Chapter 55: The Birth of a Miracle (1)

Liu Feiyan smiled and said, “I asked him about this, too, and he answered me. He said that, judging from past Talented Women competitions, the majority of judges and audience members were men. In order to captivate the men’s attention, naturally, she had to come here. He said, as long as Xiaoyan could enchant all these men, then the first place was guaranteed.”

…

This—was indeed the case. Though the competition was supposedly about talent, in reality, it was a display of both beauty and skill—with beauty weighing heavily. Yet most of the talented women disdained this, believing that their real allure was their talent; few were willing to sacrifice their looks for the competition. But Ye Lang cared little for such things. As long as he could win, he didn’t mind. Besides, he wasn’t the one sacrificing his looks, so he was even less concerned.

However, there remained a question: Did Zhen Xiaoyan possess such beauty? Even if she tried to use her looks, how many would actually be captivated? Or rather, would anyone be?

“If it were you, I’d believe it possible. But Zhen Xiaoyan... Even if a miracle happened, it would be difficult,” the emperor voiced what everyone was thinking.

“Yes, with her appearance, perhaps after a year or two she might improve, but in just a little over twenty days, even if there’s progress, she’s still far behind the others,” Ye Lanyu said bluntly.

“I thought the same at first. But over these past twenty days, I’ve come to believe that it’s not impossible. Both Thirteenth Young Master and Xiaoyan have shown sides of themselves no one could’ve imagined,” Liu Feiyan sighed.

A side no one could have imagined? Which side was that?

As everyone was about to ask further, Liu Feiyan gently continued, “I believe they will succeed this time! Xiaoyan endured inhuman pain and still persisted. For that alone, I am convinced she will succeed!”

Inhuman pain? From these words, everyone could somewhat guess that Zhen Xiaoyan had paid a price far beyond what ordinary people could bear for this competition.

“I also believe in Thirteenth Young Master. He can change a person. I am living proof—if not for him, I wouldn’t be as I am now! I also…” Liu Feiyan’s voice grew softer and softer, until only she could hear her own words.

During those twenty-some days spent together, while Liu Feiyan was helping change Zhen Xiaoyan’s temperament, she too was gradually changing. In the end, she realized perhaps it wasn’t herself who changed Zhen Xiaoyan, but Ye Lang, who had changed them both.

Being with him, she always felt a sense of ease and closeness, enabling her to slowly shed her seductive and aloof exterior and gradually return to her truest self. She began to radiate a pure and untainted charm, like a lotus emerging unsullied from the mud.

“What?!” No one could understand what Liu Feiyan was saying. Even if they heard, they couldn’t grasp her meaning—let alone if they missed it.

Liu Feiyan came to herself, smiled, shook her head, and said, “It’s nothing. Just watch—Xiaoyan will surprise you all!”

“Can’t you just tell us directly what Zhen Xiaoyan is like now? And what exactly did Ye Lang do to her?” The Seventh Princess frowned. She disliked guessing games, especially when it came to Ye Lang—she wanted clear answers.

“What did Thirteenth Young Master do?” Liu Feiyan shook her head. “I don’t really know either. I only know he used some miraculous alchemy, which caused astonishing changes in Xiaoyan’s body, but the process was incredibly painful for her. On top of enduring that pain each day, Xiaoyan also had to go through our training.”

“Astonishing changes?” Everyone was confused—what sort of changes, and what kind of miraculous alchemy did Ye Lang possess? None of them knew.

Though they all knew Ye Lang practiced alchemy, their understanding was limited to seeing him as an ordinary alchemy student. No one knew what his true level was.

But no one expected anything extraordinary from his alchemy. Perhaps it was because Ye Lang had always kept a low profile and had never displayed this side of himself.

So, this time, many people would be shocked by his “alchemy.”

“Yes, it’s truly astonishing—so much so that it’s hard to believe. Over these twenty-some days, Xiaoyan…” Liu Feiyan was about to say more when she suddenly stopped—for at that moment, a change occurred in the hall, brought about by the arrival of someone.

By now, the performances on stage were drawing to a close, and if nothing unexpected happened, the competition would soon be settled.

But at this final moment, the unexpected—or rather, what everyone had long been hoping for—happened as if by destiny!

“Sorry, we’re late, truly sorry!” A young man, pulling along a young woman, hurried toward the stage from outside, apologizing as he ran.

Everyone recognized the young man—he was the very person everyone had been waiting for and speculating about, the one who had disappeared for more than twenty days, the Ye family’s Thirteenth Young Master—

Ye Lang!!

But who was the young woman he was pulling along? Everyone wanted to ask this question as well as where Zhen Xiaoyan was and why she wasn’t with him.

No one believed this girl was Zhen Xiaoyan, for she had both figure and beauty—a far cry from Zhen Xiaoyan, that “three-lacks product.”

“My apologies, we were delayed by a small accident, but it looks like we made it just in time.” Ye Lang walked straight onto the stage, addressing the crowd with a calm and apologetic air.

“Bang!” Suddenly, Ye Lang was knocked on the head by a small, pink fist.

“Ah… Sis, what are you doing?” Ye Lang looked at his assailant, crying out in pain.

Sis? That must be Ye Lanyu. Strangely, hadn’t she just been by Ye Chengtian and the others?

“How did that girl move so fast?”

Only then did the emperor and the others realize that Ye Lanyu had vanished from beside them and was now on the stage—and the same had happened with the Seventh Princess, who was also now standing next to Ye Lang.

“What do you think I’m doing? If you ever pull a stunt like disappearing without a word again, I’ll beat you!” Ye Lanyu threatened, raising her fist.

“Aren’t you beating me right now?” Ye Lang asked in confusion.

“This is just a little tap—not even close to a real beating!” Ye Lanyu huffed as she began to inspect Ye Lang, carefully checking him over for any changes, suffering, or injuries.

…