After Transmigrating into a Book, I Had a Flash Marriage with the Beautiful Crazy Villain - Chapter 20

Chu Ling fell into silence, staring at Song Qingyi for a long while without speaking.

Song Qingyi curled her lips slightly, pretending not to understand as she asked, “What’s wrong?”

Chu Ling held back for a moment but ultimately couldn’t restrain herself and she suspected Song Qingyi was doing this on purpose! Weren’t they supposed to discuss meeting family members in advance?

Her eyes widened slightly. “Your mom? If it’s a banquet hosted by your mom, doesn’t that mean going now would be like meeting the parents?!”

Chu Ling’s voice grew increasingly higher-pitched, clearly reflecting her inner turmoil.

Song Qingyi found it amusing but kept a straight face, raising an eyebrow as she asked, “And so?”

Chu Ling: “…”

How could she even ask “And so?”!

Was Song Qingyi genuinely unaware of the implications or just teasing her? Chu Ling scrutinized her suspiciously for a long time but couldn’t detect anything unusual.

Then again, Song Qingyi had only a handful of expressions, always keeping her emotions tightly controlled and rarely revealing them. Of course, nothing would show on the surface.

Chu Ling averted her gaze again, her expression somewhat troubled.

Though she knew meeting Song Qingyi’s family was inevitable after all, Song Qingyi had already mentioned it before now that the moment had arrived, Chu Ling still felt her breath hitch.

Nervousness surged uncontrollably, leaving no room for relief.

As a result, the entire process of selecting a gown left Chu Ling in a daze. She followed the shop assistant’s instructions mechanically, like a lifeless doll being dressed up.

At first, Song Qingyi found it amusing, but as time passed, her expression gradually grew solemn.

Watching Chu Ling being fussed over, Song Qingyi finally stopped teasing her and told her the truth. “No need to worry too much. Only my mother will be at this banquet. As for the rest of the family, she wouldn’t invite them.”

Hearing this, Chu Ling slowly snapped out of her trance. “Huh?”

She almost blurted out another “why,” but thankfully swallowed the question just in time, she had nearly pried into Song Qingyi’s private matters again!

But Song Qingyi’s words carried deeper meaning.

It was a banquet hosted by her mother, yet she didn’t want to invite other family members.

That raised questions either the nature of the event wasn’t suitable, or her mother personally didn’t want to invite them, perhaps due to conflicts within the family?

However, Song Qingyi’s tone was unreadable, giving no hint of the real reason. Regardless, Chu Ling couldn’t help but feel curious. This curiosity gradually brought her panicked, frozen mind back to normal, and she finally stopped acting like a doll.

Seeing Chu Ling return to her usual self, Song Qingyi’s lips curled into a faint smile.

Selecting the gown took nearly two hours, after which Chu Ling was whisked away by the makeup artist for styling and cosmetics.

The entire afternoon passed in a blur, and by the time she was finally released, Chu Ling was seeing stars. It was already past six in the evening.

“It’s about time. We can head over now.”

Song Qingyi extended her hand, her gaze fixed on Chu Ling.

But Chu Ling was momentarily stunned by Song Qingyi’s transformed appearance.

Normally, Song Qingyi didn’t dress as meticulously as she did in videos, opting for light makeup and casual outfits that still made her look effortlessly beautiful.

Yet neither her video persona nor her everyday self could compare to the striking impact she made at this moment.

This was the first time Chu Ling realized that the two of them were not from the same world, and the gap between them was like an unbridgeable chasm.

Because they were attending a banquet, Song Qingyi had also shed her usual casual appearance.

Her hair was meticulously pinned up at the back, with only a few strands left loose for decoration.

The dress she had chosen wasn’t overly extravagant, but it complemented her perfectly, amplifying her unique aura several times over.

Song Qingyi was dazzling, every movement captivating so much so that Chu Ling was utterly spellbound.

Chu Ling didn’t even realize she was being drawn in again. She simply placed her hand in Song Qingyi’s and allowed herself to be pulled close, their arms linking naturally.

The distance between them closed, and Chu Ling remained dazed, staring at Song Qingyi.

Standing together, the two of them each had their own charm, yet they looked unexpectedly harmonious, like a painting.

When their eyes met, the shop assistant nearby couldn’t help but gush, her words flowing effortlessly.

“You two are truly a match made in heaven! In all my years in this industry, I’ve never seen such a perfect pair. It’s absolutely breathtaking!”

Startled by the voice, Chu Ling snapped out of her trance and hurriedly averted her gaze.

She also felt a little embarrassed by the praise. Deep down, she knew that if it weren’t for Song Qingyi’s influence, she would never have had the chance to step foot in such a high-end boutique.

As for the assistant’s compliments, they were likely just professional courtesy something to be taken with a grain of salt.

But still, Chu Ling couldn’t help feeling happy. After all, the assistant had said she and Song Qingyi were a match made in heaven!

Who wouldn’t love hearing that?

Heaven knew she wasn’t some delusional fangirl, but this was Song Qingyi! Whether the assistant meant it or not, Chu Ling adored hearing it.

Pressing her lips together in a small smile, she said, “Thank you for the kind words. I hope you have a wonderful evening too.”

The assistant beamed. “Thank you for your blessing.”

As soon as their exchange ended, Song Qingyi signaled that it was time to leave.

Chu Ling gave the assistant a slight nod before following Song Qingyi to the car. However, Song Qingyi’s mood seemed to have soured again along the way. Chu Ling couldn’t figure out why, so she chose to stay silent.

Better to say nothing than risk saying the wrong thing.

The rest of the ride passed in silence until they arrived at the banquet venue. Chu Ling could still sense Song Qingyi’s lingering displeasure, but when they got out of the car, Song Qingyi didn’t walk away. Instead, she extended her hand, a faint smile playing on her lips as she waited for Chu Ling to join her.

Chu Ling suddenly understood, it was time for her to play her part.

Though the banquet was likely just for Song Qingyi’s mother, there would undoubtedly be many guests. If the two of them didn’t appear close enough, it would raise suspicions. And given how sharp Song Qingyi’s mother’s judgment probably was, they couldn’t afford to be exposed!

So Chu Ling steeled herself, plastered on a sweet smile, and let Song Qingyi elegantly help her out of the car. Then, like an accessory, she clung affectionately to Song Qingyi’s side.

Song Qingyi’s expression faltered for a moment before she quickly regained her composure. Arm in arm, they made their way toward the banquet hall.

At this hour, guests were arriving in droves, and the two of them drew quite a few glances as they entered.

When they passed the attendants, neither was asked to show an invitation. Chu Ling even noticed that the attendants’ smiles seemed more genuine now.

“Miss Song, Madam Song asked me to inform you that she’s waiting for you in her room.”

Song Qingyi’s brow furrowed slightly as she gave a faint nod.

The attendant’s smiling expression remained unchanged as he diligently continued verifying other guests’ invitations.

Chu Ling felt somewhat curious, this Ms. Song must be Song Qingyi’s mother, right? Though there seemed to be an odd distance between mother and daughter.

Faint whispers reached Chu Ling from behind, but before she could make them out, Song Qingyi had already guided her into the banquet hall.

Though the event hadn’t officially begun, socializing was already underway. Small clusters of guests conversed everywhere while waiters circulated with drinks.

What truly caught Chu Ling’s attention, however, was the massive cake at the center. Belatedly realizing, she leaned closer to Song Qingyi and whispered in surprise, “Song Qingyi, is today your mother’s birthday?!”

Warm breath suddenly brushed against Song Qingyi’s neck, the sensation traveling vividly from her skin throughout her body. Her frame stiffened momentarily, leaving her speechless.

When Chu Ling repeated her question in confusion, Song Qingyi finally replied, “Yes, it’s her birthday.”

Though she’d answered, Chu Ling gave her a strange look.

Song Qingyi’s voice, why had it suddenly grown so hoarse?

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