Chapter 2 SS Jewelry

Vana's life forever changed when she was eighteen-years-old.

Before she turned eighteen, she was the Gu Family's precious little gem. She was the woman that everybody was envious of. However, the moment she turned eighteen, her entire life had changed for the worse.

Four years ago, Emily informed her that Billy had been kidnapped. When Vana went to the place where it all happened, she'd been taken hostage in exchange for Billy. Before she knew it, she was dragged into an even darker room where she was continually insulted by these men.

A mysterious phone call saved her life. Before she knew it, she was being smuggled abroad and sold to Eritrea. Wars were happening continuously as everyone ran back and forth with guns slung to their hips. Although she wasn't being harassed by these men anymore, she was still scared out of her mind.

After four years of surviving, she finally had a chance to return home, only to be exposed to thousands of scandals. Now, she had nowhere to hide.

A part of her was afraid that she wouldn't be able to stay here anymore.

That was fine. A part of her hated this place anyway, but she couldn't leave her parents. They had taken care of her and treated her whole heartedly for so many years. She didn't want to leave her grandfather who treated her so kindly throughout the years. She also didn't want to leave Billy, who grew up with her and even promised to marry her when the time was right.

Back then, she was their precious jewel. But now, she was a stain they wanted to remove.

Vana wandered outside, having nowhere else to go. In the evening, she finally returned to her company dormitory.

She was now working under the company that her grandfather, Edwin Gu, had founded for her. It was a jewelry business under the Song Group, and it had many branches locally and abroad. The SS Jewelry was now favored by many celebrities and A-listers.

"May my deep love guard you forever." That was the one-liner they used to advertise the SS Jewelry, and it was that one line that had embedded itself in everyone's hearts. Charles Lu, an A-lister, even said how the SS Jewelry was a must for socialites.

Four years ago, Vana had greatly admired Renee Song, the Song Group's top designer and decision maker. She was also the wife of Andrew Deng, the legend in the business circle.

If someone were to speak of the couple, all kinds of luxury and high-end brands would flash to mind. They were a power couple, who meant to rule the jewelry business.

Vana had always admired the creative pieces that Renee Song designed.

Five years ago, at the fairy palace fashion ceremony, the Song Group launched the 'Classic Series'. They were called the 'XS Jewelry', showcasing the highlights of Renee Song's work. From XS01 to XS12, they all displayed the intricacies and effort that Renee Song put in to design them.

Words couldn't describe how much Vana admired this outstanding woman.

She felt incredibly lucky to work for the SS Jewelry.

When Vana returned to the dormitory, her feet already numb from walking. Then she saw two girls chatting with each other.

They turned towards her, and their expression changed immediately.

"Vana, what are you doing here?" Petty Lin was about to grab cup of water, but she was frozen into place. She shot a look at the woman beside her.

Julie Zhu hid something behind her, laughing awkwardly. "Why don't you go back home? It's late. There are only two beds in the dormitory, you know. It's time you leave."

Vana raised her eyebrow as she glanced at Petty Lin, who looked incredibly calm. Julie Zhu was a different story. Her dodgy eyes betrayed her intention.

"Don't you have a day off tomorrow?" Vana crossed her arms. Something was up. They had no need to stay in the dormitory if they didn't have to go to work the next day.

"It's none of your business," Julie Zhu snapped. "Can't I live in the dorm? There are only two beds, Vana. You should leave."

"I'm on duty tomorrow, so you might as well get out." Without giving them a chance to reply, Vana walked directly to the single bed near the bathroom. She placed her handbag on the bed, declaring that it was hers for the time being.

"You– Shame on you!" Julie Zhu sputtered out.

Vana snorted, removing her heels as she tried to alleviate her numb feet from the pain. She walked barefoot in the room to find a pair of slippers.

After getting a pair from the cabinet, Vana turned her head subconsciously. Sure enough, the pair of women continued to stare at her. With a smile, she warned, "Don't try to put a needle on my bed. After all, you've never succeeded. Tamper with my shoes, and I'll make sure you won't be able to walk again."

The bathroom door slammed close.

Julie Zhu didn't stay for the night. Besides, there wasn't any use. Vana already figured out what they planned to do, and she was too lazy to plan again. Plus, the beds in the dorm were so small that it couldn't fit two people.

The next morning, Vana received a message from her grandfather, asking her to go fishing in the H Village for the weekend. It was a village up north of the city with a peaceful fish pond. It was a quiet place, perfect for taking a break.

However, just before she could respond, her phone started ringing.

Vana straightened her dress, crinkling her nose when she realized that her dress was starting to look lousy. Had she lost weight? She picked up the phone.

Before she knew it, someone screamed from the other end of the line.

"Auntie, have you read the message I've sent you? If you don't come to my school today, I'll be dead meat!"

It was her niece. Vana sighed, rubbing her forehead. "What did you do this time?"

Her niece had always been up to no good for the last ten years. Every time she got into trouble, Vana was always there to face the aftermath.

When Vana was a little girl, the relationship between her family and her older sister, Annie Gu, had been pretty stiff. Annie Gu had always devoted herself to her boyfriend, straying away from her own family in the process. When she found out that she got pregnant, they eloped secretly. After giving birth, Annie Gu and her husband fell in love with the idea of freedom. That was the reason why she sent her daughter back to live with her grandparents. At that time, Vana was still pretty young, so her parents didn't stop her from bonding with her niece. Even today, their friendship remained strong.

"I didn't start it! The bastard approached me and asked me to beat him up!"

Vana banged her fist on the desk. That was an even crappier excuse than before! "What the hell did you do?" she roared.

Her face had become incredibly monstrous that even Petty Lin couldn't help but tremble at the sight of her glare. Her thought flashed back to last night when she tampered with Vana's dress... Would she get in trouble for that?

Having foreseen the consequences, Petty Lin immediately rushed out of the way.