When the ballroom’s floor captain laid eyes on Shen Ruoxi again, she first looked astonished — then immediately dismissive.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Miss Shen herself. Didn’t you storm off in a huff and quit? And here you are, back again?”

In the face of the floor captain’s pointed sarcasm, Shen Ruoxi said calmly, “I’ve come back to work.”

“Miss Shen wanted to be a pure and untouchable singer — we can’t very well accommodate that here. And don’t go pulling Mr. Xie’s name out to pressure me again.”

Shen Ruoxi took a slow breath. “I won’t. I only want to work in peace.”

“Then hurry up and go change and get ready. As it happens, Meimei called in sick today — you can go on in her place.”

“Understood.”

Shen Ruoxi went into the dressing room. Several women were already seated inside. She scanned the space and spotted an empty seat in the corner. Just as she moved toward it, someone bumped into her from behind — and a woman dressed in gaudy, flamboyant clothes swooped past and claimed the spot before her.

These were all ordinary singers, and none of them could enjoy the privileges of the top performer Meimei, who had her own private dressing room with attendants hovering around her.

They were the lowest tier of the ballroom — here, they had no voice whatsoever.

With that woman now occupying the only available vanity, the floor captain was already urging Shen Ruoxi to get her makeup done and take the stage.

Shen Ruoxi turned to the cabinet, retrieved a makeup case, and then sat cross-legged on the floor and began applying her own makeup.

The woman who had stolen the vanity stool watched her calmly drawing her brows, and deliberately scraped her chair back with an ear-splitting screech.

“Just look at this country newcomer — she really has no shame.”

The others glanced over. No one said a word. They were all waiting to see how this would unfold.

Shen Ruoxi appeared not to hear. She continued drawing her brows — long and fine, barely needing any work at all, nearly perfect in their natural shape.

“Are you deaf?” the woman snapped. She shoved her stool back, walked over, and kicked the makeup case clean off the floor in front of Shen Ruoxi, scattering the rouge and powder across the ground.

Shen Ruoxi still held the eyebrow pencil in her hand. The motion stopped. She raised her eyes and looked at the heavily made-up woman standing before her.

“Is there something you want?”

“Stop playing refined in here.” The woman shrieked. “I heard you were nearly tortured to death by some prince or other — what, you want to sell yourself and still keep your reputation? Didn’t you tell Sister Hu you were throwing down your cards and walking out? What are you doing crawling back now?”

“That is none of your business.”

Shen Ruoxi stood up, intending to collect the scattered items. But the woman was faster — she planted one heel directly on top of the powder and ground it into the floor, then said viciously, “Everyone here saw it, didn’t you? This newcomer threw her makeup case on the floor and made a mess. I’ve heard the powder in that case doesn’t come cheap. I wonder how much the floor captain will make her pay back?”

Shen Ruoxi looked around at the assembled women — some cracking sunflower seeds, some watching the spectacle, some barely concealing their glee. Clearly, not one of them would step forward to speak a word of truth on her behalf.

“What is all this noise?” Floor Captain Hu’s voice arrived along with the click of her high heels.

She pushed open the door to find rouge and powder scattered across the floor and immediately erupted in fury. “Do you have any idea what this powder costs? This is imported from abroad. You should be grateful we let your cheap faces anywhere near something this fine.”

“Sister Hu, thank goodness you’re here.” The woman called Chen Xiaoman put on a tearful expression and rushed to the floor captain’s side. “This newcomer just fought with me over a makeup spot. I said a few words to her, and she knocked the makeup case over on purpose. It’s absolutely outrageous.”

Floor Captain Hu glared at Shen Ruoxi. “You’ve got some nerve, haven’t you? Do you know what that powder costs? You’ve barely started here — that little salary of yours couldn’t cover this even if you worked another six months.”

“Floor Captain.” Shen Ruoxi defended herself: “I did not knock it over. She is framing me.”

“I’m framing you? Come on then — everyone here, tell us — am I framing her?”

The woman directed her appeal to the room at large.

One singer spat out a sunflower seed husk. “She clearly threw herself at Little Sister Man, and knocked the makeup case clean over — we all saw it with our own eyes.”

“That’s right, that’s right. Eyes don’t lie.”

Listening to one voice after another pile on, Shen Ruoxi’s brow furrowed tighter and tighter.

These women were all a united front — and she was the newcomer. If they banded together, she would have no way to defend herself, no matter how many words she had.

Floor Captain Hu stared at her with an expression that dared her to say another word.

“F-Floor Captain.”

A small, timid voice rose up.

Shen Ruoxi looked toward it. A young girl stood from the corner, glancing nervously toward the group, and said in a near-whisper, “The — the makeup case fell on its own. That young lady didn’t throw it on purpose.”

“Fell on its own? What, did it grow legs?” The woman called Chen Xiaoman’s voice grew even more shrill. “Yun Jing, mind your own business.”

Yun Jing shrank into herself and said softly, “Sister Man, the things in that makeup case are all very expensive. None of us earn enough to replace them. And this Miss Shen is new — she hasn’t even received her first month’s pay yet. It would be truly terrible for her.”

“Yun Jing, have you lost your mind?” Chen Xiaoman stared at her in disbelief.

“Sister Man, wherever there is room for mercy, one should show it.”

Chen Xiaoman narrowed her eyes, and a sharp, venomous light flashed within them.

“I will pay for it,” Shen Ruoxi suddenly spoke up. “Do not take your anger out on someone who has nothing to do with this. This is between you and me.”

She looked toward the floor captain. “Floor Captain, please tally up the cost of the powder. I cannot pay it all at once — I will have it deducted from my wages, a little at a time.”

Seeing Shen Ruoxi accept responsibility without argument, Floor Captain Hu said, “All right then, since you’re being sensible about it. We’ll deduct it from your wages.”

She glanced at the clock on the wall. “Your turn on stage is coming up — why aren’t you doing your makeup?”

“I don’t need much makeup for the songs I’m singing today. This is fine as it is.”

“You’re going out on that stage looking like this — with barely any makeup on?”

Shen Ruoxi did not respond to the floor captain and turned to go change her clothes.

“That Shen woman — she’s absolutely insufferable,” Chen Xiaoman said bitterly to Shen Ruoxi’s retreating back.

The floor captain gave her a look. “That’s enough. Let her pay for it and be done.”

The floor captain said nothing more and turned to look at Shen Ruoxi again before leaving. The floor captain knew perfectly well how this had come about, but she was clearly not on the side of truth — she was on the side of Chen Xiaoman.

“That little Yun Jing — still so eager to poke her nose into other people’s affairs,” the floor captain said, frowning. “How do you manage her on a daily basis?”

“That little wretch deserves a lesson. I’ll deal with her when I get the chance.”

Chen Xiaoman shot Yun Jing a vicious glare, but Yun Jing kept her head down, doing her makeup, and did not dare look in their direction.

By the time Shen Ruoxi’s set began, several of the women had gathered to watch, curious to see what songs this newcomer would sing.

Shen Ruoxi wore light makeup, dressed in a white gown, her hair swept up high — a striking contrast to the other women with their fashionable, heavily curled waves. Standing there, she looked like a fresh, simple lily.

Yet even more captivating than her appearance was her voice.

Her voice was clear and ethereal, as though it carried a penetrating power all its own. The dancers on stage were brilliantly adorned and dazzling to the eye — yet her singing cut through all of it, until the audience’s eyes and ears held nothing but the sound of her voice.

“What song is she singing?” Chen Xiaoman tugged at the women around her from somewhere in the shadows backstage.

The others shook their heads one by one.

“This Shen Ruoxi,” Chen Xiaoman muttered through gritted teeth. “No wonder Meimei told me to keep an eye on her. She really does have something going for her. Look at the men out there — their eyes are practically glued to her.”

“She’s the one who had even the Cultural Prince of Xin Guo completely captivated — to say nothing of these ordinary men.”

“What’s so impressive about that? She sings songs none of us have ever heard and calls it talent. All show and no substance.”

While the women were still gossiping among themselves, Shen Ruoxi had already taken her final bow to a wave of applause and returned backstage, her expression blank.

She had barely stepped behind the curtain when she noticed someone standing in the shadows, waving to her urgently. She recognized who it was and walked quickly over.

The person pulled her into the shadows and said in a rapid, hushed voice, “Miss Shen, keep your distance from Sister Man. She and Meimei are inseparable — joined at the hip. I happened to overhear the two of them talking about you — they said you’re a hidden rival and they cannot let you rise. When you left, they dropped their guard. Now that you’re back, they will definitely find ways to make your life difficult.”

“Yun Jing.” Shen Ruoxi said gratefully. “Thank you for what you did today — but from now on, please do not help me anymore. Everyone here sees me as an enemy. They will only look for ways to target and isolate me. By helping me, you are making enemies for yourself.”

She had accepted responsibility for the powder willingly, partly so as not to drag Yun Jing further into it. There was no need to pull someone else into her own affairs.

Shen Ruoxi smiled. “I appreciate your kindness — but if you want to survive here, the first thing you must learn is to protect yourself. From now on, do not stand up for others against the crowd like this.”

Yun Jing said, “Miss Shen, you are such a good person.”

Shen Ruoxi shook her head. “Don’t be too quick to trust people. And one more thing — don’t speak to me anymore after this. You should treat me the same as everyone else here — isolate me, and at the right moment, make your position clear. From what I understand, Meimei runs this place with an iron hand, and every singer and dancer has to answer to her. Anyone who crosses her never comes to a good end. You have no one to rely on here — don’t pick a fight with her over someone like me. After today, go to Chen Xiaoman and apologize. Even if she berates you for it, you must endure it.”

“But…”

Shen Ruoxi gently squeezed her hand. “Listen to me.”

Yun Jing could only sniff quietly. “I’ve seen what they do to newcomers more times than I can count. Miss Shen — please watch yourself at every turn.”

“I know.” Shen Ruoxi narrowed her eyes slightly. “I am not the kind of person who lets others bully her without striking back.”

—