Chapter 374: Endless Happiness, or the Real Her
As the Weaving Nightmare Beast let out a sinister laugh, Jiang Qingli felt as if she had plunged into a black hole. It was so dark she couldn’t see a thing.
A few seconds later, she seemed to hear the tune of an elegant, romantic piano melody.
As the sound grew clearer, the scene before her gradually brightened.
The sun was perfect, bathing the romantically decorated lawn in a warm, hazy, pale-gold light. A bride holding a pure white bouquet passed under a circular arch of red and light-colored roses, walking toward a young gray wolf in a sharp suit waiting for her.
As it passed Jiang Qingli, who was sitting in the first row, the Weaving Nightmare Beast paused slightly, glanced sideways, and curled its lips at her.
It didn’t open its mouth, but the Weaving Nightmare Beast’s cold, mocking voice rang in her ears, "Don’t bother with pointless struggles. You can’t move."
"Enjoy the show."
"You won’t get a chance like this after you’re dead, you detestable female."
The Weaving Nightmare Beast looked away and turned its gaze to the groom ahead, unable to resist curling its lips in a smug smile.
From the moment it had appeared, Yi Nuo’s gaze had not left it.
’He’s captivated, isn’t he?’
The Weaving Nightmare Beast was proud of its ability to create a dream that could so thoroughly enthrall an S-class male.
It lifted its chin and walked toward Yi Nuo, one step at a time.
Attendants in tuxedos stood on both sides, scattering flower petals.
Bright red rose petals rained down, landing on the train of the bride’s pristine white wedding dress like flowing blood.
Stopping before Yi Nuo, the Weaving Nightmare Beast bashfully lowered its head as if shy. "Stop staring... It’s so embarrassing. Won’t you have all the time in the world to look after we’re married?"
It deliberately lowered its voice, its sweet and soft tone laced with temptation. "Once you put this ring on my finger, I’ll be yours forever."
But when it finished speaking, Yi Nuo did not immediately reply.
A flicker of unease went through the Weaving Nightmare Beast. Feigning innocent curiosity, it raised its eyes and peeked at him.
The gray-haired young man’s gaze looked past it, focusing on something in the distance.
In the direction of Jiang Qingli.
The Weaving Nightmare Beast’s face fell. It glanced back and asked in displeasure, "What are you looking at?"
"I didn’t expect to see my parents here," Yi Nuo said.
The Weaving Nightmare Beast was startled, only then realizing that Yi Nuo’s "parents" were sitting next to Jiang Qingli.
The Yin Shen of this moment was a bit older than in the first dream. Her appearance was the same, but she carried herself with more poise. There were faint fine lines at the corners of her eyes behind her glasses, and her smile was as gentle as ever.
Beside her, Song Zhe’s demeanor had softened considerably. He held Yin Shen’s hand and gave the new couple a smile of approval.
This was how Yi Nuo imagined his mother and father would look if they hadn’t passed away and were alive to witness his wedding.
The Weaving Nightmare Beast understood and went along with Yi Nuo’s imagination. "Your parents have already been transferred back to the First District, so you can see them anytime. Let’s not waste time now, okay?"
As it spoke, it glanced at the officiant standing beside them.
A bishop in a red robe stood beside them and said with a smile, "Mr. Yi Nuo, it’s almost time. Please look at your bride. We are about to begin the vows."
At this reminder, Yi Nuo slowly turned his head, his gaze returning to the bride.
Meeting his gaze, the Weaving Nightmare Beast felt a subtle sense of strangeness.
It felt that Yi Nuo’s gaze was incredibly complex, a mixture of many different emotions.
Even for the Weaving Nightmare Beast, which had entered many dreams, it was difficult to discern them all at once.
’But there’s no time to analyze his psyche now. The priority is to advance the scene to the ring exchange and kill him at his happiest moment. And I’ll make sure Jiang Qingli, sitting over there, gets a good look...’
The piano music stopped. The bishop drew a symbol over his heart and slowly looked at the Weaving Nightmare Beast. "Miss Qingli, do you consent to marry Mr. Yi Nuo? To stay by his side for the rest of your life, whether rich or poor, in sickness or in health?"
The Weaving Nightmare Beast didn’t hesitate for a second. "I do!"
"Good." The bishop nodded with a smile. "Then now, you may place the wedding ring on your Beast Husband."
The Weaving Nightmare Beast’s eyes gleamed as it lifted Yi Nuo’s hand.
Just as it picked up the ring, a strange noise suddenly came from behind.
A dirty shoe flew out and slammed hard onto the Weaving Nightmare Beast’s head!
Its meticulously arranged veil was knocked askew. The Weaving Nightmare Beast ground its teeth. When it whipped its head around, it saw, just as it expected, Jiang Qingli rushing toward them barefoot.
The face of the middle-aged female it had given her could be called ugly, but her eyes shone with a fire that could not be ignored.
This display of emotion irritated the Weaving Nightmare Beast.
’This dream I tailor-made for Yi Nuo is so perfect, so blissful. Why must some idiot always come and ruin it?’
The Weaving Nightmare Beast clicked its tongue, TSK, and raised a hand, encircling the area with an invisible wall.
Jiang Qingli was cut off outside. Her voice couldn’t be heard inside at all; one could only see her frantically beating against the wall.
"What a ridiculous clown." The Weaving Nightmare Beast curled its lip, raised a smug eyebrow, and turned back. "Yi Nuo, let’s continue..."
But in the next second, the groom, who had been standing opposite it, hurried off in Jiang Qingli’s direction.
The Weaving Nightmare Beast was startled and frantically reached out to grab his wrist.
Yi Nuo paid it no heed, pushing its hand aside without a shred of hesitation.
"Yi Nuo!" The Weaving Nightmare Beast panicked. It blocked his path with both hands and raised its voice, yelling in a nearly threatening tone, "Look at me! I’m Jiang Qingli!"
"You’ve seen me as your salvation since you were a teenager! I’m the one you love! You even refused multiple invitations to return to the military academy just to stay by my side! Are you going to abandon the happiness within your grasp for some ugly servant who came out of nowhere?!"
It pointed to Yin Shen and Song Zhe in the first row of guest seats and reminded him, word by word, "Your parents are still watching! They are here to witness your happiness!"
"How can you do this to them?!"
Yi Nuo stopped in his tracks.
His gaze fell upon the Weaving Nightmare Beast, and the calm in his gray eyes struck it with the fear of being completely exposed.
Yi Nuo said coolly, "The real betrayal would be staying in a dream like this."
’He knows it’s a dream?!’
The Weaving Nightmare Beast was aghast.
After knocking Jiang Qingli unconscious, the Weaving Nightmare Beast had afternoon tea with Yi Nuo, chatted with his parents, and hadn’t noticed anything unusual about him, right up until arriving at the wedding venue this morning.
’When did he find out?!’
The Weaving Nightmare Beast took a deep breath. "Yi Nuo, stay. I will create a perfect dream for you... Your parents will live, the person you love will be with you forever, and you will have a limitless future... What reason is there to leave..."
Its voice was soft, ethereal, and as seductive as a siren’s call.
Yi Nuo was unmoved. "Sorry, I don’t need that."
He would rather accept the cold reality than false happiness.
As Yi Nuo finished speaking, the ground around them began to collapse. The rose petals scattered in the air, gradually disintegrating.
The disguise on the Weaving Nightmare Beast’s face slowly faded away, revealing its ferocious, bestial features. It roared, trying to keep him there, "Once you return to the real world, you’ll never see your parents again!"
Yi Nuo’s steps faltered for a moment.
But then he continued firmly toward Jiang Qingli.
Without breaking his stride, Yi Nuo reached a hand out to Jiang Qingli. "Miss, can you stand?"
The Weaving Nightmare Beast shrieked, furious and desperate, "Jiang Qingli will never love you once you get out! You’re just a pathetic simp!"
"How strange..."
Jiang Qingli placed her hand in Yi Nuo’s palm and tilted her head, looking at the crazed beast.
"You aren’t me. How could you possibly know I won’t love him?"