Chapter 0026 Sadness

Inside the dance floor, dry ice melted into smoke, and colorful lights changed constantly in sync with the DJ's rhythm. Young people let loose and moved freely, dancing until they were sweating but didn't want to stop. Every cell in their body resonated with the passionate electronic drumbeats, their blood boiled, and all their worries were left behind. Screams could be heard from time to time.

Chen Yan was undoubtedly a master. He didn't need to show off his skills. Just standing there, he gently swayed his waist and moved his feet to the rhythm of the music. His core was stable and he exerted his strength. Although his movements were not exaggerated, they had a natural and graceful rhythm that attracted the admiring eyes of the opposite sex in the audience like a magnet.

Several times, girls tried to get close to him under the pretense of dancing with him, but he skillfully avoided them. Under their envious gazes, he moved to the outer edge, reached out to Ruyi, and invited her to dance.

"With you here, I won't be harassed."

Ruyi was listening to Chen Yaqian and the others talking when she heard this, and shook her head, saying that she didn't know how.

He then smiled and tilted his head, saying, "Then let you be harassed, I don't mind."

She had drunk some low-alcohol cocktails; her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were watery, clearly indicating that she was somewhat drunk.

He stopped dancing, sat down next to her, and, ignoring Chen Yaqian and the others, whispered to her while his arm was around her.

After Chen Yan left, another equally dazzling person shone brightly on the dance floor.

Zhao Nanyue is a professional figure skater. This sport combines athletic technique with dance artistry, demanding rigorous dance skills from its athletes. Zhao Nanyue is no exception; she began dancing at the age of three and possesses skills comparable to professional dancers, effortlessly mastering modern, classical, jazz, and ballet styles. After nightfall, she changed into a sequined, form-fitting dress. The tassels on the skirt and her thick, flowing curls swayed gracefully to the rhythm of the music.

The DJ's fingers moved nimbly, rubbing together rapidly, and Zhao Nanyue switched freely between various musical styles to the rhythm. Sometimes it was a passionate rumba, sometimes a seductive tango, and sometimes an elegant and reserved classical dance. She danced intimately with every uninvited man without any hesitation, making them blush, and then ruthlessly pushed them away when they couldn't keep up with the rhythm of the changing music.

Under her dance guidance, the entire audience reached a fever pitch, with screams echoing throughout the venue…

Ruyi leaned on Chen Yan's shoulder, taking in the scenes unfolding on the dance floor. Although her eardrums were about to shatter, she had to admit that his carefree and unrestrained style was something she could never learn in her lifetime.

"She's so beautiful," Ruyi murmured.

"Not as beautiful as you," Chen Yan said dismissively, following her gaze.

He playfully blew air into Ruyi's ear, and Ruyi neither flinched nor flinched, her eyes gentle.

"Tired? Do you want to go to sleep?"

Ruyi shook her head, got up and went to the restroom. Chen Yan wanted to accompany her, but she pretended to be angry: "I'm not so stupid that I don't even know where the restroom is."

As expected of a luxury cruise ship, even the restrooms are decorated in a high-end and clean manner. The marble countertops are so shiny they reflect light, and there are green plants in the corners. Each stall is equipped with wet wipes and disposable toilet seat covers, and there is a fresh and light fragrance in the air.

Ruyi found the innermost cubicle and locked the door from the inside.

I didn't actually need to go to the bathroom; I just wanted to find a quiet place to be alone for a while. Watching people dance was quite interesting, but after watching for a long time, I felt like their internal organs were also jumping around, which made me feel uncomfortable.

She was holding her phone and chatting with Hao Jing.

Hao Shanya: [How about a cruise ship party? (Smirking)]

Ruyi: [The food was pretty good, but it was a bit noisy (laughing and crying at the same time)]

It wasn't just the arguments; the real reason was that she felt emotionally exhausted. Although she had learned a lot and broadened her horizons with Chen Yan today, she didn't enjoy this hedonistic space built on money most of the time. When her peers mingled there with ease and easily saw through her discomfort, showing their disdain, she found it increasingly difficult to truly integrate.

Chen Yan, fearing she would be mistreated, repeatedly offered to stay by her side, but she chased him away, unwilling to appear like a coward who couldn't live without him. Yet, after he left, she truly felt lonely…

She couldn't confide this complex and conflicted feeling to Hao Jing because even she herself felt it made no sense.

Hao Jing complained that the coffee shop manager, who worked part-time, exploited the staff and frequently deducted their pay. She also mentioned that an older woman had ordered the wrong coffee that morning and only realized it was wrong after drinking it. The woman then proceeded to verbally abuse the coffee maker, which infuriated Hao Jing, and she immediately wanted to have a heated argument with her.

Hao Shanya: [Sigh, I don't want to do this anymore. The sun is blazing, the heat is unbearable. It would be so much better to stay home, eating watermelon and enjoying the air conditioning. Why am I suffering like this...]

...

Hao Jing poured out her complaints about the most ordinary and trivial troubles that belong to her age. At the same time, she was as colorful as a soap bubble in the sunlight, but she burst with the slightest touch and disappeared without a trace, leaving no deep mark.

If Ruyi hadn't been forcibly dragged into this glamorous world that didn't belong to her by Chen Yan, she would probably be facing the same ordinary troubles as Hao Jing right now—outwitting her part-time boss, observing the various aspects of life on the street while working, and hoping to get off work early and go home for dinner...

As Ruyi was lost in thought, she suddenly heard someone outside mention her name. She vaguely recognized the voice; the person had chatted with her briefly during the day. At that time, the person had been cheerful and enthusiastic, talking about the Iberian ham she had eaten in Spain—salty, savory, and rich, leaving a lingering fragrance and an unforgettable aftertaste—and how it was a perfect match for fig and walnut buns and red wine from Montreux. The person then asked her what she liked. Ruyi had never heard of those foods; she only remembered that the shape of Spain on a geography map resembled an upside-down dome, located on the Iberian Peninsula, bordering the Mediterranean Sea. As for what kind of food the country was famous for, she had no idea.

She answered truthfully that she had never been to Spain and did not know much about the country. If asked what her favorite food was, she would say it was preserved egg wontons, which her family was very good at making, with a delicious and light soup.

The girl smiled and nodded in agreement, saying that the best food is always made by family.

At this moment, it was the same voice, but with a different tone, as it joined its companions in mocking them.

"You love century egg wontons? Ugh, century eggs are disgusting. They look like they've gone bad. Just looking at them makes me want to throw up. You can tell they've never eaten anything good."

"She's always clinging to Chen Yan and flirting with him, like she can't live without a man. She's so pathetic."

"Of course, she doesn't have any talent whatsoever. She even needs Chen Yan to help her out of a game. I've never seen anyone so utterly unpresentable. I don't know what Chen Yan was thinking, that he actually took a liking to her?"

"She's too shy to even go clubbing, Zhao Nanyue is a million times better than her!"

"Chen Yan only wants her because of her big breasts. He'll just wait to be dumped when he gets tired of her."

...

Ruyi stayed in the stall for another ten minutes, waiting until the restroom was completely empty before leaving.

She didn't want to go back to the dance floor, so she wandered aimlessly along the dark corridor for a while, then pushed open a small door on the side. A cool sea breeze, slightly salty, rushed in. She closed the door and casually found a lounge chair to sit down.

The sound of waves crashing against the ship echoed and faded in my ears, exuding a deep and gentle warmth against the backdrop of the night. The night sky was dark blue, with countless stars twinkling overhead, their light timeless and eternal.

As Ruyi gazed up at the pure night sky, lost in thought, her turbulent emotions gradually calmed down.

After some time, faint voices came from around the corner. This time, they were familiar with both of them, especially the man.

Chen Yaqian is about to go abroad. She chooses to confess her feelings to the boy she has secretly loved for many years when Ruyi is not around. She does not ask for a response from him, but only wants to give herself an explanation.

But Chen Yan lived up to his reputation for being cold and ruthless. After hearing her humble and sincere confession, he stood with his hands in his pockets, completely unmoved.

"Don't you have anything to say to me?" Her family had long wanted to arrange for her to immigrate. If she didn't want to be separated from him, she would have gone abroad after the high school entrance exam. Why would she wait until now? But when she poured out her heart, he didn't even bother to say a word in response.

"I wish you all the best for the future. That's all I have to say."

Chen Yaqian took a deep breath and ran away.

Just as Ruyi was hesitating whether to show herself, another person arrived.

Zhao Nanyue.

She didn't exchange a single word with her all day. She only heard a few indistinct syllables from Zhao's conversations with others, but they inexplicably left a deep impression on her.