Chapter 164.1 : The Sickly Beauty (Part 1)
Chu Ge likewise looked over instinctively. What met his eyes was a young woman approaching gracefully, her steps carrying a faint trace of urgency.
She appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen years old, about the same age as Mu Qinglan, and was dressed in a light green gauze dress.
The gauze dress seemed as though it had been cut from a thousand-year-old painting—its hue like verdant bamboo after rain, lush and dripping with life, yet carrying a subtle coolness.
The dress itself was exquisitely crafted, but even more exquisite was the young woman's face.
Her features were delicate, and her complexion pale.
There was a translucent quality to her skin, as if it had been carved from the finest mutton-fat jade.
Yet paired with her slightly slender and fragile figure, it gave off an impression of frailty, almost sickly.
In Chu Ge's eyes, the woman's entire being carried a morbid sense of weakness—like a cold plum blossom standing proudly in the snow, evoking pity and tenderness.
Her brows were shaped like distant inked mountains; the slight furrow between them seemed to hold an unresolvable trace of melancholy.
Her eyes resembled a secluded pool, deep and tranquil.
Yet at this moment, those eyes brimmed with gentle laughter, as though stars had fallen into a quiet lake, sending out dazzling ripples.
Her lips were like cherry petals; the faint upward curve at their corners spoke of her current good mood, like a ray of dawn that dispelled the sickly aura surrounding her.
Her jet-black hair flowed like ink down her back, gathered only by a single mutton-fat jade hairpin. A few loose strands fell along her fair neck, lending her an even more delicate and moving charm.
Her light green gauze dress swayed gently in the breeze, like slender willows in early spring—elegant yet full of grace—softly outlining her slender, fragile figure.
Though she appeared frail, her figure was not lacking.
At least in Chu Ge's view, this woman—steeped in the aura of a sickly beauty—had more substance than Mu Qinglan beside her.
As Chu Ge observed her, the young woman also noticed Chu Ge's group.
Her gaze swept across them.
It paused briefly on Mu Qinglan, to whom she gave a light nod in greeting.
Then it passed over Ying Qingjue and Yuan Jue, and for a fleeting moment, she felt a quiet admiration in her heart for Ying Qingjue's peerless beauty.
Finally, her gaze fell squarely upon Chu Ge—and did not move away again.
Even Wan Changming beside her, after she had called out "Father," received no further attention.
"Oh my little ancestor, why did you run out here all by yourself? Where are the attendants I arranged for you? Your constitution is weak—you can't come out alone like this."
Wan Changming immediately hurried over, looking her over from left to right until he confirmed that there was nothing amiss with Wan Qingchi. Only then did he finally relax.
"Father, are these guests?"
Only then did Wan Qingchi withdraw her gaze from Chu Ge and look at Wan Changming.
"Oh my, look at my memory—come, Qingchi, let Father introduce everyone."
Wan Changming laughed heartily, then looked toward Chu Ge.
"This is Young Master Chu. Beside him is… Miss Ying Qingjue…"
When his gaze reached Ying Qingjue, Wan Changming hesitated for a moment. In the end, meeting her calm, unruffled eyes, he spoke with a hint of unease.
Seeing that Ying Qingjue's expression did not change in the slightest at his calling her by name or addressing her as "Miss Ying," Wan Changming finally let out a sigh of relief and continued.
"This is Miss Yuan Jue."
"Young Master Chu, this is my daughter—"
Before Wan Changming could finish his sentence, Wan Qingchi spoke up of her own accord.
"Young Master Chu, and the two elder sisters, hello. I am Wan Qingchi."
Wan Qingchi introduced herself, revealing a bright and radiant smile.
Such a dazzling smile was enough to leave even Wan Changming momentarily stunned.