The night came, and in H.City's central district stood the Grande Hotel — a five-star hotel under GL Holdings. Its glass facade gleamed beneath the streetlights, each window catching and scattering the shimmer of the bustling city around it.
Outside the entrance, the streets glittered under the constant bursts of camera flashes. A cordon of gold velvet rope held the crowd at bay, yet reporters, photographers, and live streamers pressed forward like a restless wave, eager to capture every arrival.
A red carpet stretched beyond the glass doors, laid out like a silent invitation to the most powerful and influential guests in Country C.
Then a while later….
Luxurious cars stopped one after another, each door opening to reveal guests in elegant gowns and tailored suits — their finest fashion for G.L. Holdings' gala night. Masks, carefully matched to their outfits, concealed their faces, adding an air of mystery to the evening's masquerade theme. Photographers surged forward, flashes bursting as they captured every step toward the red carpet.
"Woah… isn't she stunning?"
"That's the CEO of X-Tech Company — and his wife!"
"Wait… isn't that Young Master Xiao from the Xiao Group?"
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd — some of them half-guessing, others certain — the air buzzing like a fashion show runway.
"Ah… Jin Muchen!" a woman squealed as a striking man in a crisp white tuxedo, face fully visible without a mask, stepped out and flashed a practiced wave at the cameras.
"Ugh… Jin Muchen," a man scoffed under his breath, his reaction a stark contrast to hers. "The infamous, handsome playboy — most men can't stand him."
"There's no shortage of powerful business leaders tonight," someone said with a knowing tone. "Of course. And with the Wang family sitting at the very top of the pyramid, who would dare not come?" another voice replied.
Song Meiqi sat in the backseat of the BMW, watching the crowd swelling outside the entrance. Her fingers toyed with the edge of her mask as she let out a quiet sigh.
I thought this would be an exclusive party… I wasn't expecting a wall of reporters. What if someone recognizes me? I shouldn't have come.
The thought sparked another, and then another, each one popping up like an endless stream of live chat comments in her head. She glanced back at the sea of cameras, her pulse quickening.
"No one's going to recognize you. Rest easy," her uncle said from beside her, as if he could read her thoughts.
Meiqi turned to him, her eyes flickering with disbelief.
Catching her expression, Han Yichen let out a low chuckle.
"I know you're popular, but no one would expect you to show up at such a prestigious event. Tonight, you're just my plus one — nothing more."
Meiqi's eyes drifted back to the grand entrance, now only a few steps away, just as their car eased to a stop.
Han Yichen emerged first, clad in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo, a matching mask concealing his features. And with each unhurried step, he exuded effortless elegance and confidence, drawing every eye in the crowd.
Photographers shifted and spun their cameras in anticipation, eager to see who would step out next.
Han Yichen opened the other side of the backseat door and held out his hand. Heads turned quietly, filled with quiet expectation, as the crowd leaned forward, eager to catch a glimpse.
First, a glittering silver stiletto heel appeared, sparkling under the lights like a shard of ice. Slowly, a fair, slender hand emerged, poised and graceful, reaching out to take Han Yichen's with quiet confidence. The brief contact sparked a wave of murmurs and awe among the onlookers.
Then, Song Meiqi stepped out of the BMW, her sleek black gown cascading like liquid midnight, shimmering softly under the lights as it swirled around her slender frame. Her long ash-brown hair tumbled down her exposed pale back, catching the glow with every gentle movement.
She paused for a moment, calm and confident, effortlessly commanding the gaze of everyone around her. Turning her head with elegant ease, she offered a soft smile and a graceful wave to the cameras, as if this kind of attention was natural—pure confidence in every gesture.
Though her face was hidden behind a black mask that seemed too large for her small features, people were still stunned by her beauty—elegant, confident, and truly one of a kind.
She commanded everyone's attention like the star of the night as she entered the venue, her hand resting gently on her uncle's arm.
For Song Meiqi, getting this kind of attention was just part of the job. After five years as an idol, if she couldn't even catch people's eyes, she wouldn't be herself.
Almost everyone was electrified as they watched her walk the red carpet. They began to wonder who this woman was—someone who carried such a strong, undeniable presence. Her slim figure and long legs made her seem like a model, yet her elegant, poised gestures spoke of noble grace.
In the end, she stood like a queen who had descended to bless them with her presence—an unspoken grace that left the crowd humbled and awestruck.
But little did they know, this was none other than the most sought-after star in all of Country C—the unstoppable IT girl who had captured the nation's heart. Everbloom's shining center, Song Meiqi.