Chapter 122: Jealousy

To enhance the realism of the show, Li Weiwei had all the guests enter the venue at random, keeping their entrances as low-profile as possible.

Still, as soon as Song Wanning and Wen Jingxing appeared, they drew the attention of most of the attendees. Especially Wen Jingxing—his presence alone was almost enough to announce the failure of the game outright. The guests, seeing the trailing cameras, weren’t surprised at all. Instead, they struck poses or nibbled elegantly at pastries, embodying the very image of socialites and noble ladies.

After all, the invitation Li Weiwei sent had clearly stated that the gathering would be filmed as a high-society tea party, and those unwilling to be recorded could simply decline to attend. More importantly, the guests had no idea that reality show celebrities would be present at this tea party. Li Weiwei had instructed everyone to interact as usual, without feeling constrained or stiff.

Naturally, everyone present was used to the limelight; a few cameras wouldn’t make them uncomfortable. To make the filming seem even less intrusive, Li Weiwei had the cameramen shoot randomly, never focusing on any one guest for too long. The lens would linger only when there was conversation or interaction, though, of course, the footage would mostly feature the main guests’ perspectives.

[Ah! Song Wanning is finally broadcasting again!]
[Song Wanning is here!!! Her outfit is stunning, but why does it look so familiar? Isn’t that the new limited edition from Vair this year?]
[Limited edition? Song Wanning has that kind of money? Maybe it’s just a knockoff.]
[Knockoff? Get lost, you bitter troll. With Young Master Wen by her side, why would Song Wanning wear fakes? Do you even know who he is?]
[Exactly. Last time, as soon as Young Master Wen left the mountain resort, he gave Song Wanning the house. You think he’d just stand by while she attends a tea party?]
[That’s a limited piece, you know how much it costs? Even if Wen’s loaded, he’s not an idiot. He wouldn’t keep buying Song Wanning things.]
[Believe what you want, you jealous troll!]
[Oh my, Wen’s suit matches Song Wanning’s dress so well! The couple vibes are off the charts. When Song Wanning entered arm-in-arm with Wen Jingxing, my jaw nearly dropped—she’s absolutely stunning, almost ethereal!]
...

It was afternoon, and the sun shone brightly through the windows, casting its light onto the wooden floors. Song Wanning, holding onto Wen Jingxing’s arm, walked right through a sunlit patch. Her jet-black hair gleamed with golden highlights under the sun. Half of her face was bathed in light, the other half in shadow—a scene that would test anyone’s features. Yet, far from being ordinary, the sunlight seemed to accentuate her beauty, making her features even more striking. Even her dress sparkled as it caught the light. Her waist was slender, her figure graceful, her neck long and elegant, and every step she took radiated confidence and poise.

Unfortunately, most of the guests didn’t recognize Song Wanning. In the elite circles of the capital, many had heard of her due to the Xu family’s troubles, but few had actually seen her. Most people treated the tragic tales about the Xu family’s daughter as mere stories—who would care about someone as seemingly unremarkable as Song Wanning?

The guests found themselves marveling at the presence of such a beauty in the city, one whose origins were a mystery. Yet when they glanced at Wen Jingxing standing beside her, even the boldest men dared not approach Song Wanning. Wen Jingxing had been single for years, with not a single rumor attached to his name. Why would he suddenly appear at such a seemingly trivial tea party, and bring along a woman of such dazzling beauty, almost like a fairy?

In a corner, Jian An’an, clad in a gold gown that should have been eye-catching, stood unnoticed as she entered the venue. Now, she was glaring venomously at Song Wanning.

So, Song Wanning, you already had your dress ready all along! No wonder you weren’t the least bit anxious before! And all that talk about dressing as a man—it was all to fool me, wasn’t it?

Jian An’an clutched at her slightly cheap dress, her jealousy nearly bursting from her chest. She was wearing a dress that cost thousands, yet she’d spent a hundred thousand on a dress for the woman she hated most, and Song Wanning didn’t even wear it!

Jian An’an felt as if she’d swallowed a fly, the discomfort almost unbearable. What made it worse was that, in order to frame Song Wanning, she’d snipped all the ties on the dress she’d given her. Now, with the dress ruined, even if she managed to get it back, she couldn’t return it for a refund. These big-name boutiques were the most troublesome—once a dress was damaged, there were no returns.

Song Wanning, don’t think you can escape so easily. You still have that thoroughly disgraceful family of yours. They’ve been searching for you for so long, yet here you are, living comfortably, basking in praise. Well, aren’t I thoughtful, bringing your family here for you...

Jian An’an muttered under her breath, so angry that her whole body trembled. Her hand shaking, she took out her phone and sent Song Xin Song Wanning’s current location.

Jian An’an: [Just a little longer and you can come in.]

She wanted to wait until everyone’s expectations for Song Wanning had reached their peak, then have two lunatics burst in and shatter her flawless image in front of everyone.

Beside her, Jin Jianyi finally noticed something was off. He asked with concern, “An’an, what’s wrong?”

Jian An’an quickly smoothed her expression into a smile. “It’s nothing. I guess I’m just nervous—this is my first time at such a big event.”

Jin Jianyi said, “Oh, that’s all? Don’t worry. I’ll bring you to more of these in the future. After a few times, you’ll get used to it and won’t be nervous anymore. I used to be just like you—so nervous I could barely speak when people talked to me. Haha…”

As he laughed, he realized Jian An’an didn’t look happy at all. “What’s wrong?”

Jin Jianyi genuinely wanted to comfort her, but didn’t know how, so he could only clumsily use himself as an example.

But Jian An’an just felt he was showing off. Still, she quickly adjusted her expression and replied sweetly, “It’s nothing.”

Meanwhile, Song Wanning nibbled on pastries at her table, watching Jian An’an with great interest. She noticed how Jian An’an’s expression shifted from grim to gentle to smug, as if she were performing some sort of magic trick.

But Jian An’an, consumed by her schemes, had no idea she was being watched.

Song Wanning thought, Today’s drama should be quite spectacular, shouldn’t it? After all, she’d just discovered that the dress Jian An’an gave her had been tampered with…

(End of chapter)