Li Yulan glared at Xia Xiwan, venom in her eyes. It was as if the MOO princess dress had been tailor-made for her. Her elegance was so striking, so ethereal, that she effortlessly became the center of attention without even trying. If not for the Xia family's misfortune ten years ago, Xia Xiwan would be Haicheng's number one socialite today. Back in the day, the buzz around Xia Xiwan and Ye Ling was incredible. Hordes of young heirs from the city's wealthiest families would flock wherever their private cars appeared, all hoping for a glimpse of the famed beauties known as "the Wan of the South and the Ling of the North." The Wan of the South and the Ling of the North... Li Yulan took a deep breath, her expression quickly shifting to one of motherly affection. Now, Haicheng's top socialite was *her* daughter, Xia Yanyan! Li Yulan walked over and took Xia Xiwan's hand with practiced intimacy. “Xiwan, darling, you've changed! Come, let me introduce you to some friends… Wait a moment. That dress looks so familiar. Isn't that… the princess dress Xiaodie was going to wear tonight?” Xia Xiwan's expression remained neutral. She knew the show was about to begin. Xia Xiaodie looked at Xia Xiwan. “Xiwan, why are you wearing my dress? Today is my birthday, and my mother gave me this MOO princess dress as a gift.” At that moment, Kong Zhen'er chimed in sharply, “Xia Xiwan, how could you? It's Xiaodie's birthday! Are you really going to steal her dress, too?” The other young socialites all knew that Xia Xiaodie had a MOO princess dress, and a murmur of gossip instantly rippled through the room. “What is wrong with that Xia Xiwan? Is she trying to steal Xiaodie’s dress to be the star of the party? That's so selfish and vain.” “I bet she just got back from the countryside, saw a real MOO dress for the first time, and couldn't wait to get her hands on it. She’s just a country bumpkin, no class at all. How embarrassing!” The gazes directed at Xia Xiwan turned hostile. Just then, Xia Zhenguo strode over. After the earlier incidents, he was desperate to avoid any further humiliation. His face was grim as he turned on Xia Xiwan, scolding her, “Xiwan! It's Xiaodie's birthday, and you're stealing her dress? Have all those years in the countryside stripped you of any manners? Go upstairs, change out of that dress, and don't come back down.” Her own father, publicly declaring her ill-mannered and banishing her for being an embarrassment—Li Yulan and Xia Xiaodie could barely contain their delight. Xia Xiaodie pinched her own thigh hard, and her eyes quickly reddened as if she were about to burst into tears. “Dad, just let it go. Xiwan and I are sisters, after all. I just want everyone to be happy on my birthday. I’ll let Xiwan have the dress.” As she spoke, two perfect tears rolled down her cheeks. Now, all the wealthy wives and their daughters stared at Xia Xiwan with utter disdain. “It's Xiaodie's birthday, and this Xia Xiwan seems determined to ruin it. Look, she's made poor Xiaodie cry.” “Xiaodie is just too kind. If it were me, I’d make Xia Xiwan take that MOO dress off right here and now.” “Let’s just go. I can’t even stand to look at her!” The situation was firmly under her control. The dress was on Xia Xiwan’s back, an undeniable fact. Li Yulan was immensely satisfied. Still, she put on a troubled expression and said, “Xiwan, why don’t you head upstairs for now…” Xia Xiwan, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke. She furrowed her delicate brows and said softly, “This isn't Xiaodie's dress.” The words dropped like a bomb in the crowded room. A sense of foreboding washed over Li Yulan, who quickly interjected, “Xiwan, I understand you want the dress, but if you keep making excuses, you're just making things worse.” Xia Xiwan looked wounded and timid, but she persisted, repeating, “This dress isn't Xiaodie's. It's… a MOO knockoff.” What? A MOO knockoff? The crowd was full of avid MOO fans, and someone immediately stepped forward to examine the dress Xia Xiwan was wearing. “This princess dress… it really is a knockoff. It’s a fake,” the person concluded. What? Li Yulan and Xia Xiaodie felt as if they'd been struck by lightning. Xia Xiaodie rushed forward, asking in disbelief, “Are you sure? Are you sure it's a fake?” “I'm positive. It's a very high-quality replica, almost indistinguishable from the real thing. But authentic MOO dresses are inlaid with a hand-stitched golden thread on the inside. This one doesn't have it.” With that explanation, everyone else saw the flaws in the dress. They exchanged glances. “So Xia Xiwan wasn't wearing Xia Xiaodie's dress. We misunderstood her. But… why would she wear a knockoff to a party like this?” As if she hadn't heard them, Xia Xiwan lowered her long lashes. “Today is Xiaodie’s birthday party. Auntie called and told me I had to dress nicely, but I didn't have any nice dresses. So I spent my own money on a MOO knockoff. This princess dress was the only one available.” With that, she lifted her gaze to Xia Zhenguo. The hurt and timidity in her eyes gave way to a profound sadness. “Dad, I didn't want to embarrass you. I would never dream of taking the things you give Xiaodie, and I wouldn't dare steal her dress. It's just… after all these years in the countryside, I really just wanted to fit in.” Her emotional words completely flipped the narrative. A wave of sympathy and whispered pity swept through the wealthy wives and their daughters. “What is wrong with the Xia family? The father didn't even check the facts before accusing his own daughter of having no manners.” “And look at Xia Xiaodie, crying over a dress. What a spoiled little princess. So dramatic.” “But the real piece of work is Li Yulan. What a snake. Xia Xiwan filled in for her own daughter in an arranged marriage, yet she pretends to be this loving mother while being too cheap to even buy the girl a proper dress. Look at the lavish party she threw for Xiaodie today. A classic wicked stepmother!” The tables had turned so fast it left Li Yulan reeling. How had the MOO princess dress *she'd* bought suddenly become a knockoff? Xia Zhenguo was humiliated yet again, his face turning ashen. Xia Xiaodie, with the tears she had worked so hard to produce still glistening on her cheeks, now looked like irrefutable proof that she was a spoiled, petulant brat. She was frozen, not knowing whether to keep crying or stop. Xia Xiaodie tried to fight back. “But that dress is definitely—” “Shut up!” Li Yulan snapped, cutting her off. She shot Xia Xiaodie a furious glare. *You idiot,* she thought. If you claim that I, Li Yulan, bought this knockoff, who would believe you? Not only would they not believe it, but they would also question how Xia Xiaodie could be so certain. She couldn't very well admit she knew everything because it was all part of a setup to frame her stepsister, could she? All Li Yulan could do now was seethe in silence, forced to swallow her fury. She knew then that Xia Xiwan had played her, masterfully.