Chapter 5 The night the engagement teaser dropped , " Andrew & Rebecca's Engagement " dominated the charts for two straight hours . The studio group chat flooded with notifications as assistant leila excitedly shared seven or eight links , stammering : " Emerie ! The whole internet's praising your cinematography ! " Leaning against the sofa corner , Emerie offered a faint smile . She didn't click any links . She simply waited , knowing that moment would inevitably arrive . At , the doorbell rang . Rebecca stood there holding a strawberry cream cake , beaming . " Happy birthday , Emerie . " She lifted the box . " A day early , but I figured you'd be free tonight . " Emerie smiled thinly . " How'd you find my place ? " " Andrew mentioned you've been unwell . Thought I'd check on you . ' Silent , Emerie stepped aside . Rebecca strode in , scanned the room , then settled on the living room sofa . " Living alone - so peaceful . " " I'm used to it . " " You really haven't changed . " Rebecca opened the box . " Still your favorite flavor , right ? You said so once . " Emerie's gaze flickered . She had said that - but only to Andrew . Now her health was ruined ; she couldn't stomach such cloying sweets anymore . " You know quite a lot . " Rebecca chuckled , suddenly pushing the cake forward . " Come on , have a bite . I'll film it for him . He said you've been down lately - asked me to bring your favorite treats . " " He sent you ? " " Yeah . Claims you avoid him now . " She tilted her head . " Still hung up on him ? " 0.0 % 00:05 Chapter 5 288 Vouchers Emerie stared blankly at the cake . The thick cream scent churned her stomach . " Eat , " Rebecca propped up her phone , grinning . " Consider it your farewell ritual . " " What do you mean ? " " Birthdays mark life's chapters closing . Don't you agree ? " Emerie's face paled instantly . Yet she lifted a forkful to her mouth . The sickly sweetness spread as she chewed slowly - each swallow like gulping plaster . " Smile . " Rebecca aimed the camera . " Finish it smiling , okay ? " Emerie forced her lips upward , nostrils stinging with rising tears . Finally swallowing the last bite , she wiped her mouth . " Thanks , " she murmured . " Really . " Rebecca stood . " I'll leave you be . See you tomorrow . " The door clicked shut . Emerie staggered to the bathroom , clutching her stomach , retching violently until weakness overcame her . Water gushed from the faucet as she splashed her face repeatedly . The mirror reflected ghostly skin , cream smeared at her mouth's corner . Those reflected eyes - unfamiliar and hollow . Bracing against the sink , she lifted her gaze slowly . " Let it end here . " She whispered to her reflection . That night , she packed every relic - photos , scripts , storyboards , trophies , memos , even an old self - addressed note : Lingchuan time , 7:55 p.m. Emerie washed her hair and changed into her favorite white gown - the one she wore when she first won an award . She glanced at the clock ; the hands were nearing eight . On the table sat a final glass of warm water . Two dark brown sleeping capsules lay opened , neatly placed on a white porcelain tray . Without hesitation , as if rehearsed countless times , she swallowed the pills with the entire glass of water . Swift , silent , restrained . 33.2 % 00:05 Chapter 5 288 Vouchers She stood up , gently drew the curtains . The night view ofleilagchuan was beautiful , streetlights flickering on one by one , just like the day she first met Andrew . She stood by the window for over ten seconds , then slowly returned to her chair and pressed the camera's record but- ton one last time . Before the lens , her eyes clear , a soft smile touching her lips , she whispered : " Today is my birthday . " " I want to tell myself : Emerie , you've been through so much . " " You did great . Really . " After speaking , she stopped the recording , closed her eyes slowly , and leaned back in the chair , taking deep breaths until the medication began to spread , her consciousness blurring . No tears fell . No sigh of regret escaped her . Sometime later , a nurse passing by for rounds noticed the door slightly ajar . She knocked softly - no response . Pushing the door open gently , she found Emerie sitting upright in the chair , composed and serene , as if resting . " Emerie ? " the nurse called tentatively . Silence . Approaching , she noticed the pallor of her skin , her arm hanging loosely by the chair . On the table lay a completed document titled : Voluntary Peaceful Termination Confirmation Form . The signature was neat . The execution time noted in the bottom right corner : July 11th , 8:00 p.m. sharp . 0.9 %