Two men and a woman entered her rented apartment. They quickly yet discreetly scanned the modest space, a peculiar glint flickering in each of their eyes, but they were all well-mannered enough not to ask any questions. The woman opened the large bag she was carrying and took out several gowns: a white one for the wedding ceremony, a cheongsam for the banquet—in short, a complete set for every occasion. While these gowns perhaps couldn’t compare to Julia Bluen’s bridal gown, their quality was nevertheless top-notch, each worth at least one hundred thousand yuan.
"Miss Bailey, these gowns are all for you. Two days from now, in the morning, our Photo Studio’s makeup artist will come here personally to do your makeup. Then, a dedicated car will take you to the Church," the woman said, handing the gowns to Rachel Bailey with a warm smile. "Miss Bailey, we’re all quite busy, so we won’t disturb you any longer." She then retrieved a business card from the small, elegant purse on her right wrist, offering it to Rachel. "If you have any questions, please call me. This is my card. We’ll take our leave now."
"Okay, thank you for everything," Rachel Bailey said, accepting the card and glancing at it. Hearing they were leaving, she quickly escorted them out.
After seeing the people from Happiness Wedding Dress Studio out, Rachel Bailey immediately closed her apartment door. Back inside, she took the gowns and began holding them up against herself. They were neither too long nor too short; they fit her perfectly.
"Julia sure has an eye for this; each gown fits perfectly," Rachel Bailey mumbled to herself. Although Glades Horne had arranged for them to be delivered, Julia must have been the one who told the Photo Studio her measurements.
She carefully folded each gown and packed them back into the large bag. Rachel Bailey then picked up her phone from the bed, intending to call Julia Bluen to let her know she had received the gowns. But just then, her phone rang—Julia’s name flashing on the caller ID. Rachel chuckled. "That girl and I are really in sync; I was just about to call her, and she calls me first." She pressed the answer button, and Julia’s cheerful voice came through, "Rachel, I’m downstairs at your apartment building. Come on down."
Huh? Rachel Bailey looked out the window. The rain was still falling, showing no sign of letting up, and the wind continued to blow. This weather isn’t suitable for shopping or doing much of anything. Why would my best friend come looking for me now? "Okay, I’m coming down right away."
Rachel Bailey didn’t bother to guess. While still on the phone with Julia Bluen, she quickly stashed the bag of gowns, grabbed her apartment keys, and headed out.
"Three minutes, alright?" Julia Bluen’s crisp, giggling voice came through the phone.
"Two and a half will do," Rachel Bailey responded with a laugh, then hung up and walked to the elevator, quickly reaching the ground floor.
Opening the heavy ground-floor door and stepping outside, she saw Julia Bluen sitting in a black Mercedes. Rachel Bailey smiled, walked over, and tapped on the car window. Julia opened the door and said, "Get in."
"Where are we going?" Rachel Bailey asked as she slid into the car. "Is this car yours?"
Julia Bluen laughed. "I stole it."
"Then why didn’t you call me? I would’ve stolen a Mercedes to drive around too!" Rachel Bailey said, buckling her seatbelt. Only then did Julia Bluen start the car. "The Bluen Family consortium is the second-largest group in the city. Your Bluen Family has enough money to rival the Horne Family. For rich people like you, what kind of car couldn’t you have?"
Julia Bluen just smiled, saying nothing.
People from wealthy families just love to show off and care so much about appearances, always using luxury cars, designer clothes, and opulent villas to elevate their status, making themselves objects of envy and flattery.
"In weather , I thought you, the bride-to-be, would be resting at home for these last couple of days. The wedding is so soon, aren’t you nervous?" Rachel Bailey turned to Julia Bluen, her expression a mix of teasing and seriousness, and asked with a smile.
"No worries. What’s there for Julia Bluen to be nervous about? Even if the sky were to fall, I could hold it up," Julia Bluen replied.
"Oh, right, I forgot! You’re 170 centimeters tall—a standard Model’s height," Rachel Bailey said, her voice tinged with envy. She didn’t envy Julia Bluen’s family background or her good fortune in marrying into the prestigious Horne Family. What she envied most was Julia’s tall, slender figure. At only 154 centimeters, standing next to Julia made her feel like a dwarf. Fortunately, she wasn’t overweight; otherwise, she’d look like a short, stout winter melon.
"Well, who told you not to like sports?" Julia Bluen retorted, glancing at her smugly.
Rachel Bailey made a face at her and changed the subject. "Did you know? That disgusting, utterly shameless old geezer, Dio Powell, actually tried to hire me back at Cosmos Group. Your man is really something; with just a word, he had Dio Powell begging a humble worker like me like a poodle."
"Dio Powell contacted you?" Julia Bluen’s cheerful smile vanished, a flicker of disdain passing through her beautiful almond eyes. Actually, she had suspected Dio Powell would try to approach her through Rachel Bailey. He had pleaded with Julia, but she remained unmoved. For the sake of Cosmos Group’s business, that old scoundrel would certainly try to rehire Rachel at Cosmos.
"It happened yesterday afternoon. I turned him down," Rachel Bailey said, her own smile fading as she sighed. "People in the Shopping Mall... they change faces faster than you can flip through a book."
Julia Bluen said nothing.
The prestigious black Mercedes wove through the streets. T City was a sprawling metropolis where luxury cars speeding by were a common sight, so Julia Bluen’s passing Mercedes drew only casual glances, nothing out of the ordinary.
Shops lined both sides of the street. With the current rain, people seeking temporary shelter stood in front of every storefront. Some, bored with waiting, decided to browse inside. If they found something they liked, they might buy an item or two—exactly what the shop owners hoped for.
In weather , rain gear sold best. Most shops carried it. Their owners would often gaze up at the sky, a silent prayer in their eyes. They were probably hoping in their hearts for the rain to fall even harder and last even longer.