The great boat stopped in the center of Sea God Lake. Just then, shafts of golden light shot skyward from the lake, piercing the darkness like stage lights and instantly drawing everyone's gaze.
There were eighteen shafts of light in all.
Within each beam stood a young woman in a white dress atop a water lily. Their white dresses were identical, as were the bamboo hats on their heads. Three feet of white gauze hung from the hats, concealing their faces.
Beneath the night sky, eighteen white-clad young women stood on the lake amid pale golden beams, like wave-treading fairies standing aloof from the mortal world. Their ethereal grace stirred even Jiang Hai's heart.
The eighteen stood in a single row, facing the Sea God Lake lakeside and Shrek Academy's male Inner Court students.
Merely standing there in silence was enough to make the male students on shore restless.
At that moment, two even brighter beams blossomed, revealing another two figures.
At some point, Zhang Lexuan had changed into a goose-yellow gown. Cinched at the waist, it made her slender, handspan waist look even more delicate. Her long raven hair cascaded down her back to her waist. Her eyes were bright, her teeth pearly white, and her gaze was as gentle as ever, soft as water.
Beside her stood Bei Bei, dressed in white.
Bei Bei began, "Sea God's Fate upon Sea God Lake; ten thousand years of Shrek, a single evening to pledge your love."
"Welcome, everyone, to the shores of Sea God Lake on this beautiful evening. Our annual Sea God's Fate Matchmaking Gathering is about to begin. As your host, on behalf of myself and our eldest senior sister, I wish you all success in finding your destined love."
"Once again, we also welcome the elders of