?<strong>Chapter 501:</strong>


    She stretched, quickly threw off the covers, and jumped out of bed. Her feet sank into the soft carpet, theforting texture making her smile. She searched the room barefoot and finally found a tall, fancy vase she’d never used, hidden in the cab. The vase, crafted from colorful ss, caught the sunlight and reflected shades of blue and purple, perfectlyplementing the roses’ vibrant colors.


    Carrie filled the vase with water, unwrapped the bouquet, and carefully arranged the flowers inside. Sunlight poured over the roses, making them glow in a warm golden light. Sitting by the window, lost in the beauty of the flowers, her phone rang.


    It was Soren, letting her know about ast-minute promotional event she needed to attend. She was thankful she had applied the ointment the night before, as the red marks on her skin had already faded.


    Today, she decided on a matcha-colored halter dress. The cutouts at the waist highlighted her elegant curves. Her hair fell softly around her shoulders, held in ce by a delicate pearl hairpin, while tassel ear cuffs dangled from her ears, adding a subtle touch of mour.


    She had never gotten her ears pierced because she was scared of the pain. Instead, the designer earrings Oliver sent were always carefully modified into ear cuffs just for her.


    By the time she arrived at the event, a crowd had already gathered. To her surprise, she saw fans holding signs, cheering her on. It was her first time having fans, and it filled her with joy. A group of strangers, drawn to her work, was offering her validation in a way she’d never imagined.


    Before the event kicked off, she took photos and signed autographs for each fan. Noticing them sweating in the heat, she thoughtfully ordered bubble tea for them.


    What she didn’t know was that the fans posted photos of the pictures and bubble tea on Twitter, creating a small buzz. The mutual appreciation and support felt incredibly special—a rare and valuable connection in the world of fandom.


    The event was a promotional gathering for Agarwood. Silver Elephant Media had poured a lot of money into the drama, hosting a range of events, big and small. The event featured Q&A sessions, along with interactive opportunities for the audience to engage in ying and plot experiences, adding ayer of excitement and connection.


    With so many parts to the event and the fans’ intense enthusiasm, it stretched on for a long time. Carrie, in her stilettos, felt especially drained after standing for what seemed like forever. She noticed her stamina wasn’t what it used to be. In college, she could race between lecture halls in heels without batting an eye, but now, simply standing left her exhausted.


    During the break, she slipped away to the restroom and headed to the backstage lounge. She kicked off her heels, rested her feet on the edge of a chair, and softly massaged her tired ankles. On the table sat an unfinished takeout meal, and the cold pork soup had hardened, looking greasy. The rancid, oily smell spread through the warm air.


    At first, Carrie tried to ignore it, but the longer she breathed in the stench, the more queasy she became. Her stomach twisted in difort, and before she knew it, the urge to vomit hit her. Quickly, she pulled her feet off the chair, grabbed the nearby trash can, and vomited into it.


    From the corner of her eye, she saw a figure standing by the door. She nced up and saw Lise standing there, dressed in a white dress.


    Her expression was oddly nk, a stark contrast to her usual provocative or yful attitude. Carrie actually found her less irritating in this mood. She remembered seeing something about Lise attending a store opening at this mall just a few days ago. The phrase “it’s a small world” seemed to ring true again—no matter how random, they always seemed to cross paths at events like this.


    Carrie turned her gaze away from Lise, ignoring her, and casually grabbed a bottle of water to rinse out her mouth. Honestly, she hadn’t thrown up much. Since Kristopher wasn’t home, she’d only managed a few bites before hurrying out. The event had dragged on for hours, and those few bites had already been digested by the time she had a moment to herself.


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