Chapter 4: Going Too Well

Truthfully, in her entire twenty-fifth year of age, AiLin had never felt the world was ever on her side. When she wished it wouldn't rain, the sky just had to cry out its raindrops. When she prayed that her parents wouldn't find an object to hit her, there will always be a goddamn turtle statue near their hands for them to throw it over her head. So she was confused to find out how everything went so well for her right as soon as she got out of prison. First of all, she had somehow left the prison on the day of Jiang NianNian's birthday. She knew this as the moment she walked to the city on the road she used to take in the past, she found the large banner adorned with the face of her enemy right in a large, blinding billboard. Kindly enough, there was a date and location where Jiang NianNian was holding her birthday, allowing all types of celebrities to come. It was the best day for her to come and see for herself the faces of the people whom she would plunge to hell. But what surprised her even more was the fact that the black duffle bag she had brought out from Grandpa Lin was stacked with money. Stacked with money might sound like an underwhelming note. This bag was holding over two hundred thousand yuan. She felt uncomfortable as that was the money that she had saved up in her bank before she entered the prison with some extras. That money couldn't have come from her family. Her public attorney had told her that her family had taken over all her assets right as soon as she was brought into the court. Whose money was it? Grandpa Lin was certain this bag belonged to her, and as she tried to remember it, she really did bring this bag when she first moved into the prison, left by her family. But it was empty. Yes. Empty. Not filled to the brim with stacks of money. As uncomfortable as she felt, this money was nowhere to be found. Grandpa Lin wouldn't have this much money, but he wouldn't have given a false bag to her either. Sdistrustsust pe,ople but not the grandpa who was there during her first entrance to the prison. She ruffled her hair, trying to piece everything together inside the bathroom. After a while of staring at the money and checking if that money was not forfeited, she decided to look deeper into the bag, only to feel a coarse fabric. Curious, AiLin pulled the fabric, revealing the midnight purple dress that was covered from one end to its skirt with sparkling jewels. She stared in disbelief, almost about to gasp in confusion. "Someone just gave me a bag of money and a dress," she said in disbelief. As she squinted her eyes, she thought of anyone who could be so kind as to assist her. Although she doesn't have any family members to trust, she indeed only has one other friend. "Maybe it's Carmen?" AiLin whispered to herself with a sigh. "Know what, it's mine now." She decided to push aside her worries. If push comes to shove, maybe she would just be accused of stealing the money. But she furrowed as she found another velvet box. She clipped open the box, her eyes narrowed after finding the set of necklace and earrings, all of which seemed to be a set with the dress. Then there was another pair of black heels with red bottoms. True, she did feel that the bag was heavy, but she didn't think it was because of money, dress, and jewelry. What put her off even more was the fact that all of these things fit her snugly. The dress was perfect when she had tried it on, the jewelry shone perfectly on her skin, and the shoes were not even the slightest loose or too tight. Inside the cubicle, she couldn't see the dress too well on her, so she decided to step out from the cubicle with her duffle bag on her shoulders. But as soon as she stepped out, she found a woman who was placing lipstick on her lips. She was smiling happily, chuckling as she spoke to the friend beside her, "I was surprised to hear from you when you called me here!" "I know! I was surprised too when I saw him!" Her friend chided. "I know how much you have admired 'him' ever since your childhood. So when I saw his car here, I thought I needed to warn you at once!" "But that's weird. Knowing 'him', he wouldn't have come to this Hotel. Usually, he goes to the Han Hotel, right?" The woman who was fixing her makeup made a turn in front of the mirror and tightened the dress around her waist. "Knowing how rich he is, of course, someone like Li ZiChen will not step into this cheap hotel. But it's a chance for you to finally get to see him close. Don't mess it up!" "I know, I know! I will make sure he falls for my charm today," said the woman in a rush. "What do you think? Is my makeup perfect?" "Hm, I don't think your eyemakeup is good enough. Ah, look at that lady in the purple dress. I heard Li ZiChen only likes women with foxy eyes," commented her fire, nd causing the two to immediately turn their heads and look at AiLin. AiLin blinked and wondered who this "Li ZiChen" that they mentioned was, but seeing that his young mistress seemed to have taken a liking to the man, it meant he would be some kind of conglomerate. She could tell this just by looking at the younger girl who was dressed from head to toes with branded items that could buy a mansion. She knew that the Five Leaves Hotel was a rather expensive ho, so she wasn't too surprised seeing the kind of young mistresses enjoying their time here, especially when she used to be one of those mistresses. But it seemed the "Li ZiChen" man in their story is someone who wouldn't step into this hotel because he needed a more expensive place. He must be wealthier than the Jiangs. Not that it's any of her business. She smiled at the girls and walked toward the mirror without a word. She overheard the two girls talking again. "But is it really alright for you to ditch Jiang NianNian's birthday party for this?" "It's fine! I will go back before the main party is held. There is still an hour left. Let's not waste time and go see Li ZiChen now!" In a moment, AiLin found the two girls running away. She decided to place the thoughts aside and looked at her reflection again. Her face was much more mature than it had been in the past. Her innocence is gone, and her foxy eyes appear more wicked than before. She doubted that anyone would recognize her with some more makeup. After all, it had been six years. Six. Years. For good or bad, the dress that she wore was indeed perfect on her body. It had a mermaid-like silhouette glistening with shine. If she had stepped into a dark room, she could tell that she would still shine from the beauty of the jewels around her neckline. She could also tell that the jewelry on her neck and ears was even more expensive than the entire outfit those two girls had worn. Wearing them made her feel slightly anxious as she disliked the idea owing to anyone. But thinking it could be her friend Carmen's action, she decided to push the thoughts away. After all, if it wasn't Carmen, who else would know the size of her body, feet, and what would go around her skin so well? Unless that person is obsessed with her, she doubted. Looking at the time, she decided to leave the bathroom and use the money to book a room for now. As soon as she left the bathroom, she could hear a crash that startled her. Her head immediately turned, but her body reacted first as it shivered when she overheard the deep voice that warned menacingly, "Don't touch me."