"Yan, tonight at 7 PM sharp, Room 5018 at Cloud Top Mansion on Xihé Road. I've told all our old classmates—you must come on time!"

Lin Yanyan stared at Zhang Xiao's text message, her heart heavy with indecision. Should she really accept his invitation?

Zhang Xiao had been her high school classmate. It had been years since she'd returned to City A, and most of her former classmates had drifted out of her life. Though she'd come back home these past two years, she'd deliberately kept a low profile, avoiding any encounters with familiar faces. Yet somehow, on her way home from work one evening, she'd run into Zhang Xiao.

He'd insisted on driving her home, chatted incessantly, and finally invited her to the class reunion. She hadn't dared refuse outright—after all, she had her own reasons for attending.

When you're so poor you can barely afford food, pride becomes a luxury.

Lin Yanyan clenched her fist around her credit card before finally stepping into the elevator, heading up to Cloud Top Mansion. Following the receptionist's directions, she made her way to Presidential Suite 5018. Along the way, she passed two familiar women deep in conversation.

"Do you think Lin Yanyan will show up to tonight's reunion?" asked the long-haired woman, arms crossed.

The curly-haired one smiled sweetly. "You seem awfully eager for her to come. Still haven't gotten over your rivalry with her after all these years?"

"What's there to compete about? Look at her family's situation now—what does she have to compare with mine?"

"True. Remember how arrogant she used to be, acting like a princess? Who would've thought her father would keep a mistress and a love child almost her age? He chose them over his own family. After that, her family fell apart so badly. It's pathetic—she's been back in City A for two years and hasn't dared contact any old classmates. If Zhang Xiao hadn't mentioned her tonight, we wouldn't even know she was back."

"I don't get why Zhang Xiao is still sucking up to her. But oh well, I do want to see what she looks like now. I just wonder if she'll actually dare to show up!"

"Don't worry—she will."

"Why?"

The curly-haired woman shot her a meaningful glance. "Think about who's paying for tonight's dinner."

The long-haired woman gasped in shock as the other walked away, smug.

The two women were easy to recognize—the long-haired one had been the class beauty back in high school, once her best friend before inexplicably turning against her. The curly-haired one had been the beauty's loyal sidekick. Lin Yanyan hadn't kept in touch with either after college, assuming no one knew about her family's downfall. Yet here they were, spilling all her secrets.

Lin Yanyan clenched her fists, closed her eyes, then took a deep breath and marched forward. This was life—no matter how miserable, you kept moving.

She arrived at the presidential suite and pushed the door open, stepping into a scene of controlled chaos. Zhang Xiao, who'd been singing, spotted her immediately and shouted, "Yan's here!"

The room fell silent in an instant.

Lin Yanyan smiled as she greeted everyone. The men were warm and welcoming, but the women sat stiffly to the side.

Back in high school, she'd been something of a queen bee—her name alone struck fear into nearby schools. Zhang Xiao had always called her "Sis."

After taking a seat, Zhang Xiao handed her a drink. "Sis, you made it at last—this is going to make me look so good. They didn't believe I could drag you here."

"Yanyan, a toast to you. You've gotten even more beautiful!" another guy chimed in.

"Cut it out with that cheap red wine. Sis only drinks the hard stuff—bring out the baijiu!"

Lin Yanyan finally held up her hand. "Zhang Xiao, stop pushing drinks. I haven't touched alcohol in ages."

"Oh? Sis, have you gone straight? Or are you going for understated luxury now?" Zhang Xiao exclaimed in mock surprise.

"Very understated luxury—your GUCCI bag is so last season!" a cold voice suddenly cut through the noise like a blade from a grave.

All heads turned to see the class beauty standing there. The women's eyes darted to Lin Yanyan's handbag, while the men fell silent.

Lin Yanyan's alma mater, the Foreign Language School, had been known as the "rich kids' school," where wealth and one-upmanship ruled. Eight years ago, when her father's mistress and illegitimate daughter hadn't yet appeared, her family had still been well-off. But now... she hadn't expected even this understated bag to be recognized. She'd come to the reunion hoping to network and salvage her dismal sales record, carefully masking her desperation with a veneer of success. Yet here it was, stripped bare.

Lin Yanyan met the class beauty's gaze coolly. The other woman stared back arrogantly, her eyes burning with the same fierce competitiveness that had plagued their high school dynamic. Eight years later, and she still hadn't let go—was it because of a man?

The thought of that man made Lin Yanyan want to laugh.

The curly-haired woman slid gracefully into the seat beside Lin Yanyan, taking her hand with a smile. "Yanyan, don't mind Jiājiā. Since marrying Young Master Fu and having that chubby baby boy, she's been spoiled rotten by her in-laws. Her priorities have just... shifted. Your bag may be outdated and not some ultra-luxury piece, but if it's meaningful to you, then that's what counts, right?"

The barb was delivered with a smile.

Young Master Fu was the city's most eligible bachelor, and the Fu family's Longtu Group was a real estate powerhouse. The curly-haired woman's attempt at one-upmanship was laughable—did she really think such words could crush her? If Lin Yanyan were so fragile, she would've crumbled long ago. Since these people insisted on winning in material terms, she'd simply have to outshine them elsewhere.

Lin Yanyan rose, ignoring the class beauty's hostility, and extended her hand. "Jiājiā, long time no see. Congratulations on your happy marriage."

The class beauty stared at her as if she were a monster—her expression was flawless, completely unaffected by the jab, even natural. To the other classmates, Lin Yanyan's grace put Liu Yunjia and the curly-haired woman's nouveau riche airs to shame.

Zhang Xiao laughed heartily. "Sis is still the most badass. You two petty girls just stay over there. Sis, listen—don't mind them. Yiyi and Wenwen married way better than they did. Real ladies don't flaunt their wealth. And Er Gouzi, Penguin, Bobo—they've all started their own companies and are doing great. Even we daddy's girls are envious. Chen Liang's out there with Monster, riding high. Oh, and next time you get pulled over, just mention Monster's name—no ticket, guaranteed!"

Lin Yanyan caught the implication. "What do Er Gouzi and Penguin do?"

Zhang Xiao held up two fingers. "You know what I mean?"

She shook her head. She'd come tonight specifically to find Penguin—rumor had it he worked in her industry, and networking for potential collaborations seemed promising.

Just then, the door burst open, and a male classmate rushed in, shouting, "Zhang Xiao, Zhang Xiao, Brother Lu is here—he's already in the elevator, almost here!"

The unmarried women hurriedly fixed their hair; the married ones tried (and failed) to hide their excitement. The curly-haired woman even pumped her fists, eyes gleaming as she asked, "Is it Senior Lu Xintou, the young CEO of Chang'an Group?"

"Yes, yes—hurry, bring out those two bottles of red wine I ordered, crank up the music, and get his favorites ready!"

Lin Yanyan's heart sank. Lu Xintou? Why was he here?

Zhang Xiao suddenly patted her hand. "Sis, the person you wanted to see is Brother Lu. His family's in venture capital—if you pitch your idea to him, you'll definitely land the project!"

Lin Yanyan's shock deepened. She was desperate for a project, but not his project. Zhang Xiao was setting her up—after everything that had happened, she never wanted to see Lu Xintou again. Rage bubbled up inside her, though whether from the stuffy air or sheer frustration, she couldn't tell.

Zhang Xiao and the guys had already rushed out. Moments later, the door swung open, and several sharply dressed, handsome men entered. Aside from the fawning Zhang Xiao and his lackeys, the leader was none other than Lu Xintou—that devilishly handsome face was burned into her memory, recognizable even in death.

Instinctively, Lin Yanyan turned away. She heard the classmates swarm toward him, the man still the center of attention as ever. The chorus of flattery and his amused laughter reached her ears, and finally, she rose and headed for the restroom.

The music outside pounded against her chest like a second heartbeat. She hid in the bathroom, staring at her pale reflection in the mirror. Even her heavy makeup couldn't conceal the sickly hue of her skin.

Lu Xintou was a nightmare that had haunted her entire youth. She'd tried so hard to forget him, yet the pain and wounds he'd inflicted still festered. Every time she thought of him—or heard his name—she felt like she was drowning.

Time passed. When Zhang Xiao knocked, she knew she had to face the music. No matter how awful the situation, she had to endure it. She'd made it through all these years—hadn't she?

Lin Yanyan pulled out her lipstick and aggressively redrawn her lips. She didn't know why she was doing it, but when she was nervous or scared, she liked to disguise herself, as if becoming someone else would make the fear go away. When she was finally satisfied with her garish, ghostly look, she stepped back into the fray.

The music was deafening, but Lu Xintou still turned his head slightly, as if sensing her presence. Through the crowd and flashing lights, his gaze locked onto hers—those mesmerizing eyes sharp and deep, hiding flames beneath.

He approached, and Lin Yanyan's heart pounded. She clenched her fists. Lu Xintou's lips curled into that devil-may-care smile, mesmerizing and dangerous. Suddenly, he reached out toward her.

"Long time no see, Lin Yanyan. Didn't expect to run into you here."