The next morning, sunlight streamed into Bai Zhi's room, casting golden shadows across her desk. But she wasn't resting. She was already dressed, face fresh and sharp, flipping through a leather notebook.
Her rebirth wasn't just about revenge, it was about preparation to set the course for the future.
In her past life, she had given up everything for Bai Meilin, her name, her talent, her time.
She had ghostwritten three albums, two movie scripts, and multiple academic theses for her. Meilin had taken all the credit while playing the fragile white lotus who "only wanted to love her sister and who was sad that she was taking the glory of her sister so she keeps loving her more"
Now?
Bai Zhi would take it all back. And then some.
Downstairs, the Bai family was enjoying breakfast. The dining room was filled with chatter, mostly Meilin's soft, modest giggling.
"So you composed music in the orphanage?" Madam Bai beamed. "You're so cultured."
"I only tried.. I'm not as good as Jiejie," Meilin said humbly. "She's always been so talented."
The compliment was fake but it was effective to set the pace for the drama that would unfold.
"Zhi'er," Old Master Bai said between bites of porridge, "you should help Meilin enter the entertainment circle. You have experience, after all."
Bai Zhi set her spoon down slowly. "Help her.. again?"
"Of course," Madam Bai said with a smile. "You've always been so considerate."
Bai Meilin blinked innocently. "I'd be honored to learn from Jiejie…"
Bai Zhi looked at each of their faces, pretending not to remember how she was used and discarded like trash in her past life.
She smiled faintly. "Actually, I've decided to start my own studio."
The table fell silent.
"Studio?" Madam Bai frowned. "Doing what?"
"Acting, music, academic research. I'm launching independently." Bai Zhi sipped her tea. "I already signed a private management contract this morning."
"Without consulting the family?" Old Master Bai's voice turned cold.
"In what capacity should I consult you?" Bai Zhi raised a brow. "I'm not your daughter anymore"
The words landed like a slap.
Meilin's smile faltered.
Madam Bai cleared her throat. "Zhi'er, don't be childish. That's not what we meant.."
"Isn't it?" Bai Zhi stood, placing her napkin gently on the table. "Let's not pretend we're something we're not. I'm just saving you the trouble and awkwardness of cutting me off later."
She turned to Meilin, her gaze like ice.
"Don't worry. I won't be stealing your spotlight this time."
Then she walked away, her back straight, while the room erupted into quiet panic.
By noon, the Bai family's personal assistant, Aunt Qiao, intercepted her in the hallway.
"Zhi'er, the family just wants what's best for you," she said carefully. "You've always been obedient. Why the sudden change?"
"I've decided to grow up," Bai Zhi said, slipping on her sunglasses. "Besides, don't worry. I'm not going to fight Meilin for scraps. She is the owner, she can take it all"
"Then what will you do?"
Bai Zhi smiled as the elevator doors opened.
"Build my own kingdom."
That afternoon, she visited the studio she had secretly acquired before her death in her past life, Zhen Studios, a small but well-equipped media company with massive potential.
The director, Jiang Qiao, stood to greet her with wide eyes.
"Miss Bai? You're back?"
"In more ways than one," she said with a smile.
"You said you'd return with a big project but…" His voice trailed off, unsure.
"I'm here to fund and lead it," she said. "But this time, the credits are mine. I'm not ghostwriting or acting for anyone else. I'm working for me"
Jiang Qiao's eyes sparkled. "So you're stepping into the spotlight?"
"Finally," she replied. "Let's talk business."
Back at the Bai estate, Meilin's expression twisted in her bedroom mirror.
That morning, she had planned everything, compliments, humble words, a gentle approach to lure Bai Zhi into helping her again like she did before.
Instead, Bai Zhi had slapped her in public, taken her freedom, and made a declaration of independence.
"Acting? Singing? Research?" Meilin's voice trembled. "What right does she have to steal the spotlight?"
She paced, seething.
In her past life, she had destroyed Bai Zhi piece by piece.
She had to start earlier this time.
That night, Bai Zhi received a call from her former "best friend" Lin Rou, the same Lin Rou who had betrayed her by leaking her private research to Meilin in the past life.
"Zhi'er!" Lin Rou's voice was saccharine. "I heard about your new studio. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Must've slipped my mind," Bai Zhi said, uninterested.
"Are you casting for your next project? I'd love to help!"
Ah, here it comes, Bai Zhi thought.
Lin Rou would try to infiltrate her circle early, pretend to be helpful, then sabotage her from within just like before.
"Actually, I'm hiring… a cleaner," Bai Zhi said with a smile.
"A… what?"
"You can start tomorrow. Bathrooms first."
She ended the call.
She wanted to see if she would be able to bear the shame and come to take up such a position, was infiltrating her circle so important that she would accept the offer or would see with the lotus flower tears? Or... Would she not show up at all?
The next day, Bai Zhi stepped into her studio's audition hall.
Actors, musicians, and interns lined the hallway, all eager for a role in her project.
Bai Zhi wore a crisp white blouse and tailored black trousers, her aura commanding.
She held auditions personally, watched performances critically, and selected only the most talented.
At lunch, her phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number.
"Still pretending to be the boss? You'll never be more than a fake daughter. Watch your back."
She didn't reply. This kind of threat couldn't move her anymore. She has nothing to hide, Instead she wanted to spread things in the open.
Instead, she posted a selfie in her studio, captioned:
From the shadow to the spotlight. I'm just getting started.
It went viral in under an hour.