The Villainous Classmate is My Lucky Star Chapter 263
Second to last chapter of the main story!
Translated by Pure
Chapter 263 Chaoge Thrived Through The Passing Years (1)
Wen Yantong asked, "Two days ago, Mu Xingyi mentioned that you all would come to celebrate with me on New Year's Eve. Is that still the plan?"
Chi Jingxi nodded, "Yes."
"Will you be dining at the palace or at my residence? If it's at the palace, I won't wait for you," she stated.
"We'll be at your residence," Chi Jingxi confirmed, then glanced at her hair. Suddenly, he withdrew a redwood hairpin from his own hair and inserted it into hers.
Wen Yantong reached out to touch the hairpin, asking, "What's this for?"
Chi Jingxi smiled but didn't respond. After securing the hairpin, he simply said, "Let's go. We shouldn't linger here for too long."
Wen Yantong speculated that perhaps Chi Jingxi felt that something was amiss with her hair after her hairpin fell off, prompting him to offer her his own.
However, men's hairpins differed significantly from women's, and to avoid drawing attention to this discrepancy, Chi Jingxi discreetly pushed the hairpin inward, revealing only the golden head.
Wen Yantong, fearing Jiang Ying's pursuit, urged, "You go ahead. I'll wait for Third Young Lady Fu to accompany me."
When Chi Jingxi was pushed to depart, a hint of reluctance flickered in his gaze, his once carefree demeanor now subdued.
After waiting for a while, Wen Yantong glanced back for Fu Tanghuan, and the two retraced their steps along the same path.
However, Jiang Ying, who had just faced rejection, was nowhere to be found.
She never reappeared. Perhaps feeling thoroughly rejected by Chi Jingxi and uncomfortable, she opted out of attending the birthday banquet altogether. The Jiang Residence, faced with this unexpected turn of events, hastily went through the formalities of congratulations before dispersing the banquet.
In the days that followed, the Jiang Residence became the subject of widespread discussion, largely centered around Young Lady Jiang's perceived arrogance and wilfulness, as well as the indulgence she received from her family.
Additionally, rumors began to circulate about Wen Yantong. Some with keen eyes had noticed the red hairpin she wore on her head that day, sparking various speculations.
Among these rumors, some claimed that the Commandery Princess of Ningguang intentionally dropped her hairpin in front of Chi Jingxi, insinuating that she was waiting on the bridge for an extended period and orchestrating the incident deliberately.
Others speculated that the Commandery Princess of Ningguang had picked up Chi Jingxi's wooden hairpin but failed to return it, instead choosing to keep it for herself and wear it.
These rumors insinuated that she harbored ambitions of transforming from a mere imitation of a phoenix into the genuine article.
Upon hearing these rumors, Wen Yantong's anger flared, her face flushing red and her neck tensing as she slammed her hand on the table. "A real phoenix or a fake phoenix, they're all just f*cking birds! Do I look like I want to be a bird?!"
In truth, she had anticipated such circumstances long ago. Bestowed with the title of Commandery Princess for no discernible reason, she naturally became the target of envy and gossip. Rumors were to be expected in such a situation.
Regardless of the rumors circulating, no one could alter the emperor's decree. Despite any negative speculation, Wen Yantong remained the Commandery Princess of Ningguang.
Chaoge bustled with its usual activity, and the arrival of New Year's Eve was heralded by the crackling sound of firecrackers. Following the tradition from the previous year, Wen Yantong granted all her servants a day off after lunch, with the exception of Mo Li, who typically attended to her closely.
On New Year's Eve, while other households bustled with activity, the atmosphere within the Wen Residence was notably tranquil. The vast estate was sparsely populated, with only a handful of individuals remaining, mostly servants bound by lifelong contracts.
Wen Yantong stirred from a leisurely nap to find the sun casting a warm glow outside, its rays gentle and the winter chill subdued—a promising start to the day.
Anticipating the gathering of guests at Wen Residence for dinner later that evening, Wen Yantong embarked on the preparations for the New Year's Eve feast ahead of schedule.
She summoned the remaining servants to the kitchen, where they congregated to commence the arduous task of ingredient preparation. Uncertain of the exact arrival time of their guests, Wen Yantong opted to ready the ingredients beforehand, intending to commence cooking upon their arrival.
The antiquated kitchen, lacking the modern conveniences, prolonged the process of ingredient preparation, consuming considerable time.
As dusk settled, the kitchen was abuzz with activity, leaving the household in darkness as the lamps remained unlit.
Upon venturing outside, Wen Yantong was greeted by the enveloping darkness that shrouded the surroundings.
Promptly issuing orders to her servants, Wen Yantong instructed them to illuminate the premises with vibrant red lanterns, instantly infusing Wen Residence with a festive ambiance befitting the New Year.
Outside, the reverberating sound of firecrackers filled the air, punctuating the joyous occasion. Seating herself by the window after washing her hands, Wen Yantong indulged in the leisurely activity of crafting festive paper cuttings.
Reflecting on the events of the past year, she contemplated how, at this time last year, she would have been ensconced within the palace, partaking in the opulent annual banquet.
Remarkably, an entire year had elapsed in the blink of an eye.
Life unfolds one day at a time, and Wen Yantong never imagined she would reside in Chaoge for such an extended period.
Recalling her initial transmigration into this novel, she experienced profound discomfort and constant fear, longing desperately to depart.
However, a tragic accident left her incapacitated, and she discovered that Songhai Academy enforced strict regulations, preventing students from leaving without authorization. Reluctantly, she resigned herself to remaining at the academy.
Reflecting on these events now, Wen Yantong found herself somewhat grateful for her inability to escape.
Otherwise, she might have missed the chance to encounter Chi Jingxi, Mu Yang, Fu Zixian, and the warmth of this wonderful life.
If she had passed them by and ventured into the vast world, they might never cross paths again in this lifetime.
Wen Yantong released a long sigh. If that were to happen, their destinies would be sealed.
Lost in contemplation, Wen Yantong was interrupted by Mo Li's voice from outside the door, announcing, "Commandery Princess, the Little Marquis and the others have arrived."
Wen Yantong immediately set aside the paper cutting in her hand, lifted her skirt, and hurried out to welcome them.
As she reached the front yard, Wen Yantong spotted Mu Yang leading the group, his demeanor radiating joy as he skipped toward the main hall. Waving to them, she took a quick survey and noticed an unexpectedly large amount of visitors.
Mu Yang was the first to approach her, his eyes scanning the surroundings as he remarked, "Where has everyone in this house disappeared to?"
"I granted them a holiday, but it's only fair they get to celebrate the New Year too, isn't it?" Wen Yantong replied. "But why are you all here so early?"
Mu Yang explained, "I told them you would be personally cooking today and excused myself early."
Right behind him was Chi Jingxi, who was clad in a sandalwood-colored long gown, making a striking figure against the backdrop of red lanterns.
He approached Wen Yantong, took her hand, and felt it, his brow furrowing slightly. "Why are your hands so cold? You're wearing such thin clothes in winter, and you're always weak. What will you do if you catch a cold?"
Wen Yantong hadn't expected him to be so verbose the moment they met, resembling the typical beginning greeting of an elder, "Are you wearing enough layers?"
She quickly explained, "I'll be cooking later, so it's inconvenient to wear something too thick."
"Let the servants handle it," Chi Jingxi suggested.
"No, I want to cook the New Year's Eve dinner myself," Wen Yantong insisted.
Mu Yang suddenly interjected, pushing Chi Jingxi's hand away. "Brother Xi, don't you know that men and women should keep their distance? Wen Yantong is a girl now. You can't touch her casually anymore. Get with the times already."
Cheng Xin arrived shortly after and overheard the conversation, chiming in with a smile, "You're the one who needs to ‘Get with the times’."
Behind Cheng Xin was Zhang Jieran, whom Wen Yantong hadn't seen in a while.
His appearance caught her by surprise.
He stood a short distance away, his eyes wide as if he were greatly startled.
Wen Yantong didn't dare to approach him immediately, afraid it would frighten him more, so she asked Cheng Xin, "Did the Fifth Highness bring him?"
Cheng Xin turned his head to look back and smiled, "He's been sad ever since you faked your death. I've seen him getting thinner day by day, so I told him you were still alive and promised to bring him to see you. Since we have some time today, I brought him along."
He waved to Zhang Jieran, saying, "Why are you just standing there?"
Wen Yantong stepped forward, taking the initiative, "Brother Zhang?"
Zhang Jieran looked at her, stunned for a long moment, his eyes suddenly filling with tears. "Brother Wen, I thought you were..."
Wen Yantong found it amusing. She hadn't expected Zhang Jieran to be so concerned about her supposed death. Feeling a twinge of guilt, she apologized, "I'm sorry for causing you worry. I had to do something important, which led to faking my death."
Zhang Jieran wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. "It's alright. I'm just relieved to see that you're safe, Brother Wen."
Wen Yantong smiled brightly and interjected, "What's with all the tears? It's bad luck to cry on New Year's Day. Come on in quickly, settle yourselves in as I prepare for dinner."
As she spoke, she scanned the group, but didn't spot Fu Zixian. Instinctively, she turned to Mu Yang for a clue.
Mu Yang's response was swift, almost as if he had read her mind. "Fu Zixian didn't come with us to the palace, so he's not here yet, but I've sent someone to fetch him. He should be here soon."
Wen Yantong nodded in acknowledgment and ushered everyone inside her house.
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Footnote:
Paper cutting (窗花) - The art of paper cutting in China may date back to the 2nd century CE, when paper was invented by Cai Lun, a court official of the Eastern Han dynasty. Chinese paper cutting is a treasured traditional Chinese art dating back to when paper was developed.
