After My Death, I Became a Heartless Madman - Chapter 11

The train departing from the Inner City was greeted by a light snowfall along the way, fluttering and dreamy, lending a touch of romance. Yet, the Inner City itself remained untouched by snow.

In the solemn and dignified parliamentary hall, Bai Ruowei sat in the second row, quietly listening to the speaker on the podium.

Before her stretched an extravagant row of floral arrangements, white and champagne roses blooming in harmony, accented by misty blue hydrangeas. The display was so flawless it could almost be mistaken for silk fabrications. But the Inner City Parliament had always been extravagant, fond of squandering funds on such frivolities.

A single silk flower cost no more than twenty yuan and could be reused, but if real flowers were used, the budget would multiply tenfold.

Bai Ruowei smiled faintly and reached out to poke a delicate petal.

The Parliament had just announced her appointment as Acting Chief Inspector, a position she had known about for a week. Following the rehearsed sequence, she stood, ascended the stage, and bowed.

She had previously served as Special District Inspector in the First District for a year. Her outstanding performance had earned her an exceptional transfer back to the Inner City.

The Inner City was the heart of the Wei Nation, governing twenty-six districts and countless surrounding regions. The first thirteen districts comprised the Upper City District, inhabited mostly by high-ranking humans who had differentiated into Alphas or Omegas and possessed superpowers. The latter thirteen districts formed the Lower City District, home to ordinary people without superpowers often referred to as the slums.

This crude stratification based on secondary genders inevitably led to frequent uprisings. Thus, the Inner City needed the Surveillance Institute, needed the Chief Inspector, needed Bai Ruowei, needed the sharpest blade to quell unrest.

Mia slipped over from the back row and whispered in her ear,

“The wedding of the Third District Chief’s daughter is later. You have to attend.”

Bai Ruowei nodded.

“Understood.”

The tender champagne rose crumpled under her fingers, its fresh juices staining her fingertips. She wiped them clean with a tissue.

Social obligations were important, though she had never been fond of grand occasions.

But in life, one could hardly have everything their way.

The much-anticipated wedding was held at a high-end luxury hotel, one inaccessible to ordinary people without prior reservations. The venue was serene and elegant, the bride’s bouquet muted in Morandi tones, lending the entire affair an air of solemnity.

Seated at the VIP table, Bai Ruowei smiled politely as the guests exchanged pleasantries.

The small talk was uninspiring just the usual gossip of Inner City elites. She grew drowsy listening, but the ceremony had yet to begin. The band on stage played A Midsummer Night’s Dream softly under dim lighting when someone took the seat beside her.

Zhao Yiqing clutched a wine glass, her expression tense.

“Miss Bai, hello,” she said.

Her profile was gentle and sweet, though her soft lips were slightly taut from nervousness.

“We met in the Third District… Do you remember me? My surname is Zhao, my name is—”

“Zhao Yiqing,” Bai Ruowei replied.

The soft-spoken Miss Bai seemed gentle, nothing like the terrifying figure others described. Zhao Yiqing’s eyes lowered shyly, skimming over Miss Bai’s refined features. Miss Bai wore a muted beige woolen coat, her posture as straight and elegant as bamboo prompting a silent gasp of admiration in Zhao Yiqing’s heart.

“That’s me.”

“What can I do for you, Miss Zhao?”

Zhao Yiqing shook her head hastily.

“Nothing much, I just saw Miss Bai from afar and wanted to come say hello. It would be even better if we could chat…”

The Omega’s delicate and charming features were far more beautiful than certain others.

“I heard Miss Bai fainted at a banquet a few days ago. What happened? Did you go to the hospital? Are you feeling better now?”

Zhao Yiqing looked nervous, her voice full of concern as she carefully probed with her own little agenda.

“I heard Song Shizhou was with you at the time… Are you alright, Miss Bai? I wonder if that Miss Song might have offended you somehow?”

Bai Ruowei felt a pang in her heart.

The name Song Shizhou had almost become taboo to her even Mia and Li Ningzhi avoided mentioning it. When absolutely necessary, Mia would refer to her as “that person.”

Because just hearing the name Song Shizhou made Bai Ruowei’s head ache.

Her previously gentle expression instantly turned cold. Bai Ruowei’s lips stiffened, her eyes flashing with irritation.

“Why bring her up?”

“I don’t know her, and whatever happened afterward has nothing to do with her.”

Zhao Yiqing was startled.

“Miss Bai, I didn’t mean anything by it! I just heard you fainted at the banquet and got worried, so I—”

Bai Ruowei waved her hand, cutting off the explanation.

She didn’t actually blame Zhao Yiqing after all, ignorance was no crime.

She just genuinely couldn’t stand hearing that name.

Zhao Yiqing, an Omega who had liked Bai Ruowei for so long, was nearly in tears after being sharply rebuked.

Bai Ruowei hadn’t expected Zhao Yiqing to be so fragile just two sentences had frightened her to tears. Clearing her throat awkwardly, she changed the subject.

“I haven’t been in the Inner City long and don’t know much about things here. Why don’t you tell me about it, Miss Zhao?”

Zhao Yiqing perked up. “I’m not very familiar with Inner City matters either, but today’s bride is a good friend of mine… She’s so stingy, Miss Bai. Did you know her fiancé had to propose three whole times before she reluctantly agreed?”

“Is that so?”

Encouraged, Zhao Yiqing continued, “The first was a public proposal, they were eating at a restaurant when suddenly a crowd came in with flowers. So romantic!”

“The second time was on a hot air balloon. They were watching lavender fields when he proposed by a bonfire.”

“The third time, the guy was pretty discouraged, he thought she just didn’t want to marry him at all.”

Zhao Yiqing laughed.

“But the groom mustered his courage again. He went ahead and booked the wedding venue and date without telling her first, no chance to refuse this time.”

“Even though she kept saying no, I think my friend was actually happy. She probably just lacked security, the more the groom indulged her, the more she felt loved.”

The more you indulge someone, the more you love them so much so that you’d resort to ridiculous little stunts just to get their attention. Bai Ruowei frowned. How idle, needy, and utterly bored must someone be to pull such nonsense?

Seeing her silent again, Zhao Yiqing ventured cautiously,

“Miss Bai… are you thinking about dating anyone recently?”

“Or perhaps Miss Bai has kept us all in the dark, maybe she’s already in a relationship…”

Bai Ruowei was growing impatient. Wasn’t Zhao Yiqing just beating around the bush, asking if she had someone she liked, when she planned to marry, and who the potential partner might be… She wasn’t the type to use her love life as fodder for gossip, nor was she as dull as today’s bride, who gained a sense of superiority by tormenting her partner. But the truth was, Bai Ruowei had no intention of dating anyone, so there was nothing to hide.

“I’ve been very busy lately and haven’t had the mind for romance.”

Zhao Yiqing nodded, “Of course, with the Surveillance Institute keeping you occupied, how could Miss Bai find time to descend from her lofty duties for something as trivial as love…”

Her voice trailed off, her cautious demeanor unexpectedly endearing. Bai Ruowei smiled, raised her glass, and clinked it lightly against Zhao Yiqing’s.

“But if I meet someone I like, perhaps I will.”

Under such a gentle gaze, Zhao Yiqing’s cheeks flushed, her heart racing. She excused herself to touch up her makeup and left first.

The seat beside Bai Ruowei was empty again.

The wedding was about to begin. The melancholic strains of a piano solo filled the air as the solid wooden doors were pulled open from both sides, a beam of light spilling in. The emcee and flower girls made their entrance one after another. Even seated in the secluded VIP section, Bai Ruowei found the noise overwhelming.

My wedding definitely won’t be like this.

What’s the point of such empty formalities?

But wasn’t Song Shizhou always fond of grand spectacles like this?

Well, she could indulge her in that small wish.

Her own wedding?

Bai Ruowei froze, suddenly troubled.

She wasn’t even interested in dating, how had her thoughts jumped to marriage?

That was quite a leap.

Her mind drifted back to the story Zhao Yiqing had shared earlier. Miss Chen, the district chief’s daughter, certainly knew how to put on airs making her fiancé propose three times before reluctantly agreeing. Yet Zhao Yiqing had praised it as true love, saying that despite the twists and turns, the outcome was worth it.

Bai Ruowei smirked. She hadn’t sensed any “true love” in that tale just Miss Chen’s theatrics.

Three proposals before saying yes.

Three proposals.

Three. Proposals.

An indescribable ache surged without warning, so sharp it left her defenseless. Two cool trails of tears slid uncontrollably down her face. Bai Ruowei’s brows furrowed, her lips trembling involuntarily. She hurt. She ached. Every part of her felt wrong.

She wanted to find someone but she didn’t even know who.

Mia, seated behind her, noticed her distress and leaned forward in concern.

“Miss Bai,  are you alright?”

Bai Ruowei blinked.

“Am I…?”

She turned. Mia handed her a mirror.

Two streaks of tears glistened on her cheeks.

Bai Ruowei stared in shock.

Why?

Why was she crying?

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