Lian stood motionless in front of the mirror, momentarily stunned by her own reflection.
The black dress she wore clung to her in all the right places, elegant and dangerous all at once. It was backless, the fabric dipping low at her spine, glittering like a constellation with delicate flecks of diamond-like sparkles scattered across the silky surface. She looked ethereal, like a midnight fairy woven from stars and shadows.
"If only I had a tiara," Yixi murmured from behind, eyes wide in admiration. "I'd crown you this instant." She leaned forward and kissed Lian's head. "Yifan really outdid himself with this one."
Yixi opened a velvet box and clasped a shimmering diamond choker around Lian's neck, the gems catching the light like frost.
She, too, looked stunning in a deep emerald off-shoulder satin gown that hugged her curves and cascaded down like flowing silk. Her hair was pulled into a sleek low bun with pearl pins decorating the sides. Elegant, refined, yet next to Lian, she looked more like the dazzling courtier while Lian was the reigning queen.
"If I were a man, I'd marry you without hesitation," Yixi said, dead serious, then cracked a grin.
Lian chuckled softly. "Me too, silly."
"Well, then just be my sister-in-law instead," Yixi said with a playful nudge. Her smile faltered for a second, something unreadable flashing in her eyes before she brushed it away with a chuckle.
"…Your brother is a bit scary," Lian said hesitantly. "And honestly, I'm not ready for a relationship. Not now."
Yixi sighed dramatically, adjusting Lian's necklace. "You're too naive, Lian Lian. Yifan is staking his claim on you and you don't even see it yet."
Lian looked away, her lips parting slightly, but no words came. In the mirror, her eyes met her own reflection.
They stepped out of the house where the sleek black Wang family car was already waiting.
"Looks like Brother Liwei left ahead of us," Yixi noted casually as they slid into the backseat. The driver closed the door behind them and pulled away from the curb.
A few moments passed in comfortable silence before Lian's voice broke through, quiet and hesitant.
"Yixi… what do you think my brother would do if he found out I'm in contact with Zhao Yifan?"
Yixi blinked, caught off guard by the question. She turned her head slowly to look at Lian, her expression softening.
"…Honestly?" she said after a beat, voice low. "He might lose it."
Lian gave a small nod, her fingers tightening around the hem of her dress as her gaze dropped to her lap.
Yixi's voice softened even more. "...Especially after everything that happened with your family. He probably sees Yifan as part of that world that wrecked yours."
Lian sighed. "I haven't told him… that I've been seeing Yifan again. I just… I don't know how he'd take it."
Yixi gave her a gentle look, reaching over to lightly squeeze her hand. "You don't have to figure it all out tonight, Lian. Just take one moment at a time."
Lian offered a small, grateful smile. Outside, the city lights gleamed as they neared the towering gates of Zhaoyue Pavilion, grand and glittering like a realm untouched by reality. The banquet awaited.
The two girls stepped into the grand banquet hall, the doors opening with a soft chime as a wave of glittering lights and murmured chatter swept over them. Guests adorned in designer suits and luxury gowns turned their heads, some out of habit, others in quiet curiosity.
Wang Yixi was recognized instantly, her family name carried weight. A few smiles, polite nods, and subtle bows welcomed her presence. But it wasn't just Yixi drawing attention.
Li Lian, dressed in that black backless gown that hugged her form like starlight wrapped in midnight, became the center of silent speculation. Her steps faltered slightly as she noticed the shifting glances, some curious, some admiring, others laced with subtle envy.
Her breath hitched, chest tightening. She could already feel eyes trying to peel back her identity, wondering which powerful family she belonged to, or if she was someone's secret mistress. Her fingers curled around her clutch nervously.
But then, Yixi tightened her hold on her wrist. Steady, warm and Grounding. A gentle pat on the head followed.
"It's okay, Lian," Yixi whispered with a smile, her voice calm and sincere. "You should walk like a queen. You look like one. You are one."
Lian nodded faintly, inhaling deeply, trying to find her footing in her heels and in the sea of opulence around her.
"Now," Yixi continued, scanning the room with a mischievous gleam, "let's go find my big bro. I'm sure he's already hiding behind some flower stand avoiding small talk."
They walked forward, step by step, one recognized for her name, the other slowly being recognized for her presence.
A few minutes of weaving through the elegantly dressed crowd, the girls finally spotted Wang Liwei, leaning casually near a column, drink in hand. But he wasn't alone.
Li Lian's steps faltered.
Standing beside him was not just any man, but Zhao Yifan. Clad in a tailored black suit that sculpted his broad shoulders and lean frame, he stood with that same unreadable calm, his gaze focused, but dangerously aware of everything around him. And next to him, with his signature smirk and a glass of wine twirling in his fingers, was none other than Yang Yufan, her boss.
Lian's stomach twisted, a chaotic mix of tension and something else she didn't want to name. The man who stole her breath… yet shattered her past… looking like he owned the entire hall, well he did.
Yixi stopped, too. "Abort mission?" she whispered, nudging Lian's arm.
"Definitely," Lian whispered back, turning slightly, ready to blend into the crowd and disappear.
But Yang Yufan was many things, lazy wasn't one of them, and generous definitely didn't make the list.
"Well, well," Yufan called out with a teasing grin, his voice slicing through the ambient noise, halting them in their tracks. "Wang Yixi, Li Lian. What a surprise."
Yixi turned around with a sheepish grin, her attempt at escape officially failed. "Boss Yang," she said with a small wave. "What a coincidence."
Li Lian braced herself, her fingers curling around her clutch tighter as she slowly turned, face neutral, eyes deliberately avoiding Yifan's. But she could feel it, that heat, that unrelenting stare coming from his direction.
"Miss Li, or why don't we drop the formal act." Yufan's tone dripped with amusement as his wine glass lazily twirled between his fingers. "Li Lian, I didn't expect you'd attend. Especially looking like that, you might outshine the entire ballroom tonight."
Lian forced a thin smile. "Thank you, sir," she replied with polite restraint, deliberately avoiding the one gaze that seemed to sear through her from across the room.
Wang Liwei, calm and unreadable as ever, raised a single brow. His gaze shifted between his sister and Lian, then settled on his wine again with mild amusement, as if he were watching a particularly juicy scene in a drama he didn't want to interrupt.
But Lian… she felt it.
That prickling sensation on her neck. She could already guess its source.
Slowly, her eyes shifted to the man standing silent beside Yufan. Zhao Yifan.
His tall form remained composed, hands in his pockets, but the heat in his gaze betrayed him. He wasn't looking at her face, not at first. His eyes were languidly tracing her form, starting from the delicate arch of her neck to the glittering curve of her backless dress. For a minute it felt as if his gaze darkened.
Her breath caught in her throat.
When their eyes finally met, his gaze didn't waver. "You look stunning," he said softly, his voice low, smooth, and edged with something that made her heartbeat stutter.