Inside a standard single bedroom at the five-star hotel, Rose Young was pacing back and forth in front of the curtained windows. Her best friend, Jenny Tseng, was lounging on the bed and watching the entertainment news on TV while sipping the hotel’s complimentary champagne straight from the bottle.
“Today marks the official end of superstar Jin Chonglin’s contract with his long-time management, Bright Summit Entertainment Company,” the show’s host reported. “Earlier this week, Jin Chonglin and his new sister-in-law, multi-award-winning musician Iris Long, announced in a press conference that they are leaving Bright Summit together to start their own entertainment company with CEO Jin Liwei called LXC Studio. Some new details about LXC Studio have surfaced since then.
“LXC Studio made an official announcement this morning that Jin Chonglin and Iris Long’s managers also left Bright Summit to follow them to their new company. Mr. Lin Dong, Jin Chonglin’s manager, will become the Chief of Talent Management while Ms. Tang Yiyi, Iris Long’s manager, will be the Deputy Chief. Mr. Lin and Ms. Tang will remain as Jin Chonglin and Iris Long’s managers respectively despite assuming their new higher positions at LXC Studio.
“In addition, LXC Studio also announced that they have signed the rock band Pandemonium who collaborated with Iris Long to perform the award-winning and history-making song, ‘Monster of Insanity‘. The four Pandemonium members are also managed by Iris Long’s manager, Ms. Tang Yiyi. They also amicably terminated their contracts with Bright Summit to follow Iris Long and Manager Tang to LXC Studio.
“So far, there are no other artists reported to have signed with LXC Studio aside from Pandemonium. However, Jin Chonglin has been stating in his recent interviews in the past few days that LXC Studio is open to signing more talented artists, not necessarily exclusive to musicians only like him and Iris Long, but also actors and actresses, even models and comedians.”
Then a clip of Jin Chonglin answering questions in an interview with a popular night-time talk show host played next.
“LXC Studio’s vision is to be the home of the best multi-talented and most creative artists who strive for the ultimate mastery of their own respective crafts. Our artists will not be mere characters manufactured for the sole purpose of becoming commercial hits to the general public but strong and unique individuals instead whose mission is to leave a clear mark in history.”
“That’s quite a vision,” the host said. “Are you not afraid that people might think that you’re being too idealistic?”
Jin Chonglin flashed his iconic killer smile. “Of course, I’m being idealistic. Not only me. My sister-in-law Iris Long thinks the same way, too. But we’re not afraid of other people’s skepticism and criticism because we’re determined to do our best to achieve our vision. This is why we started our own company in the first place—to have the freedom to chase after our own ideal dreams in our own terms, and hopefully, to help other artists to do the same.”
“I commend you in taking the risk to leave your long-time management company to start your own with your brother and sister-in-law. Speaking of your brother and sister-in-law, may I ask about how the newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Jin are doing—”
The TV went off all of a sudden.
“Hey, I’m watching!” Jenny complained.
“I don’t want to hear anything about that slut.” Rose Young tossed the remote control to a far corner.
Jenny rolled her surgically-enhanced eyes while drinking more champagne. Then she sighed dramatically. “I’m so bored, Rosie! We’ve been here since the afternoon. What time is it? There’s a spa downstairs. How about we get a massage while waiting?”
“No! It’s already dinner time. We have no time to waste going to the spa or anywhere else. I’m sure that Big Brother Liwei and the other executives will be arriving at the hotel restaurant downstairs soon.”
“You’re still calling that man Big Brother.” Jenny sighed again and drank more champagne.
Jenny snatched the bottle from her.
“Hey!”
“You promised to help me in my plan tonight, so I need you to be clear-headed, not drunk!”
“Ugh. You’re so mean to your bestie. I’m getting hungry. Can we order room service?”
“No! The less people who sees us here tonight, the safer we’ll be!”
Before Jenny could find another thing to whine about, Rose’s phone rang. She answered it and set the call on speakerphone so that Jenny could also hear.
“Hello, Luke?”
“Big Sister Rose, one of our cousins just messaged me saying that Jin Liwei and his assistant along with several bodyguards finally arrived.”
Rose Young’s eyes lit up and she began trembling from excitement. “Good. Remember to do everything we planned. Don’t mess it up for me! I need this to succeed, do you hear me?”
“Y-yes, Big Sister Rose.” Luke hesitated. “Uhm, another cousin of ours just informed me that there appears to be extra bodyguards around Jin Liwei. I think that, uhm, it’s going to be more difficult to execute your plan than we initially expected.”
“How many more bodyguards than usual?”
“Uh, I think five times more than usual….”
“That many?!” Rose dug her nails into her palms and began pacing back and forth in the room again. “Why did he increase the number of bodyguards?”
“Rosie, let’s cancel this ridiculous plan tonight, okay?”
“No way! Jenny, we’re going to do this tonight! If we wait longer, more people will have the time to figure out our movements and locations. It’s all or nothing! I must do this!”
“Ahahaha, you’re crazy, Rosie!” Jenny cackled but there was no humour in her expression.
Rose stopped and looked at her best friend straight in the eyes. “Yes, I’m crazy, Jenny. I’m so fucking crazy for Jin Liwei. I need him to be mine, do you hear me? He has to be mine! Only mine!!!”
Jenny shivered a little seeing her friend’s crazed look. “Fine, whatever. I’ll help you, Rosie. But I hope that whatever happens tonight, you’ll be ready for the consequences—good or bad. Fuck, why am I friends with you again? This is fucking nuts! I need to get botox again after this is over because I have new wrinkles from the stress you’re giving me! Ugh!”
