Reborn One Week Before the Apocalypse

Chapter 93: Chapter 285: Shall We Dance?

It had been Wen Jianshu’s idea to persuade Tang Mo to attend the ball. As a junior member of the Wen Family, he wanted to use the event to formally introduce her as his daughter.

After Tang Mo’s ranking had suddenly shot up, many people had grown curious about her identity. A formal announcement now would also serve as a form of protection for her.

To prepare for the ball, her eldest uncle Wen Jianli’s two children, Wen Ze and Wen Yi, had also returned home from school.

Wen Ze was twenty-two this year, and Wen Yi was twenty. Both had reached the age for socializing.

The first time she saw Wen Ze, Tang Mo made a point of looking him over. After all, this was her best friend’s potential match.

Wen Ze wasn’t exceptionally tall, and his skin was fair. He wore glasses and had a gentle, scholarly air about him, resembling Wen Jianshu more than his own father, Wen Jianli.

’Two years is nothing. He and Song Qing are a perfect match,’ Tang Mo nodded to herself.

Wen Yi was twenty, but having an older brother and having been the only girl in the family before Tang Mo’s arrival, she was quite innocent and lively. The moment she saw Tang Mo, she flocked over, chattering away and asking one question after another.

Deep down, both Wen Ze and Wen Yi took after their parents. They didn’t care for power or status, so naturally, they weren’t resistant to the new addition to their family.

As they were all of the same generation, Tang Mo got along quite well with the two of them.

Tang Mo hadn’t worn a dress since cutting her hair short, usually opting for the convenience of tracksuits and sneakers.

Obviously, that kind of attire was out of the question for the ball. Even if Tang Mo had wanted to wear it, the others would never have agreed.

Because Wen Yi loved all things beautiful, she had arranged for a designer to send a large selection of gowns and jewelry to the house for them to choose from.

S Base didn’t have shopping malls or clothing stores, of course. Even if it did, there wouldn’t be enough of a customer base to support them.

But there was never a shortage of people who could spot a business opportunity, which led to the emergence of small-scale, high-end custom tailoring that catered to the upper class.

The designer had sent over a wide variety of gowns, and Wen Yi excitedly pulled Tang Mo over to try them on.

Of course, it was mainly Wen Yi who did the trying on, while Tang Mo watched from the side.

As she watched, Tang Mo complained to herself, ’Almost every single one of these gowns is floor-length. How am I supposed to move in something like this?’

Tang Mo wasn’t like a princess such as Wen Yi, who had been sheltered ever since the apocalypse began. She was used to being on the outside. Even within S Base, she never lost her sense of caution and her respect for the dangers of the new world.

Left with no other choice, Tang Mo reluctantly picked out a short formal dress.

The dress was pure white, with a satin, strapless bodice and a short, poofy velvet skirt. The hem was adorned with swan feathers and crushed diamonds that sparkled dazzlingly under the light.

To go with the dress, she slipped on a pair of stiletto heels made of suede, finished with a square diamond buckle.

Tang Mo lifted her arms and kicked her legs. ’Hmm, this one will do, I guess. I can still move freely enough to fight if I have to.’

Fighting in a formal dress and high heels... Only Tang Mo would think of something like that.

”Wow! Sister Tang Mo, you look amazing! You’re even prettier than a movie star.”

Wen Yi, sitting on a nearby sofa, gazed at Tang Mo with stars in her eyes, her praise coming straight from the heart.

Wen Yi was beautiful too, but hers was the beauty of a fair-skinned, pretty little princess.

Tang Mo, however, was different. Her beauty had a wild streak to it, a restrained boldness.

Her long legs, the perfect curve of her waist, her slender neck and ramrod-straight back, even the line of her jaw—everything was absolutely perfect.

Tang Mo’s skin was smooth and fine. Having spent so much time in the wild, she wasn’t as fair as Wen Yi, but she radiated a powerful, magnetic sex appeal that made it impossible to look away.

”It’s just that your necklace doesn’t quite match,” Wen Yi said, circling Tang Mo. ”This outfit would be perfect with some diamonds.” The only thing marring the perfect picture, she decided, was Tang Mo’s jade necklace.

Tang Mo touched the necklace at her throat. ’Are you kidding? I wouldn’t take this off even if it meant skipping the ball.’

Rummaging through the jewelry that had been sent over, Tang Mo found a crystal hair clip and pinned it in her short hair.

It softened her imposing aura, adding a touch of playful charm.

”There, that’s good enough.”

Tang Mo clapped her hands together, looking at her reflection with satisfaction.

Given the Wen Family’s status, one would expect the entire family to attend the ball.

However, the only ones attending that day were Wen Jianshu with Tang Mo, Wen Yi, and Wen Ze, and Wen Jianming with a female companion.

The old master was too old to attend such events.

Wen Jianli and his wife much preferred gardening and tending to their birds, and never cared for social functions.

Lin Yi couldn’t attend because she was far along in her pregnancy and had trouble getting around.

As for Zhou Ying...

Tang Mo glanced at the glamorous, busty woman on Wen Jianming’s arm and felt a silent pang of sympathy for her aunt.

As Wen Jianshu led Tang Mo through the room, people constantly flocked to them to strike up a conversation.

Tang Mo listened as Wen Jianshu introduced her again and again. All she had to do was hold her glass of red wine and maintain a perfect smile.

’Ugh... I really hate these kinds of events. I’d be more comfortable facing mutant beasts in the jungle.’

When Wen Jianshu finally stepped away to chat with someone else, Tang Mo’s gaze began to wander around the ballroom.

The ballroom was immense. A massive crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, its light cascading over the lavishly dressed guests, making each one of them seem to glow.

The glittering, opulent scene almost made Tang Mo forget for a moment that this was still the apocalypse.

’Outside, countless mutant beasts are waiting for a chance to tear humans to shreds. Their intelligence is growing, and they’re constantly evolving...’

Tang Mo shook her head hard. ’No. As soon as Mom has the baby, I have to get out of here.’

This lap of luxury was even more dangerous than a battlefield of Asuras.

”What are you doing, swaying back and forth like that?”

Song Qing saw Tang Mo shaking her head and came over to pat her on the shoulder.

”It’s nothing. So, you saw Wen Ze? What do you think?” Tang Mo teased.

”Well... I’m two years older than him.”

Song Qing blushed a little. This was the first time she had seen Wen Ze.

Seeing Song Qing’s reaction, Tang Mo knew there was potential. She just wondered what Wen Ze would think.

But from what she had observed, Wen Ze also had a quiet disposition. If she wasn’t mistaken, a graceful beauty like Song Qing was probably his ideal type.

”You’re Tang Mo, right? Remember me? I’m Song Feng, Song Qing’s brother. We’ve met before!”

A stocky figure squeezed in between Tang Mo and Song Qing.

”Bro, what are you doing?” Song Qing pressed a hand to her forehead. She really didn’t know what to do with her brother sometimes.

”Quiet, I’m trying to find you a sister-in-law. Hey, Tang Mo, have you thought any more about my proposal from the other day?”

Song Feng rubbed his hands together, looking a bit sheepish.

”Bro!” Song Qing was so mad she pinched Song Feng’s arm.

”Would you care to dance?”

Just then, a hand was suddenly offered to Tang Mo.

The group looked up to see Qin Fen, bowing as he invited Tang Mo to dance.