The moment Bai Zhiqi stepped down from the stage, the silence did not last.
It broke.
Soft at first—whispers, exchanged glances, hesitant steps forward.
Then all at once—
They came.
"Miss Bai—!"
"I didn't know you were so skilled—"
"That performance was incredible—"
Voices overlapped, polite but eager, each one trying to reach her first. The same guests who had watched from a distance moments ago now closed in, their expressions filled with admiration, curiosity—and something else.
Interest.
Bai Zhiqi paused.
Just for a second.
Then another step—
And they surrounded her.
Compliments flowed easily, too easily. Questions followed, layered beneath praise.
"You've returned for good, haven't you?"
"Will you be attending more events like this?"
"About what happened five years ago—"
That one lingered longer than the others.
Bai Zhiqi's expression did not change, but her fingers tightened slightly at her side.
Before she could respond—
A voice cut in.
"Please give her some space."
Calm.
Firm.
Xiao Li.
She stepped forward without hesitation, positioning herself slightly in front of Bai Zhiqi, her presence quiet but unyielding.
"The performance just ended," Xiao Li continued, her gaze sweeping across the crowd. "Miss Bai needs time to rest."
Some of the guests hesitated.
Others smiled politely, unwilling to step back so easily.
"It's just a few questions—"
"We mean no harm—"
"We're only showing appreciation—"
"And we appreciate that," Xiao Li replied smoothly, not raising her voice, yet somehow making it impossible to ignore. "But now is not the time."
There was a subtle shift in her tone—still respectful, but no longer negotiable.
The crowd wavered.
Not far away, Ji Lanxue had not escaped either.
A smaller group had gathered around her, their curiosity just as sharp.
"Miss Ji, how did you obtain that footage?"
"You must have known about this for a long time—"
"Were you working with Young Master Ji all along?"
Ji Lanxue stood composed, her expression as calm as ever.
"I only presented what needed to be seen," she said simply.
Her answers were measured—just enough to satisfy, never enough to reveal.
Yet even as she spoke, her attention drifted.
Toward Bai Zhiqi.
Toward the growing crowd around her.
Back at the center, one guest stepped forward again, more persistent than the rest.
"Miss Bai," he said, leaning slightly closer, "surely you can tell us—after everything, what do you plan to do next?"
The question landed.
Not loud.
But heavy.
For a brief moment, the surrounding voices quieted.
They were waiting.
Not for music this time.
But for her answer.
Bai Zhiqi lifted her gaze.
Her eyes moved across the faces in front of her—the same people who once watched her fall, who believed what they were told without question.
Now—
They waited for her words.
Her decision.
Her direction.
There was no hesitation when she spoke.
"I will continue living my life," she said calmly.
Simple.
Yet it stopped them.
"I've already lost five years," she added. "I don't intend to lose any more."
No anger.
No bitterness.
Just quiet certainty.
The crowd stilled.
Something in her tone made further questions feel… unnecessary.
Or unwelcome.
Xiao Li didn't wait for them to recover.
"This way," she said softly, turning slightly toward Bai Zhiqi.
This time, no one tried to stop them.
The crowd parted—willingly or not.
As they walked away, the voices behind them did not rise again.
But the gazes remained.
Following.
Measuring.
Reconsidering.
From across the hall, Ji Lanxue watched them leave.
Her expression unchanged.
But her eyes—
Thoughtful.
And beside Bai Zhiqi, Xiao Li remained close, her steps steady, her presence unwavering.
Protective.
Silent.
Certain.
Because tonight had changed everything.
And from this moment on—
Bai Zhiqi would never walk alone again.