Li Yulan was a veteran actress, after all, and she couldn't let the birthday party stall in this awkward silence. Composing herself, she reached for Xia Xiwan’s hand. “Xiwan, this was our fault…” By apologizing first, she was seizing the moral high ground. If Xia Xiwan refused to accept the olive branch, she would once again be painted as the unreasonable one in the court of public opinion. Unfortunately for her, Xia Xiwan understood the game just as well. Someone was putting on a show, but she had no intention of letting it continue. She snatched her hand back. “I’m the one who made things so unpleasant for everyone. Please, enjoy the party. I’ll see myself out.” With a show of tact, Xia Xiwan left. Li Yulan’s hand was still frozen in mid-air. This time, she felt a rage so intense she could have coughed up blood. … Once outside the party hall, Xia Xiwan pulled out her phone. A message from Ye Ling was already waiting. *So? Did you crash the party?* Xia Xiwan replied with a simple, *Uh-huh.* Ye Ling: *My girl! You’re a total badass!* Ever since returning to Haicheng from the countryside, Xia Xiwan had tasked Ye Ling with keeping an eye on Li Yulan’s movements in the entertainment industry. When Li Yulan pulled some strings to acquire the MOO princess dress, Ye Ling had informed her immediately. Xia Xiwan had noted the timing; Xia Xiaodie’s birthday was just around the corner. While she didn’t know what Li Yulan was planning, she’d had Ye Ling swap the authentic MOO dress for a high-quality replica. Ye Ling was currently one of the hottest young actresses in the industry. Her beauty was so acclaimed that even international media called her the pinnacle of Chinese entertainment, capable of being glamorous, seductive, ethereal, or sweet—a dream come true for any admirer of beauty. Consequently, Ye Ling had been drowning in luxury brand endorsements since her debut. As the global ambassador for MOO, she was always the first to wear pieces from their new collections. With an A-list agent and team behind her, switching out Li Yulan’s dress for a knock-off had been child’s play. Xia Xiwan sent a sticker of a little red flower—a reward for a job well done—and was about to put her phone away when her steps faltered. An elegant, handsome figure was walking toward her. It was Su Xi. The Su family was one of Haicheng’s four great families. Years ago, the Sus and the Xias had been close, their friendship spanning generations. When Xia Xiwan’s mother was still alive, she had arranged a marriage for her daughter with the Su family. Su Xi had once been Xia Xiwan’s fiancé. Dressed in a British-style trench coat that highlighted his handsome, gentle features, he stopped as well, his eyes fixed on her. Xia Xiwan pocketed her phone and moved to walk past him, intending to ignore him completely. But Su Xi’s hand shot out, grabbing her slender wrist. “What, Wanwan? Pretending you don’t know me now?” Xia Xiwan wrenched her arm free. “I have nothing to say to you.” She would never forget. Ten years ago, when her grandfather had fallen down the stairs, he was the witness who had stepped forward, claiming he had seen her push the old man with his own eyes. The Su Xi in her memory had been warm. They had known each other since they were children, childhood sweethearts. Her mother had been alive then, and she had adored Su Xi. She would hold Xia Xiwan’s hand in one of hers and Su Xi’s in the other, taking them out to play together. Su Xi was a business prodigy. In the years since, he had steered the Su Corporation to monopolize the entire medical market, elevating his family to its position as one of the four great families of Haicheng. Su Xi stared at her. “You don’t want to talk to me, Wanwan? Who do you want to talk to, then? That man from the Youlan Courtyard?” “Su Xi, that’s my private business. It’s no concern of yours.” “Wanwan, I’m your fiancé.” “As I recall, I returned the Su family’s engagement token to you ten years ago, right after you stepped forward to push me into the abyss.” Xia Xiwan would never forget the feeling of being stabbed in the back by someone she trusted with all her heart. Su Xi’s testimony had left her unable to defend herself, plunging her into a despair that had altered the course of her entire life. The day she returned the engagement token, their relationship had ended. Su Xi’s sharp brows knitted together, a cruel smirk twisting his lips. “You’re mine, Wanwan. Why would you marry that man from the Youlan Courtyard? Can he even satisfy you?” Xia Xiwan’s hand flew up, and she slapped him hard across the face. The sharp crack echoed in the silence that fell between them, heavy and suffocating. Xia Xiwan clenched her fists. “Su Xi, the man I remember wasn't like this. Have some respect for yourself. Don’t become this vile.” He slowly turned his face back to her, his expression dark and chilling. “Don’t you dare play the innocent saint with me, Xia Xiwan. I almost forgot you’re already tainted. I don’t want someone else’s sloppy seconds.” “…” Xia Xiwan thought he had to be unhinged. Tainted? He changed girlfriends like he changed clothes, yet she’d never had the nerve to call *him* dirty. “Oh, and one more thing,” he added. “I have a new fiancée now. Someone you know, actually.” Xia Xiwan truly had no interest in who his fiancée was, but the way he said it sparked a suspicion. Just then, a crowd approached them from the party hall. A delicate, sweet figure threw herself into Su Xi’s arms. “Brother Su Xi, you’re finally here! I’ve been waiting for you forever. I was afraid you weren’t coming.” Su Xi’s expression instantly softened into his usual gentle demeanor. He reached out and pinched Xia Xiaodie’s cheek. “Silly girl. How could I miss your birthday? This is for you.” A diamond necklace appeared in his hand, and he fastened it around Xia Xiaodie’s neck. “Do you like your present?” Xia Xiaodie’s eyes lit up. The necklace looked priceless. “Wow, I love it! Thank you, Brother Su Xi!” she chirped, standing on her tiptoes to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. Xia Zhenguo and Li Yulan had followed them out. The Sus were a top-tier family in Haicheng; Su Xi’s surprise appearance at Xia Xiaodie’s birthday party was guaranteed to be tomorrow’s entertainment headline. The gloom that had hung over Xia Zhenguo for days vanished, replaced by a fawning smile. “Mr. Su, Xiaodie has been waiting for you all night. She’s been completely distracted.” Su Xi wrapped an arm around Xia Xiaodie. “Mr. Xia, I’ve already instructed my secretary to inject capital into Xia Medical. If you run into any more difficulties, you can come directly to me.” With that, Xia Medical’s cash flow problem was solved. Li Yulan straightened her back, glowing with pride. She looked pointedly at Xia Xiwan. “Xiwan, I forgot to introduce you. Mr. Su is now Xiaodie’s fiancé. I’m sure you’ll wish them both the best, won’t you?” It all clicked into place. Xia Xiwan finally understood why Xia Zhenguo had been willing to spend a fortune on Xia Xiaodie’s birthday. It was because his daughter had landed him a prize catch. She looked at Su Xi and saw it in his eyes: a raw, triumphant desire for revenge. With Su Xi revealed as Xia Xiaodie’s fiancé, the gazes of the other guests shifted, now filled with envy and flattery. “Mr. Su and Miss Xiaodie are a match made in heaven.” “Anything that happened in the past is just water under the bridge.”