The air in the corridor was stagnant, save for the rhythmic, low hum of machinery echoing from the depths of the workshop far away.
Lillian walked up to Jiang Ming. Her snow-white hair flowed like satin under the cold, white light. She was not wearing her Dome of Knowledge uniform, but was instead dressed in a sharply tailored set of dark casual clothes, which made her appearance in the Order Bureau’s dormitory area feel even more abrupt. She reached into the inner lining of her lapel and pulled out two gold-embossed invitations, handing them toward Jiang Ming.
“Tonight’s Entry Permit,” she said in a clear, light voice. Her gaze fell on Jiang Ming’s face, which was still frozen in surprise, and the corners of her lips curled into a slight arc. “What, are you surprised?”
Jiang Ming was more than just surprised. He had never expected Lillian to appear at his dormitory door at this moment, personally delivering invitations to the banquet.
“Why are you here?” He took the two heavy, textured envelopes. As his fingertips brushed the intricate, embossed patterns on the edge of the paper, the shock on his face did not fade.
“I just passed the Order Bureau’s Special Recruitment,” Lillian replied nonchalantly, as if she were mentioning a trivial matter. “By the way, I’ve been assigned to your team. Director Rex signed off on it.”
Elvira, who was standing to the side, lowered her head and quickly operated her communicator upon hearing this. The faint glimmer of the screen illuminated her expressionless face. She raised her eyes, her red pupils locking onto Lillian, and confirmed in a steady voice, “You are the new Temporary Member from the system notification.”
“Indeed,” Lillian replied, turning toward her and nodding slightly. “Lillian. It is a pleasure to formally meet you, Elvira.”
Jiang Ming glanced over the two invitations and then looked at Lillian’s empty hands. Realizing something, he said, “Wait, there are only two invitations here. There are three of us now. How are you going to get in?”
Lillian laughed. The amusement rippled from the depths of her crimson eyes, carrying a sense of calm preparedness. She unhurriedly pulled another invitation from her pocket.
“The two in your hands,” she said, lightly shaking the one she held, “are the ‘necessary disguises.’ But this one—”
She paused, her voice carrying a matter-of-fact flatness.
“—is the real invitation.”
Shortly after she finished speaking, the sound of rhythmic footsteps came from the other end of the corridor. A member of the Order Bureau’s internal staff walked over, pushing a garment rack. Several sets of formal wear, both for men and women, hung neatly on the rack.
Lillian nodded to the staff member, who quietly stepped aside to wait.
There were two sets of women’s formal wear on the rack.
One was an ivory-white satin long dress with a classic, simple design. It featured a V-neck, wrist-length sleeves, and a skirt that draped like a waterfall. It had no extra decorations, save for a small silver buckle carved into the shape of a star and moon at the cinched waist.
The other was a deep ink-blue velvet evening gown with an off-the-shoulder design. The skirt was ankle-length with a slit up to the knee, designed to faintly reveal the line of the leg while walking. The shoulder straps and waist were embroidered with extremely fine silver thread in a vine-like pattern that flickered in and out of sight under the light.
The men’s attire was a well-tailored black tailcoat, paired with a white wing-collar shirt and a black bowtie.
Lillian reached out and brushed her fingers against the sleeve of the white dress, her fingertips lingering on the smooth satin for a moment. Then she turned to Elvira and said calmly, “Pick a set. In a mission setting, attire is also a part of your weaponry.”
Elvira’s gaze drifted between the two gowns. The white one was beautiful, but it did not suit her dressing habits. The deep blue one… was indeed closer to the dark colors she was used to.
She remained silent for a few seconds before finally reaching out and taking the ink-blue velvet gown.
“I’ll go change,” she said, her voice devoid of ups and downs. Clutching the dress, she turned and headed toward her room in the dormitory.
Lillian watched her retreating back, a smile playing on her lips. She then picked up the white dress and gave Jiang Ming a slight nod. “I also need to prepare. Wait a moment.”
She walked toward Jiang Ming’s room with a composed stride, her white hair swaying slightly behind her.
Left alone in the corridor with the staff member, Jiang Ming picked up the tailcoat. The fabric was unexpectedly soft.
Seeing this, the staff member quickly closed the door and stood outside.
Jiang Ming changed his clothes right there in the main hall. The tailcoat was surprisingly well-fitted. The shoulder lines, waistlines, and sleeve lengths were all perfect, as if it had been custom-made for him.
He adjusted his bowtie in front of the full-length mirror on the wall. The person in the mirror felt both strange and familiar. With his black hair, black eyes, clean-shaven face, and formal attire, he actually looked a bit like a young noble belonging to this world.
“Jiang Ming, are you ready?” Lillian’s voice came from behind the door, carrying a hint of anticipation.
“Almost,” Jiang Ming replied as he fastened his last cufflink.
Upon hearing his response, Lillian stepped out of the room.
The ivory-white dress fit her silhouette perfectly. The satin flowed like water, exquisitely outlining her long neck and slender waist. She had pinned her long hair up loosely with a simple silver hairpin, leaving a few stray strands to fall beside her ears. She wore very little makeup, with only a touch of faint crimson on her lips that echoed the color of her eyes.
She looked at Jiang Ming, a trace of a smile spreading through her crimson eyes. She asked softly, “Do I look good?”
Jiang Ming’s throat tightened, but before he could make a sound—
Elvira’s door opened.
Elvira walked out.
The deep ink-blue velvet gown hugged her slender yet strong body. The off-the-shoulder design revealed her clear, beautiful collarbones and shoulder lines. The texture of the velvet softened her usual coldness, instead highlighting a serene beauty.
As she stepped forward, the slit in the skirt occasionally revealed the straight lines of her calves. She hadn’t styled her hair elaborately; her black hair still hung straight down her back. Her face was completely bare of makeup, yet her red eyes shone with startling brilliance against the dark dress.
She seemed somewhat unaccustomed to such clothing, her fingers unconsciously brushing the hem of her skirt. She then raised her head and looked at Jiang Ming.
Their eyes met.
Her face tensed slightly, and she pursed her lips. Then, in a voice that was softer than usual but perfectly clear, she asked the exact same question:
“…Do I look good?”
The air froze instantly.
Lillian was still smiling, but her gaze shifted toward Elvira. The smile remained gentle, yet it seemed to carry a hint of sharpness.
Elvira stood tall, ignoring Lillian, her fingers curling slightly at her side.
Jiang Ming stood between the two of them.
Both were waiting for his answer.
The cold white light from the corridor’s ceiling lamps spilled down evenly, making this scene look incredibly clear and incredibly long.
Jiang Ming felt a slight bead of sweat break out on his temple.
He opened his mouth.
And then—
Pfft.
A very soft, stifled laugh came from his right.
Elvia’s Spirit Body had drifted out at some point. Her translucent body hovered behind Elvira’s shoulder, her hands covering her mouth. The hem of her white dress swayed back and forth, and her amber eyes curved into crescent moons, filled with mischievous glint as she enjoyed the show.
‘Brother,’ she whispered in a tone only Jiang Ming could hear, ‘this is… quite bad, isn’t it?’
Jiang Ming’s head throbbed. For him, this question was no less difficult than the classic dilemma of who to save if his wife and mother both fell into a river. He closed his eyes and began to think.
When he opened them again, an impeccable smile was plastered on his face.
He first looked at Lillian. His gaze traveled seriously from her pinned hair and exquisite face down to the white dress that flowed with a moonlight-like luster. He then nodded sincerely.
“Lillian, this dress suits you perfectly. The white is pure and complements your temperament. You look elegant, noble, and beyond reproach.”
His tone was sincere, his wording was appropriate, and his gaze was steady.
Next, he turned to Elvira. His gaze was equally serious as it passed over her straight black hair and the clear lines of her neck and shoulders, landing on the ink-blue velvet that was as deep as midnight. He spoke with equal sincerity.
“Elvira, yours is also excellent. The deep blue is very special. It carries a sense of power within its steadiness. it suits you very well.”
Again, he was sincere, appropriate, and impartial.
Lillian watched him quietly, her crimson eyes showing a smile that seemed to say “as expected.” She eventually gave a soft “Mm” and did not press further.
Elvira’s tense shoulders relaxed. She looked away and whispered, “…Thank you.”
With Jiang Ming’s words, the suffocating pressure in the corridor mostly dissipated.
Only Elvia was still giggling in his ear, her finger phantom-poking the back of his head.
‘Sly! You’re way too sly, Brother!’
Jiang Ming remained expressionless, acting as if he hadn’t heard a thing. He raised a hand to adjust his already-perfect bowtie and looked at the staff member who had been waiting.
“Well then,” he said, his voice returning to its usual steady tone, “shall we head out?”
The staff member bowed. “The vehicle is waiting at the exit.”
Lillian took a step forward and naturally reached out to lightly loop her arm through Jiang Ming’s left arm.
Elvira looked at the fair, slender hand gripping Jiang Ming’s arm. A flash of emotion flickered through her red eyes. She remained silent for a second before stepping forward. She didn’t take his other arm, but simply walked quietly on Jiang Ming’s right side.
The three of them walked side by side toward the exit at the end of the corridor.
Lillian’s white dress flowed like moonlight, Elvira’s ink-blue was as calm as the night, and Jiang Ming’s black tailcoat served as the silent boundary between them.
Amidst the sound of their footsteps, Elvia floated behind the trio. The light from her Spirit Body flickered in the corridor like a schadenfreude star.
However, no one seemed to notice the deep sliver of longing hidden in the depths of Elvia’s eyes.
Perhaps even she herself didn’t realize it.
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