STOLEN

After being reprimanded by Dr. Luo, the young doctor found himself stammering whenever he talks to her. So after saying those words, he breathed a sigh of relief.

'What could it be?' The crease on her forehead intensified.

Luo Jingyi returned to her office and found a fancy box with gold embossing on top. It said ZK Fashion. Although ZK Fashion is at its early development in the country, the luxury brand has made a name in the international scene already. With famous people, socialites and A-listers clamoring to get a hand of their products.

Who could have sent this? She wondered as she rummaged for a note. Finding none, Luo Jingyi touched the fabric and for unknown reasons, there was that inkling desire to try it on.

After staring at midnight blue dress in contemplation and giving it much thought, she carefully lifted it and donned it on. She planned to figure out the sender later and pay. She needed to deal with the matter at hand. She must go to the wedding reception if she didn't want to hear an earful from Eunice.

…...

Luo Jingyi walked on the wooden dock stretching out into the water and the scent of saltwater assailed her nose. At the far end, two uniformed hostesses checked for an invitation before ushering them up to the massive ship where the wedding reception was being held. The tightness in security was given with the bride's background. Eunice Lacroix belonged to a political and business family. It was supposed to be a low key event but there was a large number of reporters swarming the barricaded area just to catch a glimpse of the dignitaries attending the event.

Two women at the entrance check the invitation by running it through the scanner.

Luo Jingyi rummaged through her clutch but couldn't find it.

Where is it? I am certain it was here.

Did I drop it at the vet clinic?

Shrek! She was unable to stop her mouth from cursing, finding it was missing.

"I think I've lost it," she explained to the woman which the other woman returned with a meaningful look, not believing her.

What a lame excuse. It's not the first time they heard these words tonight. Many tried to barge at the wedding reception and said the same thing. Thinking Jingyi was just like another opportunist who wanted to get a scoop, she told her flatly, "You need to show your invitation before I can let you in. Next!"

Jingyi was pushed aside and if her body would have been weak, she would have been thrown off to the sea. Taken aback by the woman's actions, Jingyi steadied herself. As she was taking out her phone, she heard familiar voices.

Not far from where she was standing, Gong Ni, Wang Biyu and Song Huan were looking at her.

"Ha! She has no invitation but she dared to enter. She thought because she was beautiful she can easily get in." Gong Ni gloated, flashing the invitation she has on her hand.

Wang Biyu studied Luo Jingyi closely but unsure if it was the same person in her head.

"Isn't that Han Jingyi?" She asked Gong Ni after awhile. Gong Ni looked at Jingyi closely.

"That is her. What is she doing here?! What a shameful woman. Until now she's still going around leeching herself into the upper class. or maybe she found herself a filthy old rich man?" Gong Ni sneered followed by an insulting laugh.

"She really has no sense of shame at all. Having such a thick face, she didn't have to wear make-up."

"Who is she?" asked one tall woman. Song Huan was curious, not because of what she heard, but it was what the woman was wearing. It was the latest haute couture from ZK Fashion. She was certain because she saw the dress during the Fashion Week in Milan.

"Don't you know her?" It was Wang Biyu who asked Song Huan.

Song Huan shook her head.

"She is the 2nd daughter of Governor Han. But you should never be friends with her because she's a kleptomaniac. She is like a parasite that attaches herself to rich people and steals from them. Look at what she is wearing, we don't know where had stolen them." Gong Ni dissuaded Song Huan. She didn't want her to have any entanglement with Jingyi.

"Ah, I remember now, was she the one who jilted her groom at the altar and ran away with a married man?" Song Huan questioned with a frown.

"Exactly. The one and only. Then when the married man got into an accident and became poor, she left him for another guy. She's a shameless homewrecker and a social climber. It's not surprising that the Han family publicly repudiated her." This time, Gong Ni made sure that Jingyi will hear these words.

The two hostesses looked at Luo Jingyi with disgust. Hearing that she's a despicable woman, the short-haired woman decided to call the guards. She can't let someone like Jingyi in. She's a fox who seduces married men. What if Jingyi tempts the groom? That will be a very big problem.

Every ridicule Gong Ni uttered has reached Luo Jingyi's ears. Combing through the original body's memory, Gong Ni and Wang Biyu were in the same class as her in High School. Gong Nhi was one of those who made the original body's high school life a misery, physically and emotionally harming her. They bullied her to the point she got depressed and attempted suicide thrice.

Just now, they were talking about what happened 9 years ago. The original Jingyi was engaged to Wen Minghua after a whirlwind courtship. He was her very first boyfriend. The only man who dared to approach the socially awkward Jingyi. For Jingyi who never had experiences about love, she was completely smitten. Jingyi fell fast and hard and even agreed to marry the man. However, on their wedding day, she witnessed something that ultimately gave her cold feet. She scampered away from the wedding venue in fear. Contrary to rumors, she never had an involvement with a married man. Instead, she got into an accident. When she woke up three months later, she found herself plastered all over the news. Someone manipulated the facts behind the scene and made her the topic of everyone's mouth. And instead of helping her, her father completely abandoned her.

Jingyi gawked at them like a hunter looking at its prey. If it would be the original body, she would cry and run away helplessly. But she is Qin Jingyi. She survived the tumultuous life in the palace and the venomous mouths of her mother-in-law and her husband's concubines. Hence, these words meant nothing to her. Even if they stared daggers at her, she wouldn't even flinch. She wanted to ignore them for now. But, she needed to send them a message too. Not to mess up with her.

A series of claps startled the women who were gossiping.

"Wow! Perfect. No wonder your movies are not making any money. Being an actress doesn't suit you at all. Have you ever thought of becoming a tv reporter? Who knows, you will finally win an award." Luo Jingyi's voice was laced with a sardonic tone. Gong Ni is a B-list actress.

Huh? Gong Ni was startled. She never expected Jingyi to retort eloquently. In the past, no matter how much they insulted her, Jingyi would accept them with hunched shoulders.

"You really have a thick face coming to this banquet without any invitation. How dare you come here? And don't be too insulting. At least I'm not a slut and homewrecker like you. What a disgusting woman!" Gong Ni mocked, making her voice louder to attract more people. She couldn't wait to publicly humiliate Jingyi.

But instead, she got an opposite reaction from Jingyi, she laughed crisply like a crazy woman.

"Gong Ni, you should try comedy shows too. You are too funny. You bark at others but you don't see yourself first." Jingyi gave her a contemptous smile.