The banquet continued until past midnight. Around 11:30 pm, massive fireworks began to ascend from the hotel’s back garden, one after another.
Jiang Yi stood with her friends by the enormous French windows, watching the dazzling fireworks rise into the night sky, briefly exploding in a burst of light before fading into nothingness—a breathtakingly beautiful sight.
Her eyes reflected the light, shining with an almost frightening intensity.
Jiang Sixian, her back to the boisterous crowd, walked step by step towards Jiang Yi at the window, approaching her through the cascading fireworks.
Hearing the footsteps, Jiang Yi turned and saw Jiang Sixian. Jiang Sixian smiled at her, holding out a small gift box. “Jiang Yi, happy birthday.”
Jiang Yi stared at her intently. Just then, another firework exploded beside Jiang Sixian by the window, a loud whoosh followed by a burst of light. Amidst the dazzling display, Jiang Sixian looked at her earnestly, holding the box. “I hope you’re happy every day.”
At that moment, the fireworks illuminated Jiang Sixian’s face, making her look breathtakingly beautiful.
Jiang Yi froze, then after a long moment, extended her hand, accepted the gift, and said with a smile, “I’m happy every day. You might as well wish me a long life.”
Jiang Sixian tilted her head thoughtfully, then smiled at her. “Alright, then I wish you a long life.”
Jiang Yi held the gift, gave a slight bow, and said, “Then I’ll borrow your auspicious words.”
And just like that, Jiang Yi’s sixteenth birthday passed.
The day after the birthday banquet, Ning Wenying helped Jiang Yi sort through her gifts. Jiang Yi had never received so many expensive presents in her life. Jewelry, accessories—there was so much she didn’t know where to put it all.
Ning Wenying ordered a safe for her, specifically for storing these valuables. Initially, Jiang Yi thought it was a bit excessive. Ning Wenying just smiled and said, “When you’re older, and your collection grows, you can open a safe deposit box at the bank.”
Jiang Yi was momentarily speechless, sighing. “The world of the wealthy is truly unimaginable.”
Ning Wenying, amused by her words, covered her mouth, her eyes crinkling with laughter. After a moment, she winked and said, “Then should Auntie Ning open a safe deposit box for you?”
Jiang Yi quickly shook her head. “No need, a safe is fine.”
The safe arrived that afternoon.
Jiang Yi, with a pile of gifts, began sorting them into the safe. Because the little monitor had been so secretive when giving her gift, Jiang Yi opened theirs first.
Inside, she found a gold bar. Turning it over, she saw her own engraved likeness, along with a small inscription: “Happy 1st Birthday, from 4A.”
Jiang Yi was momentarily silent. Ning Wenying, helping her unpack, couldn’t help but laugh. “Did your friends from Class B give you this? How cute!”
Gold never depreciated; it was a good investment, a very suitable gift for Jiang Yi, who, after all, was from a modest background.
The problem was, this engraved gold bar, she couldn’t sell it!
Jiang Yi just nodded and placed it in the safe. Next came the villa property deed from Jiang Qionghua, the shop ownership certificate from Ning Wenying, and various expensive gifts from relatives. A multi-million dollar watch, gemstones…
Perhaps because the items were so valuable, Jiang Yi felt detached, almost dreamlike, as she placed them all inside.
Finally, after unpacking everything, Ning Wenying noticed the small box on Jiang Yi’s desk. “There’s one more you haven’t opened. Xiao Yi, don’t you want to see what’s inside?”
Jiang Yi glanced at it, recognizing it as Jiang Sixian’s gift. After a moment’s thought, she said, “I’ll leave it there for now.”
Ning Wenying nodded, patted Jiang Yi’s shoulder, and said, “Alright, all done. These are all Xiao Yi’s treasures now.”
Jiang Yi looked at the contents of the safe and sighed. “Birthdays are great. If only I could receive so many gifts every day!”
Ning Wenying ruffled her hair. “Don’t worry, I guarantee you’ll receive even more gifts next year. Let’s go downstairs for dinner.”
She and Jiang Yi went downstairs together. As they left, Jiang Yi glanced at the small box on her desk, feeling a twinge of curiosity.
After dinner, Jiang Yi went to the gym as usual, returning to her room to shower after a while. Emerging from the bathroom, she towel-dried her hair, sat at her desk, and reached for the small box Jiang Sixian had given her.
She hesitated for a long time, then draped the towel over her shoulder, carefully unwrapped the box, and opened it.
On the white velvet lining lay a beautiful moonstone pendant, shimmering softly under the bright lights of the room.
It wasn’t an excessively expensive gift, but it was definitely not cheap.
Jiang Yi thought Jiang Sixian must have bought it with her own allowance, not asking Ning Wenying for extra money.
Jiang Yi looked at the pendant, reached out to touch the smooth moonstone, smiled slightly, then closed the box and placed it carefully on her desk.
She thought it was a good gift.
Six days after her birthday was the school’s New Year’s Eve masquerade ball. The ball was held in the auditorium. Besides the sophomores, some junior and senior students could also attend as escorts for the sophomores.
Around 6:30 pm, Jiang Yi, dressed in a steampunk-era men’s lace-trimmed suit, wearing a tall top hat and a vampire mask, entered the venue with her invitation.
The auditorium was already filled with people. The vast space, capable of holding ten thousand people, was filled with food and sparkling water. Waiters borrowed from the hotel circulated through the crowd, offering drinks and flower tea to the masked students.
As soon as Jiang Yi entered, she was momentarily blinded by the massive crystal chandelier in the center of the hall. Just then, a girl dressed in a tailcoat and wearing a rabbit mask approached her and tapped her on the shoulder.
Jiang Yi turned, blinked at her through her mask, and initiated their secret code. “Is the tiger hidden in the earth?”
The person in the rabbit mask replied, “The monitor is five feet tall.”
Good, it was Jin Duolai.
Jiang Yi smiled at Jin Duolai. “Where are the others?” Jin Duolai led her forward, towards a corner near the center of the stage. “Tiantian is just ahead. The monitor and Wanzhou are dancing the opening waltz, so it’s just the three of us for now.”
Jiang Yi nodded, following Jin Duolai to find Zhang Tiantian.
Zhang Tiantian was tall and easy to spot. Amidst the crowd, Jiang Yi quickly identified the demon happily munching on snacks.
She walked over, tapped Zhang Tiantian on the shoulder, and said with a smile, “Are you that hungry? You’ve eaten so much.”
Zhang Tiantian whispered an explanation. “Once the dancing starts, no one will have time to eat. You should have something too, don’t starve.”
She pushed the plate towards Jiang Yi, urging her to eat. Jiang Yi felt a bit helpless, but still joined her in having some snacks.
The three chatted for a while, and soon it was 7 pm, time for the ball to officially begin.
Soft orchestral music played, interrupted by the sudden sound of a microphone being tested. Moments later, the principal stood on stage, cleared her throat, and gave the customary opening remarks for the ball.
After her speech, the auditorium erupted in applause.
The principal concluded her remarks, turned, picked up her baton, and began conducting the orchestra in a waltz.
Just then, girls dressed in black tailcoats and white evening gowns, wearing various masks, emerged from the crowd. Following the rhythm of the music, they paired up and began dancing a synchronized waltz.
Jiang Yi was sipping sparkling water when Jin Duolai tugged at her arm. “Jiang Yi, Jiang Yi, look over there, that’s Wanzhou, Wanzhou is leading the dance.”
Jiang Yi looked up, just in time to see the girl in the black tailcoat twirl the girl in the white dress, slightly puzzled. “Where? Which one?”
Jin Duolai explained, “The one in the black tailcoat, wearing the golden peacock mask.”
Jiang Yi finally identified Chen Wanzhou’s mask and nearly spat out her sparkling water. She couldn’t help but sigh. “That mask is a bit much, isn’t it?”
Jiang Yi then looked at the girl on Chen Wanzhou’s arm, her gaze lingering on the rose mask. “But her partner’s mask is quite pretty.”
Zhang Tiantian, beside her, agreed. “Yes, and she has a great figure. Her profile is so beautiful.”
Jiang Yi froze. Wait… a rose mask? Jiang Sixian had been wearing a rose mask when she left the house today.
Jiang Yi muttered under her breath, “Shit, her partner is Jiang Sixian!”
Just then, Jiang Sixian, on Chen Wanzhou’s arm, leaned back, dipping low as Chen Wanzhou bent forward, bringing their faces close.
The students watching gasped at the intimate display.
Jiang Yi, witnessing this, quickly looked down and took a large gulp of sparkling water.
From then on, Jiang Yi’s gaze remained fixed on Chen Wanzhou and Jiang Sixian. She watched as the two figures, one in black and one in white, intertwined and danced, completing the waltz.
The opening dance soon ended. The principal handed the baton back to the orchestra conductor, and another piece of music began. As if on cue, the students paired up and took to the dance floor.
Jiang Yi instinctively looked for Jiang Sixian, spotting her across the room being invited to dance by a girl in a red evening gown.
Jiang Yi watched from afar, silently finishing her sparkling water.
Gradually, more students, emboldened, began inviting their crushes to dance. Especially the tall Zhang Tiantian, who was easily recognizable. Several classmates approached her for a dance.
Having recognized Zhang Tiantian, some also recognized Jin Duolai and whisked her away. Only Jiang Yi, having repeatedly refused invitations, remained where she was.
After a while, no one bothered approaching her anymore.
Jiang Yi, enjoying the peace and quiet, retreated to a corner with a plate of pastries and a glass of sparkling water.
Halfway through her snack, a girl in a white lace evening gown, wearing a colorful nightingale mask, approached her.
Jiang Yi, mid-bite, noticed someone watching her and looked up.
The girl in the nightingale mask stood with her hands behind her back and called out, “Jiang Yi…”
Jiang Yi tilted her head, waiting for her to continue. The girl, realizing she hadn’t been recognized, lifted her mask, smiled, and said, “It’s me…”
Beneath the mask was a clean, pretty face. Jiang Yi finally remembered her. “Oh… you’re the… the takoyaki girl!”
Chu Ningning, whose name still hadn’t been remembered, was clearly disappointed. She pursed her lips, slightly annoyed. “My name is Chu Ningning. You said you’d remember my name.”
Jiang Yi had no recollection of this.
She put down her sparkling water, slightly embarrassed. “Sorry, I have a bad memory.” She looked at Chu Ningning through her mask, slightly puzzled. “Aren’t you going to dance?”
The girl stood with her hands behind her back, looking down at Jiang Yi, her gaze firm. “I dance, but I want to dance with someone I like.”
Jiang Yi had a bad feeling about this. Just then, Chu Ningning pursed her lips and said earnestly, “Jiang Yi, I like you very much. I know you’re sixteen and haven’t differentiated yet, but I really like you. Whether you’re an Alpha, Beta, or Omega, I want to be with you.”
“I want to date you. Would you like to dance with me?”
Amidst the noisy crowd, the girl’s words were surprisingly clear. Like a sudden clap of thunder, they echoed in Jiang Yi’s mind.
Stunned by the confession, she could only stare blankly at Chu Ningning.
Seeing her silence, Chu Ningning, unable to see her expression through the mask, lowered her gaze, bit her lip, and walked towards her. “If you don’t say anything, I’ll assume you’ve accepted my invitation.”
“Now, let me take you to the dance floor.”
She walked step by step towards Jiang Yi. Just as she was about to reach her, someone else moved even faster, grabbing Jiang Yi’s wrist with what seemed like all their strength.
Jiang Yi instinctively looked up and saw a girl wearing a rose mask.
Through the mask, Jiang Yi couldn’t see her expression, but the grip on her wrist was almost painful.
A faint, slightly labored breath came through the mask as Jiang Sixian gripped her hand tightly, her voice trembling. “Don’t agree to it…”
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