Chapter 127: Ribbon Club Showcase

"There’s also a firing range in the basement of The Gate Hotel that you can use to practice for free," Jeryon piped up out of nowhere, drawing bewildered looks from his friends.

Were they even looking for a place to practice shooting right now?

Noella, Kiran, and Sonny instinctively exchanged glances.

Kiran and Sonny in particular were struggling to hold back an eyeroll at Jeryon’s jealous outburst.

...

Since Kiran and Sonny’s club trials were held in their respective club rooms, they couldn’t be watched by other students.

So Shani spent the rest of her afternoon focusing entirely on practicing her essence control.

She only emerged from her room when it was almost time for dinner.

Jeryon and Eric hadn’t joined them for the meal, as the two were busy preparing for their performance trial, a performance they had been refining all day, set to be showcased right after dinner.

After dinner, as Shani and her friends prepared to head toward the Tiger Building, Kiran handed her a gift bag.

Shani peeked inside to find a bouquet of flowers that, upon closer inspection, were crafted entirely out of ribbon.

"Presenting a ribbon bouquet after a performance is a tradition in Ribbon Essence. Give this to Jeryon later."

Kiran slipped the handles of the gift bag over Shani’s fingers before displaying another bag she was holding, presumably containing a bouquet meant for Eric.

Shani didn’t decline, making a mental note to look up the price later so she could pay her back.

"How did you know about Ribbon Essence traditions?" Shani asked, surprised by how attentive Kiran was.

"It just crossed my mind," Kiran replied nonchalantly.

Shani glanced at her friend once more. ’Kiran always acts so indifferent toward Eric, but she really has a thoughtful side to her.’

They made their way to the Tiger Building. Inside a corner of the Training Hall, a raised ring had been set up to serve as a compact stage.

There were only five applicants testing today, serving as a stark reminder of just how massive the Shooting Club’s turnout had been by comparison.

Though the Ribbon Club wasn’t particularly popular to join, it was exceptionally popular to watch, especially after word spread that Prince Jeryon himself was among the trial candidates.

The spectating crowd was far larger than Shani had anticipated. She could see Jeryon looking visibly uncomfortable amidst the sea of people.

He had already changed into his performance bodysuit shirt, though it was currently concealed under a jacket.

Flora and a few Ribbon Club members managed the stage and crowd professionally, keeping everything orderly and conducive for the trial.

The performance began with a female student clad in a shimmering blue bodysuit that glistened beneath the overhead lights.

Her ruffled skirt floated gracefully in unison with her flowing blue ribbon as she spun through the air.

Every eye in the hall was glued to the elegant, breathtaking display. Shani was no exception, unable to hold back her internal praise.

If even a beginner’s performance is this mesmerizing, what must the pros look like?’

Shani, who had never harbored much interest in ribbon performances before, found herself secretly planning to watch their official competitions.

Beside her, Kiran seemed to share the exact same thought.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

The female student’s routine concluded to thunderous applause. As she stepped down from the ring, another student presented her with a ribbon bouquet.

Shani let out a quiet sigh of relief, looking down at the gift bag in her hands. She would have felt terribly guilty if Jeryon turned out to be the only performer left without a bouquet.

She continued watching until the fourth performance, when Jeryon finally stepped onto the stage.

He had removed his jacket, revealing a shimmering golden bodysuit shirt adorned with an intricate pattern of swirling, burnished-bronze filigree cascading across his chest. His deep burgundy trousers provided a striking contrast between light and dark tones.

What caught Shani’s eye, however, was the familiar silver chain necklace with a platinum pendant around Jeryon’s neck.

’Did he adjust the chain length?’ Shani thought, noticing that the chain was shorter now so it wouldn’t obstruct his movements.

Holding a golden ribbon, he exuded an aura of elegance and glamour, strikingly different from his usual cold, quiet, and aloof princely demeanor. Yet his stage presence felt entirely natural, as if revealing another hidden side of the prince.

The audience fell into an instant silence. They were dying to watch his performance, yet terrified of stepping out of line.

As soft music began to play, Jeryon moved gracefully, commanding the stage with light leaps, fluid motions, and a ribbon that flowed effortlessly through the air.

Spellbound, the audience completely forgot his royal status, wholly absorbed in his performance.

Whenever he wove one intricate shape after another with the ribbon while maintaining his refined composure, cheers and applause erupted from the crowd.

A few spectators even whistled impulsively, likely forgetting themselves, as such behavior was considered improper toward royalty.

Jeryon’s routine ended amidst roaring applause. Even members from other clubs practicing nearby couldn’t resist drawing closer to see what all the excitement was about.

With an awestruck expression, Shani approached Jeryon as he stepped off the stage, holding out the bouquet toward him.

"Your performance was absolutely stunning, Jer," she said with a bright, genuine smile.

Jeryon accepted it, his face flushing red, whether from the physical exertion of the routine or for entirely different reasons.

Shani walked back to stand beside Kiran while Jeryon went off to change. Up on stage, Eric stood with a serene composure.

He wore a gleaming emerald bodysuit shirt studded with fine diamond beads that caught the light, paired with deep emerald trousers.

By the time Jeryon returned in his casual clothes, the Training Hall had fallen completely silent. Everyone gathered below the stage seemed spellbound by Eric’s performance.

Beyond executing high-difficulty techniques, Eric’s routine radiated elegance, gentleness, and profound soulfulness, drawing every spectator helplessly into his rhythm.

Thunderous applause echoed through the hall as Eric descended from the stage.

...