C1 Masked Ball

Qiao Yiyi meticulously adjusted her skirt before sitting down, taking care not to wrinkle her lavish gown. The mask on her face felt cumbersome, so she removed it with a flourish and set it on the table, savoring her meal in serene contentment.

She was in the food section tucked away in a corner of the dance floor. Occasionally, someone would come by to grab a bite, but they never lingered. In the expansive area, Yiyi was the sole figure seated quietly at the table, savoring each bite.

Yiyi was attending the enigmatic ball hosted by the wealthy Mo Family. The Mo Family was legendary; even Yiyi, who usually buried herself in the study of sacred texts, knew of their immense wealth. Rumor had it that the government had once borrowed money from the Mo Family during a fiscal crisis.

The Mo Family's enterprises were diverse and extensive. To put it in perspective, the chain restaurant where you grabbed breakfast, the taxi hailed on the street, the supermarket for your groceries, the hotel for your business trips, the department store for weekend shopping, and even the overcrowded hospital—all were owned by the Mo Family.

In the vibrant metropolis of Jinling City, the Mo Family was a household name.

Yet, despite their prominence, the family maintained a low profile, with almost no one having seen the Patriarch Mo in person. Some speculated that he was an elderly man in his sixties, with white hair and a beard, wise from years of experience. Others believed Patriarch Mo to be a distinguished middle-aged man, tall, handsome, and exuding mature charisma. There were also whispers that Patriarch Mo was disabled, confined to a wheelchair, which is why he preferred to stay out of the public eye.

The Mo Family was shrouded in mystery within Jinling City, yet they had decided to throw a masquerade ball and distribute invitations far and wide.

No one could fathom why the Mo Family would host such an event, but receiving an invitation was considered a great honor among the residents of Jinling City. One would expect a family of such wealth to invite only the elite, but the Mo Family broke with convention. Their beautifully crafted, diamond-encrusted invitations could end up in the hands of any ordinary citizen in Jinling City.

Qiao Yiyi had the privilege of sitting at a grand wooden table, intricately carved with elaborate designs, savoring the sumptuous food before her.

Her family ran a modest supermarket, a small enterprise of sorts. For this ball, her parents had splurged on an elegant gown from overseas, hoping she would stand out at the event.

At this masked dance ball, the girls were all vying for the attention of Patriarch Mo with their attire. Upon arrival, Yiyi realized there were always bigger fish in the pond. Her dress paled in comparison to the others, so she decided to simply enjoy the feast. The spread included delicacies she had never tasted before, and she lamented the lack of pockets in her gown that would have allowed her to take some treats home for her parents.

The main attraction of the ball was to meet Patriarch Mo, but with all the men donning masks, their identities were obscured. One could only speculate based on their clothing or demeanor.

Yiyi noticed a man dressed as a captain, surrounded by a bevy of girls. The chatter of those grabbing food suggested he might be Patriarch Mo, fitting the external rumors: around forty, tall, with a distinguished presence, mature and charismatic.

She scanned the crowd meticulously but saw no elderly man with white hair and beard, nor a man in a wheelchair. The captain seemed to be the only one who matched the descriptions. However, she wasn't intrigued; to her, a man in his forties was simply too old. What lay beneath his mask was anyone's guess.