Chapter 52: The Delicate Maiden (3)

"Ah, so you all agreed already? I had prepared a whole set of lines to say, but never mind, it's better if I don’t have to recite them," the delicate young girl said, seeming a bit disappointed. She had imagined there would be a heated back-and-forth, a verbal sparring, and had spent time crafting her arguments. In the end, she found her efforts wasted, as everyone agreed so easily!

"Alright, I’ll be off then!" With a wave of her hand, she walked away lightly, her steps graceful.

"Stop right there!"

Would everyone really let this delicate girl just leave? That was impossible. Even if the others were willing, there were two girls present who absolutely would not allow it.

They were none other than Ye Lanyu and the Seventh Princess, both waiting for Ye Lang to arrive!

"You must be Miss Ye Lanyu. Don’t think you can get any information about the Thirteenth Young Master from me, because I honestly have no idea where he is right now," the delicate girl replied with a gentle laugh, her gaze towards Ye Lanyu holding something strange.

She continued, "But don’t worry—he told me that if I saw you and the Seventh Princess, I should deliver a message: he’ll definitely appear at the finals in three days!"

"Why do you smile so oddly? Are you lying to me?" Ye Lanyu questioned, her eyes narrowed at the girl’s odd smile, as if something was being concealed.

"I’m smiling because of what the Thirteenth Young Master said. He thought they wouldn’t agree so quickly, so he decided to sell you both out..." A hint of mischief sparkled in the girl’s eyes, as though she were plotting something.

"Sell us out? What do you mean?" Ye Lanyu and the Seventh Princess asked in confusion.

"He said, if they decided Zhen Xiaoyan wasn’t good enough, then I should send my sister to perform a dance on stage—lots of people would love to see that... And if that wasn’t enough, have the Seventh Princess sing..."

Damn it, why didn’t you say that sooner! Everyone present was filled with regret. Why had they agreed so quickly? They should have held out longer. They were desperate to see Ye Lanyu dance and the Seventh Princess sing—it would have been a sight to behold...

By now, Ye Lanyu and the Seventh Princess both looked thunderous, shouting in unison, "Ye Lang, you little scoundrel, when you get back, we’ll skin you alive!"

And why such a reaction? The reason was simple. Years ago, Ye Lanyu had danced once. She thought her performance was earth-shattering, but in truth, her moves could only be summed up by a conversation that followed:

...

"Big sis, were you having a cramp just now?" Ye Lang asked with genuine concern.

"... I was dancing!" Ye Lanyu replied, at a loss for words.

"Ah, so that was dancing? Why were your movements so stiff, your expression so blank—you looked like a wooden doll!" Ye Lang muttered, finally realizing what she had been trying to do.

"Are you looking for a beating?" A vein bulged on Ye Lanyu’s forehead.

"Well... actually, you danced very well. I’m just too dumb to appreciate it. Look, everyone’s supporting you—they’re all laughing. I just don’t know why they’re holding their stomachs. Maybe what they ate tonight was bad?" Ye Lang said sincerely, unintentionally shifting some of Ye Lanyu’s anger onto the others.

"You little brat, no one will think you’re mute if you keep quiet! Lanyu, you danced wonderfully—your mother is proud of you. But... you’d better not dance in front of others again," Long Anqi said, clutching her stomach, nearly collapsing from laughter.

"......"

...

As for the Seventh Princess’s singing, it was a perfect counterpart to Ye Lanyu’s dance. Her voice was lovely and enchanting, but the moment she started to sing, she would go completely off-key—no force in the world could bring her back!

Because of this, the two of them absolutely refused to mention dancing or singing, and anyone who did would instantly face their wrath, let alone ask them to perform on stage. It was clear that their anger toward Ye Lang now burned fiercely.

Still, in many people’s hearts, they were curious to see these unique talents. After all, both girls were rare beauties, and such a performance would have a charm all its own. Yet, neither ever gave anyone the chance—except, of course, Ye Lang.

"Hee hee, remember to teach him a good lesson for me—bite him a few times if you can!" the delicate girl giggled mischievously, a glint of satisfaction in her eyes as her scheme succeeded. Then she vanished into the crowd, which was a mix of anger, anticipation, and excitement.

Given the chaos and the throng, the girl’s trail was quickly lost. No one ever found out who she really was. Some suspected her identity, but just as quickly dismissed the idea, as the resemblance was far too remote. The person they thought of was famed for her seductive allure, which was nothing like this playful, approachable girl.

They suspected her mainly because of her voice, which seemed familiar but at the same time quite different—this girl’s tone was mischievous and friendly, while that woman’s was sultry and proud.

Why do I keep thinking it’s her? It’s so strange... Maybe I’m just overthinking. Fine, I’ll go there tonight and see...

At the same time, Ye Lanyu and the Seventh Princess were filled with regret. They shouldn’t have let anger get the better of them—they should have kept the delicate girl and questioned her thoroughly. Even if she didn’t know Ye Lang’s current whereabouts, at least they could have found out where he’d been.

Judging from her words, she’d been with him not long ago!

But there was nothing to be done now; they could only wait three days. When the time came, Ye Lang would not escape their wrath—they would tear him limb from limb!

...

Meanwhile, somewhere else...

"Achoo... Who’s thinking of me? Come on, Fatty, make your final push! In three days, your fate will be decided. All your hard work these past twenty-something days will finally have meaning!" Ye Lang sneezed, then reclined back in his rocking chair, book in hand, speaking with a casual air.

"Hmph, easy for you to say! After more than twenty days, I’m barely human anymore, while you’ve just sat back and watched the show the entire time!"

"What else can I do but watch? I can’t help you with this," Ye Lang replied matter-of-factly.

"You could at least do something to show you’re putting in an effort with me..."

"Oh, alright. Go for it, Fatty. I believe in you, you’ll succeed!" Ye Lang said earnestly, pulling out a sign and scribbling a few words of encouragement on it, propping it up nearby. Then he continued rocking and reading as before.

"... Why don’t you just drop dead!"

"I’m already dead, or how else could I see you?"

"Hmph, are you saying I look like a ghost now?"

"I didn’t say that—you did."

"......"

...

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