Chapter1

Los Angeles, the star-studded red carpet event for a high-end luxury brand. The flashbulbs were as bright as day.

“Ethan, know your place. You’re just a backstage executor. Step back and don’t interfere with Ryan’s solo camera work.”

Maddie's shrill voice pierced through the noise of the media area. She was wearing the off-season haute couture gown that I had barely managed to borrow last night by using all my top connections, but now, in order to please the popular male star next to her, she was ruthlessly trampling me underfoot in public.

All eyes in the room instantly turned to them, filled with curiosity, mockery, and disdain.

Ryan adjusted his bespoke suit tie, deliberately flashing his signature gentle smile at the camera, but his tone was barbed: "McDy, don't be so harsh on Ethan. Although he usually only does spreadsheets and odd jobs, and his efficiency always slows down our core progress, but... in a high-level creative team like ours, someone has to do the dirty work, right?"

A few casual words not only erased the entire project framework I had worked day and night to build over the past few months, but also nailed me to the pillar of shame as an "incompetent scapegoat."

Several familiar entertainment media outlets burst into undisguised laughter. They only recognized the glamorous image of McGrady's studio and had no idea who truly held the trump card.

"Did you hear that?" Maddie, emboldened by her male companion's encouragement, grew even more arrogant. She looked down at me, issuing a command in a tone that sounded almost condescending: "Hurry up and get rid of that lifeless look on your face. Go and finish moving all the support materials for the back door fans. Also, at the press conference later, the project leader's name will be changed to Ryan, which wasn't originally meant for someone like you who's at the bottom of the hierarchy."

Clinging to male celebrities, plundering their achievements, and publicly humiliating them—that's her goal today.

Looking at the face I'd worked with for three years, I felt absolutely nothing.

I just think it's stupid. Incredibly stupid.

"Are you done talking?" I looked at her expressionlessly.

McGrady frowned, seemingly displeased that I hadn't immediately backed down: "What kind of attitude is that—"

I ignored her and, in front of all the media and cameras, took out my phone and tablet.

I dialed the brand's global executive vice president's private number. With a look of surprise on McGrady's face, I immediately pressed the speakerphone button.

"Oh! Ethan! My old friend, how did the press conference go? I'm watching the red carpet live!" On the other end of the phone, the high-ranking vice president's tone was filled with rare enthusiasm and respect.

“I’m sorry, Charles,” I said in a cold and steady voice, “I am officially withdrawing from the project regarding this joint launch event.”

The air in the room seemed to freeze for a second.

Maddie was taken aback at first, then sneered, "Ethan, are you crazy? You think you can threaten me with this childish resignation act? What are you if you leave the studio!"

I didn't even glance at her.

My hands tapped rapidly on the tablet as I typed in the sixteen-digit root server verification password.

"All press releases, matrix promotions, and joint placements on the homepage of 300 core media outlets under McGrady Studio..." I looked at the confirmation pop-up on the screen and pressed Enter without hesitation, "Withdraw immediately."

What nonsense are you spouting—

Before McGrady could finish speaking, gasps of surprise suddenly erupted from the media sections on both sides of the red carpet.

"What happened? The brand's official countdown page has disappeared!"

"My God! All the links to the press releases they just sent us are showing up as 404 invalid!"

"The trending topics have dropped! All promotional materials across various channels are being removed! We can't publish articles anymore!"

The media people who had been looking at me with amusement were now like ants on a hot plate, staring in horror at their phones that had become dead links.

Without my authorization for the API, Maddie Studio was completely mute at this press conference.

McGrady's expression finally changed. Her aloof facade crumbled instantly, and a flicker of disbelief and panic flashed in her eyes: "You... what did you do? You dare to tamper with the brand's advertising channels?!"

Even Ryan couldn't maintain his gentle, manipulative facade anymore. He immediately distanced himself from her and frantically asked, "McDy! What happened? What about my exposure?!"

I lifted my eyelids and finally looked directly at McGrady's face, which was slightly distorted with fear.

I clicked the send button for the last email.

“Just one minute ago, I sent a full HD recording of you publicly belittling your partner and unilaterally changing the project's lead authorship, as well as the original contract which clearly states that ‘Ethan has veto power over the project and its core clauses,’ to the brand's legal department.”

I closed the tablet and tossed it onto the ceremonial table next to me with a dull thud.

"Now, you can take your big star to face the brand's legal team's breach of contract lawsuit."

McGrady gasped. For the first time, she truly felt out of control. She thought I was just a backstage laborer she could manipulate at will, forgetting that for the past three years, it was my rules, my control, and my resources that had elevated her to a height that didn't belong to her.

"You dare to ruin this press conference!" Maddie trembled, still trying to maintain a semblance of dignity with her ridiculous social standing. "Ethan, you're dead! Believe me, I'll use all my resources to make sure you can't survive in the PR world of Los Angeles anymore!!"

"Whatever you want."

I had no interest in being sarcastic and turned to walk straight to the other side of the red carpet exit.

Behind him, the media was in complete chaos, with the frantic clicking of camera shutters and McGrady's barely suppressed screams.

Their misfortune has only just begun, and that is no longer my concern.

Stepping out of the glaring spotlight, the Los Angeles night breeze brushed against my face.

My phone vibrated briefly in my pocket; it was a pop-up message for a high-level email that had been intercepted through an encrypted channel but then allowed to pass.

Sender's signature: Global Partners Committee of Onesis Group, a top European public relations conglomerate.

The main text consists of only a brief one-line appendix.

"Your job offer has been confirmed and is now valid. Please take with you the complete project evidence chain. We can't wait to see how you dismantle those stupid old rules."