Between Rivalry and Rekindled Dreams

Chapter 1

“William, the role of the third male lead has been decided. It's Eleanor Blackwood. We've missed our chance.”
William Blackwood hung up the phone, splashed some water on his face, and stepped out, only to bump into someone.
“Sorry…” William looked up but swallowed the rest of his words.
The person was a familiar face from last year when they both vied for a reality show, where William had come up short.
Just moments ago, his manager, Lady Lila Fairchild, had informed him that Sir Reginald Hawthorne had already cast the third male lead for the new show.
What a twist of fate.
“William.” Eleanor Blackwood looked surprised at first, then arched an eyebrow, “Fancy seeing you here. Are you here for lunch too?”
“Not really. More like unfortunate timing,” William said, tossing the paper towel into the nearby trash bin, adjusting the cuff of his shirt.
William was strikingly handsome, with sharp features and an air of elegance about him, making even the simplest gestures appealing.
Eleanor found him intriguing, but unfortunately, he had a bit of a temper, and they were essentially rivals.
“How about a drink? Sir Reginald and Margaret Ironhill are also here,” Eleanor said, giving William a flirtatious wink.
Sir Reginald, the director of the new project William had his sights on, coupled with Margaret, made it a tempting offer.
William squinted slightly; if Noble Court’s president was directly involved, Eleanor's role was practically a lock. It didn't matter who showed up; they stood no chance.
“No thanks, not particularly close,” William replied, sidestepping Eleanor as he headed toward his booth.
Eleanor whistled at William's departing back, the kind of confidence that made hearts race.
As William walked past the reflective pool, he caught sight of a man through the slightly ajar door. The man was dressed in a finely tailored black shirt, casually leaning back in his chair, his deep blue tie perfectly knotted, his expression unreadable.
He returned to his booth and took a seat. Thomas Bright clapped him on the shoulder, “What took you so long?”
“Ran into someone…” William lifted an eyebrow. Friend. Enemy.
He chuckled lightly, “Just took a call.”
Not pressing for details, Thomas leaned in closer and whispered, “I think I just saw Margaret…”
“I saw her too,” William interrupted.
Thomas shrugged, “Got it.” No need to say more.
“It seems she’s the big boss now, probably forgotten all about us old classmates.” Robert Swift chimed in again.
“Ha.” Thomas smirked, “Not coming to the reunion doesn’t mean she forgot everyone. You're not her shadow.”
“Am I wrong? She doesn’t even answer old classmates’ calls,” Robert said, swaying his drink, his plump face crinkling. “Not like William here, who may be a big star now but hasn’t acted like it. He still showed up for our reunion.”
This sounded like a backhanded compliment…
William clicked his tongue, recognizing Robert’s jab. It sounded like praise, but in reality, it critiqued him. After all, as an eighteen-line actor, he hardly deserved the title of “big star.”
Robert was clearly trying to take a dig at William, and while William would have snapped back back in high school, he was no longer that immature kid. Now, he was a savvy survivor of the cutthroat entertainment industry—a nobody fighting for resources and attention, always under the radar and often looked down upon.
Now he was nearly immune to these types of comments, nothing could hit him hard enough to break his composure.
“Robert's in new media now, probably hoping to cozy up to Margaret,” Thomas scoffed, “Margaret never liked him in high school, as if she’d give him the time of day now.”
“Robert’s delusions are impressive,” William said with a smile, raising his glass to Robert as if accepting the role of “big star” with grace.
Robert faltered, taken aback by William’s nonchalant demeanor, but then he continued, “I remember you were pretty close with Margaret back in high school. You two must be in contact all the time now, huh?”

Chapter 2

Qiu Zhishen took a deep breath. Damn it, this fool just had to bring that up—he was really asking for trouble.
Sure enough, he caught the corner of his eye as William Blackwood started loosening his collar and rolling up his sleeves. Qiu quickly grabbed his arm and whispered, "Stay calm."
William looked at Qiu, confusion in his eyes, asking, "What’s going on?"
Qiu wrinkled his nose. He was worried William might lose his cool and throw a punch at Robert Swift. Back in high school, they used to scrap a lot, but that was when Margaret Ironhill was around to keep things in check. Now, with Robert towering over them at more than two hundred pounds, William would have a hard time even getting up if pinned.
"Yeah, William, you and Margaret were practically inseparable back in the day," Robert chimed in, and the rest of the table nodded, recalling their high school escapades.
William and Margaret had been the talk of their quiet high school years, two good-looking guys always glued together—eating meals, running errands, and even sharing classes.
Someone asked, "William, if you were so tight with Margaret, why don’t you work at her company?"
With the power Margaret now wielded, she could effortlessly elevate William’s career. It didn’t add up that he was still largely unknown.
Before William could respond, Robert huffed, "That was high school; now she’s a big deal. Not just anyone can attach themselves to her.”
Silence fell over the table for a moment, a few nodding in agreement. "We really aren’t in the same circles anymore."
"Don't say that. Just last week, my kid started school, and I bumped into Margaret. I casually mentioned William, and just like that, she arranged something for him,” a girl from the corner added.
While the table continued discussing Margaret, William lost interest and excused himself, claiming he needed to make a phone call. Qiu followed him out of the private room.
They leaned against the wall outside the hotel, the neon lights flickering around them, the streets bustling with pedestrians. It was only eight o'clock.
"Here," Qiu offered, extending a cigarette to William.
William waved it off.
Not pushing the issue, Qiu lit one for himself and took a drag before saying, “So, you and Margaret still not on speaking terms?”
William pressed his lips together, remaining silent.
"Look, I’m not trying to pry, but you two often get into arguments and work it out. This spat has been dragging on for two years. What’s really going on with you two?” Qiu felt perplexed. They’d been inseparable from kindergarten through high school and even into college.
Qiu had always thought nothing could separate William and Margaret. But that was before the rift tore them apart like a sudden tornado, leaving him in confusion and disbelief even now.
"You both liked the same guy, didn’t you?" Qiu mused aloud, scratching his chin and leaning against the wall. After two years of piecing together clues, this seemed the most plausible reason for their fallout—what else could drive apart two people who were practically conjoined twins?
William closed his eyes and, frustrated, dug into Qiu's pocket to grab a cigarette and started smoking. Damn it, if only he knew what had caused the split.
Once he finished his smoke, William adjusted his jacket and said, “I’m heading out.”
"Not going back in?"
"Nope. Can you just tell everyone I’m leaving?”
“Sure thing,” Qiu said, patting William’s shoulder. “You and Margaret have history. Whatever it is, you can’t let it end like this.”
William opened his mouth as if to respond, but he held back, lightly punching Qiu on the shoulder instead. "Alright then, I’m off."
Stepping out of the hotel into the cool October night air, William tugged at his collar as he made his way to the parking lot. Just across from him was Kingston's busiest commercial street, filled with food stalls. Back in college, he and Margaret used to come here often, and her favorite dish was the pickled vegetable pancake.
He crossed the street and finally spotted a vendor selling the pancakes but noticed how the stalls had become more organized, each food item in its own neat red house, looking clean and inviting. He waited in line for his turn, checking his phone idly.
The Town Bulletin flashed a headline: CEO Margaret Ironhill to attend a charity gala alongside Charlotte Frost.
Charlotte Frost was the latest sensation, a media darling, and one of Noble Court's rising stars.
“Excuse me… are you William?” A young girl approached cautiously, her wide eyes sparkling in disbelief.
William looked up and her face lit up. “You really are William! I’m your fan! Can I get your autograph?”
“Sure!” William smiled, putting his phone away. He took the paper and pen she offered, scrawling “Happy Days” before signing his name.
The girl squealed with joy, and they snapped a selfie together before she reluctantly said goodbye. Even though he wasn’t a star, moments like these made William feel a bit better.
The warm pancake needed to be eaten right away. William took a bite, savoring the familiar comforts, but he couldn’t help sighing—an off note lingered; it wasn’t quite the same as before. He wondered whatever happened to the original vendor who used to serve them up.

Chapter 3

William Blackwood was jolted awake the next morning by a loud knocking on his door, accompanied by a familiar voice shouting, “William, open up! Come on…”
William, feeling irritated, grabbed his pillow and tossed it across the room before rolling back under the covers to block out the noise.
The shouting outside persisted, with Lady Lila Fairchild clearly determined to keep it going until he answered. Reluctantly, he threw off his sheets, padded barefoot to the door, and yanked it open. His hair was a tousled mess, and his face was still grim with sleep. “What’s with the morning racket? Do you have no sense of decency? You’re gonna wake the neighbors and get me in trouble.”
“It’s late, William!” Lady Lila exclaimed as she ducked under his arm, carrying a tray piled with breakfast. “It’s already eleven! I’ve called you over twenty times! I was worried you’d been arrested or something. Thanks for that.”
“Eleven?!” William turned to glance at the wall clock, the hands confirming her words: five minutes to eleven. He had slept a solid twelve hours.
“I mean, seriously, can’t you silence your phone when you sleep?” Lady Lila set the breakfast down on the coffee table and began rummaging through the closet. “Do you know how much time you wasted?”
“What time did I waste?” William twisted his neck to relieve the stiffness from oversleeping and casually shot a basketball from a nearby shelf. The ball swished through the hoop just before it hit the floor, and in one smooth motion, he caught it and started dribbling.
“Do you really not know?” Lady Lila huffed, exasperated. “You’ve completely forgotten that you’re supposed to be at the Perfume Stand event today!”
“I didn’t forget! I set an alarm.” William dribbled the basketball a few more times before nailing another shot.
“Perfect,” he declared with a snap of his fingers as the ball bounced off the wall and landed on the floor with a booming sound.
“Will you stop that?!” Lady Lila stepped back, eyes wide as she clutched a stack of clothes, catching him in action yet again. “When did you install a basketball hoop in your apartment? You’re on the second floor! You can’t just shoot hoops up here like it’s a gym!”
William frowned, flicking a finger against his earlobe. “Oh, come on, there’s no one below me! Live a little.”
“Who says there’s no one there? I saw someone leave just before I came up!” Lady Lila insisted, her voice rising. “As a star, can’t you be a bit more considerate?”
“Considerate?” William tilted his chin, pondering her statement while deliberately stomping his foot a few times. “There’s someone there? Why not just call the cops on me then?”
Lady Lila stared at him, taken aback. This wasn’t the same William she knew—the one who was charming to his fans and gracious to his elders.
Suddenly, the sound of a silly song echoed from the room. “Hammer, hammer, you’re not just a silly fool. Grandad says that a funny name makes it easier to pull. Hammer, hammer, not just a foolish jest, with a name uncouth, you aim for the best. Grandad’s words, keep them in your heart, even when thorns line your path, you’ll play your part…”
William had wandered back into his bedroom, finally silencing the obnoxious ringtone that had been going off on his phone.
Lady Lila pressed her fingers to her temples. This guy was something else—how was it possible that this song hadn’t gone viral yet?
“Get changed already. If we hit traffic, we’ll definitely be late,” she urged, tossing a smart outfit onto the bed. “Wear this.”
“Alright, it’s eleven on the dot. I can shower and get dressed in half an hour, the event starts at three, it takes us an hour to get there, and we’ll leave an hour early to prepare. I still have time for breakfast.”
“…”
As a manager, it was infuriating being outmaneuvered by her own star. With a deep breath, Lady Lila conceded, “Fine, just get in the shower already.”

Chapter 4

William Blackwood obediently walked into the bathroom, while Lady Lila Fairchild looked around his disheveled room with a sigh. Starting to clean up, she thought to herself that if any girl saw the state of this place, no one would dare marry him, no matter how good-looking he was.
As Lady Lila picked up dirty clothes, she turned and spotted a basketball hoop firmly fixed to the wall with a power drill. Who in their right mind would install a basketball hoop in their bedroom?
Blackwood Manor wasn’t particularly large; it was only about 800 square feet without counting shared space. Although it had just one bedroom, a small walk-in closet had been added, making the dining and living areas cramped. And in such a space, he thought it was feasible to practice basketball.
With William standing at 6'3", even stretching on tiptoe, he was almost hitting the ceiling. How was he supposed to shoot hoops?
Besides, she had never heard him say he liked basketball. It was frankly bizarre.
Shaking her head, Lady Lila stepped out to the balcony, tossing the clothes into the washing machine and adding a pod of laundry detergent before hitting the start button.
Looking down from the balcony, she noticed the overgrown weeds in the small yard below, along with a few pots of wilted flowers. It certainly didn’t look like anyone lived there. However, she had just spotted a man exiting the house earlier—it was just a quick look back.
Lady Lila shrugged, hoping no one was actually living downstairs.
Perfume Stand was located in Kingston’s Market Square, the very shopping district where William had gone last night to buy dried vegetable pancakes.
Typically, the road was filled with traffic, but today it was unusually congested. After turning onto this street, they hadn’t moved much.
“What’s going on today?” Lady Lila frowned, peering out the car window.
William looking out too, saw crowds of people lining the streets, fans cheering.
He wasn’t narcissistic enough to think these were his fans. After observing for a moment, he realized they were there for Charlotte Frost.
“Charlotte Frost has an event here today,” Lady Lila muttered, a hint of worry creeping into her voice. “If other brands have events too, our activity could really be overshadowed. Charlotte’s popularity is soaring.”
Having two events in the same mall was never a good idea.
After a few seconds of contemplation, a sly smile crept across William's face.
The same thought that crossed William’s mind dawned on Lady Lila, and her face immediately fell.
After finally finding a place to park, they took the elevator on the side of the shopping mall to the Guild Hall. The event space was bustling with people, everyone moving back and forth, busy with various preparations for the event. Aside from the assistant who had first brought them in, no one seemed to pay them any mind.
William found a corner to sit in, not feeling particularly bothered by this neglect after years of experiencing it. Lady Lila, on the other hand, looked increasingly frustrated. She tried to consult a few staff members about the schedule, but they all told her to wait.
After a lap through the lounge, she stepped out for a bit, returning with a darkened expression, gripping William’s arm tightly. “Let’s go. We’re not participating in this event anymore.”
“What’s up?” William said, pulling her back gently without moving from his seat. He had faced a lot of disdain over the years; Lady Lila had always managed to endure it. So why was she like this today?
Lady Lila clenched her fists, taking a deep breath to calm herself before whispering, “They didn’t just invite you; they also invited Charlotte Frost.”
“Charlotte Frost.” William nodded, “I figured as much.”
“They told us during the contract talks that it was just you. And now here comes Charlotte Frost without anyone informing us. This is a breach of contract!” Lady Lila argued, her frustration rising.
“Breach of contract.” William clicked his tongue. “Was that written in the contract?”
“I...” Lady Lila stumbled over her words, caught off guard by his question.
When the topic had been brought up before, Lady Lila had insisted on putting that clause in writing, but...
But what? In this world, it seemed that the weak always got trampled on.
To put it simply, they weren’t in a position where they could afford to lose a celebrity to this event; they really wanted that opportunity.
William chuckled softly and gave her arm a reassuring pat. “What’s wrong? Did you not get enough sleep today? You seem out of it.”

Chapter 5

“It’s not the first time this has happened,” Lady Lila Fairchild said, her brow furrowing in annoyance. “The company has been so dismissive, always assigning him the less glamorous jobs—those other stars wouldn't even consider. It’s infuriating how they think they can just gloss over this.”
With a scoff, she said, “Honestly, it’s disgusting.” She clearly had little respect for William Blackwood, who hadn’t even arrived for makeup yet. It was evident today's schedule was meant to make William nothing more than a backdrop; whether he would even take the stage was uncertain.
As her irritation grew, the skin around her eyes flushed red.
To be stuck at such a pointless event—it was maddening.
“Hey, come on now,” William said, trying to soothe her. “There will be other opportunities, and I’m still young…”
“You're twenty-seven,” Lady Lila shot back, her tone shifting. “You're not that young anymore. In a couple of years, you could be playing a dad.”
William clenched his teeth. Here he was trying to comfort her, and she just stabbed him with her words.
Still, seeing that he was only twenty-five and had loyally supported her for two years, he chose to swallow his pride, metaphorically extracting the knife from his back.
“Don’t worry, there are actors who are successful playing grandfathers too,” he said with a forced smile.
For a moment, Lila’s tears threatened to spill, but she blinked in disbelief. “You really have no ambition, do you? Not even a father role? You’re ready to play a grandfather?”
William sighed, “Go on, keep crying if it helps.”
“Let’s just skip this event,” she insisted, growing even more heated. “If there’s any blame to take on, I’ll do it.”
“Wait,” William interrupted gently, placing a hand on her arm. “It’s just a couple of hours. We’ve come this far, and it doesn’t make sense to walk away now. If we leave, they can say whatever they want. We’d end up losing money rather than earning any. Let’s just stay calm.”
Taking a deep breath, Lady Lila weighed her options. On an ordinary occasion, she might let it slide, understanding this was hardly uncommon. But she knew William had a particular aversion to the people at Noble Entertainment—the last two years had seen many of his opportunities snatched away by Noble’s team. Just the other day, that supporting actor role he had nearly locked down had been taken from him by Eleanor Blackwood. Today, he was up against Charlotte Frost, and Lila worried about how this would affect his mood.
William, though, didn’t seem as perturbed as she was. The entertainment industry had its game, and the rules were simple: you attract attention, and you’re valued. If you don’t, you’re overlooked. If that stings, it’s your own fault for not being good enough—blaming others only wastes time.
And it’s not much different outside of show business, is it? Who genuinely invests time in someone without power or influence? That’s just how life works.
William pulled out his phone, distractedly logging into a game. He noticed Thomas Bright was online too, and they immediately started up a match. Thomas urged him to finish writing a song.
“Have you completed that song you promised me?” came the message.
“Why are you rushing me? Writing requires inspiration, and I’ve been dry lately,” William replied.
“Seriously, how many days do you have inspiration all year? You’ve dragged this out for three months—don’t make me come over there and drag you out!”
Come for me?
You think you can find me?
William chuckled silently to himself as he logged off, imagining the frustration boiling on the other side. He could picture Thomas’s face, twisting in agitation, cursing him under his breath.
Just then, the door to the event room swung open, freezing his smile mid-chuckle.

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