area51novel Chapter 148 Can Pride Put Food On?
Chapter 148 Can Pride Put Food On?
Chapter 148 Can Pride Put Food On?
"Teacher, do I really have to wear this outfit to the event?"
Looking at himself in the mirror, Huo Yuhao felt a sense of unreality.
The boy in the mirror has a tall and slender figure, but he doesn't appear thin.
The top is made of the finest dark velvet, which is soft and lustrous.
The collar, cuffs, and hem are embroidered with intricate and delicate ice crystal patterns using extremely fine silver thread. Under the soft lighting in the room, these patterns shimmer with subtle silver light, like stars in the night sky.
The trousers were well-tailored, perfectly outlining his long, slender legs without a hint of looseness.
This outfit tempered his originally gentle and refined temperament, adding a touch of maturity and nobility rarely seen in his daily life.
"Of course I'll wear this!"
Xian Lin'er reached out and carefully straightened Huo Yuhao's collar. Then she took a few steps back and looked him up and down again, her face full of satisfaction.
"It seems the style we picked out together this afternoon really suits your temperament. After all, you're going to discuss things with the Star Luo royal family tonight, and those royal bastards are the most fond of judging people by their appearance."
Besides, the rumors circulating outside are so nasty. If you're recognized at the banquet, it'll make them reconsider their dirty thoughts.
Xianlin'er's voice was tinged with indignation, clearly still harboring resentment over the rumors about the "secret room" and "abuse."
Upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao could only smile helplessly.
"I just feel a little uncomfortable."
In his previous life, after enrolling in Shrek Academy, he wore the academy's uniform most of the time.
Back then, he didn't have extra money to buy new clothes, and he didn't care much about such external things as clothing. Later, when he became more powerful, he would simply throw on a white outfit and call it a day.
He found it rather novel to be dressed so formally now.
"You have to get used to it, whether you like it or not."
Xian Lin'er stepped forward, stretched out her finger, and gently poked his forehead, her tone full of reproach.
"You'll be facing many more occasions in the future. Although I don't know what you're going to do with the Star Luo royal family, don't eat or drink anything at the banquets. Especially don't touch any drinks offered by unfamiliar women, understand?"
If anyone whispers anything to you or tries to take you to a secluded place, ignore them. Neither Lexuan nor I will be going with you this time. If you actually manage to get out of some princess's bed the next day, you might end up staying as a prince consort.
After the Soul Master Competition, Zhang Lexuan will become the vice dean of the Martial Soul Department. At this crucial moment, she naturally needs to avoid suspicion, just like Xian Lin'er.
After a while, it turned out that Huo Yuhao had to attend the banquet alone.
As for Gu Yuena, Huo Yuhao was afraid that if she went with them, there was a high chance she would pack up all the food from the banquet and eat it herself.
However, listening to Xian Lin'er's concerned yet somewhat absurd instructions, Huo Yuhao felt that such a thing probably wouldn't happen, but he still nodded seriously to reassure his overly worried teacher.
"I understand, teacher. I'll come right back after the transaction is complete."
Hearing his assurance, Xianlin'er felt slightly relieved, but still added with some unease:
"In short, stay away from those women, whether young or old, beautiful or not. All women outside are wicked!"
She then went around behind Huo Yuhao, put her hands on his shoulders, and gently pushed him toward the door.
"Alright, hurry up and go, the banquet is about to begin."
……
The banquet hall on the top floor of the Star Emperor Hotel is already magnificent.
At this time, in order to demonstrate the power of the nation, the Xingluo royal family decorated the entire banquet hall with extreme luxury.
A soft, thick red carpet was laid on the ground, and heavy velvet curtains hung all around, isolating the outside world from the darkness and noise.
Two huge solid wood tables are placed on each side of the hall, covered with white tablecloths. The gleaming silver tableware is neatly arranged, and various decorative patterns shimmer under the crystal chandelier.
Attendants in uniform were carrying silver platters filled with fine wine, moving gracefully through the crowd like butterflies among flowers.
Meanwhile, the court musicians of Xingluo Palace, dressed in long robes and gorgeous attire, played melodious music in a corner of the banquet hall, holding various musical instruments.
A large number of people had already gathered in the hall, mostly teachers and student representatives from various colleges.
They gathered in twos and threes, talking in hushed tones, while many others pulled their companions to the dance floor in the center of the hall, dancing to the music.
In a corner of the hall, Xiao Hongchen still wore an arrogant expression, holding a glass of wine that he had taken from a waiter. He would take a sip from time to time and comment on it.
"Dream, the Star Luo royal family is nothing special. This banquet is not even as grand as our Sun and Moon Royal Feast. It seems that the Star Luo Empire is truly in decline."
"Brother, don't talk like you've attended many royal banquets."
Meng Hongchen, who was stuffing a delicate pastry into her mouth, making her speech somewhat unclear, looked at her brother speechlessly.
"And why are you drinking? If Grandpa finds out, you'll probably get hung up and beaten."
Xiao Hongchen's hand trembled in fright, as if recalling some tragic experience, but he still stubbornly retorted:
"I'm a Soul Master, how could this little bit of alcohol possibly affect me? Even if I drank a whole barrel of liquor, I could still carve the core array of a Soul Tool without my hands shaking when I got back."
Just as Xiao Hongchen was about to continue boasting, he suddenly noticed that his younger sister seemed to have become somewhat dazed, as if she had lost her soul, staring blankly at the entrance of the banquet hall.
Following Meng Hongchen's gaze, one could see a young man slowly walking in from the entrance of the banquet hall.
The young man had long, flowing black hair and fair, jade-like skin. His dark-colored formal attire shimmered with tiny silver lights under the lamplight, exuding a cool and aloof charm that seemed completely out of place in the noisy banquet hall.
When the other person's blue-gold eyes inadvertently swept over them, Meng Hongchen felt her heart skip a beat, and her pretty face instantly turned hot.
Huo Yuhao naturally noticed the other party's burning gaze. Following the gaze, he could see the familiar girl staring blankly at him.
Seeing the other person's somewhat dazed expression, Huo Yuhao's eyelids suddenly twitched.
In his past life, Meng Hongchen fell in love at first sight with Wang Dong'er after she disguised herself as a man. Even after discovering that Wang Dong'er's true identity was a girl, he was so shocked that he fainted.
After swallowing the pastry in her mouth, Meng Hongchen murmured, "Brother, he must have been smiling at me just now, right? How can there be such a handsome person in the world?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Hongchen's eyes suddenly turned bloodshot, and he began to pant heavily.
Where did this pretty boy come from, daring to seduce my sister!
Feeling Xiao Hongchen's murderous gaze, Huo Yuhao could only give his old rival from his past life a polite but not awkward smile.
"Dream, that pretty boy's smile just now must have been a provocation."
Xiao Hongchen was furious, and immediately a smile that he thought was aloof and unrestrained curled at the corner of his mouth.
Seemingly feeling that this was not enough to express his disdain, he raised his right hand again, turned his thumb downwards, and made a highly insulting gesture.
However, before he could continue his provocation, Meng Hongchen forcefully slapped down the hand that had been raised.
"Brother, why are you behaving so rudely? What if you scare the other person? I still want to be friends with them. Do you think Grandpa will agree to me marrying into the Douluo Three Empires? What should our children's surname be?"
Xiao Hongchen felt a buzzing in his head, and he couldn't quite keep up with his sister's train of thought.
Making friends? Getting married? What will the child's surname be?
My sister's thoughts jump around way too fast!
Dream, wake up!
You can tell at a glance that this pretty boy is no good. Didn't you see that as soon as he came in, a group of girls were already surrounding him?
Seeing Xiao Hongchen's increasingly frantic expression, Meng Hongchen slightly restrained her wandering thoughts and said with a smile:
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"I was just joking. Look, there are orange pastries on that table over there. Could you get me some? You know I love oranges the most."
Xiao Hongchen watched his sister's expression change instantly, his lips twitching violently. Still somewhat uneasy, he pressed on, "Were you really just joking? You're not going to run off to that pretty boy the moment I leave, are you?"
"How could that be! Is that how you've always viewed your sister? I'm a girl, and I'm very reserved."
Meng Hongchen pouted, muttering resentfully, as if their deep sibling bond was being seriously questioned at this moment.
Feeling the displeasure in his younger sister's eyes, Xiao Hongchen rubbed his hands together and could only smile apologetically, "Then don't move around here, I'll bring you a new plate of orange pastries right away."
Watching Xiao Hongchen's retreating figure, Meng Hongchen's composure vanished instantly.
She quickly took out a small, exquisite makeup box from her storage soul tool.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she still looked pretty and charming, but she couldn't help but take out the tools inside and quickly touch up her light makeup.
As for what I just said to Xiao Hongchen, of course it was a lie.
Being reserved won't put food on the table. Didn't you see that several bold girls over there are already about to touch that handsome boy?
Can this be tolerated?
Miss Meng quickly touched up her makeup, took a deep breath, and prepared to deliver a powerful blow.
But the next second, a deep sense of doubt flashed in her azure eyes.
Where did I, such a handsome young man, go?
……
"Thank you so much for helping me out of that situation earlier."
In a secluded corner leading from the banquet hall to the terrace, Huo Yuhao looked at Xu Jiujiu beside him, who was wearing an elegant purple evening gown with her long purple hair casually draped over her shoulders, and whispered his thanks.
"Even a top student from Shrek Academy feels awkward when surrounded by girls?" Xu Jiujiu chuckled, a hint of mockery in her eyes. "In fact, based on all the rumors I heard before, I thought you were a seasoned player in the game of love, someone who should have gotten used to remaining untouched by any of them."
Upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao's eyelids twitched.
The rumors were certainly funny, but as the male protagonist himself, they were anything but joyful, especially coming from the mouth of this Star Luo Princess.
Fortunately, most people didn't know he was the central figure in the rumors; otherwise, it probably wouldn't have been just those girls who were watching him.
"Your Highness is too kind. But I think you didn't come to see me specifically to talk about these things, did you?"
Huo Yuhao subtly changed the subject.
Upon hearing Huo Yuhao's words, Xu Jiujiu's gaze suddenly deepened. She carefully examined the young man before her, recalling his familiar yet somewhat distant behavior just now, and asked in return, "Have we met somewhere before?"
Although she is the younger sister of the current Star Luo Emperor and serves as the chief auctioneer at the Star Luo Auction House, she usually keeps a very low profile, and most Star Luo nobles may not even know her.
But the other person's behavior gave her the feeling that it was definitely not as simple as just nodding acquaintances who looked at each other from afar.
Feeling the probing gaze from the other party, Huo Yuhao's heart sank slightly.
This is one of the reasons why he dislikes dealing with the imperial family, especially with the exceptionally shrewd Xu Jiujiu.
Huo Yuhao shook his head and said in a calm tone, "I lived outside Xingluo City for a period of time before, so I naturally heard of Your Highness's reputation, but Your Highness doesn't know me."
"Is that so?"
Xu Jiujiu's tone was somewhat meaningful. Hearing Huo Yuhao's flimsy explanation, he didn't intend to delve any further. Instead, he revealed a sly smile.
"Can you dance? I just helped you out of that situation, so how about you dance with me? That's a reasonable request, isn't it?"
Dance?
Just like the outfit he was wearing, which was only worn during banquets, Huo Yuhao naturally hadn't learned how to dance. In his previous life, he had only seen a very few people dance for him.
If one were to ask what left the deepest impression on him, it would be the Snow Empress's solo dance in the far north, amidst the icy snow, so pure and ethereal that it seemed to freeze one's soul in that eternal beauty.
Seemingly noticing the embarrassment on the boy's face, she generously extended her hand after a long while.
"Don't worry, it's not difficult. Just follow my movements."
While Huo Yuhao was still lost in his memories, she grabbed his wrist and pulled him toward the dance floor without saying a word.
Xu Jiawei, who was at the very front of the banquet hall chatting happily with many college teachers, smiled when he saw this scene.
Although the teachers from Shrek Academy did not participate in the banquet, the fact that the main guests were there was already a fair share of the banquet.
He subtly winked at the court musicians beside him, and the originally peaceful and comfortable music suddenly changed, becoming exciting and rhythmic, instantly making the atmosphere in the room lively.
(End of this chapter)