Punch in the Chest

As the bed was hers for the remainder of the week, Tianshi Xue did not even say anything when the prince went straight for the couch and reclined himself on it.

There were about a hundred things she wanted to say to him. Well… she didn't really want to talk. She just want to scream her head off.

But she kept her mouth shut for the rest of the night and flipped aimlessly on the TV channels until it was time for her drama. It was scheduled on the primetime spot, a show after the news.

She wanted to know what they did to her character. She peeked at the unmoving form of the prince on the couch and turned up the volume a little. Somehow, for the princess' side, she was embarrassed that she was watching her show.

The princess seemed like she was someone who was brilliant. She read books. That would have made her smart, right? She wondered what would the princess do if she was the one in this situation. Would she just swallow everything and go along with the emperor's plans?

But even Prince Qui could not do anything about the emperor's orders. The only thing that they could hope for was an opportunity to go around the laws and get divorced.

Her thoughts were quickly cut off when the intro song started. Her short clip and name was still in it. They probably kept it as a sign of respect for the dead.

Oh but how she missed her face!

She felt dread in her chest. My pretty big eyes! She almost started tearing up.

"Oh, but I was beautiful," she whispered to herself, her eyes welling with tears.

She had read from one of the articles earlier that the drama took a one-week hiatus to be able to reconstruct the plot because of her untimely death. During those seven days, they repeated the key episodes wherein Tianshi Xue shined the most.

Ace of Hearts was the title of the drama of the show she last partook in. She played the young mistress, Chuntao, of the highly successful CEO and his wife was in distress because she was suspicious that her husband was cheating on her.

It was textbook "mistress story" but it was the lead actress' innocent eyes and her villainous face that brought the story even more to life.

There were unofficial polls online on how they would prefer for the story to continue. There were two options, it was either they replace the actress for her role, or they entirely write off her character.

A lot symphatised, saying that they should just write off the character because they didn't want anyone reprising the role of Chuntao. But then again, writing off the character would mean that the drama would take on a completely different turn and they could not have that.

Two days ago, there was an announcement that they would be changing the actress for the Chuntao role. And tonight they would see who they replaced Tianshi Xue with.

To console herself as the flashbacks were being shown, she was looking through her Linker. Ace of Hearts was already trending. Her name was also at the top. They were all anxiously waiting to see who it was.

While waiting, Tianshi Xue could not help but notice the pressing feeling on her stomach. It felt like it was burning. She didn't know why she was feeling so nervous.

Unconsciously, she was thinking that what if the people would love the new Chuntao? She would be forgotten and buried under the new actress' name. This was supposed to be her legacy. Chuntao was the role that catapulted her to fame.

People hated her but she loved them for it.

There was this fear of being erased. Of being forgotten.

After all the hard work, sweat, blood, and tears.

She watched the show, waiting for the woman to be showed. But of course, it was a drama and people capitalized on the trends.

The face appeared at the end of the show. They all knew it was coming. It was because at the last episode, Fei Hong, the wife in the drama, had been 'killed' and there was this mysterious caller who had been masterminding everything.

The scene focused on the voice, it sounded familiar to Tianshi Xue's ears. The camera flicking from shoes, the snowy flawless white skin of the actress showing, her slim fingers, her tight red dress, her shiny hair…

To her ruby red lips, smiling evilly…

Then it was zoomed out.

The chair turned.

And it revealed the woman.

And Tianshi Xue felt like she had been punched on the chest.