The "tap, tap, tap" of high heels hitting the ground was like the cold death knell, crushing Xu Mengjie's already shattered heart, until it completely disappeared at the end of the hallway.
Xi Hongxia's words, tempered with ice, seemed to carry a biting chill, repeatedly cutting at her ears, leaving her once beautiful bubble of love, wrapped in a giant sweet dream, riddled with holes.
Finally—"crack," it shattered completely!
The sound was so clear it made her very soul tremble.
In the empty and dim corner, the icy walls supported her faltering body.
Tears silently surged, mixed with despair and an impulse nearly self-destructive, streaming unchecked down her face.
No knowing how long passed, as if she had exhausted the last ounce of strength, she trembled as she raised her hand, wiping away the disarray on her face, and dark tear marks spread across her sleeve.
She took a deep breath, finally pushing open the door to the Director of Artists' office.
