Starlit Reverie: Love Beyond the Limelight

Chapter 10: Unveiling the Shadows

As Xuyen's elder brother, Liang, towered over him with an imposing presence, his steely gaze bore into Xuyen's soul, piercing through the layers of pretense and evasion. Unlike Xuyen's soft, boyish features, Liang possessed a rugged handsomeness that commanded attention, his aura radiating an air of authority and power.

"What happened, Xuyen?" Liang's voice was firm, yet tinged with a hint of concern as he searched his younger brother's eyes for answers. "I know something is troubling you. You can't hide it from me."

Xuyen's heart raced with apprehension as he struggled to find the words to explain the turmoil that had consumed his life in recent weeks. But in the end, all he could muster was a feeble excuse, brushing off Liang's inquiries with a hollow smile.

"It's nothing, really," Xuyen murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've just missed you, that's all. It's been so long since we've been able to spend time together."

Though Liang seemed dubious of Xuyen's explanation, he chose not to press the matter further, sensing that his younger brother was not yet ready to confront the demons that haunted him.

Instead, Liang extended an unexpected invitation—a chance for Xuyen to accompany him to a lavish gala that he intended to host, where he would introduce his brother to the world that had long remained unaware of his existence.

"It's time for you to step out of the shadows, Xuyen," Liang said, his voice resolute. "I want the world to see the remarkable person that you are."

Though hesitant at first, Xuyen ultimately acquiesced to his brother's request, knowing that Liang had always acted with his best interests at heart. And so, as they entered the opulent ballroom of the gala, Xuyen felt a sense of trepidation mingled with excitement, knowing that his life was about to change in ways he could never have imagined.

But as fate would have it, their evening took an unexpected turn when Xuyen found himself face to face with the film emperor, Zhang Yifan, and his father—the renowned director, Zhang Weimin. In that moment, amidst the glitz and glamour of the gala, Xuyen's worlds collided in a convergence of fate and destiny, setting the stage for a revelation that would alter the course of his life forever.