Chapter 1630: Striking Up a Conversation

Qiaozhi had just put on his shirt when he heard a loud knocking at the door.

"Coming."

Qiaozhi grabbed his jacket, went out, and opened the door, only to be taken aback for a moment.

"You're fast."

Gelin was standing at the doorway looking extremely flamboyant; seeing that Qiaozhi hadn't put on his outer garment yet, he frowned slightly.

"I've already taken a bath and changed my clothes, why haven't you put on your jacket yet?"

Before Qiaozhi could answer, Gelin impatiently pulled him toward the Horse Carriage.

Faced with such an eager Gelin, Qiaozhi didn't know what to say.

Once inside the Horse Carriage, Qiaozhi finally had time to look at Gelin sitting across from him, and his frown deepened.

"Why is there a scent in this carriage? What did you do?"

Gelin said without hiding anything: "I used a bit of Dragon Flame Perfume. How is it? The scent is not bad, right?"

Qiaozhi pinched his nose, which was almost completely filled with the fragrance on Gelin's body, and, unable to breathe, choked out: "The scent on you—even butterflies would probably love it."

Hearing this, Gelin revealed a smug smile.

Seeing this, Qiaozhi added a line in his heart: 'Flies would probably like it even more.'

The speeding Horse Carriage soon delivered Qiaozhi and Gelin to Weilian Chengbao.

The scale of Weilian Chengbao was not particularly large, but the painted beams and carved pillars on the exterior were exceptionally exquisite and beautiful, adding quite a bit of artistic flair to the castle.

Looking at the castle, Gelin couldn't help but let out a sigh of admiration; if he were still a captain, he would have been able to own such a castle sooner or later.

But that was no longer possible.

Having left the military, his status and his current identity as a Plantation Owner were simply not worthy of such a castle.

Castles were for Nobles to live in.

For a Plantation Owner to live in a castle was a very ridiculous thing.

Qiaozhi merely took a glance before stepping inside, and Gelin hurried to follow.

Upon arriving inside the castle, although the time for the ball had not yet arrived.

Count William was already waiting in the castle. Seeing Qiaozhi and a stranger arrive, he revealed a smile and greeted them cordially: "My dear hero of Fojilisi, brave fighter, honorable Mr. Qiaozhi, welcome to my castle as a guest."

Qiaozhi returned the respect and said: "Dear Count William, thank you for your invitation."

"Please allow me to introduce my dear friend, comrade-in-arms, and brave, fearless Gelin."

His gaze turned toward Gelin, and Gelin bowed deeply.

Count William tipped his hat in respect: "His arrival adds a bit of luster to my ball."

"Thank you for the compliment," Gelin said gratefully.

Count William looked at Qiaozhi and asked: "Your sister-in-law..."

"She doesn't like crowds, as you know," Qiaozhi replied.

Count William nodded, not dwelling on the matter further, and continued with a smile:

"It is still early, please wait for a moment. I have prepared wine and some delicious roasted meat for this ball; please feel free to enjoy them."

"Believe me, their taste will definitely satisfy you."

"I still need to wait here for other guests who have not yet arrived, so I cannot accompany you. My sincere apologies."

Count William bowed slightly to express his regret.

After Qiaozhi and Gelin returned the gesture, the two walked toward the ballroom.

Upon entering the ballroom, it was not empty as Qiaozhi and Gelin had imagined; on the contrary, there were already many guests who had arrived early.

Qiaozhi greeted the acquaintances he knew.

Gelin was not from Fojilisi, so not many people here knew him, but that did not prevent him from staying by Qiaozhi's side to become a familiar face.

Gelin looked at the beauties attending the ball and immediately broke into a smile.

These ladies invited by Count William were either wealthy or noble, and their appearances were all top-notch.

Gelin's eyes went wide as he watched.

He had been single until now and had joined the Britain military very early on, so he had seen very few women.

Being single until now, let alone seeing women.

He had barely even spoken to any women.

Now, seeing so many beautiful women, Gelin's heart could not help but flutter.

Gelin had long been unable to suppress his feelings; holding a glass of red wine and carrying a nervous heart, he went off to strike up a conversation.

Seeing Captain Gelin's clumsy way of striking up a conversation, Qiaozhi shook his head. He sat in front of the bar, picked up a glass of whiskey, and drank it down.

As if the lively scene around him had nothing to do with him, sitting alone made him appear exceptionally cold and detached.

Qiaozhi suddenly sighed, not knowing what he was thinking about in his heart.

Time seemed to pass very slowly in front of him.

After only three glasses of whiskey, the ball had already begun.

However, at this moment, there was one more dejected person by his side.

It was Gelin, who was drinking his sorrows away.

"Sigh, why is it so hard to just chat with a woman?"

Qiaozhi sneered, looking at Gelin, who was in agony and couldn't figure it out, and said indifferently: "That's because your way of speaking is wrong; you're just not good at it."

Hearing his good friend's mockery, Gelin raised an eyebrow.

He stared at him.

"I'm not good at it? If you're so good, you go do it!" Gelin said unconvinced.

Qiaozhi chuckled, not intending to pay him any mind, but just as he turned around.

Qiaozhi's peripheral vision landed on a woman, and upon seeing her appearance, his heart skipped two violent beats.

Countless thoughts suddenly rippled through his heart.

His expression turned dazed, and all the scenery in his eyes was filled by this woman.

Gelin watched the expression Qiaozhi revealed, stunned for a moment, and called out twice: "Qiaozhi, Qiaozhi!"

Hearing Gelin's call, Qiaozhi finally came back to his senses.

Watching that woman look toward him, Qiaozhi revealed an apologetic expression.

Gelin immediately pulled Qiaozhi over and asked curiously, "You haven't fallen for her, have you?"

"Tsk tsk, she is a Beauty famous far and wide in the vicinity."

"Hey, didn't you say you were capable? How about it, can you win her over?"

Qiaozhi glanced at Gelin as if looking at an idiot: "I am merely appreciating her; how did you get the idea that I've taken a fancy to her?"

Gelin chuckled: "The way you looked just now, it was clearly that you had feelings for her. Do you dare say it isn't?"

"How about it? If you aren't going to win her over, I'm prepared to snatch her away."

Seeing Qiaozhi didn't react, Gelin revealed a confident smile, picked up a glass of red wine, and stood up to walk over, but a hand suddenly blocked his path.

Gelin looked at Qiaozhi's action and revealed a smile.

After Qiaozhi downed the whiskey in his glass in one gulp, he took the red wine from Gelin's hand and said indifferently: "Watch me demonstrate to you what it means to chat with a woman."

After saying this, Qiaozhi walked forward carrying the red wine.

Gelin let out a laugh, watched Qiaozhi's actions, and couldn't help but mutter: "If you like her, just admit it; why pretend to demonstrate for me? Do I even need that?"