Chapter 9: The Quiet Storm

The first rays of sunlight crept across the sky as dawn broke.

At exactly five o'clock, Xia Lan opened her eyes.

Without hesitation, she slipped out of bed and began her morning training. Her movements were fluid, focused—sharp strikes, precise footwork, every motion honed by routine and discipline.

By the time the sun had fully risen, she was drenched in sweat and breathing steadily.

After wiping herself down, she made her way to the kitchen and started preparing breakfast. The aroma of eggs and toast soon filled the house, warm and comforting.

Carrying a tray, she walked toward the room that used to belong to her so-called "aunt."

Inside, Lu Zhi was sprawled across the bed, snoring like a lumberjack.

Xia Lan's brow twitched.

"…Of course she'd take over the bed," she muttered, setting the tray down with a sigh.

Xia Lan stood over Lu Zhi, arms crossed.

Then, with a sigh, she began shaking her friend's shoulder.

Lu Zhi groaned, rolling over."Ahmm… one more minute, brother…"

Xia Lan's eye twitched.

Without mercy, she shook her even harder, jolting her fully awake.

"Wake up! Eat your breakfast. I'm heading to the audition venue. I already took leave from school, so don't wait for me."

Still half-asleep, Lu Zhi lifted a lazy thumbs-up without opening her eyes.

"…Got it…"

Xia Lan stared at her for a moment, then turned and left, the sound of her footsteps fading as she exited the house.

Xia Lan booked a taxi and headed straight for the audition hall.

By the time she arrived, the sun was already high in the sky. The grand building loomed in front of her, banners fluttering with the name of the show. She stepped inside and made her way backstage.

The atmosphere hit her instantly.

The backstage area was filled with participants, all dressed up and clutching scripts or humming warm-ups. Every face she passed wore the same expression—nervous, tense, like they were walking a tightrope with no safety net.

Xia Lan raised an eyebrow as she observed them quietly.

Xia Lan turned to the girl standing next to her and asked curiously,"Why are they all clutching scripts? Wasn't the idol audition already finished?"

The girl glanced at Xia Lan, then gave a small nod."Yeah, the idol auditions are done. But today's also the actress auditions. Those people are here for that. We don't have to worry."

Xia Lan nodded slightly."Got it."

As Xia Lan waited patiently for the audition results, a sudden voice cut through the air.

"You!"

A girl stormed up to her, fury written all over her face.

Xia Lan's eyes narrowed slightly. She recognized her—Shao,the girl who mocked her at audition,

Shao jabbed a finger at her, voice raised for everyone to hear."Because of you, I didn't get selected! How dare you?! I'll make you pay!"

The surrounding trainees froze, turning toward the commotion with wide eyes.

Xia Lan's brows furrowed, her calm demeanor shifting. She stood up slowly, watching Shao's hand rise in the air—ready to slap her.

But before Shao's hand could fall, Xia Lan moved.

In one swift motion, she caught Shao by the throat—not hard enough to hurt, but enough to stop her cold.

Her eyes turned icy as she stared Shao down.

The fury on Shao's face vanished instantly, replaced by a rising panic. Her face flushed red, and her body began trembling.

"L-Let go... Let me go!" she stammered, her hands flailing weakly in protest.

Xia Lan held her gaze for another beat, then released her grip without a word.

Shao stumbled back, gasping for breath, humiliated in front of the crowd.

Shao turned on her heel and bolted toward the exit, humiliated. But just before disappearing through the door, she stopped and spun around, her finger trembling as it pointed at Xia Lan.

"Just wait, you bitch!" she screamed, her voice cracking with fury. "You don't even know who my parents are! I'll make your life hell!"

Xia Lan took a single, silent step toward her.

Shao flinched—and ran.

Gone.

Xia Lan watched the door close behind her, the chaos fading back into stillness. Her expression stayed unreadable, but her thoughts were anything but calm.

"Should I kill her?" the thought floated through her mind, cold and emotionless.

She shook her head lightly, brushing the idea away. "What am I thinking? Even if her parents are big-time businesspeople, they can't afford digital losses."

A faint smirk curled her lips.

"If they try anything, I'll just hack their company accounts. Let's see how powerful they are then."

With that, she sat back down, crossing her legs calmly like nothing had happened.

The girl Xia Lan had spoken to earlier, still sitting nearby, looked at her in awe. Her eyes sparkled like she'd just witnessed a live-action superhero scene.

"So cool…" the girl whispered.

Xia Lan glanced sideways at her with a raised brow.

Now that she really looked, the girl was stunning—soft pink hair that shimmered in the light, matching pink eyes that were both innocent and clever, and a soft, doll-like face.

Xia Lan's curiosity piqued.

Who is she?