The Epoch of Miyu

After Nie Yucheng and Jiang Zhichun had come to see her one after another, Xu Miyu became increasingly preoccupied.

When something is not only suspected by oneself but also confirmed by others repeatedly, the suspicion turns into certainty.

This certainty weighed so heavily on Xu Miyu that she could barely stand straight.

That evening, as soon as Xu Miyu returned to her apartment after work, she spotted a package at her doorstep.

The square box exuded luxury and sophistication in every contour and detail.

Xu Miyu crouched down, confirmed that the package was indeed addressed to her, and carried it inside.

Upon opening the box, the contents seemed to greet her.

Inside lay an exquisitely beautiful evening gown and a pair of high heels. The gown was white, lightweight, and form-fitting with a one-shoulder design, a shallow V-neck, and an ankle-length skirt with a slit at the front of the left leg. Xu Miyu changed into the gown, slipped on the high heels, and stood before the mirror.

Even she was astonished by the reflection in the mirror. How could the sender know her measurements so perfectly? The gown clung to her body, accentuating her curves and fitting her slender frame flawlessly. Her left leg was subtly revealed through the slit, adding a touch of understated sensuality.

Xu Miyu ran her fingertips over the fabric of the gown—it felt as smooth as skin.

The gown was truly stunning, making her look equally stunning. Yet, she couldn't help feeling that this gown wasn't meant for her.

The dresses that belonged to her hung in her closet—plain and ordinary.

She felt she was unworthy of this gown. She thought.

She walked back to the box and noticed a note inside.

Opening it, she was surprised to find it was handwritten by Ji Feng.

It was an invitation from him: "Leave work early tomorrow and return to the apartment. Change into the gown and wait for me to pick you up for the cocktail party."

Xu Miyu glanced at the note, then at the gown and her reflection in it, and smiled wryly.

In this unspoken cold war between them, this was perhaps the most proactive compromise Ji Feng could offer.

Since he had unexpectedly extended an olive branch, she decided to meet him halfway. If she continued to play hard to get, they might truly become strangers who never contacted each other again.

The next day, following Ji Feng's instructions in the note, Xu Miyu left work a little earlier than usual and returned to her apartment.

She meticulously applied a radiant makeup look, styled her hair into an updo, leaving a few strands loose at her temples and the nape of her neck, then changed into the gown and shoes.

When Ji Feng opened the door and saw Xu Miyu waiting inside, his eyes lit up.

He let out a long sigh and reached out to her. "Come here."

After hesitating for just a second, she walked over and placed her hand in his.

He clasped her hand tightly. The delicate, boneless sensation sent a shiver from his palm straight to his chest.

He sighed again and told her, "You're truly beautiful."

Xu Miyu smiled.

For the first time in many days, she smiled again.

Once in the car, neither Xu Miyu nor Ji Feng brought up the cold war. It was as if by not mentioning it, it had never existed at all. Thus, the cold war ended as inexplicably as it had begun.

As the car started moving, Xu Miyu asked Ji Feng where they were going and what kind of cocktail party they were attending.Ji Feng told her: "Most of the people here were at the summit I took you to last time. Besides them, there are others—all leaders and elites in their respective fields, along with some second-generation heirs and corporate successors. They hold several such parties each year to exchange resources. Many people try to squeeze into these gatherings because gaining entry is like obtaining a ticket to high-society resources. But without a referral, it’s nearly impossible for newcomers to get in."

Xu Miyu felt a flicker of nervousness. It sounded like yet another grand occasion she had never experienced—one that seemed even more out of her league than the previous summit.

As if sensing her tension, Ji Feng took her hand and reassured her, "Don’t worry. Everyone here knows me, and since you’re with me, they’ll treat you with respect."

Xu Miyu smiled and nodded.

Yet the moment she stepped out of the car onto the red carpet, regret washed over her.

She regretted agreeing to accompany Ji Feng, regretted not turning back the moment she heard about the event’s exclusivity.

This was clearly not a place for someone like her. Every attendee exuded an air of innate excellence, superiority, and pride. Many whom she had seen at the summit stared in unconcealed shock upon realizing Ji Feng’s companion was the same female assistant he’d brought before.

Their expressions seemed to mock and judge: With your high standards, Ji Feng, how could you settle for such an ordinary companion?

Though Xu Miyu tried to appear confident and unflinching, insecurity gnawed at her. Without anyone else’s criticism, she had already deemed herself unworthy.

Ji Feng, however, seemed more openly affectionate than ever. Wherever he went, whomever he greeted, he never let go of her hand.

Their linked hands drew increasing curiosity and scrutiny, drawing more old acquaintances toward them.

Eventually, surrounded by the crowd, someone gestured toward their joined hands and asked Ji Feng, “Brother Ji, what’s going on here?”

Seizing the moment, Ji Feng released Xu Miyu’s hand, wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and pulled her close against his chest. Then, in a clear voice, he announced to everyone, “Since everyone’s here today, let me introduce you properly—this is my girlfriend, Xu Miyu.”

In the midst of gasps and murmurs, Xu Miyu whipped her head around to stare at Ji Feng, her eyes wide with shock.

Seeing her stunned expression, Ji Feng assumed she was overwhelmed by the sudden public declaration. He thought she might need a moment alone to process the mix of surprise and joy.

Ignoring the astonished reactions and buzzing discussions around them, he led Xu Miyu away to a quieter spot.Xu Miyu walked in a daze the entire way, until he pulled her into a corner, gently patted her cheek, and asked with a playful smile, "Didn’t expect me to announce our relationship in front of everyone, did you? Shocked?" After a pause, he added, "Now you see my attitude, right? Publicly acknowledging you as my girlfriend—isn’t that way more reassuring than giving you vague promises like 'I’ll love you for ten thousand years'?"

Xu Miyu lifted her head and looked up at Ji Feng, taking in the expression on his face—as if he had just done her a great favor and was waiting for praise.

At that moment, she clearly sensed that they truly lived in different worlds; their joys and sorrows were not quite aligned.

He treated the sudden, direct announcement of their relationship as something she would undoubtedly welcome with delight. What this implied, deep in his subconscious, was that he saw his willingness to publicly acknowledge their relationship as a kind of favor bestowed upon her.

Unconsciously, he had already defined the positions and disparities between them: he was the high-and-mighty elite CEO from the upper echelons of society, while she was merely a Cinderella—no, at best, she was just an "older Cinderella."

Announcing their relationship so abruptly in front of so many people, without discussing it with her beforehand—he thought it was for her own good, but he hadn’t considered the scrutiny and judgment she would now face from everyone.

People at his level, it seemed, could never truly understand the worries and pressures of those below.

Having just ended their cold war, Xu Miyu thought that no matter how uncomfortable or upset she felt, she should swallow it for now. It wouldn’t be right to embarrass Ji Feng in such a setting.

She looked at Ji Feng, forced a smile, and said to him, "It’s so sudden. Weren’t you the one who said before that keeping our relationship private was to avoid complications at work if people knew we had a connection? So why did you suddenly decide to go public today, without... even giving me a heads-up?"

Ji Feng raised his hand and gently stroked her cheek. "I used to think keeping it private was better for you, so that even if you achieved something at work, no one could say you relied on me. But I overlooked how an underground relationship might make you feel like you weren’t good enough to be acknowledged, which would only make you feel less secure. I want you to feel secure. Besides, your work abilities speak for themselves now. I haven’t interfered at all with your recent projects in the planning department—you’ve handled everything excellently on your own, and everyone has noticed, even the planning manager has been full of praise. So I thought it was about time we went public."

Xu Miyu’s heart was a whirlwind of mixed emotions. She told herself, Forget it. Even if the timing and method are questionable, he ultimately means well.

Not far away, someone called out to Ji Feng, gesturing from a distance, indicating they should discuss the unfinished project from last time.

Ji Feng turned to Xu Miyu and asked, "Will you be alright on your own for a bit? I need to go talk with them about some project matters—it’s not really suitable to bring family along."

Xu Miyu, already nervous as a newcomer to the cocktail party and now further unsettled by the unexpected announcement, felt adrift and unsteady. But hearing Ji Feng’s question, she mustered a smile and replied, "Go ahead."Ji Feng, worried she might feel bored, told her before leaving: "Feel free to look around first. There are food and drinks over there—don’t be reserved. Help yourself to whatever you like. There are many fresh delicacies here that aren’t available elsewhere."

Xu Miyu said okay. Ji Feng walked to the other side of the club to discuss matters with others.

After watching Ji Feng walk over, Xu Miyu noticed two or three people gather around him. They were on the same level—comparable in family background, experience, and financial status. In their conversation, they began constructing a world Xu Miyu couldn’t access, one she regarded with awe because she didn’t understand it. That world was filled with business jargon, where money was measured in billions.

Observing the group discussing matters, Xu Miyu once again felt the vast gap between herself and those people—and between herself and most of the attendees—in terms of family background, identity, status, and social circles.

Her thoughts seemed to sketch a prison in her mind, trapping her inside, making her melancholy and confined by sorrow.

She shook her head, trying to shake off this prison and free herself from the chaotic thoughts.

So she started walking toward the specially set-up beverage area at the party and stood there selecting a light blue cocktail. This serene, tranquil color might help calm her mind if she drank it.

Holding the cocktail glass, she quickly finished the pale blue liquid. It had a cool minty flavor and a juice-like taste that felt refreshing. So she went to get another glass. Sip by sip, she drank down a bit of melancholy along with it.

But she forgot that her initial purpose in drinking it was to ease some of her melancholy. Yet as she relieved a little, she drank in a little more. She suddenly realized it wasn’t that she didn’t want to be happy; it was that the total amount of melancholy inside her hadn’t actually changed.

Not far away, a group of glamorous women had gathered. They were the female companions brought by the elite men.

The women at the party fell into three categories: elite women, and the female companions of elite men—these two groups didn’t mix. The elite women were unwilling to associate with the companions, disdaining them for being superficially glamorous but still carrying the gossipy, vulgar nature of a marketplace. The companions, in turn, couldn’t stand the arrogance of the elite women, as if marrying a capable man to enter such a party was some kind of original sin.

As for the third category, they were those who couldn’t fit into either of the first two groups, like Xu Miyu. The first two groups were curious about her but wouldn’t include her in their circles, feeling she wasn’t qualified to mingle with them, even though she was brought by Ji Feng. But how could Ji Feng be interested in a woman like her?

The companions nearby were now huddled together, eagerly whispering and gossiping.

A young wife held up her phone to show the others: "Sisters, look at this—I secretly took a photo of that woman Ji Feng just officially announced as his girlfriend. Have any of you seen or known her before? What’s her background anyway? I heard Ji Feng’s standards for a partner are incredibly high, and since no girl could meet his criteria, he’d rather stay single until now. But looking at her, first of all, she’s not exactly young anymore. How could Ji Feng end up choosing someone like her?"Another lady said, "Let me see the photo. Oh, she does have some charm, but she's definitely not a young girl anymore. Could it be that CEO Ji prefers older women?"

Just then, a middle-aged lady approached, accompanied by a young, unfamiliar face.

The middle-aged lady asked as she walked closer, "What's all the excitement about? What are you discussing?"

The first lady who had spoken and secretly taken the photo replied, "Mrs. Hu, why are you late today? Just a little late, and you missed the exciting drama."

Mrs. Hu smiled and said, "Then you'll have to fill me in later." After saying this, she pulled the young lady beside her into the group and introduced her to the others, "This is Lu Zhenzhen, the wife of my husband's capable subordinate and the company's vice president. She's quite talented—she even sought out a master specifically to learn how to make braised dishes for me. She begged me to bring her out to see the world; this is her first time here, so please take good care of her."

Mrs. Hu enthusiastically recommended Lu Zhenzhen to the other ladies. However, no one showed much interest in this new vice president's wife, and their attitudes remained lukewarm. In this circle, even Mrs. Hu, the wife of the travel company's actual president, wasn't particularly notable, let alone the wife of a vice president.

They paid little attention to the young lady named Lu Zhenzhen and continued gossiping about the person in the photo.

After roughly understanding the exciting drama she had missed by arriving late, Mrs. Hu also asked to see the phone.

"You're saying this is the girlfriend Ji Feng just announced?" Mrs. Hu said as she picked up the phone to look at the photo. At first glance, she gasped and turned to Lu Zhenzhen, saying, "Isn't this—"

Lu Zhenzhen immediately cut her off: "Isn't this Xu Miyu?"

She was afraid Mrs. Hu would foolishly blurt out, "Isn't this your husband's ex-wife?"

After a moment's thought, she quickly added a bombshell piece of information that everyone would love to hear: "What a formidable woman—she managed to enchant CEO Ji even after being divorced."

"She's been divorced?!" This information exploded like a bomb, immediately shocking and exciting the ladies. "I never thought Ji Feng would lower his standards so much when it comes to choosing a partner."

Lu Zhenzhen said calmly, "Yes, she's been divorced, and she's already in her thirties. But she's very cunning. Someone I know is acquainted with her—she actually works at Ji Feng's hotel. Do you know what she started out as? You might not believe it, but she began as a housekeeping attendant—the kind who makes beds, sweeps floors, and cleans toilets."

"What?!" The ladies widened their eyes in shock. "How could Ji Feng fall for someone like that? Given his status, this is just too absurd. Has he suddenly lost his mind or developed some psychological issue?"

The ladies immediately shifted their attention to this new lady they had previously treated as invisible, all because of her exclusive insider information.Lu Zhenzhen continued, "She's very good at currying favor with Ji Feng. She kept getting parachuted from a room attendant to department heads, and a hotel butler personally witnessed her delivering herself to Ji Feng's room..." Lu Zhenzhen lowered her voice cautiously, "to... sleep with him. So you see, for a woman, whether she can work or has ability isn't important. What matters is whether she can sleep with men. That's how she caught Ji Feng's eye."

The ladies tutted repeatedly, and when they looked at Xu Miyu's photo again, they regarded her as lower than dirt.

Xu Miyu had drunk several cocktails in a row. While drinking, they didn't feel like much - just slightly cool, sweet fruit juice - but she hadn't expected the delayed effect to come so quickly and strongly. Suddenly she began feeling dizzy.

She quickly picked up a glass of water, wanting to return to the seating area to sit down and slowly drink some water to recover.

She rarely wore ten-centimeter high heels. Normally walking in these shoes required careful attention. Now with her dizziness, walking on ten-centimeter stiletto heels felt like trudging through muddy ground after rain - each step uncertain, always feeling like she might slip.

As she walked unsteadily past a group of women, she seemed to hear her own name coming from among them.

Distracted, Xu Miyu twisted her stiletto heel and instantly lost her balance completely, tumbling sideways.

Even as she fell, she managed to think quickly - she mustn't spill water on anyone else. So she directed her wrist toward herself, ensuring that the water would spill only on her own body.

She ended up sitting sideways on the floor. Fortunately, she felt her sitting posture was still somewhat elegant, with her legs crossed and bent to the left behind her. However, the left slit of her dress only covered her leg to above mid-thigh, making her fall appear flirtatious.

The water had all spilled on her chest, instantly dampening the lightweight fabric and making it semi-transparent, vaguely revealing what was beneath.

Xu Miyu hurriedly used her hands to cover her chest. Holding her chest, she tried to get up, but between the dizziness, weakness, and ankle pain, she failed to rise.

She seemed to have accidentally bumped into one of the ladies when she fell. She looked up and apologized to the woman.

This particular lady was the young matron who had secretly taken Xu Miyu's photo earlier. The group had been enthusiastically gossiping when suddenly she got bumped into. Not only was she startled, but she wasn't sure if her new dress had gotten scratched.

Furious, she quickly checked her hem. Confirming it was fine, she looked down and realized the person who had bumped into her was precisely the woman they had been gossiping about.

Seeing her sitting on the floor with two-thirds of her left leg exposed, pale and bare, appearing both awkward and somewhat provocative, she and the other ladies immediately felt contempt rising within them.

Someone behind the young matron couldn't resist speaking up quietly.

"Look at this... what kind of appearance is this with her leg exposed like that? So inelegant, crude and vulgar!"

"Exactly. I thought Ji Feng had high standards for choosing partners? How did he end up selecting someone like this after all his picking and choosing? Did his taste suddenly drop below sea level?"

"...Looking at her now, no wonder she got divorced. Probably wasn't very faithful. Otherwise, how could even her falling look so provocative..."Xu Miyu sat on the floor, hearing their hushed discussions clearly. Her mind buzzed with noise.

She tried to stand up again, but she had twisted her ankle when she fell earlier, and her head was still spinning. For a moment, she simply couldn’t get to her feet. She wanted to press her hands against the ground and force herself up, but the wine-soaked patch on her chest, if left uncovered, would become completely exposed. Defeated, she slumped back to the floor, as if trapped in a hopeless situation.

The surrounding judgmental voices never ceased. They took great pleasure in watching her humiliation, yet no one was willing to step forward and help her up.

Suddenly, Xu Miyu’s eyes welled with bitterness and sorrow. Ji Feng wasn’t very far from her, yet it felt as though he had abandoned her on a deserted island, leaving her alone to face the disdain, mockery, and judgment. And all of this began when he unilaterally announced their relationship without any discussion.

It felt as though she was suffering an undeserved calamity, one that brought her to the brink of despair.

In this state of mind, she simply remained seated on the floor, turned to the women gossiping about her, and smiled as she retorted, sentence by sentence:

"When someone falls, you just stand by and make sarcastic remarks. Is this what you call nobility and elegance? Does Ji Feng need your aesthetic approval to choose which woman he wants? Whether I've been divorced or not, what business is it of yours? I don't think being divorced is anything less dignified, but your gossiping is truly low-class."

Her words angered the elegant and noble ladies. They became even more united in looking down on her and despising her.

Xu Miyu tried hard to cover the transparent part on her chest while also attempting to push herself up from the ground. But she couldn't manage to do both things satisfactorily at the same time.

Suddenly, a garment fell on her shoulders. She turned to look - it was a suit jacket.

Immediately someone walked up to her, crouched down, crossed the suit jacket over her chest to cover her exposed skin. Then with both hands supporting her shoulders, he exerted force and helped her up.

Xu Miyu stared blankly at the person before her.

It was actually Duan Aoxiang.

He was actually at this cocktail party too.

Thinking about it, it wasn't surprising that he appeared here - he was also a second-generation rich kid after all.

Duan Aoxiang was wearing a white shirt, looking much cleaner and fresher than the previous times she had seen him.

But when he turned to speak to the group of ladies, he was still as irreverent as ever: "Are you all gossips? Don't you think your behavior of gossiping right in front of people is even more rude, vulgar and ill-mannered?"

Some of the ladies recognized Duan Aoxiang, knowing he was the unruly type in their circle with a strong vengeful streak. They had long been warned by their husbands to avoid such characters and not provoke them.

Making excuses about having matters to attend to, they scattered one after another.

Lu Zhenzhen didn't know Duan Aoxiang's background and didn't follow the retreat. Instead, looking at Xu Miyu she said: "You're quite capable, bewitching yet another man to stand up for you."

Xu Miyu looked coldly at her and retorted: "Not as capable as you, who managed to steal someone else's husband and then shift the blame onto others. Those things they just said were all misled by you, weren't they?"

Lu Zhenzhen laughed: "I wasn't lying - you have been divorced, and you have slept with your boss."

She looked at Duan Aoxiang and said with a smile: "Don't be fooled by her, she's not exactly a pure woman."

Duan Aoxiang's expression turned wicked as he directly cursed at her: "Get lost." He appeared too lazy to say more to her.

Lu Zhenzhen looked at Duan Aoxiang in disbelief: "I was kindly reminding you, what's wrong with you?"

Duan Aoxiang was clearly impatient, his unruly nature taking over as he grabbed Lu Zhenzhen by the waist and pulled her close, saying loudly: "What? You want to sleep with me tonight?"

Everyone around turned their attention to them. Lu Zhenzhen, frightened and pale, struggled hard to break free from Duan Aoxiang, almost crying as she refuted: "You're talking nonsense, you lunatic!"

After saying this, she quickly ran away.

Duan Aoxiang rolled his eyes and cursed "idiot."

Then looking back at Xu Miyu, he asked irritably: "Where's the guy who brought you? He brings you here but doesn't take responsibility for looking after you?"

Xu Miyu said he was discussing matters with someone else. Then added: "Just now... thank you."

Duan Aoxiang grinned, becoming improper again: "If you want to thank me, then give me a smile."

Before Xu Miyu could respond, he glanced behind her and said: "Forget it, you owe me one. I'm leaving."Xu Miyu turned her head and saw Ji Feng walking toward her.

It seemed he had finished his business with those people and had come to find her.

He had been frowning as he approached, clearly having seen Duan Aoxiang exchanging pleasantries with her.

When he stood beside her, he immediately gestured with his chin toward the suit jacket she was wearing and asked, "What's the deal with this jacket?"

Xu Miyu replied expressionlessly, "Water spilled on my chest, it was see-through."

Without a word, Ji Feng took off his own suit jacket, briskly removed the one draped over Xu Miyu's shoulders, tossed it to a passing waiter, and draped his own jacket over her shoulders instead.

The waiter, looking at the suddenly added suit jacket on his tray, asked in confusion, "Mr. Ji, what should I do with this jacket?"

Ji Feng said irritably, "Throw it away, burn it, whatever."

Xu Miyu tilted her head and replied politely to the waiter, "This jacket belongs to Mr. Duan Aoxiang."

The waiter said "Understood," and turned to find Duan Aoxiang to return the jacket.

After the waiter left, Ji Feng looked at Xu Miyu with a cold glare and furrowed brows.

Xu Miyu also quietly met his gaze.

In the end, it was Ji Feng who compromised and spoke first.

"If you ever spill water on yourself again, have the waiter come find me directly. There's no need to use another man's jacket to save the situation, especially someone like Duan Aoxiang. I don't like you wearing his jacket."

His flat tone made it clear that he truly disliked it.

Xu Miyu felt a mix of numbness and coldness in her heart.

He didn't ask what she had just gone through or who had caused the situation in the first place.

He only cared that she had draped another man's jacket over herself in an emergency.

All the mixed emotions that had been swirling in Xu Miyu's heart throughout the evening suddenly erupted at this moment.

She hadn't expected that the final straw breaking her back would be added by Ji Feng himself.