Chapter 43: The Amber Pavilion

Under the flashbulbs, even reality can be rendered unreal. The continuous flashes created black specks of noise across Lin Nian’s retinas, and he could not help raising a hand to shield his eyes, drawing a chorus of groans from the paparazzi. In contrast, the surrounding men and women seemed to have been born with titanium eyes given to them by their parents, letting the dazzling light wash over them without so much as a blink. Lin Nian could only feel a deep sense of admiration and quickened his pace to walk on through.

"Why the rush, Junior? I thought you were the type who could effortlessly handle any situation." Mandy’s stride was neither fast nor slow, her runway walk rivaling that of a Victoria’s Secret angel. Lin Nian strongly suspected that this usually unserious girl had secretly practiced specifically for this ten-meter red carpet.

"Why would you think that?" Rather than strolling with a beauty, it felt more like being taken hostage by one. Since the initiative for their pace did not belong to him, Lin Nian could only offer a bitter smile and match Mandy’s graceful stride.

"When I first met you in China, my initial impression was that although you were young, you had a strong sense of own mind. I took Professor Masahisa Fuyama’s psychology course during my sophomore year, and through a superficial analysis, people like you are mostly self-reliant and prefer to put on a brave face. Even if you're feeling terribly uncomfortable and have the weight of the world on your shoulders, you still manage to keep a nonchalant expression on your face," Mandy said with a shrug.

"I'm human too. When I encounter things I dislike, I usually say so directly. Because back home, I already have someone who is far too good at putting on a brave face; she serves as my exact opposite in that regard."

"Saying what's on your mind is a good thing. Most people in this school love to put on a brave face, so everyone is constantly wound up, wearing a veneer of poise as a mask for dealing with people and situations. I really dislike that," Mandy said. "If everyone were as straightforward as you, Junior, life would probably be a lot easier."

"How is Senior Mandy even here?" Lin Nian wasn't too fond of the suddenly serious turn the conversation had taken, so he abruptly changed the subject.

"Rather than asking why I'm here, I'm much more curious as to why you were standing stupidly outside the entrance."

"I ran into Caesar Gattuso during morning classes. When class ended, he mentioned there was a party here tonight, so I came."

"Ah, this must be your first time attending a Student Union party," Mandy instantly grasped the crux of the matter. "This must have been an accident. When Caesar invited you this morning, the occasion probably wasn't very formal, right? Otherwise, he would have had Norma send you an email reminding you to prepare formal wear and mailed a party invitation directly to your dorm."

"Indeed. I was busy all afternoon and haven't even been back to my dorm," Lin Nian nodded. "Is it going to be difficult without an invitation?"

"If it were anyone else, probably. But in your case, I don't think that's an issue today," Mandy smiled.

"Why?"

"Because you're famous now, Junior," Mandy fished her phone out of her casual makeup pouch, unlocked the screen, and tossed it to Lin Nian.

Lin Nian glanced at it, caught sight of the headline on the Night Watcher Forum's pinned post reading "Sensational: 'S-Grade' Student Born...", and immediately lost interest. He turned off the phone screen and handed it back to Mandy. "I don't think I told anyone."

"But you overlooked the eavesdroppers outside the classroom door. If you skimmed the contents of the post, you'd probably notice it was polished and written by one of the Paparazzi from the Information Department. The people in the Information Department are experts at eavesdropping and gossip. Your conversation with Principal Ange in the classroom must have been overheard. By noon, the post was already published, pinned in red by your dear roommate Finger, and voted up to the daily trending list. Even if you hadn't come to the Student Union party, you'd likely run right into the Information Department's own party back at the dorm."

"They're throwing a party too? I'm curious if the Information Department's party is what I imagine it to be."

"Can you picture Finger wearing a suit and walking the red carpet with a female companion? I certainly can't. Their party is probably just family-size buckets of chicken, cola, and insanely spicy chicken wings. Finger made a small fortune taking bets centered around you," Mandy shrugged.

"And what about you, Senior?" Lin Nian glanced sideways at Mandy.

"Perhaps you should change your address to Senior Sister now. Passing the 3E Examination officially makes you Professor Manstein's student."

"Very well, Senior Sister."

"Good boy," Mandy flashed a comforting smile. "To be called Senior Sister with genuine conviction by an 'S-Grade' student means my years in college haven't been a complete failure. As for the betting pool—does Senior Sister's dress look good today?"

"Understood." Lin Nian cast a sideways glance at the radiant blonde girl and gave a slight nod.

By this time, the two of them had walked up to the waiter stationed at the main entrance of the Antermont Hall. The waiter, dressed in a butler's uniform, was a newly joined freshman in the Student Union. Based on his looks alone, he was handsome enough to go straight into the front lines as a movie star. At that moment, he politely tilted his head and asked them, "Please show your invitation, thank you."

Mandy fished a black, gold-foil-stamped invitation out of her makeup bag and placed it on the silver tray, while Lin Nian stood in place and rubbed his nose. "I left my invitation in my dorm and forgot to bring it."

"Not only that, but you are also not dressed in formal wear as instructed on the invitation," the waiter looked Lin Nian up and down and said slowly.

The surrounding men and women holding invitations all turned to look at the scene. From the very beginning, everyone had been quite curious about the identity of this boy wearing a school uniform who walked the red carpet with a blonde beauty with complete composure.

People had guessed two possibilities for such a spectacle: either this person was eccentric and liked to march to the beat of his own drum, or he was sent by the neighboring Lionheart Society to crash the party. After all, the rivalry between the Student Union and the Lionheart Society was an enduring tradition. Given that the presidents of both factions were currently away doing their senior-year internships, could this be the prelude to a factional war staged by their successors?

"He doesn't have his invitation, but he should be on the guest list," Mandy stepped forward to explain.

The waiter paused, looked closely at the boy before him under the light spilling through the glass doors, and then, his eyes suddenly lighting up, gave a slight bow, stepped aside, and smiled. "Yes, of course your companion is on the guest list. After all, the possibility of guests losing their invitations is something the organizers take into account, so we have long since memorized the guest list. Your companion's name was added to the list at the very last minute, and the organizers specifically reminded us that he is the guest of honor for tonight's banquet. Welcome to the Student Union, Mr. Lin Nian."

Perhaps because the waiter hadn't deliberately lowered his voice, Lin Nian's name was overheard by the people nearby. Several paparazzi carefully inspected the school-uniform-clad boy's face under the lights of the Antermont Hall, and upon a sudden realization, immediately raised their cameras and began snapping away furiously. For a moment, the flashbulbs were as intense as the sky during a fireworks display.

Lin Nian, the S-grade student, making a grand appearance at the Student Union—such a spectacle was not something one saw every day. Was this a statement? Or a test? Everyone was speculating, and some people even unconsciously began to applaud. The applause rose and fell in waves, as if what was unfolding before them was a momentous event worthy of going down in the history books.

"Lin Nian, the first 'S-Grade' student in recent years? Hello, I'm the head of the Student Union dance troupe. I'm very glad to meet you here at the Antermont Hall today," a tall girl wearing a white tulle evening gown resembling a swan walked up to the still-dazed Lin Nian and extended her hand.

"Hello." Lin Nian didn't quite understand the situation, but he still reached out and lightly shook the hand of the girl whose skin tone was as pale as snow.

"I'm very much looking forward to the chance to share a dance with you later." The swan-like Russian-descended girl offered a slight bow, left behind a smile as lovely as twilight, and stepped into the Antermont Hall.

"Vice-minister of the Sailing Club. Our minister is currently inside socializing. If there's an opportunity later, I hope we can chat," another burly man with bronze skin, built just like the Haibo assault team members Lin Nian had seen during physical tests, stepped forward to shake his hand. "'S-Grade' student, I heard your hometown is a coastal city. You must be quite an expert at sailing then! Our Sailing Club warmly welcomes talent like you!"

"No... actually, I haven't really sailed much. My biggest interest during the summer vacation was working part-time jobs..."

"I'm the head of the Mountaineering Club. 'S-Grade' student, your hometown must have mountains..."

"No... my home is by the sea."

"By the sea is great! I'm the head of the Diving Club..."

"The Mixer Club..."

"Thank you, thank you, hello, hello." Lin Nian shook hands and made promises amid the endless stream of greetings. Surrounded by whispering crowds, pointing fingers, and bustling noise, he felt a bit dazed. Such preferential treatment had never happened in the first dozen or so years of his life. The most similar thing that had ever happened was at an internet cafe, where a bunch of hardcore Counter-Strike enthusiasts yielded their computer seats for his personal arrival.

And now, at a banquet of this scale, reporters treated him like a celebrity, and people constantly stepped forward to shake his hand and introduce themselves just to leave an impression. Spotlights beamed from all directions, illuminating him in hyper-detail. These scenes genuinely stirred a surreal feeling from the very depths of his heart.

"From the moment that box of lipsticks was instantly delivered, I knew Caesar Gattuso was determined to win you over!" Mandy re-linked her arm with Lin Nian's, shielding him from some of the crowd attempting to come forward and socialize, and walked onward with a bright smile.

"Should I feel proud and arrogant?" Lin Nian turned his head and asked softly, finally rescued from the crowd.

"As an 'S-Grade', you can, but actually all of this depends entirely on you," Mandy said. "Does this kind of special treatment make you feel a bit better?"

"It feels quite unreal, yet it's happening for real."

"Then Senior Sister can only tell you that since it's happening, just adapt to it. If you don't like it, simply stay away from it. At least tonight, you are already standing here, and the choice still remains in your hands." Mandy pushed open the glass doors, which refracted the enchanting light and shadow of the crystal chandelier inside the hall. The luxurious decorations of the Antermont Hall brushed a delicate, rosy gold powder onto everyone's face.

A cello ensemble was playing fervently behind the second-floor railing, and the people strolling and socializing on the dance floor all looked radiant, like sparkling amber diamonds gleaming beneath the spotlights.