Chapter 31: A Master’s Eye and a New Resolve

Shen Hua, who proudly called himself a master of beauty hunting, possessed a perfect understanding of all matters related to women. For instance, Bai Mengze’s changes, if observed by others, might not seem significant.

They might simply notice her eyes were a little larger, her lips a shade redder, or her skin a touch fairer.

Yet, under Shen Hua’s sharp, hawk-like gaze, upon seeing Bai Mengze’s face, he immediately discerned her transformation.

Her features were more refined, their proportions remarkably harmonious. Overall, she had become undeniably more beautiful!

Had so little time not passed, Shen Hua would have suspected Bai Mengze had undergone cosmetic micro-adjustments; otherwise, such a dramatic change would be inexplicable.

Shen Hua wasn’t merely interested in women; he was particularly invested in their appearances.

Perhaps this fascination stemmed from the Shen family’s hospital, which had recently launched its cosmetic surgery department.

Constantly brought to the hospital by his parents to observe and learn, Shen Hua had unconsciously absorbed a bit of knowledge himself.

“Ji Wenyan, move aside, let me look again! Bai Mengze really has become prettier, it’s too strange, I’ve never seen…”

“Alright, alright, hurry up and leave! Morning self-study is about to start. If you don’t focus on school and just cause trouble, I’ll call Uncle Shen!”

“…”

Desperate to pinpoint the exact changes in Bai Mengze, Shen Hua found himself frustrated as Ji Wenyan stood squarely between them, completely shielding Bai Mengze from view. He longed to simply toss Ji Wenyan aside.

However, upon hearing Ji Wenyan’s threat, Shen Hua reluctantly suppressed that impulse.

‘A gentleman’s revenge is never too late.’

‘Ji Wenyan, you scoundrel, just don’t let any leverage fall into my hands.’

****

Only after watching Shen Hua depart did Ji Wenyan secretly breathe a sigh of relief. When he turned to look at Bai Mengze, he saw a puzzled expression on her face, clearly skeptical of Shen Hua’s pronouncements.

‘Women are naturally concerned about their appearance!’

Still, Bai Mengze’s transformation over the past two days had indeed been considerable.

This wasn’t merely about her looks, but her personality. Even now, Ji Wenyan distinctly remembered their first encounter.

Her aloofness and detachment had made her as unapproachable as an iceberg.

The aversion she displayed during their second meeting was certainly not feigned.

Yet, through his persistent efforts, Bai Mengze’s attitude towards him had gradually softened.

Now, they could engage in normal conversations, a stark contrast to her previous solitary and cold demeanor.

Reflecting on all this, Ji Wenyan felt he had overcome significant challenges. Thankfully, his perseverance had paid off, and he had finally drawn closer to Bai Mengze.

Furthermore, even making some unreasonable requests of her would now be perfectly acceptable.

For instance, using her for makeup practice…

“Don’t worry, I’ll help you win first place in this campus belle competition! I spent half of yesterday evening studying makeup techniques, and they’re finally going to be put to good use.”

“Alright, then I’ll leave it to you.”

Bai Mengze did not refuse Ji Wenyan’s offer.

Although she knew there wasn’t much hope, Bai Mengze still wanted to live out her remaining high school days fully, leaving no regrets.

Originally, Bai Mengze had intended to forgo university after high school, instead finding a tranquil place to spend the rest of her life.

However, after encountering Wen Ruo last night, Bai Mengze realized her previous ideas had been far too naive.

That bastard Liang Quan showed no remorse whatsoever; merely beating him once was far too lenient.

After graduating high school, she would go to B City to find work, ready to enact her revenge plan against Liang Quan at any moment.

“By the way, when does the campus belle competition start?”

“Preparations begin at one this afternoon. The school will invite famous celebrities to serve as judges, and outsiders will also be permitted to enter the school to watch the competition. However, only students from No. 1 High School will have the right to vote for the final result.”

“Outsiders can come in too?”

“Yes, after all, it’s an opportunity to increase the school’s exposure. Reporters from U City News Television will be here, along with other entertainment journalists. The competition officially starts at two o’clock, divided into three stages: preliminaries, heats, and the final. Many contestants will be eliminated in each round, until only one remains.”

Listening to the rules of the campus belle competition, Ji Wenyan nodded, feeling not a trace of nervousness.

Had this been yesterday, he would simply have hired professional makeup artists to transform Bai Mengze into a stunning beauty.

Standing on stage, outshining all other beauties, would have been a trivial matter.

However, whether Bai Mengze would have accepted such an arrangement was uncertain.

Now, it was even more convenient, as he would be doing Bai Mengze’s makeup himself!

With his master-level makeup skills, Ji Wenyan truly doubted any other woman could surpass Bai Mengze.

Even if the judges were blind, the eyes of the public would be sharp.

‘And if someone tried to rig the results…’

‘Hmph, he wasn’t someone to be trifled with.’

First place in the campus belle competition would absolutely go to Bai Mengze, without any doubt.