It was a case of fearing what might come—the next morning, Jian Jinci received a call from Jian Senran, instructing her to attend a cocktail party that evening, hosted by the newly listed Jingche Group.
She wanted to refuse, but Jian Senran insisted the party was important and that she must attend without being late.
After hanging up, Jian Jinci flopped onto her bed, lying spread-eagled as she stared at the ceiling. This truly was a cursed entanglement. Could it really be such a coincidence to run into him at the party tonight?
She regretted it. If time could rewind, no matter how handsome the person sitting next to her had been, she wouldn’t have glanced at him again.
The thought of the evening’s party filled her with anxiety. She would keep her distance—surely she wouldn’t run into him. After all, capitalists like him had more important matters to attend to and wouldn’t pay attention to someone as insignificant as her.
She comforted herself and had already devised a plan: if they did cross paths, she would pretend not to know him. After all, she had been quite drunk that night, so it was normal not to remember clearly. Besides, she was just a nobody—how could someone like him possibly remember her?
Jian Jinci had taken on a job the previous night—the highest-paying one she had ever received. The client had paid a deposit of five thousand, with another five thousand to be paid upon satisfaction with the completed design.
She worked on the design according to the client’s requested elements, so engrossed that she hadn’t eaten by two in the afternoon. Forgetting meals during busy periods was her norm.
At that moment, Jian Senran sent someone over with an evening gown and a makeup artist, along with a driver, instructing her to get ready and head directly to the party venue.
Only on occasions like this would Jian Senran think of her for the sake of so-called “face.” It was also the only time she would wear a glamorous gown, resembling something of the Jian family’s eldest daughter.
After changing into the gown and having her makeup done, she followed the driver to the party venue.
The party started at five, and she arrived just on time. As Jian Jinci stepped out of the car, she saw her stepsister, Jian Ying, confidently smiling as she held onto Jian Senran’s arm, while Liang Jinyu held onto his other arm.
Jian Ying was a year younger than her, still a university student. She had been a beauty since childhood, now wearing a rose gold evening gown, her flaxen waves cascading lazily over her shoulders. Her features were delicate, and her eyes brimmed with confidence.
The trio wore happy smiles.
The scene was both glaring and ironic. In his eyes, she, the daughter of his first wife, was nothing. If she were to die someday, her father wouldn’t shed a single tear.
Jian Senran seemed to notice her and gave a slight nod, which Jian Jinci completely ignored.
His gesture appeared to be a greeting, but in reality, it was a reminder for her to behave herself that evening and not cause trouble to embarrass the Jian family.
Jian Jinci entered the party venue wearing a white fishtail gown that accentuated her graceful figure. Her hair was casually tied up at the back, with a few loose strands framing her temples. Her fair skin and cool, distant demeanor added to her aura.
She didn’t need to lower her presence—wherever Jian Ying was, she naturally had none. That was just as well, as she disliked drawing attention.
She took a glass of champagne and found an inconspicuous corner to sit in, waiting for the party to end.
In the party hall, the chandeliers sparkled brightly as servers wove through the crowd with trays of red wine.
The surroundings buzzed with noise—glasses clinking, toasts exchanged, and flattery flowing freely. Whether the sentiments were genuine or feigned was anyone’s guess.
She took a small sip of champagne and scanned the center of the hall. Her gaze drifted through the crowd and was drawn to a familiar figure.
The man stood tall and slender at the center of the crowd, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, his demeanor distinct from those around him—aloof and aristocratic.
He held a glass of red wine in his right hand, surrounded by a circle of people wearing ingratiating smiles, vying for his favor.
His lips moved, but from a distance, Jian Jinci couldn’t make out his words. After a few seconds, he drained the glass of red wine in one go, and the crowd dispersed.
Perhaps her gaze was too intense, for he glanced in her direction. Jian Jinci quickly lowered her head, silently praying he wouldn’t recognize her.
Two minutes later, she stole another glance toward that spot. By then, he was no longer in the banquet hall. She breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a quiet sense of luck.
“Jian Jinci, sister?”
Hearing the voice, Jian Jinci turned to see Su Jingxuan walking over, her arm linked with Song Xuchen’s. “Sister Jian Jinci, it really is you. I thought I might have been mistaken.”
Jian Jinci’s brow furrowed slightly. This was clearly an attempt to provoke her. If Su Jingxuan insisted on walking into the line of fire, then she shouldn’t blame Jian Jinci for not holding back.
Jian Jinci looked at her and smiled. “Oh? Who do we have here? It’s Little Third Sister.”
Su Jingxuan’s face instantly darkened with anger. “You…”
Fury surged within her, but she couldn’t make a scene at the cocktail party.
Jian Jinci curled her lips. “Is this your first time attending such a high-end cocktail party, Little Third Sister? Then you should ask Mr. Song here to teach you the etiquette. Don’t embarrass yourself. Your face might not be worth much, but the person beside you carries a reputation worth a fortune.”
Su Jingxuan’s expression turned ugly. This bitch was insinuating she was a mistress, unfit for such occasions.
Song Xuchen spoke up. “Jian Jinci, don’t go too far.”
“Oh my~” Jian Jinci replied. “Already defending her?”
Su Jingxuan adopted a delicate, fragile demeanor. “Brother Xu Chen, don’t blame sister. It’s my fault.”
Her affected manner was nauseating to behold, yet some men fell for it all the same.
Jian Jinci’s eyes held unmistakable mockery. “Song Xuchen, if you’d been cheated on by any other woman, I might have accepted it willingly. But look at what you’ve picked—a white lotus mixed with green tea, so cloying it’s enough to make anyone sick. It’s as disgusting as it gets.”
Su Jingxuan seethed with rage but kept it hidden. Playing the innocent was her specialty. “Brother Xu Chen, I’m fine. Sister is just acting this way because she’s still hurt from the breakup.”
She perfected the image of fragile innocence.
Song Xuchen, heart aching, pulled her into his embrace.
“Little Third Sister,” Jian Jinci sneered. “Please don’t say that. I should thank you for doing the public a favor by taking out this trash. If it weren’t for you, the garbage disposal wouldn’t know what to do with such a thing. I’m not hurt at all—I wish you two a lifetime together.”
She added, “But there is one thing I must ask of you.”
“I beg you both to stay away from me. Don’t dirty my eyes. It’s disgusting.”
Jian Jinci picked up a glass of champagne from the table and walked toward them. As she passed Su Jingxuan, she pretended to twist her ankle, spilling the champagne all over Su Jingxuan’s rose-gold gown.
“Ah…” Su Jingxuan gasped in shock.
Jian Jinci wore an apologetic expression. “Little Third Sister, I didn’t mean to. Please don’t be angry. It was all my carelessness.”
Su Jingxuan suppressed her anger, forcing a smile as she said it was fine.
Jian Jinci smiled innocently. “Well, since it’s fine, I have other matters to attend to. I’ll take my leave.”
With that, Jian Jinci didn’t wait for Su Jingxuan’s response and walked away.
She left the noisy banquet hall and headed to the restroom. It was quiet here, and she could also avoid people she didn’t want to see. She stayed in the restroom for quite a while before finally coming out.
After leaving the restroom, she turned a corner, and there he was—the familiar figure walking toward her with steady steps.
What a strange twist of fate…
Enemies always cross paths, like a lingering ghost that just won’t leave.
Jian Jinci felt a strong gaze fixed on her. Had she been recognized?
As the distance between them closed, she wrestled with her thoughts. Whether he recognized her or not, she decided to pretend she didn’t know him—absolutely not, no matter what.
She kept her eyes straight ahead, trying her best not to appear guilty.
She could feel her heart pounding wildly with panic.
After passing by him, Jian Jinci let out a sigh of relief.
“Miss.” The familiar voice came from behind her.
She froze, unsure what to do. Turning around, she asked, “Sir, do we know each other?”
Pei Yanzhou’s face darkened as he stared straight at her. After a long pause, he slowly replied, “No.”
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going then.” Jian Jinci fled in a panic. His dangerous eyes seemed to see right through her thoughts.
Only after leaving did she finally relax. Important people often have short memories—maybe he really didn’t remember.