After leaving Ye Fanxing's studio, Gu Yining stood on the street and called Xiao Xiao.
"Come out and go shopping with me. I need to buy a dress for tomorrow's gala," she said eagerly.
Upon hearing that Gu Yining was also attending the gala, Xiao Xiao exclaimed excitedly, "Ahhh! The gala? I'm going too! My mom is taking me along so I can scout for a potential husband!"
"Have you picked out your dress yet?" Gu Yining asked.
"My mom had the designer send over more than a dozen dresses, but they're all too flashy for my taste. Why don't you come to my house and pick one? I think they would look much better on you anyway. You can save the money!" Xiao Xiao suggested generously.
Gu Yining considered her friend's offer. Given the extravagant nature of the gala, where dresses typically cost upwards of a million, and the competitive atmosphere among socialites vying for attention, she decided it was best to wear something impressive. Thus, she accepted Xiao Xiao's invitation.
The next evening at seven o'clock, luxury cars began arriving at the hotel hosting the gala.
Inside the opulent banquet hall, guests mingled, drinks in hand, creating a vibrant atmosphere. The attendees were all prominent figures from Lingcheng, making it a truly exclusive event.
Standing at the entrance of the hall, Gu Yining pulled out her phone and sent a WeChat message to Xiao Xiao: "Where are you? I'm waiting for you so we can go in together."
Moments later, Xiao Xiao replied, "Dear Ningning, sorry! I had to make a quick exit. My mom wanted to turn the gala into a massive matchmaking event for me, and I just couldn't go along with that. Enjoy the gala! I'm sneaking away now!"
The message was accompanied by a playful emoji of someone sneaking away, which made Gu Yining chuckle.
That little girl was clearly traumatized by the prospect of arranged marriages; her mother must have pressured her quite a bit.
Putting away her phone, Gu Yining checked the time and entered the banquet hall with her invitation in hand.
By then, the hall was nearly full.
Gu Yining made her entrance in a stunning, floor-length wine-red gown that immediately turned heads.
Her makeup was elegant and sophisticated, with bold red lips that added a striking contrast to her complexion. The V-shaped back design of the gown accentuated her flawless, pale skin, highlighting her elegant silhouette.
To cover the injuries on her wrist, she wore delicate white lace cuffs, a subtle touch that added to her grace.
Her long, glossy black hair was elegantly styled in an updo, showcasing her beautifully defined neck.
Every feature of her strikingly beautiful face seemed to dazzle the crowd.
With each step in her black high-heeled shoes, she exuded confidence and elegance, capturing the attention of everyone in the hall, like an enchanting fairy.
Many onlookers couldn't help but admire her.
"Whose daughter is she? She's stunning!"
"I didn't know there was such a beautiful socialite in Lingcheng!"
"She looks a bit like that champion from the perfume competition, Leon."
The whispers of admiration and curiosity filled the air around her.
Gu Yining's bright eyes scanned the banquet hall, searching for Ye Fanxing, who had invited her.
After looking around for a while, she still couldn't find her friend; perhaps Ye Fanxing hadn't arrived yet.
Gu Yining took a glass of red wine from a passing waiter and glided toward the seating area, her gown trailing elegantly behind her.
Across the room, Gu Wenxuan, who had previously been humiliated by Leon at the perfume competition, spotted Gu Yining immediately.
Wearing a champagne-colored dress that sparkled with every movement, she sauntered over, holding her wine glass with a sense of entitlement.
"Why are you even allowed in here?" Gu Wenxuan's haughty voice cut through the celebratory ambiance.
Gu Yining swirled her glass of wine, casting a cool glance at her. "Is this gala hosted by you? Do you have exclusive rights to attend?"
"Ha! Do you even have an invitation? I wouldn't be surprised if you snuck in!" Gu Wenxuan sneered, dripping with disdain.
Ever since the perfume competition concluded, she had sent people to investigate Leon's background thoroughly.
Both of his parents were deceased, and he had no special status or connections. His modest success in the perfume industry was attributed solely to his talent.
In her eyes, he was simply not someone of sufficient stature to belong at an event of this caliber.