Chapter 831: Long Hair Is a Disadvantage in a Fight
Guests who received invitations would have their seating arranged in advance. Yongxing Hotel was hosting this banquet, with aircraft entering from different floors and being automatically sent to designated areas for management, so even though vehicles were shuttling around the building, it wasn't too crowded.
After Xu Huo and Yan Jiayu entered, they first greeted the Duchess.
The Duchess hadn't met Yan Jiayu before, but she knew Xu Huo would bring a female companion. She gave her a discreet once-over and praised, "What a lovely young lady."
Yan Jiayu wasn't that old to begin with, and her appearance made her look quite young. Even dressed up, she still carried a bit of childishness.
"She's also a player." Xu Huo smiled.
The Duchess dropped her casual attitude. "So she's your friend. This is your first time in 011, little miss, right? Let me introduce you to some people your age, so the banquet won't be too boring."
The two followed behind the Duchess and got to know a few of her decent acquaintances, either nobles or noble ladies.
This was all standard procedure. Before long, Xu Huo spotted Bai Kou entering, surrounded by a crowd of admirers like stars around the moon.
Unlike at the ancient castle, her brows and eyes now radiated brilliance, making her appear exceptionally dazzling, yet still reserved and gentle, attracting many young aristocratic sons.
Although everything she said was the same old lies from the New Wheel Sect, plenty of people were willing to flatter her.
She had changed her face again.
Seeing her walking toward him, Xu Huo found it a bit troublesome. He said a word to Yan Jiayu and used the excuse of going to the restroom to leave the banquet hall.
Seeing him leave, Bai Kou smiled, sat down in a corner lounge area, and began half-heartedly promoting the New Wheel Sect.
Yan Jiayu was introduced by the Duchess to several young nobles. Upon learning she had come with a baron, two or three showed some interest.
"Miss Yan, what would you like to drink? I'll get it for you." A young man with curly hair stepped forward, and the others retreated.
"This is Count Cargill Herta," the Duchess introduced them. "One of the outstanding figures among the younger generation."
"Lady Lily flatters me." Cargill took the liberty of getting Yan Jiayu a glass of fruit wine.
Yan Jiayu took it, and their fingers brushed. When she looked up at him, Cargill Herta politely apologized, said he would definitely make amends after the banquet ended, and then was called away by someone else.
"Cargill is a noble with a bright future." Lady Lily played with the fan Xu Huo had given her. "With him, you'll never have to worry about props or potions."
Yan Jiayu took a sip of wine. "Thank you for your kindness, but I have no plans to get married for now."
Lady Lily paused. "Do you really not understand, or are you pretending not to?"
Yan Jiayu looked at her with confusion. "Weren't you trying to set me up? Or do you people here have to get married just from a blind date?"
Feeling insulted, Lady Lily abandoned her and left.
Yan Jiayu went to the food area on her own, picking up a plate to choose her favorite dishes. Just then, a blonde woman stormed up to her. "I'm Cargill's fiancée!"
Yan Jiayu stuffed a meat pie into her mouth. "Oh."
The blonde glared at her angrily. "Why were you talking to him just now!"
"I don't know him. He came to talk to me first." Yan Jiayu defended herself and added, "I don't know you either. Why don't you go ask him?"
"How dare you provoke me! I am his fiancée!" The blonde woman trembled all over, took two quick steps, and tried to push her.
She wasn't a player, so Yan Jiayu just stood there and let her push. But feeling she had lost face, the blonde switched to grabbing her hair!
Yan Jiayu quickly put down her plate, leaning back with the force, but she still ended up having her wig pulled off, revealing her messy short hair. The blonde was stunned.
Looking at her with pity, the blonde returned the wig. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I didn't know you were like this..."
Yan Jiayu gave a hearty laugh and was about to say something when Cargill Herta walked over, impatiently scolded the blonde, and then gently apologized to Yan Jiayu.
Yan Jiayu didn't care at all. She skillfully put the wig back on and told them they could go do whatever they needed to do.
Many eyes in the banquet hall were fixed on them. Cargill Herta's expression darkened as he led his fiancée away.
Seeing a few more people heading her way, Yan Jiayu simply took her plate and left first. As she turned, she brushed past a man with long hair. Staring at his hair, she muttered, "Looks so smooth. Definitely can't grab it in a fight..."
Xu Huo walked over and heard her mumbling to herself. He said, "Let's go sit in the lounge area for a bit. The knighting ceremony is about to start."
Yan Jiayu glanced at the long-haired man one more time before leaving.
The main figures of this banquet moved to the front. People like Xu Huo among the nobles, Ran Ying among the government officials, and outsiders like Bai Kou all stood at the periphery at this time.
The victors of the factional struggle, Ashis Werner and others, had already had their noble ranks elevated. What was being awarded now were medals and rewards. The content of the rewards was also made public, most of them enviable high-level props, along with two arranged marriages.
Next came the much-anticipated socializing segment. The music had just started when Cargill Herta, whose marriage had just been publicly announced, came over to invite Yan Jiayu to dance.
Yan Jiayu touched her hair. "Find someone else."
Cargill Herta's tone was ambiguous. "No one will disturb us."
The implication was almost blatant, but Yan Jiayu didn't take the bait at all. Instead, she said something completely irrelevant. "I want to touch your hair."
Long hair was considered beautiful; everyone preferred flowing locks, including men. Cargill Herta withdrew his hand. "Are you insulting me?"
Yan Jiayu was surprised. "I didn't expect people from District 011 to be so direct... Actually, I was going to say this earlier. You have a fiancée, yet you still ask me to dance. Isn't that insulting me?"
Cargill Herta sneered, said nothing to her, but glanced at Xu Huo instead.
Before Xu Huo could speak, Yan Jiayu said, "What are you looking at him for? Want to fight? If you want to fight, I'm game!"
She was full of fighting spirit, but Cargill Herta ignored her and turned away.
Lady Lily quickly walked over, urging them to leave immediately. But at that moment, someone in the center of the dance floor suddenly burst into loud laughter. First one, then two, then three. Within a few seconds, at least a quarter of the guests in the banquet hall were laughing uncontrollably.
The players immediately retreated to the edges of the venue. The security players stepped forward with instruments, but as soon as they activated them, they exploded one after another. After the dust and smoke settled, the laughing guests were already half-collapsed on the ground, their faces streaked with tears and snot. In their midst, a blond man in a black suit had appeared at some point. His eyes were closed, a white flower pinned to his chest, his expression one of grief.