Chapter Sixty: Composure! Maintain Composure!

Phoenix Cottage.

Sheng Xinhuai strutted back and forth in front of Phoenix with her chest held high, teasing, “In a little while, you’ll see your dream lover. So? Excited or not?”

“Sheng Xinhuai, mind your words,” Phoenix shot a glance at the maids busying about the courtyard. When she saw they were paying no attention, she lowered her voice and warned, “If anyone overhears you, I’ll skin you alive.”

“Oh my, in broad daylight, you want to strip my clothes off... Tell me, are you trying to sleep with me?” Sheng Xinhuai put a hand on her hip, pointing a finger at Phoenix.

“I have no interest in sleeping with you, thank you. I’m not attracted to women.” Phoenix, recognizing Sheng Xinhuai had once again taken up her antics, replied helplessly, “Could you please sit down and rest for a while? Stop pacing in front of me, you’re making me dizzy.”

“Oh, so you get dizzy from milk too?” Sheng Xinhuai struck a seductive pose to accentuate her chest. “Well? Jealous, aren’t you?”

“Sheng Xinhuai...”

“Alright, alright.” Sheng Xinhuai obediently sat before Phoenix, gazing at her. “So? Are you nervous?”

“Nervous? Why should I be nervous?” Phoenix denied flatly.

“Then why do you look so ill at ease? I just walk a few steps in front of you, and you find me annoying... You weren’t like this before. Don’t you love me anymore?”

“...”

“You’ve lost your old sharpness.” Sheng Xinhuai pinched Phoenix’s cheek. “You never used to let me get the upper hand in an argument.”

“I just find you childish now. I’m not interested in bickering with you.”

“So what do you want instead?” Sheng Xinhuai’s eyes sparkled. “A real fight, with swords and guns?”

“You really are...” Phoenix was left speechless by Sheng Xinhuai.

This madwoman...

“I’ll stop teasing you.” Phoenix refused to take the bait, and Sheng Xinhuai, realizing a solo performance was dull, relented. “You’ve only been apart for a few days. Is there really any need to worry so much? This is your territory—shouldn’t they be the ones feeling out of place?”

“It’s not the same,” Phoenix replied. “Before, they didn’t know who I was, so everything was casual and easy between us... Now I’m afraid they’ll feel uncomfortable here.”

“Uncomfortable? From what you’ve told me, that Tang Fei fellow is bold as brass.”

Phoenix recalled Tang Fei’s usual demeanor and couldn’t help but grin. “He really is... fearless of heaven and earth, as if afraid of nothing.”

“And what about authority?” Sheng Xinhuai pressed. “I heard Chief Steward Chen Fenglei is receiving them himself. That old man’s name sounds upright, but he’s sly as a fox... With your little sweetheart in his hands, won’t he give them a rough welcome?”

Phoenix shook her head. “Chen Fenglei may be sullen, but he knows how to keep his boundaries. He never wastes energy on things that don’t benefit him. And besides, they’re my guests—why would he make things difficult for me over such trifles?”

“Well, that’s true.” Sheng Xinhuai nodded. “Even a dog’s owner commands respect. With our Princess Xiuxue watching over him, your little love can walk all over Phoenix City.”

“Sheng Xinhuai, watch your words... If you dare say ‘little lover’ again, I’ll tear that mouth of yours.”

“Boyfriend?”

...

Seeing Phoenix’s face turn to frosted steel and her gaze grow cold and silent, Sheng Xinhuai realized she’d truly angered her.

“Princess Xiuxue, I know I was wrong. I’ll be careful from now on—I promise never to tease you with those words again.” Sheng Xinhuai clung to Phoenix’s arm, swaying and apologizing pitifully.

“Walls have ears—always mind your tongue.” Phoenix wasn’t truly angry, just wanted to remind her to act with caution. “Didn’t you say it yourself? The more you care about someone, the more you must pretend not to.”

“So you did remember what I said.”

“Of course I remember—you were right,” Phoenix replied.

She stood and checked her reflection in the mirror, asking, “Does this dress look good?”

“It looks wonderful, wonderful. Our princess is a natural beauty. You look good in anything—or in nothing at all.”

“Is it too formal?” Phoenix asked, studying herself.

She wore an elegant, vintage black dress with fashionable black shoes. Her tall, slender figure was accentuated by a phoenix-shaped starstone pendant at her neck.

The starstone gleamed, making her skin appear even whiter and softer in the light.

“Too formal? You’re not in court dress—now that’s formal.” Sheng Xinhuai, standing behind, hugged Phoenix’s slim waist. “Just be natural, be yourself. That’s enough.”

“Natural.” Phoenix gazed at her reflection, also thinking herself beautiful.

Compared with her jeans and hoodie on the Old Earth, the difference was night and day. They’d be shocked when they saw her.

“Oh, I’ve always forgotten to ask—Is Tang Fei good-looking?” Sheng Xinhuai’s face was full of gossip. “The man Princess Xiuxue favors must be a true dragon among men, right?”

“Good-looking?” Phoenix thought for a moment, then smiled. “That’s not quite the word for him.”

“Huh? Then what do you like about him? I remember you’re all about looks—people, toys, everything must be the best looking. If the leads in a movie weren’t attractive, you’d say you couldn’t get into the story...”

“How should I put it...” Phoenix searched for words. “It’s hard to describe. You’ll understand when you see him.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” Sheng Xinhuai replied with a grin.

As they chatted, the maid Xiaohuan approached. “Miss Xiuxue, your guests have arrived.”

Phoenix insisted those around her call her ‘Miss Xiuxue’ rather than ‘princess,’ saying it felt more intimate.

Sheng Xinhuai was the exception—she delighted in teasing Zhongyu Xiuxue with her royal title.

“I’ll go greet them,” Phoenix said, turning to leave.

Sheng Xinhuai yanked her back. “Composure. You’re a princess, remember? Why rush out to greet people?”

“They’re my friends.” Phoenix smiled. “Here, there are no princesses—only friends.”

When Phoenix and Sheng Xinhuai stepped from the room, Tang Fei and Little Fatty had already arrived, guided by the servants.

Familiar faces, yet meeting again felt like a lifetime had passed—they were almost unrecognizable to each other.

The changes were simply too great.

Phoenix had always been beautiful, ethereal and unique—a beauty the world rarely saw.

But when she fell to the Old Earth, badly wounded and haggard, her disheveled state masked her looks. Later, in Tang Fei’s hoodie and jeans, her face smeared with charcoal, she’d resembled a scruffy tomboy.

Now, under dazzling lights in a black dress, she was radiant, enveloped in a silvery glow—poised, graceful, and elegant.

Her expression was playful or solemn by turns, blending an unfamiliar nobility with the old mischievous charm.

As they say, nobility breeds beauty, and standing there, Phoenix radiated a beauty beyond words.

Yet Tang Fei and Little Fatty’s transformations left Phoenix equally stunned, barely believing her eyes.

She remembered Tang Fei as a wild, reckless soul—his hair always a mess, clothes wrinkled like straw. Due to the dire scarcity of water, his skin often appeared grimy.

With all his hunting, if he didn’t bathe daily, the dirt would pile up on his face and body in no time...

Now, Tang Fei wore a well-fitted black suit over a snow-white mandarin-collared shirt. A slender black tie lent him a melancholic air and a refined, restrained allure.

He’d just bathed, so his hair was still damp but smoothly combed, falling casually over his shoulders. His face was clean, his hands spotless, every inch of him freshly washed.

The eyes usually hidden by wild hair were now revealed—pure, bright, full of delight and guarded curiosity.

Phoenix gazed at Tang Fei, and Tang Fei sized up Phoenix.

Their eyes met and clashed in the air.

Then Phoenix burst out laughing.

She clicked toward Tang Fei in her little shoes, squinting as she examined him up close. “Who dressed you up like this? You don’t look like yourself at all.”

“You either,” Tang Fei replied, curling his lip. “All dolled up and girly.”

Sheng Xinhuai, eavesdropping nearby, suddenly brightened up with interest. This was going to be good...