Xia Yingying's gaze lingered on Lu Quinzue. 'Legendary indeed'she mused. His performance was flawless, a chilling reminder of his power. Her immediate goals were achieved: Chen Dixon humiliated, Hu Mingyou's social standing crumbling. But the night wasn't over. As if summoned by her thoughts, the MC's voice boomed:
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the esteemed director, Mo Zaki!"
A ripple of excitement spread, particularly among aspiring starlets. Mo Zaki took the stage, silencing the murmurs. "My presence tonight serves a singular purpose," he announced, a hint of theatrical flair in his voice. "To unveil the face behind the enigma… Ku Zining!"
Gasps erupted. Ku Zining? The masked male lead of countless hit K-dramas? Whispers flew as guests scanned the crowd, speculating wildly.
Mi Wegin, Hu Mingyou's sycophantic shadow, nudged her. "Youyou! You worked alongside Ku Zining once! Surely you know?"
Hu Mingyou feigned embarrassment. "Oh, Wegin, we never shared scenes directly. Different schedules." Internally, she seethed. That mysterious actor, whose intense aura during breaks had unnervingly reminded her of Xia Yingying herself, had always eluded her advances. Why did Mo Zaki favor him?
Mo Zaki let the suspense build before declaring, his voice ringing with pride: "I give you… Lady Xia Yingying!"
Silence. Then, a collective roar of disbelief. "Lady? Xia Yingying? Impossible!"
Xia Yingying glided forward, a serene smile on her lips. "Hello everyone. Yes, I am Ku Zining." Her voice, clear and confident, cut through the hall. "The mask was simply to protect my studies. Now, I'm ready to embrace both worlds. Expect more from me!" Her light laugh was infectious, quickly turning shock into thunderous applause and admiring glances.
"Remarkable composure," murmured a tycoon, eyeing his awestruck son.
The revelation electrified the room, especially for fans of the masked phenomenon in the k-drama "Blossoming Love." Even the female lead hadn't seen his—'her'—face.
Later, as Xia Yingying sipped her juice, Mi Wegin and Salome cornered her, faces contorted with jealousy, particularly Mi Wegin, whose secret crush on Ku Zining had just imploded.
"Talent? Ha!" Mi Wegin spat. "You're still just a glorified vase in my eyes!"
Salome sneered, "Probably slept her way into that role and her company with Lu Quinzue!"
Xia Yingying lowered her glass, her gaze turning glacial. "Finished?" Her voice was dangerously soft. She tapped a discreet camera pin on her lapel. "Slander me, fine. But slander Lu Quinzue's reputation and my company's founding date – two years before I met him – and you'll face consequences far worse than gossip. The evidence is already recording."
Mi Wegin and Salome paled. This wasn't the malleable girl they remembered.
Hu Mingyou slithered over, ever the false peacemaker. "Girls, please! Sister Xia brought joy to millions as Ku Zining! Can't we celebrate her?"
Mi Wegin rounded on her. "Celebrate? After she humiliated you and Tang Qing tonight?!"
Hu Mingyou's smile faltered, fury flashing in her eyes.' Xia Yingying would pay dearly for this' she thought. Spotting the antique brooch on Lu Quinzue's lapel – rumored to be a treasured memento from his deceased ex-lover – a vicious plan formed. She slipped away and made a single, encrypted call. "A job. The Lu gala. Immediately." She deleted the log, a predator setting a trap.
Soon, whispers spread: President Lu's priceless brooch was missing! Panicked searches commenced. Hu Mingyou spotted Xia Yingying seated calmly away from the chaos.
"Sister Xia!" Hu Mingyou called, her voice dripping with faux concern. "President Lu lost his brooch! Surely you've seen it? Perhaps you could help?" The implication hung heavy: You know it intimately, and maybe you took it out of jealousy.
Xia Yingying rose, radiating calm. She handed her clutch to a Lu family bodyguard. "By all means, search." Items tumbled onto the table. Among them, a brooch glinted.
A collective gasp. Mi Wegin pounced. "See! The jealous vase stole her lover's dead ex's treasure! Pathetic!"
Xia Yingying's eyes welled with sudden, convincing tears. "Oh! I thought… I thought it looked like Ahzue's! But this…" She picked it up, her voice trembling. "This is my big brother's brooch! A gift from our mother!" She clutched it, genuine sorrow mixing with masterful acting. "Sob… I miss him so much." She shot Hu Mingyou a look that screamed, ' this is your move, fake lotus.'
"That brooch is not mine," Lu Quinzue stated flatly, his gaze unreadable. "Continue the search."
"Exactly!" Xia Yingying pressed her advantage, holding up the distinct blue brooch. "Ahzue's is black obsidian. This is sapphire. Anyone could see the difference!"
Murmurs of agreement rose. "She's right! I see it now!"
As guards approached Hu Mingyou, unease twisted her features. They emptied her designer bag. First, the missing black obsidian brooch tumbled out. Then… a bright pink vibrator and a packet of condoms.
Stunned silence. Then, raucous laughter and disgusted murmurs. "Vile!"
"A thief and a hypocrite!"
"Tang Qing's pure angel? Ha!"
"Th-This isn't my bag!" Hu Mingyou shrieked, face crimson.
"Then whose is it?" Xia Yingying countered smoothly, plucking Lu Quinzue's brooch from the table and returning it to him with a respectful nod.
Trapped and humiliated beyond repair, Hu Mingyou snapped. "YOU BITCH!" She lunged, claws aimed at Xia Yingying's hair.
Xia Yingying subtly angled herself towards the reporters and let out a piercing cry. "Youyou! Stop! Please, don't ruin everything! Must you always take your anger out on me?!" She feigned terrified evasion as Hu Mingyou, blind with rage, was restrained by security.
"A thief, a liar, and now a violent lunatic!"
"Her parents must be mortified!"
Tang Qing, seeing his family name circling the drain, grabbed Hu Mingyou's arm and practically dragged her towards the exit, avoiding the sea of contemptuous stares. His own reputation lay in tatters beside hers.
Lu Quinzue watched Xia Yingying, a complex blend of scrutiny and something akin to reluctant admiration in his eyes. She orchestrated this he knew. The brooch switch, the planted items… executed with cold precision. He hadn't even noticed the theft until he'd checked – his guard always up, yet lowered inexplicably around her.
Xia Yingying met his gaze, a playful spark returning. "Keep staring like that, President Lu," she murmured, stepping closer, "and I might think you're falling for me."
He gave her an inscrutable look, then turned and walked away without a word.
"So mean" she pouted theatrically.
Following him out, she kept pace until he suddenly stopped, his dark eyes pinning her like shards of ice. "Clingy."
"Not clinging!" she retorted, undeterred. "Merely ensuring our 'relationship' looks authentic. And I need a ride home. Unless you want rumors of a rift by tomorrow?"
A dismissive "Hmm" was his only reply.
Inside the silent Koenigsegg, only the rhythmic tap of Lu Quinzue's keyboard filled the space. Bored, Xia Yingying pulled out her phone, the cheerful 'pings' and 'booms' of a combat game soon clashing with his typing.
The driver flinched, expecting an eruption. Instead, the typing stopped.
"What game?" Lu Quinzue's voice cut through the digital noise.
Surprised, Xia Yingying handed him her phone. "Just a combat strategy thing. Stuck on level 47."
Lu Quinzue took it, his long fingers moving with unexpected dexterity. The driver watched, stunned, as his notoriously disciplined boss became engrossed, a faint crease of concentration between his brows. Minutes later, a triumphant fanfare erupted from the phone – **VICTORY!**
"You did it!" Xia Yingying beamed, genuinely impressed. "That level was brutal!" She looked up, meeting his eyes. They were captivatingly deep in the dim light.
He held her gaze, a ghost of amusement on his lips. "Keep looking at me like that, little kitten*," he murmured, echoing her earlier words, "and I might think you're falling for me."
Heat flooded Xia Yingying's cheeks. Caught staring! She looked away hastily. "I… I just didn't peg the legendary Lu Quinzue as a gamer," she deflected.
He didn't reply, turning his attention back to his laptop as the car pulled up to the Xia mansion.
"Thanks for the ride," she said, gathering her things.
"Tomorrow. 10 AM," he stated, not looking up.
"Hmm?"
"We get the marriage certificate."
"Oh. Right. The… transaction." The word felt oddly hollow as she stepped out. The car sped away, leaving her standing there, the weight of the night's victories mingling with the unexpected twist of his blunt reminder.
Upstairs, Xia Yingying replayed the evening's events. Hu Mingyou's utter destruction was satisfying. If only Hu Mingyou knew she hired the very thief who set her up.*She picked up her phone, dialing a secure number.
"The video of Mi Wegin and Salome slandering me and Lu Quinzue is on its way," she said, her voice cold. "Make sure it leads tomorrow's entertainment news. An eye for an eye, a headline for a headline." Hu Mingyou's tactics in her past life had been cruel, but Xia Yingying's reborn vengeance? Ruthless.