Thick curtains sealed the apartment in darkness, blocking out every sliver of light.
As Cathy stepped inside, carrying bags in her hands, the first thing she saw was Bonnie Wesley curled up under a blanket, looking completely defeated.
She sighed, heart aching with concern.
Bonnie was a beautiful girl so beautiful that even in the entertainment industry, where beauty was abundant, she stood out instantly.
She had only been in the industry for a year before she shot to fame. With remarkable acting skills and an elegant presence, she quickly rose to the ranks of the "Top Four Rising Starlets." But her good fortune didn't last long. Three months ago, a scandal suddenly exploded online, rumors claimed she had entered the hotel room of a top-tier celebrity late at night and didn't leave until dawn.
The fans of this A-lister were fanatical in number. The very day the news broke, X crashed under the traffic, and the top three trending searches were all marked with a blazing red "hot" symbol.
His obsessive fangirls stormed Bonnie's X account, unleashing a torrent of abuse. Hundreds of thousands of vile comments flooded in. But the truth was, Bonnie had only gone there to deliver something. The one actually dating the superstar wasn't he.It was her so-called best friend.
What happened next was even more suffocating. The male star immediately posted "proof" that he had been on set that night, denying he'd been in that room and claiming he was single. As for the friend? She blocked Bonnie outright and refused any contact.
Overnight, Bonnie became the desperate "cheap girl" who tried and failed to seduce a top star.
No one believed her. She was a newly famous actress, easy to target. The company barely hinted at distancing from her before netizens labeled her a clout-chasing scammer, dragging her into a storm of public hate.
The company quickly terminated her contract. Encouraged by rival starlets who had always been jealous, gossip sites swarmed in like sharks, hurling slander and insults until Bonnie's reputation was torn to shreds.
She became the center of the most vicious online bullying storm imaginable. For a while, mocking Bonnie Wesley became the internet's favorite pastime.
A cheerful, hardworking girl was bullied into near-isolation.
Cathy had met Bonnie during their very first acting job. She was just a C-list actress back then, and because they got along well, she'd been caught in the crossfire too. But Cathy had a good temperament and didn't take it to heart. What really worried her was Bonnie.
"Bonnie, don't be sad. Those two heartless jerks will get what they deserve," she said gently, pushing the blanket. "And ignore those internet trolls.They don't even know what their own lives look like, and they're out here smearing you. Come on, get up and eat something, okay?"
Bonnie didn't move.
Cathy was about to keep persuading when her phone rang. She frowned and stepped outside to answer it.
Five minutes later, she came back and froze. Bonnie was sitting up in bed, her hair slightly messy.
"Bonnie!" Cathy rushed over in surprise. "Are you hungry? What do you want to eat?"
Bonnie looked up at her. Pale, flawless skin, sculpted nose, and eyes deep as water.Cathy was momentarily stunned by her beauty. Even fresh out of bed, she looked like an ethereal goddess.
Cathy felt an irrational pang of jealousy.
"I've made up my mind," Bonnie said suddenly.
Cathy blinked. "Made up your mind about what?"
Bonnie pressed her lips together and said, with effort, "I'm going back to inherit the family business."
"…What?"
Bonnie sighed. "Being a celebrity is just too exhausting. I think I'd rather go back to being rich."
Cathy reached out and touched her forehead.
Was she running a fever? What nonsense was she saying?
Bonnie brushed her hand away and looked at her seriously. "Cathy, from now on, I'll be your sugar mama."
"…," Cathy stared at her in silence.
Maybe it was time to book her a therapy session.
But to her utter shock, later that same day, Cathy saw that Bonnie had changed her X profile.
From "Actress Bonnie Wesley" to
CEO of Eastvision Films Media, a subsidiary of the Wesley Group Corporation.
Cathy's eyes went wide. Had Bonnie completely lost it?
She hadn't even finished gasping when she saw the official account of the Wesley Group repost that very profile update.
Cathy: "???"
The swarm of netizens who were just about to unleash hell:"???!!!!!!!!!!"