Miss Kiyono, dressed in a light cyan gown, had already started eating on the other side.
As time slowly passed, it wasn’t until the birthday party began that Jiutiao Meiji, clad in a yellow formal dress, gracefully descended the spiral staircase.
Halfway down the stairs, she stopped, looked over all her guests from above, and slowly extended her right hand in a gesture inviting assistance.
The living room was so quiet that not even a whisper could be heard, quiet enough to make Dubian Che’s heartbeat accelerate.
He first looked to Jiutiao’s mother, who, satisfied, watched her daughter but made no move to assist.
Dubian Che then glanced at the maids lined up on the side, who also showed no intention of approaching.
Next, he looked at Kiyono Lin, who was watching him with a smirk suggesting, "So you’re quite bold, huh?"
So he had been the one they were waiting for!
Why hadn’t there been any notice or rehearsal? Damn it!
Dubian Che quickly straightened his clothes, strode through the crowd, took a deep breath, and under everyone’s gaze, stepped onto the spiral staircase to support Jiutiao Meiji’s hovering right hand.
Jiutiao Meiji gave him a meaningful glance, and Dubian Che responded with a somewhat stiff smile.
Dubian Che’s actions were hasty and his smile uneasy, but no matter how he smiled, he was attractive, radiating confidence all over, and nobody would think him discourteous.
After the exchange of looks, Jiutiao Meiji gave Dubian Che a ’I’ll deal with you later’ look and then cheerfully took his arm.
Watching the duo step down the stairs together, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, they were impeccable, and the guests couldn’t help but burst into applause.
The party went on for over an hour, with Dubian Che being led by Jiutiao Meiji along his side, engaging in various conversations.
"Meiji, when are you planning to get married?" teased an elderly lady.
"I’m only eighteen," Jiutiao Meiji laughed like a naive young girl.
"What surname will your kids have? Planning on a boy or a girl?" inquired another elderly man in a kimono.
At this question, Jiutiao Meiji looked towards Dubian Che.
Thus, everyone’s attention turned to the handsome young man.
"Surnamed Jiutiao," Dubian Che replied with a smile.
"Have a few then, leave one surnamed Dubian," Jiutiao Meiji considerately added.
"Ha ha ha, did you hear, Jiutiao niece? Your daughter suggests having several."
Jiutiao’s mother laughed and nodded, "Our family has had only single heirs for the last three generations; I’m happy if Meiji is willing to have more."
"Little Meiji, how many exactly are you planning to have?" asked a woman with gray hair.
Jiutiao Meiji, smiling sweetly at Dubian Che, said, "Four."
"Four sounds good, but it’ll be tough; take care of yourself."
Though it was called a birthday party, it felt more like a teasing fest. Had he known, he would have attended the daytime birthday celebration where everyone was unacquainted, certainly avoiding such intimate topics.
As soon as they entered the room, Dubian Che began taking off his suit, complaining to Jiutiao Meiji.
"What are you complaining about? I’m more tired; come help me take off this gown first."
Dubian Che looked at Jiutiao Meiji, who was facing away from him with her arms outstretched, in an opulent, cinched-waist gown.
Her soft black hair was draped over her shoulders, delicate pale collarbones exposed, the swell of her bosom, the irresistibly slender waist, and her floor-sweeping dress floaty like a bridal gown.
"What do you want by taking it off?" Dubian Che placed his hand on her waist, feeling the fabric of the gown, biting her dainty earlobe, "I like it this way."
Jiutiao Meiji squirmed as if ticklish, tilting her head while Dubian Che moved to kiss her snow-white delicate neck, inhaling her sweet scent.
"It’s ticklish," Jiutiao Meiji tilted her neck back.
"Then I’ll kiss here."
"Are you feeling sick?" Jiutiao Meiji frowned.
"Is this being sick?!"
"My feet are sore; you handle it," Jiutiao Meiji adjusted her pillow and lazily lay down.
Dubian Che looked at Jiutiao Meiji lying motionlessly on the bed, pondering how exactly he had ended up here.
Eventually, Jiutiao Meiji was comfortable.
Under the covers, Dubian Che wrapped his arms around her waist, watching her face as she drifted off to sleep.
"Meiji, I want to discuss something with you."
Jiutiao Meiji softly muttered, "Hmm?"
"Can you try not to lose your temper or kill people so freely in the future?"
She seemed already asleep as she murmured a response.
Dubian Che guessed she hadn’t listened to a word, merely responding mechanically.
He continued, "You can treat me however you like, but if others don’t provoke you, try not to lose your temper so easily, and if they do provoke you, a beating would suffice. Don’t go too far, okay?"
Jiutiao Meiji opened her eyes within his embrace: "Are you still worried about that student council president?"
"... Why would I care about some random person? I’m saying this because of what happened last Saturday; it isolated me from others, even my friends. You could at least consider my situation a bit."
"It’s not necessary to care about them," Jiutiao Meiji lifted Dubian Che’s right hand, examining it as if it were an antique, "Those people will eventually become strangers due to the social class differences."
"So I won’t have friends then?"
"You could try with Kiyono Lin," Jiutiao Meiji placed her palm against Dubian Che’s, comparing their sizes, "I think you two get along well; maybe you could be friends."
"That’s not happening."
"Of course." Dubian Che remained expressionless.
Jiutiao Meiji, satisfied, interlocked their fingers.
"About what I said, do you agree?" Dubian Che pressed.
"Let’s talk about it later."
"With all this happening, what if it gets discovered? I don’t want you to get into trouble," Dubian Che pinned Jiutiao Meiji beneath him, forcing her to decide.