Chapter 1 – Rebirth, Cutting Ties, and Joining the Competition

“Smack—”

The cane lashed down. Kneeling on the ground, Wen Lingyue felt the burning pain on her back and slowly raised her head. Her unfocused gaze met a stern, intimidating face.

“Lingyue, do you admit your mistake?”

Wen Lingyue stared blankly at her father’s cold, hard expression.

“You still won’t admit it?”

Jiang Su lifted the cane high and brought it down again—

A searing pain shot through her body. Wen Lingyue grunted, and suddenly a flood of memories surged through her mind. She snapped her head up.

Jiang Su towered over her. “Now do you admit you were wrong?”

The air was deathly silent.

Lin Wanyi stood up. Nearly fifty years old, a life of luxury had nurtured her elegant and noble bearing.

Looking at her daughter’s stubborn face, she said coldly: “Shameless girl. You seduced your sister’s fiancé, and you still won’t admit it?”

Wen Lingyue finally regained her senses. The scene before her overlapped with what she remembered. She opened her mouth. “I did not seduce him.”

“Still denying it!”

Wen Lingyue let out a bitter laugh and fell silent.

Jiang Su pointed the cane at her. “Shameless! Disgraceful! I never should have acknowledged you as my daughter!”

Acknowledged me?

Wen Lingyue closed her eyes.

Beside them, Jiang Yurou bit her lip, delicate and pitiful. “Father, please forgive Sister. After all, she’s your real daughter by blood. This engagement was originally hers anyway. I’m willing to give it back to her.”

“What nonsense! Zhou Huailang loves you, not her.”

Jiang Su’s tone softened, though his face was still grim. He turned back to Wen Lingyue. “If you don’t confess, I’ll beat you to death today and act as though I never had such a daughter!”

“Have you ever treated me like your daughter?”

Jiang Su froze.

Wen Lingyue pressed down the ache in her chest and slowly stood up. “Five years ago, you found me and told me I was your long-lost biological daughter. But from beginning to end, in your eyes, you’ve only ever had Jiang Yurou as your daughter.”

A sudden smile spread across her face. “Of course. Her surname is Jiang. Mine is Wen. You’re a family. I was foolish to ever think I belonged.”

Jiang Su’s grip on the cane loosened slightly. “What nonsense are you spouting? The only reason we didn’t change your surname is so others wouldn’t gossip that Yurou isn’t our real child. We were afraid of hurting her feelings.”

And what about me?

Am I not allowed to feel hurt?

Wen Lingyue swallowed the words. She no longer wished to argue.

“Don’t blame Father, Sister, it’s my fault,” Jiang Yurou whispered tearfully.

Jiang Su tightened his grip on the cane again. “Don’t cry, Yurou. It’s your sister who’s shameless. I never should have brought her back…”

“Then I’ll leave.”

The air instantly froze.

Exhausted in body and spirit, Wen Lingyue spoke flatly: “As you wish. From this moment on, I sever all ties with the Jiang family. We have nothing more to do with each other.”

Jiang Su was stunned, then suddenly burst out laughing. “Wen Lingyue, who do you think you are? Without the Jiang family, where can you possibly go?”

“And you think such threats will scare me?”

Jiang Su pointed toward the door. “Get out! Leave now! From this day forth, you are no daughter of mine.”

Wen Lingyue turned silently.

She had begged for this family her entire life.

Now that she had been given a second chance, she would never beg again.

Jiang Yurou’s eyes flickered as she watched Lingyue’s back retreat. “Mom…”

Lin Wanyi didn’t seem bothered. “With her temperament, she’ll come crawling back within three days, crying to be let in.”

“But Mom, tomorrow Sister was supposed to compete with me. If you drive her away now…”

“She’d only embarrass me with her dancing anyway.”

Lin Wanyi stroked her daughter’s hand gently. “Thankfully I still have you. I believe in you, Yurou. Tomorrow, you’ll win the championship.”

The National Youth Dance Competition was jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Huaguo Dance Association.

The standards were extremely high, and the competition fiercely professional.

Ling City, as a regional venue, had been preparing for months.

Thus, when someone requested to switch dances just the day before the competition, the event director, Jiang Kun, nearly jumped out of his seat. “Absolutely not!”

“Wen Lingyue, do you know who tomorrow’s judges are?”

“Zhao Qingsong, Feng Yunxia, Xu Ming… Each one a giant in the field. Other contestants have been practicing day and night, desperate for their recognition. If they’re lucky, they might even be chosen as disciples.”

“And you, on the eve of the competition, want to change your dance?!”

Wen Lingyue replied calmly: “Director Jiang, it’s precisely because this competition is so important that I must change my dance.”

“Then tell me—how long have you practiced this piece? Tomorrow’s event is being broadcast live nationwide. If your performance falls flat, you’ll be humiliated in front of the entire country.”

“I understand,” Wen Lingyue said firmly. “Trust me—I wouldn’t gamble with my career as a dancer.”

She lifted her head, almond-shaped eyes glimmering with determination.

“You—!”

Jiang Kun sighed in defeat. “Fine, do as you want.”

Wen Lingyue smiled faintly, then suddenly asked: “By the way, Director, does the organizer provide meals?”

“…What?”

After managing to scrounge two box lunches at the venue, the long-awaited dance competition finally began.

Crowds surged outside the hall, media outlets swarmed in, and the excitement built long before the opening ceremony.

The Jiang family arrived early. Seeing the bustling scene, Lin Wanyi sighed nostalgically. “I once competed in the Ling City Dance Competition too—and won the championship. So many years have passed, and the event has only grown grander.”

“That’s right,” Jiang Su agreed cheerfully. “When you danced back then, you shook the whole city. Feels like it was only yesterday.”

Jiang Yurou leaned in playfully. “Don’t worry, Father. Tomorrow I’ll bring home the trophy and relive Mom’s glory.”

“I believe you will,” he said warmly.

Their soon-to-be son-in-law, Zhou Huailang, had also arrived. Watching the family’s closeness, he couldn’t help but ask, “But where’s Lingyue?”

“She had something to do. She won’t be participating this time.” Lin Wanyi dismissed the question lightly.

With Lingyue’s temperament, she was probably curled up in some corner crying right now, let alone daring to compete.

The audience seats were packed. As the host stepped on stage, the curtains drew open and the competition officially began.

Official media outlets broadcast the event live.

“The first performance is a classical dance: Dian Jiang Chun.”

The graceful dancer swayed to the music, lights shifting over the stage. Soon, it was Jiang Yurou’s turn.

Her parents sat up straight, Zhou Huailang gazing at her with a smile.

Jiang Yurou stepped onto the stage.

She wore a flowing costume of white and pale green, the layered skirt tinted like distant mountain mist. With every movement of her slim waist, she was like a lotus in water, pure and elegant, swaying in the breeze.

Backstage, Wen Lingyue, already changed into her performance attire, watched silently.

“She dances beautifully. Soft, graceful, with a natural flair.”

“Her artistry and technique are both strong—she’s clearly put in great effort.”

As Lin Wanyi’s personally trained protégé, Jiang Yurou was no disappointment. When her performance ended, the judges praised her repeatedly, giving her a stunning score of 9.62.

“9.62!” The host’s exaggerated voice echoed through the hall.

The highest score so far!

“Excellent!” Jiang Su shouted proudly, while Lin Wanyi beamed with satisfaction.

This was their real daughter.

In the audience, Mrs. Pang of the Ling City elite circle couldn’t help but remark: “Madam Jiang, Yurou really takes after you. What a wonderful performance.”

Lin Wanyi gave a few modest replies, though her expression grew more and more smug.

The atmosphere was electric. Director Jiang Kun smiled, glancing at the live broadcast. The scrolling comments were full of praise.

He grinned—until he turned his head and saw Wen Lingyue standing beside him. His smile froze.

“…The next contestant isn’t you, is it?”

Wen Lingyue smiled back.

It really was her.

Jiang Kun instantly regretted his decision. Bitterly regretted it.

Why had he been so soft yesterday and agreed to her request to switch dances?

Now he was trapped—if her performance failed after following Yurou’s stellar act, it wouldn’t just be her reputation at stake. The organizers’ credibility would be on the line too.

But with her about to take the stage, he couldn’t crush her confidence now. His face flushed red with frustration.

“Do you think that performance was good?” Wen Lingyue asked.

“Of course!” Jiang Kun replied without hesitation.

“I think it was only average.”

Jiang Kun’s eyes widened.

Wen Lingyue lifted her skirt slightly and smiled. “Then watch closely—I’ll show you what real dance is.”