Song Meiqi sat on the stool, the glow of the vanity lights wrapping her in warmth. In the mirror, a beautiful woman gazed back—shaped by all she had endured. Yet, like faint scars beneath the skin, her past still lingered.
Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her outfit, the bustle around her blurring away. Then, like a shadow slipping through the cracks of her mind—sharp eyes, unblinking and too close. A voice followed, one that still made her skin crawl.
"Mei'er, What are you doing?"
A man in his early forties peered through the narrow gap of her bedroom door, his presence pressing the air thin. Little Song Meiqi trembled, each breath was a struggle.
Meiqi then blinked the memories away and drew a deep breath, but the ache in her chest refused to fade.
That same suffocating, helpless feeling she thought she'd had left behind was back—creeping in and consuming her from the inside.
It's okay, she told herself, speaking to the frightened child still hidden inside. The stalker won't get any closer. He can't. I'm not that powerless little girl anymore.
She straightened, letting the weight of her costume settle—not as a burden, but as armor.
…
At the same time, in the spacious living room of the Wang Mansion, soft light streamed through tall arched windows, glinting off polished marble floors. A crystal chandelier cast golden fragments across the deep mahogany furniture, while a grand piano gleamed in the corner beside the flickering fireplace.
Mrs. Wang's sharp gaze fixed on Wang Zi Rui across from her.
"Do you have any objections?" she asked, her tone firm, leaving no room for refusal.
Zi Rui's eyes flickered. What a headache, he thought. Blind dates were nothing but trouble.
Still, he leaned back on the couch, posture straight, and gave a small nod.
Satisfied with his cooperation, Mrs. Wang settled back into her seat, a pleased grin tugging at her lips.
Then, the sharp crack of the door opening echoed through the room. All eyes turned toward the entrance, where a young lady stepped in—dressed in a gray long-sleeved top, a black scarf draped loosely around her neck, and fitted black pants.
Her hair cascaded down her shoulders, and round-rimmed glasses framed half of her small face. A subdued, almost downcast aura clung to her.
Zi Rui's eyes widened slightly in surprise as he realized who she was—his little sister, Wang Yixiao, whom he hadn't seen in almost ten years.
Wang Yixiao spotted her grandparents with a man in the living room. He looked so much like her father that a dull ache tightened her chest. She wondered if he could be her brother.
"Oh… you're home, Yiyi," Mrs. Wang said warmly, confirming Yixiao's guess. Then, Mrs. Wang reached out a hand, beckoning her closer.
"Come, your brother is here. You two haven't seen each other in years," she added with a gentle
But Yixiao remained rooted to the spot. Seconds slipped by before she murmured, "I'm tired… maybe next time." Her voice was quiet, almost distant, as she turned and headed toward her room.
Zi Rui's gaze followed her retreating figure, a faint crease forming between his brows. Ten years apart, and their first meeting ended in silence.
Mrs. Wang let out a soft sigh. "Yiyi has always been like that. Give it time—she'll warm up to you," she reassured, seeing the confusion in Zi Rui's eyes.
…
Outside a broadcasting building, a white van sat parked in the shadow of a deserted corner. Inside, two men waited in silence, their faces half-hidden in the dim glow of the dashboard lights.
"Master, we've followed Si Haoran all day… but there's nothing. Maybe your informant was wrong," one man said.
Another voice answered a moment later, a low chuckle drifting from the shadows of the van. "No… he's just careful. Keep watching. Sooner or later, he'll slip—and when he does, we'll know exactly who he's dating."
…
Moments later, as Everbloom wrapped up their dress rehearsal, murmurs rippled through the dressing room.
"A handsome guy's waiting by the back door," one staffer whispered. Another giggled. "Tall, lean… I bet he's gorgeous under that mask."
Lina leaned in, catching the whispers, and nudged Meiqi on the elbow.
"Who do you think they mean?" she asked, eyes shimmering with curiosity. Meiqi smiled faintly and shook her head.
Just then, her phone lit up. A message from Si Haoran: "I'm outside."
Meiqi blinked, narrowing her eyes. She gasped—she hadn't misread it. Why would he come here, where people might recognize him?
Their relationship had always been lowkey; they rarely went on dates, and when they did, it was usually at night.
Meiqi quickened her pace, hoping to reach him before anyone realized who he was.
Minutes later, Everbloom appeared at the back door, footsteps quiet but purposeful. Three managers trailed behind, scanning the area as if guarding a secret.
"Oh… no wonder you were in such a hurry—so brother-in-law is here to fetch you," Si Yu teased, spotting Haoran by the van.
Meiqi blushed but said nothing as she walked toward him.
Meanwhile, outside the venue, a white van idled in the shadows, streetlights glinting off its surface.
"Master, isn't this where Everbloom is practicing? Why would he come here?" the young man in the passenger seat asked, confused.
"Idiot. Obviously, the one he's dating is probably a member," the driver said.
The passenger gasped. This is going to blow up the nation, he thought.