Chapter Thirty-Four: Such a Memorable Occasion
“……”
After Cen Xiangyun’s outburst, the sudden voice in the otherwise silent and somber funeral was jarring, attracting everyone’s attention like a thunderclap.
Countless gazes turned towards the source of the sound, an unexpected figure.
“Everyone, why are you looking at me like that?”
Fiona blinked, her demeanor noticeably different from their previous encounter, her complexion healthier, a hint of color returning to her cheeks.
A few days ago, she had appeared without any makeup, her eyes red and swollen. Today, however, she was carefully dressed, her usual radiant self.
“Why is Ms. Andromeda suddenly not grieving anymore? Has she moved on so quickly?”
Although the funeral was ostensibly for the Company specialist “Luo Ling,” the attendees knew the true purpose of this grand mourning.
It was for Andromeda of the Fate Society.
After all, some people’s deaths were worth far more than their contributions while alive.
Especially for the majority of Company members and high-ranking officials who didn’t even know “Miss Luo Ling.”
The Company always prioritized its interests, that had never changed.
While the Company members focused on Fiona, their minds filled with calculations, a few were different.
They noticed the inconspicuous black-dressed girl standing beside the radiant Fiona, holding a black umbrella for her, seemingly just a servant.
Even though the voice had come from her, everyone’s attention was drawn to Fiona, not the girl.
Cen Xiangyun stared at the familiar figure, disbelief evident in her expression.
Was she hallucinating?
She seemed to see…
But Cen Xiangyun couldn’t believe it.
The black-dressed girl looked different from the one in her memory, her face hidden behind a veil. Besides, even the Speakers had confirmed her death…
In that instant, Cen Xiangyun came up with countless reasons to deny the undeniable thought in her mind.
She didn’t dare to hope, because dashed hopes led to greater despair.
The black-dressed girl looked up, her veiled face seemingly smiling, her mischievous eyes familiar.
“Long time no see.”
The girl gently removed her veil, and in that moment, the figure in Cen Xiangyun’s memory overlapped perfectly with the black-dressed girl.
It was her.
It really… was her!
Cen Xiangyun rushed down from the stage, towards Fiona, under everyone’s watchful eyes.
Just as everyone assumed that Miss Cen, overwhelmed by grief, was about to lash out at Fiona, the “culprit” behind this tragedy, the situation took an unexpected turn.
She wasn’t rushing towards Fiona, but the inconspicuous attendant beside her.
“It really is…”
Tears choked her words.
“It’s me.”
Luo Ling’s expression softened as she released the umbrella and gently patted the sobbing woman in her arms.
Fiona took the umbrella, stepping back slightly to give them some space. All eyes turned to the black-dressed girl, finally seeing her face.
Finally, this funeral belonged to its rightful owner.
“Is that… Specialist ‘Luo Ling’?”
The emcee’s jaw dropped, speechless.
He looked at the black and white photo of the girl, then at the girl embraced by Cen Xiangyun, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.
“Alive?”
In his career, he had never encountered such a situation, the deceased appearing at their own funeral.
The guests murmured, the scene momentarily chaotic.
The emcee was on pins and needles, wanting to ask his seniors for advice, but realizing that none of them had likely encountered such a situation either.
Who knew that a specialist, confirmed dead, even her file deleted, would appear alive at her own funeral? It was… unheard of.
“Miss Luo Ling, how… are you not dead?”
Lu Manqing, although not as emotional as Cen Xiangyun, was equally shocked, her face a mixture of disbelief. This was the first time Luo Ling had seen such a range of emotions on Lu Manqing’s usually impassive face.
“You’re not the only one who’s asked that.”
Luo Ling glanced at Fiona, who was holding the umbrella for them, a rare blush appearing on her cheeks as she smiled awkwardly.
“Miss Luo Ling, are you really… not dead?”
Cen Xiangyun stared at Luo Ling, reaching out to pinch her cheek.
Soft and warm… this couldn’t be a reanimated corpse, could it?
“So, did you miss me?”
Luo Ling looked at the tear-streaked face of the usually composed and dignified Cen Xiangyun, amused by her earlier outburst.
Her perception of Miss Cen had definitely changed.
“I… I…”
Cen Xiangyun’s face turned crimson, like the setting sun painting her cheeks, embarrassed by Luo Ling’s teasing.
She just wanted to find a hole and bury herself.
She’d rather be dead.
“Sorry for making you worry.”
Luo Ling lowered her head slightly, ruffling Elsa’s hair as she approached. “There was a slight mishap. I stayed in the Realm of Nothingness a bit longer than expected, but… I’m fine.”
Luo Ling’s casual tone, as if she had simply extended her business trip, was shocking to the others.
That place was the Realm of Nothingness, the forbidden zone, a place where even the most terrifying Grotesqueries tread carefully!
“A bit longer” was a month and a half, even if she hadn’t been in the Realm of Nothingness the entire time, it was still at least a month.
Previously, Luo Ling was just a unique specialist, not particularly noteworthy among the Company’s many unique specialists.
But after this incident, the Company would definitely re-evaluate her.
To survive alone in that place for so long… it couldn’t be explained by mere adaptability to the Realm of Nothingness. Luo Ling’s talent was far greater than they had assumed.
Luo Ling looked around. Fiona had explained the purpose of this funeral.
Actually, even without Fiona’s explanation, Luo Ling understood the Company’s motives.
She had to leave a lasting impression.
Luo Ling’s expression turned cold and indifferent.
She walked towards the stage, Fiona holding the umbrella behind her, shielding her from the falling snow.
The emcee on stage was flustered, unsure what to do.
Only after Luo Ling nodded to him, signaling him to leave, did he relax, quickly escaping the stage, leaving it to the unexpected guest of honor.
“My name is Luo Ling.”
Luo Ling’s gaze swept over the embarrassed attendees, including the silent Company officials.
“Yes, the subject of this funeral, the specialist you’re mourning.
“Contrary to your expectations, I’m not dead.”
She patted the coffin beside her. “I apologize for the trouble of this grand funeral. A mere P4 specialist like myself doesn’t deserve such an honor.
“I’m truly touched that the Company would hold such a grand funeral for a low-ranking specialist like myself. I’m deeply moved.”
Her words expressed gratitude, but her tone was laced with sarcasm.
Everyone could tell she was being sarcastic.
More importantly, her sarcasm… was undeniably true.
Although most attendees were Company members, there were also members of other factions, not to mention Andromeda of the Fate Society standing behind her.
Their interpretation of her words… was intriguing.
This was a blatant mockery of the Company, and they couldn’t retaliate, even forced to tread carefully due to Luo Ling’s miraculous survival.
If these words spread… no, they would spread, the Company would lose face, becoming a laughingstock.
The Company officials’ faces darkened.
“Lu Manqing.”
Luo Ling turned her gaze to the girl in Republican-era attire.
“Huh?”
Lu Manqing, surprised to be addressed, was stunned.
“Take a picture. Don’t you love taking pictures?” Luo Ling stood beside her own portrait, a faint smile on her lips. “Such a memorable occasion… how could we not commemorate it?”
“A picture? Okay, okay!”
Lu Manqing’s eyes lit up, giving Luo Ling a thumbs-up and snapping photos with her camera.
Amidst the flashing lights and the awkward silence of the attendees, this somber funeral, in the hands of its rightful owner, had become a farce.
A farce that humiliated the Company.
One could only imagine how tomorrow’s intelligence reports would describe this event.
…….
After the anticlimactic funeral, Luo Ling was dragged back to the apartment, bombarded with questions.
Luo Ling brushed them off, not wanting to elaborate, as it involved her ability, “Naraku,” and the history concealed by the Company.
Sometimes, knowing too much wasn’t a good thing. One should only learn what they needed to know, when they needed to know it.
From their accounts, Luo Ling understood the circumstances of the funeral fiasco.
It was the Company’s Wellington office that had made the decision.
Initially, Cen Xiangyun and the others had planned a simple symbolic burial, a small gathering of friends to mourn.
But the Wellington office, learning of this, had taken over the arrangements, even inviting Fiona, the “culprit.”
Therefore, Eve had refused to attend, which was why Luo Ling hadn’t seen her today.
Lu Manqing’s mother, Lu Fangling, who had brought Luo Ling from Jiangcheng County to Victoria, was also heartbroken by the tragedy and refused to exploit her death for any gain.
The Company was a monolithic entity, its operations unaffected by the decisions of individual members or officials.
“However, I should apologize to Ms. Fiona.” Cen Xiangyun looked nervous. “I haven’t been very kind to her.”
“Indeed, you should. I willingly accepted the commission, and Aunt Fiona paid me accordingly. She shouldn’t be blamed.” Luo Ling nodded.
“A-Aunt?”
Elsa peeked out, sensing something in that title.
“Ms. Fiona.” Luo Ling corrected herself. “She’s actually quite nice.”
But remembering something, Luo Ling’s expression turned slightly complicated.
Too nice.
Even now, she could still see Fiona’s reluctant gaze as they parted ways.
And the expensive black court dress she was currently wearing…
Fiona had given it to her, even expressing her hope that Luo Ling would wear it, Linna’s dress, the next time they met.
“…Let’s not.”
Being someone’s substitute once was enough. If it happened again, she would just drag Linna over.
Surely Fiona wouldn’t use her as a substitute after her real daughter returned?
The others seemed to understand the gist of Luo Ling’s vague explanation and quickly changed the subject.
“However, I’m surprised you didn’t clear out my room. Saved me the trouble.”
Luo Ling noticed that her belongings were still in their original places, except for the clothes taken for the symbolic burial. Everything was as she had left it.
Cen Xiangyun’s face turned red, and Lu Manqing looked away.
Only Elsa jumped up and said,
“It was me, it was me! I didn’t let them clean it! I knew Miss Luo Ling was fine! They were just being dramatic!”
Elsa puffed out her chest proudly.
She was the one who truly understood Miss Luo Ling, the others… hmph, they couldn’t compare.
“Well, we weren’t entirely convinced…”
Cen Xiangyun mumbled, assuming that Elsa was in denial.
They had left the room untouched to appease her.
It was a pity about those clothes, placed in the coffin. Even if Luo Ling wanted them back, Cen Xiangyun and the others wouldn’t allow it.
It was bad luck, mainly.
“As compensation, Miss Luo Ling, I’ll take you shopping for new clothes.”
Cen Xiangyun puffed out her chest. She considered herself to have the most normal fashion sense among them.
Except in this era.
She studied Luo Ling’s current appearance, then exclaimed,
“Miss Luo Ling, has anyone ever told you that you look great in this aloof, elegant style?”
Fiona, after all, came from a theatrical troupe. Her sense of style was impeccable.
She had even styled Luo Ling’s usually unkempt hair into a beautiful updo, adorned with a hairpin that even Cen Xiangyun envied, adding a touch of mystery to Luo Ling’s already somewhat gloomy aura.
“…No, they haven’t.”
Luo Ling just wanted to change into something more comfortable. Dresses… she had only worn the one her sister gave her, but it was now tucked away in her suitcase, too painful a reminder.
Fortunately, it had been well hidden. If Cen Xiangyun and the others had taken it for the symbolic burial, Luo Ling would have been furious.
“I always thought it would suit you, but I never had a chance to see it.” Cen Xiangyun stepped back slightly, nodding in approval. “You look even better from a distance.”
“But I think Miss Luo Ling would look even better in a Lolita dress!”
Elsa chimed in, eagerly promoting her style.
“Honestly, I liked her previous menswear style,” Lu Manqing said thoughtfully. “Cool and stylish.”
“You guys…”
Luo Ling’s lips twitched.
As they were discussing, the apartment door opened, and an expected figure entered.
“Thank goodness, Miss Luo Ling! I thought they were lying to me.” Eve’s anxious expression turned to relief and joy, seeing Luo Ling.
“Just a slight mishap. I’m not that easy to kill.” Luo Ling shrugged, emphasizing the word “kill.”
But Eve’s joy quickly faded, her expression turning serious.
“However… there’s something else.”
“What is it?” Luo Ling asked.
“A message from Company headquarters,” Eve said gravely. “The three directors… want to see you.”
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