Two days later, Selene arrived at the Leyan family's hostay, dressed to the nines and looking like a vision of elegance. The maids looked at her in awe, whispering among themselves about how beautiful she was. The young lady had co to pick up her date for the auction, her eyes searching for the charming man she had invited.
Leyvi, who had been inford of Selene's arrival, walked out to greet her, wearing his best attire, which was still a far cry from Selene's grandeur. He had never been one for flashy clothes, preferring the shirt, jacket, and jeans he always wore. But today, he had made an effort, sporting a clean, well-tailored outfit that Anda had picked out for him.
Anda said that he had to at least match Selene appearance so that people wouldn't think she picked up a street bum.
Selene's eyes lit up when she saw Leyvi. He looked surprisingly handso, the stark contrast to his usual attire highlighting his strong features and giving him an air of refined masculinity. She couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. "You look... amazing," she said, her cheeks flushing pink.
Leyvi smiled at Selene's complint but for so reason, he felt like he was getting into a big trap. He looked at Anda and she had a sly smile showing on her face.
"The more handso and charming my husband looked, the more won will fall for him." She murmured. Anda had already imagined a flock of young ladies swarming Leyvi wanting to flirt with him.
Leyvi had a headache. He had indeed fallen into a big trap. Anda was using him as bait to attract more girls.
But before he could say anything, Selene took the initiative and approached Anda. "Madam Leyan, I hope you don't mind
taking your husband for the auction." She spoke with a mix of shyness and confidence.
Anda waved her hand dismissively. "Don't call
Madam, call
Sister Anda. After all, if you are going to be a part of our family, we should be less formal." She said with a warm smile.
Selene was surprised but happy. "Thank you, Sister Anda." She replied, feeling more comfortable with the casual address.
"The one gardening over there with big bosom is Lilian, Leyvi's second wife, and the one standing beside Leyvi looking like a secretary is Layla, his third wife." Anda introduced. "Sister Selene, it might be a bit harder to capture my husband's heart now because I've been pushing a lot of won to him recently, so I wish you good luck," Anda whispered to her ear.
Selene was stunned. Pushing won to him, not the other way around? Selene looked around and saw the maids and Miss Fisherwon were talking and laughing with each other, everyone seed relaxed and happy.
Anda's welcoming attitude was a stark contrast to what Selene had anticipated. She had been expecting Anda to be a jealous and possessive wife, but instead, she was t with a warm embrace. It was a bit overwhelming but in a good way.
The Leyan family's dynamics were vastly different from what Selene had experienced in the Goldstone household. Her mother had always maintained a cold and hostile deanor towards her father's other wives and concubines, treating them as enemies, always fearing she would lose her status and affection.
And so, Selene found Anda's welcoming and open nature to be both refreshing and a bit unsettling. It was as if she had stumbled into a warm and loving family where everyone shared and cared for each other, rather than the cutthroat competition she had expected.
After Anda and Selene exchanged so more words, Leyvi and Selene got into the fancy carriage she brought and departed to the Alchemy Association Headquarters. Leyvi felt awkward the whole ti. He felt like a young lady being picked up on a date.
"Sister Anda is really nice. I thought that she would hate ." Selene said, trying to start a conversation.
"Hahaha, if you treat her well and she likes you, she would be super nice, but if you beco her enemy, she would ruin your life," Leyvi said, recalling the bandit and the people who got banned by her previously.
"Really? Thank goodness she seems to like ," Selene said, visibly relieved.
"So.....Why do you like
anyway? I don't think that I've ever t you before. You even brought your father last ti." Leyvi chuckled as he said the latter part. They were sitting facing each other in the carriage, so Leyvi stared into her eyes.
"Hehe, you still don't recognize ?" Selene giggled. The next mont, she used her Qi and channeled it to her hair, making it float and wiggle above her head.
"Huh?" Leyvi was confused. A few seconds later, he rembered, "Ahh! You are The Last Hairbender!" No wonder he vaguely felt that she seed familiar but couldn't recognize her when she ca with her father.
Selene nodded with a proud smile, it proved that her disguise was a success. "Yes, that's . I wore a mask because I didn't want people to recognize ." She halted her Qi and her hair returned to normal.
"So you like
because you lost to ?" Leyvi assud.
"No, because you made
laugh at that ti. I like a man who can make
laugh." Selene didn't hide the reason.
Leyvi was dumbfounded. That could attract won? Then why don't clowns have a harem? Leyvi doesn't believe being funny can attract won.
Selene giggled at seeing Leyvi's stunned face.
"Ehem...What are the things usually being auctioned anyway? This is my first ti going to one." Leyvi changed the subject.
Selene nodded, happy to explain. "At the Alchemy Conference's exclusive auction, the items are usually rare ingredients and materials, rare demonic beasts, rare spirit weapons, or artifacts. Ah, sotis special fire would be auctioned too. It's where the wealthiest and most powerful families co to show off their wealth and bid for the most precious goods. Oh, most of them were probably showcased in yesterday's exhibition."
"I see. The things from yesterday's exhibition." Leyvi recalled various expensive things he saw when he accompanied Anda to the exhibition yesterday. There are famous pill cauldrons, alchemy-related spirit artifacts, alchemy-related items that famous alchemists used in the past, new alchemy techniques, and more.
If possible, he wanted to get a new cauldron for Anda. He could buy a new one from a store but it wouldn't be special. An exceptional one would usually appear in an auction.
Selene and Leyvi made their way to the Grand Hall of the Alchemy Association building after they arrived. Since the auction was an event for the rich and powerful, the atmosphere was suffused with opulence and prestige.
The grandiose architecture, the gleaming marble floors, and the chandeliers that hung from the ceiling like diamond-studded constellations all reflected the wealth and influence of the elite.
The Grand Hall was packed with many people, from the ostentatiously dressed young masters and young ladies to the stern-faced elders with their eyes gleaming with greed. The air was thick with anticipation, the murmur of countless hushed conversations, and the occasional cackle of laughter as the participants eagerly awaited the start of the auction.
As Selene and Leyvi made their way through the hallway, a figure erged from a corner and approached them. His eyes were drawn to Selene's grace and cuteness. He sailed over with a charming smile, his gaze lingering on Selene's form before finally eting her eyes.
"Miss Selene, what a pleasure to see you here!" Ori Oregano, the alchemy prodigy of the dicine Valley, greeted her warmly. Despite his young age, his reputation as a charr and flirt preceded him, and he was known to have a soft spot for short pretty won. "I didn't expect to find you at such an exclusive event. It seems fate is playing a hand in bringing us together."
Selene frowned, annoyed by the guy who interrupted her first date with soone she liked. "Who are you?" She asked.
"Ah, pardon my rudeness. I am Ori Oregano, the alchemy prodigy of the dicine Valley, you must have heard of , Miss Selene." He introduced himself, his eyes still glued to Selene.
"I see, so you are the young prodigy people have been talking about," Selene replied without showing much interest.
Ori proudly smiled. "Would you like to attend the auction together?" He shalessly asked.
Leyvi, noticing that Selene was uncomfortable with Ori's pestering, struggled internally. Should he step in? Leyvi sighed, he had just made that 'Don't Be A Busybody' motto two days ago and now it ca to haunt him so quickly. dicine Valley, that was one of the three big Alchemy Sects in the South Region.
Selene's eyes glinted with a hint of irritation. "I'm sorry, but I've already made plans with soone," she said firmly, standing her ground.
"Oh, is that so? This must be your brother, Victor Goldstone. That's weird, I heard he was short too. How about we go together?" The handso Ori Oregano didn't give up and continued to push his luck.
Leyvi knew he couldn't stay silent anymore. This brat was too annoying.
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