"Since you're clever, don't liken it to a tree root stripped of its bark; tree roots aren't that dexterous."
"That's where the problem is!"
"Alright, alright, hurry up and change into the evening gown you're supposed to wear to the party."
"There's no rush." Turquoise Pool sat down on the sofa, crossing her legs and coupled with the evening dress, she was elegant and charming, "All the evening gowns here are samples, I've already asked the designer to make new ones and send them over along with the jewelry."
That's the wealthy for you!
She placed the magazine that Li Changzhou had just been looking at on her lap.
"Have you been through my book? I left it there, why did you mess it up?" She scolded like a wife disdainful of her husband for messing up the neatly folded blankets.
Turquoise Pool did it on purpose, she was well aware that men were suckers for this kind of scolding yet affectionate tone, let alone a virgin man who had never been in love.
Unfortunately, Li Changzhou's attention was now totally on Yang Qinglan; he was taking pictures of her with his mobile phone, planning to use them as wallpaper to gaze at and dream about whenever he pleased.
As dusk approached, the designers delivered the evening gowns, including theirs and Li Changzhou's.
A simple suit, looking smart and stylish.
Though appearing thin, his muscles were firm, making the suit fit him just right.
It was somewhat sexy. Yang Qinglan watched and felt something wasn't quite right—the usual thing was for men to be seduced by women in evening gowns, wanting to wrap their arms around the woman's waist. Why did she, on the contrary, want to wrap her arms around Li Changzhou's waist? To snuggle into his embrace?
If she mentioned it, Turquoise Pool would nod in agreement: "Same here."
"Bro, let's take a photo together! You look stunningly handsome!" Li Qianxia had no psychological burden and went straight for it.
◇
The location of the party was on the top floor of the most famous building in Song City.
"The ball includes not just players, but elites from all walks of life, people you often see on mobile news, and they might show up occasionally."
The four sat in a car, not the previous Mercedes, but a Maserati.
Coming from high society with great strength and noble demeanor, Turquoise Pool managed things in a way that made her seem approachable and down-to-earth, such as now, driving in an evening gown.
The Maserati stopped at the intersection waiting for the traffic light.
"What kind of car is that? The emblem looks like a trident, pretty nice."
"Maserati Quattroporte, not too expensive either, just over a million."
"Over a million and you say it's not expensive?"
"What's that in Song City."
Li Changzhou heard the conversation of a man and woman in the car next to them.
Outside the window was the sea of neon lights; the world bustled, and Li Changzhou felt like this was the most dreamlike night of his 20 years—in a car worth over a million, driven by a beautiful woman, about to attend a top-tier party.
The red light turned green, Turquoise Pool hit the gas, and the Maserati charged out as if it owned the road, with a roar like rumbling thunder.
A song played in the car, and outside the windows, the neon lights seemed to merge into one, as if passing through a tunnel in time.
The hotel had been booked entirely, and one had to show an invitation card to enter.
They had barely walked in, too rushed to take in the splendor of the golden building, when a slender young girl with a snake head and a neck a full sixty centimeters long, holding a wine glass, walked past them.
Players the size of a few fingers, each small and delicately built, flew in midair, chatting away like bees bumping their heads together.
"Hey, handsome."
Li Changzhou glanced and a female player in a strapless evening gown, with horns on her head, sidled up close to him.
"Alone?" As she spoke, her substantial bosom leaned in, attempting to ensnare Li Changzhou's arm.
The woman's body suddenly swayed back, and she looked at Yang Qinglan in surprise, with eyes returning to black and wrist delicate like lotus roots, hooking Li Changzhou's arm.
"Thank you." Li Changzhou thanked the lady, contentedly walked towards the ball with Yang Qinglan by his side.
"Stay focused, you're not here to play," Yang Qinglan whispered in his ear.
Li Changzhou tilted his head towards her: "Don't worry, I'm very focused, always on you."
The hand hooked around his arm gave him a gentle pinch.
Li Changzhou caught the faint scent of Yang Qinglan, like flowers in the clear morning of winter, pale and elegant, making one want to keep smelling it, desiring to keep it close even in death.
The two caught up with Turquoise Pool and Li Qianxia, who hadn't noticed this scene.
"I didn't expect there to be so many non-human players." Li Changzhou scanned the area for familiar faces.
"Humans aren't as bad as they imagine themselves to be; animals loathe each other most, they are the true enemies, always fighting desperately for survival. Naturally, they yearn for human society's peace," said Yang Qinglan.
"Right, struggling for food every day in the wild doesn't compare to the joy and peace in human society," a lean man approached.
"Beautiful human miss, shall we dance?" He was polite and extended an invitation to Turquoise Pool.
"Sorry." Turquoise Pool smiled and hooked Li Changzhou's other arm.
Li Changzhou was ready to shake it off immediately.
"Wearing the clothes I gave you, you won't even do this small favor for me?" Turquoise Pool's voice whispered in his ear, and Li Changzhou reluctantly gave in.
"Sorry." The lean man turned and walked away, as they watched the tail on his back.
"A rabbit?" Turquoise Pool muttered to herself.
"A rabbit's tail isn't that short; a dog... or maybe a wolf." Li Qianxia wasn't sure either.
Li Changzhou was about to remove Turquoise Pool's hand when he barely moved, and she withdrew it on her own.
A master, a true master!
She not only anticipated his move but also retaliated with a feint of release and withdraw—always showing interest in Li Changzhou, and then suddenly withdrawing her hand to pique his concern.
Li Changzhou's theoretical knowledge was quite rich; in order to chase Yang Qinglan, Li Qianxia had given him many lessons.
Afterward, from time to time, more people came to invite the four, all of whom were declined.