Chapter 2

Prologue

Bai Ziling immediately fell for the silver Versace strapless evening gown displayed on the mannequin—it was simple, unadorned, yet exuded both sensuality and elegance; if worn, it would surely elevate her appearance considerably, but when she glanced at the price tag…

She frowned slightly. Haggling was her specialty, and she was determined to have this gown; from the first glance, she believed the exquisite, dazzling dress had been designed specifically for her—she was its rightful new owner.

“Give me a twenty percent discount,” she told the salesgirl, projecting an air of being decisive and no-nonsense.

“Miss, fifty thousand is already cheap—this gown originally cost over one hundred eighty thousand. It’s a Versace designer piece, and you clearly know quality.”

“But it’s secondhand,” Bai Ziling insisted, forcing a look of indifference, hoping to create room for negotiation.

The previous owner only wore it twice. You know how few grand banquets we have in Taiwan—just by looking at its condition, it’s still ninety percent new. It’s worth it! And your elegance suits this dress perfectly—it’s as if it was made just for you…

“I don’t even know if it fits!” she cut in. Fifty thousand wasn’t small change. She wasn’t like Xia Zhen, Chang Weiwei, or Sima Xingchen—they’d all landed Jin Guixu, and fifty thousand was pocket change to them. For her, unemployed and scraping by, it was a fortune.

“You can try it on,” the salesgirl immediately moved to remove the gown from the mannequin. “It’ll fit perfectly!”

“But I’d only wear it a few times…” Bai Ziling murmured, hesitating.

“With luxury items like this, even wearing it once is worth it,” the salesgirl said, handing her the gown.

Bai Ziling tried it on. Standing before the full-length mirror in the silver gown, the beauty and grace were beyond words—she looked… like a seductive, radiant princess of unparalleled beauty. The dress clung to her like a second skin, requiring no alterations. Through the mirror, she didn’t see herself—she saw a woman so stunning, no one could look away.

“So beautiful!” the salesgirl whispered involuntarily—not out of flattery, not to push the sale, but because the dress and the girl were perfectly matched, each enhancing the other.

Bai Ziling didn’t want to take it off either. If she could, she’d walk out wearing it. “Can you make it cheaper?”

“Fifty thousand is already…”

“Ninety percent.” She held firm, as if that was final.

“Fine…” the salesgirl sighed. “We never negotiate prices, but seeing this dress on you—it’s as if it was always meant for you. I’ll let you have it for forty-five thousand.”

Bai Ziling glanced again at the mirror. If she had been beautiful before, now, in this gown, she was… an unparalleled beauty.

“Credit card or cash?” the salesgirl asked.

“Credit card.” As soon as she said it, she froze—she remembered her mountain of unpaid credit card debt. Adding this to it… should she really buy it? “I think…”

“We also have matching silver designer sandals—perfect for this gown, they’re…” the salesgirl immediately began promoting the accessories.

“No, the gown is enough.” Bai Ziling hurried back to the fitting room. She couldn’t buy anything else—if she did, she’d be crushed by debt before she ever found a Jin Guixu.