Chapter 38.2

At around 9:00 PM, Bai Manruo changed into the clothes and jewelry Miss Ji had personally selected, with the jade bracelet from before on her wrist.

Bai Manruo held up the white long dress and spun around in front of the full-length mirror. The collar was adorned with white gold silk thread and inlaid with small, round emerald beads. Bai Manruo touched the emerald beads on her collar, her face beaming with a smile as she praised: “The clothes Miss Ji chose are so beautiful.”

Ji Yingqing stood to the side, her gaze fixed intently on her. She said: “As long as you like it.”

Bai Manruo stroked the smooth emerald beads on her collar, unable to put them down, and nodded happily: “I love it!”

Butler Li, waiting outside for the two, was shocked when she saw the dress Bai Manruo was wearing. She froze in disbelief; she remembered this white antique long dress was the Young Mistress’s most precious collectible—there was only one in the entire world.

The Young Mistress was actually letting her wear it to a banquet! Butler Li’s brow furrowed. She realized that since Bai Manruo arrived at the castle, the Young Mistress’s thoughts had become increasingly difficult to guess. She could never predict what unexpected thing the Young Mistress would do next.

However, Ji Yingqing didn’t introduce the value of the dress, and Bai Manruo had no idea how precious it was; she thought it was just a regular luxury item.

At the banquet, Ji Yingqing, as a distinguished guest, was personally invited to the main living room by the head of the Yuan family. The entrance to the banquet was also a custom-made private passage, so the people attending the banquet didn’t get to see the legendary Miss Ji. However, they heard that Miss Ji was attending this gathering with a female companion.

Everyone present couldn’t help but envy that female companion—to actually [read the original at bailiantales.com]receive such a great honor! They were all speculating who she was; although they couldn’t see Miss Ji, seeing the companion would allow them to understand the type Miss Ji liked.

Outside the door of the main living room on the top floor, Ji Yingqing let the Yuan family members go in first. She turned to Bai Manruo and spoke gently: “Have Butler Li show you around first. I’ll come find you once I’m done.”

Bai Manruo nodded: “No problem. You go ahead and get busy, Miss Ji; don’t worry about me.”

The heads of the three major giants waited silently to the side, their eyes covertly drifting toward Bai Manruo. They hadn’t believed the rumors that the Ji family mistress was hiding a beauty in the castle and doting on an Alpha in every possible way. Seeing it with their own eyes now, they were completely convinced, though they were still shocked. After all, they all knew the Ji family mistress had a cold nature and was fundamentally uninterested in matters of love—it seemed she just hadn’t met a good-looking Alpha yet.

But this Alpha was indeed good-looking; anyone who saw her would find it hard not to feel their heart stir. The three heads stole a few more glances, sighing again: Indeed, even the most powerful people find it hard to pass the ‘beauty’ trial.

Butler Li had been following behind the two, her gaze fixed intently on Bai Manruo—or more accurately, on the dress she was wearing. Butler Li followed closely by Bai Manruo’s side; she believed the Young Mistress had only lent her the clothes, which didn’t mean she could do as she pleased with them. Therefore, she had to stay by her side to remind her not to damage the dress.

When Bai Manruo reached the banquet hall on the first floor, she suddenly stopped and turned to look at Butler Li, who was glued to her back. She let out a helpless sigh: “Butler Li, you really don’t have to watch me. It’s not easy to get out once; you should go relax too.”

Butler Li shook her head without hesitation, saying coldly with an expressionless face: “No.” She had to protect the Young Mistress’s collectible; naturally, she couldn’t leave her for a single step.

Seeing that she couldn’t persuade her, Bai Manruo had to let Butler Li follow. She habitually headed toward areas with fewer people and found a remote spot, sitting on a sofa to wait for Miss Ji.

Butler Li saw her holding a glass of red wine and stared tensely at her every move, worried that the wine might accidentally splash onto the [read the original at bailiantales.com]dress. Bai Manruo saw Butler Li staring straight at the wine in her hand, picked up another glass, and handed it to her: “Here.”

Butler Li’s brow furrowed as she pushed the wine away: “No need.” Flattery was useless; she wasn’t going to leave.

Bai Manruo shrugged and set the glass down. She felt the butler was being a bit unusual—her eyes were almost glued to her body. Clearly, there was a deep meaning in that gaze, but she couldn’t figure out what Butler Li was looking at.

After ten minutes, Bai Manruo looked toward the stairs; the boss hadn’t come out yet. she stretched her arms and stood up. Butler Li instantly stood up as well, carefully watching her every move.

“I’m going to the restroom,” Bai Manruo said to Butler Li. She held up her dress and walked out, only to feel someone still following behind her.

Bai Manruo gave Butler Li a deep look and said with a frown: “Must Butler Li personally watch me even when I go to the restroom?”

Hearing this, Butler Li froze in place. She thought for a while and was about to speak, but when she looked up, the person was already gone.

Having completely shaken off Butler Li, Bai Manruo leaned against the railing to rest, enjoying the night breeze. Her mind couldn’t help but recall her days trapped in the castle and the two days and one night spent with Miss Ji.

Bai Manruo spread her arms to embrace the cool breeze when she suddenly heard a familiar and annoying voice behind her: “It really is Miss Bai. I thought I had the wrong person.”

How is it that I meet Zhao Min everywhere…

Bai Manruo’s brow furrowed. she pulled back her arms decisively and walked away without even turning her head.

Zhao Min seemed to have guessed she would leave and took two large strides to block the only exit. Seeing the dress on Bai Manruo, her expression grew complex. Her gaze slowly moved upward: “I didn’t expect to bump into Miss Bai here. It seems our fate is deep.”

Bai Manruo lifted her eyelids and gave her a flat sweep. Seeing she wouldn’t move, she sat on the chair furthest from her, not bothering to acknowledge her. Zhao Min didn’t seem to notice her annoyance, sitting opposite her to perform actively: “I underestimated Miss Bai; it turns out you have hidden depths.”

Bai Manruo propped up her chin to admire the night moon, not listening to her at all. Zhao Min wasn’t angered either, continuing her monologue. She leaned in a bit closer and said: “No wonder Miss Bai repeatedly rejected me. It wasn’t until I saw the dress you’re wearing today that I understood…”

Before she could finish, Bai Manruo turned her head slightly and asked: “What’s wrong with the dress?”

She lightly stroked the emerald beads on the collar. This white dress was personally chosen by the boss—could there be something special about it that I haven’t discovered?

Seeing she finally spoke, Zhao Min leaned in even closer, her gaze resting straight on her face. Bai Manruo frowned at the proximity but said nothing, asking again: “What’s wrong with this dress?”

So she doesn’t know the value of this dress. A glint flashed in Zhao Min’s eyes. Seeing Bai Manruo so anxious, she spoke unhurriedly: “Have a drink with me, and I’ll tell you.”

Bai Manruo gave a light laugh: “Heh, boring.” As if she couldn’t just ask the boss instead. If it weren’t for the fact that the boss was unauthorized copy busy, she wouldn’t acknowledge Zhao Min at all.

Bai Manruo stood up to leave. Zhao Min followed behind. Just as she was about to reach out and grab her, someone suddenly darted out to stand in front of Zhao Min, blocking her from getting near Bai Manruo.

“Butler Li, why are you here?” Bai Manruo looked at the familiar back in front of her. She’d thought Butler Li wouldn’t be able to find this place. Seeing Butler Li blocking the way for her, she felt a moment of being touched.

Bai Manruo poked Butler Li’s back and said: “I’m fine. Let’s go.”

Butler Li stared coldly at Zhao Min. Hearing the words behind her, her mouth twitched. Who’s worried about you? I’m afraid this person will dirty the Young Mistress’s dress. But she didn’t say it aloud, instead turning to reply: “You go first. Be careful with the dress.”

Zhao Min bypassed Butler Li while they were talking. Seeing Bai Manruo leaving, she reached out to grab Bai Manruo’s arm. Just as she was about to touch her, a hand suddenly appeared and gripped Bai Manruo’s arm, beating her by a step.

Ji Yingqing’s hand moved slowly from the fair arm to the delicate shoulder, pulling Bai Manruo into her embrace.

Bai Manruo’s nose caught the familiar pheromones. She looked up in surprise: “Miss Ji, you’re here!”

The coldness in Ji Yingqing’s gaze instantly turned to tenderness when it met Bai Manruo’s eyes. She nodded gently: “Mm. I’m done with work, so I came to find you.”

Bai Manruo smiled happily and was about to say more when she was interrupted by Zhao Min.

Zhao Min looked at Ji Yingqing, who had intercepted her. She had never seen what the Ji family mistress looked like, so she thought Ji Yingqing was just a regular wealthy lady. Seeing the two in an intimate posture, Zhao Min couldn’t help but say sarcastically: “So she’s the boss behind you. She is indeed good-looking; no wonder you’ve been keeping yourself pure.”

Hearing Zhao Min speak ill of Ji Yingqing, the gaze Bai Manruo swept toward Zhao Min instantly turned terrifyingly cold, and a tense atmosphere filled the air. Sensing the emotions of the person in her arms, Ji Yingqing instinctively comforted her, reaching out to stroke her hair. As for the troublemaking Zhao Min, she didn’t give her a single glance.

Butler Li, to the side, was already unable to contain her rage, wanting to step forward and teach this death-seeking Omega a lesson, but she was stopped by Ji Yingqing’s gaze.

Seeing that her words hadn’t provoked her but had instead been treated as air, Zhao Min felt a sense of defeat for the first time. Yet Zhao Min still hadn’t realized the danger, tidying her cuffs and saying: “Hello, Miss Bai’s boss. Nice to meet you. I often chat with Miss Bai, but I’ve never heard her mention you.” She paused deliberately on the last sentence, giving Bai Manruo a look that could easily cause a misunderstanding.

“Zhao Min, the illegitimate daughter of Old Master Zhao, Chairman of the Zhao Group. Currently, the company is under investigation for illegal activities,” Ji Yingqing said unhurriedly.

Hearing the words “illegitimate daughter,” a trace of panic appeared on Zhao Min’s expression: “How do you know these things?”

Ji Yingqing finally turned her head, lifting her eyelids to give her a flat, cold look: “I know more than just that.”