Chapter 37: A Love of City-toppling Beauty
“Ahahaha….,….”
Sometimes, life is just that bumpy and full of twists and turns.
You say I, a high school student, have to get engaged… and my betrothed is a wealthy young lady from a prominent family.
Whenever this happens, I always recall the day I sat on a park bench and a round, unidentified flying object flew towards me. Ever since that thing hit my head, my life has been going downhill. Even the worldline has been messed up by me. Now it’s probably like the mountain roads of Akina, with a thousand twists and turns, and I don’t know where it’s veered off to.
So why am I alone, leaning against the railing of the balcony, feeling the cold wind and lamenting my life?
It’s truly because the atmosphere inside – that is, inside the banquet hall – was so stifling that I could barely breathe. So, I casually made an excuse and ran out.
Honestly, I didn’t have even a shred of mental preparation…
Lianbing’s actions stunned me. As soon as I raised enough funds, she immediately took action.
Yesterday, Saturday, I only borrowed money from Yu Hui. After giving it to Lianbing in the evening, Lianbing told me the next morning that everything was arranged and the banquet would be held tonight.
Everything was prepared in less than half a day?!
And without any maids to help? What terrifying efficiency!
I turned around and leaned against the marble balcony, looking at the crowded banquet hall, and once again admired Miss Lianbing’s astonishing organizational skills.
The banquet hall wasn’t small, but it felt quite cramped after accommodating nearly a hundred people.
The news of Miss Ji Lianbing’s Engagement Ceremony carried a strong shock. After all, the young lady of the Ji family was the center of attention. Marrying her was the dream of every excellent young man. At the very least, it would mean less struggle. No, it would mean no struggle at all.
To be honest, I don’t recognize anyone here. But I have seen some of them on television before. They are probably big shots in some industry.
When I first entered, many people came to talk to me, probably because I was one of the few young people here. These people weren’t looking at me, but rather appraising me.
Then I understood why Lianbing always wore that mask of a smile. Because here, there is no one who will be sincere with you. It’s filled with deception and intrigue, a place for games.
Miss Shirley once said that Lianbing has the ability to read people. She can easily discern a person’s value, she is a born leader, or rather, a dominator.
As for me, I have never been a popular person, nor do I need to be welcomed by others. So, from the beginning, I have seen everything in a detached way and have become accustomed to it.
The more I am in a lively scene, the more I feel that I am…
Alone in this world.
No, why am I being chuunibyo.
Simply put, I have nothing in common with these people, and I couldn’t understand their high-brow conversations at all, so I found it boring. I wasn’t hungry either, so I just came to the balcony to feel the breeze.
No matter how you look at it, I don’t fit in here. And my suddenly sensitive hearing even picked up those people talking about me, saying I might be the young master of some wealthy family, so aloof… Wow, I’ve been completely misunderstood.
Oh well, there’s nothing to explain anyway.
Where is that Lianbing girl anyway? We didn’t arrive at the venue together. She disappeared since the afternoon, saying she had some preparations to make.
The hired MC was sweating profusely. The protagonist had not appeared for a long time, and he was already running out of things to say to stall for time.
Tsk tsk tsk… I looked at the MC with sympathy and took a sip of what I got earlier… Cough, isn’t this a cocktail?
Wow, my throat feels like it’s burning. This liquor is so strong!
As I rubbed my neck, contemplating whether to spit out the drink, someone suddenly patted my shoulder, and a gentle voice rang out.
“Hey, why are you drinking alone here? You’re about my age, aren’t you? Minors can’t drink.”
“Yinhua?”
“….If half a month counts as a long time.”
“Then it’s already been a long time.”
Yinhua looked very energetic, not at all like the dejected person I met for the first time. She was wearing a simple white silk dress. The backless design further enhanced her pure demeanor.
Oh, she can attend this banquet, and her complexion is so good. Could it be—
“Have you, found your Master of Fate?”
“Yes, I have! The family’s financial crisis has been resolved, and that damn god of poverty has packed up and left!”
“Is that so? Then congratulations. It seems I didn’t help much.”
“No, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have had the courage! And if I hadn’t met you, Sister Qing might not have found me either! She said it was because I had seen you, so she found me by following your residual aura…”
“Huh? Is that so…”
I never expected my meeting with Yinhua to become the catalyst for her finding her Master of Fate? It’s truly beyond words. I accidentally helped her by chance…
Oh well, seeing her escape poverty is a good thing. I sincerely wish her to become rich again. Now I know how painful it is to have no money.
“By the way, Sister Qing is also here today. Shall I take you to see her?”
Saying that, Yinhua was about to pull me away from the balcony.
As she pulled me along into the venue, I only then reacted. I stopped and said with difficulty.
“Uh, Yinhua, didn’t you forget that we are on opposing sides? You are the F Witch of Wu Fu, and I am the Master of Fate of Si Huo.”
“Ah, there was such a thing, wasn’t there?”
Yinhua scratched her head sheepishly, then asked me.
“By the way, why are you here?”
How should I put it?
I’m actually the protagonist of this engagement ceremony, the man who is going to get engaged to Ji Lianbing?
Well, it’s probably better to say it.
But then Yinhua cut me off.
“Ah, I asked a silly question. Of course, you would be here. After all, today is Ji Lianbing’s engagement ceremony. Juncheng, you seem to be very familiar with her maid… Are you two perhaps…?”
“Hm? Are you referring to Miss Shirley and I?”
“Yes, that white-haired maid named Shirley…”
“Yes, Miss Shirley and I are just… like siblings? In short, she takes good care of me.”
“I see!”
Yinhua seemed very happy after hearing this, her gloomy expression clearing up, revealing a bright smile.
Could it be that she has fallen for me…
Sometimes, the trigger for falling in love with someone is very simple. Perhaps it’s just a small thing, but it leaves a deep impression.
And for Yinhua, that kiss that day might have left an unexpectedly deep impression.
What should I do…
After thinking about it, I decided to explain it clearly to her, otherwise when Lianbing appears later, she might be…
“Um, Yinhua…”
Just then, we heard an uproar from the venue. But the noise didn’t last long. Everyone seemed to have agreed to fall silent.
The music even stopped. We could only hear the sound of inhaling from the MC’s microphone.
And the crisp sound of high heels on the floor.
It was a young lady wearing a pure white gown.
The pure white skirt was tailored into countless pleats, like a misty chiffon. The sleeves were trimmed with uneven lace. From her shoulders, a spiral of flower vines was adorned with white roses. With her puffed-out skirt, she was like a princess in the clouds, elegant and magnificent.
All the men present were astonished, except for me.
To be honest, it wasn’t particularly fitting.
Lianbing herself doesn’t suit pure white.
She suits darker colors like purple, blood red, and black better.
I can imagine her wearing a black dress, black high-heeled boots, black stockings covering her fair skin, her flaxen hair tied up, elegant and graceful with a hint of sexiness and allure. That would be the most suitable evening gown for Lianbing.
But as a man, I naturally couldn’t say anything to spoil the mood on such an occasion.
Besides, what more can I demand now? She is truly the most perfect girl.
She walked gracefully, her lotus feet beneath the white long dress stepping lightly. Under the astonished gaze of the crowd, she moved towards the front.
Just as the pure white maiden reached the center of the banquet hall, and everyone was wondering whom she would invite, she suddenly looked around as if searching for something. Those blocking her line of sight were perceptive and quickly made space, allowing the maiden to find her intended groom.
And I was just standing there, not moving towards the center where she was.
“…Ah…”
(SF Light Novel)
Beside me, Yinhua murmured softly.
I think everyone present could relate. She was truly too beautiful, a beauty to topple cities.
The next second, this peerlessly beautiful maiden, who was the center of attention, smiled with delight as if she had finally found her favorite toy. She walked straight towards me, stopping in front of me as if guided by fate.
I saw Yinhua’s exaggerated expression at the edge of my vision. It seems I didn’t get to explain after all… I’m sorry…
At this moment, the silent banquet hall became noisy again, but it was because the maiden had chosen me.
I was a little stunned, completely unable to communicate with her naturally as I normally would. I couldn’t even initiate a conversation. Unlike the time with Ruanruan, I don’t know why I didn’t feel excited, just a sense of calm.
The maiden looked at me and suddenly smiled.
“Hehe~ What’s with that expression? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Ghosts aren’t as beautiful as you.”
“Yo, haven’t seen you for a few hours, and even a blockhead can say sweet things now? Is this beautiful girl beside you someone new you’re charming? Aren’t you afraid that Xinliang might suddenly appear out of anger?”
“What the heck… By the way, this is an engagement ceremony, not a wedding, why are you wearing a wedding dress?”
“Lei Li insisted I wear it. I know you want to say… White doesn’t suit me, right?”
“Yes, black suits you better.”
“You unromantic man, can’t you just praise me a little?”
“I’m just telling the truth. Actually, you look beautiful in anything.”
“Hehehe~ That’s more like it.”
Lianbing raised one of her hands. I took it, gave Yinhua an apologetic look, and then led Lianbing towards the center of the venue.
It felt like everything around me didn’t matter anymore.
In the end, Lianbing is still Lianbing. No matter what she wears, she is still the Lianbing I’m familiar with.
Ji Lianbing, whom I am so infatuated with and attached to.
