The Hidden Wife Of Mr Lu

A breakthrough

Qin Ruoxi stepped out of the cab and quickly fumbled with the zipper of her small handbag, her fingers trembling just slightly. She could feel the lingering soreness from the morning audition in her legs, but adrenaline pushed her forward. She barely made it to her apartment building, and the thought of collapsing on her modest bed for a moment was tempting—but she had no time to linger. She rushed up the narrow staircase two steps at a time, barely noticing the familiar creak under her feet. Her apartment door swung open with a hurried tug, and she kicked off her shoes, barely bothering to align them neatly by the door.

Inside, the apartment was quiet and modest, the kind of place where she had lived for years, and yet now it felt somehow smaller, almost cosy, under the glow of the afternoon sun spilling through the window. She quickly changed into a simple but comfortable dress, brushing a few stray strands of hair from her forehead. Her hands were shaky, and she noticed it, but she ignored it. Today, her life might finally change. The memory of the audition played in her mind – every word she had spoken, every subtle expression she had given. She had tried to pour everything into that one performance—the fear, the sadness, the longing she had carried inside for years—and she hoped, prayed even, that it had been enough.

By the time she stepped back into the hallway and locked the door, her heart was hammering in her chest. The streets were bustling with the usual traffic, but Ruoxi hardly noticed it. Her mind was a thousand miles away, replaying every second of the audition. Please let it be enough… please…

She arrived at the production company just as the final auditions for the day were ending. A small line of actors and actresses milled around the waiting area, checking phones or whispering among themselves. Ruoxi’s stomach twisted nervously, and she gripped the strap of her bag so tightly that her knuckles whitened. The receptionist glanced at her, a polite smile on her face. “Ruoxi Qin?”

“Yes,” she managed, her voice a little higher than usual, almost trembling.

“Please, they’re ready for you now.”

Her heart leapt. This was it—the moment that could change everything. She walked into the small audition room, trying to steady her breathing. The judges sat behind a long table, papers and notes scattered in front of them. Ruoxi felt their eyes sweep over her as she approached the centre of the room. For a moment, she froze, a little intimidated by the calm authority radiating from the panel. Then she remembered everything she had worked for. She cleared her mind and gave herself over to the scene she had prepared.

Every line came out with sincerity, every expression carefully measured but natural. Her body moved with the emotions she was portraying; her eyes glistened at the right moments, and her voice trembled with the right intensity. She felt as if she had stripped herself bare in front of them, offering her deepest vulnerabilities without reservation.

When she finished, there was a brief silence. Ruoxi’s chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath, unsure if she had done enough. Then, one of the judges—a tall man with sharp eyes—leaned back and nodded slightly. “That was impressive, Ruoxi. Very precise, very natural. We’d like to offer you the role.”

Ruoxi’s legs nearly gave out. She pressed her hand to her chest as her heart raced uncontrollably. Tears threatened to fall, but she blinked them back fiercely. “I… I… thank you,” she stammered, her voice trembling but joyous. Relief, excitement, disbelief—all mingled into one overwhelming wave. She had done it. Finally.

She exited the room with a light step, her mind still spinning from the news. She wanted to scream, to tell someone, to celebrate—but she immediately thought of her grandmother. Her eyes softened. Grandma… I can finally make things right.

The taxi ride to the hospital felt surreal. The city whizzed by outside the window, but Ruoxi was lost in thought. She barely noticed the honking cars or the crowd at the traffic lights. She only thought of Zhao Yuhua, lying unconscious, her frail body resting on the hospital bed.

When she arrived, she quickly made her way through the sterile corridors, the smell of antiseptic and flowers mixing in the air. She had bought a small bouquet of bright, cheerful flowers before entering—a little colour in the quiet hospital room. She knelt beside her grandmother’s bed, carefully setting the flowers on the side table.

“Grandma…” Ruoxi whispered, her voice trembling, soft enough that only she could hear. “I got the role. Soon, everything will be okay. Soon, we’ll have what we need…”

She paused, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face, staring down at her grandmother’s peaceful features. There was no response, of course; the woman could not hear her, could not acknowledge her presence. But that didn’t matter. Sharing the news, speaking it aloud, felt like a weight lifting from her chest. Hope surged through her, fierce and pure. For the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to imagine a future where she could finally breathe a little easier, where the struggle was not endless.

After a few quiet moments, she rose, smoothing her dress and straightening her back. She whispered again, “I’ll get everything taken care of, Grandma… just wait for me.”

Next, she picked up her phone and dialled the familiar number.

“Xia Yuxi! You won’t believe it!” she said as soon as the call connected. Her voice was filled with excitement, almost breathless.

“Ruoxi? Calm down! What’s happened?” Xia Yuxi’s voice was bright, full of curiosity and concern.

“I got it!” Ruoxi practically shouted, her hands gripping the phone. “I got the role! They offered me the part! Xia Yuxi, I… I finally did it!”

There was a pause on the other end, then Xia Yuxi burst out laughing, half screaming, half cheering. “Oh my God! Ruoxi! That’s amazing! I knew you could do it! You’ve worked so hard for this! Tell me everything! I want all the details!”

Ruoxi laughed too, a little breathless from relief and joy. She recounted the audition, the judges’ reactions, her nerves, and the final confirmation. She described how it felt to stand there, hoping, praying, giving everything, and finally being recognised for it. Xia Yuxi interrupted occasionally, cheering, teasing, and praising her.

By the time the call ended, Ruoxi felt lighter, freer. The tension that had weighed her down for weeks, months even, seemed to have evaporated, leaving only joy and anticipation for what was to come.

Later, that evening, she returned to her small apartment. The city outside had dimmed into twilight, the streets alive with a softer rhythm of life. She kicked off her shoes, flopped onto the sofa, and closed her eyes, letting herself savour the victory. For once, she allowed herself to imagine a future where her talent mattered, where she could finally support her grandmother and build the life she had dreamed of.

Across the city, in a sleek study lined with dark wood and shelves of books, Lu Shaoming sat alone. His attention had wandered briefly to a screen on his desk, the faint image of someone he couldn’t stop thinking about flickering in his mind. He was silent and composed, yet his thoughts lingered on her, subtle and unrelenting. Just then, his assistant stepped into the room.

“Sir, you requested—”

Lu Shaoming moved quickly, turning off the screen before his assistant could see anything. “Never mind,” he said, his tone calm, neutral. Inside, however, a small, quiet part of him refused to let go of the memory of her—of her presence, her determination, and the tiny spark that had somehow caught his attention.

By the time night fell, the city lights twinkled outside Ruoxi’s window, reflecting off her small apartment walls. She sat by her desk, resting her hands on the papers she had been reviewing, thinking about her new role, and trying to imagine what her life would be like once filming began. She allowed herself a small smile, the first genuine one in weeks, feeling the warmth of accomplishment spread through her.

She eventually lay down, letting herself drift into a light, peaceful sleep. For the first time in a long while, Qin Ruoxi felt hope, excitement, and the possibility of a brighter tomorrow. Nothing else mattered tonight.