Chapter 290: The Dark Hand Behind the Scenes

Midnight. The Jolson Grand Hall stood empty. Just hours earlier, it had hosted the 23rd SH Film and Television Festival. Now, only Xia Yangyang remained, sitting on the stage steps, her face covered, silently weeping.

Two hours prior, she had been crowned Best Actress. But her ascent to glory was immediately followed by a plunge into despair. The video that appeared on the main screen during the awards ceremony remained unexplained. No one cared if she had been set up; everyone focused solely on the "fact" that she, the Best Actress, had sabotaged Shen Manbing. Even Gu Qichen had taken the stage to tell her, "You've disappointed me greatly."

The crowd had dispersed, leaving behind what would likely be the entertainment industry's biggest scandal in months, a headline for the next few. For Xia Yangyang, it meant total reputational ruin, a career effectively over. She remained seated, accepting this outcome—utter ruin—waiting. Waiting for the first person to enter the hall.

The bell in the nearby tower chimed twelve times, marking midnight. At that precise moment, the hall's doors opened. A tall figure, impeccably dressed in a suit, entered slowly, his shadow stretching across the floor in the moonlight. His face was obscured by the dim light, but his calm demeanor and hands tucked in his pockets suggested a composed gentleman.

Approaching Xia Yangyang, he broke the silence. "You should go home."

Xia Yangyang, still covering her face, replied sadly, "Where is home for me now? Tomorrow, he'll probably serve me divorce papers."

He responded, "Even so, you can't stay here all night. We can address the problems when we get back."

Suddenly, Xia Yangyang lifted her head, her expression calm and devoid of tears. "I'm here because I'm waiting for you."

The man seemed surprised. "Oh? Waiting for me?"

"I knew you'd come."

He smiled lightly. "Why?"

"Because the victor always savors their victory. My ruin, my abandonment—it's your reward."

He chuckled, a charming sound. "Yangyang, what are you talking about? I thought we were friends."

Xia Yangyang stood. "Friend was a disguise. From the moment you entered my life, this outcome was inevitable. I doubted it at first, but now I know: the person who sabotaged me, who pushed me into the abyss, who manipulated everything from behind the scenes…was you, Shen Shichuan."

Shen Shichuan, elegant and amiable, his smile as warm as jade, stood before her. He didn't react with anger, defensiveness, or denial. Only a mischievous smile. "Yangyang, I truly have no idea what you're talking about."