Christmas Ball
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. May went to visit her relatives in Florida after her exams. She'll only be there for a few days; she'll be back after the holidays to apply for an internship at an architecture firm. Zhiwei laughed at her, saying it's only for two or three days, and it's not worth all that trouble.
May said, "It's too cold here in winter. Even if it's just for two or three days, I want to go to Florida to sunbathe." She had originally wanted to invite Zhiwei to stay with her at her relatives' house for a couple of days, but Zhiwei declined because she thought the round-trip tickets to Florida for Christmas were too expensive.
As Christmas approaches, many shops along the street have already closed, but the lights and shop windows are brighter and more lively than usual. The high-rise buildings in the distance are also brightly lit, and the top of the Empire State Building in the distance is adorned with golden and red Christmas patterns. New York seems to have shed its usual cold and busy rhythm and brought with it a sense of human warmth.
Golden lights were wrapped everywhere, intertwining with the billions of rays reflected from the Christmas tree adorned with glittering gift boxes, giving everyone's smiles an unreal, radiant glow. In the air, the slight acidity of champagne, the rich fragrance of women's perfumes, and the subtle melodies of jazz music mingled together, creating the unique, decadent recipe for a New York Christmas.
Many years later, Shen Zhiwei would still think of that Christmas Eve. At that time, she didn't know that it was the last Christmas Eve of her carefree teenage years. All the gifts that fate bestowed had already been secretly marked with a price tag—like that Christmas ball, like that basket of crab roe soup dumplings, like that man named Li Fuqiang.
Completely unaware of her fate, she stood before the full-length mirror in her apartment, giving herself a final check of her outfit. Beneath her black cashmere coat, a glimpse of a red skirt peeked out. She applied bright red lipstick, instantly illuminating her entire appearance.
When Zhou Xuanyu saw her, a look of amazement flashed in his eyes. His girlfriend had thick, long hair that was loose and flowing, and her face was only lightly made up. Against the backdrop of her jet-black hair and black coat, her fair face and slender neck looked even more alluring.
She wore bright red lipstick and a touch of eyeliner, without even blush, but her youthful skin was so radiant and plump that even the best makeup couldn't replicate. We were used to seeing her with her slightly rebellious, casual art student style, which was always beautiful, but this slight makeover was truly stunning.
"You look beautiful today." He opened the car door for her.
Zhiwei smiled and sized up her boyfriend. He was already tall and slender, and wore a well-fitting black suit that perfectly matched her coat. His features were handsome, and with the confident look in his eyes and his hair slightly slicked back, he was undeniably a promising young man.
Xuan Yu whispered to her, "This suit is quite expensive. I'll be relying on it for job interviews and marriage in the future. I can't waste it. I should wear it often."
When Zhiwei heard him mention marriage, she didn't respond, but smiled and said, "Then you'd better keep your figure, otherwise you won't be able to fit into this expensive suit if you gain weight."
Xuan Yu led her to the banquet hall on the second floor of the Waldorf Hotel. The entrance was decorated like a wedding reception area, where several young men and women in black and white uniforms were busy.
Xuan Yu and Zhi Wei registered their personal information and exchanged business cards. They smiled at each other, wondering if this was a Christmas ball or a job fair. A gentleman helped Zhi Wei remove her black coat and took it to the store, revealing a bright red long-sleeved dress underneath, which shone brilliantly under the crystal chandelier. Everyone present, including Xuan Yu, looked on in amazement.
"You enjoy this attention." Zhou Xuanyu whispered in her ear, with a hint of smugness.
Zhiwei simply smiled. She knew all too well where her advantage lay—youth was the best cosmetic, and she knew how to maximize it. The dress she wore was actually quite simple in design, with three-quarter sleeves and a slightly V-neck that revealed a lot of her fair skin, making one wonder what alluring scenery was hidden beneath.
The dress was perfectly fitted at the waist, with a wide, open skirt. Because it was winter, it wasn't made of a thin fabric, but rather cashmere, soft and warm. The bodice was very form-fitting, outlining her elegant chest and slender waist. From the waist down, whether due to a lining or the large skirt, the entire hem flared out slightly like an umbrella.
Paired with matching bright red pointed-toe leather shoes and her exposed, slender, fair legs and feet, she looked radiant. Aside from a pair of diamond earrings, she wore no other adornments; those were a birthday gift from her mother to celebrate her 18th birthday and college acceptance.
However, with her youthful and delicate face and slender and well-proportioned figure, she would not be overshadowed by the surrounding environment even if she attended a crystal ball.
Seeing his girlfriend dressed to the nines, Xuan Yu felt exceptionally proud and straightened his back even more. With Ruo Wei's right hand in his arm, he stepped into the banquet hall. Under the tall crystal chandelier, the center of the magnificent banquet hall had been cleared, where a dozen couples were dancing joyfully to melodious music. Around the perimeter, many people were chatting and talking in small groups in the booths.
Waiters in white shirts and black bow ties would occasionally walk by carrying wine glasses or drinks, their elegant attire and graceful movements creating a picturesque scene.
The banquet hall was now about half full. The music had switched to an elegant waltz. Xuan Yu leaned slightly towards Zhi Wei, bowed, and extended his right hand to her. Zhi Wei smiled and placed her left hand in Xuan Yu's right. The two then began to dance gracefully on the dance floor.
The men were tall and well-built, while the women were bright and elegant. On the dance floor, they were like proud princesses riding steeds, or knights guarding noble ladies as they patrolled their territory, attracting a lot of attention.
Zhiwei was simply enjoying this beautiful moment, but Xuanyu took in the surrounding gazes and whispers, becoming even more smug, and his dance became even more elegant and forceful.
After dancing to four or five songs, Zhiwei felt a little tired. Her face, which wasn't covered in blush, was noticeably rosier, and her forehead was slightly sweaty. She pulled Xuanyu to the booth area to rest. Xuanyu went to get her some juice, and when he returned, he saw two or three men surrounding Zhiwei. Zhiwei didn't say anything, just listened with a smile.
He brought back the juice, handed it to Zhiwei, and sat down next to her. Zhiwei thanked him, took the juice, and drank a couple of sips. Seeing this, the few lone men left. A few more people arrived in a short while, and the banquet hall looked quite full. Sure enough, after a while, the music gradually stopped, and in the area directly in front, a dignified lady softly called out "Hello" twice, slowly drawing everyone's attention to her.
The woman, around forty years old, had stylishly permed shoulder-length hair and wore a professional suit. Seeing everyone had gathered around, she raised the microphone and said, "This year, coincidentally, the president's office of our Fumao Group is studying in New York. It's an honor that all of you young talents have graced us with your presence at our Christmas ball on this Christmas Eve. I'm Youlin from the president's office. Tonight, I hope everyone will enjoy singing and dancing, make friends, and have a wonderful evening. Cheers!" She then raised her slender champagne glass in a gesture of greeting, and the music resumed.
This surprised Zhiwei, who had expected a speech from the president or something similar. She thought that after all the trouble of organizing this ball, they would at least take the opportunity to showcase the company's strength or express their desire to attract talent. However, she didn't expect that it would actually be a place where everyone could enjoy themselves to the fullest.
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