CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 40: STIFLED BANQUET ATTENDANCE

"What were we just discussing in class?" After waiting for the blue-eyed French teacher with the high nose to leave, Su Ziceng asked listlessly.

"Mr. Green’s class was very vivid. He just used English sounds to explain French accents, and the examples he gave were also very lively," Yan Wuxu pointed to her Rose Handbook filled with two pages, she really took Wen Maixue’s advice and used the handbook as a notebook, "Did you remember all that?"

Su Ziceng was even more speechless, she could say her English only reached elementary level. Seeing her not speaking, Yan Wuxu glanced at her textbook which was spread out before her and saw only a few flamboyantly drawn CHANEL and YSL logos, and smiled helplessly.

In the following days, even though Su Ziceng kept using coffee to stay alert, those convoluted pronunciations and irregular writing made her feel not like she was back to being eighteen, but rather like she was back in the crib, where everything around her was a blur. Unfortunately, a lullaby could at most last for a month.

Finally, something good happened on Friday. Just before class ended, she received a rare invitation from Hang Yishao, saying his mother wanted to invite Su Ziceng to their house for dinner. The downside was that Mr. Green had assigned a classroom recitation, and even worse, Chang Chi was also invited.

The driver was already waiting downstairs, Su Ziceng handed her textbooks to Yan Wuxu, and before leaving, knowing there’s no direct bus from the high education district to Sixth District, she asked, "Shall I give you a ride home?"

"No need, it’s the weekend, I’ll stay in the dorm," Yan Wuxu was holding a French dictionary, watching her leave. Yan Wuxu was a model student, for the recent week, Su Ziceng could have breakfast that Yan brought back, as she said she would memorize vocabulary every morning beside West Lake.

When she got home, Chang Chi immediately went to get dressed, she heard that for tonight’s dinner, she specially prepared a cocktail dress. Su Ziceng noticed Chang Chi was recently looking quite radiant, even her hairstyle, which was always the same, had changed. In contrast, being at Kelly Women’s College, due to academic pressure, she neglected her appearance, life really is unfair.

Su Ziceng didn’t want to be outshone by others. She pushed open the changing room, with over a hundred cocktail dresses arrayed in a row, the colors brilliant and captivating, some still had tags, and a few even still in their packaging bags. Did she really like these when she was eighteen? Su Ziceng thought to herself, flipping through the outermost dresses, the colors too bright, styles not dignified, she thought of Sister Mu seeing these clothes, her pickiness would be even worse.

"Is Chang Chi wearing red?" Su Ziceng casually phoned and inquired about Chang Chi’s hidden new dress, red has always been Su Ziceng’s signature color, how could Chang Chi show it off. Su Ziceng pulled out a few cocktail dresses that looked more appropriate, somewhere between formal and casual wear, not as good as... that angel’s broken wing. Hang Yishao hasn’t seen her attend the Eve Ball in such attire, today could just be the day.

Chang Chi and Chang Mei, the mother and daughter, were sitting in the living room, chatting and laughing. Chang Chi was wearing a collarless off-shoulder red balloon dress, pulling out curves from her otherwise flat and plain figure, slightly short hair enhanced with some extensions to add volume, made her face look smaller, and around her neck was Chang Mei’s fragmented diamond necklace, adding a more feminine touch than usual. The moment Chang Chi saw her, she couldn’t stop praising her outfit, and while discussing the details for the evening, Su Ziceng slowly descended from the staircase.

Su Ziceng’s outfit today was slightly different from the "Eve Ball" night, without the "Red Love" embellishment, she chose platinum rose earrings, along with her hair styled in outward rolled pear flower curls, the beauty mark by her mouth deliberately darkened, the same rose dress but playful and slightly seductive as early autumn roses.

Upon hearing the noise, Chang Chi turned her head to look and couldn’t help but feel a sourness in her heart, spitefully saying, "I’m not going."

Chang Mei was also caught in a daze and, after hearing the sharp words of Chang Chi, cheerfully approached Su Ziceng, "Ziceng has really become more and more beautiful as you grow up. Your earrings have gotten a bit loose; let Auntie accompany you back to your room to fix them up."

After hearing this, Su Ziceng subconsciously reached to check her earrings but caught a meaningful glance from Chang Mei and reluctantly followed her back to the room.

"Ziceng," Chang Mei began as she removed the earrings from Su Ziceng’s ears, "I heard that you’ve been having some trouble at Kelly Women’s College."

The two platinum rose earrings bore some resemblance to the Kelly school emblem. Su Ziceng listened without responding, remembering that Chang Mei also originated from Kelly Women’s College; it wasn’t strange for her to have acquaintances within the school. Seeing her silent, Chang Mei continued, "I heard that this year’s French test for freshmen is unusually strict. Perhaps Auntie can help you out."

Those earrings were tossed back into the jewelry box; Chang Mei casually picked out a pair of pearl earrings. Su Ziceng thought to stop her, but her hand paused near her ear; Chang Mei had caught her intention.

"Xiao Chi is going out with you for the first time. Although she’s older than you, she’s also a timid child, so you should be more accommodating," Chang Mei’s face still brimming with smiles as if every woman from Kelly Women’s College develops a habit of fake smiling, "If so, Auntie can assist you with peace of mind." The pearl earrings were clip-ons, causing slight pain in Su Ziceng’s earlobes.

Chang Chi was internally struggling over whether to go to the Hang Family or not. Such opportunities were rare, and if it weren’t for her being classmates with Hang Yishao, she wouldn’t have been invited by Hang Mu. If she went, Su Ziceng would dominate the spotlight; if she didn’t, she’d miss out on Hang Mu’s chance to curry favor.

"Xiao Chi, Ziceng is all dressed up; you can leave now," said Chang Mei, who then gave Chang Chi’s hand a firm squeeze. Su Ziceng had walked down; she had washed off her makeup, leaving her face plain and her originally attached eyelashes were also changed, even her clothes were switched to an ordinary beige linen dress, clearly showing a school outfit.

The dramatic contrast of Su Ziceng’s appearance was a bit much for Chang Chi, who eyed Su Ziceng curiously as Chang Mei hurried them to leave earlier.

The two sat in the car, each looking out of the window. Night had just fallen, enhancing Chang Chi’s heavy makeup and making it particularly enchanting, while Su Ziceng, having removed her makeup, looked somewhat pale by comparison. Outside, the streetlights lined up in a long strip. As they got out of the car, the old driver saw Su Ziceng stagger a step, and amidst a lowered gaze, with a gleam in her eyes, she quickly steadied herself on the car door. She reached into the necklace at her chest and lifted her head with a slight smile at the corner of her lips.

With a reluctant look on his face, Hang Yishao waited at the main entrance with Hang Mu. Su Ziceng quickly looked up. At that staggering moment, Su Ziceng thought of Wen Muxue. What would Wen Maixue do if she were here tonight? She would surely maintain a proper smile at all times, then scornfully say with her nostrils flared: Only foolish women judge others by their clothes.

Several months later, the reborn Su Ziceng stepped into the Hang Family for the first time.