Chapter 2: This Girl's Something Else
Vera couldn't be bothered to waste more time on this airhead. The party was boring anyway, so she decided to head home early.
What no one noticed was the two men sitting in the corner near the floor-to-ceiling windows. Their spot was perfectly hidden, offering a clear view of everything while keeping them invisible to the crowd.
A handsome, sunshiny boy had been craning his neck, watching the scene unfold. He'd been holding back laughter so hard he nearly gave himself a hernia.
"Vera Sutton... now that girl's something else!" His eyes sparkled with excitement as he watched her retreating figure, sighing like he'd just discovered a treasure and immediately lost it. "How do I not know someone this entertaining?"
"Eyes on the target."
The other man's voice cut through like a blade—low, flat, carrying the weight of military authority. Those few words alone sent chills down anyone's spine, laced with ice.
The sunny boy sucked in his breath and glanced at him.
In the shadows, his expression was unreadable, but the sheer intensity radiating from him was unmistakable. Cold. Serious. Uncompromising.
He hadn't even sounded impatient, but the boy instantly shut his mouth. He pouted and turned back toward their target—some fat guy who looked like a human pig.
The man fell silent again, melting into the darkness like he didn't exist.
But his eyes—sharp, piercing, buried in shadow like a predator lying in wait—never left his target.
"Yo... there's your guy." The boy pointed at a slick-backed, red-faced middle-aged man who'd just walked out with Jason's father. "That's Shengtian Yang, the big-shot antique dealer in town. And the girl who was just talking to Vera—Yvonne Yang—that's his daughter."
The man gave a slight nod.
The boy exhaled, muttering under his breath, "Mission accomplished. Finally get to go home and face my parents."
"Take a cab."
The four words hit him like a slap. The boy jumped, grabbing the hundred-yuan bill that'd been tossed on the table. "Seriously? All that intel and this is what I get? I basically single-handedly contributed to the nation's great cause of fighting antique trafficking here!"
The man's eyes snapped toward him.
The boy broke into a cold sweat, clamped his mouth shut, and bolted.
Only when he was safely far away did he dare to mutter, "Having a cousin like you is seriously shortening my lifespan! I do you a favor and you treat me like a criminal? If my dad hadn't given me an ultimatum, I wouldn't lift a finger for you!"
A chill crawled up his spine. He whipped around—and locked eyes with that hawk-like glare again.
His half-formed snort died in his throat. Choking back his words, he quickened his steps in the direction Vera had gone.
Vera walked toward the exit like no one else existed.
"Rain! Vera's leaving! We can't let her go!" Phoebe Lu yanked Rain Lin's sleeve, practically vibrating with fury as she watched Vera stroll past them like she owned the place. "We gotta mess her up! No way she gets off that easy!"
Rain Lin frowned, hushing her. "Keep your voice down! You want Jason to hear?"
Phoebe clamped a hand over her mouth, scanning the room. No one was paying attention. She breathed out.
Rain's eyes followed Vera's every step, her anger simmering.
She was going to teach Vera a lesson—one she'd never forget. Vera's diary had been exposed, and everyone knew she had a crush on Jason Xu. Jason was the biggest heartthrob in school. If his fan club found out, they'd drown her in spit. Picking on Vera wasn't just about jealousy—it was about sending a message. Anyone who dared to eye their Jason would pay.
But what Rain hadn't counted on was Vera calmly shutting down Yvonne's provocation without breaking a sweat. No meltdown. No tears. Just icy composure.
Yvonne was purple with rage, practically steaming.
And Vera? She just smiled faintly, completely unbothered. Like nothing had happened.
Rain's blood boiled. "Come on. Block her. She's not leaving."
Vera, eager to get home, didn't notice the shadow closing in. A few steps more and—
Her leg caught on something. She stumbled forward, but instead of panicking, she twisted and grabbed at whoever had tripped her. If she was going down, she was taking someone with her.
Her hand caught a string.
A sharp crack echoed. Something hit the floor and shattered.
"Ah—!" Rain shrieked, clutching her neck where the cord had burned her skin. She looked down. The pendant Vera had ripped off lay in two pieces on the ground.
Rain's eyes flickered. A cold gleam passed through them. Then she let out an earsplitting scream.
"Oh my god—my jade pendant is broken!"
Her voice pitched higher, like she was calling out to someone specific.
"Vera! I've always been so nice to you, and you smash my jade?! What am I supposed to do now? My dad gave me this for my birthday—it cost over ten thousand!"