Chapter 16: Laughing at the Mortal World

"The wind may be cold, but I won't run away. The flowers may be beautiful, but I don't want them. No matter how high the sky, my heart grows smaller. I don't ask about the cause and effect, or how many there are. I will get drunk alone today, cry today, and laugh tomorrow. I don't ask for anyone to understand my pride. The song is being sung, the dance is being danced. The long night goes unnoticed. I will seek happiness—"

Under the moonlit night, the confident radiance on Murong Qiqi's face attracted everyone's attention. The self-assured young girl with a blossoming smile was so beautiful. It made everyone forget about her ordinary appearance and all the "scandals" surrounding her.

"Full of pride—" Li Yunqing, squinting his eyes, gazed at Murong Qiqi. The softest part of his heart was touched by her singing. So, this is the real you, huh? So proud, so confident, so content... It turns out that this is what you want—"

Not just Li Yunqing, Shangguan Wuji's gaze was also firmly locked on Murong Qiqi.

Yes, she's not the most beautiful, but she's the most captivating!

With every smile and frown, she was peerlessly elegant. Shangguan Wuji had never realized that a woman could have such ambition and enthusiasm, which made people unable to resist chasing after her. Unfortunately... such a wonderful woman was already engaged, soon to be married to another. Thinking about this, Shangguan Wuji's eyes dimmed.

Everyone was captivated by Murong Qiqi casually playing and singing on the large rock. No one noticed the deep eyes hidden in the shadows, which had already locked onto Murong Qiqi as their prey. The priceless treasure they had been searching for years suddenly appeared in Murong Manor, causing the luminous eyes to become enchanted.

How could this be?

Duanmu Yiyi looked at Murong Qiqi in disbelief. She was so free and easy that Duanmu Yiyi couldn't learn it. What to do! What to do! Duanmu Yiyi clutched her sleeves, just seeing the expressions of the people around her, she knew that Murong Qiqi had won. She had already lost completely before the competition even began.

As the song ended, Murong Qiqi took a light breath, lowered her head, and looked at the audience with a smile, "How about that? Not too bad to listen to, right?!"

"Well done!" Bai Mufei clapped first, "Not bad?! It's simply heavenly! Wonderful lyrics, wonderful melodies, wonderful singing, and wonderful Guqin skills. Today's visit to the Prime Minister's Mansion was worth it!"

"Thank you!" Murong Qiqi stood on the giant rock, leaped down gracefully like a fairy, and landed in front of Duanmu Yiyi. "Miss Duanmu, it's your turn!"

I—" For some reason, Duanmu Yiyi felt as if Murong Qiqi had become a completely different person. The radiance that she emitted was so dazzling that it made her frightened.

She couldn't lose! Duanmu Yiyi clenched her teeth as she sat down in front of the Guqin. Her hands gently caressed the strings, but her fingertips began to tremble slightly.

Initially, she wanted to choose a specialty piece after knowing Murong Qiqi's ability. However, she never expected that Murong Qiqi would be this amazing. If she were to lose to a "waste" like Murong Qiqi, how could she face others from now on!

"Buzz—" A harsh sound rang out, and Duanmu Yiyi's face turned pale, her lips trembling as well.

"You lost!" Murong Qiqi looked at Duanmu Yiyi coldly. With a broken tune like that, anyone would agree that she had lost.

"Shall you jump into this lake yourself, or shall I send you on your way?"

Murong Qiqi's expression didn't look like she was joking. Duanmu Yiyi knew that she had lost, but she never thought that Murong Qiqi would bring up the bet at this moment. To make the proud young lady of the Duanmu Family jump into the lake, it would be better to kill her!

"Big brother..." Duanmu Yiyi looked pitifully at Duanmu Hongchen. If she really jumped into the lake today, how could she continue living!

"Sigh—" Seeing his sister's pitiful appearance, Duanmu Hongchen sighed. Although Duanmu Yiyi was too excessive today, he couldn't bear to see his sister jump into the lake. "Third Young Lady, can you please let this slide for my sake?"

Duanmu Hongchen thought that given his status, Murong Qiqi would surely back down no matter what. However, he didn't expect her to say, "Are we very familiar? Who do you think you are? If you can't handle a bet, don't play!"

"Ah—" Duanmu Hongchen's face stiffened. As the young master of the Duanmu Family, when had anyone ever disrespected him like this before? His handsome eyebrows knitted into a line because of Murong Qiqi's words, "Young Lady Murong, what will it take for you to let my sister go?"

"Let go?" Murong Qiqi seemed to have heard a huge joke, "If I were the one who lost today, would she let me go? Would Young Master Duanmu plead for me?"

Murong Qiqi's questioning left Duanmu Hongchen speechless. Indeed, if Murong Qiqi had lost, Duanmu Yiyi would undoubtedly not let it go and would have made her jump into the lake due to her unyielding personality. In the end, this matter was brought upon herself by Duanmu Yiyi...

"Qiqi, it was just a joke, is it really necessary to take it seriously?" The previously silent Murong Jun now put on the demeanor of an older brother, "Let's just consider this settled! You won, and everything is yours, what more do you want?"

Murong Jun's words only made Murong Qiqi sneer even more, "Big brother, you finally speak up. It's just that when you said this, I thought you were a member of the Duanmu Family! When others are in trouble, you immediately protect them as a brother. But when I was bullied, I never saw you step up!"

Murong Qiqi's sarcasm made Murong Jun's face darken immediately, "Murong Qiqi, don't go too far! Who do you think you are?! You are nothing but a waste—"

Before the word "waste" was finished, a flash of green light sped by, and a strand of Murong Jun's black hair fell to the ground. Looking again, it turned out that a thin willow leaf had cut Murong Jun's hair. The person who had thrown the leaf was actually Li Yunqing.

"Li Yunqing, what are you trying to do?!" Murong Jun jumped up; luckily, the willow leaf had only severed his hair. If it had been any closer, it would have cut his carotid artery.

Li Yunqing ignored Murong Jun, instead giving Murong Qiqi a slight smile. His perfect features became even more charming due to the smile, "Didn't you just complain that you didn't have a brother to protect you? From now on, I'll protect you, is that okay?"

Li Yunqing's unexpected assistance took Murong Qiqi by surprise. She had thought her cousin enjoyed watching the show, but now he was helping her and even making a promise, which surprised her. He would protect her? So from now on, would anyone who wanted to bully her have to ask for his approval first?