The banquet was in full swing. Laughter rang, glasses clinked, and power shifted with every handshake. But behind the glittering masks, darkness brewed.
At a corner of the hall, Feng Qian stood beside Madam Lin, their faces painted with polite smiles, eyes sharp with calculation.
"It's almost time," Madam Lin whispered. "The tailor we arranged said the stitching at the base of her gown was tampered—right at the hips. A slight movement, and…"
"It'll tear," Feng Qian finished, sipping her wine with wicked delight. "Let's see how long that proud look lasts when she's exposed in front of half the city."
Meanwhile, Xiao Xiao stood near the exhibition section of the ballroom, surrounded by elite guests. Her grace was magnetic. People wanted to be near her—power wanted to align with her.
But her gaze occasionally flicked to her left side—sharp, knowing.
She already felt the loose stitching. She had felt it the moment she arrived.
They tampered with the dress.
Of course they did.
She smiled.
Let them think they won.
Across the room, Li Yan leaned against the railing on the second floor, watching.
He had noticed the way her steps slowed, how her posture shifted slightly—not with fear, but calculation.
"She knows," Zhou said quietly beside him.
"She's setting a trap," Li Yan replied, intrigued.
A moment later, the event host approached the microphone.
"And now, a special presentation from the Feng family's eldest daughter—Miss Feng Xiao Xiao!"
All eyes turned to her.
Feng Qian's smile was vicious.
But just before Xiao Xiao stepped up the platform, she calmly turned to her assistant and murmured something.
In less than twenty seconds, she walked confidently forward—not in the same gown, but in a new one.
Crimson silk, off-shoulder, tailored flawlessly to her curves. Bold. Fiery. The color of rebirth.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"She changed?"
"When? How?"
"That red... it's like a statement."
Xiao Xiao took the mic, her voice smooth as velvet.
"This evening, I was meant to wear a custom Feng design. But unfortunately, there were... flaws in the finishing. Thankfully, I had a backup gown made—just in case."
Her eyes locked with Feng Qian's.
"I believe a woman should always prepare… when walking among wolves."
Applause erupted.
Feng Qian's face went pale.
Madam Lin's hands trembled slightly behind her clutch.
From the upper floor, Li Yan's smile deepened.
"She's playing chess," he said. "And her enemies don't even know they're pieces."