Celia stared blankly for a moment."…"Just then, a makeup artist approached her."Miss Su, we'll begin with your makeup."
At the Banquet Hall.
Gentle classical music drifted through the opulent hall. The space sparkled with crystal chandeliers, champagne flowed, and the air was filled with perfume and quiet conversation. Men in tailored tuxedos and women in sweeping gowns floated across the room—it was an evening of pure luxury.
"Wow, Vivian, is that the latest couture gown from Maison Fleur you're wearing?"
"This one's straight from the Milan runway, isn't it? I don't think any local celebrity has even touched it yet. You're the first."
A circle of young socialites surrounded Vivian Su, their eyes filled with admiration.
Vivian smiled smugly. The Su family had spared no expense for this appearance, securing her a limited-edition haute couture dress from Maison Fleur—one that was reportedly meant for a top-tier actress but had been intercepted last-minute just for her.
A young man in a navy suit approached, holding his phone."Miss Su, may I add you on WeChat?"
That made ten men tonight. Though Vivian wasn't interested in any of them, she politely declined with a soft smile. Still, the attention fed her vanity.
Old Madam Su beamed beside her. "My Vivian is definitely the most stunning woman here tonight."
Vivian tilted her chin with pride.
Then, a ripple of excitement spread through the hall.
"Why hasn't the head of the Fu family shown up yet?"
"They say he's incredibly refined, reclusive, and so handsome it's almost unreal. I hope I get to see him in person."
"Don't worry, he's supposed to open the dinner with a dance. Do you think he'll pick someone here for the first dance?"
All around the hall, elegantly dressed women blushed at the mention of him. The mysterious heir to the Fu empire had become a figure of fantasy.
Vivian's eyes sparkled. Will the head of the Fu family choose someone for the first dance?
She clenched her fists slightly in excitement. She had to be the one. She was the most dazzling woman tonight. That dance was meant for her.
But before her fantasy could settle, a sudden wave of murmurs stirred nearby.
"Oh my God… who is that? She looks like a fairy from a painting."
Vivian turned—and her heart stopped.
A tall, elegant figure stepped into the hall. She wore a white brocade gown embroidered with blooming crimson roses, asymmetrical at the shoulder, cinched at the waist, flowing like liquid silk as she walked.
Her long black hair was swept into a soft princess bun, revealing a delicate neckline and porcelain-like skin. Every step she took drew gasps from the crowd. Her presence was ethereal.
A rose among thorns.
Vivian's smile froze.
That girl was… Celia?
It couldn't be. It shouldn't be. But it was.
Celia—who had always been mocked as the "country clown"—had appeared like a completely different person. Stunning. Elegant. Devastatingly beautiful.
The same men who had been fixated on Vivian now turned, mesmerized by Celia. Her transformation was so complete, it stole the light from everyone else.
Old Madam Su's mouth fell open."Is… is that really Celia?"
Su Jun and Chen Lian stood dumbstruck, speechless.
"My God… that dress," Chen Lian whispered. "Isn't that the gold-rose couture piece custom-designed by Maison Fleur? Not even celebrities can get their hands on that!"
"Vivian's wearing a high-end off-the-rack piece, but that," Su Jun said, almost bitterly, "that's custom. She's wearing something made for royalty."
The buzz in the crowd quieted. All eyes fell on Celia.
And Vivian's face twisted with rage.
Again.It was the second time tonight that Celia had ruined everything.