Chapter 388: The Engagement Banquet Begins (The Mining Town Plot Will Be Interpolated Later)

Chapter 388: The Engagement Party Begins (The Sea Mine Town subplot will be revealed later)

12 hours later

The Night Before the Engagement Party – The Bride’s Dressing Room

Chun Ya was applying makeup for Wu Yue. "Are you still planning to wear the champagne-colored one? I think white suits you better."

Wu Yue, "Today is my sister’s engagement. Of course, my sister should look the most beautiful."

Xiya was adjusting Jiang Yuhua’s headpiece. "How about this?"

Jiang Yuhua smiled and nodded. "It’s perfect."

Jiang Yuhua took a photo in the mirror and sent it to Jian Suiyu.

"Jiang Yuhua: How do I look?"

"Jian Suiyu: You do, but the thought of you dressed like this to get engaged to Li Yiran really annoys me. Before the official engagement starts, can you let me have you first?"

Jiang Yuhua lowered her head, her face slightly flushed.

"Jiang Yuhua: Sure, I’ll be ready soon."

Xiya glanced at Jiang Yuhua’s expression. "Tsk tsk, Yu Hua’s living the good life, huh? That day during the wedding dress fitting, you were covered in..."

Wu Yue, who was changing clothes, froze on the spot. Chun Ya’s gaze swept over Wu Yue’s neck, chest, and even down to her abdomen...

Chun Ya thought to herself: Wow, here’s someone who’s had it even better. Shen Que really knows how to serve—with skills like that, he’d be an instant top earner if he ever switched professions.

Wu Yue’s face turned crimson. Chun Ya, being tactful, stayed silent and diligently applied concealer and whitening cream to Wu Yue’s skin.

Jiang Yuhua’s face was also flushed as she put away her communicator. "I have to go for a bit."

Xiya waved a small handkerchief at her. "Don't be long. You've got half an hour, but try not to ruin your makeup, alright?"

Jiang Yuhua’s ears turned bright red. Chun Ya quickly reassured her, "Don’t worry, I’ll fix your makeup if it gets smudged. Don’t keep Captain Jian waiting."

Jiang Yuhua was already flustered from their teasing when a knock sounded at the dressing room door. Xiya opened it.

Jian Suiyu walked in, no longer wearing the team’s combat uniform but a white shirt, black suit, and gold-rimmed glasses—the very picture of a debonair rogue.

Seeing Jiang Yuhua’s flushed face and lowered head, he immediately drew her close.

Jian Suiyu, "Stop bullying Yu Hua."

Xiya shrugged. "The one who bullies her the most is clearly you. She’s got marks all over from when you—mmph—"

Jiang Yuhua hastily covered Xiya’s mouth—her words were far too blunt!!

Jian Suiyu scooped her up easily. "Ignore them. I’ll take you to the next room."

Jiang Yuhua looked up at Jian Suiyu, her eyes wide as she took in his dressed-up look.

Jian Suiyu bent down to kiss her. "Do you like it?"

Jiang Yuhua nodded. "Yeah."

Jian Suiyu kicked the door open with his foot, turned around to pull it shut, and threw over his shoulder:

"You'll like what comes next even more."

The three in the makeup room who heard everything: "..." They really didn’t hold back around them.

Xiya sighed, "Who would’ve thought we’d be gearing up for Season 4 with this kind of atmosphere?"

Wu Yue didn’t mind, "No need to be so grim. If everyone at the engagement party looked miserable, that’d be truly bizarre."

Chun Ya, "Could anything be weirder than the bride being carried off by her lover first?"

Xiya, "Don’t overthink it. For women, it’s normal to try out a few. How else would you know which one suits you best?"

"Wu Yue."

Hearing Shen Que’s gritted voice, Wu Yue turned in surprise.

Xiya and Chun Ya shared a look and immediately walked away.

Still, they couldn’t help but let their eyes sweep over Shen Que—Prince Squire was *fine*!

With his sleek silver-white short hair and the prince’s silver-white uniform buttoned all the way up, the buttoned-up look screamed restraint. The Longyuan at his side exuded a chilling, lethal aura, radiating untouchable ice-prince energy.

Broad shoulders, a narrow waist—lean but toned, boyish yet mature, and perfectly proportioned—paired with a face so unfairly gorgeous it should be illegal.

A clear, youthful voice, long and well-defined fingers, excellent stamina, high combat prowess, and even the ability to "make it rain"—360° perfection.

Xiya and Chun Ya simultaneously gave Wu Yue a thumbs-up. Girl, you’re feasting at the top tier—a god-tier snack, no doubt!

Wu Yue blinked. Wanna share? She wasn’t one to keep the buffet to herself.

Xiya and Chun Ya waved their hands in unison, politely declining. Not everyone could handle a stage-5 clinger who’d cling for life once touched.

Shen Que’s face darkened instantly, and Xiya and Chun Ya bolted.

The moment they stepped out, they exchanged a glance and grinned. Heh, looks like the Prince was fuming now. Their sister’s happiness still relied on their wingman skills.

Shen Que slammed the door shut with a "bang," seething. "Have you forgotten we’re still in Mental Power Sharing?"

Wu Yue blinked, "What did I do?"

Shen Que was furious, "What were you just saying to Xiya and Chun Ya?"

Wu Yue, "Swear to god, I didn’t say a word."

Shen Que, "You thought it! Don’t even *think* about it!"

Before Wu Yue could stand, Shen Que caged her in against the vanity, leaning in close.

Wu Yue was the bridesmaid today, wearing a champagne-colored strapless cocktail dress with a sweet design.

She actually suited more ethereal, coldly elegant styles, but since this was Jiang Yuhua’s engagement, no matter the ultimate goal, Jiang Yuhua was the absolute star—no stealing the spotlight allowed.

Wu Yue looked up at Shen Que, whose eyes tracking the line of her slender neck and then lower...

Shen Que frowned, "Isn’t the neckline of this dress too low?"

Wu Yue blinked, "That’s the whole point of strapless."

Shen Que glanced to the side, "Can't you change into something with a collar? That dress isn’t safe if things get violent."

Wu Yue, "...Want me to just throw on my combat gear?"

Shen Que tightened his arms around her, "No need. You’re stunning like this."

Wu Yue couldn't help but laugh. She cupped Shen Que's face and studied him—this was the first time she had been this close to him while he was dressed like this.

Wu Yue, "Last time you dressed like this, you had that icy, untouchable look. Can you do that again for me?"

Shen Que blinked, "You mean, you want me to act cold right now? Now? Wait, this is supposed to be a reward?"

Wu Yue, "...Get your head out of the gutter! I just meant for you to put on a cold expression!! Look at the occasion!!"

Shen Que muttered, "Then how come Jian Suiyu gets a pass?"

Wu Yue smiled, "If today were my wedding to Li Yiran, I’d toss you a bone too."

Shen Que immediately declined, "No thanks. I’m not as masochistic as Jian Suiyu."

Wu Yue, "Back then, you clearly said you’d be fine as long as you could stay by my side. You didn’t mind."

Shen Que’s expression suddenly turned icy. He lifted Wu Yue with one hand and leaned in, whispering, "That was a lie. The idea of anyone else near you makes me sick."

"But I can endure it—as long as I stay by your side first. Then, one by one, I’ll pick them off—silent, untraceable—until there’s no one left but me."

Shen Que knew Wu Yue loved it when he spoke like this. Feeling the tremor in her consciousness, his gaze darkened, and he lowered his head to kiss her.

Wu Yue turned her face away, "I’m wearing makeup. You’ll ruin my makeup, and this *really* isn’t the place."

Shen Que let out a low growl, "You *want* this. You like me dressed like this, you like it when I say possessive things with a cold face."

Wu Yue’s cheeks flushed slightly. Ever since the *Mental Power Sharing*, Shen Que could pluck every thought from her mind.

She put a little distance between them, her gaze drifting from Shen Que’s face downward, settling on the first button below his Adam’s apple.

Under his watchful eyes, she reached out, her fingers barely grazed his throat before stopping at the first button. One by one, she undid them with one hand.

The crisp white shirt beneath was buttoned to the top. Wu Yue leaned into Shen Que, pushing him slightly. He sat down on the stool, pulling her closer and steadying her by the waist. Wu Yue lowered her head, focusing on unbuttoning his shirt.

As her fingers brushed against the skin near his collar, Shen Que suddenly grabbed her hand.

His voice roughened, "You’re the one who said we can’t do this here."

Wu Yue let out a low laugh, "Exactly. So no matter what I do, suffer."

Shen Que burned to kiss her, but her dress left her entire neck exposed.

His jaw clenched, eyes darkening.

Just as he tried to look away, Wu Yue suddenly grabbed his hand and pulled it to her chest, leaning in close.

She pressed her lips to his ear, whispering:

"Remember this feeling. If I seem off later, play it on loop in your head, understand?"

Last time Wu Yue went in fists flying, they’d disarmed her with sweet nothings.

Now, if the enemy wanted a direct fight—well, too bad. Now *she’d* weaponize desire.

A 15-year-long con to manipulate her thoughts, oppress her will, and then try to bind her with so-called righteousness?

Screw that damn righteousness. Her current persona is: a love-obsessed airhead who'd rather see the world burn than give up on love.

Could there be anything more infuriating than a 15-year-long con that backfires spectacularly?

Change of tactics, huh? The young ones are quick to adapt. Let's see if the old-timer on the other side can keep up.

Shen Que looked at Wu Yue in surprise as her thoughts flashed rapidly through her mind. Understanding her intent, he tightened his grip, watching her face flush.

Leaning in slowly with a stone-cold expression, his tone was detached, but his words were anything but:

"But like this, it's not sticking with me.

I'm afraid I might forget later. Why don't you give me something more... intense and unforgettable?"