Chapter 11: The Masquerade Ball

Enduring the nausea, Shen Manli forced down the bitter broth, a faint, reluctant smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

“Qiqi, I’ve finished drinking it. Is that enough now?”

Lu Qiqi smiled, a cold glint veiled beneath her eyes. “That’s more like it. There are still a few doses left. Don’t forget to take them all.”

At her words, the nausea in Shen Manli’s stomach surged again, but to get Lu Qiqi to leave quickly, she could only suppress it and reply, “I understand, Qiqi.”

Once that wretched woman was gone, she would throw all of those things away immediately and casually bluff some more—it wouldn’t be discovered.

Sensing Shen Manli’s scheming mind, Lu Qiqi softened her smile and said, “To make sure you don’t skip the medicine, you have to video call me every time you take it from now on. I want to see you swallow it with my own eyes.”

Upon hearing this, cracks appeared in the smile on Shen Manli’s face. She hadn’t expected Lu Qiqi to come up with such a bothersome tactic. She really didn’t want to drink that disgusting stuff.

“Qiqi…” Shen Manli tried to bargain, insisting her illness was cured and she didn’t need to keep taking the awful medicine.

Before she could finish, Lu Qiqi’s phone vibrated. Glancing at it, she cut her off and answered the call.

It was Bai Yu. Lu Qiqi didn’t speak first but waited for her to start.

“Qiqi, where are you? Come over quickly—I have something good.”

Lu Qiqi, naturally unwilling to refuse Bai Yu’s request, immediately agreed.

“Okay, I’m coming right away.”

After hanging up, Lu Qiqi noticed Shen Manli’s inquisitive gaze, likely wondering who had called.

“Qiqi, who was that on the phone?” Shen Manli asked innocently, as expected.

Lu Qiqi replied calmly, “Nothing important, just a friend inviting me shopping. You’ve taken your medicine, so I’ll be off now. Rest well and remember to take the rest of the doses on time.”

Without giving Shen Manli another chance to speak, Lu Qiqi grabbed her bag and left.

Watching her retreating figure, Shen Manli gritted her teeth in fury. Overwhelmed by nausea, she abandoned all pretense of composure and rushed to the bathroom to vomit.

——

Lu Qiqi drove straight to the place Bai Yu had sent her, arriving at a rather upscale hotel. Not long after entering, she found Bai Yu waiting for her in the lobby.

Seeing Lu Qiqi, Bai Yu immediately led her to a prepared room and pulled out a bag containing an exquisite dress along with a delicate, ornate fox mask.

“What’s this about?” Lu Qiqi asked, puzzled.

“A masquerade ball,” Bai Yu explained with a wink. “Full of handsome guys. How about it? Interested?”

Lu Qiqi hesitated briefly. Bai Yu continued, “That scumbag Si Qinyu treated you so badly—you deserve some good revenge. If he put a green hat on you, you should give him ten in return. Don’t shortchange yourself.”

Seeing Bai Yu’s fierce determination on her behalf, Lu Qiqi felt touched. She did need to relax a little.

“You’re right,” she agreed.

“That’s the spirit! Hurry and change into the dress.” Bai Yu beamed as she spread out the garment for Lu Qiqi to wear.

Once dressed, Lu Qiqi realized Bai Yu had chosen something both sexy and bold, perfectly showcasing her stunning figure.

“Is this too flashy?” Lu Qiqi felt a bit uncomfortable.

“Why worry? With the mask on, no one will recognize you. Tonight, we’re going to captivate every man here,” Bai Yu smiled brightly, revealing her white teeth.

Without further words, Lu Qiqi joined Bai Yu and they entered the venue together. It was a mystery where Bai Yu had gotten the tickets, but once inside, Lu Qiqi realized the masquerade was quite high quality.

Aside from the masks obscuring faces, most of the men present were broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted, and long-legged—quite impressive.

At moments like this, it was all about fate; one couldn’t just pick anyone at random.

Bai Yu handed Lu Qiqi a glass of red wine as they scouted for targets deeper inside the hall. Soon, someone approached Bai Yu and she found the company agreeable, engaging further with the man.

Several approached Lu Qiqi as well, but she preferred hunting her own prey and declined their advances.

After parting ways with Bai Yu, Lu Qiqi quickly spotted an exceptional man in a corner—an aura of refined elegance like a distant alpine flower, untouchable and aloof.

She watched as a woman approached him only to be scared off by a single glance. His fathomless eyes held a depth impossible to fathom, akin to the vast, infinite cosmos that beckoned exploration.

Unable to resist, Lu Qiqi lifted her wine glass and approached with a graceful sway, the click of her slender high heels echoing softly.

——

Chu Linchen took a sip of his wine, frowning once again.

If not for his mother’s stern insistence, even threatening to withhold treatment unless he attended this ball, he would never have come.

The scent of the women here made him uncomfortable the moment he got close; he had no interest whatsoever.

Noticing someone approaching again, he looked up, intending to keep them at a distance. Unexpectedly, Lu Qiqi had already come close.

At the moment he looked up, Lu Qiqi bent slightly forward, leaving only inches between them, their breaths nearly mingling.

She was momentarily stunned too; she had meant only to tease him slightly, but their eyes met just so, almost leading to a kiss. Her heart skipped a beat.

Regaining her composure, she curled her lips into a seductive smile. “Handsome, care to have a drink with me?”

Chu Linchen did not detect any off-putting scent from her, instead sensing something familiar that caught him off guard. Returning to himself after her words, the cold indifference in his eyes softened somewhat.

Lu Qiqi found herself drawn deeper into those profound eyes.

Yet at that moment, Chu Linchen raised his hand and gently pushed her away. “No thanks.”

“Such a cold one, huh?” Lu Qiqi didn’t retreat at his refusal.

“The wine’s bland, not worth drinking,” he replied coolly.

Hearing this, Lu Qiqi sipped her wine, leaned forward again, and pressed a light, fleeting kiss to Chu Linchen’s lips. The faint taste of wine touched his mouth before she withdrew.

“How’s that for bland?” she said with a faint smile.

Chu Linchen lifted his gaze; the emotions swirling in his eyes were inscrutable. That brief contact had awakened a familiar feeling.

This woman before him—it was her!

With that thought, Chu Linchen raised his hand to remove Lu Qiqi’s mask, eager to see her true face.