CHAPTER 11 (Expanded Version)
The morning air was crisp when Shi Yunxi stepped out of the taxi, the soft breeze lifting a few tendrils of hair from her neck as she gazed up at the towering entertainment building. The glass panels caught the sunlight and threw it back like sharp shards of silver, almost blinding. It was the same building she had walked into yesterday, the building where she had delivered a performance that shocked everyone—including the one person who least expected to ever see her again.
Yesterday had been the audition.
Today, she was here for the results.
She carried no nervousness on her face, no hint of anxiety. Just a quiet, focused composure.
Her outfit today was entirely different.
Gone was the ivory dress from yesterday.
Instead, she wore a soft lilac silk dress that brushed lightly against her calves with every step. The fabric shimmered faintly with movement, catching the sun in gentle waves. A delicate lace trim lined the neckline, subtle but elegant, drawing attention to her slender collarbone. Her hair was tied back in an elegant low knot, revealing her smooth neck and the natural calmness in her face.
She didn't need jewelry.
She didn't need dramatic makeup.
Her presence alone was enough.
The moment she stepped into the lobby, heads began to turn.
"That's her… the new girl from yesterday."
"She looks even more beautiful today."
"How can someone have that kind of temperament…?"
Their whispers followed her like soft echoes, but Shi Yunxi didn't pay them any mind. The only thing lingering in her heart was the memory of two small hands tugging at her skirt earlier that morning.
"Mom, come back quickly."
"We'll wait for you!"
Shi Yichen's bright eyes, Shi Qing'er's soft voice… the warmth of their tiny arms wrapped around her legs.
That memory had carried her through the taxi ride, through the morning breeze, and now through the glass doors.
At the reception desk, the staff member paused upon seeing her—staring for a second too long before snapping back to professionalism.
"Miss Shi Yunxi, you may proceed to Room 301 on the third floor. The directors would like to speak to you personally."
Her tone held a hint of respect she didn't show to the other actresses.
Yunxi gave a slight nod.
Inside the elevator, she stood still as more actresses rushed in, adjusting their hair, fixing their foundation, whispering nervously about possible results. She didn't join the conversation; she simply watched the floor numbers rise, one by one.
Ding.
Third floor.
The hall here was quieter, calmer, but the tension was thicker. Dozens of actresses waited outside the room where the role assignments would be handed out. Some sat with their legs crossed, biting their nails. Others practiced lines under their breath even though the audition had already ended.
As Yunxi approached, the atmosphere shifted.
Soft murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"Is that… her?"
"She looks like someone who already knows she passed…"
"That aura… it's too strong…"
And then—
Shi Roulan turned around.
Roulan, who had dressed herself in a fitted cream designer dress, with delicate pearl earrings and a flawless wave of soft curls. She had arrived early, ready to receive praise, compliments, maybe even a round of applause from the directors. After all, in her mind, she was the obvious choice.
But the moment her gaze landed on the woman in lilac, time froze.
Her face turned pale.
Her breath hitched.
The color drained from her lips.
It was the shock of seeing a ghost—the ghost of a sister she believed would never rise again.
Shi Yunxi.
Alive.
Elegant.
Unapproachable.
Radiant in a quiet way that pierced through Roulan's pride like a blade.
"You—" Roulan stammered, voice cracking. "Why… why are you here?"
Her tone trembled, a mixture of anger, fear, and disbelief.
Shi Yunxi's expression remained calm, her eyes clear and unreadable.
"I'm here for my results," she said simply.
The surrounding actresses exchanged stunned looks.
"She auditioned?"
"And… Roulan knows her?"
"What is going on between them?"
Roulan swallowed hard. "D-Don't think too much. Many people were asked to come today. It doesn't mean anything!"
Her voice sounded almost pleading, as though she were trying to convince herself more than the others.
Yunxi didn't respond.
She walked past Roulan with slow, steady steps, the lilac silk of her dress brushing against the air softly as she reached Room 301.
When she opened the door and stepped inside, a subtle silence fell.
Three directors, the casting manager, and the producer were seated in a semi-circle. Their expressions shifted the moment she entered—recognition, approval, and something close to satisfaction passing between them like an unspoken agreement.
She stood before them with quiet dignity.
"Miss Shi," the lead director finally said, leaning forward with a faint smile. "We have completed the review of your performance from yesterday."
Another director nodded. "Your acting, your presence, your emotional control… exceeded our expectations."
The producer tapped the table lightly, eyes gleaming. "We have made our decision. And we have chosen you for a role that will change everything."
Outside the door, Roulan clutched her handbag so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Inside, the future shifted.
And Shi Yunxi stood calmly at the center of it.