I spent two years recuperating in New Zealand. On my first day back, my cousin, Chloe, organized a welcome banquet for me. The guests were all the usual young masters and ladies from our circle. It had been a long time. The girls who used to be so close to me were unusually quiet today, each one strangely subdued. Even my younger brother, Finn, the heir to the Beaumont fortune, who once trailed obediently behind me, sweetly calling me "big sis," now seemed distant. It was my welcome banquet, yet the guests largely ignored the guest of honor. A commotion erupted at the entrance. Asher Montgomery walked in, holding a woman’s hand, and the quiet banquet felt like oil had been poured into still waters. My brother was the first to rise and greet them. “Asher, Phoebe, you’re finally here.” The other young women, who moments before had been so stiff and quiet, suddenly livened up: “Phoebe, come over here.” “We saved a spot just for you.” The young woman, surrounded by everyone, smiled charmingly, her movements graceful. Asher, by her side, gazed at her with such tender affection, they looked like a match made in heaven. If Asher wasn't my fiancé, I’d be cheering for this couple. My cousin, Chloe, ever the instigator, leaned in and whispered, “See, Evie? This woman is their stand-in, but she’s become the real deal. If you’d come back any later, she’d probably be pregnant already.” My cousin and I grew up together. Aunt Linda, being rather lax, often left Chloe at our house, where she was raised alongside me. My mother, having no way to refuse her own sister, simply acquiesced. Thankfully, our family wealth was vast, and raising one more child was no burden at all. Two months ago, Chloe sent me a photo. In it, Asher was intimately embracing a young woman. She bore a striking five-point resemblance to me. I’d heard that Phoebe, the new sensation from The Thorntons, had been raised in the countryside. It wasn’t until I left the Capital City two years ago for my recuperation that she returned to The Thorntons’ estate and began to frequent all the social events in our circle. Initially, Phoebe imitated my style of dress, and because of her similar appearance, others mocked her as a cheap imitation. But gradually, people in the circle discovered that while Phoebe resembled me in looks and style, her personality was gentle and graceful. Compared to my brash and headstrong nature, Phoebe was far more likable. Beyond her gentleness, Phoebe was also skilled at livening up the atmosphere. In summer, she’d invite everyone rafting; in autumn, she’d organize fly-fishing trips; in winter, she’d whisk them off to exclusive ski resorts. Soon, she became the new darling of the social scene. My former circle of friends slowly gravitated towards her. Even my brother, Finn, who initially disdained her, gradually began to treat her like an older sister, finding a warmth and sibling bond with her he’d never experienced before. And my fiancé, Asher Montgomery, the Montgomery heir, went from loudly scolding her not to imitate me, to gazing at her now with eyes full of tender affection, as if Phoebe were truly his fiancée. My cousin, my ever-present sentinel, always relayed every detail to me, making it impossible for me to feign ignorance. “Phoebe, like me?” I looked at her with a piercing gaze. Phoebe’s body trembled, and she instinctively recoiled behind Asher. I scoffed softly. “You all need an eye exam. Where do we look alike?” Today, I was wearing a white cocktail dress. Phoebe was also in white. Around my neck hung a valuable pink diamond necklace. She, too, wore a pink necklace, though hers was of pink pearls. Phoebe was undeniably pretty. But even when she wore clothes of the same color and similar jewelry, I never thought her features resembled mine. My words cast an immediate silence over the room. People exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. Phoebe was the first to react, her face pale, yet she said with a hint of defiance, “Miss Beaumont’s beauty is famously the Capital City’s finest. I hardly compare to Miss Beaumont.” Everyone present seemed to show disapproval at the humble tone in Phoebe’s voice. “Evie,” Finn chimed in, “a person’s appearance is born with them. Phoebe’s looks were set at birth; it’s not her fault she resembles you. You can’t just lash out at an innocent person because you demand everything to be unique, can you?” I almost laughed aloud. If I were truly lashing out, would you all still be standing here so comfortably? “Fool. Don’t you realize, I’m talking about you?” My words were directed at Finn, but my gaze swept slowly over everyone in the room. “Two years away, and Miss Beaumont’s temper is still awful, isn’t it?” “Before, I just thought Phoebe and Miss Beaumont were similar. But seeing them side-by-side, a weary Miss Beaumont truly can’t compare to a radiant Phoebe.” “Honestly, Miss Beaumont is just… passable. And her temper…” My volatile temper was well-known in the circle. My father once told me a woman should be gentle like water, flowing and yielding. But then again, cruelty can also flow like water. Rather than consume myself with resentment, I prefer to light a fire under others. Watching the people in this ostensibly harmonious circle quake in their boots after a single sentence from me, I found it utterly boring. “This is supposedly my welcome banquet, yet you all look glum facing me, then turn so enthusiastic for an unrelated Phoebe.” I turned to my cousin. “Chloe, thank you for arranging this gathering today. From now on, please don’t invite me to any events where these people are present.” I picked up my clutch, ready to leave. As I passed by Phoebe, her friend beside her suddenly let out a yelp. The friend stumbled, and the gift box in her hand tilted, sending a massive white crystal geode sliding out. It crashed onto Phoebe’s foot, instantly bruising her instep. In an instant, Asher’s enraged roar filled my ears. “Evie, what are you doing?!” “This geode, Phoebe searched so many places to find it for you, thinking it could purify your aura and benefit your health. If you didn’t want it, you didn’t have to take it. Why smash it?” Asher and I had grown up together, practically childhood sweethearts. He was always aloof, keeping everyone at a distance. Even on the day of our engagement, his expression was neutral. This was the first time I’d ever seen him so furious. Now, he condescendingly knelt beside Phoebe’s foot, carefully examining her injury. Once he confirmed she was unharmed, he straightened up and glared at me, his voice a venomous hiss: “Everyone came today specifically to welcome you back after your years abroad. And what did you do? You spoke nothing but cold, cutting remarks, smashed a gift, and made the whole affair incredibly awkward.” “Two years, and your temper is still as terrible as ever.” SMACK! The loud slap finally silenced Asher. Such a chatterbox. I flexed my wrist and pulled my bag tighter. A few decorative pieces had broken off and were now hanging from Asher’s shoulder. The surrounding crowd stared, wide-eyed, having just witnessed a spectacular show. Asher’s eyes were wide with disbelief. “You actually hit me?” Did hitting him require a special occasion? I scoffed coldly. “You’re still my fiancé. You think I’d tolerate you openly defending another woman right in front of me, wearing that enormous green hat?” I’d honestly thought my temper had mellowed after these years recuperating abroad; after all, extreme anger harms the body. The old me, upon hearing others gossip, would have immediately started a heated argument, escalating to physical blows if I was truly provoked. Now, it seemed they had forgotten who I used to be and insisted on provoking me. He who provokes first is the villain, yet they blame me for retaliating. “Miss Beaumont, it’s all my fault.” “I… I didn’t know this gift was so fragile. If it had been placed flat, it wouldn’t have shattered so easily.” I sneered. “Of course, it’s your fault. You brought a geode as a gift. Do you think I’m some kind of evil entity that needs purifying?” Phoebe cried. Indeed, she was a beauty, and her tears were truly pitiful. As she covered her face, I caught a glimpse of her lips subtly curving upward. A smile, meant only for me, visible from this angle alone. Asher’s face grew even darker. He stopped rubbing the spot where my bag had hit him, turned to comfort Phoebe, and delivered a chilling warning: “I never knew you were such an unreasonable person.” My brother, Finn, also pointed at me and scolded, “Evie, what did Phoebe do to deserve such treatment from you?” “When we see Father tonight, I’ll certainly have him punish you!” I smiled, waved a dismissive hand, and turned to leave. “Go ahead and report me.” “‘Big sis Phoebe,’ huh? What kind of random stray can be your sister now?” “Oh, and by the way,” I stopped and turned back, “Asher, have you forgotten that the engagement between you and me was something your father desperately begged for when he brought you to our home?” “Since you like Phoebe so much, I won’t stand in your way. I agree to break off the engagement. You can go tell The Montgomerys yourself.” Might as well finish it all in one go. I turned to Phoebe. “As for you, do I look like an idiot?” “While my temper isn’t great, I walk with purpose. I didn’t even touch your friend just now, yet she stumbled like that. Was she trying to stage an accident?” “Don’t believe me?” I pointed to the streetlight in the courtyard. “The camera at this angle should have captured it very clearly.” My direct, name-calling scolding left Finn’s face somber, Asher’s face ashen. Phoebe’s face was a mixture of red and white. Everyone else looked uncomfortable. Their discomfort meant my mood improved. I was used to it, anyway; they either gossiped about me to my face or behind my back. Am I some kind of doormat, unable to fight back when insulted? “You don’t need to report me; I’ll do it myself. I’ll relay every single one of your performances today, exactly as they happened, to each of your family heads.” “After all, there are plenty of high-definition cameras here. Your clothes, your makeup, your expressions,” I shook my phone, “even the words you spoke, are all clearly recorded.” With that, I didn’t bother with their panicked expressions and turned to walk out. But I bumped directly into a man entering from outside the courtyard. His strong hand gripped my arm, steadying me firmly. I looked up, meeting a handsome, flawless face. The man’s face flushed, and he quickly released me. But I was in no mood to admire handsome men. Once steady, I pushed him away. “Don’t touch me. Get out of the way!” Instantly, the man’s face grew even redder, his ear tips turning pink. I frowned. Did this person like being pushed around? “Evie,” my cousin whispered, her voice meek. “Let’s go together.” “Oh, don’t mind him. He likes it when you scold him.” There were people with that kind of kink? He was so handsome; his personality must be anything but ordinary. There was a sense of familiarity about him. The red-faced man saw me looking at him and immediately introduced himself: “Miss Beaumont, I’m Julian Davies of The Davies family.” The Davies? A prominent, but second-tier family in the circle, a notch below our Beaumonts and The Montgomerys. Before I could react, Julian shoved a gift box into my hand, then turned and scurried away. Even after I was in the car, I was still confused. “Julian Davies? Have I met him before?” Chloe leaned comfortably against the seat back, tapped a few times on her phone, and an AI voice began to speak: “Julian Davies, second-in-command of Davies Group, second child of The Davies family head. Currently known to be worth billions. If The Davies fortune is passed to him, his worth is estimated to be tens of billions. Age 22, unmarried, height 6’2”, and all the essential details…” My face burned. What kind of inappropriate AI was my cousin using? “You don’t know him? You had to ask your AI?” “Oh, should I know him? This is the first time I’ve seen him today.” I looked at my cousin, half-amused, half-helpless. Keep playing dumb. My cousin also pretended ignorance. “Evie, why don’t you check what he gave you?” She quickly took the gift box and began to unwrap it. Once the excess packaging was removed, Chloe gasped. I looked over, and she held a velvet cloth, showcasing a flawless, imperial green jade bangle, translucent like glass. Such a bangle was rarely seen, even at auctions. I took it, examined it carefully, and slipped it on. It was a perfect fit for my wrist. Chloe clicked her tongue a few times. “Evie, you said you didn’t know him. He even knows your wrist size and preferences so well.” I rotated my wrist, watching the bangle shimmer with light, and smiled faintly. Although the welcome banquet had ended unpleasantly, receiving a perfect bangle was certainly a good outcome. Perhaps the bangle had a calming effect, for I slept soundly that night. I woke up early the next day. By the time I finished my Eight Sections of Brocade, it was still before eight. Once I was ready, I had my bodyguards go to The Cloud Haven Bistro, the most popular restaurant in our circle. They set up a seven-foot-tall display screen at the entrance, playing an edited video of yesterday’s welcome banquet on loop. Phoebe’s attempt to frame me, Asher’s scolding, Finn’s indignation, and the others’ reactions—all were there. I even thoughtfully added subtitles, detailing who said what, with each person’s name clearly labeled. Passersby, guests entering the restaurant, and even eager onlookers uploaded the video online, and it quickly went viral. Today, the social circles’ group chats exploded. A torrent of messages at-ed me, demanding to know what my intentions were. I replied with a “smile” emoji, then exited the group. According to the information my assistant gathered, the second-generation heirs of prominent families featured in those videos were severely reprimanded by their own families after returning home. After all, who gave them the audacity to openly mock the Beaumont heiress?
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