Chapter 2: What a Little White Lotus

The car stopped in front of the Four Seasons Hotel. Elio Leandro got out first, and a swarm of media reporters immediately rushed toward him. Camera flashes repeatedly burst in front of his eyes, making him increasingly irritated.

“Young Master Leandro, what do you think about the news that Miss Aria Nova has returned to the country after getting divorced?”

“Do you and Miss Aria Nova still have a chance to rekindle your relationship?”

…

Every question from the reporters revolved around the name “Aria Nova,” as if they were a pack of mad dogs that had caught the scent of something rotten. But very soon, when a pair of fair, delicate feet trembled slightly as they touched the ground, everyone’s attention was instantly drawn toward them.

Elio Leandro saw them too.

Luna Aster was standing barefoot on the ground, her expression innocent and pure. Her glistening eyes were shy and demure, as though they had been moistened by the spring rain, so radiant that no one could look away. She wore a white chiffon dress and not a single piece of jewelry, yet the flower crowns only made her look even more ethereal and pure, as though a little fairy from the heavens had accidentally wandered into the mortal world. Holding up the hem of her dress with one hand and carrying her high heels in the other, she bit her lip and smiled at the cameras. In an instant, everything around her seemed to fade into the background. The entire world paled in comparison to her beauty.

“You…”

Elio Leandro snapped back to his senses and was about to reach out and grab her, but the woman, seemingly oblivious to the rules of high society, had already started walking toward the venue.

The evening breeze lifted the hem of her white dress, sending flower petals fluttering through the air. She looked like a celestial maiden descending from the heavens, untouched by the dust of the mortal world. The spring rain was slightly chilly. Her clothes were thin, and she was walking barefoot across the rain-soaked ground. Her shoulders trembled from the cold, making her look all the more delicate and deserving of sympathy.

Luna Aster was already naturally beautiful, and dressed like a celestial fairy descending to earth, she easily aroused the protective instincts of the men around her. Several male guests had already taken off their suit jackets and stepped forward, wanting to drape them over Luna Aster’s shoulders. Not far away, Elio Leandro’s eyes remained fixed on Luna Aster’s retreating figure. When he saw this scene, his expression instantly darkened. Fortunately, the red carpet was only a dozen meters long. Luna Aster politely declined the advances of the overly attentive male guests as she climbed the steps and entered the warm banquet hall.

“She’s the second young master of the Leandro family’s wife? I don’t think she’s anything special!”

In a corner near the entrance, several women had gathered together, whispering among themselves. Their eyes were filled with jealousy as they watched Luna Aster enter.

“Compared with Aria Nova’s breathtaking beauty, she’s practically a foxtail weed. I really don’t know what Second Young Master Leandro sees in her.”

“Their marriage was arranged by the Leandro family’s old master. Second Young Master Leandro doesn’t love her at all!”

…

Luna Aster heard every word loud and clear. She neither became angry nor bothered to argue. She simply stood barefoot where she was, still holding the pair of ill-fitting high heels in her hand.

“Here, I found you a pair of slippers. It’s chilly tonight, so don’t let your feet get cold.”

A gentle female voice came from behind her. A pair of hotel slippers was then placed at Luna Aster’s feet.

“Thank you!”

Luna Aster looked up, and the moment she saw the face of her kindhearted helper, she froze. It was none other than Aria Nova, Elio Leandro’s beloved! Whether it was a coincidence or intentional, Aria Nova was also wearing an ethereal white dress today—the exact same style as Luna Aster’s. Luna Aster glanced at the high heels on Aria Nova’s feet, then at the pair she was carrying in her hand. After a moment, she suddenly smiled.

“What a coincidence! Our dresses and shoes are exactly the same!”

Aria Nova reached out and gently took Luna Aster by the wrist, her voice soft and gentle.

“El must have personally picked this out for you, right? This dress is from a few years ago. How could he let you be treated so unfairly?”

Before Luna Aster could respond, several wealthy socialites had already gathered around them.

“Oh! Isn’t this the dress Second Young Master Leandro gave Sister Aria as a token of their love back then? Sister Aria looks like a fairy descending to earth in it. But when someone else wears it, it just looks like a cheap knockoff trying to imitate the real thing!”

Luna Aster wore a smiling expression on her face, but inwardly she was cursing.

*It looks like a cheap knockoff trying to imitate the real thing, my ass!*

“Daisy, what nonsense are you talking about? How can you say Miss Aster is just a cheap knockoff trying to imitate the real thing? Didn’t I already tell all of you? You mustn’t bully her.”

Although Aria Nova verbally reprimanded Daisy, Luna Aster could clearly see the mockery and provocation hidden in her eyes.

*Quit pretending, for God’s sake! Do you need me to send you a bottle of concentrated sulfuric acid to wash your face with?*

“Those high heels are worth several hundred thousand dollar. Why aren’t you wearing them? Don’t you know how to wear high heels? Do you need me to help you?”

Seeing that Luna Aster remained silent, Aria Nova repeated herself in a louder voice, her eyes full of concern and her tone seemingly sincere.

Sure enough, the socialites around them burst into laughter.

“Even if she married Second Young Master Leandro, a country bumpkin is still a country bumpkin. She’ll never be able to fly up a branch and become a phoenix. She was simply born with a poor person’s fate!”

Luna Aster coldly swept her gaze over the socialites before finally settling her eyes on Aria Nova.

“El insisted on buying me these expensive yet impractical shoes. They’ll be ruined as soon as they get wet, and I couldn’t bear to damage them, so I’m carrying them in my hand instead.”

She bit her lip and put on a shy, bashful expression.

“When I got married, I served tea to Grandpa. He told me that now that I’m the second young mistress of the Leandro family, I’m different from the other women El keeps outside. I have to know how to conduct myself properly, manage the household frugally, and be a virtuous wife who supports El.”

The moment she finished speaking, Aria Nova’s expression instantly looked as though she had swallowed something disgusting.She wasn’t stupid. Naturally, she understood the implications behind Luna Aster’s words.

First: **Elio Leandro treats me very well and is willing to spend money on me, but I’m far more sensible and well-behaved than you are.**

Second: **I’m the one who served tea to the Leandro family’s old master and received his approval as the legitimate young mistress of the Leandro family.**

Third: **No matter how much you, Aria Nova, make a fuss, you’re still just one of the women Elio Leandro keeps outside—you’re not someone who belongs at the table.**

Aria Nova’s lips trembled, and her expression darkened with anger. For a long while, she couldn’t say a word. Then she looked up. Out of the corner of her eye, she happened to see Elio Leandro entering the venue and walking straight toward them. In an instant, she suppressed her anger and smiled as warmly as a spring breeze. She even hooked her arm intimately through Luna Aster’s, looking like two close girlfriends who had endless things to talk about. The astonishing skill of changing expressions faster than a Sichuan opera performer nearly made Luna Aster applaud.

*Damn, even the Oscars owe you a little golden statuette!*

At the same time, Elio Leandro reached Luna Aster’s side. Seeing the intimate appearance of the two women, he froze for a moment.

“El, I’ve stolen your wife away from you. You’re not allowed to be jealous, okay?”

Aria Nova spoke with a bright smile. Facing Elio Leandro, she was poised and generous, as though they were close friends who had simply reunited after a long separation. Elio Leandro’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. When his gaze swept over Luna Aster, there was a faint chill in his eyes.

“Luna Aster, what are you up to now?”

Hearing this, Luna Aster silently cursed Elio Leandro’s entire ancestral line in her heart.

*What a jerk. Which one of your eyes saw me causing trouble?*

*You wanted to provoke your old flame so badly that you made me wear the token of your love to this banquet. If I weren’t smart enough, those so-called socialites would have torn me to pieces by now!*

“El, a wife is someone you’re supposed to cherish. Even if she does something wrong, you can’t scold her like that!”

Before Luna Aster could say anything, Aria Nova had already stepped in front of her and locked eyes with Elio Leandro. Luna Aster was practically suffocated by the overwhelming aura of a *white lotus* and felt like she was about to throw up.

“Honey, I finally understand why you like Sister Aria. Wow, she’s really such a wonderful person! No wonder she’s known as a beautiful and kindhearted lady from a prestigious family. It’s just a shame that the two of you weren’t meant to be!”

Luna Aster stepped out from behind Aria Nova and firmly positioned herself between her and Elio Leandro, like a giant light bulb suddenly plugged into an outlet, shining brightly. The moment Luna Aster called Elio Leandro “Honey,” both Aria Nova and Elio Leandro wore complicated expressions.

After a moment, Elio Leandro suddenly smiled. His deep, fathomless eyes fixed tenderly on Luna Aster, and his voice became soft and affectionate.

“Luna, what nonsense are you talking about? If I liked another woman, why would I have married you? Come on, don’t make a fuss. You’re not allowed to be jealous. When we get home, I’ll make it up to you properly.”

Luna Aster silently gave Second Young Master Leandro a thumbs-up.

*As expected of a pair of former lovers—these two shameless actors are evenly matched when it comes to putting on a show. A hundred and eighty-eight likes for you!*

Aria Nova desperately tried to maintain her graceful smile, but it felt as though someone were repeatedly slapping her across the face, leaving her barely able to stand. After a long while, she finally forced a smile and said, “El, it’s rare for us to meet again. Since we’re all here tonight, I’ve gathered some of our old friends together. Let’s have a few drinks and catch up!”