The sun was barely up when Bai Zhi stood in front of the Imperial Performing Arts Academy's audition hall. Her name was listed as one of the shortlisted candidates for a private audition session—the same list that included children of celebrities, business magnates, and even established young idols.
Ten years ago, Bai Meilin had taken this spot on Bai Zhi's merits.
This time, she was here for herself.
"Zhi-jie?" a soft voice called from behind.
Bai Zhi turned to see a familiar face: Lin Qiaoqiao, a timid girl she remembered from her past life. They'd once shared a dorm before Meilin pulled strings to isolate her.
"Qiaoqiao?" Bai Zhi blinked.
"You remember me!" Lin Qiaoqiao's eyes lit up. "I didn't expect to see you applying here too. You look… amazing."
They have met before, in the shadows of the banquet of the rich but not on the same class.
Bai Zhi smiled gently. "You too."
It was strange, knowing who would stab her in the back, and who had tried too late to help. Qiaoqiao had once offered her water when she was sick and filming as Meilin's double. It wasn't much, but Bai Zhi never forgot kindness.
"I saw your name on the list. You're going for the music and performance track?"
Bai Zhi nodded. "I'll be presenting a short film scene and an original song."
"Wow," Qiaoqiao said, wide-eyed. "I'm nervous. These rich second gens… it's like they were born to shine."
"They just had a louder mic," Bai Zhi said. "You can build your own stage."
Qiaoqiao stared at her. "You sound so… different now."
"I am."
She wasn't the Bai Zhi of before.
Inside the audition room, Bai Zhi performed her scene first, an emotional monologue from a historical drama about a general's daughter forced to choose between love and duty. Her voice quivered with restrained grief, her expression shifting from softness to resolve. Then, she sang.
A song she wrote herself. Slow, aching. Each note carried the sorrow of a life once wasted and the strength of rebirth.
The judges were silent for a long time.
Then, the head of the panel, a strict director known as Professor Zhu spoke up.
"Name?"
"Bai Zhi."
"Background?"
"None in professional acting. But I've studied and practiced."
"You wrote this song?"
"Yes."
Professor Zhu tapped his pen. "Not bad. Not polished, but powerful. Honest. You're in."
The other judges nodded. One even clapped.
Bai Zhi bowed calmly, concealing the swell of victory in her chest.
Outside the room, Lin Qiaoqiao clapped her hands in joy. "You were incredible!"
"I just did what I came to do."
Back at the Bai mansion, however, the atmosphere was icy.
Bai Meilin had returned from her etiquette class in a foul mood. One of the servants had mentioned hearing about Bai Zhi being accepted into the Imperial Performing Arts Academy. Not only that, rumors said she'd blown the judges away.
Bai Meilin's teacup cracked in her hand.
That was supposed to be hers. Her Glory. Her Praise. Her Attention
"She really thinks she can shine on her own?" she hissed.
"She's starting to gain too much attention," her mother, Madam Bai, said gently. "We need to keep an eye on her."
She was no longer playing the loving mother card. The one who loves both her biological and non-biological daughters equally.
Meanwhile, in a high-rise office across the city, Li Jiannan reviewed the sponsorship proposals for the academy's new building wing.
But his mind kept returning to one name: Bai Zhi.
He'd recognized her at the banquet, though he hadn't expected to see her again so soon at the academy.
He didn't believe in fate, but he did trust his instincts. Something about her intrigued him. She was nothing like the heiress he remembered seeing in tabloids, docile, forgettable.
Now, her eyes held storms.
"President Li," his assistant said, knocking. "Here are the final selections for the academy's talent development fund."
Li Jiannan glanced over the names.
There it was again. Bai Zhi.
He tapped her profile once. "Invite her for an interview. I want to see her work myself."
His assistant paused. "Sir?"
"She's promising."
Back at home, Bai Zhi sat in her room, going over her next plan. It was time to build her own brand, one that no one could take credit for. She would release her music anonymously online under a pseudonym, showcase her skills, and build a fan base before revealing her identity.
She had learned the dangers of shining too early without protection. This time, she'd move with caution.
Just as she was uploading her first audio demo online, a message pinged her phone.
From: Imperial Arts Academy
Subject: You've been nominated for the Elite Talent Development Interview. Location: Jianning Group Headquarters.
Her brows rose slightly.
Jianning Group?
Wasn't that...
Her heart skipped.
Li Jiannan.
Their paths were crossing again.
But this time, she wouldn't run, she won't hide him.
Bai Zhi stood before the towering Jianning Group headquarters, the glass facade reflecting the early morning sun. Her phone buzzed with a reminder of her interview time: 9:30 a.m. sharp.
She had chosen a sleek black dress that struck the balance between elegance and restraint. Minimal makeup, her long hair pulled into a low ponytail. Everything about her screamed confidence, but inside, her heart was a quiet storm.
Li Jiannan.
In her past life, they had barely exchanged words, despite being husband and wife, the world didn't even know their identity as Man and wife.
Yet his wrath after her death had wiped out everyone who had betrayed her. He'd avenged her without ever asking why. A man like that… she couldn't treat lightly.
But this time, she wouldn't meet him as a powerless pawn.
This time, she would earn his attention, and keep her dignity intact.
She entered the lobby.
"Miss Bai Zhi?" the receptionist asked, standing. "President Li is expecting you. Please follow me."
The elevator ride was silent. Bai Zhi adjusted her grip on the portfolio of her work, scripts, lyrics, ideas for short films and music collaborations. She had submitted a portion during her audition, but this was the full scope of what she intended to build.
She trusted him more than she trusted anyone else.
When the doors opened, she was greeted by a vast office with floor to ceiling windows. The skyline stretched behind the man seated at the end of the room, working through a stack of documents.
Li Jiannan didn't look up immediately. But she could feel his presence fill the room like ice water in her veins.
Finally, he looked up.