The fake heiress loves to act? The max-level boss isn't interested in playing along.

The troupe's artistic director, Mr. Liu, peeked in.

With a beaming smile, he announced, "Mr. Steinberg has arrived! He's in the VIP room and specifically requested to see you first!"

Fu Chaochao's heart skipped a beat.

Su Yurou immediately stood up and straightened her daughter's skirt: "Quick, Chaochao, don't keep the master waiting."

On the way to the VIP room, Fu Chaochao felt like she was walking on clouds.

The actors and musicians on both sides of the corridor cast their gazes, some with envy.

There was curiosity, and also a barely perceptible jealousy.

"Is that Director Su's daughter?"

"I heard I'm going to be accepted as a student by Steinberg..."

"Wow, that's amazing. Only seventeen... His future is limitless."

Whispers drifted into her ears, and Fu Chaochao straightened her back even more.

She gently raised her chin, revealing an elegant and poised smile that she had practiced countless times.

The meeting in the VIP room went smoothly.

Steinberg was an elderly Frenchman with a full head of silver hair and a heavy accent.

But his gaze toward Fu Chaochao was very gentle.

Fu Chaochao was a promising talent whom the troupe highly recommended to him.

He was also a candidate for his last disciple.

He looked at Fu Chaochao's program list and nodded: "The third movement of 'Moonlight'? A courageous choice."

Fu Chaochao smiled shyly: "I want to challenge myself."

I'm really looking forward to your performance.

Steinberg encouraged Fu Chaochao in broken Chinese: "Keep it up."

"Thank you, sir. I will do my best."

Emerging from the VIP room, Fu Chaochao breathed a sigh of relief.

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Steinberg only met one of the performers.

Does this mean that the spots have already been decided internally?

It must be Mom. She was afraid of making herself proud, so she didn't reveal any information.

The tension vanished instantly as he thought about how he was about to become the last disciple of a piano master.

She also wants to go to top universities abroad, stand on the world stage, and let everyone hear her performance.

What will Fu Hua be then?

With an hour to go before going on stage, she had to do a final check on her makeup and styling.

Back in the dressing room, Su Yurou opened the jewelry box, and her expression suddenly changed.

"Chaochao, where's your pearl hair clip?"

Fu Chaochao's heart skipped a beat.

That was specially ordered by Su Yurou from a time-honored jewelry store; it was part of a set with her brooch.

The key accessories for today's performance look.

She clearly remembered putting it in the jewelry box before leaving the house...

"Did you forget to bring it?"

Su Yurou was sweating profusely with anxiety. "Without that hair clip, the whole look won't be complete!"

Fu Chaochao's hands began to tremble.

The girl in the mirror looked pale, and even her carefully applied makeup couldn't hide her panic.

Just then, the door to the dressing room was pushed open again.

Fu Youchuan and Zhou Rong walked in together, each holding a bouquet of flowers.

"Chao Chao, I'm here to cheer you on!"

Zhou Rong's eyes sparkled. "There are so many of your classmates outside! Everyone's here!"

Fu Youchuan handed over the flowers, his gaze lingering on Fu Chaochao's face for a moment: "Chaochao, you don't look well? Don't be nervous, foreign guests aren't going to eat you."

"I...I forgot my hair clip."

Fu Chaochao's voice was trembling with tears.

"I'll go buy it!"

Zhou Rong immediately said, "I know where to buy jewelry! It's not far from here!"

"I'll go help too."

Fu Youchuan turned around.

"No need, no need, I'll go!" Zhou Rong had already run out.

The voice echoed from the corridor, "Chaochao, you wait, I'll definitely buy it for you!"

The dressing room fell silent.

Looking at her disheveled reflection in the mirror, Fu Chaochao finally burst into tears.

Su Yurou quickly hugged her: "Don't cry, don't cry, your makeup is going to be ruined... Didn't Zhou Rong go to buy some? There'll definitely be enough time..."

Fu Youchuan stood aside, watching Fu Chaochao cry, wanting to comfort her but not knowing what to say.

Zhou Rong returned as expected, twenty minutes before the show started, carrying a velvet box.

Inside was a pearl hair clip—though not the one that was custom-made.

But the design is exquisite, barely enough to match.

"Put it on quickly!"

Zhou Rong, panting, said, "It's the best one I picked out in Wangfujing!"

Fu Chaochao stopped crying and started laughing, then asked Su Yurou to help her put on the hair clip.

The girl in the mirror regained her radiant beauty.

The pearls shimmered with a warm light behind her temples.

"Zhou Rong, thank you..."

Her voice choked with emotion.

"What are you thanking me for!"

Zhou Rong proudly raised his chin, "We're good friends!"

Just then, a commotion came from outside the dressing room.

Fu Chaochao peeked out through the crack in the door—the backstage area was packed with classmates who had come to support her.

She saw Lin Bei, one of her former teachers from the art troupe.

The people sitting next to him must be his parents.

I heard that Lin Bei's parents are both artists.

She also saw Qin Che, and her uncle and aunt came to cheer her on.

"Go, Chaochao!"

You're sure to dazzle everyone today!

"Students of Steinberg... remember to send us postcards when you perform abroad!"

Several close friends gathered around, offering their compliments.

Envy surged in like a tidal wave.

Fu Chaochao stood at the entrance of the dressing room, receiving everyone's gaze.

The panic I felt because of the hair clip gradually subsided.

Instead, it gives rise to a feeling of blissful satisfaction.

So many people came to see her.

She is still the beloved Fu Chaochao.

So what if Fu Hua doesn't come?

She has so many supporters, Steinberg's favor, and a bright future...

"Chao Chao, it's time to go wait in the wings."

Su Yurou gently reminded him.

Fu Chaochao took a deep breath and looked at herself in the mirror one last time.

He turned and walked towards the passageway leading to the stage.

The students automatically made way for each other on both sides of the corridor.

As she walked by, she could feel the following gazes.

It shone on her like a spotlight.

This is where she should be standing.

Instead of climbing the mountain covered in dust and dirt like Fu Hua,

Or, in the laboratory facing cold, impersonal instruments,

It's a waste of talent to be surrounded by such poor students in Class 6.

Fu Chaochao raised her chin, and the corners of her mouth curved into a perfect arc.

The stage curtain is right in front of us.

Her moment is finally here…

Fu Hua arrived at the Zhang family's house at the agreed time.

Zhang Wen sat on a stone stool outside the door, her face pale and her forehead covered in fine beads of sweat.

"Wenwen, why are you waiting outside? What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"Huahua..."

She raised her head, her voice weak.

"I...I've started my period...and my stomach hurts terribly..."

Fu Hua immediately put down her schoolbag and took out a water bottle—containing diluted spiritual spring water.

"Drink some hot water first."

She helped Zhang Wen up, her brows furrowed slightly. "Then let's not go hiking today. Let's go home and rest."

"I don't want to go home..."

Zhang Wen grabbed her sleeve, her eyes glistening with tears. "At home, my mom always makes me lie down, it's so suffocating... Huahua, let's... let's go shopping, okay? Just a little shopping, we can sit down when we get tired..."

Looking at Zhang Wen's pale face and expectant eyes, she couldn't bear to refuse: "Okay. But you're not allowed to complain of being tired. If you're tired, rest immediately."

After drinking the spiritual spring water, Zhang Wen's stomach should feel better soon.