"Action!"
With the director’s call, the camera lit up.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
Drumbeats resonated, and like a grand theater curtain, the white fabric slowly drew back, revealing Bai Yi standing within folds of material resembling white rose petals.
The surrounding space remained dim, with only a single spotlight illuminating her flawless face, casting her as the embodiment of youth.
She wore a pristine school uniform, her makeup subtle yet precise—just standing there, she exuded the essence of teenage dreams.
As the intro faded, Bai Yi pressed a hand to her chest and sang softly,
"Are there words that always bring tears to your eyes?"
She gazed at the camera in confusion, as if lost in thought,
"Always feeling foolish, always struggling to express yourself?"
The camera tilted upward, creating a sweeping motion. The white fabric beneath her feet was swiftly pulled away by the crew, revealing a school hallway set.
Just as the lighting brightened, figures emerged from the shadows—various students moving in all directions, creating an atmosphere of bustling life.
Centered in the frame, Bai Yi tilted her head, raised a finger, and playfully wagged it.
"I want to become my own idol, free from all restraints."
In the next second, the camera spun around her shoulder, sweeping away the surrounding chaos and revealing a corridor bathed in warm light at the far end.
Standing there, backlit by the glow, was a tall young man in a matching male school uniform. His face remained out of frame, but his outstretched hand reached toward her—
Yan Huan.
Bai Yi hesitated momentarily before instinctively taking his hand.
But before she could react, he gripped it firmly and pulled her forward.
The camera followed closely, keeping Bai Yi as the focal point while shifting perspectives.
On the left, the windows framed scenes of students—cheering fans chasing after her. On the right, the classrooms had transformed into different sets—reality show backdrops, film sets, flashing glimpses of an entertainment career.
Bai Yi kept singing, smiling as she ran forward, guided by the boy ahead.
The first verse neared its end, and the tempo steadily built, leading into the chorus.
Their running pace wasn’t particularly fast, but the camera moved even quicker.
The shot transitioned from behind Bai Yi to behind Yan Huan, racing ahead toward the corridor’s glowing exit.
"Bam!"
The doors swung open as if struck by the first-person perspective.
A flurry of white petals burst into the air, painting the scene in a whirlwind of life and romance.
At that exact moment, the song hit its first chorus.
The camera soared upward, capturing the flurry of petals, then angled downward to focus on Bai Yi, who had lifted her head, her eyes shimmering like starlight.
In the next second, a confident, radiant smile spread across her lips.
The camera zoomed back in, once again aligning with her perspective.
The roles reversed—this time, she pulled Yan Huan toward her, shifting into a poised dance stance.
The sudden proximity emphasized her striking features, her face becoming the central focus of the frame.
She was breathtaking—utterly flawless.
The background music surged, reaching its peak, yearning for release—
And so, amidst the cascade of petals, the girl smiled elegantly and sang,
"Fan A, isn’t love overwhelming, yet in the end, you fear it’s all for nothing?"
Opposite her, beyond the camera frame, Yan Huan lowered his head, meeting Bai Yi’s gaze.
For a brief moment, he was stunned.
Seeing her like this…
He felt an odd sense of detachment, as if witnessing something surreal—
Like those unattainable stars in music videos and live performances, distant and untouchable, suddenly stepping off the screen and appearing right in front of him.
“……”
Bai Yi had complete control over the rhythm of the MV.
All Yan Huan needed to do was follow her lead.
Outside the set, the director, holding a megaphone in one hand and a walkie-talkie in the other, watched the monitors intently, occasionally barking instructions.
“Good, good, everything’s perfect so far! One more chorus! Actors behind the door, get ready! After this chorus, there’s a short interlude where the female lead will enter the simulated stage alone!”
Tilting his head slightly, he continued, eyes glued to the screen.
“Actors in the next scene, show more enthusiasm! Lighting team, stay on rhythm—I want this to replicate that electrifying atmosphere from the convention stage…”
Just as the director was fully engrossed in his work, an assistant ran over, whispering anxiously,
“Director Zhang! Director Zhang! We have some
important visitors
!”
“Visitors my ass! Can’t you see I’m busy? I’m not meeting anyone! Even if it’s Milos, tell him to
get lost
!”
The assistant swallowed nervously and hesitated before adding,
“But… they’re already here. And it’s not just Mr. Milos. The visitors include William, the president of Golden Lion Group’s main division, Ye Lan, the CEO of Ye International… and her daughter.”
“…Let them get los—wait,
Ye International
?!”
Director Zhang, still fixated on the monitor, suddenly snapped his head around, staring in disbelief at his assistant.
The assistant said nothing more—he didn’t need to.
The rising commotion outside the set spoke for itself.
Standing up, the director turned to see a distinguished group entering the studio space.
At the front, William, the regional head of Golden Lion Group, walked beside an elegant Dragon Empire woman in a jade-green qipao.
Leading the way was Milos, the head of Golden Lion Entertainment, introducing the facilities as they passed through.
“Ms. Ye, these upper floors were specifically designed with our entertainment division in mind. Unlike the lower offices, they feature dedicated indoor filming spaces.”
Ye Lan glanced at the sleek black ceiling above, curiosity flickering in her gaze.
“That doesn’t seem like a normal ceiling. What’s installed up there?”
“That’s our proprietary full-scale virtual projection dome,” Milos explained proudly. “It seamlessly replicates real-world backdrops, reducing the need for on-location shoots—especially here in Linmen, where outdoor filming has strict limitations.”
Ye Lan had no intention of disrupting the filming process.
She only planned to observe the technology and workflow from the entrance.
However, standing behind her, Ye Shiyu idly scanned the set—
And the moment her eyes landed on the performers, she froze.
Her pupils contracted slightly.
“...Mother.”
Her voice, though calm and steady, carried an undeniable weight.
Despite her soft volume, both William and Milos instinctively stiffened, an inexplicable chill running down their spines.
They abruptly fell silent and turned toward the black-haired girl who was staring straight at the MV shoot.
Only Ye Lan remained unfazed, glancing back at her daughter as she asked casually,
“What is it, Shiyu?”
Expressionless, Ye Shiyu slowly raised her phone-holding hand and pointed at the filming scene.
“…It’s
Xiao Huan
.”
“Xiao Huan?”
Ye Lan blinked and followed her daughter’s gaze.
In the swirling flurry of white petals, amidst the soaring chorus, a striking young man and woman danced in sync, their faces close as they gazed into each other’s eyes.
"Fan A, isn’t it tragic to chase a dream, only to realize it was all an illusion?"
In their poised dance stance, the young man’s hand was placed lightly on the girl’s slender waist, while the girl’s arm draped over his broad back.
They smiled at each other, locking eyes in a way that suggested… an undeniable intimacy.
“……”
Ye Lan withdrew her gaze and turned back to her daughter.
Ye Shiyu’s face remained utterly neutral.
But when Ye Lan’s eyes trailed downward—
She saw her daughter’s fingers clutching her phone so tightly they had turned pale.
In the past, she would have
immediately
lashed out.
So it seemed their recent conversations hadn’t been for nothing.
“Ms. Ye, do you know the young artist in the video?”
At William’s question, Ye Lan smiled lightly and gestured toward Yan Huan.
“Not the girl. The boy—he’s my adopted son.”
“Adopted
son
?!”
William and Milos exchanged glances, processing the revelation.
“Quite the oversight on our part,” William admitted. “We had no idea—if we had known earlier…”
“It’s fine.”
Ye Lan turned to her daughter, noting that her gaze
still
hadn’t left the scene.
Then, smiling ever so slightly, she said,
“Shall we go over and say hello?”
There, standing at the edge of the set, was an unfamiliar yet strikingly cold girl.
“...Who’s this?” Bai Yi asked, curiosity tinged with caution.
Yan Huan felt his soul
leave
his body.
Coming to the Golden Lion Tower for an MV shoot, he had expected the worst-case scenario to be running into Spencer.
But
how the hell
did Ye Shiyu—the supermodel-level walking menace—end up here too?!
Version after version, and Ye Sh神 (God Ye) only keeps getting stronger?!
Despite the internal chaos flooding his mind, Yan Huan kept his face perfectly composed, masking his emotions behind an impeccable smile.
He released Bai Yi from his arms, turned to Ye Shiyu, and smoothly introduced her.
“Bai Yi, this is Shiyu-jie, surname Ye. She’s a second-year at our school.”
Bai Yi blinked, glanced at Ye Shiyu, pondered for a moment, then greeted her with a polite smile.
“Nice to meet you, Shiyu-senpai. I’m Bai Yi from Year 1, Class B.”
Hearing Bai Yi’s choice of words, Yan Huan felt a spark of admiration.
Smart! Calling her ‘Shiyu-senpai’ instead of ‘Shiyu-jie’—unlike that airhead An Le who went straight to casual mode.
However, such a small detail did little to defuse Ye Shiyu’s growing tension.
She remained silent, her gaze locked onto Bai Yi.
Then, suddenly—her phone screen
lit up.
“......”
Bai Yi didn’t notice, but Yan Huan’s pupils shrank.
Immediately, he stepped forward, placing himself between them.
“Shiyu-jie, what are you doing here?” he asked, keeping his tone light.
“…Attending the Energy Conference.”
Ye Shiyu’s cold gaze shifted toward him. Her phone screen, still glowing, cast a faint purple hue onto her fingertips.
Then, she asked,
“Xiao Huan, are you filming an MV?”
Yan Huan nodded. He was just about to explain—
But Bai Yi, smiling, spoke up before he could.
“Yep! I invited Yan Huan to help out with the MV. After all, this song only exists because of him. Have you heard it, senpai?”
STOP TALKING!
Just seconds ago, Yan Huan had praised her ability to read the atmosphere—was that
jinxing it
?!
His forced smile grew
increasingly
stiff.
Bai Yi, blissfully unaware of the impending danger, continued explaining.
In truth, Bai Yi was usually
very
socially adept.
She was warm, friendly, and easily made connections. Even someone as introverted as Yaqiao Mu from the anime club had a good impression of her.
But she failed to realize—
This wasn’t
friendly socializing.
This was a
damn battle royale.
And sure enough, Ye Shiyu
immediately
recalled something—
That day on the shopping street, when she hypnotized Yan Huan, she had picked up his phone and answered a
Plane
call.
A girl’s voice had mentioned this song.
So it was you…
A chilling realization flickered in her eyes.
Expressionlessly, she shook her head and replied,
“I haven’t heard it. But… what do you mean, ‘this song only exists because of Xiao Huan’?”
Bai Yi’s cheeks flushed faintly. She glanced at Yan Huan, then waved her hands dismissively.
“Oh, it’s, um, more like… inspiration? When I was at my lowest, Yan Huan really helped me…”
Mid-sentence, she hesitated, growing shy.
That moment of silence, that incomplete thought—
It left
way too much
to the imagination.
Unintentionally, Bai Yi had just landed a
critical hit
on Ye Shiyu.
"At your lowest, he gave you a light?"
Is that what you’re saying?
Ye Shiyu
was
capable of empathy.
But rather than
understanding
others, it only led her to
reject
them.
So, Xiao Huan’s kindness… wasn’t just for me?
That’s fine. That’s not his fault.
I just need to get rid of everyone else who thinks they can share it.
Yan Huan
wanted to throw himself out the window.
His heart pounded in his chest as he scrambled to course-correct.
“Ah, it’s nothing big! I’m just a
fan
of Bai Yi’s music, and I invited her to perform at the Club Competition’s opening ceremony. I figured I’d help out with the MV in return.”
Clarify his identity—just a fan, no romantic implications.
Clarify his purpose—not because of
her
, but for the
Club Competition
.
It was airtight logic.
But this was
Ye Shiyu.
Did she care about
logic
?
Of course not.
"Hypnosis, activate!"
…Okay, not literally. Not in broad daylight.
But Yan Huan
definitely
saw her phone screen glow even
brighter.
Ye Shiyu didn’t respond—she just exuded
pure, silent menace.
Then, Bai Yi turned and met her gaze.
“!!”
A chill ran down Bai Yi’s spine.
She instinctively took a small step back.
No way…
Don’t tell me this senpai…
Shock rippled through Bai Yi’s thoughts as she stared at Ye Shiyu, whose lips parted slightly, as if about to speak.
But before she could—
A gentle hand lightly pressed onto Ye Shiyu’s shoulder.
“Shiyu, did you properly greet Xiao Huan and your schoolmate?”
A soft, soothing voice.
Ye Shiyu’s entire body
jerked
.
The darkness in her eyes momentarily dissipated, her usual cold demeanor suddenly replaced with a slightly…
dazed
look.
“......”
Standing behind her was none other than Ye Lan, smiling kindly.
Seeing that warm, familiar face, Yan Huan nearly burst into tears.
“Aunt Ye!”
Why hadn’t anyone told him she was
here
?!
What was he afraid of now?
Ye Lan chuckled. “Xiao Huan~”
Bai Yi blinked, quickly piecing things together.
She had heard her mother mention that Yan Huan and Ye International’s CEO had a complicated connection.
Which meant…
This kind, approachable woman—this was
Ye Lan
?
And that intense-looking Ye Shiyu… was her daughter?
Yan Huan’s…
adoptive sister
?
Bai Yi swallowed, suddenly feeling a lot more formal.
“Aunt Ye, hello.”
Ye Lan smiled gently. “Hello, Bai Yi.”
“…Wait, you know me?” Bai Yi asked, surprised.
“Mm-hmm~”
Ye Lan nodded.
“
Falling in Love After Dusk
—I invested in that film. You looked beautiful in it. You left quite the impression~”
“Oh… I-I see… Thank you for the compliment, Aunt Ye.”
Bai Yi smiled, but it felt a bit strained.
Because at that moment, she
noticed
something.
Ye Shiyu’s gaze on Yan Huan—
It
wasn’t normal.
The realization hit Bai Yi like a truck.
Spencer, the rich heiress of the Golden Lion Group, had a
thing
for Yan Huan.
And now, Ye Shiyu—daughter of Ye International’s CEO—was
also
looking at her own
adoptive brother
in a
way too intense
manner.
One was from the entertainment industry’s most powerful empire.
The other was backed by a
literal global conglomerate
.
And Bai Yi?
She was just an up-and-coming idol.
What chance do I even have…?
Then, as if answering her own despair—
"Tick… tock…"
A ghostly, ticking clock echoed in her mind.
Yan Huan, still recovering from
one
crisis,
instantly
felt another creeping in.
Not Bai Yi too—what’s happening now?!
Unable to risk a moment of silence, he quickly changed the topic, explaining the MV shoot to Ye Lan.
She chuckled. “Perfect timing! We’re here for a tour, so we’ll watch the shoot with your sister. Handsome guy, beautiful girl—you two look great together.”
Then, leaning closer, she whispered,
“I’ll have your sister take extra pictures of you~”
Yan Huan forced a grin.
“Got it!”
Meanwhile, Bai Yi clenched her fists.
No.
No matter what, I won’t back down now.
She met Ye Shiyu’s gaze head-on.
“We’ll do our best. Once it’s done, you and Aunt Ye will be the first to see it.”
Ye Lan chuckled. “We’re looking forward to it~”
Ye Shiyu?
She just clenched her phone tighter.