Chapter 288: It's Her in the End

A collective gasp filled the room. The host announced, "The winner of the Best Actress award is Xia Yangyang, for her role as Lin Xiaofan in 'Cinderella's Magical Fate'!"

The audience erupted. While many anticipated surprises, this was a shock. Xia Yangyang's acting was undeniably impressive, and her popularity soared after the hit fantasy drama. However, compared to the reigning queen, Shen Manbing, she seemed to lack experience in several areas. Her victory was unexpected. Adding to the drama, Xia Yangyang and Shen Manbing had a bet: the loser would retire from the entertainment industry.

The camera zoomed in on Xia Yangyang's face. Her calm smile and composed demeanor fueled speculation. The murmurs in the audience grew louder:

"SH has always been known for its fairness. How much did the jury take?" "Miss Xia's connections are powerful. As the daughter of the Shengyuan Group, buying the award isn't impossible. How else would she dare bet with Shen?" "Isn't Mr. Gu close to Shen? He knows about the bet. If he manipulated the results, isn't he forcing Shen's retirement?" "Maybe his friendship with Shen is a smokescreen. Perhaps he's clearing the path for his young wife?" "Something's definitely fishy about this Best Actress award."

The host's voice cut through the noise, "Let's invite Miss Xia Yangyang to the stage."

Xia Yangyang gracefully accepted the award from Director Feng Jinhui, a prominent figure in the industry. He embraced her, saying, "It's amazing what young talent can achieve. Congratulations, Miss Xia."

"Thank you, Director Feng," she replied.

During her acceptance speech, the focus shifted to Shen Manbing. The humiliation of losing to a younger actress was palpable. The scene was electric.

Could Shen Manbing truly retire tomorrow? This development was even more explosive than the award itself. Cameras constantly focused on Shen Manbing. Her expression was serious, yet controlled—the demeanor of someone who had weathered many storms. Even when the camera panned to her, she offered a cool, almost standard smile, a smile that had captivated audiences for years. Her retirement would be a massive loss to the industry.

However, the likelihood of her retirement was slim. She had a huge fanbase and a ten-year career; leaving wouldn't be easy. A smart move for Xia Yangyang would be to offer Shen Manbing an olive branch, turning a potential rivalry into a mutually beneficial relationship. That would be the ideal outcome.

Xia Yangyang, having finished her speech, remained on stage. Her gaze locked onto Shen Manbing. After a pause, she said, "I believe everyone knows about the bet Sister Bingbing and I made…"

(The following is a separate section and should be removed from the main narrative):

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