Chapter 107: Behind the Glamour

The word "death" is always a sensitive and terrifying one.

Liu Jingye stopped in his tracks and stood downstairs, listening to Tang Shiya say, "Even though you are my father and have raised me, over these years, I have given up everything, done all I could to help you, endured humiliation, lost my dignity—I used everything to repay your kindness. So now, you don’t need to talk to me about living or dying anymore. I’ve tried my best and have nothing left to give you. If you keep pushing me, the one who will die will be me.

Don’t call me again. If you don’t want me to die, don’t give my private number to my agent. You’d better watch out for yourself, too!"

After saying this, Tang Shiya hung up. Liu Jingye frowned deeply, a chill running through him. “She was talking to her own father. What could force a daughter to speak so coldly to her own father? What humiliation and loss of dignity has she suffered?”

The cruel entertainment industry was beyond Liu Jingye’s understanding. At that moment, thunder rumbled distantly, and large raindrops began to fall, the rain growing heavier by the moment.

Looking up, Liu Jingye saw Tang Shiya’s tears streaming down like rain. She bit her red lips tightly, making no sound, yet the tears couldn’t be held back.

Liu Jingye took out his phone and called loudly, “Hi, even though it’s raining, please still deliver. Alright, I want a braised carp, four crabs weighing a pound each, braised pork, roasted lamb leg, and a stack of beer. Please deliver it to the Bijia Mei Inn in Beiyuan Village.”

After hanging up, he waved to the tearful Tang Shiya upstairs and said, “Miss Tang, since you are our thousandth guest since the opening of our inn, we’ve decided to offer you a sumptuous meal free of charge. Please accept it with a smile.”

Tang Shiya hurriedly wiped her tears, her eyes red and staring at Liu Jingye. She knew this was a deliberate gesture on his part—good food always lifts the spirits.

Sniffling, she choked out, “I want stir-fried shrimp and mushroom with bok choy.”

Liu Jingye’s face darkened in exasperation. “You really don’t hold back, do you?”

He made another call to add two more dishes. Within half an hour, the food arrived—over a thousand yuan spent—immediately marking Liu Jingye as a VIP.

The lavish dishes were set on the table, bowls and chopsticks prepared, beer opened. He invited Tang Shiya to sit as if welcoming royalty.

Her eyes were still red, her face full of sorrow and grievance. She didn’t speak to Liu Jingye but ate with a voracity that was utterly uncharacteristic—a torrent, like the Yangtze River in flood or a gale sweeping away the clouds.

Cold sweat poured from Liu Jingye’s forehead, and he forced a bitter smile. “Miss Tang, though our inn is small, we pride ourselves on attentive service and a safe, comfortable environment. Our principle is not to be the best, but to be better. Our motto is: your satisfaction is our greatest reward... So, consider today’s meal a welcome feast on the house. But may I just say... could you eat a bit slower? Leave some for me!”

Liu Jingye gave up on words because Tang Shiya really showed no restraint. He thought to himself bitterly, “They say looks and figure are a female actor’s lifeblood. To keep in shape, they barely eat a few grains of rice per meal. So why is this girl so fierce?”

After the storm had passed, Tang Shiya began downing beer bottle after bottle. Clearly, she wasn’t drinking for pleasure but simply to drown herself in alcohol.

Liu Jingye awkwardly scratched his head. “Miss Tang, although our inn is very safe, you’d better stay sober. You know, you’re a star and a beauty. What if some other guests arrive—some weak-willed men? If anything unpleasant happens, that would be terrible.”

Tang Shiya seemed not to hear him. She kept gulping the beer, which trickled from her lips, down her neck, slipping inside her collar, as if flowing straight into her heart.

Her face flushed a brilliant rosy red, adding to her allure. Twelve bottles of beer in total, and she had crushed eight within half an hour. After a bout of retching, Liu Jingye thought she would pass out, but instead, she suddenly burst into loud sobs.

Liu Jingye hated to see women cry, especially such heart-rending, soul-shattering cries—a dark, endless grief pouring out like a torrential downpour. Though he didn’t understand why, it still tore at his heart.

“Ah... Miss Tang, crying is one way to vent emotions, but I think smiling is healthier,” Liu Jingye said awkwardly, fumbling for comfort. “I believe we should live happily and face life with a smile. Life is short, but death is eternal...”

“Eternal? I want to enter eternity right now,” Tang Shiya suddenly lifted her tear-streaked face, filled with sorrow. Her voice was fuzzy. “Life is short but full of pain. Living is meaningless.”

“You can’t be so negative. There are good things, too. We have to look at things positively,” Liu Jingye said, though it felt like his words fell on deaf ears.

“You speak lightly. You’re not me. You haven’t suffered what I have. How could you understand?” Tang Shiya glared at him angrily.

Liu Jingye shrugged. “True, I’m not you. But the pain I’ve endured is something you can hardly imagine either.”

“Oh? Is that so?” Tang Shiya’s drunken eyes glimmered with interest. “Then let’s see who has suffered more.”

“You know, I studied drama. I’m a real actor. Becoming an artist in the performing arts is my dream,” Tang Shiya said bitterly. “But look at me now—what am I? A mere courtesan, using coquettish gestures to please the audience, utterly shallow. What’s the difference between me and those so-called ‘babes’ who strip naked for photo shoots?

“But I have no choice. Because of my father—my dearest father who raised me—he signed a servitude contract with my agency behind my back. I’m trapped. They treat me like a cash cow, like a hostess to be paraded around at dull performances, forced to dine and drink with so-called businessmen. It’s driving me insane!

“But I have to do it. I need money—big money—to pay off my father’s huge debts. He lost everything in bad investments, was swindled by women, and has become a gambling addict, living a life of debauchery. I have to support him. Just now, he called again, asking me for a million to bail him out...

“Do they really think I’m a money tree? I still have to show up, preen and pose, act seductive, entertain those businessmen, be their plaything. Do you know how much I want to die? To end it all, no more puppet life, no more pain from betrayal by my own flesh and blood. Do you know why I came here this time? Not for a show or a business event, but because a big shot is coming, and I’m assigned to accompany him. Damn it, I’m a concubine—a chambermaid! Tell me, is your life worse than mine?”

Liu Jingye stared at her in shock. He never expected that this glamorous, wildly popular superstar would hide such bitterness and pain inside—betrayed by her own, living without dignity, manipulated by others. It was indeed a harsh existence.

He realized she was truly desperate, on the brink of collapse, with a death wish that might well lead to suicide.

“I absolutely can’t let her die,” Liu Jingye thought. “At her prime, such a beautiful woman, at least she can’t die in my inn!”

“How come every woman nowadays has a story?” He recalled others before her—Yuan Xiaoying, Chen Yuxin, Wei Xiaorou—and now this one, who was even more desperate, seeking death.

Watching the hysterical star, lost in drunken stupor, Liu Jingye suddenly tore open his shirt, revealing a strong chest.

“Ah? What are you doing?” Tang Shiya sobered up somewhat, staring at him in shock. But soon her eyes widened in amazement as she took in Liu Jingye’s bare chest.

His muscular body was sharply defined and solid as iron. More strikingly, it was covered with scars—each one shocking, as if sliced apart and stitched back together.

Liu Jingye pointed to a round scar on his left rib. “See this? It’s from a 7.62mm rifle bullet. Fortunately, the bullet lodged between two ribs; otherwise, my heart and lungs would have been pierced.

“Look at this centipede-like slash—that’s from a 22-inch combat knife. It nearly cut me in two.

“And here—this is from a Mitsubishi military dagger. I lost a liter of blood then and almost died.”

Tang Shiya covered her mouth in shock, too frightened to speak.

“Though I haven’t lived your life, I believe I’ve suffered more,” Liu Jingye said as he buttoned up his shirt calmly. “But I’m sure there are many worse off than us. Ending your life out of a moment’s despair is just foolish.

“Misery is temporary. Life may be short, but happiness comes in many forms. Why not use our brief time to pursue more joy instead of clinging to misery?”

Liu Jingye spoke earnestly, and Tang Shiya fell into thoughtful silence.

But his words were easy to say. Everyone’s struggles differ. His wounds had mostly healed, and he had someone good in his life now. Tang Shiya’s troubles were still right before her—an unscrupulous agency pushing her, a useless father causing chaos. Everyone wants happiness, but some just can’t have it.

After a long silence, Tang Shiya quietly stood, her steps unsteady as she staggered and burped drunkenly, her pure maiden image completely shattered. She walked upstairs slowly, her sorrow deeper than before...