DTTM 56

Chapter 56: Why Not Play While We Wait?

As a nobleman from Penglai with intricate ties to the royal family, his words were shocking.

Of course, I didn’t believe he really thought that way. If all the nobles were killed, what would become of him, Wuxi Li, and even Zong Yinzhuo?

This young master was probably testing my intentions.

Perhaps my explanation during the human hunt incident did not completely convince him?

“Young Master, your idea is too bloody.” I leaned closer, placing my chin on his shoulder and snuggling into his arms. “Why does it have to be all fighting and killing? Can’t we do it like this?”

Zong Yanlei paused for a moment, then changed his tune, “Indeed, it’s too bloody, too radical.” He gently placed his hand on my back, stroking it softly. “Would this country become better just because the people of Wo launched a revolution? Destroying order is far easier than establishing it, but the end of the old system doesn’t necessarily give rise to a better one. Even if the motives are righteous, who can guarantee that it will produce positive results?”

This was his true conviction.

From the perspective of the people of Penglai, radical revolutions bring about national turmoil and institutional disorder; they lead to the loss of rationality among groups and rampant violence; and they inevitably result in economic decline and capital outflow.

Therefore, even if reforms are needed, they tend to favor covert and precise “localized surgery.” Without touching core interests, they gradually replace the rusty gears, thereby extinguishing the protests and resentment at the grassroots level that could easily incite riots.

If we compare Penglai to a giant ship, the people of Penglai were the spectators on deck, dressed in fine clothes and enjoying sumptuous meals, while the Wo people were the slaves who are submerged in the water, pushing the ship barefoot.

When the ship’s hull cracked, the people of Penglai were eager to repair the cracks to preserve the status quo; but for the Wo people who were already stuck in the mud, destruction was not the end, but a liberation.

Even if the giant ship sank, even if the so-called revolution was a gamble that destroyed everyone, could the outcome be worse than this icy abyss?

However, what I thought was not important. What mattered was what Zong Yanlei wanted me to think.

“Yes, you’re right.” I snuggled closer into his arms. “You’re absolutely right.”

The hand on my back paused, and after a moment, he said, “It seems we’re late.”

“We’ve been late for ages, but what can we do when you’re so busy?” I chuckled.

Even so, neither of us moved an inch. We stayed together until Yi You called to urge us on. Only then did Zong Yanlei and I finally set off for the banquet hall.

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As soon as I entered the banquet hall, even though my vision was still a little blurry, I could feel the numerous gazes fixed on me.

This was the first time I have appeared in such an occasion since Wuxi Chen’s death. In addition, it was a noble banquet. Apart from me, there was probably no other Wo present. It was only natural that I would attract attention.

Perhaps because my eyesight hadn’t fully recovered, Zong Yanlei took me with him almost everywhere he went all night. So, throughout the night, I was either greeting people or on my way to greet people.

As a child, Zong Yanlei had learned excellent social etiquette, but due to his health condition, he had always disliked socializing and was particularly sensitive to other people’s gazes. Now that he had recovered, that social aversion seemed to have disappeared as well, and he could chat casually with people he didn’t know.

I even saw a bit of Zong Shen’an’s skillful and shrewdness in him.

Midway through, Wen Nan, accompanied by the mayor of Zengcheng, and the real protagonists of the evening—Miss Wen and her fiancé—came to exchange pleasantries with Zong Yanlei.

At first, I was able to chime in with a few words, but as the conversation gradually shifted to politics, personal connections, and the economic situation, I was inevitably pushed out of the center of the conversation.

Even though I was now a household name and a rising star in Penglai, in the eyes of these nobles, I was nothing more than a slightly more respectable beggar than an ordinary one.

And like me, Miss Wen was also someone who couldn’t join in the conversation, or rather, wasn’t used to this kind of social interaction where people flattered each other, and sometimes didn’t understand what the other person was saying.

She glanced at the four people chatting animatedly, looked slightly flustered. She gave me a forced smile as she put down her wine glass, then silently stepped aside and stood absentmindedly at the edge of the dance floor.

I walked up to her and followed her gaze, only to find that she was looking at Yi You and Tan Yunmei in the center of the dance floor.

The music transitioned to a new rhythm. Tan Yunmei raised her hand, gently placing her fingertips on Yi You’s palm, and he gracefully twirled her around. The dress she had bought that afternoon shimmered, its hem billowing in elegant, wave-like arcs under the light and shadow.

Compared to his tense and nervous navigating style, Yi You was much more calm at this moment. He stood up straight, took steady steps, and stepped precisely to the beat every time, always maintaining a just-right distance from Tan Yunmei.

As they moved forward and backward, the two exchanged smiles, their understanding unspoken. The lights danced around them, and the crowd on the dance floor seemed to automatically make way for them.

Watching such a handsome man and beautiful woman dance was a delightful experience.

Miss Wen’s gaze was both admiring and envious.

Perhaps she hadn’t forgotten Mu Ke, and she also wanted to fight. But when her social class was overthrown and her stable life fell apart, could she still choose him?

From the moment she fell in love with a Wo, the choice she made no longer mattered. Because no matter which choice she made, it would be wrong.

“Thank you.”

Wen Fu paused, turned to look at me, and hesitated before asking, “Are you talking to me?”

I nodded: “Thank you for designing the track, which helped us win the championship.”

Upon hearing this, Wen Fu’s beautiful face showed a brief moment of surprise, as if she was somewhat taken aback to hear such words from me.

“My father said that the track I designed was too boring. There was no pain or torment, no blood splattering, no screams or pleas for mercy. It was as dull as… a piece of white bread that had been dried out for ten days.” As she said this, she lowered her eyes and smiled bitterly.

As the Crown Prince’s treasurer, Wen Nan’s job was to manage the GTC betting pool in order to amass wealth. Naturally, he hoped the competition would be as thrilling as possible. Only in this way would the event have suspense, and gamblers would place their bets.

“He must have never tried bread crisps before.” I took a sip of grape juice and said calmly, “Actually, they’re very fragrant and delicious. I’ll bring him a bag next time so he can try them.”

Wen Fu was taken aback, then couldn’t help but laugh out loud. She immediately raised her hand to cover her mouth, glanced back subconsciously, and only breathed a slight sigh of relief after confirming that Wen Nan hadn’t noticed her.

“You’re so funny,” she said in a low voice.

As the dance ended, scattered applause rang out. Just then, Zong Yanlei, who had apparently finished socializing at some point, suddenly stepped between Wen Fu and me.

“Your father insisted that I dance with you tonight. How about the next one?” He placed his hand on my shoulder and, as he spoke, gently pushed me aside, creating some distance between me and Wen Fu.

At engagement banquets in Penglai, besides the bride and groom performing the first dance as an opening act, there was an unspoken tradition that those of higher status invite those of lower status to dance. This was considered an honor, and sometimes even interpreted as a sign of favor and recognition from those in a superior position.

“Ah… thank you for your kindness.”

Judging from Wen Fu’s expression, she seemed somewhat taken aback, but because it was her father’s request, she ultimately lifted her skirt and bowed to Zong Yanlei to express her gratitude.

A new dance tune began. Zong Yanlei took Wen Fu’s hand and led her onto the dance floor.

Against a backdrop of soothing music, his dance steps were precise. The angles and spacing of his arm swings were just right, making him almost a standard model of ballroom dancing. Wen Fu was well-trained as well, and the two of them coordinated no less well than Yi You and Tan Yunmei.

It was a very beautiful dance.

Standard, appropriate, and impeccable.

Except that it left the audience feeling calm, unable to cause even the slightest ripple of emotion.

As the music ended, applause erupted again, slightly more enthusiastic than the previous piece. Just as the crowd dispersed, Zong Yanlei released his grip, suddenly leaned down, and whispered a few words into Wen Fu’s ear.

Wen Fu’s face drained of color in an instant. She pressed her hand to her chest with a panicked expression. She desperately wanted to ask something, but Zong Yanlei had already straightened up and left the dance floor without looking back.

Wen Fu stared at Zong Yanlei’s back for a few seconds before dejectedly lifting her skirt and retreating to the side.

Zong Yanlei went straight back to my side: “Did you enjoy it?”

“What did you say to her?” I glanced at Wen Fu, who was standing beside her fiancé with a forced smile, and asked in a low voice.

“Oh, I gave her a choice.” He didn’t hide anything, he looked at Wen Fu across the dance floor, and said calmly, “Perhaps in the end, as you said, she will be unhappy and regretful. But that should be a choice she makes after weighing the pros and cons, not a path paved for her by others.”

I knew it…

“Must she really run headlong into this brick wall?” I sighed.

“How do you know she’ll definitely go with him?” Zong Yanlei turned his gaze to me, his tone slightly cool. “Perhaps Miss Wen is as rational and realistic as you are.”

What does this have to do with me?

I opened my mouth, and instantly felt helpless, unable to defend myself.

If I had known, I should have destroyed the evidence when I accepted that letter.

The banquet ended at midnight, but in order to find out whether Wen Fu would elope with Mu Ke, Zong Yanlei stayed up late and insisted on borrowing an autonomous hovercar from the hotel to drive to the Wen family mansion.

We drove around the Wen family’s house and actually saw Mu Ke quite a while ago. But in order not to disturb him, we drove a bit further towards the intersection and stopped when we were far enough away from him, with our backs to him.

As the night deepened and the dew grew heavy, Mu Ke leaned against a two-wheeled motorcycle, his figure appearing particularly lonely in the darkness.

Zong Yanlei and I sat in the back seat of the car. After parking, I kept looking out the rear window, feeling conflicted. I couldn’t tell whether I hoped Miss Wen would appear or she wouldn’t.

“There’s still some time before two o’clock…” Zong Yanlei unbuttoned his tuxedo jacket and tossed it aside, then grabbed my arm and pulled me onto his lap. “Waiting is a bit boring, how about we play while we wait?”

With my knees pressed against the soft leather seat, I looked around after hearing this. In the pitch black, in the middle of nowhere, it certainly was the perfect place for something thrilling.

“Alright, what would you like to play, young master?” I took off my coat and tossed it aside.

Now that we’ve come this far, there was no point in being coy.

He hesitated for a moment, then pulled my shirt out of my waistband, slipped his hand under the hem, and slowly ran it along my spine.

“How good are your hands?” he asked as naturally as if he were just inquiring whether the weather would be nice tomorrow.

“…It’s alright.” I endured the tingling and itching on my back, leaned in, kissed lips, then pulled away. “Should I take the lead?”

He chuckled and firmly rubbed my tailbone with his fingertips: “If you do everything, what’s left for me to enjoy?”

I shuddered, pressed my palm against his shoulder, and unconsciously tightened my fingers.

“Speaking of which…” He grabbed my waist and bit down on my Adam’s apple. The force was neither too strong nor too weak, enough to cause a slight pain.

I tilted my head back, exhaled, and my usually quick-witted mind froze for a moment.

“Since you’re not married and don’t have children,” he loosened his teeth, licking the cartilage. His low and husky voice was filled with desire, “am I the first person to do this to you?”