MORIC - Chapter 79
Chapter 79: It's So Obvious
On the day of the End-of-Term Ball, Guyun Academy seemed to have undergone a complete transformation; even the color of the buildings' exteriors had been changed.
The style shifted from classical to fantastical, with a starry sky projection open twenty-four hours a day. Fireworks were set off once every three hours, exploding into different patterns and adorning the academy's new year.
Chi Yueshan was completely unwilling to spend money on a formal gown, but she had a brand-new, incredibly fussy girlfriend.
Yesterday, Xi Zhoumeng had dragged her to try on dresses until very late. The styles became more and more exaggerated with each one, until finally, Chi Yueshan didn't want to change anymore.
She collapsed on the sofa, and Xi Zhoumeng sat beside her.
The red wine bottle on the coffee table surprisingly contained milk, and the wine glass was filled to the brim, making Chi Yueshan's mouth twitch.
They had already confessed.
They were girlfriends now.
It still didn't feel real to Chi Yueshan. Xi Zhoumeng was just too different.
Even though they had been intimate before, in Chi Yueshan's eyes at the time, it was merely help.
There should have been some kind of relationship-defining, passion-fueled encounter, so to speak.
There was nothing of the sort.
If she hadn't experienced Xi Zhoumeng's techniques before, Chi Yueshan would have suspected she was as pure on the inside as she appeared on the outside.
This person was impolite when she should have been polite, and well-behaved when she shouldn't have been restrained.
Why isn't she touching me?
Chi Yueshan woke up the next day feeling a little unhappy.
But Xi Zhoumeng had hired the highest-caliber styling team for her, making a huge fuss in the car on the way to Guyun Academy, as if Chi Yueshan were the main character.
Xuan Ping and Chi Yueshan had arranged to meet under the Silver Cup Windmill behind the Nasser Auditorium, where the ball was being held.
It had rained lightly last night, so today's sunset was especially beautiful.
The ball started in the afternoon, and under the setting sun, the entire academy looked like a building from a fairy tale.
The students coming and going were all dressed in their finest attire.
Even the students from the Lower World had, for the most part, changed into their most expensive clothes.
Xuan Ping wore an aqua-colored formal dress. While waiting for Chi Yueshan, she took several selfies and sent them to her parents in the Lower World.
She had never told her parents about her relationship with Mu Lai.
She was well aware of Chi Yueshan's worries but didn't consider this relationship to be very important.
It was just that she longed for love so much.
Even though Mu Lai had a notorious reputation, she could still find her charming qualities.
Including the things she could gain for herself.
Chi Yueshan saw Xuan Ping from a distance. Xi Zhoumeng hadn't gotten out of the car yet; she was to attend with the members of the Omega Council.
"Xuan Ping is still with Mu Lai."
She wore a formal hat with a half-veil of netting over her face. Her exposed cherry-colored lips were incredibly clear and translucent, and their movement alone could make one imagine the sensation of a kiss.
Chi Yueshan: "Our Pingping is so wonderful!"
She didn't particularly like Mu Lai either, finding her frivolous. They were of the same type, but Xi Shuang was much more reliable.
Xi Zhoumeng seemed to have read her mind. "Mu Lai doesn't plan to join the military. She's the only child in her family."
She knew Chi Yueshan's nature very well: "You just admire the strong."
Chi Yueshan admitted it readily: "Of course."
Xi Zhoumeng let out a soft "Aiya," pressing her expensive, hand-woven lace gloves to her delicate cheek.
"What about me, then? I'm not strong at all."
Chi Yueshan lifted her skirt and ran off, tossing back a sentence: "If you want me to praise you, keep dreaming, hahaha."
Unfortunately, she still wasn't used to wearing high heels. Even though the dress they finally settled on didn't have a long train, it still made it difficult for Chi Yueshan to move.
From behind, she could be seen stumbling along. Xi Zhoumeng rested her chin on her hand and watched from the car window for a long while.
Watching her run to Xuan Ping, the two young women walked forward together, huddled close and talking intimately.
How nice.
Xi Zhoumeng thought: What happened to the Xuan Ping in the book in the end?
Everyone knows about the protagonist's friends, but what about the side character's friends?
Did this character even exist?
【Xi Zhoumeng: System, can you run a search?】
【System: Hello, searching based on remaining data.】
【The original work did not have the character Xuan Ping...】
Xi Zhoumeng sighed. "Forget it. It's better to have someone for company."
Unlike her years imprisoned in a high tower, with no peers, only endless lessons and relentless demands.
Chi Yueshan and Xuan Ping walked into the Nasser Auditorium.
Guyun Academy was so large that it had many auditoriums, each with a different function. The furnishings of this particular auditorium were even more extravagant.
The reliefs on the spiral staircase had a Baroque architectural style, not to mention the ceiling frescoes, which still retained the vibrancy they had hundreds of years ago.
Now, the intricate chandeliers were lit, and the dance floor was already warming up.
Xuan Ping: "Were you with Senior Zhoumeng again yesterday?"
After speaking, she once again admired Chi Yueshan's attire. "Yueshan, you look so beautiful today."
Chi Yueshan's dress was mostly white, but the shoulders and sleeves were made of black fabric with a different weave.
The black wasn't pure black; up close, one could see fine gold threads woven into it.
It was self-evident whose handiwork this was. Forget Guyun Academy, in the entire Capital Star, there was no one more flamboyant than Xi Zhoumeng.
She wasn't a low-key person, but she had no intention of mingling in the fashion world. It was always Xi Yang who invited her, and she would go just that once.
Despite not making many public appearances, people could still perceive her strong personal style.
Wearing this kind of design, Chi Yueshan looked as if she had been branded with Xi Zhoumeng's mark.
Perhaps because the teasing in Xuan Ping's eyes was too obvious, Chi Yueshan subconsciously went to touch her nose but was stopped by Xuan Ping.
"Your makeup looks great too, don't smudge it."
The way Xuan Ping looked at Chi Yueshan always gave Chi Yueshan the feeling that she was the younger one.
But Xuan Ping was so green at the start of the semester, she needed my protection!
And she was so shy, honestly.
Chi Yueshan: "You look great too."
I don't know how to tell her that Xi Zhoumeng and I are dating.
Dating such a flamboyant person will draw the attention of the whole academy again. And it's an O-O relationship. It's better to keep it a secret.
Perhaps recalling how Xi Zhoumeng had framed Wen Xinghuo and then falsely accused her of cheating, Chi Yueshan felt a headache coming on.
Xuan Ping pulled her hand and walked forward. "Let's go get a drink first, Yueshan! Everything is free today."
Chi Yueshan nodded, then asked Xuan Ping, "Where's your Senior Mu?"
Xuan Ping: "She went to submit a new practical training application. Sigh, the last report was finished, but it didn't pass, so she has to start over next semester."
Chi Yueshan said, "Oh. That's not bad, you can go with her then."
Xuan Ping: "Yeah. Yueshan, do you want to join us?"
What practical training? It's clearly an excuse to date.
No matter how pragmatic Chi Yueshan was, she knew she shouldn't get involved and shook her head firmly.
Xuan Ping wasn't surprised. "That's true. You should probably go with Senior Xi."
Chi Yueshan: "Why!"
Her reaction was huge. Xuan Ping leaned in and asked in a low voice, "Are you two dating?"
Chi Yueshan was speechless for a long moment, but her face turned red first.
Everyone passing by was dressed to the nines. Chi Yueshan's blush made her face look all the more charmingly naive.
Some makeup and styling had the power to completely change a person's appearance. She now looked nothing like the girl who had harassed a senior on the first day of school.
Instead, she evoked a kind of pity and a desire to protect.
Xuan Ping lowered her voice again. "It's okay, I'll keep your secret."
She winked. "I knew it. Senior Xi is very nice, and it's perfect now that she and Senior Wen have broken up."
Chi Yueshan: "Then why didn't you encourage me to keep pursuing Senior Wen?"
Xuan Ping: "Haven't you already realized that your feelings for Senior Wen were just admiration?"
Xuan Ping's eyes sometimes gave Chi Yueshan the feeling that she saw through the ways of the world too clearly. Chi Yueshan felt a shiver run down her spine and pulled Xuan Ping to walk faster.
"I don't want to date Xi Zhoumeng, she's super troublesome."
Xuan Ping thought: What are you talking about? Your face is so red it could explode.
So cute.
With so many people gathered at the End-of-Term Ball, it was inevitable that one would overhear gossip.
The most outrageous recent news was about Sheng Qiuyu being marked. Chi Yueshan and Xuan Ping, holding their wine glasses and standing far away, could still hear the discussions.
"That's the Second Princess! Being marked is a bit too... you know, right?"
"I heard it from my aunt who works at the royal palace. But the other person is an Alpha from the Knight Academy anyway, her fiancé. It's no big deal."
"But wasn't Sheng Qiuyu dating other Alphas at school?"
"I have a classmate who takes an elective with Sheng Qiuyu, and they said the Second Princess herself said she didn't plan to marry that fiancé."
"Does being marked now mean she's lost her qualification to be queen?"
"Keep your voice down. Being queen isn't all that great anyway, there are so many rules. It's a kind of liberation, I guess, but she has no future now."
"Oh, oh, I remember now. Before the next queen is decided, causing this kind of trouble means being exiled to the Lower World..."
Xuan Ping sipped her wine. The academy's End-of-Term Ball was sponsored by various wealthy students.
As the president of the Omega Council and a member of the top-tier noble Xi Family, Xi Zhoumeng's sponsorships were always extravagant. This year, she was probably in charge of the drinks, which looked incredibly expensive at first glance.
Chi Yueshan's impression of Sheng Qiuyu was that of the princess who had confessed to Senior Wen.
Triplets, everyone knew that.
"Exiled to the Lower World... so everyone knows life in the Lower World is bad."
She mumbled with a hum.
Xuan Ping: "It's a historical problem. After all, the passages on the Capital Star are strange to begin with. To coexist with the Lower World, the resource issue must be solved at the very least."
Xuan Ping sighed again. "Every time I walk through the passages, I feel so cold. It feels like the relief creatures on both sides are alive. It's so creepy."
Chi Yueshan recalled the feeling and shivered as well. She pursed her lips and asked Xuan Ping, "Are you going home tomorrow?"
Xuan Ping: "The day after tomorrow. I have a date with my senior tomorrow."
She gave a shy smile. "My senior invited me to her house. I'm too embarrassed to go."
Chi Yueshan hummed in acknowledgment. "Pingping, don't agree to be marked, okay? Wait until you're married."
Xuan Ping nodded. "I know what I'm doing."
The warm-up had already begun. By this time, most people had flocked to the main building, and the railings on the upper floor were also crowded with people.
Chi Yueshan and Xuan Ping had picked a good spot in advance, standing on the upper floor to watch the excitement.
Xuan Ping: "I see Senior Wen. Oh, she looks so handsome in a formal suit."
Chi Yueshan followed her gaze. Wen Xinghuo was indeed very eye-catching. Her high ponytail was gone, replaced by shoulder-length hair. Her original forehead band was woven into a hairband, giving her a unique and mysterious look.
Standing next to her, Xi Shuang nudged Wen Xinghuo. "Didn't you break up with Xi Zhoumeng? Why are you still wearing the suit she gave you?"
Wen Xinghuo couldn't argue. Xi Zhoumeng had someone deliver the suit early in the morning. She had just returned to her dorm from her morning exercise when countless heads popped out of the dormitory building to watch.
All she heard were whispers of "breakup fee."
Xi Shuang: "The breakup fee for dating a rich young lady is tens of millions. Not a bad deal."
The design of this suit was very special, black with hints of red, like flowing fire extending to the cuffs and trouser legs. It perfectly complemented Wen Xinghuo's figure, and there was even a wisteria pattern on the chest, adding a touch of gentleness to her natural solemnity.
At this moment, the music suddenly changed as the orchestra on the side switched their sheet music.
Xi Zhoumeng and Duan Daizhen were hosting the ceremony. Clearly, the main character was still President Xi Zhoumeng.
Xuan Ping: "She's so beautiful."
Chi Yueshan had been so dizzy from trying on dresses last night that she hadn't even thought to ask what Xi Zhoumeng would be wearing.
Chi Yueshan snorted. "She looks like she's the one about to ascend the throne as queen."
In the main hall, Xi Shuang was a little disappointed. "I thought you two would be wearing matching outfits."
They were completely different. Xi Zhoumeng's dress was black with white embellishments, completely unrelated to Wen Xinghuo's suit.
"Hello, fellow students. I am Xi Zhoumeng."
"This is a celebration for all of us students. There are no teachers participating, and no speech from the principal. I hope everyone has a wonderful time."
"However, please also be mindful of your safety. The schedule is on the light-screen behind me..."
Chi Yueshan leaned on the railing, watching Xi Zhoumeng speak down below.
Only half a year had passed, but the image of Xi Zhoumeng giving her opening speech was still vivid in her mind.
Yet she felt like a long time had passed.
"The first event is the opening dance that everyone has been looking forward to. This year, we've canceled the solo dance segment. To make things more interesting, we've decided to draw pairs randomly."
"It's very simple. We will match the last digits of student ID numbers. A total of six couples will be selected."
A cheer rose from below.
Xi Zhoumeng even had tiny diamonds dotted under her eyes. The overhead lights shone on the round sculptures on either side, yet it made people feel that the dream of Xi Zhoumeng was more breathtaking than the sculpted goddesses.
Chi Yueshan was dazzled by the light. The moment the overhead lights dimmed, Xi Zhoumeng raised her head slightly.
She precisely captured Chi Yueshan's gaze.
She smiled, then disappeared into the darkness again.
"Students who are drawn and already have a romantic partner, please voluntarily switch with someone else."
The entire hall counted down, while outside, the New Year's fireworks rumbled.
It happened to be on the hour.
"Will the twelve students please enter the dance floor."
The AI released simulated snowflakes, and the orchestra changed their sheet music.
Wen Xinghuo stared at her student ID number, stunned for a long moment, before Xi Shuang gave her a push.
"Go on! What are you standing there for!"
Everyone else had matched with a suitable partner and entered the dance floor.
Wen Xinghuo stared at Sheng Yangkui, who had to step forward because the people in front of her had moved away.
She was like a wilting flower, clutching the corner of her skirt, incredibly nervous.
She didn't dare to look at Wen Xinghuo.
Because they were in a cold war.
Xi Zhoumeng's unhurried voice urged, "Wen Xinghuo, if you're an Alpha, hurry it up."
A wave of laughter followed.
Xi Shuang: "Yeah! Go for it, sis!"
Xuan Ping: "They're a good match, ooh."
Chi Yueshan vehemently agreed. After all, just a moment ago, she had seen the look in Sheng Yangkui's eyes.
Scorching and passionate, unlike her own feelings for Wen Xinghuo.
Sheng Yangkui had a strong sense of possessiveness.
Wen Xinghuo finally took that step. She didn't wait for Sheng Yangkui, but walked directly across the circular dance floor, reached out, and pulled the girl into her arms.
She thought: Xi Zhoumeng is truly cunning.
This suit was made to perfectly match Sheng Yangkui's dress.
But it doesn't feel bad.
Comments
Post a Comment