MMORPG: I was BUGGED-Chapter 365: Claws Out: The Backstage Brawl

While the show continued its course, Xiaxia lingered in the backstage area, secretly hoping that her stumble wouldn’t become tomorrow’s news headline.

Yet, in a strange twist of fate, she found herself contemplating the potential benefits of such publicity, whether positive or negative.

Perhaps, she thought optimistically, this stumble could lead to unexpected opportunities in the future. After all, many women had been discovered for various reasons, some even from embarrassing mishaps.

However, Xiaxia quickly shook off these fleeting thoughts, chastising herself for indulging in wishful thinking.

Who was she kidding?!

She was nobody in the grand scheme of things. Surely, nobody cared if some unknown girl tripped on the runway.

Yet, a nagging thought lingered in the recesses of Xiaxia’s mind. She was certain she hadn’t tripped on her own accord; she had been pushed from behind. The only person nearby at the time was another model named Maxine.

Determined to uncover the truth, Xiaxia sought out the woman who had been behind her before. To her dismay, she found Maxine in the company of Lisa and other top models, their laughter and whispers, pointing fingers at her, indicating they were discussing her.

It didn’t take a genius to deduce that they were likely gossiping about her mishap.

While Xiaxia suspected Lisa’s involvement due to their previous altercation, she couldn’t be certain.

There was only one way to find out.

With resolve in her stride, Xiaxia approached the group of women. She was no stranger to female bullying, and it was certainly not her first time to confront somebody.

Hell, she was prepared to engage in a full-blown catfight if that’s what they wanted. She’d show them her claws and bare her teeth if necessary.

One thing was for sure: she wasn’t about to back down, especially not from a girl’s fight.

"Hey, Maxine, right?" Xiaxia addressed the woman, causing their laughter to momentarily cease as Maxine turned to face her.

"What do you want, stumblebum?" Maxine retorted, her words laced with disdain, eliciting a sarcastic smile from Xiaxia while the others laughed.

"I wouldn’t have tripped if you hadn’t pushed me," Xiaxia stated firmly, crossing her arms and meeting Maxine’s gaze without flinching.

Instead of denying the accusation, Maxine simply laughed and mirrored Xiaxia’s posture, sizing her up with a smug smirk.

"So what if I did?" Maxine taunted, leaning in closer to Xiaxia. "What are you going to do about it?"

Xiaxia’s jaw clenched with frustration, her mind racing with possible retorts. She knew she couldn’t let Maxine get away with this, not without standing up for herself.

But as she searched for the right words, she realized that sometimes actions spoke louder than words.

Without hesitation, she delivered a swift, resounding slap across Maxine’s face, the sound echoing through the room.

A heavy silence descended, punctuated only by the stunned gasps of onlookers. Lisa and the others watched in disbelief as Maxine, reeling from the blow, touched her bruised lip and swelling cheek in shock.

"Don’t you ever pull that stunt again," Xiaxia warned, her voice low and dangerous. "Or that’s not the only thing you will get from me."

With a defiant glare, she turned to walk away, but before she could make her escape, Maxine let out a piercing shriek.

"You BITCH!" Maxine lunged forward, grabbing Xiaxia’s hair and pulling with all her might.

Reacting instinctively, Xiaxia fought back, gripping Maxine’s hair and pulling just as hard, heedless of the strands she tore loose. "You want a fight? Bring it on!"

With practiced ease, Xiaxia maneuvered herself on top of Maxine, her nails digging into the other girl’s flesh as she rained down scratches on her skin.

"You want to fight?! I’ll give you a fight! I’ll make sure you regret ever crossing me!"

Maxine wailed and struggled beneath Xiaxia’s weight, her hands pinned to the ground by the latter’s legs. Despite her efforts, she couldn’t break free, helpless against Xiaxia’s relentless assault.

Xiaxia and Xin had undergone numerous self-defense trainings in their youth, thanks to their mother’s paranoia that they would get bullied because of their appearance and that they were twins.

While her fears proved unfounded, it was Xiaxia who often found herself on the verge of losing control, with Xin always there to reign her in.

Triggered by Maxine’s aggression, Xiaxia tapped into her primal instincts, unleashing a fury that left Maxine helpless and defenseless beneath her.

The others watched in horror, their faces pale and tense, too afraid to intervene for fear of becoming collateral damage.

In an industry where appearances were everything, any scratch or blemish could spell the end of a career.

Their faces were their livelihoods, and any damage inflicted upon them would be irreparable. Though makeup and editing could conceal some imperfections, the harsh reality of the industry left no room for leniency.

A single scar could spell ones end.

Though plastic surgery could do wonders, the process of recovery would undoubtedly take time, time off in the modeling industry equated to death.

With numerous competitors, especially younger ones, any hiatus meant missed opportunities and the risk of being overshadowed by fresher faces.

"What’s going on here?! What are you doing?! Separate them?!"

At the thunderous voice, Xiaxia felt herself being pulled away from Maxine, who was still crying and nursing her injured face, blood seeping from the scratches.

"You’ve messed with the wrong person! BITCH!" Xiaxia spat in front of Maxine.

Maxine screamed at the top of her lungs, "I will sue you! I will make you pay, you whore! I’ll make sure you rot in jail!"

"ENOUGH!"

The voice thundered once more, and from the audience emerged a sophisticated lady with dyed grey hair, clad in an all-black suit and pants.

"What are you two doing? This is a professional event, not some back-alley brawl! I’ll ensure that both of your careers are over by the time I’m done here."

Maxine’s face paled, and she sank to her knees. "M-Miss Valentine, I’m sorry! Please forgive me! It’s not my fault, she just attacked me!" Maxine pointed accusingly at Xiaxia.

"I don’t care who started it. Both of you are fired from my shows!"