Emma Yang kicked off her heels the moment she stepped into Lily Yu's apartment, sliding into house slippers with the skill of someone who had done this far too many times.
She dropped her bag on the sofa, sat beside Lily, and sighed dramatically.
"So," she began, crossing her legs, "what trick did you use this time to make Jason Cross back off from the divorce?"
Lily paused mid-stretch on the couch.
She didn't even glance at Emma. If she did, Emma might see the guilt written on her face.
Or worse — the fact that Lily had no idea what she'd even done.
If Jason doesn't want a divorce anymore, that's HIS problem. I've already mentally packed my luggage and walked out twelve times.
Emma raised a brow. "You didn't cry, did you?"
"No."
"Did you faint dramatically again?"
"No."
"Did you pretend to be sick?"
Lily clicked her tongue. "Emma, I only did that once. And Jason didn't believe me anyway."
"That's because your acting was terrible back then," Emma muttered.
Lily's eye twitched.
Ma'am, I've literally won awards in my past life for acting… but sure. I'm terrible.
Emma leaned closer. "So? What did you actually do?"
"I breathed."
"…You what?"
"I breathed. Apparently that's enough to confuse him."
Emma stared.
Lily ignored her and reached into Emma's briefcase, expecting the stack of upcoming jobs she usually kept organized.
Instead, a single thick contract slid out.
A flashy logo stamped across the top read:
NEW GENERATION 2025 — Mentor Agreement
Lily blinked. "Why is this here?"
Emma sighed. "Because I wasn't going to show it to you."
"…Why not?"
Emma massaged her forehead. "Because the other mentors are huge names in the dance world, Lily. Actual performers. Actual choreographers. You're… You."
"…Wow. Thanks."
"I mean you're an actress," Emma corrected, patting her hand with sympathy. "Not a dancer."
Lily held back a laugh.
Girl, the original Lily trained in ethnic dance for ten years. Her muscle memory is better than my emotional stability.
Lily straightened. "Give me the pen."
Emma blinked. "You're serious?"
"Why wouldn't I be? It's a good opportunity."
"But people will mock you."
Lily raised her brows. "Emma, people mock me when I breathe. Might as well give them a reason."
Emma hesitated. "Shouldn't you ask your husband?"
"No need," Lily said, signing with a flourish. "He doesn't own my career."
Honestly, if she asked Jason, he'd probably send the contract into the sun.
Emma still looked hesitant. But the contract was signed.
"Okay…" Emma said. "The show wants to announce it immediately. You'll need to post something on social media."
Lily opened her Weibo account.
Thousands of hate comments blinked back at her.
She typed:
> "Nice~ Lily Yu, dance instructor, is online. @NewGeneration2025"
Within a minute, the comments exploded.
"Who does she think she is?"
"Lily Yu as a mentor? Don't insult the word 'mentor!'"
"Please cancel her! Please!"
"She's going to ruin our idols!!"
Lily turned off her phone.
And that's enough internet for today.
Emma was already typing on her own phone. "I'll notify the show's publicity team. You haven't danced in years… so we should rehearse."
"Yes."
That surprised Emma. "You're agreeing?"
Lily wiped off her lip gloss with her sleeve. "My image is already trash. If I can't dance, they'll bury me alive."
Emma nodded solemnly. "Good point."
---
The trending list was vibrating with Lily's name — mostly insults, memes, and desperate cries for the show to fire her.
But Lily was too busy stretching in her home gym to care.
Sweat dripped down her forehead as she followed an ethnic dance tutorial on her phone.
Okay. Shoulders relaxed. Hips grounded. Back straight. I used to do this. I can do this again.
Her body remembered the movements like an old friend. Her muscles ached, but comfortably.
Just as she was getting into the rhythm—
Her ringtone blasted loudly.
The caller ID flashed: Mom.
"Hello?" Lily answered, holding her pose.
"Lily, your grandfather's 70th birthday is next month," Julia Fang said gently. "Remember to bring Jason back home with you."
Lily nearly dropped her phone.
bring Jason? To the Yu family? To my family??
"Mom," Lily said slowly, "are you sure?"
"Of course. Your grandfather dislikes me, but he won't dare cause trouble with you there. Just behave and be polite."
Lily closed her eyes.
Mom… do you know how much trouble Jason already is?
"And Lily," Julia added, her voice dropping mysteriously, "when you come home, I have something important to tell you. It'll be a surprise."
"…A good surprise?"
"Yes."
Lily didn't trust that.
But she sighed. "Okay. I'll come."
They hung up.
Lily stared at her dark phone screen.
According to the plot… Mom gets pregnant late and has a son. But the Yu family eventually collapses, and she and her son suffer horribly.
Lily clenched her jaw.
No. I won't let that happen.
Mom deserves better.
My future brother deserves better.
And I need a clean divorce before Molly Yu and Jason start their destined romance.
Lily pushed herself back into her dance stance.
Meanwhile, At the Cross Group
Jason Cross sat alone in his cavernous black-themed office. The only light came from the desk lamp beside him.
A cold breeze drifted in through the open window.
Jason suddenly sneezed.
On the phone, Molly Yu gasped.
"Jason, are you sick? You sound horrible."
He rubbed his nose, brows softening slightly. "Just a chill."
"Please take care of yourself. You were just discharged from the hospital. Don't push your body too much."
"I know." His tone warmed. "When are you coming back? Should I pick you up?"
"No. There are too many paparazzi. It will cause trouble."
Jason's gaze darkened. "Molly… I'll resolve the marriage as soon as possible. You'll get the wedding you deserve."
"Jason… don't rush. I know you're under pressure."
Her voice was gentle, considerate.
Jason exhaled slowly, guilt weighing on him. He didn't know why he hadn't signed the divorce papers the night before.
He'd been ready.
He'd prepared everything.
But Lily—
Her voice. Her expressions. Her tears.
Something had stopped him.
After ending the call, his phone buzzed with notifications.
He frowned.
Every trending topic was about Lily.
"Why is Lily Yu a mentor?"
"Lily Yu can't dance — stop embarrassing yourself!"
"Fire Lily Yu NOW!"
Jason clicked one headline.
A screenshot of Lily's Weibo post stared back at him.
Dance instructor? Little wolf pups?
His vein throbbed.
"Is she insane?" he muttered.
"Mr. Cross?" Ethan Ji, his assistant, entered hesitantly with a stack of documents. "I need your signature."
Jason's eyes flashed cold.
"I asked for these before the end of the workday. It's been an hour. Replace the entire department if they can't follow simple deadlines."
"Yes, sir!"
Ethan practically fled.
Jason pinched the bridge of his nose.
Why am I angry? Why do I care what Lily posted?
He let out a long, slow breath.
"Ethan," he called again.
"Yes!" Ethan reappeared instantly, like a terrified squirrel.
"No matter the cost—" Jason said coldly, "—remove every hot search involving Lily Yu."
Ethan blinked. "All of them?"
Jason's jaw tightened. "Every. Single. One."
Ethan ran.
Jason looked down at the photo of Lily on his screen.
Her smile was bright, carefree, almost mischievous.
His chest tightened unexpectedly.
What is that woman doing to my sanity?
collapsed onto her yoga mat, arms trembling, chest heaving.