The penthouse echoed with quiet luxury—sunlight pouring through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the scent of tea wafting gently in the air. It was late morning when Xiao Lin opened the front door, surprised to find *Ji Lanxue* standing there in her usual designer outfit, sunglasses perched high on her head, exuding both glamor and mischief.
"Where's my brother?" she asked, striding in like she owned the place.
"He's in a meeting," Xiao Lin replied quickly. "Miss Ji, do you want to wait in the lounge?"
Lanxue nodded and flopped dramatically onto the velvet couch, her heels clicking against the marble floor. She let out a dreamy sigh and looked up at the ceiling with stars practically glittering in her eyes.
"You will not believe what I saw last night," she gushed. "That veiled musician—my god! Have you heard of her? She goes by *Lotus Bloom* online."
Xiao Lin stiffened subtly. Bai Zhiqi, who had just stepped out from the hallway in a fresh beige sweater and loose pants, froze mid-step. Her eyes flicked toward Lanxue, unreadable.
Ji Lanxue hadn't noticed. She was already lost in the moment.
"She's like something out of a painting. Not just beautiful—the grace, the mystery! And the way she plays? I swear, I almost cried. I've never seen anything like it. She's not just a performer, she's a movement."
Xiao Lin blinked, unsure how to respond.
"Everyone's talking about her online. People are obsessed! My entire feed is just videos of her in that flowing hanfu, her face covered, like some kind of celestial fairy dropped into this boring, material world."
She waved her hand dramatically, almost knocking over the flower vase on the table.
"I even went to Jade Pavilion yesterday to try and catch her performance again. But guess what?" Her tone dipped with frustration. "She wasn't there. Vanished. Like a wisp of incense smoke! And then—bam!—she does a *livestream*! My followers lost it."
She turned her face toward Xiao Lin again. "I *need* to meet her. I swear, if I could just get her to agree to play at the gala next month, it would be the *event of the year*."
Bai Zhiqi remained silent by the hallway, her lips quirking at the corners. The irony was too rich.
She casually stepped into the lounge, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You seem really fascinated by her," Bai Zhiqi said lightly, her tone careful.
Ji Lanxue turned to her with a scoff. "Fascinated? That's an understatement. I'm obsessed."
Then she squinted. "Wait… you live here, right?"
Bai Zhiqi gave a polite nod.
"Have you seen her?" Lanxue leaned in, as if Bai Zhiqi held the key to the world's greatest mystery.
"Maybe," she answered ambiguously, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Ugh! If I could just get close enough to look under that veil," Lanxue groaned. "She's got this… presence. The kind that makes everyone else look plain. Don't you think?"
Bai Zhiqi's voice was soft. "Some veils are worn for a reason."
Lanxue paused, tilted her head, then laughed. "That's poetic! Maybe you *do* know her. Come on, tell me! Who is she? Is she from some secret aristocratic family? An exiled princess? A spirit reborn?"
Xiao Lin nearly choked on her tea.
Before Bai Zhiqi could answer, footsteps echoed down the hallway. Ji Yanluo appeared, sleeves rolled, phone still in hand.
"Lanxue," he said, brow raised. "I thought you had class."
She stood, brushing down her skirt. "Class can wait. I came to talk about the masked pianist—*Lotus Bloom*—have you seen her?"
Ji Yanluo's eyes shifted briefly to Bai Zhiqi, then back to his sister. "I've seen clips."
"She's incredible! You should invite her to the gala next month. Seriously, the buzz she'd bring—"
"Noted," he said dryly, gesturing toward his office. "Let's talk."
As Lanxue disappeared down the hall with him, Bai Zhiqi sat quietly on the sofa. Xiao Lin crept up beside her, eyes wide.
"Did she really not recognize you?" Xiao Lin whispered.
"She sees what she wants to see," Bai Zhiqi murmured. Her fingers traced the hem of her sleeve, her eyes unreadable.
"Everything's going exactly as planned."