Chapter 2: The Ice-Cold Stranger at the Gala
858 Words
Zhao Sera adjusted her heels, tugged lightly at her dress, and took a deep breath like she was about to jump into shark-infested waters.
Because in a way… she was.
Welcome to her first mission world: A modern upper-class universe filled with wealth, polished smiles, and more unspoken tension than a poorly written drama. The system had dumped her neatly into the role of the youngest daughter of the Zhao family—a sweet, slightly naïve, and very well-protected heiress with nothing but time, designer shoes, and too many family dinners.
In short: a rich girl with no job, no responsibilities, and apparently, no clue.
“Hey, that actually fits,” she muttered under her breath.
The original female lead of this world? Her older sister, Zhao Ling. Elegant, accomplished, next-in-line to the family empire, and emotionally constipated when it came to her feelings for Lin Han.
And Lin Han? The equally prideful heir of the Lin family—smart, successful, rich, and stupidly bad at love confessions.
It was Sera’s job to make sure those two stopped dancing around each other like emotionally-stunted peacocks and actually talked. But between misunderstandings and the upcoming entrance of scheming second leads, it wasn’t going to be simple.
And tonight? Tonight was the Zhao-Lin Foundation Charity Gala, the perfect stage for drama, designer gowns, and potentially a full-blown romantic catastrophe.
Sera had one mission: Observe, assess, and nudge the original leads closer without screwing everything up.
“Piece of cake,” she whispered. “More like a wobbly soufflé on a rollercoaster, but still cake.”
She gracefully (aka nervously) entered the ballroom of the five-star hotel, where chandeliers sparkled above and violins sang in the background. The air smelled like roses, money, and mild judgment.
She clutched her clutch bag like it was a security blanket.
People mingled, air-kissed, and name-dropped companies Sera had only ever heard about in finance articles she accidentally clicked on while searching for cat memes.
Then, the atmosphere shifted.
Like a scene straight out of a drama, the grand doors opened, and a tall man entered.
And not just any man.
The man.
Tall. Commanding. Dressed in black tailored perfection. He had the kind of face that made you forget your own name and a presence that could silence a riot.
Zhao Sera froze mid-sip of her punch.
“Who... is that?” she whispered, eyes wide.
He walked through the crowd without hesitation. People parted like he had an invisible force field. His expression? Stone. Cold. No-nonsense. The kind of guy who looked like he hadn’t smiled since 2011.
Sera shivered. “Okay, that’s terrifying.”
He looked her way—just briefly—and it felt like a glacier passed over her soul.
She panicked and immediately turned her back, staring intensely at the fruit platter.
“Don’t mind me. Just a harmless grape enthusiast,” she muttered.
He vanished into the crowd, but the chill remained.
That’s when her sister Zhao Ling appeared beside her like a graceful storm cloud in heels.
“That man,” Ling said, calm as ever, “is Jin Victor.”
“...Jin who-now?” Sera asked, eyes still fixed on the grapes.
“Jin Victor. Lin Han’s closest friend.”
“Oh,” Sera blinked. “He’s… uh, intense.”
Ling chuckled softly. “He’s not the type to enjoy crowds. Or people. Or smiling.”
“So basically, a vampire with a bank account.”
Ling gave her a look but smiled anyway. “Just don’t get in his way.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t dare,” Sera mumbled. “I feel like he could fire me from life.”
Ling scanned the room with ease. “Keep an eye out. Lian Mei is here.”
Sera’s brows lifted. “Wait—why would you invite her?”
“It’s a charity gala,” Ling replied calmly. “She’s the second daughter of the Lian family. It would’ve been rude not to.”
Sera groaned. “You and your manners. It’s always the polite ones who invite the villains.”
Ling smirked. “Don’t be dramatic.”
“I am dramatic. It’s my coping mechanism.”
Sera then asked, “What about Chen Kai?”
Ling raised a brow. “Why do you ask? Do you like him?”
Sera waved her hand rapidly. “No! I mean—yes—I mean—not like like! I’m just… a fan! Big fan!”
Ling tilted her head, clearly enjoying this. “Fan of his acting?”
“Yes! Exactly! Acting! Totally not interested in his face or anything.” Sera nodded too quickly.
“Hmm.” Ling hummed in that annoying big-sister-knows-everything way. “Well, it’s a big event. Not just the wealthy. Celebrities are invited too.”
Sera nearly dropped her drink again and sighed. Great. So now I have to avoid love triangles, sabotage from second female lead and also second male lead.
“Don’t worry,” Ling said with a perfectly serene smile. “Nothing will happened.”
Sera just smiled helplessly, “I hope so.”
- Writer
