8:00 PM Beijing Time. Location: Jing City.
Torrential rain poured down across the pitch-black night sky. Suddenly, lightning and thunder intertwined, splitting the darkness into twisted, ghostly shapes.
An exclusive private club in Jing City was hosting a charity gala. Inside the extravagantly luxurious hall, brilliant lights shone brightly. The gold-plated ceiling was adorned with a total of eighty thousand delicate gold leaves unfolded across its surface. Six vintage Empire-style chandeliers illuminated the hall as bright as day. Three oversized floor-to-ceiling windows faced a spacious terrace, where fountains pulsated rhythmically to the music.
Inside the hall, the air was thick with the rich aroma of mellow wine and various high-end designer perfumes, blending into the luxurious atmosphere unique to high society. The deep, gentle notes of a cello resonated gracefully, playing a classic piece of classical music, Cello Concerto No. 2 in D Major.
This charity gala was initiated and organized by insiders of the elite “Jing Circle.” Everyone present at tonight’s event was either extremely wealthy or deeply influential, all prominent figures within the city’s highest circles.
Mu Lian stood alone in a quiet corner of the banquet hall, holding a slender champagne flute and sipping occasionally to maintain a composed front.
She wore an ankle-length white evening gown. Under the bright lights, her fair skin was almost blindingly radiant. Her makeup was delicate and seamless, highlighting a pair of clear, bright almond eyes that sparkled like stars. A subtly swept-up eyeliner added a touch of charm, perfectly curved.
Beautiful as she was, Mu Lian’s aura was starkly different from the socialites present. Anyone could tell at a glance that she did not belong to this circle, she was an outsider.
However, a beautiful face paired with a graceful, well-proportioned figure would draw attention anywhere. Sure enough, a gentleman in an English-style suit proactively walked up to her, his posture and demeanor full of polished politeness.
The stranger struck up a conversation politely: “Hello. May I ask your surname, miss?”
Mu Lian replied, “My surname is Mu.”
The man suddenly frowned: “The Mu family?”
Mu Lian remained silent. She raised her champagne glass to her red lips and lowered her gaze to take a small sip.
“The Mu family…” the man muttered softly to himself. “Don’t they only have two sons?”
Mu Lian lifted her thin eyelids, a confident and generous smile blooming at the corners of her lips as she stated plainly: “I am not from the Mu family you are thinking of.”
Mu Lian was so frank because she was an orphan. With no parents, she had grown up in an orphanage. The orphanage was her home, and the director and several caretakers were her family.
The man didn’t respond, his dark brows furrowing even tighter. His brain worked rapidly, trying to retrieve any other family with a homophonous surname from his stored memory that might have a daughter.
“Miss Mu, it was nice meeting you,” the man said with a slight nod toward Mu Lian, making an excuse to leave. “I just remembered I have something to attend to. Please excuse me.”
Mu Lian offered a slight smile and a gentle nod. “Mm.”
The second the man turned his back, she instantly pulled back the smile from her lips.
If this charity banquet continues like this, my face is going to freeze from smiling.
This was Mu Lian’s first time attending a charity gala, and she wasn’t supposed to be here in the first place.
She was neither a wealthy philanthropist nor a member of the Jing Circle. She was representing her company to make a donation, but her company wasn’t even based in Jing City. Furthermore, how could a creative director like her represent the company on her own?
Could it really be… just as President Cheng said, because of this face of mine?!
Whatever. As long as I complete the task given by my superior, I’ll slip away immediately after donating.
Mu Lian gently lowered her long, dark eyelashes and swirled the champagne flute in her hand. The amber liquid rippled softly in circles, resembling the light, graceful skirt of a girl’s dress.
This champagne didn’t taste great, and as for red wine, she liked it even less. Mu Lian was only used to drinking Chinese baijiu, she preferred its rich, full-bodied flavor.
Mu Lian was already planning to ask her close friend out for crawfish later to enjoy a wonderful weekend.
Just as she was daydreaming about her late-night crawfish feast, the banquet hall, which had been filled with continuous chatter, suddenly fell dead silent. Everyone’s eyes turned in unison toward the entrance of the hall.
Mu Lian subconsciously looked over, curious to see who had arrived to cause such a commotion.
A tall, striking woman appeared at the entrance. She wore a black halter evening dress, the smooth fabric accentuating her graceful silhouette.
Her thick, pitch-black hair was pinned up behind her head, leaving her long, swan-like neck entirely unadorned by necklaces or jewelry. Hanging from her delicate, fair earlobes were a pair of sapphire earrings that reflected fine, dazzling glimmers of light.
The woman possessed a pair of perfect phoenix eyes, with deep tea-colored irises that were even more striking than diamonds. Her natural, elongated eyebrows epitomized classic beauty. Her nose was straight and elegant, with a subtle high bridge.
“!!”
The moment she clearly saw the newcomer’s face, Mu Lian’s almond eyes widened in shock, and her entire body froze on the spot.
Mu Lian blinked, then pinched the flesh on her thigh hard. The sharp pain made her knit her brows, confirming that she wasn’t dreaming.
In the next second, the woman at the door looked over in Mu Lian’s direction.
Their eyes met, their gazes colliding across the distance. Instantly, Mu Lian felt a surge of emotion in her chest, her heart beating completely out of rhythm.
The woman’s previously expressionless face instantly came alive. A faint, calm smile touched the corners of her lips, her gaze naturally carrying a hint of condescending grace.
Judging by the reactions of the guests and the powerful aura the woman exuded, it wasn’t hard to deduce that her status was extraordinary, she was very likely the representative of the host.
But… how is this possible?! Could there really be two people in this world who look so remarkably alike?
Stepping forward in a pair of black YSL high heels, the iconic YSL heel clicked against the mirror-like marble floor, emitting crisp clack-clack-clack sounds.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the woman unhurriedly walked step by step toward Mu Lian.
Mu Lian tightened her grip on her champagne glass, her knuckles turning faint white from the force. She summoned the best acting skills of her life, trying her absolute best to suppress the stormy waves crashing inside her heart.
With every step the woman drew closer, Mu Lian’s heart beat faster and faster, reaching a rate so rapid it felt almost unbearable. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say her heart felt as if it were about to leap out of her throat.
The sound of high heels blended with her rapid heartbeat, two different frequencies intertwining inside Mu Lian’s chest.
Clack-clack, clack-clack,
Thump-thump, thump-thump,
The next moment, the sound of high heels abruptly stopped.
The woman stood tall and still right in front of Mu Lian, the corners of her lips curving slightly upward. Her deep, tea-colored eyes looked at Mu Lian, reflecting a face that combined intelligence and charm.
“Excuse me, miss. Could you please step aside?”
The woman’s voice was lovely, a deep, mature “cool-big-sister” tone. It was also extremely cold, completely devoid of emotion.
Mu Lian’s pupils trembled violently.
“!!”
Even her voice sounds just like Qin Ni’s!