The high - end crystal chandelier refracted a mesmerizing light through the champagne - filled goblets. In a perfect echo, a ruby necklace nestled in a black velvet satin box sparkled brightly.
A slender finger glided across each radiant ruby. Her thin lips curled up slightly, revealing a contented smile. A pair of strong hands reached around from behind, gently clasping her slender waist.
“Do you like the ruby necklace?” The deep, steady voice was inherently magnetic, as if it could suck people in with every utterance.
Xia Jingwei raised her eyes and saw the reflection of two figures in the dressing mirror in front of her. One was dressed in a high - end custom - made white mermaid evening gown embroidered with handmade pearl accessories of various sizes. The dress perfectly accentuated her graceful figure, and her stunning face was on par with the most popular actresses in the entertainment industry. The man behind her was pressed closely against her. He had sword - like eyebrows and starry eyes, looking handsome and elegant. His well - tailored suit made every contour of his tall frame look irresistibly good.
Xia Jingwei turned around, wrapped her jade arms around Gu Bei's neck, and pouted playfully, “This is too precious.”
Gu Bei affectionately tapped the tip of her small, straight nose, “It's your birthday gift. Just tell me if you like it. Don't worry about the price.”
Xia Jingwei tiptoed and planted a gentle kiss on Gu Bei's lips, “I like it to death.” Gu Bei mischievously licked his lips, “This little reward isn't enough.”
He pulled Xia Jingwei into his arms and immediately planted a passionate kiss on her lips. It was a kiss that seemed to drain the very breath from each other. They lingered in the kiss for a long time before finally pulling apart. Xia Jingwei blushed and gently pushed against Gu Bei's broad chest, “It's all your fault. My lipstick is smudged.”
Gu Bei grinned wickedly, then picked up the ruby necklace, “Let me put it on for you.”
“Once I put it on, you'll be my woman for life.”
“Okay...”
In the car, Xia Jingwei couldn't help but wear a happy smile on her face as she thought about the engagement ceremony the next day. She and Gu Bei would form a happy family, harmonious, loving, and blissful. Lost in her memories, Xia Jingwei didn't notice a speeding truck charging straight towards her.
There was a loud “bang”!
Xia Jingwei's mind went blank. Her eyelids felt incredibly heavy, and there were rustling sounds and faint conversations around her.
“What are you waiting for? Boss Gu told you to do it cleanly!” Xia Jingwei recognized that it was the voice of Gu Bei's personal secretary.
“Is everything set up? There won't be any mistakes, right?”
“Don't worry, bro. That woman drank some wine. She's already out of her mind by now.”
Wine? Xia Jingwei's muddled mind cleared up a bit. The tender moments just now seemed like a distant dream. The two embracing, the clinking glasses, and the sweet wine they drank...
There was something wrong with that glass of wine! Gu Bei had drugged her!
Inside the dilapidated car, the raging fire was like a ferocious beast, its tongues of flame licking at Xia Jingwei's fair skin inch by inch. The ruby necklace on her chest glowed an eye - catching red against the backdrop of the fire. The cold touch of the necklace stood in stark contrast to the searing heat. Xia Jingwei gasped for breath with great difficulty and managed a bitter smile.
Why, Gu Bei... Why are you doing this to me?
Xia Jingwei was filled with such unwillingness! She and Gu Bei had been childhood sweethearts. From acquaintance to love, it had been a full twenty years, but this was the outcome she got? A mouthful of blood foam spilled from the corner of Xia Jingwei's mouth. She gritted her back teeth so hard that they made a creaking sound. She secretly swore, Gu Bei, you harmed me in this life! If there's a next life, I will never let you off!
The blood - red full moon rose high into the sky. With a deafening explosion, the car blew up. Flames filled the sky, mingled with fragments. Xia Jingwei's vision went black, and she lost all consciousness.
The next day, major mainstream media reported two shocking pieces of news: Xia Jingwei, the only daughter of the Xia Group, died in a car accident on her twenty - fifth birthday. There was no trace of her body left after the vehicle exploded. Meanwhile, Gu Bei, the adopted son and one of the directors of the Xie Group, got engaged to the eldest daughter of the Yuan Group, a powerful alliance.
Upon hearing the tragic news, the already frail Mr. Xia suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and was rushed to the hospital. With the backbone of the family gone, the Xia Group collapsed like a crumbling mountain. Before long, it was acquired by the Xie Group.
From then on, the Xie Group had successfully reached the top of the business world pyramid.
Two years later -
The quiet cemetery was solemn and serene. It was drizzling that day, and a layer of mist rose in the cemetery, making everything hazy. Several black Audi cars suddenly emerged from the mist and drove straight towards the depths of the cemetery.
“May the Lord bless you. Rest in peace.” The priest closed the Bible, bowed his head in front of the tombstone, as if in prayer. A group of people around him, dressed in black and holding black umbrellas, also closed their eyes following the priest.
The Audi cars stopped on a nearby path, and several people got out. Gu Bei, who had been praying, raised his sharp eyes and glanced at the newcomers. He couldn't help but jeer, “Uncle Xie, it's not very appropriate to be late for your own father's funeral, is it?”
The newcomer was Xie Shuwen, the younger brother of the old man of the Xie family. He was in his forties, with neatly combed and shiny hair. His eyes held too many schemes, and it was obvious that he was a restless person.
“I was on an important mission. If you don't believe me, take a look at who's here.” Xie Shuwen said, pointing towards the Audi cars.
Gu Bei looked in the direction of his finger and saw a young girl getting out of the car. She raised her innocent eyes and met Gu Bei's confused gaze. She quickly averted her eyes, looking a bit scared.
Their eyes met, and Gu Bei suddenly felt a bit dazed. For some reason, the image of Xia Jingwei as a child flashed through his mind. She turned around against the sunlight, the spring breeze blowing her long, flowing hair, and she smiled brightly at him.
What was he thinking! How could this unknown girl be compared to Xia Jingwei? Gu Bei immediately shook off the distracting thoughts, frowned, and looked at the girl again. He saw that she had a head of smooth, black shoulder - length hair, with a white chrysanthemum hairpin on one side. Her skin was extremely pale, almost bloodless. She was wearing a pair of black - framed glasses, and her cherry - like lips were slightly pursed. Her fingers nervously fidgeted with the edge of her skirt, showing her uneasiness.
She was nothing like Xia Jingwei.
Gu Bei turned to Xie Shuwen and asked, “Who is she?”
Xie Shuwen smiled, “Who else could it be? She's your younger sister, Xie Bingxia, the long - lost orphan of the old man who had been living overseas.”
Xie Bingxia only glanced at Gu Bei and then quickly shifted her gaze. Just a few seconds of eye contact made her chest feel as if it had sunk to the cold bottom of the sea, making it hard for her to breathe.
It wasn't that she was afraid of him; it was hatred, hatred that went deep into her bones.
The towering flames that night, the blood - red full moon, the icy - cold ground, and the sweet - smelling blood surging in her throat were like cursed talismans, engraved deep into her marrow, causing excruciating pain.
How could she, Xia Jingwei, forget Gu Bei's betrayal? By the grace of heaven, the day of the car accident was the day of the blood moon. Miraculously, she was reborn, but with her age regressed to about fifteen years old.
Having survived a near - death experience, the only thing Xia Jingwei wanted to do was to take revenge for herself and the Xia Group. However, the Xia Group had already collapsed. Left with no support, she could only hide her identity and pretend to be an enemy of Gu Bei to seek refuge with Xie Shuwen.
“I can help you, but you have to be my pawn and bring down Gu Bei!”
“The Xie Group should, of course, belong to the Xie family. How can it fall into the hands of an outsider?”
Xia Jingwei looked at the old fox Xie Shuwen with a look of gritted teeth and secretly laughed. It was still uncertain who would use whom! Let's wait and see.
After two years of secret planning and preparation, on the day of the old man of the Xie family's death, Xia Jingwei transformed into Xie Bingxia, the long - lost orphan of the Xie family, and returned to Gu Bei's side.
“Little sister? Uncle Xie, you're really good at joking.” Gu Bei's voice was full of disdain, not to mention his disbelief.
“Ungrateful son!” Xie Shuwen was furious. “Say that again in front of the old man's tombstone?” With that, he threw a paternity test report directly in front of Gu Bei. “She is definitely the old man's orphan!”
“Uncle Xie, don't be angry...” Xie Bingxia quickly stepped forward, timidly grabbing the hem of Xie Shuwen's suit. Then she stole a glance at Gu Bei, and her bright eyes immediately welled up with tears.
“Uncle Xie, I want to follow you. Don't give me to Brother Gu...”