Rebirth from the Ashes

Soon.

The voices at the door slowly faded with the sounds of footsteps. With the trainees’ practice starting at six o’clock in the evening, the corridor was quiet and deserted.

Shen Xi put on a black jumper and covered her head with a hoodie. After making sure there was no one around, she swiftly raced out of the door, into the elevator, down the floors, and straight to the black Maybach parked on the opposite side of the road.

Su Ruowan and He Lu took a thirty minute break to shop for girls’ essential needs. They were getting off the cab when they caught a fleeting glance of Shen Xi disappearing into the Maybach.

Caught by surprise, He Lu could tell it was Shen Xi. She ran into Shen Xi at the elevator on the first shooting, thinking she was the replacement trainee. However, He Lu had never seen her since then.

Yet now, Shen Xi was exiting the trainees’ training grounds? The production team had cleared out and secured the surrounding area for the shooting. No one could get in or out without a valid pass.

Su Ruowan had a good look and was certain it was Shen Xi. She had a bad feeling about it.

That was right.

Her alarm would set off whenever there was a sighting of Shen Xi. God knew what was the b*tch up to!

“Lulu, the production team said there was another mystery guest arriving in two days. Did your uncle mention who?” Su Ruowan felt ill at ease.

She sure hoped to hell that the mystery guest was not that b*tch, Shen Xi. Shen Xi was the bane of her existence, haunting her wherever she went.

“I’m not sure myself. I think it’s a professional dancer.” He Lu paid extra attention to this sort of matter. Having caught wind of new mystery guests, she got down to business and inquired about it with her uncle.

As the deputy director of the network, her uncle had to keep mum about the show and refused her the details. He only relented and disclosed a tiny bit of information following He Lu’s incessant pestering.

“Did he say if the guest was an A- or B-lister?” Su Ruowan’s heart sank. She needed further verification to ascertain whether it was Shen Xi.

A professional dancer. Shen Xi was considered a professional dancer. Although the b*tch never publicly acknowledged that fact, people in the entertainment world identified her as Shu Baiyu’s student.

“No.” He Lu had not connected the dots to Shen Xi. In fact, she was stumped as to why Shen Xi was here. After much thought, He Lu replied with a smile, “The production team has the tendency of implementing an element of surprise, and it was quite clear when they welcomed Mr. Xixi and Mr. Qi Xiu to the show. I’m sure the next guest’s just as popular as them both.”

Su Ruowan verbally echoed He Lu’s views, but her grip on the plastic bag tightened. She was still hung up on the question. Was He Lu that sure? What if it was Shen Xi?

Shen Xi was not good enough to compete with Qi Xiu and Mr. Xixi in terms of popularity. However, no one could stack up against her when it came to buzz-worthy.

She may not be in entertainment, but her position as Jiang Yin and Shu Baiyu’s students put Shen Xi in the limelight.

The trainees were taking a break by the time the duo returned. They ran into Song Wenye who was on her way to the loo.

Rolling her eyes, Song Wenye cockily ignored them and walked straight ahead.

To her surprise, Su Ruowan suddenly called out to her and asked, “Song Wenye, did Shen Xi come to see you?”

Song Wenye grew suspicious at the mention of Shen Xi’s name. Nevertheless, she was not going to let Su Ruowan get anything out of her. Hence, Song Wenye answered with a question, “You saw her?”

Su Ruowan was so focused on Shen Xi being the mystery guest that she failed to keep an eye on Song Wenye. Hearing this, she ensued with another question. “What is she doing here?”

All the more Song Wenye was puzzled by Su Ruowan’s reaction. Xixi came, but she had no idea. Despite the urge to blurt that Shen Xi came to crush Su Ruowan, Song Wenye managed to get a hold of herself. She coldly scoffed. “None of your god*mn business!”

With that, she turned away to leave, paying no mind to the girls.

The series of exchanges only left Su Ruowan with more questions. If the mystery mentor was indeed Shen Xi, how was she supposed to deal with it?

Su Ruowan intended to ask Muyan later about the mystery mentor. He must know something about it.

Muyan had to take precautionary measures too if Shen Xi was really here.

The b*tch would go out of her way to make her life a living hell. It would be humiliating for Su Ruowan to fall into Shen Xi’s trap during the shoot.

He Lu was dumbstruck to hear Shen Xi’s name coming from Su Ruowan’s mouth. Pretending not to know anything, she inquired, “Who is Shen Xi?”

Su Ruowan had no qualms sharing with He Lu. “She’s my younger sister.”

He Lu thought it was strange since she was uncertain whether they were talking about the same person. He Lu had never heard that the Su family had any daughters other than Su Ruowan. Nevertheless, it was likely the Su family kept it a secret as they were in showbiz. “Is she your biological sister?”

With jealousy and wickedness flashing past her eyes, Su Ruowan shook her head. “No.”

Su Ruowan entered the studio before He Lu could ask any more questions. They were not training in the same studio, so He Lu was not in the position to pursue the matter and returned to her studio sulkily.

They were in the same dormitory anyway. She could also ask Song Wenye if Su Ruowan refused to divulge further details. He Lu got a load of Su Ruowan’s cross-examination with Song Wenye.

If Shen Xi was her sister, why did she not look for Su Ruowan but Song Wenye instead? There must be an untold secret between.

Meanwhile, Song Wenye, unable to discern whether Su Ruowan was lying or not about Shen Xi being here, sent a text to Shen Xi to confirm.

It never occurred to Shen Xi that she would be caught, and of all people, it had to be Su Ruowan and He Lu. She had not noticed them at all. These two may rack their brains, but they would never figure out that she and Yun Xiao were the same people. Shen Xi did not mind complicating things for the duo by leaving them on tenterhooks and looking over their shoulders.

She resolutely replied to Song Wenye. [Shen Xi: They must be mistaken!]

Song Wenye might be in a world of her own, but she was not stupid. [Song Wenye: Tell me then. You’ve been taking off school lately. What have you been up to?]

Since her daily amusement and wind-down time was hanging around the international class’ group chat, Song Wenye was informed about Shen Xi’s leaves.

The girl had not shown up at school ever since Song Wenye joined the program. She was not bothered to ask at first, but she felt there was more to the story now that she thought about it.

Shen Xi sneaked a glance at the handsome man who was fixated on his tablet looking for tourist spots. Avoiding the question about taking leave, she changed the topic and texted back. [Shen Xi: I’m with Toffecito’s dad!]

Song Wenye was pleased with the answer. Although she was dying for juicy gossip, Song Wenye put a lid on her curiosity and happily responded. [Song Wenye: Have a fun time.]

It was best not to butt into their love affair. Romance took precedence over everything else.

Song Wenye zeroed in on Toffeecito’s dad in Shen Xi’s text message, blinded by the name. F*ck! Again with front row seats to the pair’s lovey-dovey-ness.

“There’s a carnival at the amusement park tonight. Shall we head there?” Li Yuan turned his head and caught a fleeting glance at the word “Toffeecito’s dad”. Joy overwhelmed his senses. His fair lady quickly flipped her phone upside down as though she was afraid he might see something he should not.