The restaurant was perched on the 30th floor of an exclusive members-only skyscraper in downtown Shencheng. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the city, glowing like liquid gold beneath the night sky.
Bai Zhi arrived ten minutes early. Her black silk dress was elegant and simple, paired with gold earrings and a loosely pinned chignon. Understated. Poised. Untouchable.
The hostess led her to a private booth partitioned by crystal panels. She hadn't even sat down fully when she felt the presence behind her.
"Miss Bai," said the familiar, cool voice.
She turned. Li Jiannan stood there, tall and impeccably dressed in a tailored black suit. His presence was commanding still, his gaze held a flicker of interest that hadn't been there the night they met at the Bai family banquet.
She was becoming interesting to him, she could sense it.
"President Li," she said, standing to greet him. "Thank you for the invitation."
"You accepted it," he replied simply, holding her gaze. "I should be thanking you."
They sat. A quiet server brought their wine, Bordeaux, 1998. One glass for each. Li Jiannan didn't bother with small talk, and neither did she.
"You wanted to discuss distribution," she began, sipping her wine without breaking eye contact.
He nodded. "Yes. I've reviewed your script, by the way."
Her brows lifted slightly. "That was fast."
"I had someone acquire it after our call yesterday."
"Efficient," she said dryly. "And a little intrusive."
"Business requires a certain level of intrusion."
She smiled faintly. "I'll keep that in mind."
He set his glass down. "The story reads like someone's autobiography. A genius betrayed. Left in the dark. Then coming back ten times stronger."
Bai Zhi didn't react.
"I like stories like that," he continued. "Especially when they're real."
She met his gaze evenly. "Are you suggesting it's my story?"
"I'm not suggesting anything. I'm observing."
"Then observe this," she said, tilting her head. "The heroine doesn't need rescuing. She builds her own empire."
Jiannan's lips twitched into something almost like a smile.
"I didn't come here to rescue you, Miss Bai. I came here to offer you power."
Her eyes sharpened.
"I own over half the distribution companies in the country. And I have enough influence to make 'Veil of Echoes' a national phenomenon… or bury it before it breathes."
That threat, so open, so fearless.
Bai Zhi didn't blink. "And what do you want in return?"
"A partnership," he said. "You handle the creative, I handle the business. You retain all your credits and rights. But I get a share in your success."
"Why?"
He leaned in just slightly. "Because you're going to be big, Bai Zhi. Bigger than you even realize. And I don't want to be on the wrong side when you finally arrive."
His words sent a ripple down her spine, but not out of fear.
This man… saw her.
Not the obedient adopted daughter. Not the shadow of Bai Meilin. He saw her, the strategist, the creator, the woman clawing her way to the top.
She sat back and crossed her legs. "I'll consider it."
"You'll say yes," he replied smoothly. "Because you're smart."
Their meals arrived. Wagyu tenderloin for him. Seared scallops with saffron risotto for her.
She ate in silence for a moment, then asked, "Is this a personal or professional interest, President Li?"
He set down his knife and looked at her directly.
"Would it matter?"
Her breath hitched.
A beat of silence.
Then she chuckled lightly, shaking her head. "You're dangerous."
"I've been called worse."
Across town, Bai Meilin sat alone in her room, doom-scrolling the trending topics on her phone.
#BaiZhiDinnerWithLiJiannan
#PhoenixStudiosSignsBaiZhi
#VeilOfEchoes
The screen blurred as her fingers tightened around the phone. She had tried to convince Chen Yuxuan to post a subtle dig at Bai Zhi earlier, but he'd refused, distracted, oddly silent.
She tossed her phone aside.
"Why her?" she whispered. "Why is it always her?"
Why are things changing.
Later that night, Bai Zhi walked out of the restaurant with Li Jiannan beside her. The wind caught a strand of hair from her bun, and he gently reached out to tuck it behind her ear.
She looked up at him, startled by the intimacy of the gesture.
"I'll have my assistant send over a contract draft," he said. "Sleep on it. But not for too long."
She smirked. "You're confident."
"I am."
Their car pulled up, his black Maybach and her midnight blue coupe. They stood in silence for a moment, city lights dancing in their eyes.
Then, he leaned in and said quietly, "You're not what I expected, Miss Bai. And I don't think I'm what you expect either."
With that, he turned and got into his car, the door shutting with a soft click.
Bai Zhi stood there for a moment, heart strangely unsettled.
For ten years, she'd been played like a fool.
Now? She was writing her own script.
And maybe, just maybe… Li Jiannan would play a leading role just like before.
The next morning, Bai Zhi sat in her studio, the first rays of sunlight filtering through the blinds. Her fingers danced across the keyboard as she finished inputting the final lyrics to her new song, a haunting ballad called "Crimson Echoes."
It was raw. Unfiltered. Powerful.
A mirror of everything she had kept buried inside.
She closed the laptop and leaned back, her gaze thoughtful. She'd already finished the script for Veil of Echoes, finalized the lyrics for three tracks on her solo album, and drafted the concept design for a short film collaboration.
She wasn't wasting time in this life. Every second mattered.
Her phone buzzed. A message from Tang Wei, her agent in the making and loyal friend.
Tang Wei: The Bai family just announced a press conference introducing Bai Meilin as their daughter. Media outlets are flooding the estate already. You going?
Bai Zhi smirked.
Of course, the show had to go on.
Bai Zhi: Tell the media I'll be there.
The Bai Family Residence.
A pristine garden, freshly trimmed hedges, a lavish tent in cream and gold. Photographers buzzed around like bees to honey, capturing every angle of the glittering event.
Mrs. Bai stood with Bai Meilin in front of a wall of white roses. Meilin wore a custom pale pink qipao with lotus embroidery, her smile demure and her hands folded perfectly in front of her. Beside her, Mr. Bai was beaming, nodding as reporters threw questions at them.
"President Bai, how does it feel to find your biological daughter after twenty years?"
"Miss Bai Meilin, how are you adjusting to life with your family?"
Before she could answer, a murmur swept through the crowd.
A sleek black car pulled up. A pair of long legs emerged, followed by a woman in a fitted dark red cheongsam with gold-threaded plum blossoms trailing down her side. Her hair was in a clean, elegant twist, and her lips matched the bold red of her dress.
Bai Zhi had arrived.
For a second, even the photographers forgot to click.
Then the flashes erupted.
Reporters scrambled. "Miss Bai Zhi! Are you here to support your sister?"
"Miss Bai, is it true you've signed with Phoenix Studios?"
"Miss Bai, is it awkward now that the real heiress has returned?"
Bai Zhi didn't falter. She smiled with effortless grace, walked straight to the main platform, and stood beside the Bai family as if she still belonged there.
Meilin's smile twitched.
Mrs. Bai's expression stiffened for a heartbeat.
But Mr. Bai, still trying to maintain harmony gave a strained nod. "Zhi'er, glad you could make it."
She turned to the cameras and said coolly, "Of course. Today is an important day for the Bai family. I wouldn't miss it."
Meilin stepped forward, her tone sweet and soft. "Sister, you look stunning."
"Thank you," Bai Zhi replied with equal sweetness. "You look... delicate."
It wasn't exactly a compliment.
Meilin blinked but recovered quickly. "Sister, let's stand together for the family photo."
"I insist," Bai Zhi said, already turning to face the photographers.
The flashbulbs popped again.