Chapter 62 The Banquet 2

Surrounded by An Kexia and several professional dress consultants, Jiang Yining tried on several dresses. Xie Shiyan sat on the sofa in the rest area, seemingly casually flipping through a magazine, but his eyes were constantly glancing towards the dressing room.

Time ticked by. Finally, the velvet curtains of the dressing room were slowly pulled open by a slender, fair hand.

In an instant, it was as if all the light in the entire space was focused on it.

Jiang Yining stood there. She wore a floor-length gown woven from countless fine crystals and silver threads, the legendary "Moonlight Galaxy".

The dress is not a dazzling bright white, but an extremely soft, pearly white, as if it were bathed in moonlight. Countless tiny Swarovski crystals are hand-sewn onto it by top artisans, not evenly distributed, but arranged in a pleasingly sparse manner, like a cosmic star map.

As she walked, the skirt swayed like flowing water, and the crystals refracted a dazzling yet not vulgar light. The upper body featured a minimalist strapless design, perfectly outlining her slender yet exquisite shoulder and neck lines and collarbone.

Above her left breast, near her heart, was a translucent lemon-yellow crystal. The bright yellow, fresh yet playful, instantly broke the monotony of the solid-color dress and echoed the "Lemon" in her name.

Her long hair was styled into an elegant yet lively low bun by the stylist, with a few slightly curled strands falling lazily down her cheeks. Her makeup was an extremely light and natural nude look.

The focus was solely on her naturally clear and bright eyes, with a very light golden-brown eyeshadow subtly blended at the outer corners, and her lips a gentle peach pink, like petals blooming in early spring.

She lifted her skirt slightly, looking at Xie Shiyan with a mixture of shyness and anticipation, her face flushed with nervousness.

The entire club seemed to fall silent. All the staff stopped what they were doing, their eyes fixed on the stunning spectacle, filled with undisguised amazement and admiration. An Kexia even covered her mouth, gasping and letting out a soft, heartfelt sigh:

"Oh my god, it's so beautiful!"

At this moment, Xie Shiyan, sitting on the sofa, was completely frozen. His heart was pounding wildly in his chest, each beat carrying a dull echo that pounded against his eardrums.

He walked up to her, his gaze greedily tracing her features inch by inch, with an intense, almost overwhelming emotion that seemed to want to drown her.

Jiang Yining felt a little flustered by the intense, almost tangible emotions in his eyes. She subconsciously took a small step back, her fingers unconsciously clenching the cool crystal on her skirt.

The next second, Xie Shiyan suddenly reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Ningning, you're so beautiful," he said, his burning lips pressed against her cool, trembling earlobe, his voice hoarse and broken. "My Ningning..."

An Kexia stood slightly behind Jiang Yining, looking at the unprecedented focus and passion in Xie Shiyan's eyes, and then at the dazzling girl beside her. A trace of indescribable sadness and complete relief flashed deep in her eyes.

She took a soft breath, a genuine smile returning to her face, and her voice broke the suffocating silence: "How is it, Mr. Xie? Isn't your Ningning... stunningly beautiful?" Her tone carried a subtle, knowing acceptance.

When Xie Shiyan, with undeniable authority, swiped his card to buy the expensive dress, Jiang Yining was still somewhat dazed. It wasn't until his warm fingers took hers and meticulously straightened every wrinkle in the hem of her dress that she truly felt a dizzying sense of being cherished.

As she sat in the passenger seat, the car was filled with the refreshing scent of agarwood emanating from him, mixed with the slightly astringent smell of her new clothes on her skirt, as they drove towards the most prestigious charity gala in S City.

Inside the brightly lit banquet hall, almost all the celebrities and dignitaries from S City and the surrounding cities were present. Shen Nian'an was talking quietly with Sima Xinwan, the daughter of the richest man in J City, her demeanor gentle and calm.

Not far away, Xiao Xiao, arm in arm with Lu Jingshen, chatted and laughed with Jude Law, the head of the Qiu family. The air was filled with the scents of champagne, fine perfume, and the subtle undercurrents characteristic of high society.

The Shen family, the Lu family, the Qiu family, the Sima family, the Murong family… the representatives of these families, who occupy the top of the pyramid, all seemed to be glancing towards the entrance. They were waiting for someone—Xie Shiyan, who had risen to prominence in just a few years, consolidated resources with swift and decisive means, and firmly secured his position as the leading figure among S City's new elites.

The younger generation is eager to collaborate with him in order to prove their abilities and impress their families.

The heavy, gilded doors were silently pulled open by a waiter.

All eyes were instantly focused.

Xie Shiyan, dressed in a perfectly tailored dark suit, stood tall and straight, exuding an air of aristocratic arrogance and aloofness. The woman on his arm instantly captured the attention of everyone present.

A flowing, shimmering gown accentuated her slender, graceful curves. The delicate, hand-stitched crystals on the dress refracted like starlight under the dazzling lights, making her already radiant skin appear as smooth as the finest white jade.

Her dark hair was loosely tied up, revealing her elegant swan neck and exquisitely beautiful profile. Yet she possessed an innocent purity, like an elf who had strayed into the mortal world.

"Is that the 'Moon Goddess' custom-made dress?" someone exclaimed softly, recognizing this prized possession of a top haute couture brand. Its rumored nine-figure price tag and stringent ownership requirements had kept it in obscurity for many years.

Who would have thought that it would appear here in such a shocking way, worn by such a young girl?