimate son of the Luo family, which explained his resistance to going home.
Liang Qiao felt immense sympathy for him. In the house Luo Fei bought for her, she learned to cook and made meals for him whenever she had free time.
She wanted to compensate for the hurt his family had caused him.
Initially, Luo Fei found it quite pleasant. But later, he grew impatient, "Liang Qiao, you're a big star. What kind of big star cooks for others at home? Can't you have some self-respect? Don't degrade yourself."
Liang Qiao didn't understand the connection to self-degradation.
But she believed Luo Fei was concerned for her.
So she learned to be an arrogant and imperious, glamorous actress. As her status rose, so did her persona.
Liang Qiao had long forgotten her timid self from before.
All of this was thanks to Luo Fei, and her love for him deepened with each passing day.
If some minor celebrity offended her on a show today, Luo Fei would have their scenes cut tomorrow.
If a producer took liberties with her during a collaboration, they would be swiftly removed from the entertainment industry.
She gradually transformed from a delicate white flower into a rose with thorns, cultivated by this man.
More and more people liked her, and her work became increasingly demanding.
Until one day, Liang Qiao saw tabloid news about Luo Fei on set.
In the photos, Luo Fei had his arm around a woman's waist, their gestures intimate.
Liang Qiao immediately couldn't help but call him.
Luo Fei answered slowly. Only when Liang Qiao was agonizing, on the verge of returning home at any moment, did he pick up, "What is it?"
Liang Qiao angrily questioned him, "Luo Fei, what is your relationship with the woman in the newspaper?"
Luo Fei smirked and retorted, "Are you sure you want to interfere in my affairs?"
Liang Qiao fell silent.
That phone call made her see her place in Luo Fei's heart clearly.
From then on, as long as she didn't see the women around Luo Fei, Liang Qiao wouldn't overstep too much.
The two maintained this relationship tacitly.
He promoted her, treated her well, but never openly acknowledged their relationship.
She loved him, willing to stay by his side and be one among many women.
Until later, this balance was broken.
First by others, then by Shen Tingyu...
With each concession, Luo Fei began to see her as dispensable.
The day she told Luo Fei she was pregnant, Liang Qiao had considered it.
She was willing to give up the reputation, status, and connections she had built in the industry over the years.
She only needed Luo Fei to say the word, and she would dedicate herself to being his homemaker.
She knew Luo Fei was an illegitimate son and surely wouldn't bear to see this child become an illegitimate child, following in his footsteps.
But she never expected Luo Fei to cruelly order her to have an abortion.
After terminating her contract with Luo's company, Liang Qiao went through a period of self-destructive despair.
On the day she went for surgery, Liang Qiao was heartbroken, crying for a long, long time.
Bearing the title of a major star, she couldn't even cry openly in public.
Everything Luo Fei had once given her was now being taken back.
She even considered that if things truly didn't work out, she would return to her hometown and open a shop.
After so many years, she had been established. She couldn't accept returning to the novice state she was in before.
Better than some, but not as good as others.
When Fanhua approached her, she didn't overthink it.
Having a company sign her was better than being unwanted.
However, without Luo Fei's resources and promotion, she still had fewer opportunities.
The entertainment industry was like this, very pragmatic. Favoring the powerful and stepping on the fallen was commonplace.
But Liang Qiao's mindset had already shifted; she was no longer the timid newcomer she once was.
Later, because she said a word on Weibo in support of Jiang Mian, Ye Yi saw her good performance and arranged a leading role for her.
Liang Qiao, with this drama, gained widespread recognition once again.
This time, she was very humble and low-key. At the press conference, she considered the feelings of every member of the crew.
The actors in the crew praised her highly, especially the producer, who was also the biggest investor behind the scenes.
During interviews, he was unsparing in his praise of Liang Qiao.
Liang Qiao had been in this circle for nearly ten years. She was no longer a green newcomer who knew nothing.
The producer, named Lian Sen, made his intentions towards her obvious.
Liang Qiao refused, stating she only wanted to focus on her career.
Lian Sen didn't give up. He understood Liang Qiao's preferences well.
He carefully navigated the fine line between Liang Qiao wanting to explode in anger and being unable to.
Liang Qiao was genuinely uninterested in such pursuits.
She had loved Luo Fei for so many years; even if she had let go, she couldn't suddenly fall into another's arms.
She earnestly acted, honing her skills.
As for Lian Sen? He would give up when his patience ran out.
But to her surprise, Lian Sen's pursuit lasted for two years.
During these two years, he would report his business trips, even though Liang Qiao never replied.
He would bring her local specialty gifts when he returned.
He sent gifts on every holiday and appeared on time whenever she needed help.
Liang Qiao refused him many times, but Lian Sen would only verbally agree, acting as he pleased the next day.
Liang Qiao gave up, thinking, let him be.
On Liang Qiao's thirtieth birthday, she won the Best Actress award in China.
It wasn't her first time winning Best Actress, but this award represented a brand-new breakthrough for Liang Qiao.
She was very satisfied with herself now.
Backstage at the awards ceremony, Liang Qiao saw a bouquet of flowers on her seat.
There was no name on the card, only congratulations for winning the award.
But Liang Qiao recognized Lian Sen's handwriting at a glance.
Liang Qiao scoffed inwardly. This man had called her last night, saying he would definitely come to see her.
So why was there only a bouquet of flowers today?
She coldly threw it into the trash.
On the way back in the car, her assistant exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, Sister Qiao, Director Lian, who you worked with before, was in a car accident!"