Sealed with a Kiss - Chapter 1

“I want someone who is fierce and will love me until death, and knows that love is as strong as death ……”

A ringtone suddenly pierced the morning silence, followed by a lazy, casual woman’s voice from the phone.

A pale, slender hand emerged languidly from under the covers, fumbling to find the phone and swiping to answer from memory.

“Hello…”

A deathly silence met her from the other end of the line. A moment later, an infuriated roar erupted: “Nan Ning! Do you have any idea what time it is?”

The young woman named Nan Ning frowned, lifted the phone to squint at the screen, then closed her eyes again. Her voice was thick with sleep. “Eleven-thirty.”

“Am I asking you for the time? Have you already forgotten that you’re supposed to be at the company today to discuss the script?”

Sister Hong, her manager, sounded exasperated and on the verge of losing her temper. After a moment, she sighed, as if long accustomed to Nan Ning’s erratic schedule, and relented. “It sounds like you’ve completely forgotten. Fine, you’re at the apartment, right?”

Through the fog in her mind, Nan Ning barely managed to recognize the voice of her ever-worried manager. But the hangover left her still disoriented, and she could only mumble a vague “Yeah” in response.

“I’ll have Xiao Liu bring the makeup artist to pick you up. Now get out of bed this instant, do you hear me?”

“Yeah…” Nan Ning felt the phone vibrate as the call ended. Her arm dropped limply, and the phone slipped from her fingers, landing silently on the plush carpet.

The room was shrouded in darkness, the heavy, high-quality curtains blocking out the sunlight. Nan Ning loved this environment; it made her feel as if the entire world belonged to her.

What script?

Nan Ning raised her arm and rubbed her throbbing temples. Only then did yesterday’s memories begin to flood back like a revolving lantern.

She was an actress who had just shot to fame in the volatile entertainment industry. Her first film, in which she played a supporting role, had catapulted her into the public eye. To celebrate this triumphant debut, some of her company’s staff had held a small celebratory dinner yesterday. As the guest of honor, she was inevitably plied with drinks. After downing a mix of red and white wine, she was completely disoriented.

The script Sister Hong had mentioned was brought up at that very celebration. It seemed to be a xianxia idol drama produced by her own company.

Nan Ning lingered in bed for a while longer before finally dragging herself up like a zombie to wash up. The smooth silk pajamas she wore slipped down, feeling cool and comfortable.

Yawning, Nan Ning walked into the bathroom and stood before the mirror, motionless for a long time.

The person in the mirror had eyes so red from the hangover they looked as if she’d been crying all night. Her complexion was so pale it was almost translucent, yet her lips, naturally crimson, looked bewitchingly seductive.

Like a vampire, Nan Ning ruthlessly judged herself.

The water from the summer pipes was refreshingly cold. Nan Ning scooped up a handful and splashed it on her face, instantly jolting her brain awake.

The phone rang just then, the sound echoing from the bedroom. Only then did Nan Ning remember she’d dropped it on the floor without picking it up. Figuring it was probably Xiao Liu, she couldn’t be bothered to walk the extra few steps and let the ringtone fill the room.

Xiao Liu, whose full name was Liu Liu, was the assistant Sister Hong had assigned to Nan Ning when she signed her over a year ago. She was now waiting anxiously outside the apartment. Sister Hong had just called her in a rush, demanding she bring Nan Ning to the company. Knowing Nan Ning’s habits all too well, Liu Liu was terrified she’d slept through her alarm again.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and Nan Ning stood there, casually dressed in her pajamas.

Even after a year of seeing this face, Liu Liu was still struck by its intense aura of world-weariness and cool detachment.

While most people would look haggard after a night of drinking and little sleep, Nan Ning’s bloodshot eyes and pale skin only served to enhance her alluring, forbidden air—like a flower battered by rain, her fragility only making her more endearing.

Moreover, Nan Ning was wearing only a light, flowing nightgown, which accentuated her fair skin and slender yet shapely figure.

“Nan… Nan Ning, Sister Hong sent me to pick you up.” Liu Liu’s face flushed. She forced herself to look away, then paused, adding a reminder as if to cover her fluster: “Nan Ning, don’t just open the door for anyone next time, especially when you’re not fully dressed.”

Nan Ning nodded but said nothing. It was unclear if she had even listened. She turned and went into the room.

Seeing her sister like this, Liu Liu knew Nan Ning had simply dismissed the matter again. She could only sigh and usher the makeup artist following behind her inside.

Hearing the phone ringing in the bedroom, Liu Liu finally remembered she hadn’t hung up. She hurriedly took out her phone and ended the call, and only then did the faint sense of decadence in the room finally dissipate.

Nan Ning sat obediently before the vanity with her eyes closed. The fierce, brilliant midday sun made her skin appear even more translucent, as if she were about to ascend to the heavens.

An inexplicable wave of panic rose in Liu Liu’s heart. She felt as if Nan Ning no longer belonged to their world.

“Nan Ning?” Liu Liu struck up a conversation with Nan Shu while the makeup artist was touching up her look.

“Hmm?” Nan Ning kept her eyes closed, her response light and lazy, sounding tired and weak.

Liu Liu racked her brain for something to say, feeling that Nan Shu might fall asleep at any moment. Suddenly, she spotted Nan Ning’s phone and had a flash of inspiration. “Nan Ning, is your ringtone a song by Evil? I heard Sister Juan’s voice.”

Evil was a top-tier female dance and vocal group in the country, consisting of five members. The “Sister Juan” Liu Liu mentioned was the group’s leader—Song Wanjuan. Ever since their debut, Evil had been in the spotlight, especially their leader, Song Wanjuan, whose mysterious identity, commanding stage presence, and top-tier performance skills had always made her a public favorite.

With her king-like aura on stage and her lazy, cool voice, she was the undisputed leader. As a long-time veteran of the entertainment industry, Liu Liu couldn’t possibly mistake Song Wanjuan’s unique voice.

Nan Ning’s eyelashes suddenly fluttered, like a stone thrown into a lake, sending ripples through the air. “Yes.”

Unlike the airy, sleepy tone from moments ago, this single word now carried weight. Seeing an opening, Liu Liu immediately struck while the iron was hot. “So you like Evil’s music too, Nan Ning? I love them, especially Song’s songs! Oh my god, her stage presence is so powerful it makes even me, a girl, weak in the knees. Whenever she’s on stage, she’s like the center of the universe—”

“It’s alright.”

Nan Ning’s eyes suddenly snapped open. The redness faded, leaving them clear as spring water—like a shaft of sunlight piercing through a forest, yet unable to warm the mountain stream that had flowed all night.

Liu Liu, as if she hadn’t heard, looked at Nan Ning in confusion. “Huh?”

“I said, my makeup is done. We can go now.”

Nan Ning’s skin was so flawless it would make anyone green with envy—delicate, fair, and requiring none of the extensive skincare routines other female stars endured.

She looked like a pampered little princess from a noble family. Liu Liu suddenly recalled the “Dreaming of Stardom” little princess persona Sister Hong had crafted for Nan Ning when she first signed with the company. But Nan Ning, who had always been indifferent to the company’s arrangements, had sternly rejected it.

At the time, Nan Ning’s exact words were: “I only signed with the company for a place to stay. I have nothing to begin with. The persona would inevitably crumble sooner or later. There’s no point.”

Nan Ning’s words were brutally honest, stopping just short of saying, “I only entered the entertainment industry to make a quick buck.”

Liu Liu shook her head quickly. She’d rather believe Nan Ning was simply naturally beautiful than accept the idea that she might have been raised in luxury.

Nan Ning had gained a bit of fame from her role in White Moonlight, but without any backing or a strong foundation, she had no one to promote her or chase after her. This actually saved her the trouble of constantly guarding against paparazzi.

As Nan Ning walked unhindered to her manager’s office, she could hear voices arguing inside. It seemed Sister Hong wasn’t alone.

“President Qi, that’s not what we agreed on!” Sister Hong’s voice rose. “You said I’d have full control over Nan Ning’s resources. How can you go back on your word now?”

“You know this script is poor quality,” she continued. “Nan Ning’s career is just starting to take off, and you’re giving her this kind of role?”

Nan Ning ignored the commotion and knocked on the door. The arguing inside ceased abruptly. After a brief cough, Sister Hong said, “Come in.”

The office did indeed hold more than just Sister Hong. There was also a middle-aged man, portly and wide-shouldered, the “President Qi” Sister Hong had been mentioning.

Nan Ning closed the door behind her and said impassively, “Hello, Sister Hong. Hello, President Qi.”

The moment President Qi saw Nan Ning, he reacted like a dog catching the scent of meat. He rushed forward as if to shake her hand, but Nan Ning subtly stepped aside, avoiding his reach.

President Qi didn’t get angry. Instead, he flashed a warm smile. “Nan Ning, you’ve been in the spotlight lately. How does it feel to be famous?”

Nan Ning, however, had no desire to play along. She gave a slight nod. “You flatter me, President Qi. It’s just luck.”

Her composed yet distant gaze, neither humble nor eager to engage, stoked a flicker of irritation in President Qi. Just as his expression was about to darken, Sister Hong sprang up and stepped between them. “Why are you all standing? Sit down and talk. Nan Ning, you too, how could you be so inconsiderate of President Qi? Do you have any idea how long he’s been waiting for you?”

On the surface, Sister Hong was scolding Nan Ning, but she shot her a meaningful glance behind President Qi’s back. Nan Ning understood. No matter how reluctant she felt, she had to put on a respectful act. “President Qi, it’s all my fault. I’m sorry for keeping you waiting.”

Though her face wore an expression of deference, her tone remained unchanged, sounding like a robot reciting lines.

But her beauty was so captivating that even this slight concession of attitude gave the illusion of being cherished. President Qi, his anger smoothed over, let out a cold snort, but the desire to reprimand her had vanished.

Seeing this, Sister Hong pulled Nan Ning down to sit. “Nan Ning, as I mentioned on the phone, I came today to discuss your upcoming resource allocations.”

Nan Ning nodded, signaling for her to continue. Her demeanor was so detached that Sister Hong momentarily forgot who worked for whom, leaving her speechless.

As an actress, Nan Ning was flawless—young, beautiful, obedient, and well-behaved. She never caused trouble or did anything an artist shouldn’t. The only issue was her constant air of being lost in her own world, which made her feel unapproachable.

“The company wants to strike while the iron’s hot and capitalize on your current popularity by filming a TV series with you as the female lead. What do you think?” Sister Hong asked, her voice strained under President Qi’s oppressive gaze. She stole a cautious glance at Nan Ning’s expression.

Calling it a “female lead” role was a stretch. In reality, it was a “Three-No” original production—no script, no director, no producer, funded entirely by a rich heir. To be even more blunt, it was a scheme for a wealthy young man in the company to chase after Nan Ning, who was notoriously elusive outside of film sets.

Nan Ning understood immediately. The argument between Sister Hong and President Qi earlier must have been about this drama. It was clear the project offered her no real benefits.

She understood Sister Hong’s concerns. As her manager, Sister Hong naturally wanted to protect her reputation and prevent her from taking on haphazard projects. But Nan Ning only had one consideration: “How much is the pay?”

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