e of the city's most luxurious venues—was already being decorated in deep gold and crimson. Crystal chandeliers sparkled like a thousand stars overhead. The invitation cards, lined with embossed dragons, had already gone out:
Feng Yichen's 8th Birthday Banquet
Hosted by Madam Lin & the Feng Family
Every elite name in the city had been invited.
And every pair of eyes would be watching.
Madam Lin stood at the center of it all, giving orders in her flawless cheongsam, pretending to be the perfect mother and hostess.
But inside, she was giddy with anticipation.
"She'll never see it coming," she whispered to Feng Qian, who walked beside her holding a tablet.
"I've arranged the press seating, and we've slipped in two gossip columnists," Qian replied. "If Xiao Xiao makes even one mistake… everyone will know."
Madam Lin smiled, eyes cold.
"She won't just fall. She'll shatter."
—
Elsewhere, inside an elegant boutique hidden inside an old villa, Feng Xiao Xiao stood before a three-panel mirror.
The silk gown wrapped around her like moonlight—tailored perfectly to her slender figure.
Her long black hair was tied up in a soft twist, exposing her smooth neck and proud shoulders.
Beside her, Feng Yichen clapped with awe.
"Jiejie! You look like a queen!"
She smiled down at him.
"No. Just a woman who knows how to win."
Her assistant stepped forward, voice low. "The guest list is confirmed. Li Yan is attending, as expected."
"And the photographers?"
"All paid. No one edits their footage without our approval."
"Good."
She picked up a silver pin—an antique phoenix hairpiece—and slid it into her hair.
"Then let the games begin."
—
Across the city, in the dark corner of a luxury bar, a man sipped whiskey slowly.
He was not on the guest list.
He never needed one.
"Keep your eyes on the banquet," he told the shadow beside him.
"I want to know everything Xiao Xiao says, wears, and does."
The shadow nodded.
"Yes, Master Shen."
The man's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched a looped photo of Xiao Xiao exiting a car on his phone screen.
"She's no longer that foolish girl."
"But she's not untouchable yet."
—
And as the clock ticked closer to the banquet…
Xiao Xiao opened a small envelope slipped under her door. No return name. No seal. Just a single paper.
Be careful who stands beside you. Not every knife is in the enemy's hand.
She didn't flinch.
She folded it neatly.
And then she smiled.