The Grand Imperial Hotel, a six-star establishment. Xia Xiwan swept into the lobby, making a beeline for the elevators, but her path was soon blocked by an all-too-familiar face: Kong Zhen'er. “Xia Xiwan, so you actually showed up? Take a good look around. This is the Grand Imperial. If it weren't for Xiaodie’s birthday, a country bumpkin like you wouldn't set foot in a place this exclusive in your entire life!” Kong Zhen'er sneered, her voice dripping with condescension. Xia Xiwan pressed the elevator button and let out a theatrical sigh. “Whose little lapdog is this? They forgot the leash and just let it run around biting people.” Kong Zhen'er’s face darkened. “You!” Then, her eyes landed on the white lace dress Xia Xiwan was wearing. Her jaw dropped. “Xia Xiwan, where did you get that dress? That’s MOO, the global luxury brand! It’s from their Milan Fashion Week runway show this summer! I just saw it in a magazine a couple of days ago. How is it on *you*?” Kong Zhen'er was a die-hard MOO fan. Like every other socialite in Haicheng, she was obsessed. They would all spend fortunes trying to get their hands on the latest pieces, and whoever succeeded would flaunt it for weeks. But MOO was notoriously exclusive—prohibitively expensive, ultra-high-end, and always limited edition. Getting a piece was next to impossible. Kong Zhen'er herself had never managed to snag a single one. And now, to see this summer’s runway piece on Xia Xiwan, the country bumpkin, left her utterly stunned. Xia Xiwan, of course, knew it was MOO. She wondered what Kong Zhen'er would do if she told her that she didn't just have one piece, but a whole trunk of them at home. Would she faint from sheer rage on the spot? But the dress was a gift from Lu Hanting. It wasn't hers to flaunt, and certainly not a weapon to be used against someone else. Seeing the raw shock and envy practically bulging from Kong Zhen'er's eyes, Xia Xiwan stepped into the elevator with a faint, knowing smile. “You want to know? I'd rather not say.” Kong Zhen'er’s emotions were a tangled mess. She truly despised the girl in front of her, especially seeing how the dress clung to Xia Xiwan’s slender, graceful figure. Her eyes burned with jealousy. “Xia Xiwan, it must be a knockoff.” With that, Kong Zhen'er stepped into the elevator, reached out, grabbed a fistful of the delicate lace, and tore it. With a sickening rip, a gash appeared in Xia Xiwan’s dress. The light in Xia Xiwan's clear eyes instantly turned to ice. “Kong Zhen'er, what the hell do you think you're doing?” Kong Zhen'er laughed brazenly. “What are you talking about, Xia Xiwan? I don't know what you mean. I didn't do anything. You say I ripped your dress? Do you have any witnesses?” Xia Xiwan stepped forward, grabbed Kong Zhen'er's own dress, and gave it a vicious tear. Rip. Now Kong Zhen'er's dress was torn as well. “Xia Xiwan, you—!” Kong Zhen'er was furious and humiliated. She never expected Xia Xiwan to be not only sharp-tongued but also so brazenly aggressive, retaliating on the spot. Xia Xiwan gave a cold smile. She had always believed that sometimes, actions spoke louder than words. “Do you try to reason with a rabid dog? No. When a mad dog bites you, you pick up a stick and hit it right back!” Kong Zhen'er was practically shaking with rage, utterly dominated by the very country bumpkin she despised. Just then, the elevator doors opened. Li Yulan rushed over. “Xiwan, what happened to your dress? You can't go to the party in a torn dress. Look, hurry upstairs and change. We have several backup dresses ready. Just pick whichever one you like.” … Upstairs, Xia Xiwan found a room where several beautiful dresses were hanging. A maid approached her and said, “Miss Xiwan, this one is the most beautiful. You should choose this one.” Xia Xiwan glanced over. The maid was holding a pink, diamond-studded princess gown—another MOO creation—the kind a birthday girl herself would wear. A flicker of amusement crossed Xia Xiwan's clear eyes. She casually picked up another dress. “I'm not particularly fond of that one. I'll wear this instead.” The maid grew anxious. “Miss Xiwan, this dress is so much prettier than that one. You should wear this one.” Xia Xiwan looked at the maid. “It's just a dress. Why are you so worked up?” Stared at like that, the maid felt a sudden pang of guilt. There was something about Miss Xiwan's eyes—so clean and clear, black and white, untainted—that made it seem like she could see right through you. The maid forced a smile. “I'm not! I just want Miss Xiwan to look her best for the party, so everyone will praise you.” Xia Xiwan nodded. “Oh. Well, since you put it that way, how could I possibly refuse such kindness? I'll wear this one. I'm going to change. Wait for me out here.” … Downstairs at the party, Xia Zhenguo had spared no expense, creating a lavish spectacle. The city's elite—socialites, heiresses, CEOs, and their wealthy wives—were all in attendance, their quiet laughter and conversation filling the air. The birthday girl, Xia Xiaodie, was surrounded by a gaggle of friends. When she saw Li Yulan come down, she quickly ran over and linked arms with her, whispering, “How did it go, Mom? Did Xia Xiwan wear the princess gown?” Li Yulan beamed and nodded. “She did.” “Perfect! After all the trouble she's caused us, we're going to destroy her tonight. It's just a shame about that MOO princess gown. I've never even worn a MOO dress myself.” Li Yulan tapped her daughter's head. “You have to sacrifice the bait to catch the wolf. Once we've ruined Xia Xiwan's reputation, Mom will find a way to get you another MOO dress.” Xia Xiaodie was delighted, leaning against her mother. “Mom, you're the best.” “All right, now, get ready. Xia Xiwan will be down any minute. The show is about to begin!” … Xia Xiaodie returned to her friends. Just then, one of them asked, “Xiaodie, I heard you got a MOO princess gown for your birthday! Why haven't you changed into it yet? We all want to see it!” “Yeah, Xiaodie, a MOO princess gown must be gorgeous.” Xia Xiaodie smiled. “Don't worry, I'm about to go change now.” Just then, Kong Zhen'er grabbed her arm. “Xiaodie, look! Xia Xiwan is coming down.” And there she was. Xia Xiwan was descending the staircase, wearing the MOO princess gown. The pink fabric complemented her delicate, glowing complexion, while the cinched waist accentuated her impossibly slender figure. She looked ethereal and pure, the very image of a twenty-year-old princess. The bustling hall, filled with chatter just moments before, fell silent. Every head turned, every pair of eyes snapping to her. A collective gasp of awe rippled through the crowd. Xia Xiaodie's hands clenched into fists. Although this was part of her plan, seeing Xia Xiwan captivate everyone with such effortless beauty ignited a jealous rage so fierce she wished Xiwan would simply vanish on the spot.