A woman with a svelte and lethal figure took the stage much to Liu Muwan's delight. Wang Lin smiles softly and watches his girlfriend hurriedly call people over to set up the stage for Farrah. Kang Haoran was still a bit miffed he had been so crudely introduced to his cool goddess then ignored right after and snorted at Liu Muwan's fussing. "Purposely ruining my first impression with my goddess, you did it all on purpose to keep the goddess to yourself didn't you?" Liu Muwan childishly stuck her tongue at him not denying his claim angering the broken-hearted man. "Liu Muwan you brat!!"
"Haoran." Wang Lin laughed at the two's interaction pulling the man back to his seat as Liu Muwan who was protected by her man haughtily lifts her chin at them fearlessly. He sent her a warning glance, which she returns with fluttering lashes and pouting lips seeming aggravated to be accused of such "lies". He didn't buy it for a second, warning her lightly "Don't tease Haoran so much, you know he's been wanting to meet her for so long why do you have to be so childish hm?" Being scolded as such, Liu Muwan finally drops the act and snorts, looking down on her childhood friends for not understanding things between women friendships. "If Wang-Mu wanted to have friends would I have denied so vehemently before? She's a loner from head to toe. Don't look at how much I like her but I guarantee if I weren't providing her a paycheck she wouldn't even speak more than two words to me."
Speaking this out loud Liu Muwan finally shows a wearily but helpless expression to the two looking over as Farrah was testing the microphone and instruments with the other workers. Her expression since she walked in from start to finish did not fluctuate at all as if no one could genuinely enter her eyes even if they held a knife to her neck. And though faded, Liu Muwan even saw a long scar running down the other woman's leg which she didn't care to cover with makeup. Although her pretty blue eyes were strange, she also didn't carry a hint of spiritual energy making others confused and her even more mysterious. Most Anialas could control the flow of their essence and it was usually only younger Aniala born who couldn't control their spiritual energy that had such obvious changes in their physical appearance. But since Wang-Mu had no energy, if at all just a tiny wisp-like other normal people it was strange but not impossible as mutations do exist.
Liu Muwan even guessed that Wang-Mu's history was rather painful which explains her high walls. What the general populace doesn't know that they do is that Aniala's soulmates aren't invincible. Spiritual self-implosion if their mental state is unstable, deficiency in nutrients, over-abuse of soulmates, and fragile connections between the two. And even overflowing spiritual energy within the body which can't be controlled harming the user and causing the person's Aniala to go wild. Before shattering their soulmate's ability to gather essence entirely turning them into normal people. Liu Muwan also assumes Wang-Mu didn't have an easy life which is why she was alone in this city so far from the capital without her family.
So in her opinion not allowing someone like Kang Haoran to pester a person with such a long shadow as Wang-Mu was good for both of them. Wang Lin caught hidden thoughts in his girlfriend's eyes and didn't scold her anymore. It seemed she had her reasons, Haoran hesitated after hearing what she said. "But doesn't your Aniala particularly trust her?" Liu Muwan rolls her eyes at him "I refuse to do a background check on my goddess. Do you think I'm like you? Being annoying and poking my nose into other people's private business as I wish?"
Before Haoran and her could go into another round of bickering much to Wang Lin's helplessness the mourning start of an erhu froze them all. Liu Muwan's eyes brighten as the sound escalates before leaving just a piano and a surprisingly soft voice like refreshing blooming plum blossoms on a cold winter morning. Farrah standing alone looking like an angel with eyes of the sky reflecting under the fluorescent lights sang delicately contrary to her fierceness. Wang Lin expresses mild surprise before quickly calming down and silently admitting that the other person was worthy of his lover's admiration. Her sharp eyes had also eased up as if she were starting at the distant back of a lover matching the emotions of the song. As expected, once this voice started, more and more people paid attention.
Some were eager and familiar like Haoran, and others sat still with smiles, interest, and favoritism in their expressions. Most people who had beauty but no talent had overtaken the market these days as far as entertainment goes. It was rare for a person who was decent at singing, dancing, or playing an instrument to take up a career in it. It's seen as frivolous and something the rich can participate in due to the abundance of resources but not the poor. So when a person such as Wang-Mu is discovered, she was bound to draw some eyes even if in a secluded and exclusive bar like this she will draw people in like moths to a flame. Her eye mutation is also a disturbingly rare sight.
But that's what made her so attractive and fascinating. Wang Lin looks over the woman's spiritual veins again, a bit hesitant to believe that such a brilliantly shining individual was as unfortunate as to meet such a bland fate. In return for his suspicion and scrutiny. Wang-Mu lightly passes a glance over his seat, feigning ignorance as gold light fluctuates around the man. Once it was all over, the light in the bar returned to normal and instrumental music replaced the girl's voice the excited people hurriedly talked amongst themselves praising her singing. The woman called Wang-Mu dismissed their gazes and fled to the back of a room no one was allowed into without her permission. Liu Muwan like a good fan met the other woman's brief look with a brilliant grin. "I'll bring your drinks up in a bit." Flattering the girl who sent her a tiny quirk of the lips before leaving without turning back again with confidence.
"Aish, my goddess only shows such a cute side when I offer her free drinks and bonus pay." Liu Muwan even if she was complaining with her mouth her expression was full of adoration and indulgence. After all, Wang-Mu was currently one of the best attractions for her bar allowing her to make a good amount of money. Haoran huffed unhappily but his bright eyes said otherwise as well. He began complaining with the tiniest bit of grudge left inside of him because of Liu Muwan's previous actions. "You just covet the money she brings in, if the goddess entered my dad's company she would be able to make more than what you pay her." Liu Muwan pinched the howling Hoaran's cheek as quickly and viciously as a viper.
"Who do you think you are? Trying to dig this big sister's walls are you looking for death?" "Damn you Liu wrench not so hard-OWWOW!!" "What did you say?" "I was just making a passing comment I wasn't going to do it! Let go!" Liu Muwan finally released the man's red and sour-looking face. "Hmph." He mutters under his breath begrudgingly "So vicious, I pity Wang Lin when you two marry." Wang Lin simply gave his friend a passing wary smile. Not daring to say anything under Liu Muwan's threatening stare. "Well, don't dig other people's walls." He gave in under her condemning glare, satisfying his feisty lover. Knowing he was abandoned, Kang Haoran slumped on top of the bar lifelessly. "Wang Lin you changed." He taps his nose looking away from Kang Hoaran's sorrowful state guiltily. Sorry Haoran, I don't want to be implicated and forced onto the couch because of you again today.
~
When a server brought in her free drink Farrah with rare delight sips the sweet fruity beverage savoring it before the bitterness settled in. The private rooms were pretty well-furnished, with a round table, clean curved sofas, and a whole line of wine bottles to pick and choose from. However, Farrah didn't like drinking these things and preferred the special drink Liu Muwan made for her. She had no idea what it was called but since her first taste, she ordered nothing else. When she finished Farrah felt the familiar heat along her cheeks and lightheadedness. Squinting her eyes and unknowingly appearing rather cute. She could understand why some people took the time even with busy schedules to drink once a blue moon.
Even if she indulged and rested after working for a few minutes it wouldn't change the fact that it was merely for the enjoyment of drinking than being able to afford to be so free-spirited. Taking out her hand mirror, she quickly made sure nothing was out of order and saw that besides a slightly flushed appearance, she was fine. A bitter smile crossed her lips, reconnecting to her light brain she noticed the amount of missed interfaces she had and clicks her tongue. With the attitude of wanting to get boring things out of the way. Farrah picked up the latest call being made while tapping her fingers against her empty glass.
She seemed to contemplate something before tapping the screen on the side of the table, not a minute later another beverage entered the room with a smiling waiter. Only when he left and she took a deep drink of her second cup as the person calling exclaims in a worried fashion. "Wang-Mu! Do you even know how much trouble you caused me this morning?!" Farrah with pink cheeks but an indifferent expression side eyes the hologram person. Leaning back into her seat and resting her heavy head against her free hand. The woman appeared intimidating and assertive with this move alone, her glowing eyes under the luminescent private room lights distant but attractive. Her lips were soft and thin looking coated in light lipstick that could never outshine the brilliance of the aggressive beauty.
Farrah was already tired of their complaining tone wanting to get the conversation over with she ignores his proclamation. "Anqing, you're wasting my time." The man called Anqing was stunned, with brown hair and simple features unlike the woman on screen he felt even more aggravated by her current appearance. Especially when she brought a glass of Cosmo up to her lips leisurely snapping him out of his daze. His cheeks were red and feeling rather aggravated with the realization of the woman's location. Anqing questions her while already knowing the answer through gritted teeth. "You-Are you at a bar right now?"
In answer, Farrah sent him another fleeting glance before polishing off the cup of alcohol in a handsome manner not letting even a drop spill on herself rendering Anqing even more speechless. Only after licking her lips leaving them even more soft and shiny than earlier did she answer sounding as if it were normal. "Working." "Working my ass! Who drinks a Cosmo during work?!" He blurts out unconsciously calling the woman's bull while glaring at her in an uncultured manner, encouraging a rare smile and chuckle to escape the aloof woman. Realizing how stupid he sounded just now, Anqing blushed an even fiercer red before coughing and clearing his throat looking around warily in case someone had overheard him.
Muttering in a lower voice Anqing kept an eye on his dorm room door, just in case his roommates enter without his notice taking more caution with his surroundings after realizing where Farrah was. "If you were in a bar did you at least make sure not to run into any soldiers on the way? You know the military is cracking down on troublemakers these days, what if a senior recognizes you and reports you during the entrance exam?" Not really wanting to pay attention to his concerns but knowing he was nagging for her sake she didn't avoid the question this time. Lying with a plain expression "Yes." She could see the visible relief between his brows and almost scoffed at him.
"That's good, although our school isn't the best it's still the strongest and most prestigious of schools that are still on neutral territory. Our senior graduates are still highly sought after by some generals and admirals for squad recruitment but the capital is stern about not letting those people acquire every part of the land for future development. Don't look at us for being smaller than the others, as the main trading post with a proper seaside port the military and council would be crazy to try and break the balance here." He seemed to sparkle with pride and smugness as he spoke of his school so Farrah didn't interrupt his rambling, subtly acknowledging his passion. Only when he finished advertising his school to the silent Farrah did Anqing smile brilliantly at her and tell her the purpose of his calls.
Seeming to forget his anger and her indifference at the start, radiating the aura of a free-hearted youth. "Besides the point, Farrah did you receive the documents I sent you this morning?" Documents? She lightly ran a hand through her hair and sat up straight while opening her inbox. And indeed, there was a document sent from the youth who started lightly complaining again after seeing her sit up and look through her light emails. "I knew it! If you saw them earlier there was no way you would have ignored me all day like this."
She shot him a mild glance before reading through the things he sent over with a serious and sober expression. Anqing could see her brows furrow over briefly as she continued reading "See why I was so anxious to call you before? I bet you didn't know about this too. All examinees are required to attend a public Aniala banquet at least once before taking the big exam in four days. They say that it's to see how disciplined the new Aniala borns are and how well they communicate with their peers. Although I can't blame them for worrying about teamwork with all the Generals spitting into different factions these days." He frowns to himself disapproving of the hasty changes the school made to their entrance requirements. "-It's still a rather last-minute request, they gave an announcement a month back but you were busy that day so you most likely didn't see the notification."
The young man stuck his tongue out as if he had eaten something bitter recalling his ignorance and late reminder towards this cold-hearted leader of his. Only thankful that she continued pondering to herself lightly without blaming him for not telling her earlier. "I only just learned about it from my dormmate today too. I had thought it was strange that the last banquet I went to had so many new faces, turns out there were some future examinees mixed in too." Farrah was a bit annoyed by the requirements but thinking of it as work she could only swallow her disagreements and obey them for now. She didn't see the reason for doing such meaningless activities, but if it was only one event. Tapping her empty glass Farrah thought about her current schedule before looking over to Anqing and asking him straightforwardly.
"When is the next one?" Anqing was quick to answer, already having looked up the calendar beforehand to give her this info. "Tomorrow is the last one. By now almost everyone is acquainted with one another so you're most likely the only person who hasn't shown her face to others yet." Anqing couldn't help worrying about her future. "From what I saw, everyone has already formed their circle of friends or at least are acquainted with a few people. Since you're a bit later than them, you're definitely going to stand out even more." Especially with your temperament and mutation, there's no way you wouldn't draw eyes and ears.
He didn't add this last part though, only whispering it deeply in his head in fear of gaining her ire. Oblivious to his private thoughts Farrah was preoccupied with her future headache which Anqing also knew about. Although she never had intentions to get chummy with others. It was true that people would pay more attention now that she would be the only new face joining the crowd on the last day before the entrance exam. "Ah, how annoying." Anqing's heart lept to his throat and he held his breath watching as annoyance flickered across the young woman's face.
He could practically see the lighting flashing in her eyes and didn't dare speak in case she locked those dangerous-looking eyes onto himself. Clicking her tongue Farrah didn't say any more on the subject jumping straight to the point after burying her irritation. "You pick me up at my apartment tomorrow afternoon, since it's the last day why should I miss the exam for such a stupid reason?" Although she appeared calm Anqing could tell she was still annoyed as she straightforwardly leans over to order another Cosmo while speaking not caring about his thoughts. He cautiously adds in case she skimmed over the detail in her annoyance. "It's a formal setting so the things in your closet...You may have to add a new set of clothing for future occasions."
In return for his reminder, he received a very sharp look and hurriedly gave her a choked goodbye ending the call without needing her reminder. "I'll pick you up tomorrow like you said! See you tomorrow Wang-Mu!" Clicking her tongue as Anqing made his quick escape. Farrah no longer paid him any mind and sips her fresh drink to soothe the pain in her neck she was developing thinking of what the future would hold. Leaning back and resting her head while staring up at the ceiling Farrah was filled with a numbing and lonely feeling. Closing her wavering ocean eyes as memories flood back with no signs of stopping the young woman in a lively setting but long shadow sat in solemn silence wallowing in a prison of her own making.