Capítulo 36: Chapter 36: Her Plan All Along
"Is there something you need?"
When Ethan knocked on her door, Lillie let him in and led him to the balcony, choosing to converse in the open—just in case his sharp eyes caught something out of place.
"I want you to come with me to a relative's party," he said, getting straight to the point.
Lillie raised an eyebrow. "Ping Wen's 70th birthday?"
Ethan wasn't surprised she knew. In the business world and elite society, both he and Lillie were highly sought-after guests. Having either one at an event was a mark of prestige—having both? That was a power move. People would flock to them, eager to establish connections, desperate for recognition. They would be seated in places of honor, admired, and idolized.
"I'm glad you're aware of it," Ethan said. "So, will you come?"
He was prepared for her to say no. The She-Devil rarely attended parties unless absolutely necessary, and Ethan himself only went when forced by his family.
"Well," Lillie mused, "they did send me an invitation before we left for Japan. Since you're personally inviting me too, it would be rude to decline."
She agreed.
Ethan didn't know that Lillie had been waiting for him to ask.
The real reason she had personally stepped in to help the Ping family deal with Zhang Guan was because they were related to the Li family.
Not because of Ethan. Definitely not because of him.
She had already accepted her fate—she would soon be a Li. The last thing she wanted was for anything to tarnish the family's name.
Yes, that was all.
If the Pings weren't related to the Lis, she wouldn't have even lifted a finger. She would have let someone else handle it.
It was impossible for the Pings not to express their gratitude. And with Ping Wen's birthday approaching, they saw the perfect opportunity to honor both occasions.
Everything was falling into place.
It had been her plan all along.
Now, she just had to wait for it to unfold.
What a cunning woman.
If Ethan ever found out, he might just cough up blood in frustration.
The Ping mansion was extravagantly decorated, glowing under a canopy of dazzling lights. The air buzzed with life and laughter, a grand celebration in full swing.
Inside the party hall, all eyes gravitated toward a woman in white. Her aura exuded innocence, her beauty refined and pure.
Ping Xiaoyue.
The Ping family's youngest daughter. Their precious jewel.
Women envied her beauty, talent, and status. The entertainment industry often clashed with elite society, but Ping Xiaoyue's prestigious background made her untouchable. No one dared to criticize her, not with the power of the Ping and Li families shielding her.
"Miss Ping, is that dress from Dazzling Castle?"
"It has to be! Look at those stitches—I heard Madame Agathe learned that technique from an expert in ancient embroidery!"
"And that symbol… it's only found in Dazzling Castle's finest pieces!"
"I heard a regular dress from there costs hundreds of thousands. But a custom-made piece by Madame Agathe herself? That must be priceless!"
Xiaoyue smiled demurely, hiding the smugness that threatened to seep through.
"Indeed, Madame Agathe's work is unparalleled," she said gracefully. "It's an honor to wear one of her creations."
A carefully crafted statement—one that implied Madame Agathe had personally designed and sewn the dress for her.
It was a rare privilege. Though Madame Agathe sketched her own designs, she rarely took the time to sew them herself. She had an entire team of master artisans for that.
For her to personally craft a dress? You had to be truly special.
It didn't matter if you were a president or a member of royalty—if she didn't favor you, she wouldn't spare you a glance.
Only a select few had the right to wear her personally made pieces.
Her husband. Her son. Her daughter.
Lillie Bai.
Each of these exclusive garments bore a hidden signature: the wearer's name, delicately embroidered in real gold thread, woven into the fabric in places only a trained eye could find.
The women in the room seethed with jealousy, but none dared question the dress's authenticity. Even if they suspected, they wouldn't risk offending the Ping and Li families.
Xiaoyue basked in the admiration.
Tonight, no one could outshine her. No one could match her beauty, her status, her dress.
No one.
Now, all that was left was securing the final piece of her perfect image—a worthy partner.
And there was no one more worthy than her cousin, Ethan Li.
No one else deserved him.
Ethan belonged to her.
REFLEXIONES DE LOS CREADORES 
Tsukino_Kimiko
Tsukino_Kimiko I'll be using Dazzling Castle more often than its French translation, Château Éblouissant, because I get tired of typing it hahahahha.
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