In the afternoon, when Zhixi woke up from her nap, she found that Gu Bingjun had already sent a stylist over.
She had no choice but to let the stylist do her makeup and hair.
Xiaobao watched by the side, utterly fascinated as the stylist worked on her makeup and hair, incessantly circling around her: "Mom, you look so beautiful!"
Zhixi stretched out her hand and pinched his cheek, clearly enjoying the compliment.
It took a full two hours before the stylist finally let her go, looking at the beauty in the mirror and nodding with satisfaction, "Done."
Zhixi looked at herself in the mirror and was also momentarily stunned.
A woman beautifies herself for the one who cherishes her... Therefore, in the past four years, she had completely forgotten what makeup and dressing up were all about.
Moreover, she had almost been disfigured back then and had not dared to look in a mirror for at least a year and a half.
She had forgotten that she could still look this beautiful.
If it were back then, He Jingyao would have definitely had a fiery light in his eyes upon seeing her ...
Thinking this, she suddenly lost the mood to continue admiring herself, stood up, gave a few instructions to Xiaobao, and left.
Ning Yichen was already waiting for her outside the hotel.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up, a hint of amazement sweeping across his eyes, "Tonight I don’t know how many people will envy, be jealous, and hate me... The daughter of R country’s richest man is so beautifully enchanting, those heirs’ gazes might just kill me."
Zhixi’s smile was somewhat forced, "You’re kidding again... Let’s go."
Noticing her bad mood, Ning Yichen didn’t ask further but instead opened the car door for her.
Although the dinner was not a big one, it was very formal, and everyone who could attend was a celebrity.
Zhixi and Ning Yichen made their entrance together and indeed captured the attention of the entire room, especially the men whose gazes on Zhixi were so eager they almost burned through her.
The women’s gazes were more exploratory and slightly hostile with some also falling on Ning Yichen.
Ning Yichen suddenly smiled and whispered in her ear, "If you see someone you like, don’t be shy. As long as you’re willing to marry into Z country, the President doesn’t care who you’re interested in."
Zhixi glared at him irritably and tried to extract her arm from his but he stopped her.
"If you don’t want to be surrounded by all kinds of obsequious heirs, it’s better to stick close to me," he suggested earnestly.
Zhixi glanced around the room, had to agree with him, and with Gu Bingjun not yet arrived, she decided to continue arm-in-arm with him, trying hard to ignore those too presumptuous gazes.
She was well aware that these people were not looking at her, but at Duke Leslie’s daughter.
Back when she had nothing, He Jingyao had cherished her like a treasure; now, though her status had changed dramatically, at least in the mundane view, she finally matched him. But, he would never look at her again.
Thinking this, she gave a self-derisive laugh.
Ning Yichen led her to the long table, handed her a non-alcoholic cocktail. Zhixi held it in her hand, took a light sip, but the surrounding murmurs about her and Ning Yichen were getting louder, impossible for her to ignore.
Zhixi frowned, still not comfortable being the center of attention.
Just then, the entire banquet hall suddenly fell eerily quiet.
Zhixi saw a few women who had been whispering about her not far away suddenly widen their eyes in shock, turning their gazes toward the entrance.
It was as if a new storm had appeared, instantly sweeping through the entire banquet hall.