The Second Fall - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Stealing My Sister’s Online Lover

“Hot-tempered actress announces marriage; audience says: Finally, we don’t have to endure her anymore.”

“A top-tier star falls to the 18th tier; her last trending topic is retiring for marriage.”

“The whole internet cheers for her retirement; counting the eight biggest blunders she ever made!”

“Tsk.” Tan Xiangming finished reading these “revelations” and tossed her phone behind her with extreme impatience.

Thud. The latest experimental phone model from the Weian Group—which her sister had just bought for her—landed on the floor of the 1.4 billion yuan luxury car.

The manager, Guan Qin, sat beside her, barely daring to breathe. She pulled her head in, terrified of being hit by the splash zone of Tan Xiangming’s temper.

Tan Xiangming made no further move. She crossed her arms and leaned back against the seat. Her phoenix eyes still held a “this isn’t over” ferocity as she stared sharply into the distance.

They were currently speeding along the highway. Tan Xiangming had just torn up her contracts for the next three months, breaking her agreement with a director who hadn’t shown her an ounce of respect.

She withdrew her investment, too.

It wasn’t until Tan Xiangming’s studio announced her marriage and semi-retirement last week that people in the industry found out she was actually the youngest daughter of the Shang family in the capital. Her mother’s family sat at the very tip of the capital’s social pyramid; her elder sister ruled the business world with an iron fist after inheriting the group; and her mother was the descendant of a legendary general from Hong Kong.

Suddenly, the industry was filled with regret and fear.

Over the past five years, many had taken advantage of her lack of a “sugar daddy” or powerful backing to bully her—maliciously editing her footage, making her a scapegoat, or giving her scripts guaranteed to draw hate…

Now, the number of calls hitting Guan Qin’s phone was higher than when Tan Xiangming first became famous. However, Tan Xiangming had been busy with the upcoming marriage alliance and had no heart for the entertainment world’s drama. Guan Qin rejected them all with a professional smile, refusing to pass on a single word, leaving the production crews who lost their funding to drown in their own remorse.

But that was all inside baseball. Since Tan Xiangming had quietly returned to the family and stopped rebelling, the family’s protective shield was back in place. The industry was in an uproar, but not a single piece of news leaked to the public.

The head of the Shang family had said it: no matter what the internet said, it wouldn’t hurt a hair on Tan Xiangming’s head. But if her identity were leaked, the trouble would be massive.

Tan Xiangming was forced to read the hateful marketing accounts and anti-fan posts. She really wanted to argue with her sister, but having been away for five years, her family already had a lot of grievances against her. She had to complete this marriage alliance obediently to regain her status at home.

“…Is there not a single person wishing me well? Where are my fans?” Tan Xiangming slumped for a while. Watching Guan Qin hang up several more calls, she grew angrier the more she thought about it. She had spent five years struggling on her own without a penny from her family. She had representative works; she was once considered a minor A-list star!

How could it be that after five years, when she was retiring to marry, she couldn’t find a single blessing?

“My little ancestor, use this account to browse. For heaven’s sake, do not ‘accidentally’ like anything again.” Guan Qin felt like her heart was about to drop out. When Tan Xiangming’s family came to pick her up last week, they gave Guan Qin several properties as a “thank you” for the past years, leaving her sweating with gratitude. After thinking it over for a whole night, Guan Qin finally felt at ease—she had never mistreated Tan Xiangming or tried to sell her out just because she lacked a background.

Having escaped a “death sentence,” Guan Qin was even more careful with Tan Xiangming now.

Tan Xiangming’s phoenix eyes tilted upward. “No need for you to tell me. I switched accounts.”

Guan Qin leaned over to look and felt her vision go dark. Although Tan Xiangming had switched accounts, the profile picture was still her own selfie, her IP wasn’t hidden, and the ID was “Xiang-Ya”—which happened to be the name of Tan Xiangming’s fan club.

This account, which screamed “fan-run,” had reported every single anti-fan post she saw. To keep a record, she had even “liked” them.

At least she didn’t bark back in the comments. Guan Qin wiped her sweat, un-liked all the posts, and dutifully started searching for blessing posts for her. Five minutes later, meeting Tan Xiangming’s questioning gaze, Guan Qin clutched the tablet a bit tighter.

“None?” Tan Xiangming was genuinely getting angry. If they hated her so much, shouldn’t they be happy she’s leaving? If her sister hadn’t stopped her, she would have used her newly restored allowance to buy ten trending topics just to celebrate her escape from that hellhole.

“Only the anti-fans are celebrating… they even started a ‘Retirement Giveaway’ raffle,” Guan Qin said tremulously. Before she knew it, the tablet was snatched away by Tan Xiangming.

“What are they even giving away? Cao Dongzi? Gui Duo? What are these things?” Tan Xiangming had never even heard of these brands. Her skincare and makeup were always custom-made; she had never cared for the low-end market. These brands had approached her for endorsements before, but she had said she didn’t recognize them. Guan Qin had politely declined on her behalf back then, thinking she was just a “grassroots” person with little worldliness—turns out, it was the exact opposite.

“Sister Guan, how about I spend some money to raffle off ten sets of La Prairie?” She named a high-end luxury brand. This was the cheapest brand in Tan Xiangming’s vocabulary. Anything lower, and she really couldn’t think of it.

“…Little ancestor, if your sister agrees, you could raffle off ten apartment buildings for all I care.” The Shang family had made their fortune in real estate, after all.

“All you do is discourage me.” Tan Xiangming finally deflated. She couldn’t win against her sister.

Guan Qin wanted to say something to comfort her. They were about to meet Tan Xiangming’s fiancée—a big shot who could make Guan Qin tremble all afternoon. Tan Xiangming couldn’t afford to be willful now.

Then, the car stopped.

Tan Xiangming rolled down the partition to ask the driver what was happening, but the car door on her side opened. A slender hand rested on the handle, pulling the blue door aside. A hand reached in, covered by a white glove that extended from the palm past the wrist up to the elbow.

Tan Xiangming looked up, her clear phoenix eyes catching a hint of light. She thought the person was a butler from the fiancée’s family.

This was going to be trouble—Tan Xiangming was already dissatisfied with this marriage alliance. To escape her responsibilities, she had run into the entertainment industry for five years, only to fail to escape her fate. When she returned, her sister and mother had cajoled her, saying the fiancée was wonderful, gentle, polite, attractive, and most importantly, had a beautiful voice.

Tan Xiangming had only then reluctantly agreed. If the fiancée sent a mere butler to brush her off at their first meeting, she’d have a reason to break the engagement.

However, what met her eyes was a pair of green eyes. They were as quiet as a mountain forest; just looking into them felt like a breath of fresh, peaceful air. The peach-blossom eye shape framed the green perfectly, adding a touch of playful charm so the green didn’t feel dull.

Her golden-brown curls were neatly pinned up without a single stray hair—meticulous and disciplined. She wore a perfectly tailored uniform that sat neatly on her frame. Those gloves weren’t just a sign of a profession; they seemed to showcase the wearer’s taste or habit.

The newcomer was the fiancée herself—Hao Liuhua.

Seeing Tan Xiangming linger on the gloves for a few seconds, Hao Liuhua spoke. “My apologies.” She removed her right glove and extended her hand again to show respect.

Her voice was indeed as her family described: like a Daiquiri—clear, refreshing, perfectly balanced without being overly sweet or sour. Just like those deep green peach-blossom eyes.

Tan Xiangming scanned Hao Liuhua’s face. She was of mixed heritage, with deep, three-dimensional features. A true beauty, indeed. Just… a bit lacking in expression.

Tan Xiangming curled her lips playfully. She suddenly raised her hand as if to shake hands, but her hand bypassed Hao Liuhua’s and grabbed a handful of her hair instead. She messed up a lock of the clearly meticulously styled hair.

Inside the car, Guan Qin’s heart squeezed. She knew this little ancestor wouldn’t behave!

Hao Liuhua, however, showed no reaction. She simply opened her hand again, gesturing for Tan Xiangming to exit the car. She didn’t even give her an expression.

Boring! A wooden block! Still, she didn’t get angry. I guess that’s a passing grade.

Tan Xiangming gave Hao Liuhua a 60/100 in her head and reluctantly placed her hand in Hao Liuhua’s. It was late spring, clear and slightly warm. Hao Liuhua’s palm was at the perfect temperature—not so hot that Tan Xiangming wanted to pull away, nor uncomfortably cold.

As she followed Hao Liuhua toward the private room, Tan Xiangming pondered. Hao Liuhua must have deliberately controlled her palm temperature just to pick her up and hold her hand. Tan Xiangming added 0.1 points to the passing grade, left Guan Qin behind, and followed Hao Liuhua.

After they left, Guan Qin waited a few minutes before opening a chat marked “Sugar Mama” and sent a message. “Boss! The Young Miss has successfully met her fiancée.”

“Tan Xiangming, 25 years old this year. The youngest daughter of Shang Zhuoque and Tan Xinrui, and Shang Lin’an’s sister. Bad temper, loves to play, a useless socialite, and spends money like water.” Inside the private room, Tan Xiangming sat with her legs crossed, trying to intimidate Hao Liuhua.

She didn’t want this marriage. If Hao Liuhua didn’t perform well, she was going to make her family call it off.

“But I heard that you are kind, cute, multi-talented, quick-witted, and have a sharp nose for investment.” Hao Liuhua didn’t let the waiter in; she poured the tea herself and handed it to Tan Xiangming. The temperature was perfect, and the tea was fragrant.

Hao Liuhua didn’t even give Tan Xiangming a chance to argue, continuing the self-introduction in the same format: “Hao Liuhua, just turned 30. Current Chairman of the Tianheng Group. Not many emotional fluctuations, gentle toward my own family, enjoys walking birds, knows a bit about professional fields, and very good at making money.”

“…” Tan Xiangming squeezed her teacup, feeling an unpleasant sensation of being seen through. For the first time, she couldn’t find a way to talk back—after all, she was beautiful, capable, and smart. To think there was such a “perfect” person—beautiful, great voice, rich, high status, and able to tolerate her bad temper.

“Walking birds?” Phew, almost got carried away by her. Tan Xiangming racked her brain for a point of attack.

“Just a leisure activity. I have two parrots. Usually, I’m too busy to care for them, so they are fed by professionals. They won’t disturb you,” Hao Liuhua said calmly but seriously.

Tan Xiangming curled her lip and deliberately stung her. “Only old people walk birds. Exactly how old are you?”

“Compared to a ‘Jasmine’ in her prime, I suppose I am indeed a bit older.” Hao Liuhua wasn’t provoked at all; she admitted it readily.

“…Calling me cute? Using my nickname?” Jasmine was a nickname only Tan Xiangming’s family used. Her sister must have told her.

“You are indeed very cute. We are going to live together as wives. If I can’t call you Jasmine…” Hao Liuhua didn’t seem intimidated. She lowered her stance and pushed some pastries toward Tan Xiangming. Suddenly, the corners of her mouth curled up, and her eyes curved like a fox’s. “What would you like me to call you?”

Hao Liuhua dropped her previous formality and adopted a hint of laziness. She didn’t change her posture, only her gaze and voice, yet the laziness felt natural, blending seamlessly into her aura. Combined with the natural “aggression” of her beauty, she looked effortlessly elegant.

Tan Xiangming was struck by those green eyes and then laughed. Her phoenix eyes were sharper, and when she meant no good, they carried a hint of “killing intent” learned from acting.

“It’s just a business marriage. A nickname is far too intimate.” Interesting.

Tan Xiangming truly looked at her fiancée for the first time. It was like seeing a boring piece of white paper suddenly splashed with rainbow colors—and the owner of the paper had done it herself, destroying that air of “pure perfection.”

“Not necessarily,” Hao Liuhua said, her gaze softening as if skillfully parrying Tan Xiangming’s aggression.

“What do you mean?” Tan Xiangming didn’t understand for a moment.

Not necessarily a business marriage?

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