Unexpected Second Chance at Love

Inside Blush Tree, Yue Ling had been ed to the third floor by Madam Lu. Unlike the first floor, this floor was more fitted for formal attire.

Having found a dress to try on, Yue Ling was currently standing inside one of the fitting rooms. She had changed out of her clothes and wore a Rhonda Taffeta dress in the shade Adriatic mist. The plunging V-neck on the bodice was not too revealing as it was sealed with white floral lace. From the waist down, a sweeping floor-length skirt accented with pleating details.

Yue Ling stares at her reflection in the mirror and heaves a long sigh. Like all the wedding dresses she had tried on at Ages of Love, this dress was just as pretty.

However, lowering her head to look at the dress, she sighs again.

Instead of wearing another designer's dress, she would prefer to wear one of her own. It wasn't that she doesn't like what other designers designed, but she's more comfortable in her own work.

"Yue-Yue, is everything alright in there?"

From outside the door, Zhao Ya'Er's voice sounds with a light knock. She already changed into the dress she wanted to try and was on her way to show her mother and aunt. When she saw that Yue Ling's door was still closed, she decided to wait.

However, due to the fitting room's quietness, she could hear the retired model occasionally sigh.

"Yue-Yue?"

Not hearing a response, she asks again in fear that something might have happened inside. She takes a small step forward and presses her cheek against the door to listen better.

"Yue-Yue, are you alright? It's me, Ya'Er. Can you— ah!"

Before she could finish her words, the door pulls open and startles her. She yelps and jumps back.

"I'm alright. Thanks for checking on me."

Yue Ling was also startled when she saw Zhao Ya'Er standing so close to the door. However, she kept her feelings composed and smiles calmly.

"You look good."

Zhao Ya'Er was wearing a sleek and silky burgundy gown. It features a flowing silhouette with a modern one-shoulder neckline that gave the perfect balance of dynamic movement and timeless glamour.

Being complimented, she (Zhao Ya'Er) looks down at the dress on her body. Her cheeks flushed red, and she shrinks bashfully.

"Thanks."

She had always had trouble finding the right dress to match her short hair. However, to hear Yue Ling say she looked good, how can she not be happy?

With happiness blooming inside, she looks up. However, her breath was taken away in that second when she saw Yue Ling wearing the Adriatic mist dress.

"Wow, you look even better than me!"

She squealed with delight as the shyness that wrapped around her seconds ago was shove away. She reaches out and grabs Yue Ling by the hand.

"Mom and aunty will surely agree with me."

Her words fell, and she strides out of the fitting room area. She behaved like a little girl wanting to show the world what she got for Christmas.

Remembering another person, she pauses in her tracks but only for a split second. She giggles with one hand covering her mouth and glances back at Yue Ling.

"My cousin definitely won't be able to take his eyes off you."

Yue Ling doesn't stop, but the woman lets herself be led away. She was too speechless to say anything. She had only opened the door to see if Zhao Ya'Er needed anything. Yet, how did the situation turn into this?

Not only that, when she tried on the dress, due to the zipper being in the back, she wasn't able to zip it all the way. If someone brushes her hair aside, they will clearly notice or think that the dress didn't fit her.

Seeing that they were nearing the sales floor entrance, Yue Ling decides to ask Zhao Ya'Er to help her with the zipper.

"Ya'Er, wait a second. My dress isn't—"

"I was wondering who was making such a ruckus. Turns out to be you two only."

Before Yue Ling could tell Zhao Ya'Er about the situation with her dress, a woman's provocative voice sounds from behind them.

Both women stop in their tracks. The voice that spoke was too familiar, and they around in the direction of the fitting room.

Upon seeing who it is, Zhao Ya'Er's face scrunch in a frown without hiding the arousing revulsion inside her. Unlike her, Yue Ling was void of any emotions.

She (Yue Ling) stares at the woman, and without looking down, she could make out the details of the bright red dress the woman was wearing.

"Ji Chu Hua."

Although they can be considered enemies, they were still related, so she greets the woman like how she greets her business clients.

Ji Chu Hua stood deeper inside the fitting room. Blush Tree is a well-known store amongst the women from prominent families in Imperial. She had come here because she felt like spending some money to ease her mind from the news of Yue Ling and Lu Tian's engagement.

Yet, what kind of misfortune is this for her to run into the one person she detests the most.

She stares at the two women standing a few feet away from her. Noticing their dresses, she could guess that they were here to find a dress for the engagement party.

Annoyed by this, she flicks her hair behind her shoulder like she was a significant figure in the world. An arrogant chuckle sounds from her, and she kept her line of sight on Yue Ling.

"We may be related, but we are not close enough for you to address me so casually."

Her words fell with pride, and she raises her chin higher. By doing this, she will look taller compare to Yue Ling and Zhao Ya'Er. Of course, this was all in her head as the two women were still taller than her.

Yue Ling arched a brow at the woman in front of her. She feels threatened but thought Ji Chu Hua was making a complete fool of herself and digging her own grave.

Noticing Ji Chu Hua's attempt to make herself look taller, Yue Ling forced herself not to laugh. To her, this cousin of hers looked like a monkey. No, even monkeys wouldn't claim her as their own.

Staring at Ji Chu Hua one last time, Yue Ling turns away. She has more important things to do than deal with this woman.

"Ya'Er, let's go. Everyone is still waiting for us."

She gently pulls Zhao Ya'Er along with her, and the two make their way for the sales floor. With the amount of time they had wasted looking at Ji Chu Hua, the others are probably wondering why they haven't come out of the fitting room.

"Han Yue Ling!"

Just as they stepped onto the sales floor, Ji Chu Hua bellows after with a stomp of her foot. Her heel made a loud thud that echoed throughout the entire fitting room.

She was boiling with rage when she saw Yue Ling ignore her. No one has ever treated her this way. It was only when Yue Ling appeared in Imperial that she started to receive the cold shoulder.

Even Ji Jingxu, who used to be a coward in front of her, was now arguing back.

Suddenly thinking about the day she was stopped at the Ji Mansion, her expression darkens. She glares at Yue Ling without hiding her hatred.

"Didn't your parents teach you not to walk away when someone is talking to you?"

She glances at the timid-looking Zhao Ya'Er, and she clenches her fists tightly. Even with her nails digging into her skin, she didn't feel pain at all.

The one standing next to Zhao Ya'Er should have been her. If Yue Ling hadn't appeared, she would have been the one receiving all the attention from the Lu and Zhao family. Even if she didn't get Ji Corps, she would have been satisfied standing next to Lu Tian.

Her expression turned murderous, and everything about her no longer looked like the refined woman others think she is. She inhales a deep breath that made her body tremble, and she sneers maliciously.

"Oh, dear, how could I have forgotten. You don't have any parents to teach you."

She gasps after her words as she had misspoken. However, her expression said otherwise.

Her eyes were as if her words were the most amusing thing ever, and she slowly walks towards Yue Ling.

It was like she had finally got her revenge on the retired model for all the humiliation she had ever received.

However, she doesn't stop there but continues to taunt Yue Ling.

"If my parents died when I was young, I would probably end up like you too."

She stops near Yue Ling's figure that was facing the other side and leans forward. She whispers near her (Yue Ling) ear in a voice that was neither too loud nor too quiet.

"It's a shame that your parents are not here to see how vile and ill-manner you have become. If I were them, I would rather be dead too. Even your precious grandfather rather die than put up with you."