Extreme Pampering
Chapter 144: Killing Green and Fourth Anniversary.

Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Killing Green and Fourth Anniversary.

The day the film wrapped up coincided with Shen Zhiyi’s fifth anniversary in the industry, which she herself had forgotten, but her studio had prepared a surprise event early in the morning.

At the wrap party, after a few rounds of drinks, Shen Zhiyi was chatting with a few of the other lead actors when, without warning, all the lights in the private room went out simultaneously, plunging everyone into darkness.

She was startled, "What’s going on?"

No one answered her question, and it seemed no one else was panicking besides her, as everyone quietly stood up, and the only sound was chairs scraping across the floor.

While she was still bewildered, the room’s door was pushed open, and a cluster of flickering candlelight suddenly appeared in the darkness, approaching along with footsteps.

Shen Zhiyi thought it was a birthday surprise prepared for someone and looked around in confusion. She couldn’t remember whose birthday it was today, and why hadn’t anyone informed her?

"Clack."

A beam of light fell from above and illuminated the surroundings; Shen Zhiyi saw several girls approaching with a cake, faces she recognized very well and found impressive.

These were her fans.

"Zhiyi," said the girl holding the cake with a beaming smile. She was the president of Zhiyi’s fan club, who had been with her ever since she started her career, and was known for producing the best and fastest tribute images. The girls behind her were also fans who had supported Shen Zhiyi for several years, frequently confronting the talent agency during periods when she had the fewest resources.

They called her name in the same smiling tone they used countless times during airport pickups and set visits.

"Zhiyi, happy wrap party, happy fifth anniversary."

At that moment, it suddenly dawned on Shen Zhiyi that she had indeed been in the industry for five years.

"I..." Shen Zhiyi’s voice was a bit hoarse, and her eyes felt warm. She lowered her head to calm her emotions before she could steadily say, "Thank you so much. I really appreciate it."

Being an actor was inherently just a profession; she worked hard not for any noble reason but for herself alone, and she had never expected to be so liked by many because of it. She had once thought Huo Heng was the one who had stayed with her the longest, but who could say that these supporting fans wouldn’t stay with her forever?

"What’s there to thank us for?" the girl stepped forward with the flickering candlelight on the cake, her eyes also reddening, and deliberately spoke in a light tone, "We are equally grateful for your existence."

She first noticed Shen Zhiyi in a web drama’s behind-the-scenes footage; at that time, Zhiyi was just starting out, completely a newcomer, not very skilled in acting, practicing a single line of dialogue hundreds of times in front of the mirror, rehearsing an action over and over in blistering heat to perfect it. Despite her efforts, she had very little screen time in the drama itself; it was only in the footage that people could see how much effort she had put in.

Back then, she thought, how could such a beautiful girl not be promoted by anyone? If no one would promote her, then she decided she would. She persisted for five years, witnessing Shen Zhiyi’s rise from an unknown to gradual public recognition. Everyone thought Zhiyi was poised to skyrocket when she signed with a new talent agency, but the resources that followed didn’t meet their expectations, and her public image worsened after a romantic relationship was revealed.

Everyone thought Shen Zhiyi was overreaching, but those willing to understand her could see it was clearly Huo Heng and the talent agency dragging her down, using her. The protests by the fans didn’t seem to help, and many were losing hope.

Just when they felt utterly disillusioned, Shen Zhiyi announced her breakup with Huo Heng; this news not only pleased Huo Heng’s fans, but those who truly cared for Shen Zhiyi were even more thrilled. They would rather have Shen Zhiyi play minor roles like she did when she first started, rather than remain trapped in simple, unintelligent villain roles.

Now, looking back at those days when she had defended Shen Zhiyi, it only felt like dawn had finally arrived. Five years was not long at all, Shen Zhiyi had just begun standing at the starting point of a dazzling career path, and they would always be there to accompany her.

This wasn’t the first time Shen Zhiyi had met these fans, but it was the first time they could sit down like friends and really talk, and before they knew it, everyone had drunk a lot of alcohol.

"Zhiyi," the girl hugged her. After becoming drunk, she was no longer as reserved as she had been at the start, and tears continually flowed as she spoke—it was a mix of crying and laughing.

"Are you happy now?"

These fans were actually not having a good time in their own lives; some didn’t even have a chance to change their situations. They considered themselves so ordinary that they were willing to live a mundane life, but Shen Zhiyi was different. Why should someone so hardworking and talented be buried? Only by seeing Shen Zhiyi doing well could they feel that the world wasn’t so dark, and only then could they feel completely content.

Shen Zhiyi wiped the tears from her face, looked into her misty eyes, and gently nodded, "Mm."

She was happy because she had realized that she was not alone.

Without Huo Heng, she still had so many friends supporting and accompanying her; were their feelings inferior to his? But Shen Zhiyi didn’t know how to repay them. She could be utterly compliant and endlessly patient with Huo Heng, but she didn’t know how to treat these fans whom she cherished so deeply.

"As long as you’re happy," the girl’s tears wouldn’t stop; she was too drunk, even her speech was blurry, but she just kept repeating, "As long as you’re happy, seeing you happy reassures us."

Perhaps no one can truly empathize with another’s pain, but happiness can be shared. If Shen Zhiyi was happy, they could feel happy too.

Shen Zhiyi stayed with the fans until late. When Xiaodong came to pick them up, Shen Zhiyi was so drunk that she could barely recognize people. She stared at Xiaodong for a while, her head spinning and her vision blurred, unable to make out Xiaodong’s features, and she shook her head, saying, "I don’t know you."

This was the first time Xiaodong had seen her this drunk, so he couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time, "Sis, it’s me, Xiaodong."

Shen Zhiyi didn’t respond, as if she hadn’t heard a thing. After a while, she looked around, "Where are they?"

"Sent back to the hotel. They were pretty drunk," Xiaodong bent down to pick up her bag.

The fans’ travel and hotel arrangements were taken care of by the talent agency to ensure no mishaps; Shen Zhiyi didn’t need to worry at all.

Shen Zhiyi slowly looked at him and blinked, "Did they go home?"

"Ah," Xiaodong figured she must be thoroughly intoxicated, so he just played along and nodded, "Mmhm, they went home. You should go home too; I’ll take you home."

The word "home" made Shen Zhiyi frown, as if she had thought of something, and she refused, "I’m not going home."

"Ah?"

Xiaodong was stunned. Why would she not want to go home?