She placed the phone next to her ear, and then raised the glass to her lips.

Hi, yes, Yan Huan speaking. Only a handful of people knew her private number; she assumed this was a call from either the production crew or her agency.

When she heard the voice on the other end of the line, however, she involuntarily tightened her grip on the glass in her hand, her knuckles turning white from the pressure.

Ms. Yan, how are you? Remember me?

The corners of Yan Huans mouth lifted into a dry, humorless smile. She set the glass down and began to tap on it gingerly with a finger.

She pretended to be completely clueless. Im sorry, but who are you?

Oh dear, youre very forgetful, arent you, Ms. Yan? Yan Lixiong was lying on his sofa, rubbing his belly as he thought of Yan Huan her snow-white skin, her unbelievably slender waist, and her beautiful, ethereal face. Lust surged through his entire body; he needed badly to release all the pent-up desires within him.

Yan Huan had left him hanging for many days now. He wanted to know what was going on: was she taking him up on his offer, or not?

Ms. Yan, its me, Director Yan. Dont you remember? He made sure to emphasize his job title this time. I told you that I have a lead female role for you, remember? Well be making casting decisions very soon, and I think you deserve the lead role. Im not kidding. Youll be the talk of the entire country if you take this role. Youll be a superstar, and youll never want for anything, ever again. Ms. Yan, this is a very rare opportunity. If you pass on it now, youll definitely regret it in the future.

Yan Huan picked up her glass and drank from it as she listened to Yan Lixiong toot his own horn. She rolled her eyes if becoming an A-list actress was as easy as he claimed, showbiz would be overrun with superstars by now.

Ms. Yan, how about it? When can we meet again to discuss the finer details? asked Yan Lixiong arrogantly. He was confident that every no-name, newbie actress in the industry would take him up on his offer to propel them to stardom overnight. No one could escape him once he had his sights set on them.

Yan Huan was a tender, juicy piece of meat, and he had been drooling over her for a very long time. He loved it when actresses played hard to get; the challenge made the eventual conquest all the more rewarding.

Right now, he was completely smitten with Yan Huan, something which had never happened with all his other prey. He wondered if it was because Yan Huan was being such a tease: she had hooked him like a fish but refused to reel him in. He was dying of impatience. At first, he had planned on nothing more than a brief fling with her, but now, it did not seem likely that he would tire of her in the foreseeable future. In that case, he would give her a leg up in the industry and speed her journey to stardom. It was a win-win situation for both of them, wasnt it?

Yan Huans wry smile became increasingly frosty as she listened to Yan Lixiong unabashedly sing his own praises on the other end of the line.

Ms. Yan, have you decided yet? We can meet first and talk it over. Theres room for negotiation.

Im actually a little busy lately. Im so sorry, Director Yan, but I wont have the time to join your production. I have something important to deal with.

She lifted the glass to her eyes. She stared through the glass at the view opposite her: it was strange how just a piece of glass was enough to distort reality.

You have something important to deal with? And what might that be? Yan Lixiongs expression darkened. No-name actresses who didnt know their place annoyed him. He had practically spelt it out for her!

Ms. Yan, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A brilliant future awaits you dont let it slip away.