Chapter 86
“You scared me.”
An Chen clutched his chest, still shaken, and sighed, “I thought you’d forgotten your lines. I was just regretting not having you write them on your hand…”
Zhuang Chi, now off the stage, smiled at him sheepishly. Ling Jing, standing beside them, agreed, but she wasn't as serious as An Chen. Instead, she looked quite happy, her eyes shining. “But the effect was great! Zhuang Chi, your acting isn't bad at all! Why didn't you show your true skills during the rehearsal?”
Thinking to herself that most of what just happened couldn't be considered acting, Zhuang Chi gave a dry cough and dodged the question, asking, “...Was the effect really that good?”
“Yes!” Ling Jing nodded affirmatively, then answered thoughtfully, looking for the right words, “How should I put it... It just made people feel that what you said was... very devout? Very weighty? That kind of feeling.”
“It's a bit hard to describe, but the effect was truly excellent. After you left, the auditorium was silent for about three seconds. It felt like everyone was stunned by you.” An Chen thought for a moment. “If I had to put it into words... it was like you were genuinely making a wish to a deity. Perhaps the atmosphere of the auditorium was just right; it almost had a sense of divinity.”
Feeling embarrassed by their words, Zhuang Chi couldn't help but feel a bit fortunate that the two of them had been in the audience and hadn't noticed Gu Ximian entering. She didn't plan to bring it up, forcing her thoughts to focus on the fact that the opening was finally over. She smiled with relief, “As long as nothing went wrong, that's great. Can I go out now? It's already started, right?”
Outside the door, the lights in the auditorium had been turned back on. Melodious music could be heard, mixed with the clamor of voices, countless times more lively than the previously silent hall. It was a sound that could make one happy. But after Zhuang Chi said this, An Chen and Ling Jing exchanged a look, nodded deeply as if they had reached some consensus, and immediately stood on either side of her, as straight and serious as two guardian statues.
“...It is time to go out,” An Chen said, his voice holding an inexplicable gravity. “You need to be mentally prepared, Zhuang Chi. Once this door is open, it'll be hard to hide again.”
“Mhm, in the worst-case scenario, there are already people lying in ambush outside this door.” Ling Jing nodded gravely and suggested, “Why don't we call Lou Che and Olivia back to help? I think we need to maintain order here more.”
The two of them spoke as if facing a great enemy, leaving only Zhuang Chi confused. She looked perplexedly at the two people beside her, and before she could ask why, she saw An Chen mutter, “It can't be that bad, the two of us should be enough,” as he decisively opened the door to the small room. Zhuang Chi had just taken a single step under their protection when she was scared back by a wave of cheers that rushed towards her.
“Isn't this our Creator!” “You're finally out! I thought I was in the wrong place!” “King! It's our Pygmalion King!” “I have been brought to life by your prayer! Come dance with me!”
...There were a great many people waiting outside the door.
Such words were endless, leaving Zhuang Chi unable to utter a single word. An Chen was also stunned for a moment by the scene before him, but he quickly recovered. He put on a stern face and tried to maintain order, telling people not to crowd around—then, in a few moments, he was pushed out, left to stare helplessly from the edge of the enthusiastic crowd, looking small and helpless.
Seeing that An Chen was useless, Ling Jing stepped forward. From who knows where, she produced a feather fan and began fanning herself in the sub-zero Christmas Eve temperature. Shivering from the cold, she lifted her head haughtily, as if looking down her nose at people. “Back off, back off! My little sister is still young, so many strange-looking people like you will scare her! I'll make anyone who dirties her cape pay!”
What a stereotypical high-society young lady. It was hard to tell if she genuinely wanted to help Zhuang Chi or was just getting a kick out of acting, but in any case, Ling Jing was giving it her all. Zhuang Chi watched from the side, clicking her tongue in amazement, and couldn't help but think that this character persona was, in a sense, somewhat similar to the Ling Jing she had first met.
She was gradually beginning to understand. It seemed the “excellent effect” she'd heard about in the room was real, having incited a fervent response from the crowd. The current situation was proof. And the students of St. Blaisedon, perhaps emboldened by their costumes, didn't fully disperse even with Ling Jing and An Chen's help. They all extended invitations to Zhuang Chi to be their dance partner, half-jokingly and half-sincerely. Someone even tried to stick a rose into her breast pocket, only to be swatted away by Ling Jing's quick fan.
“What do you think you're doing! Where are you putting your hands!” Ling Jing was very displeased. She stood before Zhuang Chi like a celestial guardian. Already taller than Zhuang Chi, she blocked most of her from view and pointed at the crowd. “First, get your identities straight! Our Zhuang—no, our Pygmalion isn't someone who will just dance with anyone! She loves Galatea!”
“I am Galatea! I am!”
The crowd clamored with such responses. Zhuang Chi listened and cried out in silent despair, thinking to herself that she knew many people would choose to dress as Galatea. Wasn't this a disaster? But Ling Jing wasn't fooled. She furiously retorted, “Nonsense! Many of you are just making it up on the spot! For example, you over there—you're clearly dressed as the chisel Pygmalion used to make the sculpture!”
The person wearing a very exaggerated fake headpiece was unconvinced and argued with her, “What's wrong with a chisel! Can't Galatea be a chisel-shaped sculpture? Who made that rule!”
“Greek mythology made that rule! And on closer inspection, aren't you Lou Che?! It's bad enough you're not helping, but you're joining the crowd to cause a ruckus!”
It looked like a fight was about to break out. Zhuang Chi's head ached; the situation felt even more chaotic than before. Just as she was thinking that she couldn't count on anyone else and would have to find a way to break through the encirclement herself, the surroundings suddenly fell silent. The circle of people that had formed around her soundlessly parted to create a path. At the end of the path stood a person, gazing over, their eyes as serene as a deer pausing in a forest.
Gu Ximian walked through the gap the crowd had made, stepping inward with lightness and grace.
Her white dress and gold ornaments made her seem to glow, naturally exuding a noble air that deterred any offense. The surroundings seemed to have been paused. No one blocked her, no one spoke. They simply let her pass with ease, until she finally stood before—Ling Jing.
Zhuang Chi, still being shielded by Ling Jing, couldn't see Ling Jing's expression, but she could see Gu Ximian perfectly. Gu Ximian's face was impassive as she gave Ling Jing a light glance. Before she even said anything, Zhuang Chi felt Ling Jing stiffen, then silently turn her head to look at her.
“...” Ling Jing's expression was truly complex, and her eyes were blinking frantically. It was impossible to understand what she meant. Zhuang Chi blinked back, confused and finding it a little funny as she called out, “...Sister?”
Ling Jing's expression shifted again and again, finally settling on one of profound grief. She patted Zhuang Chi's shoulder and took a small step to the side.
Now, there were no more obstacles. Gu Ximian appeared before Zhuang Chi. For a ball like tonight's, her perfume seemed to be applied more heavily than usual. The familiar fragrance drifted over, and the flow of her gaze held the essence of a clear autumn.
“Why did you call her sister.”
But these were the first words she spoke. Zhuang Chi blinked as if waking from a dream and saw the corners of Gu Ximian's lips curve slightly, as bright as the moon.
“What about me, then? What will you call me?” Gu Ximian said, her voice seeming to pluck at Zhuang Chi's heartstrings, stirring an unstoppable tremor. “Do you think... I look like your Galatea?”
In the auditorium, Zhuang Chi and Gu Ximian came to a stop in a spot slightly away from the crowd.
...Though they were “away from the crowd,” there were so many participants today that anywhere in the auditorium, they would be seen. What's more, she had just finished the opening act; it was no exaggeration to say she was the most watched person in the entire hall. Zhuang Chi turned her head, feeling a little uncomfortable, and sure enough, her gaze met several curious stares directed their way. As she lowered her head, she couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
“Would you like something to drink?”
Being able to escape the encirclement just now was mainly thanks to Gu Ximian's unapproachable aura. Gu Ximian herself seemed oblivious, currently looking at the drinks on a long table not far from them. She turned her head and asked, “What is that blue drink?”
“Ah... I think it's supposed to be plum-flavored cola. Lou Che chose it,” Zhuang Chi replied. “Do you want some?”
“No.” Gu Ximian's gaze flickered as if recalling something, and she refused in a low voice, “...I don't like cola.”
The conversation came to a halt there. Both of them fell silent. Zhuang Chi felt a little awkward and decided to speak first. “You... look very beautiful today. The main color of your dress seems to be about the same as mine...?”
It was more than “about the same”; it was the exact same white with gold accents. Gu Ximian glanced up at her and nodded calmly, her expression unchanged. “Is that so? What a coincidence.”
“...” Is that so? Just a coincidence? So Gu Ximian had already decided on her own outfit before seeing hers? And then they happened to have the same color scheme? Zhuang Chi found it hard to be sure. She shifted her gaze and pointed to the floral crown on Gu Ximian's head. “...The crown, too. It looks the same as mine?”
This time, Gu Ximian didn't even bother to look, simply nodding with the same calm tone. “Mhm, I just happened to have an extra one made when I was ordering the crown. So I used it.”
...Is that so? Can things like this really happen “just by chance” and “by the way”? Zhuang Chi was very puzzled, but Gu Ximian's expression was so flawlessly calm that it left her hesitating, unsure of what to say. Gu Ximian was quiet for a long moment, then suddenly sighed softly. The calm expression on her face vanished, and her voice seemed to carry a sigh as she asked, “...You just believed that?”
Her words threw Zhuang Chi into even greater confusion. Her original line of thought was suddenly turned completely upside down, leaving her momentarily speechless. But Gu Ximian didn't seem to intend to press her further. She lowered her eyes for a moment before raising them again and said gently, “Shall we go dance? It's rare that we've managed to shake off all those people.”
It was exceptionally difficult to guess what Gu Ximian was thinking today; she seemed very unpredictable. Zhuang Chi dazedly followed Gu Ximian to the dance floor. The ballroom music for the students was slow and soothing, and most of the people on the floor were not very skilled dancers, creating a relaxed atmosphere. But they still attracted a lot of attention as they stepped onto the dance floor. Zhuang Chi thought that after spending so much time with Gu Ximian, she was almost getting used to such gazes. Instead, it was only when she loosely pulled Gu Ximian into her arms that she began to feel nervous.
Gu Ximian was very quiet, only speaking softly after they had danced through half a song. “Did you practice again this time? I thought you would have gotten worse after not dancing for over two months.”
“...Mhm, I managed to find some time to practice a bit...” Zhuang Chi's face grew warm as she said in a low voice, “I was worried, just in case I had to dance...”
“Just in case?” Gu Ximian looked up, her head tilted slightly with an unconscious innocence. “Did you really not plan to dance originally?”
Being looked at by her like this felt a little unbearable. Zhuang Chi averted her gaze slightly and replied subconsciously, “Not really. It's just that, since I'm playing Pygmalion, if I chose a dance partner, it would feel like—”
—like announcing to everyone else, this is my Galatea.
She stopped abruptly halfway through her sentence, having realized what she was saying. Zhuang Chi forced herself to swallow the rest of the sentence, but it was too late. Gu Ximian was silent for a moment, and when she spoke again, she mercilessly hit on the sore spot Zhuang Chi hadn't mentioned. “Speaking of which, you still haven't answered my question from earlier.”
“Do I look like your Galatea?” Gu Ximian repeated slowly, her upward gaze like an unfinished painting of a distant mountain. “You didn't answer directly in front of everyone earlier.”
That was right. Zhuang Chi hadn't answered. At that moment, her heart had been beating so fast she worried it might explode. She had barely managed to come to her senses amidst the surrounding catcalls and murmurs, and with a face burning hot, she had flusteredly said to Gu Ximian, “Why don't we find somewhere private to talk first?” Then Gu Ximian had led her out of the crowd.
It wasn't that she didn't know how to answer, Zhuang Chi thought. She knew what her answer was, it was just... very unsuitable to say it out loud in that situation.
But she hadn't expected Gu Ximian to ask again like this. She had thought Gu Ximian was only half-joking, but now it seemed she was exceptionally serious. Zhuang Chi's heart was in turmoil, unsure how to respond. Gu Ximian watched her for a long moment, then chuckled softly and said, “The last time we danced, you were very nervous, but at least you said you were biased towards me.”
“Are you not going to say anything this time?” Gu Ximian looked at her deeply, the light in her eyes like shattered stars. She seemed a little lost in thought as she said softly, “...Why won't you say it?”
A pang of pain shot through Zhuang Chi's heart. She couldn't bear to see Gu Ximian with such an expression. Her dance steps faltered, about to stop, but Gu Ximian didn't allow it. With a slight use of force, she pulled Zhuang Chi closer and slowly moved towards the edge of the dance floor.
“Then I'll be the one to say it.”
She said this, her voice seeming to be stretched taut, yet also displaying an incredible calm.
“—I chose this dress today on purpose. Because I knew what your costume would be, I wanted to wear the same color scheme as you, so we would look more... well-matched.”
“The crown, too. It wasn't ‘by the way’ at all. I did it on purpose. I even snatched the job of ordering the crowns. I didn't want you to use Olivia's crown. I wanted you to wear the one I had made, and then you and I, together, would wear floral crowns that anyone could tell at a glance were a matching pair.”
“When designing the crowns, I chose three types of flowers: sunflowers, white lilies, and blue hydrangeas.” Gu Ximian paused and smiled softly. “They are the flowers you once gave me.”
At this moment, she finally stopped. Zhuang Chi's back was already against a wall; there was nowhere left to retreat. Those few sentences had turned Zhuang Chi's mind upside down. She stared blankly at Gu Ximian, who was also looking at her, her beautiful eyes shimmering with moisture, reflecting Zhuang Chi's image with undeniable clarity.
“Why are you looking at me like that.” Though her eyes held a torrent of emotion, Gu Ximian's tone was still calm. Even though it trembled, she maintained her expression and gestured upwards for Zhuang Chi. “You should look up.”
As if robbed of the ability to think, Zhuang Chi's mind went blank. She obediently followed her gesture and looked up, seeing a small clump of green plants tied with a red ribbon, hanging directly above where she stood.
At first glance, she didn't recognize what it was, but Gu Ximian gave her the answer: “It's mistletoe.”
“It's the only one in the entire auditorium,” Gu Ximian said softly. “I hung it there myself.”
She watched as Zhuang Chi's expression gradually shifted from confusion to fluster after her words. Even though her own heart was in utter turmoil, she couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
Gu Ximian took a step closer to Zhuang Chi, their bodies touching, their breaths mingling—an intimate and ambiguous distance.
“You know what I'm going to do, don't you?”
It was becoming difficult to suppress the tremor in her voice, so Gu Ximian simply let it be. She raised her hands, cupped Zhuang Chi's face, and looked deeply into her eyes. Gu Ximian had seen many people, many pairs of eyes. Even now, she could feel countless gazes focused on the two of them, but she couldn't care less. She just felt that there would never be another pair of eyes like Zhuang Chi's, that would make her want to cry like this upon finally glimpsing adoration within them.
And there would never be another person like Zhuang Chi. Someone who made her flustered, made her care, made her unable to sleep at night. She had mulled over those glaringly obvious feelings so many times, only to choose such a clumsy method in the end. In a daze, Gu Ximian realized that the sound of a fluttering heart was no louder than a flower bud opening, yet on this day of its discovery, it was utterly deafening.
Gu Ximian drew near and, under the mistletoe, kissed the person she had long since recognized as her beloved.
Post a Comment