The velvet curtains parted with a whisper, revealing the stage bathed in soft golden light. Smoke curled lazily through the air as the hum of conversation faded into silence. Every eye turned to her.
Xin Yi.
She stood poised at the center, a breathtaking vision draped in sapphire silk that clung to her delicate figure. Beads shimmered with every step she took, catching the light like stardust. Her hair, as dark as midnight, flowed down her back in gentle waves. But it wasn't her beauty alone that silenced the room.
It was her voice.
When the first haunting note left her lips, the air itself seemed to pause. Her voice was fragile yet powerful, laced with longing and pain—the kind that burrowed deep into the soul. With each word, each melody, she stripped herself bare for the world to see, but only on her terms. That was her gift… and her shield.
They called her The Songbird of The Velvet Lily.
Sold to the bar when she was only seventeen, Xin Yi had grown up surrounded by smoke, silk, and the lingering scent of expensive liquor. She was trained to be a temptress—to dance, to smile, to obey. But she never let any man touch her. Not once. And that made her more desirable than anything they could offer.
She was the fantasy no one could have.
Her final note faded into silence, and the applause roared through the room like thunder. Tips flooded the stage. Some clapped. Others just stared, eyes heavy with want. She gave a soft, practiced smile, bowed, and disappeared behind the velvet curtain.
Backstage buzzed with activity. Makeup artists, dancers, and bartenders weaved through the narrow halls, but Xin Yi walked with grace, unbothered. She entered her small dressing room and locked the door behind her, exhaling the tension from her body. In the mirror, she saw the painted version of herself: crimson lips, smoky eyes, glitter dusted across her collarbones. A mask of allure.
She peeled it away slowly, beginning with her earrings, then wiping the makeup off her tired face. Her world was built on illusions, but moments like this—alone, quiet, raw—made her feel almost human again.
A knock disrupted her peace.
She frowned.
"Miss Xin Yi?" A girl's voice—one of the workers. "The manager wants to see you. In his office."
Xin Yi stood, confused. "Now?"
The girl nodded and walked off.
Something wasn't right.
She slipped on her silk robe, tied it firmly, and stepped into her heels. As she walked toward the office, the hallway felt colder, the stares around her more intense. Whispers trailed behind her.
"She's the one…"
"No way, he bought her?"
"She's leaving."
She paused at the manager's door, heart starting to race. She knocked.
"Come in."
The manager sat behind his desk, face unreadable, hands folded. For once, he wasn't chewing a cigar or barking orders. His eyes didn't meet hers.
"Sit."
Xin Yi did.
He took a breath. "You've been bought."
Her mind went blank. "What…?"
"A man came in tonight. Paid an amount that left my mouth dry. He asked for you. And he doesn't want you working here anymore." The manager looked at her now, voice flat. "You're not needed."
Xin Yi's hands gripped the arms of the chair. "You can't sell me. I'm not—"
"You were sold the moment your family signed the contract three years ago. We gave you a stage, a room, and your life. He gave us more than what you're worth, and now you belong to him."
"I don't belong to anyone!" she snapped.
The door opened.
Two men entered. Suits sharp. Expressions cold. Everything about them screamed danger.
One of them spoke calmly. "We're here to escort you. The car is ready."
Xin Yi backed away, panic rising. "No. I'm not going anywhere."
The manager rose. "Look… this man, this tycoon—he's not someone we say no to. You don't have a choice. This was done the moment he saw you."
"Who is he?" she demanded.
"They call him… The Tycoon of Shadows. That's all I know."
One of the men held out a soft fur coat. The other set her bag gently on the ground.
"We won't hurt you," he said. "But he's waiting."
Xin Yi looked between them—her mind screaming to run, her heart pounding. But her feet moved. Slowly, uncertainly.
She let the coat fall over her shoulders.
As she stepped out, the hall had filled with dancers, singers, and staff. All watching her. All whispering.
"There she goes."
"Taken just like that…"
"She was too beautiful to stay here anyway."
They led her past the lounge, past the stage where she gave everything and received nothing in return. Her past unraveled behind her like silk.
Then the doors opened.
Outside, a black limousine waited.
And inside it… her future.
Xin Yi didn't look back.
Because she knew—whatever waited beyond that car door—her life would never be the same again.
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