317: [Bonus chapter]The afterparty

[Bonus chapter]The afterparty

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"Wooh!"

The after-party of the event was bustling with every attendee having the time of their lives. Despite the carefree mood, the best actress winner appeared timid in this celebrity safe haven. Although Heaven engaged in conversation, obviously here with the purpose of making connections.

Heaven was not only a talented rookie, but she understood that to keep her momentum, she needed connections. She was smart, knowing talent alone wouldn't give her enough opportunities. She knew it was crucial to build connections and relationships with both big and relevant names in the industry. 

"Heaven." Paula frowned as Heaven dragged her to the corner. "What?"

"Paula, I took you here with me so —" Heaven scrunched up her face as she leaned forward to sniff at Paula. "Have you been drinking?"

"What? No. Of course not!"

"Don't lie, Paula! I can smell the stench of alcohol from a mile away!" Dissatisfaction overtook Heaven's face while Paula rolled her eyes at her nagging. "Goodness. I took you here so you can meet people to build your own circle, not to party."

Paula's frown deepened at how Heaven sounded like. "Heaven, this is an after-party, okay? Everyone here wants to have fun and not work."

"Paula..." Heaven sighed helplessly. 

All Heaven wanted was to help Paula make her career bloom. Since Heaven was lucky enough to meet the right people at the start of her career, she wanted to help Paula. After all, this career they were both pursuing now was originally Paula's dream. Seeing that Paula's career was moving like a turtle, Heaven wanted to do the best she could and give anything she could offer to Paula so she would be exposed to these influential people in the industry. 

If Paula managed to get on their good side, she would surely benefit from it. However, Paula wasn't seeing the good intention behind Heaven's actions. Instead, Paula only saw Heaven as a nagger of a friend. Even right now, Paula wasn't taking advantage of this party. 

"Just... come with me, alright?" Heaven sighed once more, holding Paula's wrist mildly. "I'll introduce you to some people —"

"Can you please leave me alone?!" Paula swung her arm, freeing herself from Heaven's loose grip. "I am not a child anymore, okay? You don't need to keep butting into my business. It's already embarrassing for you to drag me in the corner when you know I was becoming friends with some people."

"You mean those people?" Heaven glanced at the corner, only to see some familiar celebrities and handlers. "Paula, those people are not good people to surround yourself with. They're the types who had been doing things that can ruin their careers! If you hang out with them, even if you don't do what they usually do, you'd get dragged into it. You know showbiz and —"

"Bla bla bla!" Paula groaned in irritation, rolling her eyes at Heaven once again. "There you go again, thinking you know it all. Can't you just let me be? Also, how do you know their bad people when you haven't even talked to them?"

"Paula, do you think I will stay away from them if —"

"You're a user, Heaven." Heaven almost bit her tongue at the harsh remark that flew out of Paula's mouth. "All you think of is how a person benefits you. Well, guess what? I'm different, Heaven. I don't do those things. I don't use people to my advantage. Soon, you'll understand that using people will fire back. I'll prove to you that my way of being friends with them is much better than your methods."

Paula hissed, gazing at Heaven sharply before walking out on her. Meanwhile, Heaven could only sigh another one as she kept her gaze on her retreating friend. 

"Paula..." whispered Heaven, eyes full of worry for her friend despite the harsh words Paula had said to her. "If you don't use them to your advantage, then they will use you. Just why can't you understand that?"

Since Paula went back to the group of celebrities to party, Heaven dragged herself to the corner. Obviously, even if Heaven kept things to herself, people who admired her work flocked to her once again.

Meanwhile…

"What's that?" Paula asked the man sitting across the round table, eyebrows raised. 

The man grinned until his teeth were on full display, and the dimple on his right cheek deepened. "It's called pixie dust."

"Pixie dust?" Paula furrowed her brows, glancing at everyone around the table as they chuckled. "What's that? And why are you laughing?"

"Miss Shen, you'll soon know what it is." The man took out what appeared to be a capsule.

He opened it in the middle and poured a little amount of powder into his drink. He stirred it with his pinky, licking his finger afterward before sliding the glass of alcohol to her. 

"There, try it," said the man, jerking his chin to Paula. "Once you do, it'll feel like you'd be in heaven."

"What…?" Paula gazed at the glass in front of her before lifting her head, only to see everyone's anticipation in their eyes. Their eyes seemed to shine in malicious ruby, like wolves in the forest prying on their prey. 

"Don't tell me…" Paula whispered nervously, setting her eyes on the drink. "That pixie dust is a…?"

"It is." The man nodded, not having any need to deny it. "It's just a small amount, so we don't get in trouble if people find out. So don't worry. You won't go crazy."

Paula wanted to say no to them, afraid of being in trouble, knowing she was just a small-time actress. Unlike them who already established a career, she couldn't afford to be in any sort of trouble. The only reason she got into this afterparty was because of Heaven. 

'If I refuse, they will surely get angry,' she thought, feeling this pressure weighing on her shoulder. She peeked at them once again and when she saw that dissatisfaction was starting to appear in their eyes, she huffed. 

"Fine," she agreed. "But just a small amount, okay? I don't want to be in trouble since I don't know its effect on me."

Everyone around the table grinned in satisfaction. 

"Don't worry," the man reassured. "It's safe, mostly. I only put a small dose, so you'll just feel a little high for a few minutes before you can enjoy its effects."

Paula stared at the man for several seconds before she mustered the courage to drink the alcohol mixed with an illegal substance. She didn't drink that much, just half of the glass, but her face twisted at the strong aftertaste. 

"Ugh…" Paula winced, only to feel someone's presence suddenly sitting beside her. When she turned her head, it was the man who was sitting across from her just a few seconds ago. "What are you…"

"So?" the man's voice sounded a little distant despite their close distance. "What do you think?"

Paula narrowed her eyes as the man's face shook, feeling a little dizzy at the flashing lights and the loud music. The man's voice grew more and more distant, along with everyone's laughter, before Paula felt this sudden rush in her heart, making her entire body feel hot and cold at the same time. 

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