Free Web NovelChapter 266: Chapter 266: Designed by Feng Linran
Tang Xue did a slightly smug twirl, her sleeves and hemline carving an elegant arc. The layered gossamer of the skirt billowed, catching the light in a shimmering dance. Min Wu watched her with a fiery gaze as he helped arrange her hemline.
"Xuanyuan, hurry and look! What do you think of this dress?" Tang Xue asked excitedly.
"The innermost layer of that dress is a soft gauze woven from Ice Silk spun by a Heavenly Silkworm. It’s incredibly expensive—can you even afford it?" one of Shen Wenwen’s companions asked disdainfully from behind her. freёwebnovel.com
"Little Yue, don’t say that. Ning Xuan, are you and Tang Xue friends?" Shen Wenwen looked a little hurt. Back during the intensive training camp before the Alchemist competition, Shen Wenwen had been drawn to Ning Xuan’s unique presence and beauty, and had desperately wanted to become her friend.
She had kept a close eye on Ning Xuan every day. Just when she finally had a chance to speak with her, Ning Xuan had somehow ended up in the extreme environment simulation training room. At the time, she had thought someone was plotting against Ning Xuan and was about to ask her father to request an emergency rescue pod to save her. But then, a man claiming to be Ning Xuan’s butler appeared, dispersed the crowd, and took Ning Xuan away.
After that, Ning Xuan rarely appeared at the pre-competition training camp. Later, she heard that Ning Xuan had won the championship in the unrestricted division of the Alchemist competition. Since they had never exchanged addresses, she had no idea where to find Ning Xuan, even though she wanted to.
Not becoming good friends with Ning Xuan had always been a regret for Shen Wenwen. Discovering today that Tang Xue—someone she was always at odds with—had managed to bring Ning Xuan out left her feeling rather upset.
"Yes. Hello, Shen Wenwen." Ning Xuan smiled and nodded.
"You remember me?" Shen Wenwen asked, pleasantly surprised.
"Er, I remember." When Tang Xue had first mentioned the name Shen Wenwen, Ning Xuan had thought it sounded familiar. Now, seeing her in person, it all came back. During the training camp before the Alchemist competition, this girl had often come over to chat with her.
Back then, Ning Xuan had been completely absorbed in her studies. Shen Wenwen would chatter on and on, and Ning Xuan would only give a one or two-word response occasionally. ’It’s amazing she managed to keep talking all by herself.’
"Really? That’s wonderful! Any friend of yours is a friend of mine. Tang Xue, let’s let bygones be bygones. How about we all be good friends from now on?" Shen Wenwen said happily.
"Who wants to be friends with you? Xuanyuan is all I need," Tang Xue scoffed.
"Ning Xuan, I heard you won the championship in the unrestricted division! You’re so incredible! By the way, where do you live? Can I come visit you when you have time?" Shen Wenwen paid no mind to Tang Xue’s attitude, continuing to speak happily with Ning Xuan.
"Sure." Faced with Shen Wenwen’s enthusiasm, Ning Xuan felt it would be rude to refuse, so she told her the address.
’Actually, after the graduation ceremony, I plan on going to the Spiritual Cultivation Secret Realm. I’ll stay there for a few days, and then I have to go see Ying Yaoshi soon after. Later, I’ll probably be assigned a post in the military, so I won’t have much time left on Central Star.’
Having gotten Ning Xuan’s address, Shen Wenwen immediately felt at ease. "Ning Xuan, are you also out choosing a formal dress? What brands do you like? I’ll help you pick one out."
"Hey, Shen Wenwen, have you no shame? I’m the one who invited Xuanyuan! Xuanyuan, what do you think of the dress I picked?" Tang Xue asked, annoyed that Shen Wenwen was monopolizing Ning Xuan.
"The dress is nice. If you like it, you should buy it." Ning Xuan liked beautiful clothes, too; she just found the process of trying them on to be a bit of a hassle.
"Ning Xuan, you’re tall! There’s a brand whose clothes would be perfect for you. I’m telling you, I’ve had my eye on their stuff for ages, but I’m too short to pull it off, so I can only stare in envy. Let me take you there, I guarantee you’ll be satisfied," Shen Wenwen said, her eyes gleaming.
Central Star was home to all the prominent families. Over eighty percent of the Federation’s B-rank female Spirit Controllers resided here. The wealth these women possessed was immeasurable, and as a result, service industries catering to women flourished.
A love for beauty is in a woman’s nature, and of all the necessities of life, women were most willing to spend lavishly on clothing.
The shop Shen Wenwen recommended to Ning Xuan was called the Heavenly Clothes Workshop. The clothes there were truly easy on the eyes; both the color palettes and stylistic designs were harmonious, creating an impression that was bold without being ostentatious.
"Wow, these are gorgeous," Tang Xue marveled in surprise.
Tang Xue quickly picked out a few outfits and eagerly went to try them on.
"Miss Ning, please try this dress." A sales associate rolled out a mannequin. The long gown on it was made of an unidentifiable material, colored red on the inside and black on the outside. The outer black gauze skirt was heavily embroidered with large flowers, so lifelike they seemed to be blooming right on the fabric. The red petals and golden pistils were depicted at the height of their magnificent bloom.
The long gown unexpectedly caught Ning Xuan’s eye. It was clear the black and red formal dress was an intricate, handcrafted piece. When the sales associate angled a light onto it, the black gauze skirt glittered brilliantly, creating a visual of ultimate luxury.
Ning Xuan was quite pleased with the dress, so she went to the fitting room to change. When she came out, Shen Wenwen and Tang Xue both shrieked, "Whoa! I’ve been to this store so many times, how have I never seen this dress before?"
"Even if I had seen it, I wouldn’t have dared to try it on. Only my Sister Xuan could possibly pull off a dress like this."
"Yeah, it looks like it was tailor-made for you! It matches your aura perfectly," Shen Wenwen gushed, and Tang Xue nodded in agreement.
"The design philosophy behind this gown was to create the majestic aura of a night queen through a clash of high-contrast colors and a layering of intricate, handcrafted details. It’s a perfect match for this lady’s temperament," the sales associate added.
Ning Xuan looked at her reflection in the mirror: fair, cool-toned skin, black hair and eyes, sharply defined shoulders, a swan-like neck, an exquisitely slender waist, and long legs. ’Not bad.’
She was so used to her daily combat uniform that suddenly wearing a formal gown like this felt a bit strange.
Still, she was very pleased with the dress.
After Ning Xuan’s group left the store, Feng Linran and another man emerged from within.
"You know that young lady, don’t you? That dress wasn’t designed specifically for her, was it? It’s just too perfect on her." The man, who appeared to know Feng Linran well, looked at him with suspicion.
It was no wonder he was suspicious. The moment Feng Linran saw the young lady, he had an expression of what looked like gritted-teeth frustration, an expression the man had never seen on his face before.
"I brought a gift, intending to win her over, but who knew..." Feng Linran trailed off, looking like he didn’t want to elaborate.
"You’ve taken a fancy to her? That young lady may be young, but she’s an absolute stunner. You have good taste," the man said thoughtfully.
