Chapter 73
“You’re getting engaged tomorrow, ribbit. Are you nervous, Xiao Bianbian, ribbit?” Little Frog asked, its entire body trembling with excitement. If you didn’t know better, you’d think it was the one getting married.
Zuo Bian was indeed a bit nervous. After the engagement ceremony, her relationship with Qin Ai would be officially announced to the world.
“Host, don’t let Little Frog get to you. Go to sleep, you don’t want dark circles under your eyes.” 555, also anxious, used its plush paws to push Zuo Bian, trying to get her to lie down.
Zuo Bian obediently lay down on the bed, and 555 covered her with the blanket.
“Go to sleep, Host. You need to be a beautiful bride tomorrow.” After tucking Zuo Bian in, 555 patted the blanket, like coaxing a child to sleep.
Zuo Bian looked at the ceiling. “But I’m not getting married tomorrow.”
“It doesn’t matter, ribbit. What matters is that you look beautiful, ribbit.”
“Go to sleep, Host. I’m turning off the light.”
“Mm-hmm, good night.”
With a click, 555 turned off the light.
555 and Little Frog were even more nervous than Zuo Bian, worried that she wouldn’t look her best at the engagement ceremony.
Their antics amused Zuo Bian, and she felt less nervous.
Closing her eyes, she quickly drifted off to sleep.
After Zuo Bian fell asleep, 555 and Little Frog stayed awake, chatting through their private channel.
[555, ribbit, my master has been calling me lately, ribbit, but I’ve been ignoring her, ribbit. I’m a little scared, ribbit.]
【Didn’t you used to want your master to take you back? Why aren’t you responding to her?】
Little Frog sighed. [But Xiao Bianbian is nicer to me, ribbit. And Master abandoned me, ribbit. She must not like me anymore, ribbit. You betrayed my love, ribbit, you’ve broken my heart, ribbit. No matter how much you do, you can’t buy back my love, ribbit. You were the one who wanted to break up, ribbit! We broke up, ribbit! We broke up, ribbit!]
Its ear-grating singing made 555 want to cover its ears, but it couldn’t because it didn’t have any.
【Okay, okay, stop being sad. The host is so nice, just follow her from now on. I guarantee you’ll be living the good life.】
[Mm-hmm, ribbit! Did your plug-in arrive, ribbit?]
【Yes, it did. But using a plug-in in this incomplete world is too risky. It’s best to avoid using it if possible.】
[But we have to use it, ribbit. My master won’t give up on Xiao Bianbian easily, ribbit. She’s waited for so many years, ribbit, sacrificed so much, ribbit. She’s only one away from her goal, ribbit.]
555 was worried. It liked Zuo Bian. It had been on many missions before, but most of its hosts had treated it like a cold, emotionless machine. They were only nice to it because a good relationship with the system made the mission easier.
Only Zuo Bian genuinely treated it like a friend and family, and she was so kind to it.
555 gritted its teeth. 【Then I’ll use my loan to buy a “Fetus Protection Pill”! What’s one more debt? I’ll just take on more missions and pay it back slowly.】
The “Fetus Protection Pill” was a magical item worth 1000 points. It was used to protect incomplete worlds from collapsing, allowing them to fully form.
It was rarely used, its production was low, and its price was high.
[555, you’re so understanding, ribbit. We’ll watch your favorite shows first from now on, ribbit.]
Zuo Bian, fast asleep, was oblivious to their conversation. She slept soundly through the night and woke up at dawn.
It was their daughter’s first engagement ceremony, so the Zuo family was very attentive to the preparations.
Makeup artists, hairstylists, custom-made dresses, and various jewelry were all at Zuo Bian’s disposal. It was even grander than the banquet she had attended before.
Zuo Bian was surrounded by people, spending hours getting ready.
After everything was done, she looked completely different from her usual self.
The meticulous makeup and carefully styled hair made her look elegant and beautiful. She had a graceful figure and a pure aura, but she was wearing a fiery maple-red dress.
The contrast between her gentle aura and the bold color was eye-catching, drawing people’s attention.
She was truly radiant, shining brightly.
Zuo Bian smiled at her reflection in the mirror. She couldn’t wait to see Qin Ai.
What would Qin Ai be wearing today? Whatever it was, she would definitely look beautiful.
Du Yundong stood beside Zuo Bian, smiling with satisfaction. “Xiao Bian, you’re so beautiful today.”
Zuo Bian turned around and asked with a smile, “Mom, when are we leaving?”
Du Yundong pretended to be annoyed. “Look at you, so impatient. We’re leaving now.”
Zuo Bian took Du Yundong’s arm and walked towards the door. The car was already waiting outside.
Zuo Yuan, dressed in a formal black and white suit, opened the car door for her. “Get in, Xiao Bian.”
Beside him was Tao Zi, dressed in a cocktail dress. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Zuo Bian.
Who would have thought that she, a fan just a while ago, would now be so close to her idol? And she would even witness this important moment in her idol’s life.
Zuo Bian smiled and nodded at Zuo Yuan and Tao Zi, then got into the car, carefully holding her dress.
Du Yundong and the others followed. It was a stretched Lincoln, spacious enough for all of them.
Tao Zi, coming from a modest background, had never seen such extravagance before. But what did luxury matter? She was more excited about being in the same car as her idol!
“I’m so excited! After the engagement is announced, all those people who badmouthed our Zuo Zuo will be slapped in the face!” Tao Zi was even angrier than Zuo Bian about those baseless rumors.
Zuo Bian smiled gently. “Don’t be so angry, Sao Sao (sister-in-law). We don’t need to care about what irrelevant people say. I’m fine, I’m not affected by them.”
Tao Zi sniffled and wiped away a tear. “That’s good. I’m glad you’re not affected, Zuo Zuo.”
Du Yundong seized the opportunity to ask, “Xiao Tao, when are you and Zuo Yuan planning to get married? Look, Zuo Yuan isn’t young anymore. If you don’t marry him soon, he’ll become an old man. Sigh, I’m so worried.”
Zuo Yuan didn’t dare to speak. Although his father wasn’t present at the engagement ceremony, he couldn’t argue with his mother, regardless of time or place. He could only accept the label of “old man.”
Tao Zi replied, “We have plans, but it’s a secret for now.”
Zuo Bian looked at Tao Zi curiously, excited about the day her brother and Tao Zi would get married.
Zuo Yuan, on the other hand, was shocked. When did they make plans? Why didn’t he know anything about it?
“Tao Zi—” He was about to ask when Tao Zi pinched his waist.
“Shh, I said it’s a secret for now.”
But why was it a secret even from him, the person involved?
===============
Soon, they arrived at the engagement venue. A crowd of reporters had already gathered outside.
News of Zuo Bian’s engagement had been released in advance, and many media outlets had rushed to the scene, eager to get the scoop.
Two rows of bodyguards separated the reporters, creating a path for Zuo Bian and her family.
Camera flashes went off, and reporters shouted questions, their voices drowned out by the commotion. Zuo Bian simply smiled at them and walked towards the entrance.
Although the engagement ceremony had been planned in a short time, the guest list and the venue were still grand.
Influential figures from various circles were invited to witness Zuo Bian and Qin Ai’s engagement.
Members of the Chang family, the Lu family, and the Lin family were all present. The younger generation had grown up with Qin Ai. It was her best friend’s engagement, and those who were free wouldn’t miss it.
Everyone in their circle knew that Zuo Bian and Qin Ai were close, but no one expected them to formalize their relationship so quickly.
Chang Wenyan had already regained control of most of his family’s business from his grandfather. He was planning to return and show Qin Ai his capabilities, proving that marrying him was the right choice. But then he received the invitation.
Another person with mixed feelings was Lin Qingqing. After being firmly rejected by Qin Ai, she had given up, but that didn’t mean she could watch Qin Ai get engaged to someone else without feeling anything.
Chang Wensi, who had been quite vocal about her disapproval before, was now carefree, asking her assistant to take photos of her.
She had dressed up specially for the occasion, how could she not capture these beautiful moments? Every day, she was beautiful in a different way.
“Assistant Liu, take a photo of me too.” Lu Letian, dressed in a white suit, stood in front of Chang Wensi, blocking most of the camera lenses.
Chang Wensi gritted her teeth. Without Zuo Bian around, Lu Letian was incredibly annoying. She wanted to punch him in the face.
At this moment, the two protagonists of the engagement ceremony finally appeared, one in black, one in red, both equally dazzling.
Zuo Bian’s beauty was undeniable. Anyone who saw her would be captivated by her looks. But Qin Ai was different. It wasn’t that she wasn’t beautiful, but her powerful aura made people focus on her strong personality and imposing presence.
Qin Ai always wore white suits, and even when she wore dresses, she exuded an air of dominance.
Today, she was wearing a well-fitting black dress. Her long, fair legs peeked through the high slit as she walked. Paired with her shoulder-length black curls and bold red lipstick, she was still imposing, but there was a hint of sensuality and allure that she usually lacked.
It wasn’t the kind of seductive charm that sought to please others. It was a captivating beauty that demanded admiration and submission.
People had wondered what kind of man could be worthy of Qin Ai.
Now they saw that Qin Ai had chosen another beauty.
“Qin Ai.” Zuo Bian simply called out her name, but words were unnecessary. A simple name was enough to convey her feelings.
Qin Ai tightened her grip on Zuo Bian’s hand and smiled.
The emcee, holding a microphone, started the ceremony. “Welcome, everyone. Today, we celebrate a love that will last a thousand years…”
Zuo Bian and Qin Ai had already served tea to each other’s parents backstage. Both families were small and close-knit, so it was just a formality. This engagement ceremony was mainly for show.
“…Please exchange engagement rings, our soon-to-be newlyweds!”
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