Chapter 1
Chapter 1
When my assistant called me in tears, I was getting my hair and makeup done for that evening’s charity gala.
Xiao Chen sobbed as she spoke.
“…The brand said Mr. Liang put in a word. That dress is going to Zhong Ni.”
Zhong Ni was Liang Yan’s new favorite, and she had taken a liking to the current-season couture gown Elie had lent me.
Liang Yan was completely infatuated with her, so naturally, he gave her whatever she wanted.
He said, “It’s Xiao Ni’s first time attending an event this major. She wants to make a good impression on everyone.”
“It’s just a dress, Bai Li. Be a little generous.”
He knew perfectly well that there would be a director there tonight whom I cared about very much.
In order to leave a good impression on him, I had started preparing a month in advance.
But Liang Yan didn’t care.
Maybe I had played my part too well all these years.
Liang Yan was certain I loved him to the bone, that I couldn’t leave him, so he acted without the slightest restraint.
He had grown used to my obedience and my concessions.
So it never even occurred to him whether I would be humiliated.
Whether people would laugh at me.
I immediately asked my agent to contact every brand she could.
My agent sent messages to more than a dozen brands, but not a single one could lend me anything.
Having my gown snatched away right before the gala was the kind of gossip that spread through the industry in no time.
Someone came over with fake sympathy. “Li-jie, if there’s really no time, then there’s nothing you can do. There will be other chances.”
“It’s just a pity. Director Dong is the finale guest tonight, and I heard he’s also planning to choose the leading actress for his new film while he’s here.”
I thought for a moment, then dialed Feng Zheng’s number.
Then, under everyone’s gazes-some pitying, some gleeful-I waited quietly for three hours.
Just as I was about to call it a day and go home, Feng Zheng’s secretary delivered a gown to me.
It was an Elie couture piece from an upcoming season. Unfortunately, the style didn’t quite suit me.
That night, Zhong Ni stole the show in the gradient-blue starlight gown inlaid with a thousand diamonds.
Before the gala had even ended, press releases about #Earthly Flower of Wealth# outshining everyone were already flying all over the internet.
My assistant Xiao Chen grumbled indignantly, “Li-jie would have looked so much better than her in that dress.”
It didn’t take long for those words to reach Zhong Ni’s ears.
Zhong Ni stopped me with a glass of champagne in hand, raising a brow. “I heard Li-jie wanted to wear my dress too?”
“But Mr. Liang said only a fresh young girl like me could bring out that starry-sky fairy feeling in it.”
As she spoke, she deliberately looked me up and down. “Bai Li-jie is turning thirty in two years, right? People really should learn to accept their age.”
I smiled gently.
“Twenty-eight really isn’t considered young in the entertainment industry.”
“I hope little sister Zhong Ni never reaches my age.”
Zhong Ni froze, probably still trying to figure out what I meant.
I had already given her a polite nod and walked around her toward the backstage area.
By the time Zhong Ni figured it out and sent me a WeChat message cursing me out, I was already back at my apartment, makeup removed and ready to shower.
After reading the message, I clicked my tongue inwardly.
Liang Yan’s new favorite was certainly pretty.
Unfortunately, she really didn’t have much of a brain.