The lights at the party dimmed, and a hush fell over the room as the host's voice filled the air. "Silence, please. Feng Yue's piano performance is about to begin."
At that moment, a breathtaking woman in a sleek black dress stepped onto the stage, drawing everyone's attention. A wave of whispers rippled through the crowd. "Wait, that's not Feng Yue," people murmured, confusion evident in their voices.
The woman approached the piano confidently, taking the microphone in hand. "Good evening, everyone. My name is An Ning, and I'll be performing in Feng Yue's place tonight."
An Ning had always hated introducing herself as Feng Yue's sister, but tonight, with the truth finally out in the open, she couldn't care less about keeping up appearances. There was no need to pretend anymore.
Without waiting for the audience to fully grasp what was happening, An Ning began to sing. Her voice was smooth and captivating, a sound that immediately silenced the room. Her fingers glided effortlessly across the piano keys, creating a melody that was both haunting and beautiful. The busy chatter of the party faded into silence as all eyes turned to the stage, mesmerized by the unexpected talent of this mysterious woman.
What no one in that room knew was that An Ning had always loved to sing and play the piano. She had never been allowed to take formal lessons, but her passion for music had driven her to practice in secret, honing her skills on her own. She knew that if her fake mother, Lan Yue, had ever discovered how talented she was, she would have done everything in her power to crush her—after all, no one could be allowed to outshine Lan Yue's real daughter, Feng Yue.
In the audience, Grampa Qiang Hao sat back in his chair, enraptured by the performance. He was so engrossed in the music that he didn't even notice when his grandson, Zhi Hao, quietly took the seat beside him. Zhi Hao's eyes were fixed on the stage, his gaze intense as he watched An Ning sing, the emotion in her voice resonating with something deep within him.
When An Ning finished the final note of her song, she stood up, smiling softly at the stunned crowd. "Thank you," she said simply, her voice clear and calm.
For a moment, the audience was too shocked to react. Then, slowly, someone began to clap. Soon, the entire room was filled with applause, and a voice from the back called out, "That was incredible! What's her name again?"
Grampa Qiang Hao, surprised to see Zhi Hao sitting beside him, turned and asked with innocent curiosity, "That was an amazing performance. Do you happen to know who that young lady is?"
Zhi Hao, his expression unreadable, replied in a steady voice, "An Ning."
The name lingered in Grampa Qiang Hao's mind. She's the same age as Ming Hao, he thought. I wonder if they know each other. Little did An Ning know that Grampa Qiang Hao was already beginning to scheme, imagining the possibility of introducing her to Ming Hao—a disaster in the making. But even if she had known, it wouldn't have changed anything. An Ning was ready to ruin Ming Hao if he ever crossed her path, and she was certain that Grampa Qiang Hao wouldn't mind, as long as she exposed the truth about his worthless adoptive grandson. After all, he was a fair man, and the only one who had protected her throughout all the years she had been trapped as Ming Hao's fiancée.
Backstage, An Ning caught sight of Feng Yue, still unconscious from earlier, her long hair spilling across the floor. A mischievous glint flickered in An Ning's eyes as she noticed a pair of scissors lying on a nearby table. Slowly, she picked them up, her lips curling into a smug smile.
I can't wait to see her face when she wakes up, An Ning thought as she crouched down beside Feng Yue, lifting a lock of her long, luxurious hair. Memories of her own hair being brutally chopped off by Feng Yue resurfaced, fueling her desire for revenge. Leaning closer, she whispered softly, "I'll give you the same haircut you gave me."
With swift and precise movements, An Ning snipped through the strands, watching as clumps of Feng Yue's once-pristine hair fell to the ground. She continued until there was almost nothing left, a satisfied grin spreading across her face.
Moments later, Feng Yue stirred, her hand instinctively reaching for her head. Her eyes shot open, and a horrified scream filled the room as she realized what had happened. "My hair! What have you done to my hair?!"
An Ning stood up, brushing the stray strands of hair from her hands. "Consider it payback," she said coolly, her voice laced with satisfaction, before turning and walking away from the chaos she'd left behind.
As An Ning made her way home, she had no idea that the events of the night were far from over. Within hours, videos of her performance began to flood the internet. Clips of her singing, playing the piano, and the stunned reaction of the audience spread like wildfire across social media. By morning, her name was trending everywhere.
People couldn't stop talking about the mysterious and talented woman who had stolen the show. Comment sections filled with praise, asking who this captivating singer and pianist was. Even major news outlets began covering her sudden rise to fame, with headlines like "Who Is An Ning? The Woman Who Took the Stage and Our Hearts" appearing online.
An Ning had unwittingly become a sensation overnight. Her once-hidden love for music, kept in the shadows for fear of Lan Yue's wrath, was now out in the open for the world to see. But as An Ning basked in her newfound fame, she also knew this was just the beginning.