Chapter 38: The Siren’s Muse

To be honest, this was the first time in all her years that Cheng Yiyi could tell how expensive a piece of clothing was just by looking at it.

“Siren’s Muse” was its name.

It was a beautifully crafted, heavy gown of deep-sea blue, glowing with gold accents and cascades of pearls. The silhouette wove together a mermaid’s romance and a noble’s extravagance. Every single detail felt crafted to bewitch.

The gown was cut from a lush, deep-toned sapphire velvet. Even just the drape and texture of the fabric made its price obvious.

The bodice was a classic deep V with thin straps. At the center of the chest sat a magnificent brooch, its principal stone a dark blue sapphire, from which fine golden chains trailed down, strung with glossy pearls and minute sapphires, falling like crystalline constellations toward the waist.

The shoulder straps were themselves chains of pearls, slanting elegantly from shoulder to shoulder.

The skirt echoed a mermaid’s tail, but with softer waves. Each billow of fabric seemed sculpted to perfection.

Sheer, gradient blue organza sleeves accompanied the dress, shifting from a rich sapphire at the upper arm to a pale, translucent ice blue at the wrist, finished with delicate ruffles and embellished with gold filigree and sapphire drops.

A matching pair of high heels stood nearby, stilettos of glossy sapphire satin with sharp, pointed toes.

Their tips were edged with golden lace, the upper curve stitched with folded satin and set with a sapphire buckle, from which a string of luminous pearls swung. An ankle strap glittered with crystals, and on the heel was tied a soft, puffy bow made of the same gradient blue silk.

“Th-‘his… ah…” Cheng Yiyi was totally overwhelmed, wide-eyed as a girl who’d never seen the world. And she wasn’t pretending. She truly hadn’t.

She paused, took a breath, and reached out, her fingers brushing the jewels that hung from the dress.

The stone was cool to the touch. She swallowed involuntarily.

Then she turned to the steward beside her. “This isn’t fake, is it?”

Steward Li gave a serene, unmistakable smile. “Please rest assured, Miss. There would never be any cheap plastic on such a garment.”

“Every single stone is completely natural, and harms the body in no way whatsoever.”

“This dress was exceptionally difficult to produce.”

“The Shen household has, after all, always waited for you to return. So the gown’s design and numerous subtle details were finished long ago.”

“It was only in these last several days that we forced the seamstresses to work around the clock so everything could come together in time for today.”

“Then…” Cheng Yiyi only felt a chill run down her spine. Still, she had to ask, “What… how much did it cost?”

“Because the Shen family has been waiting for you for so long, the production stretched over quite a while. The precise sum is impossible to calculate now.”

“If you add up all the various costs, not counting these last few days of overtime for the artisans, it would come to roughly…”

“About four and a half million, perhaps? The actual worth is certainly no less.”

“Ah! I feel dizzy…” To Cheng Yiyi, this amount was so preposterous it went beyond her comprehension. Her knees went weak.

Shen Anyue quickly supported her: “Elder sister, are you all right?!” (while probing and sniffing at her all the while)

Verdict: she smelled wonderful and felt wonderfully soft.

“I… I’m fine…” Cheng Yiyi was, after all, still a child born of poverty deep inside. At that price tag, it felt like a knife twisting in her chest.

It wasn’t her own money being spent, yet…

‘Over four million for a single dress!’

‘Good heavens. Could there be a more wasteful thing in this world?!’

‘Wuu… wuuuuu…’

From the side, the steward watched her and only smiled with approval.

He thought it was good that the young lady was like this.

Being indifferent to luxury was, strictly speaking, a virtue. And he was certain that a girl like Cheng Yiyi would never in this lifetime go down the path of squandering.

But this banquet was a different matter altogether.

The great families of the capital had not assembled in years, because no significant event had arisen to warrant it.

And Cheng Yiyi’s reappearance was undoubtedly a sufficient reason.

When that moment came, the Shen family could not afford to look cheap. To splash out at least a little was, therefore, a necessity.

That said, compared to the vast resources of the Shen household, the cost of producing this single dress was no more than the dust on the tip of a single ox hair.

After praising Cheng Yiyi’s frugal nature in his heart, Steward Li went on to explain:

“Miss, many people will attend your homecoming banquet.”

“Not only the four great clans, but also other noteworthy families.”

“Moreover, a number of high officials from the capital will come to offer their congratulations as well.”

“As the star of the occasion, your attire naturally cannot be lackluster.”

“Still, there is no need for you to feel pressure. You need only make a single appearance and can then withdraw. Everything else will be handled for you.”

Cheng Yiyi’s face briefly clouded with unease.

It all sounded quite abstract.

Like a teacher telling you not to be nervous before the university entrance exam.

But once the exam is in front of you, how could you not be nervous?

If not then, when else was the time to be nervous? When you finally got to step into the private QQ space of the person you liked?

It was the same reasoning.

When one had to wear something so expensive, and with so much bare skin exposed! No matter who it was, how could they stay calm?

Since she was little, Cheng Yiyi had always been plainly dressed. Even a short-sleeved shirt sometimes made her feel uncomfortable.

She had never even dared to wear a truly short skirt!

Now this Muse of the Siren had to expose her shoulders, her collarbone, her waist, her abdomen, even a long strip of leg on one side…

It was simply too… too… scandalous!

But of course, such was merely the thought of the sheltered, small-town girl that was Cheng Yiyi herself.

All together, the outfit was not truly revealing. It accentuated every elegant curve while remaining classy through the opulent features and the weight of its material. While the gems were plenty, they did not look gaudy; instead, they conveyed an overwhelming sense of nobility.

“Sister…” Shen Anyue suggested softly, “How about trying it on right now?”

“I suddenly recalled, the task the master assigned me is not yet complete. Please excuse me.” Quick as a flash, the steward took his leave.

Before leaving, he turned his head and reminded: “The two misses must not stay up late tonight. The banquet is at noon tomorrow.”

“But since we are the host, we shall need to arrive early to get everything ready.”

After the steward had left, Shen Anyue lost no time in pulling Cheng Yiyi into her own bedroom.

She swung open the concealed floor-length mirror, lovingly cradled the Siren’s Muse in her arms, and looked at Cheng Yiyi with shining eyes. “Well, sister? No time like the present.”

“Go on, put it on!”

“Alright.” Cheng Yiyi, though puzzled by such enthusiasm, could only nod in agreement.

For that dress had been specially made at considerable expense. If she didn’t even put it on, wouldn’t it all go to waste?!

Four and a half million!

Wasting money like that would be worse than being killed!

By now, Cheng Yiyi had already taken off most of her clothes. Standing there in the air conditioning, she could feel a faint chill against her skin.

“Hey~ Cheng Yiyi, your chest is actually a little fuller than mine,” Shen Anyue murmured, tilting her head, eyes riveted to Cheng Yiyi.

“Now, size is nothing to fuss over. You’re not exactly lacking, and it will only grow with time…” Naively believing Shen Anyue’s mind to be innocent and pure, Cheng Yiyi even went as far as to offer comfort.

What she didn’t realize was that Shen Anyue would never, ever feel jealous of Cheng Yiyi.

As for the reason why?

That particular girl would never guess it in a hundred lifetimes.

📚 Also on NHV Novels

Night of Arcbalis

BLContract RelationshipDark Fantasy

Read Now →
Not interested