The moment Jiang Yuxi stepped into the grand ballroom, she felt it—the weight of a hundred calculating gazes settling on her like vultures circling a fresh kill.
The venue was breathtaking, a testament to the wealth and power gathered under one roof. Towering crystal chandeliers illuminated the space, their golden glow reflecting off polished marble floors. Waiters in crisp uniforms weaved through the crowd, offering champagne in delicate crystal flutes. The soft hum of refined conversations filled the air, punctuated by occasional laughter—polished, practiced, and never quite reaching the eyes.
But despite the luxury surrounding her, Yuxi knew she didn't belong here.
Not in their eyes.
She was an outsider, an easy target.
And tonight, she was walking straight into their den.
"Miss Jiang, how wonderful of you to join us," a smooth voice greeted her.
Yuxi turned to find Zhao Liying approaching her, dressed in a deep emerald gown that screamed both wealth and power. Her expression was pleasant, her smile polite—but Yuxi wasn't fooled.
There was poison beneath the honeyed words.
"I wouldn't miss such an important event," Yuxi replied with an equally measured smile.
Zhao Liying's gaze flickered over her, assessing. "I suppose it's a rare opportunity for someone like you. These kinds of gatherings help newcomers understand how things work in the upper circles."
Yuxi caught the veiled insult immediately. Newcomer was just a polite way of calling her an outsider. Someone unworthy of standing among them.
But before she could respond, Zhao Liying smoothly gestured towards a group of men nearby.
"Come, let me introduce you to some important people. After all, you wouldn't want to waste this chance, would you?"
Yuxi's stomach tightened.
This wasn't a friendly gesture.
It was a test.
And if she failed, she wouldn't just be embarrassed—she'd be humiliated.
As Zhao Liying guided her through the room, introductions were made, each more suffocating than the last.
"Ah, so you're the famous Mrs. Gu?" one of the female executives said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Or should I say… Miss Jiang?"
A soft chuckle rippled through the small circle of women, their amusement thinly veiled behind delicate sips of champagne.
"Such an inspiring story," another woman mused, tilting her head. "A struggling young woman suddenly finding her place at Gu Corporation. And under the care of President Gu, no less. Quite the fairytale."
Meng Yiran smirked. "Though I suppose some fairytales have shortcuts, don't they?"
The implication was clear.
They thought she had gotten her position because of Gu Zeyan.
The words were crafted carefully—polite enough to avoid open hostility, but sharp enough to slice through her dignity.
For a brief second, Yuxi considered ignoring them.
But then she remembered who she was.
And she refused to be looked down upon.
Yuxi took a slow sip of her drink, then met Meng Yiran's gaze directly.
"A shortcut?" she echoed, her voice calm but cutting. "Strange, I don't recall anyone handing me a cheat sheet when I was pulling all-nighters at the office."
The subtle jab didn't go unnoticed.
A flicker of irritation crossed Meng Yiran's face before she quickly masked it.
One of the other women arched a brow. "Then again, some women don't need cheat sheets. Just the right… connections."
Yuxi's lips curved into a small smile. "Ah, yes. Connections. The kind that can get people invited to parties they don't belong in?"
The woman's smile faltered.
Zhao Liying, sensing the tension, placed a gentle hand on Yuxi's arm. "Now, now. We're all colleagues here. No need for misunderstandings."
Yuxi said nothing, simply holding her gaze.
She knew she had won this round.
But the game was far from over.
As the evening dragged on, Yuxi maneuvered through polite conversations and carefully laid verbal traps.
But she never let her guard down.
So when she felt someone approaching from behind, she instinctively turned, bracing herself.
Lin Mochen stood before her, a glass of whiskey in his hand, his expression unreadable.
"Impressive," he remarked casually.
Yuxi frowned slightly. "Excuse me?"
He tilted his head. "You handled that well. Most people in your position would have flinched. Or worse—played into their hands."
She studied him carefully. Lin Mochen had always been a wild card. He wasn't openly on her side, but he wasn't actively against her either.
"Are you here to warn me about something?" she asked, her voice even.
Lin Mochen took a slow sip of his drink before replying, "These kinds of parties… they're more than just social events. They're hunts."
Yuxi's stomach tightened.
"Hunts?" she repeated.
He met her gaze. "People like Zhao Liying and Meng Yiran—they don't just want you gone. They want you ruined. And tonight?" He glanced around the room briefly. "They might not just rely on words to do it."
Yuxi's breath hitched.
Was he suggesting something more dangerous?
Lin Mochen leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Be careful. And whatever you do—don't drink anything you haven't seen poured yourself."
Before she could question him further, he was already turning away, disappearing back into the crowd.
A chill crept down Yuxi's spine.
She suddenly felt very alone in that room.
Unbeknownst to Yuxi, someone else had been watching her all evening.
A figure standing at a distance, his gaze dark and unwavering.
Gu Zeyan.
He had seen the way Zhao Liying steered her toward those men.
He had noticed the way Meng Yiran's words had sliced at her dignity.
And he had watched as she fought back—with sharp wit and quiet defiance.
He should have been indifferent.
He should have let her fend for herself.
After all, wasn't this what she wanted? To prove herself without his help?
Yet something inside him tightened when he saw her standing there alone, surrounded by wolves in expensive suits and silk dresses.
He took a step forward.
But just as he did, a man approached Yuxi, his stance too casual, his smile too practiced.
Gu Zeyan's jaw tightened.
His fingers curled into a fist.
This party was about to take a very dangerous turn.
And Yuxi had no idea what she had just walked into.