Coming out of the snack shop.
The silly girl, Chu Jin, held the jade ring in hand and looked at it disdainfully as she walked, "Is this dark thing really from the Song Dynasty?"
"Of course," Zi said with her legs cocked up, cracking sunflower seeds, "Given the five-spice sunflower seeds, you throw it into the space, and I will clean it. It will amaze you!"
"Okay," Chu Jin nodded, slightly flipped the tip of the jade ring with her fingers, and tossed it into the space.
She was also curious about what kind of dignified appearance the jade ring had beneath that layer of black ash.
Because of the delay on the road, by the time she arrived at Zhao’s house, it was already nearly six o’clock.
In the living room, Zhao Shendong and Li Ruyu sat on the sofa with serious expressions.
"You know to come back?" Li Ruyu stared at her angrily, "Didn’t I tell you to come back earlier? Do you know our whole family has been waiting for just you!"
Chu Jin pressed her lips together, saying nothing.
Zhao Shendong stepped in to smooth things over, "Okay, okay, it’s good you’re back. Go upstairs and change your clothes quickly."
Chu Jin stepped upstairs.
The Zhao family had prepared a pink long dress for her, which was quite suitable for her age. Chu Jin changed into the long dress and stood in front of the mirror; the girl in the mirror had picturesque brows and eyes, and the pink long dress set off her already fair skin to appear even more delicate.
It seems that the Zhao family did have some conscience at times; at the very least, they didn’t prepare an ill-fitting or ragged dress to embarrass her.
However, when she went downstairs and saw Zhao Yiling, she understood the intention of the Zhao family.
Zhao Yiling was dressed in a light blue, off-shoulder fitted evening gown, accentuating her perfect figure. The hem was inlaid with tiny diamonds that shimmered with dazzling light as she moved, making her seem like a fairy floating off the ground, just like a fairy from the clouds. Combined with her exquisite facial features and such a gown, she was truly a sight that one could not take their eyes off.
In contrast, her own pink long dress looked charming on its own, but it seemed somewhat naïve in front of Zhao Yiling.
Li Ruyu watched Zhao Yiling with great satisfaction. Her daughter, worthy of being her own, with that charisma and appearance, she believed after tonight, no one in the circles of the wealthy would not know her daughter.
To make a name in this circle, talent alone is not enough; one also needs good looks.
Tonight’s banquet would invite many high officials and dignitaries, and, she heard that the big shot of Capital City, Li Hanjiang, would also be there!
Li Hanjiang, a legend in high society!
If the Zhao family could connect with the Li family, she would wake up smiling even from her dreams.
Li Ruyu was firmly convinced that Li Hanjiang would eventually be within Zhao Yiling’s grasp.
After all, she had no lack of confidence in Zhao Yiling’s appearance.
Li Ruyu’s gaze shifted and fell upon Chu Jin, who was gracefully descending the stairs. A hint of coldness flashed through the smile in her eyes; this little wretch could indeed be a handful. A seemingly dated pink long dress somehow exuded a youthful and lively charm on her.
But no matter how pretty she was, it was useless; sooner or later she had to marry into the Mo family, that place of death. With that thought, Li Ruyu felt much better.
She stepped forward, affectionately linking arms with Zhao Yiling, "Our Ling’er looks so beautiful in this dress."
Zhao Shendong also nodded with satisfaction; his greatest pride in life was his daughter.
With a faint smile curving the corners of her lips, Zhao Yiling’s gaze landed on the belated Chu Jin. Her smile froze. She always knew Chu Jin had some good looks, but she didn’t realize that Chu Jin had already reached such an extent of noteworthiness. Even a long dress with an air of age could not conceal the transcendental aura and the distinct beauty of her features.
It was always the clothes that picked the person, but with her, it seemed like no matter what she wore, she looked beautiful.
With a touch of unwillingness, Zhao Yiling clenched her teeth.
But she quickly let it go, for even if Chu Jin was breathtakingly beautiful, she was just a stepping stone for her.
**
At 7 p.m., at the Imperial Palace Hotel.
Zhao Shendong and his entourage walked into the banquet hall under the watchful eyes of everyone, with Zhao Yiling naturally being the shining spot among them.
The snow-white light shone on Zhao Yiling, making her hem shimmer, and an ethereal aura seemed to emanate from her, as if she were a white lotus after the rain, her lips curved in a smile confident in her belief that she was the protagonist of the banquet.
The gentlemen nearby even ceased their conversations to gaze, unblinking, at the beauty who looked like a Fairy descended to earth, wondering whose daughter she might be.
Even Chu Jin, who was following behind, received several extra glances.
A beauty was indeed a beauty, her allure unmistakably powerful.
Shortly after Zhao Yiling took her seat, young gentlemen came over to strike up conversation, with Zhao Yiling responding with a smile in her eyes, occasionally chiming in without either pandering or rejecting.
She reveled in the feeling of being adored.
After listening to the young gentleman’s self-introduction, a hint of mockery flashed in Zhao Yiling’s lowered eyes; comparing this man to Li Hanjiang was like comparing him to a minor finger, and yet he dared to crowd her space!
How ludicrous!
Seeing the beauty uninterested, the gentleman left with diminished enthusiasm, and upon turning around, he spotted Chu Jin in her pink attire not far away.
He straightened his appearance and headed in Chu Jin’s direction.
After the gentleman left, two extravagantly dressed ladies surrounded Zhao Yiling.
One of them said, "Second cousin, you look truly beautiful tonight, just like a Fairy descending from the nine heavens."
The speaker was another granddaughter of Zhao Hai’s, Qian Jiayi.
Zhao Yiling felt delightfully flattered by the compliment, yet she replied modestly, "Only you, third cousin, could be so sweet-tongued; no wonder grandfather always praises you for your intelligence."
"Second cousin," Qian Jiayi affectionately linked arms with Zhao Yiling and sweetly said, "Don’t be so modest. You have no idea—when you walked in just now, everyone’s eyes were practically glued on you!"
"Indeed, Zhao sister’s celestial grace has captivated the souls of those gentlemen by half," Zhou Keting, standing nearby, chimed in as well.
The smile on Zhao Yiling’s lips grew even more pronounced.
"Eh?" Qian Jiayi looked around, "Where’s that straw bag?"
"If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would’ve forgotten," Zhou Keting seemed to remember something and turned her head to look, "Speaking of which, I don’t think I’ve seen that waste either. Isn’t she here?"
Zhao Yiling’s chin jutted towards Chu Jin’s direction, "There, isn’t that her over there?"
Upon looking, the smile on Zhao Yiling’s face instantly stiffened.
The young gentleman, who before seemed to fawn over her like a lapdog, was now standing with Chu Jin, and moreover, they were talking and laughing, appearing quite cheerful.
Zhao Yiling was a person of strong possessiveness and vanity.
Even if it was something she discarded, no one else should even think of obtaining it, especially not Chu Jin, whom she had always looked down upon.
She had always felt a sense of superiority over Chu Jin, and at that moment, seeing that gentleman fawning over Chu Jin the same way he did over her, made her extremely uncomfortable!
Qian Jiayi and Zhou Keting were also taken aback; was that graceful figure with the picturesque brows and eyes really that humble, weak straw bag?