The day had been cold, gray, and suffocating. An Ran had spent it hiding at the back of her classroom, buried in books, preferring the hum of other students and the faint scent of chalk to the vast emptiness of her home. Now, sitting by her bedroom window, she felt the penthouse press in on her from all sides. The evening breeze brushed against her face, carrying the chill of fog and distant rain, and outside, the world seemed swallowed by mist. Even the city lights below were muted, dim and distant.
She shivered and pulled her sweater tighter. How lonely it was here, in this massive, silent house. School had began to feel like a refuge, a place where she could disappear in the crowd, at least for a little while.
The quiet was broken by the familiar crunch of tires against the driveway. The gate opened, and her mother's car rolled in, glinting faintly in the dim light. An Ran flinched at the sound.
She rose silently, heading to the bathroom. Warm water ran over her tense shoulders as she tried to wash away the day, the cold, the memories. When she emerged, she changed into her simple nightgown and slipped into flip-flops, hoping to feel even a little comfort amid the emptiness surrounding her.
Her mother had always criticized her, the words sharp and cutting. "You always look and behave like a countryside girl." she had once said, and the memory burned, a reminder of the life she had left behind, the father who had shaped her quietly, and the mother who seemed to view her as a mistake.
Dinner was silent at first, the penthouse dining room echoing with emptiness. Finally, Mrs. An spoke, her voice deliberate and cold:
"What will you apply for when university starts?"
An Ran froze. She had never expected her mother to ask, and now, uncertainty warred with sudden hope in her chest. She hesitated, then spoke softly, almost whispering:
"The... theatre arts…I want to be an actress"
Mrs. An's eyes narrowed, a flash of scorn crossing her face. Her lips twitched, forming a sharp sneer. "You want to be an actress? You want to become famous? By… sleeping with old men who decide your career because your timid, weak attitude won't ever make you talented? You think anyone will take you seriously?"
An Ran's fingers clenched into her lap, nails digging into her palms. Her mother's words were precise, cold, cutting.
Is she even my mother? An Ran thought, chest tightening. Does she even have emotions?
Mrs. An's voice dropped, deliberate and sharp.
"Since I do not see you taking school seriously, the responsibility of paying your tuition and managing everything at that school will fall entirely on you. Don't expect me to cover it. I will not send you to school, while you waste your life chasing fantasies or pretending to be something pathetic."
The words hit harder than any physical blow. An Ran sat frozen, tears prickling her eyes. She had always known her mother was distant, unfeeling, but this… this was a deliberate tearing of her dreams, her one escape. She did not want to be a cold, ruthless businesswoman. She did not want to manipulate, to use others as pawns. She wanted to act. She wanted stories, emotions, life itself.
Her mother's chair scraped against the floor as she left, the sound echoing in the empty room. An Ran slid from the chair onto the cold floor, curling inwards, letting tears stream freely. Finally, she forced herself up and trudged upstairs to her bedroom.
She sat on her bed, hugging her knees, exhausted from crying. The room felt almost comforting now, the quiet only slightly less suffocating than the dining room. She let herself breathe, though her chest ached, her dreams fragile and trembling in her hands.
Then her phone buzzed. A pop-up appeared on the screen: "STAR ENTERTAINMENT is hosting a school event for students with acting talent. Interested students will have the opportunity to audition and receive professional training while continuing their education."
An Ran's heart quickened. Her hands trembled as she read the words again. STAR ENTERTAINMENT, a renowned company famous for discovering and training young talent, was coming to the school. Anyone could try… anyone could audition. And if she succeeded, this could be the place where she truly learned, where she could become someone she had only dreamed of.
She pressed her palms to her face, letting a shaky breath escape. Tears welled up, not from disappointment, but from a fragile, budding hope. For the first time in days, she felt grateful, and a quiet determination stirred within her: she would give the audition a try.
Instinctively, she grabbed her phone and typed a message to Qin Mo:
"Qin Mo… you won't believe this! "
"There's… a school event tomorrow,"
"And they want students with acting talent to audition! I… I have to go!"
Her fingers trembled over the keyboard as she sent it. She leaned back against her pillows, closing her eyes. The fog outside hadn't lifted, but inside her room, a warmth blossomed, fragile yet fierce. Her dream, long buried, almost crushed... was alive again.
And for the first time that day, An Ran smiled through her tears, determined. Tomorrow, she would step into that audition room. Tomorrow, she would prove to herself, if not to anyone else... that she could shine.