After class, Xia Lan returned home. She slipped off her shoes, tied her hair back, and headed straight to the kitchen. After preparing a simple dinner, she ate quietly, then made her way to the pull-up bar in the living room.
Her arms strained as she lifted her body repeatedly, sweat slowly gathering at her brow.
Time passed, and soon, the day of the audition arrived.
Standing in front of the mirror, Xia Lan took a long look at herself.
A beautiful girl stared back—a figure with long black hair, delicate features, and a toned physique that hinted at strength beneath elegance.
She raised her arms, flexing slightly.
"I can fight again," she whispered. "My strength is slowly returning. I won't look weak and fragile like before."
As Xia Lan stepped out of her house, she flagged down a taxi and gave the driver the address for the audition venue. The city passed by in a blur through the window, her heart steady, her mind focused.
When she arrived at the building, she stepped out and walked through the front doors. Inside, the atmosphere was buzzing with nervous energy. Dozens of girls filled the backstage waiting area, some rehearsing lines, others stretching or checking their reflections in handheld mirrors.
Xia Lan's eyes drifted to the stage. Five judges sat behind a long table, their expressions serious. Beyond them, a massive crowd filled the auditorium, murmuring with excitement.
Unfazed, Xia Lan walked confidently toward the registration counter.
"Hello, I'd like to audition," she said calmly.
The woman behind the desk looked up and smiled warmly. "Of course. What's your name?"
After giving her details, Xia Lan received a number tag and was directed to the waiting area. She clipped the number to her shirt and moved backstage with quiet confidence.
As Xia Lan sat down in the waiting area, a girl with perfectly styled hair and a polished smile approached her.
"Hello there!" the girl said sweetly. "Which company are you a trainee from?"
Xia Lan raised an eyebrow, sensing the forced friendliness in her tone. She glanced at the girl's carefully maintained expression before replying coolly, "I'm not signed with any company yet."
The girl's smile faltered for a split second, then she dropped the act entirely.
"Oh? No company? Then your chances of getting selected are pretty slim. You might as well save yourself the embarrassment and leave now," she sneered with a mocking laugh before strutting away.
Xia Lan blinked, staring after her with a puzzled expression.
"Did she seriously come all the way over here just to say that?" she muttered, shaking her head in disbelief. "Wow… some people really have too much time."
The audition officially began.
One by one, the girls were called onto the stage—some walked off with hopeful smiles, while others returned with trembling lips and teary eyes. The atmosphere backstage was tense, filled with whispers, nervous pacing, and silent prayers.
Finally, Xia Lan's number was called.
She stood up calmly and walked onto the brightly lit stage, her footsteps steady. The spotlight hit her as she faced the five judges sitting behind the long panel. The crowd murmured in curiosity—many eyes locked on her elegant posture and confident presence.
Xia Lan offered a polite bow. "Hello, judges."
The judges glanced at her file and began to whisper among themselves, forgetting that their mics were still on.
"She's not signed with any company?"
"She has no training in dance or singing either..."
"Did she come here just to waste our time?"
A wave of low laughter rippled through the audience.
Backstage, the same girl who had mocked Xia Lan earlier smirked with satisfaction, arms folded.
"Hah, didn't I tell her to just leave? She didn't even train—what can she possibly do up there?" she said smugly to the others around her.
But Xia Lan stood there unfazed.
Her expression was calm. Her eyes steady.
She didn't flinch at the criticism.
Instead, she reached for the microphone, her lips curling into a faint, unreadable smile.
As the music began, Xia Lan took a deep breath—and moved.
Her body flowed with grace and precision, each step measured yet powerful. Every movement in her dance seemed to carry intent, like a blade slicing through the air. She wasn't just dancing—she was telling a story.
And then she began to sing.
A soft, clear voice echoed through the hall, perfectly in tune, filled with emotion. Her tone was pure, her pitch controlled, and the audience, which had been whispering moments before, fell silent.
Even the judges—who had looked skeptical just seconds earlier—sat up straighter, stunned.
"She's… combining martial arts into her dance? But it looks flawless," someone whispered in the audience.
"Her voice is good too—she must've trained in secret."
Backstage, the girl who had mocked Xia Lan earlier stared wide-eyed, her smug expression replaced with disbelief. "How… how can that be…?" she muttered.
On stage, Xia Lan moved with the elegance of a dancer and the discipline of a fighter. Every kick, spin, and step was sharp yet beautiful—an art form in itself.
When the performance ended, there was a long, stunned silence.
Then, a single pair of hands began to clap.
Slow, deliberate applause.
And then another joined.
And another.
In seconds, the entire auditorium erupted in applause, the sound crashing like waves through the room. Some stood to cheer. A few even whistled.
One person in the crowd, mesmerized, raised their phone and began recording.
Xia Lan stood at the center of the stage, breathing lightly, her expression calm—but inside, her heart was racing.
This was just the beginning.