Su Yue stood before the mirror, she look like a dream in her custom-made gown. She applied a bold swipe of red lipstick, her small face otherwise bare of makeup. Why bother when her complexion was already flawless, more radiant than any foundation could achieve? A rosy blush, a slight curve of her lips, and the water-blue dress, adorned with rhinestones shimmering on the waist and skirt’s veil, made her dazzle. She was utterly captivating.
“Jiang Ci, we can go,” she announced.
“Are you happy?” Jiang Ci rose from the sofa, a striking figure in his slim-fit black suit and white shirt. He seemed taller, more slender. Su Yue couldn’t shake the feeling that the scar on his left cheek had softened, looking less menacing than before.
“Is it obvious?” Su Yue’s lips curved. While banquets rarely thrilled her, the prospect of witnessing the unfolding drama from the novel made her spirits light. She recalled the plot: Jiang Muhang would face a sudden attack, and Jiang Xuan, in a heroic act of love, would be injured saving him. This incident would solidify their bond, leading to a sweet, devoted love story. Su Yue was eager to see the “heroine saving the hero” scene unfold.
Jiang Ci, with an uncanny intuition, extended his arm, allowing her to take it. He could hear the distinct note of gloating in her laughter.
Upon their arrival at the hotel, the banquet was already buzzing. Song Nianyue, clutching her wine glass, constantly scanned the hall entrance, anticipating Jiang Ci’s appearance.
“What are you doing hiding here?” Song Xiaoqing, passing by, spotted Song Nianyue. Assuming shyness, she took the girl’s hand. “Silly child, don’t be afraid. Stay by my side.”
Song Nianyue was torn. The opportunity to network with the elite was invaluable, but she needed to get to Jiang Ci’s side when he arrived.
“What’s wrong?” Song Xiaoqing asked, noticing Song Nianyue’s hesitation.
At that moment, Song Nianyue saw Jiang Ci enter the hall. He’s here! A wave of relief washed over her. She’d been genuinely worried he wouldn’t show. Her pupils constricted as her gaze drifted to Su Yue beside him. With each encounter, Su Yue seemed to grow more beautiful. A faint unease stirred within Song Nianyue. Had her best friend, the author, given this cannon fodder character some kind of “golden finger” to enhance her beauty? But the thought of Su Yue’s ultimately tragic fate quickly dispelled her worries. Song Nianyue smiled, taking Song Xiaoqing’s arm. “Auntie, Uncle seems to be looking for you. Let’s go.”
Not just Song Nianyue, but many guests noticed Jiang Ci and Su Yue.
“Is that… Jiang Ci?”
“It’s him. He’s the only one in the wealthy elite who’s disfigured and blind. Compared to Jiang Muhang, the brothers are worlds apart now. Isn’t Jiang Ci worried he’ll become a laughingstock?” a guest snickered.
“How could he attend? I always heard he was blind, and it’s true! Look at his face—that scar is so ugly.”
“Who’s next to Jiang Ci? Didn’t they say he married a dark, ugly woman from the Su family?”
“I didn’t expect Jiang Ci, for all his ugliness, to bring such a beautiful female companion.”
Whispers rippled through the crowd. Everyone was amazed by Su Yue. While there were other beautiful women, none were as striking as she. Standing beside Jiang Ci—one disfigured and blind, the other exquisitely beautiful—their contrast was impossible to ignore.
Jiang Xuan, walking beside Jiang Muhang and exchanging pleasantries with guests, was instantly captivated by Su Yue in her dazzling gown. She subconsciously, almost nervously, smoothed her own long white dress. Her makeup and gown had been meticulously chosen by Jiang Muhang and the most skilled professionals, and she had adored them. The makeup artists had even called her the most beautiful woman at the banquet, and Jiang Muhang, captivated, had kissed her before they left.
But now, facing Su Yue, Jiang Xuan felt her own pure beauty and pristine white dress fade, like a dried flower losing its color. Su Yue, in contrast, was vibrant and fresh.
Su Yue has become so beautiful.
Trying to suppress the strange pang in her heart, Jiang Xuan watched Su Yue, who was now the center of attention. She saw Su Yue hold Jiang Ci’s arm, a smile on her face, their bodies surprisingly close. Jiang Ci, known for his volatile and terrifying temperament, didn’t recoil from Su Yue’s proximity. In fact, Su Yue seemed entirely unafraid of him. She leaned in, whispered something into his ear, and Jiang Ci’s lips merely curved in a characteristic expression of indifference and disdain.
Jiang Xuan felt a flicker of pity for Su Yue. Despite her newfound beauty, Jiang Ci was blind and possessed a cruel temperament. Their life couldn’t be easy.
“What are you looking at?” Jiang Muhang asked, noticing his wife’s distraction.
“Jiang Ci and Su Yue are here,” Jiang Xuan replied softly, lowering her eyes. “Su Yue looks so beautiful tonight.”
Jiang Muhang glanced at Su Yue, his handsome face unwavering. “Not as beautiful as you.”
At this, Jiang Xuan’s delicate, made-up face blossomed into a sweet, charming smile.
Su Yue, who had been holding Jiang Ci’s arm, heard the murmurs around them. Her jet-black eyes sparkled with amusement. She was unfazed by being the center of attention; she’d always been the most dazzling presence wherever she went.
Su Yue leaned closer to Jiang Ci. “This time, don’t wander off,” she warned him, not wanting to search for him as she had the last time.
“That should be my reminder,” Jiang Ci scoffed.
Su Yue tightened her grip on his arm. “Don’t worry, I definitely won’t leave you this time.”
Compared to Jiang Muhang, who, bathed in the male protagonist’s aura, commanded attention with his handsome figure and outstanding presence, Jiang Ci, despite being the subject of whispers, stood alone. No one approached to greet him.
“Jiang Ci, let’s go to the rest area and sit down,” Su Yue suggested, realizing their isolation. She turned to him. “My feet hurt.” She was wearing dazzling white stilettos, beautiful but impractical. Her feet ached from walking.
“As you wish.”
In the rest area, several elegantly dressed women sat together. One spoke sharply, “Did you see him? Jiang Ci, that disfigured blind man, had the nerve to come out and scare people.” The others offered only polite smiles. The shrill woman continued, undeterred, “His female companion is eye-catching, but didn’t he marry that dark, fat woman Su Yue? He must be afraid of losing face, so he didn’t dare bring Su Yue.”
The other women remained silent. They recalled that Qin Min had once pursued Jiang Ci, only to be publicly ridiculed by him for being “ugly” and “unworthy.” Their current silence was a form of schadenfreude.
Qin Min took a sip of red wine, her tone laced with disgust. “Fortunately, I wasn’t with Jiang Ci back then, otherwise…”
“Pffft!” A sudden chuckle erupted behind them.
“Jiang Ci, she said it was fortunate she wasn’t with you,” Su Yue said, her red lips curling. She looked at Jiang Ci’s impassive face. “Did you ever pursue her?”
“Do you find this amusing?” Jiang Ci’s brows were dark. “What cats and dogs are barking?”
“Jiang… Jiang Ci?” Qin Min’s face went pale with fright as she turned and saw him. Hearing his words, her face flushed with anger, an ugly mixture of shame and fury.
Though Jiang Ci was currently in a diminished state, Qin Min only dared to badmouth him behind his back. She wouldn’t dare to speak ill of him to his face. Facing the gazes of the other women, Qin Min’s scalp prickled. She vented her anger on Su Yue, who was merely a female companion. “It’s very impolite to eavesdrop on other people. Pay attention to the occasion and don’t do shameful things.”
“Jiang Ci, she’s so strange. Why is she scolding herself?” Su Yue smiled, rolling her eyes.
“I’m scolding you!” Qin Min snapped, unhappy at Su Yue’s bright, dazzling face. This female companion, who had appeared from nowhere, was too dazzling, too irritating.
“You speak ill of others in public, and if you’re overheard, you blame others for eavesdropping?” Su Yue narrowed her beautiful eyes, a cold glint flashing. “Isn’t that a thief calling to catch a thief? You don’t have to be ugly to be shameless.”
“You… Who do you think is ugly?” Qin Min couldn’t believe it. While not exceptionally stunning, she considered herself pretty, and tonight she was dressed to impress. How dare this female companion call her ugly?
“I’m telling you. You call my Jiang Ci ugly, so I can’t call you ugly?” Su Yue held Jiang Ci’s arm, her chin slightly raised. Her small face, under the bright lights, appeared even whiter and clearer. It was only then that the other women noticed Su Yue wore no makeup, no foundation. She truly was confident.
“Besides, compared to me, you are ugly,” Su Yue declared, a hint of arrogance in her expression. Her sharp tongue could deliver both sweet words and scathing insults. This woman had openly scorned Jiang Ci’s appearance, and Su Yue found it infuriating. If she didn’t dislike Jiang Ci, who was this woman to judge?
Su Yue’s words made the other women secretly purse their lips and chuckle. They looked at Su Yue’s face, admiring her confidence.
Qin Min was incensed. “What are you talking about? Even if you don’t know where you came from, how dare you say this? You don’t know what kind of consequences you’ll face from Su Yue!” Not only Su Yue was only ugly, but her character was also unspeakable.
Su Yue smiled again, rolling her eyes. “What consequences? I can’t even take care of myself? I remember your surname is Qin. Don’t worry, I’ll tell my father.” Every time the original Su Yue was bullied, she would complain to her father, Su Jindong. Though naive, Su Yue felt such behavior reflected the loving family support that gave her such willful confidence. This was something she, as an orphan, had always envied.
“You are… You are Su Yue?” Qin Min finally reacted, swallowing in disbelief.
“Yes,” Su Yue said, her red lips curving in satisfaction as she watched Qin Min’s face blanch.
Qin Min stared in shock at Su Yue, her skin now white and delicate, so beautiful that people couldn’t tear their eyes away. It was impossible to reconcile her with the dark, ugly image she had held before.
After Qin Min retreated in embarrassment, Su Yue led Jiang Ci to another seating area.
“That woman from the Qin family was really annoying, speaking ill of you,” Su Yue said, still a little indignant. “But, I really made her mad!” Thinking of how angry Qin Min had been, speechless with fury, Su Yue smiled.
Jiang Ci’s face held a sneer. “Were you angry just now?”
“Of course.” Shouldn’t she be?
Jiang Ci leaned back on the sofa. “Someone said I was disgusting.” She seemed to have forgotten that she used to despise him even more than that woman just now.
“Jiang Ci, I used to have bad eyesight,” Su Yue whispered, leaning closer to his ear over the noisy music and chatter. “I said those things to you before, but now, I won’t say them anymore.”
Jiang Ci raised his eyebrows, his face seemingly softening. “What I said is like poured water,” he murmured lazily.
Su Yue pouted. JiangCi, how stingy!
Looking around, Su Yue noticed Jiang Muhang and Jiang Xuan not far away. Perfect angle, perfect spot to watch the show.
“Jiang Ci, do you want something to eat?” She was a little hungry. She wanted to eat and watch the show.
“Don’t eat,” Jiang Ci replied, leaning lazily back in his chair, his slender fingers loosening his neckline.
“Then you sit here. I’ll go get something to eat and be right back,” Su Yue promised, walking towards the food area.
Song Nianyue, still by Song Xiaoqing’s side, maintained an elegant smile, but her eyes constantly sought Jiang Ci, her attention wandering.
“Nianyue?” Song Xiaoqing patted her hand. “What’s wrong? You seem a little off tonight. Are you uncomfortable?”
“I’m sorry, Auntie, perhaps I’m just a little nervous,” Song Nianyue said. Her eyes inadvertently fell on Jiang Ci, sitting alone on the sofa. He’s alone! “Auntie, I… I want to rest.”
Song Xiaoqing saw that Song Nianyue’s face indeed showed signs of nervousness and fatigue. She nodded, not forcing her to stay. “Go.”
A smile touched Song Nianyue’s elegant face. She had been observing her surroundings carefully, seeing nothing amiss. Thinking of what was about to happen, she suppressed her wildly beating heart and walked slowly towards Jiang Ci.
After selecting her food, Su Yue walked back to the rest area with a plate. At that moment, a waiter in uniform approached them, carrying a tray. Su Yue froze. The waiter strode purposefully towards Jiang Ci. As he neared, he grabbed a wine bottle from the tray, dropped the tray to the ground, and raised the bottle. “Jiang Ci, go to hell!”
Su Yue dropped her plate, sprinting towards Jiang Ci. “Jiang Ci, be careful!”
The moment she embraced Jiang Ci, Su Yue felt a searing pain on her face. The surrounding guests were stunned by the sudden turn of events. A waiter had splashed something on Jiang Ci, Jiang Ci’s female companion had rushed to save him, her face had been splashed, disfigured, and the waiter was now writhing on the ground, kicked down by Jiang Ci… The entire scene unfolded in mere seconds.
Guests stared at the beautiful face, moments ago so white and tender, now ruined.
“Jiang Ci, my face, my face hurts…” Su Yue clung to Jiang Ci, her snow-white left cheek and the back of her neck scorched in several places. Sulfuric acid.
Su Yue dreaded pain more than anything. Now, with sulfuric acid on her face, she felt a burning sensation, her eyes welling up with tears of agony.
Jiang Ci’s dark, unfocused eyes were now clouded with a terrifying coldness. His once impassive face was a mask of fury. His large hand tightened around the trembling body in his arms. He didn’t know the extent of Su Yue’s injuries, but her body shook uncontrollably in his embrace. The acrid smell of sulfuric acid permeated the air. His entire being was tense, his voice calm, yet edged with panic. “To the hospital. Immediately.”
“What happened?” Jiang Xuan and Jiang Muhang hurried over. Jiang Xuan gasped at the large, dark brown eschar and ulceration on Su Yue’s face. She covered her mouth in horror. “Su Yue, your face…” She looked at Su Yue with a pitiable expression.
“Muhang, quickly instruct someone to prepare a car and send them to the hospital,” Jiang Xuan urged, her voice soft, feigning anxiety.
“Okay, I’ll have someone arrange a car right away.” Jiang Muhang frowned, glancing at the subdued attacker on the ground. Such an incident at the banquet demanded investigation.
Jiang Ci scooped up Su Yue. His face, grim with rage, made the scar on his left side appear even more hideous. “Lead the way,” he commanded. A nearby staff member, terrified, quickly complied.
After the parties departed, many guests murmured in embarrassment.
“Jiang Ci’s face is ruined. I didn’t expect his female companion to be ruined too.”
“I heard just now that it was Su Yue, Jiang Ci’s wife. Now, the husband and wife are both disfigured. They’ve truly become a matching pair.”
“It’s a pity she was so beautiful…”
Jiang Xuan took Jiang Muhang’s hand, her tone filled with sympathy. “Su Yue finally became so beautiful, and now her face… She’s truly pitiful.” Such a large scar might never heal.
Jiang Muhang patted his charming wife’s head. “Some things are destined.”
Jiang Xuan’s eyes softened, and she said no more. Perhaps Su Yue was indeed destined to be ugly for life. How pitiful. Fortunately, Jiang Ci couldn’t see. Even if Su Yue became ugly again, it wouldn’t matter to him.
Song Nianyue, standing behind the crowd, listened to the discussions, her legs weak with fright. Moments ago, she had watched Su Yue rush to Jiang Ci faster than she could, and had secretly resented Su Yue for thwarting her plan to save him. Her best friend had told her that Jiang Muhang, the original male protagonist, would be in danger, and Jiang Xuan would save him. But then, the girlfriend changed the plot, transferring the danger to Jiang Ci and assigning the heroine—her—the role of rescuer. So, she had waited for this moment, trying her best.
She hadn’t expected Su Yue to beat her to it. However, she was now immensely relieved that Su Yue had rushed to Jiang Ci first. Otherwise, she would be the one disfigured. What shocked her even more was the cruel twist in the plot: sulfuric acid. She had imagined a stabbing, at least she could have held Jiang Ci and hide.
Thinking of the scars burned by sulfuric acid on Su Yue’s snow-white face, Song Nianyue’s legs still trembled with fear. She was truly afraid.