"Zhu Dinghong would like to thank everyone who have joined us in this charity event and for helping us raise money by buying and bidding our jewelries. The money we acquired exceeds our expectation! Because of this, more people in need will be helped and saved!" The woman in red heartily announced.

"May I request our most generous guest to please join me in the stage to receive her prize?" The spotlight left the woman in red and went directly to An Jiaying's table. ​​

An Jiaying wanted to hide. She got what she asked for; attention.

But it was not the kind of attention she was looking forward to. She could feel everyone's scrutiny and ridicule. They were mocking her for embarrassing herself in front of many important people.

Her crude behavior was unbecoming for the eldest miss of a distinguished family. If words got out, her reputation would be covered in mud.

"Hmph! Does she think that just because she won means she's great? CEO Bai was merely playing with her..."

"Shh...mind your words, or else trouble will come your way..."

"What can she do? Her An family is nothing compare to mine..."

The words they spat at her beat the essence of the word "whisper" if she can hear them.

You can bark all you want! But don't blame me for retaliating!

Curse you, Lillie Bai! It's all your fault!

An Jiaying bit the inside of her cheek until she taste the familiar metallic liquid oozing from her punctured wound.

She stood up from the comfort of her seat and approached the stage. The glaring light followed as if taunting her.

Some guests pitied her so they clapped for the sake of being polite and for not letting her be embarrassed any further.

Sound of Dawn's eyes glinted maliciously at the approaching figure. "If it isn't Eldest Miss An."

An Jiaying, who just reached the stage, was a bit stunned when Sound of Dawn call her with familiarity. "This young lady know me?"

Sound of Dawn smiled, "Of course! In fact, I know you very well."

An Jiaying dug into her memory to search for people who she had encountered that is similar to the person before her.

Unfortunately, she remembered no such person who's good at singing and playing the guzheng.

There is one...but that's impossible.

She remembered when she was young that their father gifted An Xiuling a guzheng for her 7th birthday. However, no one bothered to teach her how to play it....

Until the guzheng was eventually burned by her.

An Jiaying remembered the satisfaction she felt as she watch the expensive ancient guzheng be burned, leaving ashes in its wake.

The simply fact that their father gave something like that to his illegitimate daughter brought rage in her heart.

An Xiuling does not belong to the An family. She does not deserve a luxurious life.

"Miss An, would you like to personally claim the mask now?"

An Jiaying snapped out of her trance when the woman in red spoke. Her eyes instinctively looked at the mask that Sound of Dawn wore.

Hmm...seeing it up-close, the mask is not that bad.

The masquerade mask was made from molten white gold shaped into a pair of butterfly wings and was adorned by pink diamonds.

No person would not love to have it in their possession.

"Personally claim it? You mean..."

The woman in red nodded, "You may remove Sound of Dawn's—I mean, your mask, from Sound of Dawn."

An Jiaying feigned to hesitate and look troubled. "I...uhm..."

"It's alright, Miss An." Sound of Dawn reassured her with a gentle smile. "It belongs to you now."

"Then please excuse me for being impolite..." An Jiaying's hands slowly reached for the mask.

Feeling the cold metal in her skin, An Jiaying suddenly felt nervous.

There was an inexplicable chill running down her spine.

BLAG!

"Stop right there!"