Chapter 1: Going Home

“Ning Ke!”

“You threw a tantrum on the set yesterday and kicked someone?”

“I heard the brand endorsement you were about to close was signed by Tang Xi!”

“…”

Amid the rapid-fire clicks of camera shutters, microphones from various media outlets were shoved right into her face. The questions came one after another, most of them dripping with ill intent.

Ning Ke stopped and cast a cold glance around. She wore a loose black long blazer with a slim leather belt cinched at the waist, the dress underneath in a high-saturation hue—her signature bold, flamboyant style.

She looked over the reporters, a hint of a smile curling her rich red lips. It was hard to tell if she was amused or not.

Seeing her expression, the reporters thought she was about to answer and surged forward.

—Ning Ke had blown up last year thanks to a hit idol drama. With top-tier looks and passable acting skills, she should have amassed countless fans. But she’d been constantly dogged by rumors of tantrums and bullying newcomers—practically living the script of a villainess. Fortunately, her face carried her through. Her general public goodwill wasn’t great, but she had a die-hard fanbase and plenty of trending topics on her side. She made the news every few days, for better or worse.

Tonight, a fashion gala had invited her to walk the red carpet. Just before that, news broke about her alleged tantrum and stolen endorsement, so the reporters’ questions were right on cue.

Her manager, Xu Jian, was dressed in a black suit and white shirt but had paired it with a flashy floral tie. He called out, “Keke, let’s go.”

He’d witnessed Ning Ke going toe-to-toe with reporters before, but they still had to go see the big boss later; the fewer complications, the better.

Ning Ke nodded and kept walking forward without breaking stride.

Then a reporter jumped up in a panic, losing his grip on his camera, which crashed directly into the eye of her assistant, An Yu!

Ning Ke stopped again.

The crowd settled briefly after the collision, but when they saw the injured girl merely covering her eye, seemingly fine, they pressed forward again—only to be firmly blocked by the bodyguards.

Ning Ke adjusted her blazer, turned, and asked An Yu, “Did it hit your eye?”

An Yu: “I’m fine, Sister Ning. It just stings a little. Let’s go.”

Ning Ke didn’t respond. She turned to see the reporter pick up his camera and scurry back to her, aiming it straight at her again. “Miss Ning…”

Ning Ke stared at him expressionlessly, then swung her hand, knocking his arm away—with a clatter, the camera hit the ground lens-first and shattered with a crunch.

The reporter let out a shriek: “Why did you smash my camera?! Where’s your decency?!”

“Decency?” Ning Ke let out a derisive laugh. “Do you have any? Later, please come to the hospital with my assistant. No need to rush off.”

Xu Jian vaguely recalled that this reporter was named Wang Miao, apparently a subordinate of some editor-in-chief. He shot the man a look. “That’s enough out of you.”

Wang Miao had never seen a manager who not only didn’t stop his artist from losing her temper but actively backed her up with a warning. He stood frozen in place, forgetting to follow.

Xu Jian turned and saw the reddened corner of An Yu’s eye. His temper flared too. He waved at the bodyguards. “Block every last one of them.”

An Yu mumbled softly, “Sister Ning, I’m really fine. Don’t get so worked up. The media will trash you again later.”

“Oh. Let them trash me,” Ning Ke said indifferently. “It’s not like it’s anything new.”

An Yu sighed. She knew Ning Ke had been in a bad mood lately: the brand endorsement she’d nearly secured had been stolen, and the drama she’d specially cleared her schedule for had been snatched away too. Anyone would be upset.

It was time to enter the venue. Ning Ke adjusted her expression, found the camera angles as she walked, curved her lips, and broke into a radiant smile.

Under the lights, she wore a long rose-toned gown, delicate thin straps resting on her fair, flawless shoulders. Her collarbones were sharp and elegant, her long hair cascading down, her porcelain face soft and full—vivid and charming all at once.

The flashbulbs blinked on and off. Beneath the spotlight, the woman smiled deeply and gracefully.

Photographers from various outlets called her name. Ning Ke shifted angles, striking different poses. After the photos, the host chatted with her for a bit.

Before the conversation was even over, the next person to walk in was none other than Tang Xi, who had just stolen her endorsement.

Ning Ke frowned slightly. The event organizers were clearly trying to create buzz.

Ning Ke was a striking beauty—defined brows, alluring eyes, and a bold, passionate fashion sense. Tang Xi was her exact opposite: she cultivated a fresh, clean-girl image, favoring white dresses and blue-and-white sailor uniforms, often playing the female lead in campus dramas.

Though their looks differed, they were the same age and constantly competing for the same resources. Add to that the fact that they’d clashed over roles since their debut, and they were true rivals.

Ning Ke was signed with Yinchen Entertainment while Tang Xi was at Huanyu Entertainment. The two companies were separated by just one street and competed fiercely in recent years—just a few days ago, Tang Xi had snatched a beauty endorsement from Ning Ke.

Tang Xi was startled to see her, then quickly smiled. After signing her name, she picked up her skirt and walked over gracefully.

The host seized the moment: “You two last worked together two or three years ago, didn’t you? Any plans to collaborate again?”

Tang Xi smiled sweetly. “It has been quite a while. I’d love to work with Ning Ke again.”

Ning Ke gave Tang Xi a slow once-over, then smiled. “Let’s not.”

The moment she said it, the camera flashes noticeably intensified.

Tang Xi’s smile stiffened for a second, as if she were enduring humiliation.

“I heard Teacher Tang Xi’s schedule is booked out to the year after next. How could I ever wait that long?” Ning Ke added lazily, then asked with a smile, “Isn’t that right, Teacher Tang Xi?”

Anyone with half a brain could tell this confirmed that Tang Xi had indeed stolen the endorsement. Everyone thought Ning Ke would have to swallow her grievances in silence, but instead, she’d called it out publicly on the red carpet!

Tang Xi took a deep breath, her jaw clenched tight.

Ning Ke swept a cold glance at her, then looked at the host and pointed at his wrist.

The host was confused for a couple of seconds before it clicked. He looked down at his watch and quickly said, “Alright, please make your way to the backstage area.”

Ning Ke didn’t spare Tang Xi another glance. She skipped the main seating area entirely and headed straight out.

Her manager, Xu Jian, was waiting in the car. He’d taken off his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves, admiring his floral tie in the mirror. When she got in, he said, “That reporter ran off. Probably afraid we’d make him pay for the medical bills.”

An Yu, fearing these two would stir up more trouble, quickly said, “It’s just a red patch at the corner of my eye. It didn’t actually hit my eye. No big deal.”

Ning Ke glanced at her. “Fine. But don’t come crying to me if it hurts later.”

An Yu: “Don’t worry. I’m really fine.”

The topic was dropped. When they were almost back to the company, Xu Jian spoke again: “Keke, if President Xu says something harsh later, try to hold it in. Don’t lose your temper.”

Ning Ke: “Mm, got it.”

The President Xu he referred to was Xu Yinlou, the head of Yinchen Entertainment. Divorced, just past forty, and also Xu Jian’s aunt.

Yinchen had signed a VAM agreement with another company last year, one of the targets being to make 200 million in profit within three years. Every artist under the company had performance targets. Ning Ke wasn’t quite A-list, but her quota was still steep. With her partnerships and endorsements being poached one after another, it was no surprise the big boss wanted to see her.

The car ride was heavy with tension.

Xu Jian offered a couple of words of comfort before lying down in the back seat and falling asleep.

Ning Ke leaned back and dozed off herself, then logged into a burner account to scroll through Weibo.

Sure enough, she spotted two trending topics:

#Violinist Xia Linsheng Returns to the Country# #Xia Linsheng’s Female Companion#

Ning Ke frowned, tapped into the topic, and saw a short video first, then two photos. She zoomed in. In the photos, the renowned young artist was intimately linking arms with a woman wearing a white coat, whose slender figure was captured from behind.

She stared at the photos when An Yu suddenly remembered something. “Oh, Sister Ning, Miss Yan called earlier. She said she’d wait for you downstairs at the company.”

At those three words, Ning Ke’s face scrunched up in displeasure.

This Miss Yan—Yan Yunzhi—was none other than her wife.

Two years ago, after a single meeting over dinner, Ning Ke and Yan Yunzhi had gotten married in a whirlwind.

A family alliance. No feelings involved.

For the past two years, Ning Ke had been busy with her career, while Yan Yunzhi had done two world tours. The two of them had barely seen each other, let alone talked. Their WeChat chat log was still stuck on last summer, when Yan Yunzhi had asked her how to deliver a gift she’d prepared for Ning Ke’s elders.

Because they were both public figures, and because their families had business ties, the families wanted them to keep a low profile. So the marriage was never announced, and even their close friends rarely knew.

Today was Yan Yunzhi’s grandfather’s eightieth birthday. When Ning Ke had run into Yan Yunzhi at home last night, she’d already mentioned it.

Seeing her lost in thought, An Yu called out, “Sister Ning?”

Ning Ke snapped back, none too pleasantly. “I know.”

Yinchen Entertainment was in the city center, and the drive took a full hour.

The company had the heat cranked up. The big boss was still in a meeting, so Ning Ke stepped out and made a call to a friend. “Lin Yun.”

“Keke!” Lin Yun was furiously typing on the other end. “I was just about to call you. The project proposal is done, but I’m tearing my hair out over the guest list.”

The show was called Perfect Partner—a slow-burn travel and leisure variety show. Lin Yun had spent half a year working on the proposal, begging left and right for sponsors. Just as she was about to start production, a few guests bailed at the last minute. Now she was short on people.

Ning Ke: “The guests you locked in actually ran?”

Lin Yun: “They all went to appear on that dating show Tang Xi is on, Meet Her. Can you believe it?”

Ning Ke: “I know. Who else were you thinking of asking? I’ll go talk to them.”

Lin Yun: “I’ve asked friends to help invite guests. Then there’s Jiang Hongbing…”

Ning Ke: “Jiang Hongbing? A Best Actress like her would come on a little-known show like this?”

Lin Yun: “I’m trying to work it through friends. What if…”

Ning Ke cut her off without mercy: “What ‘what if’? The show has no name recognition, no good investors from the pitch event, and no marketing power to back it up. If she came on this dead-end show, is she crazy, or are you?”

Lin Yun: “I…”

Ning Ke: “Stop chasing after what’s in the past. You two already broke up, and you’re still hung up on her.”

“You’re one to talk,” Lin Yun seized the opening and fired back. “You don’t chase the past? You went and married Yan Yunzhi!”

Ning Ke choked. “I told you, that was arranged by the family elders. I just—”

Before she could finish, she spotted Xu Jian coming out. “Gotta go. Brother Jian is looking for me.”

Lin Yun: “Ha, running away when you can’t win the argument.”

Xu Jian called out, “Let’s go, Keke.”

Ning Ke: “Coming.”

The big boss was waiting in her office.

When she saw Ning Ke come in, Xu Yinlou told her assistant, “Everyone out. Ning Ke and Xu Jian, stay.”

Xu Jian might dress like a peacock outside, but in front of his aunt, he was meek and proper, standing ramrod straight. “President Xu.”

Xu Yinlou hummed in acknowledgment, then asked Ning Ke, “What’s this about kicking someone on set?”

Ning Ke said carelessly, “I did kick him. Xu Jian wasn’t there at the time, so no one stopped me. It’s not his fault.”

Xu Yinlou’s voice turned cold. “Why did you kick him? Ning Ke, I know you have a wild streak, but since you signed with my company, you play by my rules.”

Ning Ke stayed silent. Xu Jian quickly explained, “Keke wasn’t doing it for herself… There was a photographer on set aiming his camera up a young actress’s skirt. She’s only sixteen or seventeen and was scared out of her wits. Keke kicked the photographer…”

“I see…” Xu Yinlou’s expression eased slightly, though her tone remained businesslike. “The drama and the endorsement are gone. How you meet your targets is up to you.”

Ning Ke nodded. “I understand. Don’t worry, President Xu.”

Xu Yinlou was a cold, iron-willed woman, but Ning Ke respected her deeply. There was one simple reason: two years ago, when Ning Ke had been blacklisted, Xu Yinlou helped her terminate her contract with her original company and signed her anew.

After being given a stern talking-to by the big boss, Ning Ke’s mood didn’t sour further, but it wasn’t exactly good either.

Xu Jian fared worse—he was kept behind for a private scolding.

As Ning Ke waited for the elevator, she heard his wail from inside the office: “Aiyo! Auntie, I’m sorry! I really didn’t keep a young model on the side! Don’t hit my face with that feather duster!”

Ning Ke couldn’t help but laugh. When she stopped, she called An Yu to bring her a change of clothes.

She was going to meet elders, after all, and a strappy red dress wouldn’t do. Ning Ke changed into a cream-colored cashmere coat and stared at herself in the mirror, feeling utterly wrong.

She hated wearing such muted colors. The brighter and bolder, the better. But she had no choice today; she’d have to endure it.

Taking the elevator down, Ning Ke sent her location to Yan Yunzhi, then a photo of the company’s back door, with the text: “Here.”

There was no immediate reply.

Ning Ke told An Yu she didn’t need to wait. “Go home. Your eye’s still red. Don’t play on your phone when you get home, or you’ll wreck your eyes.”

An Yu was used to Ning Ke’s blunt way of speaking and grinned. “Then I’m clocking out early! Slipping away! Bye!”

Ning Ke watched her go and let out a breath.

Everyone else was off work. She still had to go to the Yan residence and put on a show.

There was still no reply to the message she’d sent a moment ago.

Ning Ke stared at the chat window for two more seconds, lost patience, locked her phone, and stuffed it into her pocket, standing by the roadside to wait.

The cold wind howled. The snow from two days ago hadn’t fully melted, and the air carried that crisp, clean scent unique to post-snow weather. With every breath, the cold air flooded her lungs. Ning Ke rubbed her brow and felt the irritation that had been simmering all day finally ease a little.

In just that short time, it started snowing again—harder this time.

Waiting grew boring. She tilted her head up and caught a few snowflakes in her hand, but before she could make out the hexagonal ice crystals, they melted in her palm.

Ning Ke pressed her lips together. Just as she lowered her hand, she noticed a car that had pulled up silently by the roadside.

Silver-gray, smooth lines, understated—clearly worth a fortune.

It was Yan Yunzhi’s car.

Ning Ke opened the door.

Kunqu opera was playing softly inside.

That graceful, lilting, lingering shuimo tune.

The heater was on, but the window was cracked open.

Outside, snow drifted down slowly.

The person in the driver’s seat wore a crisp peacock-blue coat with a single slim belt—simple, elegant, understated.

She turned her head at the sound, her black hair falling over her shoulders, unadorned except for a pair of matching peacock-blue tassel earrings swaying gently against her fair cheeks.

Ning Ke stood by the car, unmoving.

Yan Yunzhi smiled at her, her features as clear and elegant as an orchid, her calm, deep eyes curving slightly as she spoke in a low, gentle voice: “Ning Ke. Time to go home.”