Chapter 763: Chapter 393: Openly Meaningful (First Update)
The mother and daughter stayed a while longer in the restroom, and only after touching up their makeup did they come out one after the other.
To attract attention, Autumn Stetford was the first to exit.
Ruby Sheldon lingered for a bit, reapplying her eye makeup before leaving the restroom.
By the time she came out, most people had finished their dinner, leaving Fortune Pavilion in small groups.
The ball tonight was held at the Moonlit Tower.
Moonlit Tower was built on the large lawn south of Fortune Pavilion, appearing from afar like a grand hall with a gilded rooftop.
Inside, however, it was entirely in Western decor.
The magnificent hall glowed with splendor, and the enormous chandelier hung high above, spanning two meters in diameter.
The polished mahogany floor gleamed like a mirror, and along the walls were rows of soft armchairs. Every few seats stood low tables, laden with fruits, drinks, and beer.
Lawrence Winters had already arrived at Moonlit Tower with Mrs. Fu and Mrs. Sheng.
Tonight’s ball was mainly for young women under twenty-one.
However, those over twenty-one but unmarried could also participate.
There were no age or marital status restrictions for male partners, as long as they accompanied the young women in dance.
Like the famous international debutante ball, the dance was also a waltz in courtly style.
There weren’t stringent restrictions on the number of participants; as long as they met the criteria, anyone could have a dance.
The opening dance was, of course, by Ruby Sheldon.
She was the birthday girl, and the entire ball was in her honor.
Lawrence Winters had no interest in dancing; after all, she was married and didn’t want to join in the excitement.
If it weren’t so impolite to leave alone, she’d have sneaked away quietly.
Mrs. Fu and Mrs. Sheng had their own circles. After listening for a while, Lawrence found herself uninterested and moved to a sofa next door, freeing the spot beside Mrs. Fu.
Meanwhile, the young men and women were already warming up in small groups, preparing to hit the dance floor.
The hall was filled with the elegant melody of the ’Waves of the Danube Waltz,’ vibrant yet not overwhelmingly rousing, not enough to incite excitement but engaging enough to stave off drowsiness like a lullaby.
Lawrence sat alone on a small round sofa, eating fruit while watching the vibrant scene unfold on the dance floor, thoroughly enjoying herself.
Evan Stetford soon found her and joined her, smiling as he said, "You haven’t eaten much today."
"I’m full." Lawrence replied, popping a piece of cantaloupe into her mouth, "The three-course appetizer filled me up."
Evan chuckled and handed her a napkin.
Lawrence took it, placing it in her hand, and then picked another ripe, juicy melon.
She chatted with him, "Evan, you’ve truly become a hit, your fantasy drama’s ratings are sky-high."
Evan smiled, shaking his head, "You know I just love acting. The ratings are your concern, not mine."
"Exactly. You’re so laid-back; shoot and you’re done, leaving us to monitor post-production, ratings, and fight for your awards." Lawrence laughed, finishing her melon that was so sweet it stuck to her teeth, then took a sip of mineral water, saying, "You’ll certainly clinch some major TV awards after the series airs."
"Glad I could help," Evan replied modestly, "Sorry I can’t continue being your ’cash cow.’"
Lawrence burst out laughing.
She was just drinking a sip of mineral water and almost sprayed it all out.
However, she swiftly turned her head at the last minute, spraying it all into a nearby small trash can.
Evan was both amused and exasperated, "Why such a big reaction? Don’t you know what place I hold in your heart?"
Lawrence wiped her hands, grinning as she said, "You should be proud. You know how much I love money!"
"Exactly, I’m always proud of that." Evan said with a smile, subtly prying, "When’s your wedding? Be sure to invite me, or we won’t even be friends."
Suddenly talking about her wedding, Lawrence waved her hand with a smile, "Soon, soon, don’t rush! I’ll definitely send you an invitation."
The two thought they were hiding in a corner, laughing and chatting, but someone had already noticed.
Ever since Ruby Sheldon entered Moonlit Tower, she had been searching for Evan Stetford.
Still unwilling to give up, she planned to invite Evan to be her partner for the opening dance in front of everyone, making it hard for him to refuse.
