The Beauty with Terrible Luck Falls in Love with a Ghost - Chapter 1

The lights flickered, the red carpet was laid out, and a massive dark backdrop bore several flamboyant, sweeping characters. On the stage in front of the backdrop stood a row of exceptionally handsome men and women, dressed in various elegant gowns and suits, each face beaming with joy.

Behind the stage was a large screen displaying a poster with the same bold, cursive script: Sixty Moments.

Today was the premiere event for the film Sixty Moments.

As the lead actress, Zuo Lihua naturally stood at the center. She wore a flowing, water-colored gauze gown that draped elegantly to the floor, her graceful figure accentuated by the dress. Her slightly curled long hair revealed the delicate lines of her collarbone. With her naturally stunning looks, she needed no embellishment, her every glance and smile radiated charm, a living testament to the miracle bestowed by the Creator.

Her slender, jade-like fingers held the microphone as she lifted her gaze, her shimmering eyes sweeping calmly across the audience. Though she appeared composed on the surface, her heart pounded like a drum.

Eighty percent of her overnight fame was attributed to her appearance. No matter how many fans she had or how much popularity she garnered, the label of “pretty face” clung to her. Sixty Moments was her first work since her debut, and she had endured countless hardships for this film. It marked the beginning of her transformation, and she couldn’t afford any mistakes.

Taking a deep breath, Zuo Lihua began to speak, following the script she had prepared in advance, her voice steady and unhurried: “Hello everyone, I am Zuo Lihua, playing the role of Tao Di in the film Sixty Moments…”

Not only was Zuo Lihua beautiful, but she also possessed a captivating voice. As she spoke, her words flowed like the melodious chirping of a nightingale, enchanting everyone who listened.

Gradually, the previously noisy environment quieted down, and even the flashes from the cameras grew less frequent.

In a corner near the edge of the screen, the planner pulled back his head and remarked to a nearby staff member, “What did I tell you? Adding the opening remarks to Lihua’s lines and having her deliver them was absolutely the right move.”

The staff member agreed, “You were absolutely right. Sister Lihua’s popularity is soaring just because of her looks and voice. Her album sales last month were through the roof, and her popularity is still climbing, she’s already in third place.”

“Of course,” the planner replied. “Look at that nose, look at those lips. In my decades in the entertainment industry, I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful than her.”

“My relative’s child adores her too. They insisted I get a few autographed photos…”

…

After Zuo Lihua finished speaking, the other main cast members took turns introducing themselves, and then it was time for the Q&A session with the reporters.

Nearly fifty percent of the reporters in the room crowded around Zuo Lihua, her slender frame almost swallowed by cameras and microphones.

“Is it true that you often rehearse lines and scenes privately with the director?”

The first question was a malicious trap. Zuo Lihua maintained a polite yet distant smile and replied calmly, “No, the director doesn’t act, and he doesn’t have any lines.”

“Miss Zuo, there are rumors online that you disliked the set meals and brought your own personal chef. Is that true?”

Zuo Lihua responded, “The set meals were delicious. I could easily finish two bowls at every meal.”

“Regarding the rumors about your stunt double’s accidental death while on wires, and your fans holding large-scale memorials online, do you have anything to say about that?”

Zuo Lihua’s smile froze. She had been cut off from the internet for a month while filming and had no idea such an absurd story had surfaced. How could such a ridiculous rumor even spread?

“I regret not being able to attend in person. If there’s a next time, I hope it will be me…” Before she could finish her sentence, a large camera was suddenly shoved in her face.

Zuo Lihua instinctively flinched backward, nearly getting hit in the nose.

“Miss Zuo, is it true that you stole Ling Mengwei’s boyfriend and had an abortion after getting pregnant?”

A loud, urgent male voice cut through the air, distinct even amidst the chaotic environment. The man held up two photos with his other hand, one showed Zuo Lihua walking side by side with a tall man, chatting and laughing, while the other depicted her in a hospital corridor, with the faint characters for “Gynecology” visible nearby.

The venue fell silent for a moment.

Zuo Lihua: “???”

Then, chaos erupted.

Entertainment reporters swarmed forward, encircling Zuo Lihua like flies drawn to blood.

Whether the rumors were true or not, the topic was explosive enough.

“Everyone, please calm down!” Zuo Lihua shouted, her voice drowned out by the crowd.

She was trapped on all sides, with countless microphones and cameras aggressively aimed at her face. Absurd questions filled her ears, and the scene descended into a cacophony of noise, reminding Zuo Lihua of a bustling discount market.

“Is this true, Miss Zuo Lihua? Does your fiancé know about this?”

“Have you been absent for the past month to recover from the abortion?”

“You and Ling Mengwei were like sisters. Did you do this out of jealousy?”

“What nonsense is this?” Zuo Lihua felt her head spinning. Knowing that arguing would lead nowhere, she urgently called out, “Security! Security!”

Her voice was quickly swallowed by the noise, failing to reach anyone.

“Make way, make way!” A man, accompanied by security guards, pushed through the crowd to Zuo Lihua’s side and shielded her.

“Take her away.” he instructed the two guards beside him.

“Brother Ning!” Zuo Lihua called out to him. He was her agent, Ning Dongbang, a short but reliable man with a strong sense of initiative.

Ning Dongbang said to her, “You retreat first. Ask Ling Mengwei what’s going on!”

Zuo Lihua nodded and, under the protection of her bodyguards, made her way backstage.

“Sister Zuo, what’s happening? Why is it so sudden?” Her assistant, Sun Xiaoyang, immediately rushed over, looking anxious and holding Zuo Lihua’s phone. “Should we call and ask?”

Ling Mengwei was her close friend in the industry. They had met when they were both unknown, low-tier celebrities and had supported each other ever since. Zuo Lihua trusted her deeply.

The abortion had indeed happened but it was Ling Mengwei who had undergone the procedure, with Zuo Lihua accompanying her. She never expected to be photographed. Moreover, Ling Mengwei sometimes spoke without thinking and could easily have been tricked by unscrupulous reporters into saying something taken out of context.

“Xiaoyang, give me my bag. I’m going to check on her.”

“Oh, right,” Sun Xiaoyang scurried off to fetch the bag and handed it to Zuo Lihua before belatedly adding, “Sister Zuo, let me go with you!”

“No need.” Zuo Lihua dug out her car keys and handed them to Sun Xiaoyang. “Take my car back and lend me yours.”

Sun Xiaoyang slapped her forehead. “You’re right. They recognize your car. That reporter clearly came prepared, there must be people waiting outside to photograph you.”

After getting the keys, Zuo Lihua said, “Help me pass along greetings to Brother Ning and the production team.”

“Mm-hmm, don’t worry, Sister Zuo, I know what to do.” Sun Xiaoyang nodded like a car bobblehead.

Zuo Lihua reached out and patted the top of her head, her eyes slightly curved, her deep amethyst irises sparkling like stars. Her lowered voice carried a hint of magnetism, sounding both indulgent and doting: “Alright, I’ll leave it to you then.”

Sun Xiaoyang’s back straightened stiffly. Even after Zuo Lihua left, she remained frozen in that position for a long time.

The makeup artist walked in to grab something and was puzzled by her stance. “Xiaoyang, what are you doing?”

Sun Xiaoyang slowly looked up, her cheeks flushed and her expression excited. “I’ve fallen for our Sister Zuo all over again.”

The makeup artist chuckled. “When are you not falling for her?”

Ignoring her, Sun Xiaoyang rummaged through her bag noisily, pulled out her phone, and declared, “Protecting Sister Zuo starts with me! Bring it on, haters… let’s battle to the end!”

The makeup artist curled her lip. “I really don’t get you star-chasers.”

With that, she opened her alternate Weibo account, found Zuo Lihua’s fan channel, and posted: [Lihua’s makeup today totally captured my heart, the best Lihua in the whole world~ 「attached image」]. Then, she zoomed in on the photo she had posted and smiled contentedly.

Zuo Lihua exited through the side door and, as expected, saw a crowd of reporters waiting at the main entrance.

Adjusting her sunglasses, she turned the steering wheel and drove off without looking back.

Ling Mengwei lived in an old residential area in the city center. The neighborhood had good security, and there was a noodle and snack shop inside that sold particularly delicious steamed soup dumplings. Zuo Lihua always bought two baskets whenever she visited.

Ling Mengwei had been resting at home these past few days to recuperate, and Zuo Lihua wondered if she had eaten yet.

After a moment’s thought, Zuo Lihua turned the steering wheel toward the snack shop and dialed Ling Mengwei’s number.

The ringtone played, and just as it was about to hang up, someone finally answered.

“Hello?” Ling Mengwei’s voice sounded listless and drained.

“Weiwei, I’m downstairs at your place. Leek pockets or crystal shrimp dumplings?”

Ling Mengwei was silent for a few seconds before mumbling, “Crystal shrimp dumplings.”

“Alright, open the door for me in a bit.”

After hanging up, Zuo Lihua arrived at the snack shop and got out of the car.

“You haven’t been here in a few days, young lady. Are you eating by yourself today or with your friend?” The shop was run by an elderly couple, both kind and friendly.

“For both of us, shrimp dumplings and crab roe soup buns.”

“Fresh out of the steamer. Here, take them,” the old woman handed two bags to Zuo Lihua and reminded her, “Be careful, they’re hot.”

“Thank you.”

By the time she reached Ling Mengwei’s apartment, the door was already slightly ajar.

Zuo Lihua pushed it open and immediately spotted Ling Mengwei sitting on the sofa, her hair disheveled, motionless.

Her condition wasn’t great. If someone took a picture and posted it online, people might mistake her for a ghost.

“Whoa, you scared me!” Zuo Lihua said as she placed the food on the coffee table and headed to the bathroom to wash her hands.

She was somewhat of a neat freak and couldn’t stand the smell of cooking oil on her hands, it made her feel uncomfortable all over.

When she returned, Ling Mengwei was still sitting there, unmoving, not even having shifted her posture.

Zuo Lihua tossed the tissue into the trash bin, where dried, blackened orange peels lay inside. She walked over and sat down beside Ling Mengwei, poking her cheek with a finger.

Ling Mengwei’s cheek was soft and slightly cold.

“Are you alive? Hey?”

Ling Mengwei finally moved. She turned her face, the tangled hair in front falling to either side, revealing eyes swollen like walnuts, still damp with tears.

Zuo Lihua gasped softly, her eyes widening slightly. “A breakup really has you stuck, huh? You’ve got time to cry here but no time to take out the trash.”

“Lihua!” Ling Mengwei suddenly yelled, her voice thick with sobs, startling Zuo Lihua into a shiver.

“I don’t want to live anymore, just let me die!”

Zuo Lihua: “…”

Ling Mengwei’s gaze was terrifying, with dark circles under her eyes and bloodshot whites. “I’m going to become a vengeful ghost and haunt that bastard! Isn’t he so proud? I’ll make him lose his wife and children, his family ruined, and die a miserable death!”

She suddenly grabbed Zuo Lihua’s collar, looking deranged. “You know what? That bitch sent me a photo this morning, a picture of them watching the sunrise together on a mountaintop, using the tickets I bought half a month ago! She’s flaunting it! What does she have to flaunt? She’s just a piece of clothing I’ve worn, a piece of trash I’ve used, and she’s treating it like a treasure! It’s just something I didn’t want anymore, that bastard! What’s she showing off for? What gives her the right?!”

Zuo Lihua’s neck was being choked painfully, and she quickly said, “Yes, yes, we shouldn’t get angry over trash. Let go of me first, it hurts, it really hurts.”

Ling Mengwei stared fixedly at Zuo Lihua.

Zuo Lihua: “…?”

A few seconds later, Ling Mengwei buried her head in Zuo Lihua’s chest, clinging tightly to her, and began sobbing loudly.

Zuo Lihua sighed, gently patting her back and coaxing her. “Alright, alright, it’s not worth it for a man. There are plenty of men out there in the world. We’ll find someone better, okay? Don’t cry.”

“Waaah, you just don’t understand. I’m really hurting. He didn’t even tell me, he… he… waaah… You have no idea how hopeless this feels!” It was almost laughable, the night before, they had wished each other goodnight, and by noon the next day, Ling Mengwei saw the man’s official wedding announcement and ceremony date on social media. It felt like a dream.

When Ling Mengwei tried to confirm with him, he said nothing and immediately blocked her. Not one to take it lying down, Ling Mengwei dragged Zuo Lihua out of her film set to accompany her for an abortion.

But she never expected it to be photographed, leading to the pictures at the press conference.

“I do understand. I feel hopeless too.” Zuo Lihua sighed, staring at the ceiling, her chest damp and sticky with tears, uncomfortable.

“Your fiancé didn’t cheat! And, sob, you’ve never lost a child. What, hic, are you hopeless about?”

“Ah, it’s pretty much the same. Haven’t you been online?” Zuo Lihua took out her phone and opened the entertainment section. Sure enough, she was trending, with headlines like “Zuo Lihua Abortion” everywhere.

“What, hic, happened now?” Ling Mengwei lifted her head from Zuo Lihua’s chest, her eyes swollen as she asked.

Zuo Lihua held the phone in front of her. “Look.”

Ling Mengwei froze, her expression instantly changing, her sobbing hiccups stopping abruptly.

She snatched the phone, gripping it with both hands, slowly scrolling with her fingertips. With each swipe, her face grew colder, her knuckles turning white from the force.

Zuo Lihua rested her chin on her hand, watching her calmly, her tone detached as if she were an outsider. “They said you were the one who said it.”

Ling Mengwei wiped her tears and handed the phone back to Zuo Lihua: “Three days. Give me three days. I’ll handle this matter.”

“How are you going to handle it? By telling them I was with you that day?”

“I have my own way. I’ll take care of it.” Ling Mengwei sniffled. “You know my situation. My parents are just ordinary workers, they can’t help, and they haven’t seen much of the world. I’ve only made it this far thanks to your help, and I’m truly grateful. Please help me one more time. Wait three days for me. Your family background is so much better than mine, it’s different. If something happens to me, I’ll never be able to turn my life around. I’ll be finished.”

Zuo Lihua scratched her head. “Why are you making it sound so…” Before she could finish, her phone rang.

“I need to take this,” Zuo Lihua said, answering the call. “Mom, what’s up? Right now? Okay, I’ll head back right away.”

Zuo Lihua stood up and put her phone away. “Alright, three days it is. Have something to eat. I don’t have time for the soup dumplings, you finish them for me. I have something to take care of and need to go home.”

Ling Mengwei looked at her with tear-filled eyes. “Mm, be careful on your way.”

Zuo Lihua nodded and stood up to leave.

Three seconds later, a head with sun-like, pale golden hair poked through the doorway, looking fierce. “Eat it all! Don’t you dare waste any food!”

Ling Mengwei stared at her and nodded blankly.

Satisfied, Zuo Lihua closed the door.

Zuo Lihua liked listening to music while driving alone, but today, for some reason, the Bluetooth disconnected halfway and refused to reconnect. Combined with the stress from the press conference, she felt suffocated. She simply pulled over into a roadside parking spot to focus on fixing the Bluetooth.

She had parked near the Huang Corporation. Huang Gu, the CEO of the Huang Corporation, was her fiancé, arranged by her family. He was tall, handsome, and usually serious. Aside from his odd name and his tendency to ignore people, he didn’t have many flaws.

Suddenly, Zuo Lihua spotted a familiar figure in front of her car. After a closer look, she realized it was none other than her aloof CEO fiancé, Huang Gu.

Huang Gu had just stepped out of a convenience store, holding something in his hand. He noticed her too, his sharp eyes locking onto hers.

As the saying goes, better to arrive at the right moment than too early. Zuo Lihua felt that, out of courtesy and as his fiancée, she should get out and greet him. And so, she did.

“Good morning, President Huang.” Zuo Lihua waved, her wavy hair cascading down to her waist, shimmering golden in the sunlight and bouncing with her movements.

Just then, a girl in a floral dress emerged from the convenience store, a smile on her face. She naturally wrapped her arms around Huang Gu’s, pressing herself against him and looking up at him with a cheerful expression.

Zuo Lihua froze, her mind echoing Ling Mengwei’s tearful cry: ‘Your fiancé isn’t cheating on you!’

What a jinx! Was it too late to call Ling Mengwei now and tell her that her fiancé was cheating too?

The thought lasted only a moment before Zuo Lihua began to ponder how she should react to this scene. What would an ordinary woman do upon discovering her partner’s infidelity? Should she cry, make a scene, threaten suicide? Or should she march over and beat up Huang Gu and that girl?

Lost in her thoughts, Zuo Lihua felt a headache coming on. She realized that her over twenty years of life experience were still too shallow, aside from feeling awkward, she didn’t even feel a hint of anger.

While her mind was racing, Huang Gu had already strode over with the girl, moving with purpose and an imposing air. His eyes, however, were fixed fiercely on Zuo Lihua, his face dark with rage as if he wanted to tear her apart.

Zuo Lihua felt a bit dazed. Huang Gu’s aggressive stance made her feel as though she were the one caught cheating.

The girl also noticed Zuo Lihua, scrutinizing her from head to toe with an unapologetic gaze before letting out a silent, mocking sneer, a gesture Huang Gu, walking ahead, naturally missed.

“Zuo Lihua, I never expected you to be this kind of woman!” Huang Gu blurted out the moment he stopped in front of her. “Shameless! Indecent! An utter disgrace! All those years your parents spent raising you? what a waste!”

The accusations were too severe. Finally, Zuo Lihua found her voice: “Are you insane?”

Slap!

Zuo Lihua’s head snapped to the side. The sound of the slap echoed in her ears, followed by a ringing buzz. A sharp, burning pain spread across her cheek.

“Being someone’s mistress, getting pregnant, having an abortion? you’re something else, you bitch! No wonder you never let me touch you. You were busy rolling into someone else’s bed. Tell me, what else have you been hiding from me?”