His attire and handsome appearance turned many heads. However, the attention was fleeting. After all, there were many attending the banquet in splendid costumes. Although Yue Zhengyu was good-looking, he was only sixteen. He still lacked the mature temperament of an adult.
“Yue Zhengyu, don’t you dare run away from me! You’d better explain yourself.” Xie Xie followed Yue Zhengyu into the banquet hall. He was a little loud and drew even more onlookers than Yue Zhengyu.
Yue Zhengyu turned around and looked at him with a smile. “What do you want me to say, sweetheart?”
Xie Xie had initially been filled with boiling anger, but he got goosebumps all over his body when he heard Yue Zhengyu’s “sweetheart”. It was as if a bucket of cold water had been splashed on him. The fire of his rage was put out instantly.
“I don’t know you.” Xie Xie turned away from him. He grabbed a drink and faced the other direction.
Yuanen Yehui and Xu Xiaoyan walked into the banquet hall successively. When Xie Xie saw Yuanen, he seemed to have clutched onto a life-saving straw. He walked quickly toward her. “Yuanen, Yue Zhengyu is harassing me. How can he behave like this?”
Yuanen Yehui said drily, “Don’t come to me with matters that are between the two of you. They have nothing to do with me.”
Xu Xiaoyan broke into laughter, and she cheered softly. “Get together, get together!”
Xie Xie’s face was never thinner than Yue Zhengyu’s. When he heard this, he immediately turned toward Yuanen Yehui and said shyly, “You see, even Xiaoyan is encouraging us to be a couple.”
“Scram!” Yuanen Yehui rolled her eyes at him and walked straight into the hall.
Xie Xie flashed a hand-sign at Yue Zhengyu. Yue Zhengyu was unwilling to show weakness and replied with a flirtatious smile. That irked Xie Xie to the point of losing his cool and he ran quickly after Yuanen Yehui.
Following that, Yue Zhengyu walked up to Xu Xiaoyan. “Beautiful lady, may I have the honor of being your dance partner for the night?”
Xu Xiaoyan giggled. “How do you know that there will be a dance tonight?”
Yue Zhengyu replied with a smile, “Every banquet has them. How about it? Want to be my dance partner?”
Xu Xiaoyan replied, “Sure!”
Yue Zhengyu snapped his fingers loudly. “You’re truly a lovely lady.”
Xu Xiaoyan nodded earnestly and said, “I am! I think so too. I don’t think that you’re ugly.”
Yue Zhengyu smiled bitterly. “Don’t be so harsh, will you? But…”
When he said this, he extended the syllable intentionally, then he suddenly inclined his body and moved closer to Xu Xiaoyan. When Xu Xiaoyan backed away instinctively to dodge, her upper body was completely bent backward.
Yue Zhengyu was shocked to discover just how flexible she was. She had easily bent over sixty degrees without hesitation.
“But what?” Xu Xiaoyan looked up at him, keeping her back bent.
“But do you really think that I’m ugly?” Yue Zhengyu’s azure eyes looked attentively at Xu Xiaoyan. His gaze was filled with a sincere glow.
Out of the blue, Xu Xiaoyan felt flustered. “That’s enough, you. Get up quickly. This is most unbecoming.”
Yue Zhengyu only straightened his back after she said that. He pulled lightly on Xu Xiaoyan to help her get upright again.
“You haven’t answered my question yet,” Yue Zhengyu said softly.
Xu Xiaoyan murmured, “I generally don’t have good opinions of playboys.”
“How do you know that I’m a playboy?” Yue Zhengyu touched his nose.
“When I first met you, you were already harassing Yuanen. Can you say that you’re not a playboy?” Xu Xiaoyan said with a snort.
“Err…that doesn’t count. At that time, I thought she was the evil soul master and I did that on purpose. In truth, I’ve never had any girlfriends. Isn’t that far from what you expected?” Yue Zhengyu said with a shy expression.
Xu Xiaoyan said sternly and justly, “How old are you? Sixteen? According to the laws of the federation, you’re only an adult once you turn eighteen. It’s already very inappropriate for you to think about relationships and stuff when you’re only sixteen years old. Are you even thinking of getting a girlfriend? Your actions are bound to be criticized by society. How can you say that you’ve contradicted my expectations when you’re a juvenile delinquent? But you don’t have to worry. Everyone will try their best to save you.”
In a competition of acting skills, when did Xu Xiaoyan ever lose to anyone?
After she had finished, a faint smile appeared on her face. She said with all earnestness, “Don’t let the hormones of youth get the better of your thoughts.” She flipped her long hair and skipped away.
Yue Zhengyu stared at Xu Xiaoyan with his mouth agape as she made her way into the hall. He remained that way for some time. What just happened?
Sure enough, life was a theater. It all depended on one’s talent for acting! He never knew that this young girl was so skilled. He had been under the impression that Xu Xiaoyan was completely mesmerized by his handsome looks.
Currently, the hall was gradually filling with the incoming guests. Those who found themselves among the ranks of the diplomatic corps from the two continents were undoubtedly experts in their respective fields. There were people from all walks of life. But in terms of age, the students of Shrek Academy were definitely the youngest ones.
In no time, Yue Zhengyu saw Elder Cai and Wu Zhangkong.
Elder Cai wore a silvery white dress. She looked elegant and noble. She exuded a faint splendor that was difficult to put into words. Her appearance immediately drew the attention of everyone inside the hall.
Although she looked wizened, for some vague reason, everyone had the feeling that she was an unsurpassed beauty of the era.
Wu Zhangkong stood in a corner of the hall. He enjoyed his glass of cold drink slowly. If it were not for Elder Cai’s request, he would not have been willing to attend banquets such as this. He was never a fan of crowded places.
He did not look very different compared to his usual attire. He wore a suit of white with a white shirt and trousers. The clothes looked as ordinary as could be, but when he wore them, he stood out from the others. Among all the rest, he was unique.
Even though he was standing in a corner, within moments, he was already hit on at least seven times by ladies who boasted of their own beauty.
Wu Zhangkong was as polite as ever, but he shook his head toward them with a frosty expression. As he stood there, he seemed to emanate a cold aura.
However, the rejected ladies were unwilling to be too far away from him. They all stole glances at him from nearby. Occasionally, their eyes showed besotted gazes. In terms of outer appearances, Wu Zhangkong’s slender body, handsome looks, shoulder-length hair, and cool demeanor were simply impeccable. He was the very image of prince charming upon a white horse from the ladies’ dreams.
Wu Zhangkong’s eyes were only focused on observing the figures of his disciples. He saw Xie Xie, Yuanen Yehui, Xu Xiaoyan, and Yue Zhengyu. Then, he saw Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi who walked in wearing only their uniforms.
Although the organizing committee had requested everyone to attend the banquet in formal dress, it was not a strict rule. Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi were not barred from entering and were still allowed in. The two of them immediately found a corner, a place with food to be precise. Xu Lizhi kept passing food to Ye Xinglan. When Ye Xinglan shook her head, he would throw it directly into his mouth. When Ye Xinglan accepted the food, he would grin foolishly.
But where were Tang Wulin and Gu Yue? It was already time. Why were they not here yet?
Wu Zhangkong squinted his eyes slightly as if absorbed in thought.
In the watchful eyes of his lady admirers, the ice-cold prince seemed to have gained a melancholic quality. That made them gaze at him with even more infatuation.
“Welcome, everyone, to tonight’s banquet. Greetings, I am Sima Lanxiao, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Star Luo Empire on the Star Luo Continent. I am pleased to see so many good friends from various professions on the Douluo Continent. Tonight, let us drink until we drop. This evening, we will be having a few games. We will also be selecting the best-dressed gentleman and lady, the most handsome gentleman, the prettiest lady, and the most graceful dancing couple. They will all receive a prize provided by our Star Luo Empire.”
Sima Lanxiao was a middle-aged man of great stature with blond hair. He looked handsome, and his voice was magnetic and persuasive. When he spoke, the mood of the entire hall livened up immediately.
Various alcoholic beverages were served by the waiting staff who entered in single file. Soon the atmosphere of the banquet grew energetic.