Fortune Across the World

Chapter 49: The Hundred Faces of Students at the Entrance Ceremony (Part 1)

Looking around, Ding Qiyu didn't find many of the young masters particularly agreeable. Out of the twenty-some young men present, only a few could be considered refined and genteel, those who had acknowledged Lu Weiming with a nod. The rest seemed like typical spoiled brats. Ding Qiyu's bias against those who feigned friendliness or dismissed her good brother was clear.

As they gathered with the Qingyi attendants in the open area before the "Three Questions Hall" at the north end, waiting for the entrance ceremony to begin, Ding Qiyu chatted idly with Lu Weiming. Meanwhile, the young masters exchanged pleasantries and flattery. In the distance, female students approached under the guidance of several Qingyi attendants.

Ding Qiyu spotted Lu Weixi immediately. Even among the crowd, her graceful demeanor and stunning appearance made everyone else pale in comparison. Today, she wore the standard female student attire: a light blue embroidered jacket with a straight collar and a deep blue pleated skirt. The elegant ensemble added a touch of tranquility to her usual gentle aura, quickening Ding Qiyu's heartbeat.

Lu Weixi also saw Ding Qiyu from afar, noticing his focused gaze. To her, it felt like he saw only her amidst the crowd. Their eyes met briefly before she shyly looked away, her face warming as a sweet smile crept onto her lips.

Ding Qiyu caught that fleeting expression and smiled to herself. However, the murmurs of admiration from nearby young masters made her frown as she glanced at the other girls.

There seemed to be only about a dozen female students, forming small groups. The haughty princess led the way with an imposing air. Though she was quite pretty, her arrogance and overbearing demeanor were off-putting to Ding Qiyu. Surrounding her were several young ladies, likely flattering her, as her smile grew more pronounced.

Beside Weixi was a sweet-looking girl, affectionately linking arms with her and chatting happily. Meanwhile, Yun Yi, as Ding Qiyu had anticipated, walked at the back of the group with her maid, who had her arm in a sling. No other young ladies interacted with her. She quietly followed, maintaining a modest distance from those ahead. Her light-colored attire and slender frame lent her an air of delicate melancholy.

Despite wearing similar uniforms, personal demeanor and appearance stood out. Among them all, Weixi still shone, especially with her recent smile adding a lively charm to her beauty, earning her admiration from the young masters.

As the group drew near, the ceremony had yet to start, allowing the familiar young nobles to mingle. Ding Qiyu intended to accompany Lu Weiming to find Weixi, but a young master intercepted them, approaching Lu Weixi with a bow, "Weixi, I didn't expect to see you at Cang Huan! It's been a while. How have you been?" His gaze and tone were filled with undisguised admiration.

This young master was one of those who had nodded to Lu Weiming earlier, the most gentlemanly of the group. Though not as handsome as Lu Weiming, his demeanor overshadowed Weiming's usual casual attitude. Yet, Ding Qiyu found him particularly disagreeable, more so than even the "gilded fool."

Before Lu Weixi could respond, Lu Weiming stepped forward, annoyed, "Young Master Zhang, my sister isn't that familiar with you. Why act so chummy?"

Lu Weiming's "radar" detected this suitor's intentions toward his sister. As Ding Qiyu's staunchest ally, he aimed to eliminate this rival immediately. Moreover, he had long seen Zhang as a hypocrite, outwardly polished yet inwardly dubious.

Lu Weixi didn't refute her brother, implicitly agreeing with his sentiment, leaving Young Master Zhang awkwardly maintaining a forced smile as he apologized, "My apologies, Miss Lu, for being so forward."

Lu Weixi smiled politely, indicating she wasn't offended but had no desire to continue the conversation. The atmosphere grew tense for a moment, forcing Zhang Zhiyao to excuse himself.