1 year since Yining left her family
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One Year Later – Turning Point
It was cold in Beijing. The studio was colder.
Lin Yining stared at her reflection in the mirror, breath fogging softly. Her hair was longer. Her cheeks, thinner. Her eyes, sharper.
She had changed.
Exactly one year had passed since she made the deal with her grandfather: "Three years. If you fail, come home and give it all up."
Now, with only two years left, she stood among the top 50 finalists of the Rising Star League.
But everything was changing.
---
The tension was high when a new group of trainees entered — special additions backed by powerful agencies.
Among them walked a girl in pastel pink, lace ribbons in her hair, with big, teary eyes and a fragile voice.
"Hello, everyone… I'm Bai Zhiqi from Phoenix Media. I hope we can get along," she said softly, bowing.
Whispers ran through the room.
"She's the rumored favorite of Phoenix Media…"
"Isn't she dating Chairman Shen?"
Yining's eyes froze for a moment.
Chairman Shen…?
The name was familiar. Very familiar.
---
Shen Yuyan , 28. CEO of Vermillion Group, one of the primary investors behind the Rising Star League.
He rarely appeared publicly, but when he did — the world noticed.
Cold. Elegant. Brilliant. Untouchable.
He was also… the man her family had once secretly arranged for her to marry.
Yining hadn't seen him in years.
But she remembered his voice. His gaze. His silence.
And now his girlfriend was in the same show as her?
Did he know I'm here? she wondered. Is he… watching?
What she didn't know was: yes. He was.
From a high floor office, Shen Yuyan stared at her on a muted screen. He said nothing, only tapping his finger against the armrest.
The assistant beside him spoke, "Chairman, Miss Bai requested screen time priority again."
He didn't respond for a long time. Then, finally: "Ignore it."
---
Behind her sweet smile, Bai Zhiqi was far from innocent.
She quickly formed her group of allies: girls who laughed loudly, wore matching outfits, and pretended to adore her.
But when no one was watching, her words were sharp.
"I saw Lin Yining's stage… What was that weird hand movement?" she whispered, loud enough for others to hear. "She looks like she came from the countryside."
"Should we… ask the stylist to 'accidentally' swap her dress before filming?" one follower giggled.
Zhiqi covered her mouth in mock horror. "Oh no… That would be so mean…"
But her smile told a different story.
---Clash on Stage
It happened during the group performance evaluation.
Bai Zhiqi's group and Yining's group had the same concept: "Moonlight Elegance." The judges would compare them directly.
Yining's group rehearsed tirelessly. She helped Yuri refine her high note, encouraged a nervous trainee from another company, and even fixed a torn costume last minute.
Meanwhile, Bai Zhiqi had a completely customized gown, special lighting arranged secretly by Phoenix Media, and a mysterious call made to the director.
On stage, Zhiqi shone with fake innocence. Her voice was sweet, but her dance lacked precision.
Yining didn't have sparkles or favor.
But when she moved, the audience stopped breathing.
Her expressions. Her posture. The emotion behind every glance.
And at the end — Gu Feizhou, watching from the green room, muttered one word:
"Genuine."
---
After the show, in the VIP shareholder lounge, Bai Zhiqi threw herself dramatically onto a velvet sofa.
"Yuyan-ge, did you see my stage?" she asked sweetly.
Shen Yuyan glanced at her. "Hmm."
"Was it… better than that Lin girl?"
He raised an eyebrow. "You mean Lin Yining?"
Her eyes flickered. "Yes…"
"She had more emotion," he said flatly.
Zhiqi paled slightly, but smiled again. "You're always so honest. That's what I like about you."
He didn't smile back.
---
A Letter from the Shadows
That night, Yining returned to her dorm room and found a sealed envelope on her pillow.
No name. No stamp.
Just her name, in elegant handwriting.
Inside was a single card:
> "You're doing well. Don't be afraid.
— S"
Her heart skipped.
Was it… him?
She stared out the window, toward the city skyline.
So many layers. So many secrets.
---
1 year and 1 month since Yining began her journey
A scandal explodes, dragging Yining into public scrutiny
Bai Zhiqi makes her first true move
Shen Yuyan shows silent protection
Gu Feizhou begins noticing Yining more
A mysterious world superstar appears on the horizon…
---
The Morning Everything Changed
It started with a single photo.
Posted on a gossip account with over 8 million followers:
> "[BREAKING] Trainee Caught Leaving Director's Office Late at Night — Climbing the Ladder?"
[Attached Photo: A blurry back view of a girl in black walking out of a studio building, timestamp 11:53 PM.]
The comment section exploded.
> "Typical."
"Another girl trying to sleep her way to fame?"
"Isn't that Lin Yining? I recognize her bag."
"So fake. She acted all humble in the last episode."
By the time Yining woke up, her name was trending on Weibo.
(#LinYiningCastingCouchRumors)
---
Ruoxi barged into her room, phone in hand.
"Yining! Don't open your feed. I mean it."
"What happened?" Yining asked quietly, already unlocking her phone.
Her fingers froze.
Comments. Hate. Accusations.
All because of a photo that wasn't even her.
"I never went there," she said. "Not once."
"I know," Ruoxi said, gripping her shoulder. "But the industry doesn't care what's true. They care what sells."
Yining nodded, but her jaw clenched.
---
In a private lounge at Phoenix Media's hotel suite, Bai Zhiqi sat cross-legged, sipping peach tea.
"Why bother with lies?" one of her friends asked, impressed.
Zhiqi smiled sweetly. "I didn't lie. I just let the story grow."
"But it's obviously not her in the photo."
"Hmm?" Zhiqi blinked innocently. "Oops."
---
At the top floor of Vermillion Tower, CEO Shen Yuyan watched the chaos unfold.
His assistant hesitated. "Chairman, the board suggests we distance ourselves from the scandal. Miss Bai is also requesting a post clarifying she has no relation to—"
"Don't post anything," Shen said coldly. "Just redirect the trending flow."
"To where?"
"Push the rehearsal footage from episode 4. Use our media team. Boost Lin Yining's group performance edit."
"Yes, sir."
He added after a pause, "Also. Find the CCTV from that night. Quietly."
"Yes, Chairman."
---
Back at the studio, trainees whispered and stared.
Some avoided Yining.
Others looked amused.
But one person didn't avoid her — Gu Feizhou .
They were placed in the same unit for the next team battle. While blocking movements, he glanced at her.
"You okay?"
She looked up, surprised. "Why ask?"
"Because you don't fake smile like the others."
She blinked.
"You good on harmonizing? I can lower pitch if needed."
"…No. I'll match you."
He nodded, then handed her a spare earpiece. "Use mine. Yours cuts out."
She took it, heart warming slightly.
---
The next morning, something unexpected happened.
The official Rising Star League account released a new rehearsal clip titled:
> "Hidden Gems: Lin Yining & Gu Feizhou's Harmonization Preview"
And the top comment?
> "Wait… SHE can sing like THAT?"
"Who cares about rumors, she's got raw skill."
"Girl fought with her voice. Respect."
"She's realer than those soft-spoken manipulators. New fan here."
Within hours, #林一宁唱功# (#LinYiningVocals) began trending — replacing the old scandal.
---
That same evening, during episode filming, the producers made an announcement:
"We have a surprise for all trainees," said the host. "Next episode, you will be mentored and evaluated by… international superstar Ace Luo!"
The room gasped.
Ace Luo — global top-charting idol, bilingual singer-actor, known for his charisma and edge.
He had tens of millions of fans, a sold-out world tour, and connections to the biggest global labels.
And he would now see Yining perform.
---
In his sleek private jet, Ace Luo scanned a tablet with clips of trainees.
When Yining's face appeared on-screen, mid-song, his brow lifted slightly.
He rewound the clip. Listened again.
"…Interesting."
The manager beside him raised an eyebrow. "You like her?"
"She's raw. Real. The rest are too polished."
"Want to request her as part of your challenge team?"
Ace smiled. "Let's see how the drama unfolds."
---