Jiang Yuyan cleared her throat hoarsely. “Listen, if you don’t want your plan to fail, I suggest two things.”

“What two things?”

“First, don’t let Hu Liying know you’re the general manager of Tai Rui for now.”

“To avoid her hating me from the start, right?” Jing Rui understood her intention. “What’s the second?”

“Before revealing your true identity to her, help President Fang recommend a good job to maintain his hope for the future and give her a reason to continue liking you—”

As soon as Jing Rui stepped into the party venue, he received a text from Jiang Yuyan. “Come quickly to save the princess.” Save the princess? He was startled. Did something happen to her? His sharp eyes quickly scanned the surroundings, and as usual, he locked onto her within seconds. She was wearing a vintage white puff dress, cinched with a shiny wide belt, her hair loosely styled in a bun, encircled with satin ribbons. She looked sweet and lovely.

“You’re clearly fine. Why scare me?” He approached her, appreciating her outfit with his eyes.

“It’s not me who has a problem; it’s her.” Jiang Yuyan pointed to a beautiful woman sitting by the bar, drinking alone and dealing with an incessant pestering scoundrel.

“Is she Hu Liying?”

“Yes.”

“Why is she sitting alone? Where’s Guo Yaochang?”

“Just now, Guo Yaochang was being inappropriate with me, and she saw it. They had a big fight, and Guo Yaochang left. She decided to stay and drink.”

“Are you saying… Guo Yaochang made a move on you?” Jing Rui couldn’t believe it. “How is that possible?” Although his cousin was notorious for his flirtatious nature, he wouldn’t be foolish enough to make a move in public, especially with his girlfriend nearby.

“Why not?” Jiang Yuyan calmly replied, asking a passing waiter for two glasses of champagne and handing him one. She tilted her head playfully, her lashes fluttering teasingly, and he immediately understood.

“You intentionally seduced him?” Jing Rui laughed and clinked glasses with her. “Well done! My little witch.”

“Hurry up; the sad princess is waiting for her new prince charming!” After drinking the celebratory champagne, she subtly urged him.

Without needing much more from her, Jing Rui understood what role he needed to play. He walked toward the slightly drunk Hu Liying, chasing away the clueless fly beside her, and calmly became her knight in shining armor.

Hu Liying lifted her rose-tinted lips and smiled shyly at him.

But with that smile, Jiang Yuyan knew that the innocent Hu Liying had willingly stepped into the emotional trap that Jing Rui had deliberately set, and from now on, she would only sink deeper and deeper.

Just like her.

She self-deprecatingly curved her lips into a smile, pulling her gaze away and not daring to look again. Her heart was pounding with a rhythm that caused her pain, and she didn’t want to analyze it further.

“Jiang Yuyan?” A crisp voice called out. She paused for a moment, turned back, and faced a beautifully made-up woman.

“It really is you,” the other replied, with a smile that seemed half-true.

“Have you forgotten me? I’m Ke Caiting.” How could she forget? Ke Caiting was the campus queen back in high school and had once had a fling with Jing Rui.

“Hello, long time no see.” Jiang Yuyan maintained a polite smile and greeted her lightly. “I didn’t expect to run into you here.”

“Is it surprising?” Ke Caiting shrugged. “This is my territory.”

That made sense. Jiang Yuyan regretted her lackluster greeting. Ke Caiting’s mother was a well-known fashion designer, and she had grown up in the fashion world, so attending parties like this must be routine for her.

“But you… I didn’t expect you to show up at such an event.” Ke Caiting studied her thoughtfully. “Where’s Jing Rui? Did he come too?”

“He!”

Before Jiang Yuyan could say anything, Ke Caiting’s sharp eyes had already spotted Jing Rui’s striking figure—he was simply hard to miss.

“I think I’ve seen the woman he’s with… right, it’s Hu Liying!” Ke Caiting raised an eyebrow.

“Could she be his latest conquest?”

Jiang Yuyan remained silent. Noticing her hesitation, Ke Caiting suddenly laughed mockingly. “Don’t worry, I don’t have the time to sabotage my ex. I just find it strange.”

“Strange about what?” Jiang Yuyan asked warily, already suspecting what was coming. “I didn’t expect that after all these years, he still sees you as just a ‘comrade.'” Ke Caiting shook her head, her seemingly casual words piercing like the sharpest needles, one after another, into Jiang Yuyan’s heart.

She tightened her expression, even forcing a shallow smile to prevent Ke Caiting from noticing her turmoil.

Ke Caiting looked at her coldly. “Originally, I wanted to give you some friendly advice from someone who’s been there, but you probably don’t need it, right? After all, you understand him better than anyone!” The last sentence was thunderous.

Jiang Yuyan remained silent, knowing that was the wisest response. She didn’t need to compete with this proud queen; she wouldn’t be allowed to run wild on her turf.

“Take care of yourself!—The wine here is good; maybe you could drink a bit more.” With that final remark, Ke Caiting showed no further interest and gracefully left the battlefield of women.

Jiang Yuyan watched the graceful figure depart.

Though she never considered herself Ke Caiting’s rival, the campus queen had always viewed her as a hypothetical enemy and bullied her mercilessly in high school.

She knew that Ke Caiting had always been jealous of her knowledge of Jing Rui’s darkest secrets, secrets he shared only with her. But so what? Even though she was the one who understood him best, she would forever be just a comrade, never his recognized ideal partner.

She had understood this a long, long time ago…

Jiang Yuyan bitterly pondered, hiding in the corner, drinking alone, and rejecting numerous men who asked her to dance.

As midnight approached, the organizers dimmed the venue lights, and waiters with candlelit trays allowed guests to light sparklers, transforming the atmosphere into a dazzling spectacle, instantly elevating the dinner’s excitement to its peak.

Jiang Yuyan took a sparkler and helplessly looked across the venue, where Jing Rui was leaning down, talking to Hu Liying. Under the shimmering fireworks, Hu Liying’s face looked even more enchanting, staring at him dreamily.

A slightly tipsy woman is most easily drawn into love because the god of wine steals their reason and casts a spell that makes them believe they’ve entered a fairy tale.

But there are no fairy tales in this world. The so-called romance is usually just poison wrapped in sugar, and once addicted, there’s no turning back…

When the lights brightened again, Jiang Yuyan dazedly took out her phone and captured a heartbreaking scene. She stood in a stupor for a few seconds, realizing what she had done, suddenly feeling both pitiful and ridiculous. What was she doing? Why was she even taking such a photo? Did she really want to reminisce about it later? Jiang Yuyan shook her head, finished her last drink, and walked away with slightly unsteady steps. This might also be a dance related to love, but the feeling while dancing was very melancholic. She should leave.

She should have left a long time ago; she didn’t understand why she lingered, dancing an unwilling dance…

Suddenly, she misstepped, twisting her ankle and unexpectedly falling to the ground, drawing a gasp from the surrounding guests.

How could she be so embarrassed? She touched her painful ankle, wanting to laugh but also to cry, yet she could do neither.

She could only stand up, relying on her own strength.

Jiang Yuyan stubbornly shook her head and was about to push herself up when a warm, dark hand reached out just in time.

“Let me help you, okay?”

She looked up, and her gaze fell on a strong, masculine face.