The Starfall Charity Gala was a spectacle of wealth and power. The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume and the low murmur of important conversations. Ye Xia, now a stunning, confident young woman, arrived in a dazzling sapphire-blue gown that clung to her newly-toned figure. Her hair was styled in an elegant updo, and a simple diamond necklace, one of her first extravagant purchases, adorned her neck. She looked like a goddess descending from the heavens. No one would have ever guessed that a few months ago, she was just an insecure high school student.
As she entered the ballroom, all eyes turned to her. The whispers were immediate.
"Who is she?"
"She's so beautiful! Is she a new celebrity?"
"No, I've never seen her at any of the social gatherings before."
The System had done its work, not just on her body but on her entire aura. She exuded an air of confidence that drew people in. But she wasn't here to just mingle; she was here to make a statement. She headed straight for the auction table, where the night's most prized possession was being sold: a rare, ancient Chinese scroll. It was rumored to be worth billions.
As the auction began, the bidding war was fierce. The last two bidders were two of the wealthiest men in the city, but Ye Xia was not intimidated. When the bidding reached 5 billion yuan, Ye Xia raised her hand, her voice clear and steady as she said, "10 billion yuan."
A hush fell over the crowd. 10 billion yuan. That was a staggering amount. People gasped, and the two wealthy men looked at each other in utter disbelief. The auctioneer, a seasoned professional, looked at her, his expression unreadable.
"Miss, are you sure?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"I am," Ye Xia said, her eyes flashing with a steely resolve. "I'll wire the funds by morning."
She had no use for the scroll, but she needed to make a statement. She needed to show everyone that she was not someone to be trifled with. The System had deposited the money for the auction into her account just for this moment. As the final gavel fell, the crowd erupted in a frenzy of whispers and frantic phone calls. Who was this mysterious woman who could spend 10 billion yuan on a whim?
Just then, a man, tall and handsome with an aristocratic air, approached her. It was Lu Chen's father, the Chairman of the Lu Group. He was a titan of industry, a man whose name commanded respect and fear.
"Miss, that was a very bold move," he said, his voice calm, but his eyes were filled with a mixture of curiosity and respect.
"Some risks are worth taking, Chairman Lu," Ye Xia said, a polite smile on her face.
He studied her for a moment, and then a genuine smile broke through his stern exterior. "You are not who people think you are, are you, Miss…?"
"Ye," she replied. "Ye Xia."
"Ye Xia," he repeated, as if tasting the name. "My son, Lu Chen, told me about you. He said you have a fierce spirit."
Ye Xia's heart skipped a beat. Lu Chen had told his father about her? What did that mean? Before she could ponder it further, she heard a voice that made her blood run cold.
"Ye Xia! Is that you?"
It was Lin Mei, her face pale with shock and envy. She was with a new, older man, but her gaze was fixed on Ye Xia, her eyes filled with a desperate rage. Just a few months ago, she was the one with the power. Now, she was staring at her former best friend, who was standing beside a man of unimaginable power, having just spent billions on a whim. The tables had turned, and the game had just begun.