Chapter 15: Joyful Send‑off Party

Wang Zhe was stunned; his words were too abrupt, like a blow to the head.

Yet facing that cold, beguiling face, even though he was being scolded, he suddenly felt a strange delight.

…Wait, damn, what is he thinking!

He frantically shook his head, his voice hoarse, "Why are you saying that…".

"If I were the Murderer, I wouldn't tell you that Lin Xiaofan and I are childhood sweethearts; the result would be that he would take the Murderer's name and die."

"Right!"

Wang Zhe suddenly understood, almost being led astray by Zhou Yichen.

He quickly apologized to Su Mian, then stared eagerly as the girl left coldly, giving him no glance, leaving him to savor it in secret.

【Ugh, what a disgusting person, waiting until you left to talk to them.】

4399 snarked, Su Mian concealed the cold and Disgust in her eyes.

That photo was originally meant to prove that she and Lin Xiaofan were childhood sweethearts.

She hadn't expected Zhou Yichen to make a fuss over it, turning black and white, truly opening her eyes.

【But Mian Mian, why did you finally vote for Wen Zirui?】

Su Mian rubbed her forehead, "By elimination, I can only temporarily believe Yu Maomao didn't lie, and Lin Xiaofan was indeed taken away."

Le Zhi died, but the evening continued as usual.

The reason is that the children had prepared many programs for this day; they didn't want to waste the time.

At dusk, the afterglow filtered through the louvered windows into various colors; all the children were nervously preparing, as if they'd forgotten the day's death.

A little girl with stage makeup poked Su Mian's waist; it was Liu Liu.

"Mi Guo, we have something to ask of you."

Su Mian closed the map, glanced at Liu Liu, "Speak."

A little boy wearing a wolf Mask jumped out from behind her, "Le Zhi left, no one to play the princess for us, Mi Guo, could you help us?"

Su Mian crouched down, looking puzzled, "Why choose me? There are so many other companions here."

The two children exchanged glances; Liu Liu bared a big tooth and smiled at her, "Because we think Mi Guo is the most beautiful girl in the Orphanage!"

"Yes, yes!"

The boy beside them echoed.

Su Mian smiled helplessly, "Smooth talker." She looked at the two mischievous children with hopeful eyes, "Then what can I get?"

Liu Liu raised her hand, Script in hand, excitedly.

"Mi Guo, I can give you the twelve zodiac swagger quotes!"

…?

Su Mian twitched the corner of her mouth, withdrew her smile, stood to leave; Liu Liu slapped the Script onto a Companion's chest, hurriedly trying to pull her.

"Hey! Mi Guo, just tell me what you want, don't go~"

She clutched Su Mian's Pleated Skirt, refusing to let go; Su Mian feigned helplessness, turned, "I don't want the twelve zodiac swagger quotes, but… after the banquet ends, I want to ask you for a favor."

"Of course!"

Liu Liu nodded without hesitation, and the little boy handed the Script to her.

Su Mian flipped through it, while Liu Liu explained beside her.

"The story we arranged is about a princess almost being devoured by a wicked wolf, and a prince arriving in time to rescue her."

"It was thought the two would live a happy life, but the princess was imprisoned by the prince; she was heartbroken, and eventually succeeded in killing the prince and returning to the Castle."

…

Still a big heroine script, huh.

Su Mian found it somewhat funny, but had to admit it was far better than the original story; the two children pushed her into the waiting area.

Various oddly dressed little ghosts gathered here were especially noisy; ever since Su Mian discovered they were ghosts, they became unabashed, even taking off their heads, saying it felt cooler.

Some little ghosts simply opened their chests, exposing hollow ribs, stuffing them with candy paper and broken glass, laughing with a clatter.

A tiny slender female ghost dragged a shadow larger than herself, the shadow much more lively, hopping around, and inadvertently ate another child's shadow.

"Ah, too terrible!"

Le Le walked ahead of Su Mian, shouting; Su Mian thought the child was scared by the scene.

"There's actually no Formal Dress suitable for Mi Guo!"

…

Alright, she was overthinking.

Le Le was angry, and a little girl in a T‑rex plush costume popped out nearby, "I've already had Grandma fix it, hehe."

She patted Su Mian's arm, indicating to look at the display case beside the table.

It was an ultra‑light silver‑white long dress, the Cloth airy, layers of Gauze Dress cascading from the waist, without intricate Lace or trim, appearing elegant and aloof, yet the puffed skirt softened the coldness, adding a hazy, lively feel.

The T‑rex child pushed Su Mian toward the changing room; Le Le tugged the child's sleeve, whispering in her ear.

"When did Grandma sew this dress? How did I not know?"

The child elbowed her, "You're silly, this dress doesn't look sewn, it was custom‑made by the Dean!"

Le Le's eyes widened, "What?!"

The T‑rex child recalled the Dean's expression while touching the dress, and mimicked a line by themselves.

"A Formal Dress stained with blood would look great…"

—

"Mi Guo?"

Wang Zhe casually found a seat, the surrounding children were a bit noisy, and he raised his voice when speaking.

Zhou Yichen: "You know you're the Murderer, feel guilty, and don't dare to come, right?"

Zhou Yichen crossed his legs nonchalantly, Wang Zhe rolled his eyes.

Zhou Yichen had explained to that guy many times in the afternoon, but the guy didn't believe at all; Wang Zhe was at a loss, and Wang Zhe increasingly suspected Zhou Yichen was the Murderer.

"Welcome everyone to Le Zhi's farewell party; although she is already dead, our evening program still proceeds as usual!"

Is it a farewell party or a "happy sending" party.

Wang Zhe rubbed the goosebumps on his arm; how could anyone say such words with a blank expression.

Around, a round of applause and cheers rang out, and the four players half‑heartedly echoed.

The immature, slightly unripe broadcast‑style child strained to hold up the Microphone.

"Next, please enjoy the first act: Princess and Prince."

The lights suddenly dimmed, leaving only a cold white spotlight at the center of the stage.

When Su Mian was pushed onto the stage, the silver‑white Formal Dress shimmered hazily in the light, like moonlight falling onto the mortal world.

The layers of the skirt unfolded; her expression, tightened by nerves, was slightly stiff, yet this rawness gave rise to an unmistakable cool beauty.

Wang Zhe had been watching casually, but the next instant, he was stunned.

His throat tightened, his Breath seemed blocked by something.

The girl on stage, amid a group of ghostly children and the crude, eerie set, appeared excessively pure.

That Gauze Dress seemed to reject the mortal world, aloof and Holy; he for the first time felt the word "Princess" could reflect so vividly on a single person.

"How could she be on stage?"