"Big star Xia Xiaofu is here! Quick, get her pictures!"
The reporters, who had just been crowding around Yara Lu, immediately abandoned her and rushed toward Xia Xiaofu with flashing cameras.
Xia Xiaofu!
Celia had actually invited Xia Xiaofu to be her model!
Yara Lu and Xia Ling's expressions froze. Since when did those two become allies?
Xia Xiaofu glided down the red carpet with her effortless star power, drawing gasps from the crowd. She stopped beside Celia, who introduced her with quiet pride.
"Allow me to formally introduce my model—Xia Xiaofu."
Xia Xiaofu's peach-blossom eyes sparkled mischievously as she cast a lazy, charming glance at Yara and Xia Ling. "Cici, no need for introductions. I know these two pretentious socialites better than you do."
Both Yara and Xia Ling stiffened at the jab.
Xia Ling quickly tried to play the part of the fragile little sister. "Sister, why are you here?"
"I came to see you, Xia Ling," Xia Xiaofu replied with a playful smile, lips curling. "It's been ages, and yet you haven't changed at all. Still trailing after Yara like her shadow?"
Xia Ling's face flushed.
Yara clenched her fists tightly, glaring at her long-time rival. "Xia Xiaofu, you actually dare to step onto my turf. With all the buzz about my engagement gown, doesn't it make you jealous?"
With her lush chestnut curls tumbling over her shoulders, Xia Xiaofu's smile deepened. "Jealous? Hardly. All I heard was that CC's Little Buddha refused to design your wedding gown, so you had to downgrade to this design competition."
She gracefully lifted the hem of her rose-colored gown, letting the embroidery shimmer beneath the lights. "Take a closer look, Yara. This dress was custom-made for me by Little Buddha. You can admire it, but don't touch—it might get dirty."
Yara's face turned red with fury. She nearly choked on her own breath.
Everyone in the capital knew that Xia Xiaofu was CC's only official ambassador in China. While other wealthy socialites were still begging for CC's latest seasonal pieces, Xia Xiaofu was already flaunting Milan's limited-edition couture. She had always been CC's favored muse.
With the power of CC's international endorsement behind her, Xia Xiaofu had become a dominant force in the fashion world. Just this year alone, she had graced the covers of five major magazines and remained at the very peak of stardom.
Today, she appeared in a rose gown personally designed for her by Little Buddha. Yet when Yara had begged the same designer for a wedding gown, he had flatly refused. No matter how she tried, Yara simply could not understand why the fashion world's brightest star favored Xia Xiaofu so deeply.
Yara dug her nails into her palms until they hurt, forcing herself to smile. "So what if Little Buddha favors you? No matter how glamorous you look outside, at home you're still stuck with Jin Han. Doesn't all that star power feel wasted when your husband can't even… measure up?"
Xia Xiaofu's eyes flashed, but before she could retort, Celia stepped forward, her gaze bright and unyielding.
"Funny, Yara. You seem awfully interested in Mr. Jin's private life. Does your fiancé, Mr. Fu, know how fascinated you are with another man's bedroom?"
Yara's smile faltered instantly.
Between the two of them, Celia and Xia Xiaofu were like a perfectly matched pair in verbal sparring—sharp, quick, and merciless. Yara had no way to fight back.
"Xiaofu, let's go," Celia said lightly.
"Sure. Yara, Xia Ling—we'll see you in the competition," Xia Xiaofu added with a dazzling smile as the two of them left arm in arm.
Xia Ling's good mood collapsed completely. "Yaoyao, why would Celia invite Xia Xiaofu? I thought I was supposed to be the one who could make anything look good… We—"
Her words were cut short by Yara's frosty glare.
Xia Ling swallowed nervously, then forced a cheerful tone. "But even if Xia Xiaofu came, she's still no match for you, Yaoyao. We'll definitely win!"
Xia Ling swallowed nervously, then forced a cheerful tone. "But even if Xia Xiaofu came, she's still no match for you, Yaoyao. We'll definitely win!"
But outside the hall, the media and audience were already buzzing.
Social media feeds exploded as photos of Xia Xiaofu's gown hit the internet within minutes:
"OMG, Xia Xiaofu's dress is breathtaking! Straight from Little Buddha? No wonder Yara Lu looks so sour!""Celia and Xia Xiaofu together? That's a power duo if I've ever seen one.""Poor Yara. Imagine bragging about an engagement gown, only to be outshone by Milan couture on the same night.""Xia Ling who? She looked completely invisible next to those two."
Fashion reporters whispered among themselves, jotting notes as they watched the scene unfold. Even seasoned editors admitted quietly:
"This isn't just a red carpet walk—it's a declaration of war in high fashion."
The spotlight no longer belonged to Yara or Xia Ling. It was clear to everyone present that the night's real stars were Celia and Xia Xiaofu.