Chapter 137 A Gentleman's Character is Like a Steadfast Jade Pendant (12)

After such a long time, she wasn't particularly surprised to see the dress again.

She had watched the death cutscenes in the game hundreds of times. The fact that the dress wasn't in her wardrobe didn't arouse much suspicion. Many of Belial's brands would send her new products every season, and no one knew when this dress would appear.

Even though Erici witnessed Shi Yu appearing with her at the Zhunti Tower in the previous playthrough, it seemed to pale in comparison to the impact of the dress before him.

The pristine white fabric stained with blood is even more jarring.

She hadn't died in the previous playthrough, so it was impossible for her to break the conditions set by Edwina to unlock her powers.

Clearly, everything had been arranged before she went in.

With multiple clues piecing together, the person who lured Edwina into her office, besides Shi Yu, seemed to be no one else.

She crouched down and picked up the skirt that had fallen to the ground.

For the dozen or so hours leading up to the charity gala, Shu Ningmiao did nothing but stay at home and take out all the documents in her folder to reorganize them.

Two hours before the banquet, she fixed the decoration on her waist, slowly raised her eyes, and felt that she looked somewhat unfamiliar in the mirror.

She wore no jewelry, her hair simply draped over her shoulders, and the white skirt billowed slightly, perfectly fitting her waistline without a single unflattering spot. The person who gave it to her had been attending social events since childhood and had changed into countless gowns, so naturally they knew her measurements.

However, the serene expression reflected in the mirror seemed out of place with the overly delicate dress, even appearing somewhat detached.

The driver was already waiting outside. Shu Ningmiao withdrew her absent-minded gaze, got into the car, and headed to the Shi family's house.

The Shi family manor remained unchanged, with its starlit buildings and brightly lit streets, and the sounds of conversation were somewhat noisy.

The others chatted about their social interactions, and since Madame Grana frequently hosted banquets, probably no one noticed anything unusual; they all assumed it was just an ordinary banquet.

Shu Ningmiao got out of the car, handed her coat to the waiter, and asked, "Where is Mrs. Grana?"

"Madam is not feeling well," the waiter replied smoothly, as if he had anticipated her question. "She is resting in her room."

...I hope Shi Yu didn't secretly kill him.

The sky was filled with stars tonight. She looked up and her gaze fell on the shimmering platinum short hair. Shi Yu peeked out from behind the waiter, his gray eyes reflecting her image, and his smile was as gentle as a spring breeze.

The waiter tactfully left.

Shu Ningmiao turned half her face to look at him with her hands behind her back. He walked slowly to her, raised his hand to his chest and bowed slightly. His manners were impeccable and his words and actions were impeccable.

Shi Yu straightened his back and stood up straight. He still looked a little haggard, but his smile was calm and showed no other signs of distress.

Seeing her hair disheveled by the wind and still silent, Shi Yu smiled slightly, his expression becoming even gentler. He extended his hand to her, gesturing for her to place it in his palm as usual: "Am I no longer able to lead my beautiful fiancée into the ceremony?"

She didn't move, and he didn't withdraw his hand either, seemingly intending to maintain a stalemate with her.

After a while, Shu Ningmiao gently placed her slightly cool hand on his fingertips, which he immediately grasped tightly.

She raised an eyebrow in slight surprise, noticing a warm tremor in his fingertips.

Shi Yu held her hand tightly, looked up at her and gave her a gentle and serene smile.

The two smiled insincerely and walked in hand in hand as intimately as ever. They saw Lin Chuxu holding a glass of red wine and drinking a beverage, chatting with someone at the table. When she saw Lin Chuxu and Shi Yu walk in together, the girl paused and deliberately looked away.

Isn't that a bit too obvious?

Shu Ningmiao thought listlessly, wondering how the Lin family planned to deal with Shi Yu. Judging from Lin Chuxu's expressionless face, Shi Yu had definitely figured it out.

After all, his greatest skill is observing other people's thoughts.

Tonight's dinner party didn't hire any temporary workers from the orphanage, perhaps due to a shortage of manpower. The floor was so smooth it was practically reflective, and you could even see some water stains. Luckily, she wasn't wearing a long dress, otherwise, the hem dragging on the floor would have been really embarrassing and uncomfortable.

The dazzling light cast by the crystal chandelier overhead was mesmerizing. The wandering guests, the champagne-colored tablecloths, and the clinking of wine glasses made T's vision blur the faces of these people.

Shu Ningmiao glanced around at the guests, then stood there casually watching them approach and socialize. Everyone's face seemed to be much the same, because they all wore the same smile.

It had been a long time since she had stood among men and women, clinking glasses and exchanging pleasantries, patiently responding to the conversations and offering appropriate smiles to everyone who came and went.

But this seemed to be her daily routine before she entered Cornunos, dull and taken for granted.

Shu Ningmiao turned her head and immediately saw Shi Yu, who was already chatting and laughing amicably with several middle-aged guests. His smile was like a mask on his face, as if it would never change.

Passing guests couldn't help but stare at the couple holding hands intimately, jokingly asking them when they could attend the wedding banquet.

Shi Yu looked down at her, and Shu Ningmiao gave a vague and perfunctory answer.

The boy with platinum-blonde hair wore a dark gray suit, the delicate silver embroidery on the jacket shimmering slightly under the light. When she turned her head, her gaze met that of the silk bow tie.

Shi Yu had grown taller than her, but the first time they attended a banquet together, Shi Yu was still shorter than her. He was dressed up as a doll by Madame Grana and followed behind her like a mute, secretly holding her small hand.

Two strikingly similar children discover each other and are destined to become allies.

Because they understood each other, Shu Ningmiao was unwilling to call him a friend.

The scene of our first meeting suddenly flashed into my mind.

Shi Yu's pale face and lifeless gray eyes pierced through the miasma and appeared before her eyes.

Back then... she seemed to be wearing a white princess dress, but well, when she was little, her clothes were chosen by someone, so even she couldn't remember.

The air was filled with the scent of perfume, like flower petals, mixed with the subtle aroma of fine wine, and the crystal chandelier illuminated the place as if it were daytime.

Shu Ningmiao was momentarily dazed, her eyes flashing from the sudden bright light, and she snapped back to reality.

The dazzling lights reflected in her eyes, leaving shimmering afterimages. Perhaps she was hallucinating from the glamorous stage, for she could actually smell the pungent odor of Pandora amidst the extravagant fragrance.

The needle-like breath split her vision into two worlds.

The lavish and comfortable banquet intertwined with the cruel scenes that kept flashing through her mind.

The female guests twirled in the dance floor, their high heels clicking loudly on the floor.

In the closed ward, the heartbeat on the life monitor gradually stopped.

The man, gesturing wildly, was drinking heavily, his belly protruding, and he was breathing heavily.

The Manra patients, crammed into the cramped asylum, dragged their foul-smelling, festering bodies as they breathed painfully, making a sound like a broken bellows.

The radiant men and women looked at each other and laughed heartily, their faces bright and cheerful, without a trace of worry about tomorrow.

The expressionless head rolled to the ground, and blood gushed out like a fountain from the severed neck, splashing hot, wet droplets onto her face.

Shi Yu hooked his fingertips around her palm, then suddenly let go, leaned down towards her, and seemed to be saying something to her.

The banquet was noisy, and she heard nothing. The sounds of symphony, laughter, and dancing blended together like a long, drawn-out ringing in her ears.

The cheerful background symphony abruptly stopped.

The world seemed to gradually fall silent, and for a moment she inexplicably became the focus of everyone's attention.

She took a few steps back.

Shi Yu bowed slightly to her and extended his hand to her: "Would my fiancée like to dance with me?"

Shu Ning cleverly answered in a low voice that only the two of them could hear, "It won't be like that soon."

Shi Yu raised her eyes, a faint smile appearing on her pale lips, showing no intention of backing down: "You can have whatever kind of relationship you like. This is the last dance tonight, and as the host, I can't refuse to dance."

The surroundings were so quiet it was like a vacuum; there wasn't even the sound of anyone else breathing.

Such a deathly silence easily induces inappropriate hallucinations. Her mind buzzed in this vacuum, recalling when the two of them were learning ballroom dancing together. Shi Yu wasn't very good at speaking in front of others. Ballroom dancing always requires two people to practice together, but the female steps are much simpler than the male steps. She learned the female steps in the first lesson, and in every lesson after that, she would idly pretend to step on Shi Yu's feet, following the male steps. He remained expressionless in front of the teacher, but after class, he would smile and lean in to challenge her: "Thirty-two times."

She placed her hand in his again, leaning back slightly: "Shi Yu, this is the last time I'll trust you."

Shi Yu looked into her eyes with a smile, took her hand, gently pulled her into his arms, and began to dance.

The white skirt swirled and spread, gracefully brushing against his calves. Shi Yu lowered his head, his palm touching her slightly cool knuckles, and simultaneously stepped on her foot, their movements perfectly coordinated.

Whatever their thoughts, they looked perfectly matched under the dazzling lights, like a dream, without the slightest flaw.

Taking advantage of a brief moment while spinning, Shu Ningmiao avoided eye contact with him, raised her arm, and placed her hand on his shoulder.

As he leaned forward, his breath brushed past her ear, and the tips of his light-colored hair brushed against her forehead, making her feel a little ticklish.

She asked, "Where is Mrs. Grana?"

Shi Yu's expression was focused, his gray pupils were misty, and it was impossible to see what he was thinking. His voice overlapped with the question she asked, and he knew all too well what she wanted to ask: "Upstairs."

The light-gold-haired boy smiled slightly and said in a tone as if he were commenting on a stranger, "She's just sick, she's not dead yet."

He held the banquet under the name of Madame Grana, and she probably fell ill because of him.

Everyone else at the banquet was dancing, twirling under the grand lights, making them all appear like phantoms on the ground, indistinguishable from one another.

The pungent smell grew stronger and stronger, making it impossible for her to ignore.

Amidst the melodious music, a startled scream suddenly broke the silence, followed by a chorus of panicked shouts within seconds. However, the symphony orchestra seemed oblivious and continued playing.

"Fire!"

Whether by accident or not, flames seemed to have sprung up on someone's dress. The woman's long dress trailed on the ground, making it extremely inconvenient, and the flames quickly spread upwards. In no time, the flames turned into a ball of fire, and the people around her tried their best to extinguish the flames on her body, creating chaos.

Shu Ningmiao tried to pull her hand back and escape from the dance floor, but Shi Yu bent down and grabbed her wrist.

Shi Yu smiled, seemingly oblivious to everything around him, as if he didn't care at all.

Shu Ningmiao lowered her eyes and looked at the water stains on the heels of her shoes.

The scent she smelled was not a hallucination.

Normal people wouldn't pour Pandora, which is flammable and has an explosive energy density, into their own homes, but Shi Yu is not a normal person.

The sparks fell to the ground and spread rapidly like a virus, the flames licking at all the guests around them, shouts echoing throughout the manor, and golden-red flames flickering in everyone's eyes.

The surrounding guests didn't care about anything else; they just instinctively tried to escape. When they reached the door, they found that the door and every window had been sealed shut.

If you try to run upstairs, you'll find that the water stains on the lobby floor are flowing down the stairs from the second floor.

The luxurious hall crumbled in an instant, turning into a chaotic inferno. People tore at each other's scorched clothes, and some tried to put out the fire with drinks, but it was all in vain. The flames spread out and several huge fireballs shot into the sky, accompanied by thick smoke.

Under the moonlight, the entire Shi family manor was bathed in the crimson glow of the fire.

Amidst the terrifying flames, Shi Yu raised his hand and gently stroked her eyes, her brow bone and eye sockets stained a golden-red.

Warmth quickly spread across her face. Shu Ningmiao raised her eyes, and his gaze was neither cold nor cruel, only a warm, oblivious smile.

There was no reaction that a "human" should have.

Looking into his eyes, it felt as if you were about to fall into his bleak gray eyes.

Shi Yu chuckled and said, "I'm so glad...you've come."

She could have thrown away the invitation, or simply refused to his face, but she came anyway.

She was the only person in his world who was willing to look directly at monsters.

Shu Ningmiao and his footsteps landed on the last note.

Shi Yu released his hands from the dance steps, put his arm around her waist, buried his head in her neck, and hugged her tightly, but couldn't help trembling slightly.

They could feel each other's body temperature, but they could never guess what the other was thinking.

Shu Ningmiao closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and steadied her breathing.

Flames spread out like fans.

Amidst the deafening screams and shouts, she heard a familiar soft laugh so clearly near her neck.

The laughter seemed to pierce through all the surrounding noise and reach her eardrums.

Shi Yu gently tilted her head up and leaned closer to her, looking down at her with dark, unlit pupils.

The voice beside me was unhurried, the air currents of their breath seemed to intertwine, carrying an ambiguous smile: "Human thought cannot connect known things together. I think this is the most benevolent thing."

Shu Ningmiao let out a soft gasp, took a step back, and the white fabric of her princess dress quickly spread with shocking blood.

Shi Yu's slender, jade-like fingers gripped one end of the dagger and plunged it into her chest. Blood rolled down his wrist through his fingers and dripped down.

Blood quickly soaked most of her body, along with the dagger.

Something cold pierced through her chest. It wasn't the first time she had experienced this feeling of being both bloated and cold. The knife tip had just pierced in, and she hadn't felt any pain yet.

Ignoring the blood trickling down her chest, Shu Ningmiao raised her hand and gripped the spine of the knife tightly, forcing the tip to stop at its current position, unable to pierce any deeper.

With veins bulging on her hands, she lifted her eyelids, looked directly into Shi Yu's downcast yet condescending gaze, and slowly pushed away the direction Shi Yu was pointing at the knife tip.

There are many ways to kill her, but he insisted on choosing the same one. She wanted to laugh at the inopportune moment.

"Do you really have to stab me in the back?"

Shu Ningmiao said, word by word, "A thousand balances arise from a tiny life."

-----------------------

Author's Note: Actually, only one person has a negative 70% favorability rating towards Erice.