Chapter 3

After what seemed like an endless flight, the plane finally touched down at Incheon International Airport.

Lingling collected her belongings, making her way through the airport, the exhaustion from the late-night flight seeping through her.

Upon exiting, she found her manager Namtan waiting for her, the familiar face providing comfort amidst the lingering fatigue.

The latter greeted Lingling with a warm smile, her expression shifting from professional to casually friendly once her eyes met her.

"There you are. The flight went smoothly, I hope? You look exhausted."

Namtan offered a gentle poke at Lingling's side, her tone teasing and light.

Lingling's exhausted state was evident, and she sighed.

"Not really," she muttered, her tone tinged with weariness.

"Some random girl made me regret getting on the plane," Lingling said, her words barely audible, hoping Namtan didn't catch it.

Namtan smirked at Lingling's tired demeanor, the exhaustion palpable.

The remark about regretting the flight piqued her interest.

"Some random girl, you say?" she asked, a playful glimmer in her eyes, a smile tugging at one corner of her mouth.

"Was she that much of a nuisance? Or did you two..."

Namtan let her words trail off, leaving the implication hanging in the air, her eyebrows raising suggestively.

Lingling's cheeks flushed, a mix of denial and annoyance painting her expression.

"No!" she retorted, her tone insistent.

"It wasn't like that at all. She was just... clumsy and annoying, that's all," she defended, frowning.

Namtan chuckled at Lingling's immediate denial, her amusement evident.

"Hey, I'm only teasing," she said, raising an eyebrow. "You can't blame me for asking. With your reputation, a bit of concern is natural."

"I didn't do anything! I didn't even talk to her much. I wouldn't do that on a plane!"

Lingling felt a mix of indignation and frustration at Namtan's teasing, her eyes rolling slightly.

Namtan laughed at Lingling's adamant denial, a mischievous glint dancing in her eyes.

"So you're saying you would have done it on the ground then?" she quipped, her voice filled with amusement and teasing.

Lingling sighed, frustration creeping into her tone.

"Enough!"

Lingling's annoyance was evident, her voice carrying her warning.

"I'll fire you at this rate," she snapped, the threat serious yet her expression hinted at a light-hearted banter.

Namtan laughed, raising her hands in playful surrender.

"Okay, okay, you win." She chuckled, a playful smile dancing on her lips. "I'll spare you this time."

Namtan glanced at her watch, her expression growing somewhat serious.

"I hate to break it to you, but you've got a little business to tend to before you go to your room. There's an interview scheduled for your new film, then a photoshoot later this afternoon," she informed.

Lingling let out a deep sigh, her exhaustion growing even more palpable.

"Seriously, can't I even catch a break for one moment? It feels like back-to-back schedules," she murmured, her weariness evident in her tone.

Namtan couldn't help but laugh, the girl's exaggerated complaints amusing.

"You're always so dramatic," she teased, her tone a mix of playful and reassuring.

"You'll be back in your room before midnight."

Lingling sighed heavily, shaking her head slightly, and followed Namtan to the interview venue.

Though she was exhausted, she knew she had obligations to fulfill.

The weight of responsibility weighed heavily, and she plastered a polite smile, ready for whatever questions the interviewer might throw.

The interviewer leaned forward, a sly glint in his eyes as he posed a loaded question, intending to provoke a reaction, or a juicy response.

"So, Miss Kwong," they began, a hint of amusement in their tone. "There's a lot of buzz around your love life. Care to dish some details, give us the scoop on who's been stealing your heart lately?"

Lingling met the interviewer's sly gaze, an air of confidence surrounding her.

Her expression turned slightly cool, her eyes narrowing almost imperceptibly, her tone holding a hint of arrogance.

"My love life is like one of my movies," she replied, a hint of a smirk playing at the corner of her lips. "Always left for the audience to speculate."

Namtan heard Lingling's response and smiled, a sense of pride swelling in her chest. She knew her well enough to expect such a reply.

She couldn't help but let her admiration, mixed with amusement, show on her face. Namtan thought, "That's my girl, always so witty."

The interviewer smirked, continuing with the provocative questions.

"Speaking of your films, there are rumors that your next film will be a romantic comedy," they began, their tone sly. "Any idea who'll be your partner on set? Has the cast been finalized?"

Lingling sighed inwardly, her patience wearing thin with these prying questions.

"It's a private matter," she stated, her tone becoming slightly colder, a subtle warning in her eyes.

"The cast is still unknown to me as well. But I have a feeling something will be revealed soon enough," she added, her expression remaining composed.

The interviewer, persistent as ever, continued with his line of questioning, moving onto another topic.

"Being here for promotion, this isn't your first visit to South Korea," they started. "How does it feel to be here again, especially for promoting your upcoming movie?"

Lingling relaxed slightly, her shoulders easing. This line of questioning was familiar terrain, and she knew how to navigate.

"It's always a privilege to be back in South Korea," she began, her expression softening for a moment.

"This country holds a special place in my heart. The support and love I've received have been unwavering, and I am grateful for the opportunity to keep promoting my films here."

********

The exhaustion weighed heavy upon Lingling, her entire body crying for rest after the strenuous event.

Finally, reaching her hotel room at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul, she kicked off her shoes and tossed her bag onto the couch, not bothering to hang it.

Despite her fatigue, she knew she couldn't simply crawl into bed without washing off the day's exhaustion from her body and face.

As the hot water cascaded down her skin, her mind began to wander, her thoughts slipping into her impending commitments: photoshoots, meetings and more.

"I need to bring my A game, as I always do. There is no room for error."

However, the idea of letting loose, forgetting work for a moment, was increasingly appealing.

Lingling's mind drifted to the last time she'd had some fun - it felt like ages since her last break.

"What happens in South Korea stays in South Korea, right?" she mused to herself, the naughty nature she had kept hidden rearing its head.

Lingling shook her head, mentally scolding herself. She had made a silent promise not to fool around, and yet here she was, thinking of sleeping around with some random Korean woman.

"Get it together!"

She pressed her palms against her face, feeling a mix of disappointment and amusement at herself.

She resolved to push aside her urge for now (or so she told herself).

After finishing her shower, she wrapped a towel around herself and stumbled out of the bathroom, collapsing onto the plush king-size bed.

Before sleep could fully claim her, Lingling found herself reaching for her phone, her index finger swiftly dialing a familiar number.

She barely said word, just informed the person on the other line that she was in Seoul and gave the hotel name, and hung up.

Her message was clear: "Come and see me this evening, we need to catch up."