— — Unable to refute.
The girl was completely unable to refute.
There was absolutely no reason to refute Jiang Cheng's words.
Because no one was paying attention to him, including Aili Xiya, who had hosted the birthday party, as if she had changed her mind midway, and was still maintaining an atmosphere like an exchange meeting.
Jiang Cheng's arrival did not attract much attention, at least not as much as the real protagonist of the banquet.
Only a few people who noticed something was wrong glanced over, but no one really did anything, at most just a few looks.
This time, the master was not Jiang Cheng, but rather Aili Xiya or everyone.
His thoughts continued, but were suddenly interrupted by a nonchalant voice — Jiang Cheng reached out and handed the hat over, with no complaints or disappointment on his face, his dark pupils calm, like a night sky without a ripple.
"Stop thinking about those messy things, here's your hat back. I wanted to return it to you earlier, but you were walking too fast."
His tone was very steady, without the slightest fluctuation.
It seemed... he didn't care that the girl had guessed wrong, or rather, he had this idea himself, but he didn't care even if reality slapped him in the face.
Why was he so disappointed?
Could it be that Jiang Cheng had encountered similar things before?
Vil-V couldn't help but feel Confuse in her heart, but she still said gratefully.
"Thank you."
She gently took it, and their fingers touched inadvertently. The girl's slender and delicate fingers felt as sweet and soft as the petals on the hat.
"You're welcome, it was just a small favor."
Jiang Cheng just waved his hand indifferently, not caring about it at all, watching the girl put the hat back on and tidy up her smooth long hair.
He finally had time to observe the girl's dress up close and from a normal perspective.
Some messy khaki hair was combed smoothly with delicate black lace hairpins, and there were a few dark gold gears as embellishments. The delicate small top hat on her head also had a circle of decorations that spread outward like petals.
At her slender neck, black lace formed a white circle like a shirt collar, and under a small metal piece in front of her neck was a bunch of lace that spread out like wings. The piece itself was connected to a black ribbon that outlined the girl's figure.
Her fragrant shoulders, as smooth as solidified cream, were exposed to the air. White silk adorned the wrists and upper arms of her black sleeveless top, fastened by black leather bracelets inlaid with golden gear logos, a standard princess accessory.
The white tube top she wore held up the girl's full figure. The white fabric was tightly bound around the girl's slender waist like a belt, without a trace of excess fat. The white skirt hem was like a bouquet, but the black tulle was the skirt itself.
Leather straps hooked around the girl's full thighs, connected to see-through black striped stockings. The Martin boots she wore were made into high heels, with the brown sides uniquely replaced with white ones engraved with mysterious patterns.
A dress full of beauty, I wonder which fashion designer it came from.
There is a picture here, which can be viewed after updating the version
There is a picture here, which can be viewed after updating the version
13. Vil-V, Can I be your friend?
"...Jiang Cheng."
Vil-V hesitated for a moment, her pearly teeth gently biting her lip, as if she had made some kind of resolution, she slightly bent her slender waist, her full figure drooping down, and took a box from the bag behind her, handing it over with both hands.
"What's wrong?"
The boy was a little confused by this operation, his eyes a little puzzled, not knowing why the original exchange suddenly required bending over.
Looking down was too shameless, and he had unintentionally seen something he shouldn't have seen in the morning, and... that perfect figure could even surpass Aili Xiya, who was still in her tender girl form.
If he didn't look, it seemed impolite, not taking the thing that people handed to him at the first time, or even giving them a glance.
"This... this is my birthday gift to you. Although it's a day late, please don't mind."
Vil-V almost squeezed the words out of her lips, and even if she tried her best to suppress it, she could feel the deep shyness in her slightly distorted tone.
There was absolutely no need for any in-depth speculation, this kind of thing might be an extremely difficult act for a girl.
Even so,
the exquisite gift box was still held up in front of him.
For the first time, it was directly held in front of the boy, not distantly stacked together and stored elsewhere, but directly captured by his dark eyes.
"— Eh?"
...Clearly, even being ignored could be easily accepted.
Clearly, even disappointment could be swallowed in silence.
Only when he saw the gift held up by the girl's hands did the boy's emotions become a little uncontrollable for the first time. His body suddenly stiffened in place, and his dark pupils reflected a complexity that was absolutely no less than the girl's before.
Unexpectedly... she actually gave me a gift specially?
...[At the exchange meeting, you and Vil-V hit it off. You returned her hat, and she gave you a birthday gift that she had prepared in advance.]
[Out of respect and politeness, you didn't open the gift, but you couldn't help but admire the exquisite design of the box, and at the same time praised the design of the girl's clothes, saying it was definitely the work of a genius among geniuses.]
[Unexpectedly, just a few words of praise made Vil-V blush so much that she could hardly lift her head.]
Something's weird.
Isn't the childhood sweetheart supposed to be Aili Xiya this time?
Why did I suddenly become good friends with Vil-V, who suddenly popped up? We've only met once or twice, and I feel like her favorability is about to take off.
Vil-V shouldn't be that simple, right?
This is no longer a matter of Strategy difficulty, this thing is just given away for free, right?
It shouldn't be... no matter what, she's still a character known as troublesome.
If a dignified Flame-Chasers could be so easily tricked, it would be too inferior.
[During your interaction with Vil-V, you quickly and clearly realized the essence of this girl. She seems to be an unquestionable genius, with an intelligence surpassing all the Scholars you know.]
[However, an unimaginable shadow looms over this lovely girl.]
[— Insecurity.]
[When you first came to this conclusion, you even thought that you were too traumatized by Aili Xiya's matter, and your thinking had stopped.]
[A genius of this caliber, even if she doesn't brag in front of you, can effortlessly grasp the most advanced aspects of various subjects you are still struggling to learn, merely by occasionally revealing her understanding of things during conversations.]
[Even during the chat, a few words spoken by the other party in a weak tone could leave the Scholars next to her, who consider themselves geniuses, stunned in place.]
[The dress she is wearing, which can only be described as exquisite and gorgeous, was designed by herself.]
[How could someone so perfect, so outstanding, such an undeniable genius, be associated with insecurity? Even the slightest hint of it seems utterly ridiculous.]
[But when your self-reproach ends, and you clearly realize that your thinking is still in a normal state, and the girl's demeanor shows no difference from insecurity, and is even more severe,]
[You truly realize the weight of the saying, 'The world is so big, there is everything.']
[Because she is a stranger to you, yet she gives you a birthday gift, being the only person besides your parents and Ai Ai Li who would do so, you decide to help Vil-V as much as possible.]
[At least the girl made this birthday of yours less ridiculous, making it seem like a real birthday, with someone offering blessings.]
[Praising someone who lacks confidence is essentially just a small effort.]
[Thanks to your time with Aili Xiya, you are as sincere in praising others as that girl, without a trace of hypocrisy.]
[As for companionship... you are very willing to be friends with Vil-V.]
[It's really comfortable chatting at this moment.]
"You don't need to think so much. The ability to keenly capture other people's thoughts is another strong proof of your talent. Stupid people find pleasure in suppressing others, but that doesn't mean they have the ability."
The boy's expression was serious, and there was not even the slightest hint of falsehood in his dark eyes.
"Eh..."
"I... I'm not that amazing."
The girl, caught off guard by the sudden praise, only showed confusion. She could only tilt her head slightly, biting her lip to suppress her emotions, using this to conceal her silver-gray eyes that had already begun to spin.
"Your ability is proof of everything."
Jiang Cheng slightly modified Aili Xiya's usual words of praise, tilted his head, his dark eyes full of sincerity and earnestness.
"You really helped me. Although I don't think this is my birthday party, you are still willing to give me a birthday gift and offer me sincere blessings, which is already the greatest help."
"Humans are, after all, social animals. It is impossible to truly abandon friendship. You help me, and to me, you are one of my few friends. If there is anything, I will also try my best to help you in return."
— There were no lies in the boy's words.
The trip with the girl lasted for several years. Although he had traveled to many places with Aili Xiya, there were actually not many people who could be called friends.
Talent and ability are not the only criteria for weighing everything; personality is also extremely important.
"...But, can you really make caring friends by doing just this little bit? I... I really want to have friends who can talk to each other, but after so long, not many people even acknowledge me..."
Vil-V muttered to herself, and only belatedly realized what she had said after revealing part of her inner thoughts.
"It's simple."
"— I can be your friend."
There is a picture here, which can be viewed after the updated version.
There is a picture here, which can be viewed after the updated version.
14. Aili Xiya feels a little annoyed
At this moment, even though various thoughts, ideas, and emotions were running rampant, the girl felt that her brain was empty, without anything at all.
In her emerald green eyes, she could only see the boy close at hand, those dark blue, water-like gentle pupils, the smile on the corner of his mouth, and the outstretched hand.
A scene that only existed in her fantasies, something she had never dared to hope for.
So dreamlike that the girl lightly bit her rosy lower lip, almost subconsciously and cautiously reaching out her hand.
Until the thinking belonging to a genius belatedly began to function.
"Okay... No!"
Not good!
Completely!
Completely not good!
Things like this should at least wait until they've been together for a few months.
They've only just met for a day.
They haven't even spent a few hours together.
This atmosphere doesn't feel like making friends at all!
...Vil-V, who was about to be drawn into the state of chaotic emotions, barely managed to escape from the messy imagination. She raised her face, her shy and dazed gaze meeting the boy's, and an uncontrollable blush appeared on her fair and delicate cheeks.
What... did I say?
What... what on earth was I thinking just now?!
A certain emotion from the bottom of her heart, a sense of instinctive fear of social death, even overwhelmed the chaotic feelings in her heart for a moment.