Lines!

Sea of Stars Grand Theater, backstage.

Greasy light bulbs hung from the low corridor ceiling, spreading hazy yellow halos that made the peeling gold-patterned wallpaper look even more mottled.

Within the glow, dust drifted through the air, mingling with the cloying scent of cosmetics and old wood, thick and stagnant enough to suffocate.

"Th-this way, esteemed seniors! This way, please!"

Wang Fu hunched his slightly plump body as he led the way. Beneath his taut, cheap clothes, a patch of dark sweat had long soaked through his back, clammy and cold.

Behind him walked two figures, one large and one small, one after the other.

Chi Baixiu's towering five-meter body nearly filled the entire narrow corridor, yet each step she took was unbelievably light.

Her bright eyes fixed on the sweatstain on Wang Fu's back as she asked suspiciously,

"Little fellow, weren't you delighted just after signing the transfer papers? Why are you sweating like rain now, as if you've seen a ghost?"

Tap!

Wang Fu's body suddenly stiffened, as though an invisible hand had clamped around his throat, nailing his feet to the spot.

He turned around stiffly, beads of sweat seeping from his temples, and forced out a smile.

"Se-senior..."

His voice was dry and hoarse.

Under the dim light, fine Dragon Scale shimmered with an icy gleam. Those enormous eyes looked down from above with an indescribably crushing pressure, instantly grinding his pitiful hope of getting lucky into dust.

The muscles on Wang Fu's face twitched. In the end, he gave up the pretense in defeat and said bitterly, as though resigning himself to fate,

"Senior Chi... I-I was so happy just now that I lost my head. There's still one... one important matter I forgot to explain to you two in advance..."

"Why are you hemming