Rebirth: My Reclusive Husband Helps Me Get Revenge!-Chapter 28: Together We Are Candy Apple

"Yes, thank you," Lixue said softly, bowing slightly to Miss Zhang before collecting her bag. She glanced at her itinerary on her phone and confirmed her next stop was on the fourth floor. Adjusting her mask, she headed for the elevator.

As she reached the corridor, a cheerful voice broke through. "Hey, Lia! Are you heading up?"

Lixue turned to see a girl with striking red hair waving at her. Her bright smile was infectious, though her voice carried a natural energy that made Lixue feel slightly out of place.

"Ah, yes," Lixue replied politely. "You’re heading there too?"

The girl nodded enthusiastically, falling into step beside her. "I am! Oh, I’m Red, by the way. Well, that’s my stage name. I’m one of the new vocal trainees."

Before Lixue could respond, a small group of other trainees emerged from the hall. They looked at Red and then at Lixue, whispering to one another.

"Red, who’s the diva?" one of them asked with a raised brow, his voice laced with curiosity. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Lixue stiffened, glancing over her shoulder to see who had spoken. Her gaze landed on a tall, quiet figure leaning casually against the wall. His black hoodie and shadowed face gave him a brooding aura, but his sharp eyes, partially obscured by strands of dark hair, were fixed on her.

"Zhoufei..." Red muttered, blushing slightly as she turned toward him. "Um, this is Y.L. Mongolia, but I just call her Lia for short."

Zhoufei pushed off the wall and took a slow step forward, his gaze never leaving Lixue. There was no malice in his expression, just an unreadable intensity. "Lia, huh?" he said, his voice low and smooth. "You don’t talk much, do you?"

Lixue, caught off guard, hesitated before giving a small nod. "I... prefer to focus on my work."

Zhoufei smirked slightly, tilting his head. "Focused. I like that." His tone was ambiguous, and Lixue couldn’t tell if he was being genuine or sarcastic.

Red cleared her throat, clearly uncomfortable with Zhoufei’s bluntness. "Anyway, Lia’s new, like us. Be nice, Zhoufei."

He shrugged, his smirk widening slightly. "I’m always nice."

Red turned back to Lixue, quickly steering the conversation away. "Don’t mind him. He’s just... like that. So, what’s next on your schedule?"

Lixue relaxed slightly, grateful for the distraction. "A meeting with the other newbies and some seniors. It’s on the fourth floor."

"Great! We’ll head up together, since we all have the same meeting," Red said brightly, as the rest of the group followed them toward the elevator. Zhoufei trailed behind, his presence still quietly imposing.

In the elevator, Red introduced the rest of group to Lixue.

"Lia you already know who Zhoufei is, a solo newbie while I’m in a girl group and these two girls behind me are part of the group. The blonde is Sunflower and this is Blue, together were CANDY APPLE"

Sunflower gave Lixue a wave and focused on her music while Blue walked closer to Lixue

"You have a pretty voice miss Lia, I overheard it when I was running some errands. I hope you don’t mind.."

Lixue shook her head, she wasnt being stingy with her voice.. "Its alright, you also heard how miss Zhang scolded me.."

Blue shook her head quickly, her wavy blue-dyed hair bouncing slightly as she smiled reassuringly. "Not at all! Miss Zhang is tough, but she’s just making you better. You’ll see—I’m sure you’ll nail it next time."

Lixue offered a small smile, appreciating the kind words. "Thank you."

Blue’s eyes sparkled with genuine enthusiasm as she replied, "You’re welcome. It’s exciting to have another talented trainee join the group. We’ll all be rooting for you, right?" She glanced back at Red and Sunflower, who both nodded with encouraging smiles.

Zhoufei, leaning lazily against the elevator wall, let out a soft scoff. "Rooting, huh? You barely know her."

Blue frowned and turned to him. "Zhoufei, don’t be rude."

He raised his hands in mock surrender. "What? Just saying. I’m sure she’ll be fine without all the cheering." His sharp gaze flicked to Lixue, scrutinizing her mask. "Though, I do have one question."

Lixue blinked, feeling the weight of his attention. "What is it?"

"What’s the deal with the mask?" Zhoufei asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and provocation. "Do you think you’re better than everyone else or something?"

The elevator grew uncomfortably quiet. Sunflower glanced away, pretending to adjust her headphones, while Blue’s mouth opened slightly, as though she was ready to protest but didn’t know what to say. Even Red looked uneasy, her cheerful expression faltering.

Lixue took a slow breath, her grip on the strap of her bag tightening. She turned toward Zhoufei, her expression calm but her eyes unwavering. "No," she said, her voice steady. "It’s not about thinking I’m better than anyone else."

"Then what is it?" Zhoufei asked, crossing his arms. "You scared of something?"

The elevator was suffocatingly quiet, every gaze on her. Slowly, Lixue reached up and removed her mask, slipping it into her bag with deliberate calmness. The air shifted immediately.

Her beauty was like something out of a painting—delicate yet striking, her features perfectly symmetrical, with piercing eyes that seemed to hold hidden depths. Even Zhoufei, who had been smugly pushing for an answer, froze for a moment. His cool expression faltered as if he hadn’t expected what lay beneath the mask.

"I don’t mind if other people see my face," Lixue said simply, her voice even. "But there’s someone here—an enemy—who must absolutely not see it."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. The tension in the elevator became almost unbearable as everyone processed what she had said.

Red was the first to speak, her voice breaking the spell. "An enemy? Here? At Dream Entertainment?"

"Yes." Lixue turned to her, her tone soft but firm. "That’s why I wear the mask. Not because I think I’m better or because I want to keep people away. But because they must never know I’m here."

Blue’s expression shifted to one of concern. "But... why? Who is it? Are you okay?"

Lixue gave her a faint, reassuring smile. "I’ll be fine. It’s something I have to deal with myself."

Zhoufei, recovering from his moment of surprise, narrowed his eyes slightly. "That’s quite the story. Hiding from someone, yet stepping into the spotlight of the entertainment industry. You must be either fearless or reckless."

"Neither," Lixue replied coolly. "I’m determined. That’s all you need to know."

Lixue didn’t wait for the silence to stretch. As soon as her words landed, she reached into her bag, retrieved her mask, and placed it back on with practiced ease. The action was smooth, almost second nature, but it held a sense of finality.

she said firmly, her voice muffled slightly by the mask but no less resolute. Her gaze swept the small group in the elevator, daring anyone to press further.

Red shifted uncomfortably, clearly torn between her curiosity and the awkward tension. "W-Well, I guess that makes sense," she said with an uncertain laugh. "It’s probably none of our business anyway, right?"

Blue nodded, her concern still visible. "Yeah, totally. But, Lia... if you ever feel unsafe, you should let someone know. Hiding isn’t always the best option."

Lixue glanced at her, her expression softening behind the mask. "I appreciate your concern," she said quietly. "But I can handle it."

Zhoufei, however, wasn’t satisfied so easily. He leaned back against the elevator wall, his arms crossed as his sharp gaze lingered on Lixue. "So, you’re just going to keep wearing that mask, hiding in plain sight? Bold strategy. Let’s see how long it lasts."

Lixue turned to him, her voice calm but cutting. "I’m not hiding. I’m protecting myself. There’s a difference."

The elevator chimed softly as it arrived on the fourth floor. The tension lingered, thick and palpable, as the doors slid open. Red hurried out, clearly eager to escape the heavy atmosphere. "Okay, meeting time!" she chirped, her cheer a little too forced. "Let’s not keep the seniors waiting!"

Blue gave Lixue one last worried glance before following Red. Zhoufei, however, stayed put for a moment, watching Lixue as she adjusted her bag and stepped forward to exit the elevator.

"Lia," he said suddenly, his voice quieter but still carrying its usual edge. "Secrets like that tend to unravel when too many people know about them. Just... be careful."

Lixue paused, turning her head slightly in his direction. "I don’t need advice from someone who thinks provoking others is a hobby," she replied smoothly, her tone unshaken. Without waiting for a reply, she stepped out of the elevator, her posture straight and composed.