On the day of the banquet.
When the young girl came downstairs in her dress, a flash of malicious hatred crossed He Wan’s eyes.
Last night, she had repeatedly dreamed of Yan Qing’s distorted, terrifying face. Fear and panic pressed on her chest, yet she could not wake up.
In that half-dreaming state, she even found herself kneeling and banging her head on the ground uncontrollably, screaming like a madwoman: “I was wrong,” “Don’t come for me.”
This morning, she had only barely managed to cover the dark circles and bruises on her forehead with a thick layer of foundation.
Now, seeing a face so similar to Yan Qing’s, she felt a stabbing pain in her temples, as if she wanted to rush up and tear it apart.
Lin Jian’s expression was equally ugly. His brows carried an uncontrollable irritability.
There was even a faint palm print on his face, as if he had slapped himself. It seemed his night had been just as chaotic and violent.
Yan Sui lowered her head, barely holding back her expression.
He Wan spoke coldly.
“This is your last time wearing that dress.”
She wanted to see pain, shock, disappointment on the girl’s face.
And Yan Sui did not disappoint.
The girl looked confused, even wronged, and asked why.
He Wan sneered.
“Why? You really don’t know? Something shady and unknown brought that dress here, and you still think you deserve it?”
“If it weren’t for tonight’s banquet with important guests, and you embarrassing our family, do you think you’d even qualify to wear it?”
Tears immediately welled up in the girl’s eyes.
“That’s enough.”
Lin Jian frowned.
“He Wan, say less.”
Then he turned to Yan Sui.
“Yan Sui, behave yourself tonight. Smile when you greet people. Mind your status. Don’t embarrass me.”
Yan Sui curved her lips slightly but said nothing.
The driver was already waiting outside.
Lin Jian got into the car first.
Yan Sui looked at He Wan walking ahead of her and silently counted her steps.
At step four, she suddenly leaned in close and whispered into He Wan’s ear:
“My mother told me last night that she wants to come find you.”
He Wan froze violently.
In an instant, it felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured from head to toe, chilling her bones.
Her mind buzzed blankly.
Then, like a dog whose tail had been stepped on, she screamed instinctively:
“What did you say?!”
The sharp sound startled even the driver.
Lin Jian was already irritated, and the sudden noise made him snap.
“What are you yelling for?!”
He Wan’s pupils trembled. She seemed unsure whether to question Yan Sui or her husband’s tone.
Fear and anger tangled together, leaving her unable to speak.
The girl, however, smiled sweetly and got into the car first.
In truth, she had guessed.
She didn’t know what nightmare He Wan had had.
But she had guessed correctly.
Her mother’s death… was indeed connected to her.
He Wan stood outside the car for a long moment before finally getting in, her face dark and unreadable.
The entire ride, she said nothing.
By the time they arrived, both Lin Jian and He Wan had barely composed themselves.
The Lin family was not particularly influential in this circle. When the car door opened, few people even came to greet them.
But the moment Yan Sui stepped out, eyes immediately turned toward her.
There were many beautifully dressed young ladies present, yet the instant that moonlight-like presence appeared, all other brilliance seemed to dim.
She took a few steps forward, casually tucking her slightly curled hair behind her ear. Her delicate features shone with quiet brilliance.
Standing beside her, Lin Jian and He Wan looked more like escorts than parents.
Soon, someone approached.
“President Lin, you’ve come as well.”
They exchanged handshakes and pleasantries.
But the other party’s gaze remained fixed on Yan Sui, smiling.
“Your daughter is truly outstanding.”
Lin Jian smiled modestly.
“She’s been in poor health since childhood. Only recently did I start letting her socialize. She doesn’t understand much, so forgive her if she’s inexperienced.”
“How could that be? Please, come in.”
Lin Jian glanced back at Yan Sui, signaling her to follow.
The girl showed no nervousness at all.
Back straight, chin slightly raised, she carried herself with elegance and a subtle youthful liveliness.
Lin Jian was slightly surprised. He hadn’t expected her to perform so well on her first appearance in such a setting.
The group entered the banquet hall.
Familiar and unfamiliar faces alike mingled, all pretending to be old friends, exchanging polite and hollow greetings.
Yan Sui held a glass of sparkling water and followed behind Lin Jian. She only needed to nod and smile at the right moments.
Her striking beauty was understated in behavior, and people quietly discussed her.
The newly returned daughter of the Lin family was unexpectedly stunning.
As for He Wan, her mind was still echoing that eerie sentence from last night. She just wanted to stay far away from the girl.
She went to meet her circle of wealthy women friends, gripping her companion’s hand tightly.
“Don’t be fooled by that little bitch. She’s extremely scheming. She’s already bewitched my son.”
“Really? Can she even outplay you? Dealing with a girl like that should be easy for you.”
“It’s not that simple.”
He Wan’s eyes were bloodshot.
“I’m telling you, Liu Ling, she’s weird. Not normal at all.”
Liu Ling looked at her in surprise.
“She doesn’t look like it though.”
That casual remark made something in He Wan snap.
“Why don’t you believe me?!”
Her voice was loud enough that people nearby turned to look.
She quickly forced herself to calm down and smiled stiffly.
Liu Ling patted her shoulder.
“Relax. No matter how scheming she is, what can a girl without backing really do?”
He Wan exhaled deeply, forcing herself steady again, then sneered.
“True. At least my husband listens to me. That little bitch… she’s going to be sold off soon.”
At that very moment, the “girl about to be sold off” was brought before a man.
He looked to be in his early thirties, fairly presentable—but his eyes carried a sticky, unsettling gaze as he assessed her.
Lin Jian smiled as he spoke.
“President Zhou, about that project we discussed before, please consider it carefully.”
“Of course, I didn’t come here just for business. I want to introduce my daughter to you.”
“Yan Sui, come over and toast.”
Zhou Jin’s gaze never left her.
Especially when she approached, his smile deepened.
“So this is Yan Sui? Not bad, not bad. President Lin really raised a good daughter.”
In Lin Jian’s mind, the best match he had found for her was Zhou Jin.
Though he was older and divorced once, Yan Sui had no education or background. Marrying him was already an upgrade.
The more Lin Jian thought about it, the more he felt he had been more than generous.
He smiled.
“President Zhou is an outstanding young talent. Go and chat with him. You don’t need to follow me.”
At the same time, Zhou Jin extended his hand.
“Care to have a drink together?”
Yan Sui blinked, about to speak.
Then suddenly—
The surrounding noise died.
People instinctively fell silent.
Some straightened, but lowered their gaze.
Others froze mid-toast.
The waiter at the door opened it respectfully, head bowed.
And in came a tall man.
Along with the cool night wind.