Jiang Yuxi stared at the invitation in her hands, the gold-embossed lettering almost mocking her.
An elite business party—one that was meant only for high-ranking employees.
She had barely caught her breath from the PR battle she had just fought, and now this?
Her name shouldn't even be on the guest list.
Her first instinct was that this was another trap.
Her thoughts were confirmed when Zhao Liying summoned her to the office later that day, a smug expression on her face.
"You should go," Zhao Liying said smoothly, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against her desk.
Yuxi sat stiffly across from her, her expression unreadable. "I thought these events were only for directors and executives."
A slow, knowing smile curled on Zhao Liying's lips. "Normally, yes. But exceptions can be made for those who… show promise."
She leaned forward slightly, her gaze sharp. "You want to prove yourself here, don't you, Jiang Yuxi? This is the perfect opportunity to network, to show that you belong among the elite. Unless, of course, you're afraid?"
Yuxi recognized the bait instantly. It was a challenge—one she wasn't meant to win.
Zhao Liying wanted her to go.
But why?
Yuxi's fingers tightened around the invitation. "I'm not afraid."
Zhao Liying's smirk widened as if she had gotten exactly the answer she wanted.
"Good," she said, tilting her head. "I look forward to seeing how you handle yourself."
Later that evening, Yuxi sat across from Gu Zeyan at the dining table, her untouched meal growing cold.
She thought about telling him.
Would he stop her? Would he tell her not to go?
Would he even care?
But when she glanced at him, his expression remained unreadable, his sharp gaze focused on his laptop screen.
He hadn't said a word about the invitation.
Did he know?
Of course, he did.
Gu Zeyan was the kind of man who knew everything that happened in his company.
And yet, he said nothing.
Maybe that was his answer.
He wasn't going to stop her.
But he wasn't going to help her either.
Fine.
If she was going to walk into this trap, she would do it with her head held high.
The venue was a lavish, private club—one reserved for the wealthiest and most influential figures in the business world.
As Yuxi stepped inside, she was immediately met with an air of exclusivity.
Elegant chandeliers cast a golden glow over the room, where men in tailored suits and women in designer gowns moved effortlessly through the crowd, exchanging pleasantries laced with hidden agendas.
She had dressed carefully for the occasion—a sleek, black off-shoulder gown that was modest yet sophisticated. She knew better than to stand out too much.
Yet, despite her composed exterior, a cold shiver crept up her spine.
Something wasn't right.
She could feel it.
The way certain people's gazes lingered on her for just a second too long.
The way Zhao Liying and Meng Yiran exchanged amused glances across the room.
She wasn't here to network.
She was here to be tested.
And she had a feeling the real game hadn't even begun yet.
As she moved through the crowd, Yuxi felt eyes following her every move.
Men whispered behind their glasses of wine, their expressions speculative.
Women eyed her with a mix of amusement and disdain.
A few people greeted her politely, but their smiles didn't reach their eyes.
She was an outsider in their world, and they wanted her to know it.
Then, just as she reached the bar, a deep voice cut through the noise.
"I didn't think you'd come."
Yuxi turned sharply.
Lin Mochen stood beside her, his expression unreadable, a glass of whiskey in his hand.
Of all the people she had expected to see, he wasn't one of them.
"You think I shouldn't have?" she asked, keeping her voice even.
Lin Mochen took a slow sip of his drink before answering. "I think Zhao Liying and Liu Wen wouldn't have sent you here if they didn't have a plan."
Yuxi frowned. "Then why are you here?"
A ghost of a smile flickered across his lips. "To watch."
Something about his tone sent a ripple of unease down her spine.
Before she could ask what he meant, the lights dimmed slightly, and a hush fell over the crowd.
A man in his forties, dressed in an expensive suit, stepped onto a small stage at the center of the room.
"Thank you all for attending tonight," he said smoothly. "We are gathered here not just to celebrate our continued business success, but to recognize those who have recently joined our circle."
The moment he said those words, Yuxi felt a sinking feeling in her stomach.
Recognition?
She wasn't the only one who noticed.
Lin Mochen exhaled sharply. "Here we go."
Then the man turned his gaze directly on Yuxi.
"And of course, we must acknowledge our newest guest—Mrs. Jiang Yuxi of Gu Corporation."
A slow wave of murmurs spread through the crowd.
Yuxi's blood turned to ice.
Zhao Liying and Meng Yiran watched her closely, their smiles sharp.
They had planned this.
This wasn't just a test.
It was a public spectacle.
And she was the main event.
A waiter appeared beside her, offering a glass of wine.
She hesitated.
The room was watching her, waiting for her reaction.
This was how it started.
She had seen it before.
The polite introductions. The friendly drinks.
And then, before she knew it, she would be pulled into their game.
A dangerous one.
One she wasn't sure she could win.
As she reached for the glass, her fingers barely brushing the stem—
Another hand stopped her.
A cold, strong grip.
One she recognized instantly.
Gu Zeyan.
He stood beside her, his expression dark, his jaw tight.
The room fell into silence.
"You're done here," he said quietly, but there was an unmistakable warning in his voice.
Yuxi's heart pounded.
She had no idea how he had arrived.
But one thing was clear—
This wasn't her game.
It was his.
And he had just ended it.