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When Zhao Yanzi arrived, the press conference had already begun.

She stood at the doorway, looking at Charlotte on the stage.

Charlotte was wearing a black suit, but her face was frighteningly pale.

Reporters held up their cameras and microphones, and flashes went off everywhere.

"Charlotte, why did you retire from the music industry? Was it because of the assault incident?"

"Charlotte, some people say your songs are all plagiarized, is that true?"

"Xia Luo, what do you have to say about Jay Chou? Are you really jealous of his talent, as people say?"

Charlotte stood on the stage and waited until they finished asking their questions before speaking, "I retired from the music industry not because of assault, nor because of plagiarism."

He paused for a moment, then said, "It's because I'm not worthy."

There was a moment of silence in the audience, then it erupted even more: "Unworthy? What do you mean?"

Charlotte didn't explain further.

He stood up, bowed to the media, and turned to leave.

Zhao Yanzi rushed forward to stop Xia Luo, "Xia Luo! Are you crazy? Do you know what you're doing?"

Charlotte looked at her and said, "Sister Yanzi, I'm sorry! I've let you down."

Zhao Yanzi was stunned. "What's the use of saying sorry! Do you know how much I've invested in you?"

Charlotte didn't answer, but pushed her away and left.

……

That night, Charlotte was drinking alone at a bar.

He drank a lot, one cup after another, until his eyes turned red.

Someone nearby recognized him and pointed, "Isn't that Charlotte?"

"Is that the guy who hit someone? I heard he was jealous of the newcomer's talent."

"That's right! He's lost his touch! He can't stand seeing more talented young people."

"Serves you right."

Charlotte heard this but didn't say anything and continued drinking.

The people at the next table got more and more excited, their voices growing louder and louder, "This kind of person is a fraud. A music godfather, huh? Bullshit."

"I heard his wife is also going to divorce him."

"Serves him right, people like him don't deserve a good end."

Charlotte put down her wine glass, stood up, and walked to the table of people. "What are you talking about?"

The people at that table paused for a moment, then laughed. "We're talking to you, you liar. What, you're not convinced?"

Charlotte clenched her fists.

The people at that table also stood up; they were half a head taller and a size bigger than him. "What? Want to fight?"

Charlotte threw a punch directly at him.

He couldn't remember what happened after that.

All I remember is someone pinning him to the ground, hitting him, kicking his stomach, and stepping on his hands.

He curled up on the ground, covering his head, and heard people shouting "Stop hitting him!", "Call the police!", and "Call an ambulance!"

……

When Charlotte woke up, she was already in the hospital.

The bright incandescent light overhead hurt my eyes and my whole body ached, as if I had been run over by a large truck.

Qiuya sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes red. "You're awake?"

Charlotte tried to speak, her throat as dry as sandpaper, "Water..."

Qiuya immediately poured Xia Luo a glass of water and helped him drink it. "The doctor said you have two broken ribs and a ruptured spleen. You need to have surgery."

Charlotte didn't speak, and closed her eyes.

After a while, the doctor came in.

Qiuya immediately looked at the doctor anxiously and asked, "Doctor, is Xia Luo alright?"

The doctor, holding the lab report, looked very serious: "Mr. Charlotte, your blood test results are in."

Charlotte opened her eyes. "What?"

The doctor hesitated for a moment, then said, "You...you are infected with HIV."

The ward was eerily quiet.

With a "crack," the cup in Qiuya's hand fell to the ground and shattered.

Charlotte lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to utter a single word.

Qiuya was the first to react, "Impossible! Doctor, are you sure you haven't made a mistake?"

The doctor shook his head. "We checked three times and confirmed it's correct. We suggest you receive treatment as soon as possible."

Qiuya's face turned pale, and she turned to look at Xia Luo, "Xia Luo, you're a bastard!"

"..." Charlotte didn't speak, she just stared at the ceiling.

"Doctor, please take me for a checkup." Qiuya looked at the doctor in panic, barely suppressing her anger.

Then the doctor took Qiuya to get checked out, and the ward fell silent again. Zhang Yang, the lackey, was also still processing the news in a daze.

After a long while, Charlotte suddenly laughed, but the laughter sounded particularly eerie, "Hahaha..."

At this moment, Zhang Yang in the ward became frightened, "Xia Luo? Xia Luo, what's wrong with you?"

"Hahaha..." Charlotte laughed, but tears streamed down her face. "Karma. This is karma."

"..."

……

When the news reached the courtyard, Su Ning was drinking tea in the yard.

Ma Dongmei rushed in from outside, her face pale. "Su Ning, Xia Luo is in trouble."

Su Ning put down her teacup. "What is it?"

"He was beaten up and hospitalized. Then...then they found out he had AIDS."

Suning paused for a moment, then remained silent.

Yan Ruyu came out of the house, also stunned. "AIDS? Really?"

Ma Dongmei nodded. "It's all in the newspapers. I also called Zhang Yang to confirm. Qiu Ya was also infected and is already getting a divorce."

Su Ning didn't say anything, picked up her teacup, and took a sip.

Suddenly, I thought of Xihong City, of Xia Luo sleeping in the classroom, of Xia Luo being distracted by Qiu Ya, and of Xia Luo breaking his leg after jumping from the third floor.

I think of those songs that Xia Luo copied, and the applause that didn't belong to Xia Luo.

Su Ning sighed, "Xia Luo, that guy, ruined himself in the end."

Ma Dongmei stood there, her eyes reddening. "Can't he just be okay? He's talented, has a beautiful wife, is rich, has everything. Can't he just be okay?"

Suning did not respond.

Some things are not a matter of whether you can or cannot, but a matter of whether you are willing or not.

Charlotte refused to admit that his song was plagiarized, that he wasn't a genius, or that he was just an ordinary person.

So he steals, he lies, he hits people, he runs away, and he indulges in debauchery.

Then he ruined himself.

Yan Ruyu asked softly, "Su Ning, do you think Xia Luo will die?"

Su Ning was silent for a moment, then said, "Yes."

"Waaaaah..." Ma Dongmei cried.

Ma Dongmei thought of Xihong City, of Xia Luo whom she once liked, of the breakfasts she brought for Xia Luo, and of the punches she took for him.

Ma Dongmei thought Xia Luo had changed, but in fact he hadn't.

He is still the same Charlotte, the Charlotte who dares not face reality.

That night, Su Ning sat alone in the courtyard, looking at the stars in the sky.

Yan Ruyu came out of the house and draped a coat over his shoulders. "What are you thinking about?"

Su Ning shook her head. "It's nothing."

Yan Ruyu sat down next to him. "Tell me, why is Xia Luo acting like this?"

Su Ning thought for a moment, "Because Xia Luo is afraid."

Yan Ruyu looked at him, "What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid I'm not good enough. I'm afraid others will find out I'm not good enough. I'm afraid all the applause, flowers, and praise will one day disappear."

Yan Ruyu didn't speak, but leaned on Su Ning's shoulder.

……

In the hospital ward, Charlotte lay alone.

Qiuya left, and Zhao Yanzi never came back; they had both failed in their investments.

Zhang Yang sat at the door, not daring to go in.

Charlotte stared at the ceiling and suddenly remembered herself in another world.

At that time, he was just an ordinary good-for-nothing.

There was no applause, no flowers, no praise.

But back then, he didn't need to steal, lie, or panic.

At that time, Ma Dongmei always stayed by his side quietly.

At that time, I didn't know what retribution was.

Charlotte closed her eyes, but the night outside the window was as black as ink.

……

The news of Charlotte's hospitalization circulated in the circle for a few days, and then no one mentioned it anymore.

That's how the entertainment industry is; hot topics come and go quickly.

Public opinion only focuses on those who are basking in the limelight and never cares about those who are down on their luck.

If something happens to you today, something else will happen to you tomorrow.

Audiences are always forgetful; they only remember the latest gossip, the latest scandals, and the latest rumors.

As for Charlotte? A washed-up singer, suspected of plagiarism, intolerant, abusive, and suffering from AIDS—who would care?

Qiuya, who also contracted HIV from Xia Luo, went through divorce proceedings.

Qiu Ya demanded most of Xia Luo's assets, including his house, car, savings, and shares, and took them all for herself.

On the day he signed the papers, Charlotte lay in her hospital bed, her hands trembling so much she could barely hold the pen.

Qiuya stood to the side, looking at Xia Luo's gaunt face, and suddenly remembered something from many years ago.

They had just gotten together then, and Xia Luo wasn't that famous yet; she was a rookie manager.

Qiuya believed this was an investment, that Xia Luo would become famous, that Xia Luo would succeed, and that they would live a good life.

Now Charlotte is famous, successful, and living in a big house, but their relationship is over.

"Charlotte," Qiuya said softly, "I'm leaving! Take care of yourself."

"Yuan Hua also contracted AIDS from you, didn't he?" "Is there any point in bringing this up now?"

"...Charlotte didn't say anything more, she just stared at the ceiling."

Qiuya turned around, walked to the door, then stopped. "You know what? Sometimes I wish you weren't famous. I wish we were still the way we were back then. We were a bit poor, but at least..."

She didn't finish her sentence, then pushed open the door and left.

Actually, Xia Luo didn't believe Qiu Ya's words. If he hadn't become incredibly famous, Qiu Ya would never have accepted him.

After all, Qiuya isn't Ma Dongmei; she wouldn't stay with him through hardship.

Zhang Yang stood guard at the door, watching Qiu Ya walk away, and sighed.

Pushing open the door, Xia Luo was still staring at the ceiling. "Luo'er, what would you like to eat? I'll go buy it for you."

Charlotte shook her head.

Zhang Yang stood there for a while, unsure of what to say.

He wanted to say, "Things will get better," but even he didn't believe it.

What's so good about AIDS?

He wanted to say "It's okay", but how could it be okay?

Zhang Yang opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing, and simply turned and left.

……

Zhao Yanzi didn't come; she only sent a flower basket through someone, with a message that read "Get well soon."

The flower basket was left at the ward entrance for a day, and was taken away by the nurse that evening.

Zhao Yanzi didn't not want to come; she was afraid to come.

She was afraid—afraid to see Xia Luo's face, afraid to remember what Xia Luo had said, afraid to remember what she had done over the years.

Although she had already turned down those roles, cancelled those advertisements, and avoided those dinner parties.

But Zhao Yanzi knew that she could escape the first day of the month, but not the fifteenth.

Although the two years Suning mentioned have passed, it's uncertain whether there will be any major disasters in the future.

Zhao Yanzi was afraid every day, afraid that she would be in endless trouble.

……

The TV series "Moment in Peking" and "Romance in the Rain" were broadcast one after another.

Jiang Qinqin's portrayal of Yao Mulan and Yiping was incredibly popular.

Yan Ruyu's portrayal of Yao Mochou and Ruping also made her a star.

The two of them appeared on magazine covers, landed advertising endorsements, and were surrounded by people wherever they went.

In an interview, Jiang Qinqin said, "Thank you, Director Su. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be where I am today."

The reporter asked her, "So what do you think of Director Su?"

Jiang Qinqin nodded, "Director Su is a pure artist. His Justice League is a breath of fresh air in the entertainment industry. I believe that Justice League will produce more excellent works in the future."

The reporter then asked, "I heard that Director Su also knows feng shui? Is that true?"

Jiang Qinqin smiled and said, "You'll have to ask him that."

"Is there really no unspoken rule in the Justice League production team?"

"Of course! On the Justice League set, there were no high salaries, no diva behavior, no favoritism, and no dirty unspoken rules. Everyone worked together as a team."

Yan Ruyu also became popular.

When she walked down the street, people recognized her and called her "Ru Ping".

Yan Ruyu nodded with a smile, as gentle as the character in the play.

A reporter asked Yan Ruyu, "Yan Ruyu, what is your relationship with Suning?"

Yan Ruyu said, "He is my director and also my boyfriend."

The reporter then asked, "Is he really a feng shui master?"

Yan Ruyu thought for a moment, "He is a very capable person. I can't say exactly what his abilities are. You'll have to find out for yourselves."

"Suning is promoting Jiang Qinqin so heavily, aren't you worried that something might happen between them?"

"I have no doubt about Su Ning! He is the person who dislikes couples on set the most. The reason he kept casting Jiang Qinqin is simply because he thinks she has good acting skills and is a good fit for the role."

"Will you get married in the future?"

"Of course! Such a good man is hard to find even with a lantern, and I will accompany him to realize his dream."

……

Ma Dongmei is now a full-fledged agent, handling everything from running errands and negotiating collaborations to arranging schedules for Yan Ruyu.

She gained fame in the industry; some called her the "Iron Lady," while others called her the "Desperate Saburo."

Ma Dongmei didn't care about any of that. All she knew was that Su Ning had given her a chance, and she had to live up to that trust.

Ma Dongmei occasionally thinks of Xihong City.

I remember that small factory in the south, that assembly line, and those days when I only earned a few hundred yuan a month.

Thinking of Xia Luo, remembering the breakfasts she brought for him, remembering the punches she took for him, and remembering her pure love for him back then.

Those days are over, but I still think about them sometimes.

Ma Dongmei would say to herself, "Xia Luo, you must take good care of yourself."

But she never went to see Charlotte, not because she didn't want to, but because she didn't dare.

She was afraid to see Charlotte's miserable state, afraid that she would cry, afraid that she would remember those days that could never be returned to.

That day, Su Ning suddenly looked at Ma Dongmei with a complicated expression, "Dongmei, aren't you going to see Xia Luo?"

"I'm not going! There's no point in it."

"Perhaps he has been waiting for you all along? You are his greatest regret in this life."

"Impossible! He only has Qiuya in his heart."

"Qiuya is just a middle-aged man's obsession with his first love; Xia Luo may not actually like Qiuya."

"..."

Charlotte's condition worsened.

His health deteriorated day by day, and he became so thin that he was just skin and bones.

Zhang Yang stayed by his side every day, feeding him, wiping his body, and changing his dressings.

Sometimes when Xia Luo is lucid, she will say a few words, such as, "Zhang Yang, do you think I did something wrong?"

Zhang Yang shook his head. "You're not wrong. You're just unlucky."

Charlotte laughed. "Bad luck? It's not bad luck, it's that I don't deserve it. Those songs weren't written by me. Those awards weren't mine. Those applause weren't mine. I stole other people's things and thought they were mine. I fooled everyone, even myself. But I can't fool anyone anymore."

Zhang Yang didn't know how to respond to those words.

Charlotte stared at the ceiling. "You know what? Sometimes I think, it seems like I have everything, but in reality, I've lost the whole world, and yet my whole world hasn't come..."

He didn't go on.

Zhang Yang waited for a long time, but received no further response.

Looking down, Charlotte had fainted again.

Later, Qiuya came to see him once.

I stood at the door of the ward but didn't go in.

I looked at the person inside through the glass.

I noticed he had lost weight and looked older; he didn't look like he was in his twenties, but rather fifty.

Qiuya stood there for a long time, then turned and left.

On the way home, Qiuya sat in the BMW and cried the whole way.

Yuan Hua, who was driving, glanced at her in the rearview mirror, said nothing, and simply handed her a pack of tissues.

Qiuya took it and said "thank you".

She remembered what Xia Luo had said, the way Xia Luo sang on stage, the way Xia Luo smiled while holding up the trophy, and the way Xia Luo lay in the hospital after being diagnosed, saying "karma."

Qiuya suddenly realized that Xia Luo was a stranger. She didn't know what he had done or why he had become like this.

All Qiuya knew was that she had never loved that man.

Now, she herself has been infected with HIV, but she feels that she has regained her freedom.

For the rest of her life, she could finally be with Yuan Hua, even if both of them needed to take medication for the rest of their lives.

……

The day Charlotte left was a sunny day.

Charlotte's mother stayed by the bedside, holding her son's hand.

Charlotte opened her eyes and looked out the window.

Sunlight streamed in, warming his face. "Mom, is the sun out outside?"

Charlotte's mother nodded. "Yes. What a bright sun."

Charlotte smiled. "That's great."

Then he closed his eyes and slowly released his grip.

Charlotte's mother held that cold hand, but did not cry.

She sat in the ward for a long time, looking at the sunlight outside the window.

Then she stood up, walked out of the ward, and gently closed the door.

At the same time, Ma Dongmei, in the courtyard, suddenly felt a pang of panic.

She put down her notebook and went into the yard.

The sunlight was perfect, shining brightly on the flowers.

Yan Ruyu was memorizing her lines inside the room, while Su Ning was drinking tea in the corridor.

Everything is fine.

But Ma Dongmei knew that something was gone.

Ma Dongmei stood there, stunned, for a long time.

Then he turned around and went back into the house, picked up his notebook, turned to a new page, and wrote a few words: "Charlotte is gone."

Su Ning sat on the veranda, holding a teacup, looking at the clouds in the sky.

Yan Ruyu came out of the house and leaned on his shoulder. "Su Ning, what do you think is the point of a person's life?"

Su Ning thought for a moment, "Just for peace of mind."

Yan Ruyu didn't speak, but simply moved even closer.

In the distance, clouds drifted slowly across the sky.

Those things, those people, those songs, those applause, those tears—all of that is in the past.

The flowers are in bloom in the courtyard.

Yan Ruyu's new drama is about to air.

Suning's new drama is about to start filming.

Ma Dongmei had long since forgotten about that clown, Xia Luo.

...(End of this chapter)