Finally, the day for the ball arrived and Bai Lianhua suddenly remembered that she had been in this world for more than a month. She was very grateful for the system's offer now because every day was very interesting - she couldn't get bored at all. Also, she saw herself maturing and increasing in skill every day and that made her feel proud. 'Surely after this, my stats should increase? Especially, intelligence!'
Mom Hu drove her to the salon where she met Mei Qinghua and left her there to get pampered. This salon did hair, makeup, nails - it even had stalls where people could change directly. She even saw someone walking out of a stall in a wedding dress and she was astounded.
Mei Qinghua elbowed her to get her attention and asked what kind of hairstyle she was going for. "I'll just get my hair curled and leave it out. Should l do something else?"
"Actually, why not just put your hair up and use a hairpin? You'll look very elegant and refined!"
Bai Lianhua knew this girl was up to tricks again so she told the hairdresser to do as her friend said. She already had a backup plan so she wasn't worried.
After that, they went to get their makeup done as their nails were being painted. "Hey Qingqing, the people who are going to this ball are very rich, right? Is there anything l should pay attention to?"
"No - just be yourself. They don't judge!"
Bai Lianhua had to roll her eyes. 'They don't judge? If l believed you, l would embarrass myself thoroughly at the ball. I'll just observe people around me and then copy - it's better than doing nothing. Maybe Yue Linlan can help? I doubt it - she would want to stay far away from me.'
They spent about five hours in this salon get expensive treatments and Bai Lianhua had to wonder who she was getting dressed for. This was the first time she had put in any effort whatsoever to look that beautiful. She texted mom Hu to meet her at the venue and bring her 'spare' dress, jewellery and shoes.
While getting dressed, she looked at herself in the mirror and had to give herself several likes. She looked very elegant and slim in the purple qipao that Mei Qinghua got for her. The qipao was paired with a pearl bracelet and pearl earrings. She also wore black four-inch heels. Her hair was styled into an updo and pinned with a pearl hairpin. Seeing herself, she thought she looked very good!
Mei Qinghua also walked in and asked how she looked. Bai Lianhua couldn't help it - she was part of the appearance association and she told Mei Qinghua that she looked very good - a different kind of beauty. Mei Qinghua wore a pale blue and white qipao, her hair was curled and small diamonds were put in her hair. She also had small diamond earrings and on her feet were a pair of actual glass heels.
"Qingqing, where did you get those shoes? So cool!" Bai Lianhua was excited because she had never seen such shoes in her life - mind you, she was a fashion major.
Mei Qinghua gave her a smirk: "My boyfriend of course!"
Enviously, Bai Lianhua also wanted a rich boyfriend - not for love but for the fulfilment of her love for beautiful things. "So lucky!"
The system saw this and found a new way of earning: "You can buy the same pair of glass shoes in the system mall for 11 points." Bai Lianhua ignored it and walked out hand in hand with Mei Qinghua.
They travelled in style - courtesy of Mei Qinghua of course - and went straight to the venue where the ball was being held. Bai Lianhua then told Mei Qinghua that she needed to meet her mom for a bit. "You should go before me first! She has some stuff to give me. Also, l forgot my perfume at home and l need it now. You go!"
Mei Qinghua really didn't want to leave now because she wasn't sure if Bai Lianhua would mess up her plans. Still, Bai Lianhua couldn't be convinced so she just went in. She told the butlers at the door to let her in because she was her plus one. The butlers bowed and she left promptly. Bail Lianhua met mom Hu and mom Hu took some pictures of her in the clothes she was wearing.
"I don't understand why you have to change. You look good the way you are right now!"
Bai Lianhua didn't want to say that her new friend may be plotting against her so she simply said: "It doesn't fit my personality."
She quickly changed into a mermaid black qipao with gold embroidery. She paired it with gold earrings and different black heels. She let her hair out and urged her mom to quickly curl it in the car. She asked for her laptop and her mom gave it to her.
"Aren't you going to a ball? Why do you need your laptop?"
"Mom...don't ask so many questions!"
"You-"
Bai Lianhua quickly opened the door and got out. She gave mom Hu a brilliant smile and walked away from the car. Mom Hu rolled her eyes and left.
The people who saw her before were astounded that she walked out of the car in a different dress.
"Hey, wasn't she wearing purple? Now she's wearing black? Did l hallucinate before?" One guest asked their date. Their date shrugged because he was also confused.
Bai Lianhua then went around and managed to sneak into the venue from the back door. She approached the projector which was currently displaying: "Happy birthday to XX" and she connected it to her computer. She squatted down and launched the code she'd previously written and then uploaded all the clips she wanted to be broadcast to the audience. This took about 10 minutes and then she quickly withdrew.
Bai Lianhua hid her laptop in some bushes and then confidently walked to the butlers at the front door. They asked for her name and then let her in.
There was a waiter already going around with champagne flutes and she resolutely grabbed one. In her mind, she was 23, not 15 so she was at the legal age to drink. She spotted Mei Qinghua in a corner and she was surrounded by very pretty women and seemed to be leaning on a man's hand. She decisively refused to go there - she didn't want humiliation and she wasn't a masochist.
She also spotted Wu Chenren in the opposite corner and he seemed to be busy flirting with some girls and women. Yes, women. Bai Lianhua didn't know what to say but she obviously wouldn't go there.
She took a seat at one of the tables and enjoyed the starters that were put there. Yue Linlan came just after her with her parents and brother. When Bai Lianhua saw her, she thanked herself for being smart and changing dresses. Yue Linlan also looked very elegant in the purple qipao. 'Why would Mei Qinghua make me and Linlan wear the same clothes? It would serve as humiliation for both of us but that's nothing we haven't experienced.'
Bai Lianhua stood up and went to greet Yue Linlan.
"You! Why are you here?"
Bai Lianhua shrugged and pointed at Mei Qinghua: "I came with a friend who happened to be the host's girlfriend."
Yue Linlan seriously doubted this explanation: "You mean to tell me that Mei Qinghua is the girlfriend of my new fiancé?" Bai Lianhua was very shocked and she blurted: "How come? She was Wu Chenren's girlfriend as well and l thought that it was the Wu family's function. That is why l came."
Yue Linlan felt very annoyed: "You better not be lying."
"Hey! That's what she told me. You hide with me later and you can see for yourself." Yue Linlan thought this plan was feasible so she told her mom that she was going to the bathroom.