Chapter 78 Fairy Tale: "Want to have a drink, Teacher Qin?"
At six o'clock in the evening, Song Man lifted her skirt and walked out of the elevator toward Yun Chui's room.
Someone called out from the living room behind them, "Aman."
Song Man turned around, and Yun Chui sat on the sofa, gazing at her from afar.
She was stunned. The last time she remembered seeing Yun Chui dressed up was at a charity gala four years ago. After that, Yun Chui rarely wore makeup, and the last time she saw him was on an ordinary day.
But Yun Chui is absolutely stunning now. Dressed in gorgeous attire, with a serene smile, her skin is extremely pale, yet she wears bright red lipstick; the striking color makes her resemble a rose stuck in the snow.
She had always felt that Yun Chui had a fragile, broken quality, probably because she was very thin and her expression was too pale. Song Man unconsciously took two steps toward her and said insincerely, "...This outfit is not bad."
"Really?" Yun Chui stood up. "Shall we go?"
"Walk."
They went to the lawn outside, where a table and candles were set out.
The other guests enjoyed dinner at the villa as usual, but they all ate absentmindedly. From Qin Lan's angle, she could just see a little bit of it.
It was completely dark, with only the lights by the water casting a soft green glow.
They all stared for a while, and Yun Chui was the first to look away, but Song Man was still watching.
Yun Chui asked her, "What are you looking at?"
Song Man glanced at her somewhat dazedly: "Looking at the green light."
"What are you thinking about?"
I was thinking about the book "The Great Gatsby" that we read together when we were fifteen.
"I wonder if the years we've been apart have created an insurmountable chasm between us, like Gatsby's gaze at the green light on the other side of the river."
Do you think so?
“Of course.” Song Man raised an eyebrow: “Ever since you said you would never dance again, I’ve felt that we’re not on the same wavelength.”
“Your faith in dancing is so sacred,” Yun Chui couldn’t help but smile.
"Maybe so, that's what everyone says, but I don't care."
Song Man gazed intently at the small green lamp. She was the kind of person who was born to live for art and ideals, and didn't need much else in her life to find fulfillment.
Her friends laughed at her for being naive, but they all had to admit that Song Man was the purest and went the furthest. While Yu Jintang was still fighting for women's rights, Qin Lan was still honing her romantic acting skills in the entertainment industry, Yang Xingji faced the prospect of disbanding right after her debut, and Yun Chui gave up all his goals to travel, Song Man had already gone from China to the international stage, winning all the major awards along the way and becoming a world-class Latin superstar.
“Gatsby looked at that green light and never realized Daisy had become someone from another world. I look at this green light, and it's crystal clear that we're from two different worlds.” Song Man's voice was somewhat ethereal: “Yun Chui, from the moment you decided to leave the dance troupe…”
Yun Chui didn't respond, and slowly cut the steak.
“You knew this all along, but you still left. I take that as you giving up on me voluntarily.”
“Yes, I gave it up voluntarily,” Yun Chui said.
"Not even a single explanation?" Song Man was furious.
"I'm sorry." She gently raised her hand before Song Man could get angry. "Let's enjoy this night, shall we? The moonlight is beautiful tonight."
"Are you going to respond to my four years of pent-up anger with your evasive answers?"
Yun Chui looked at her pleadingly: "Aman, please let me have this one chance, okay? I've let you have this chance so many times in the past."
She knew Song Man well; if she revealed everything now, Song Man's seemingly tempered temper would explode with renewed rage. She also didn't want Song Man to face her with caution and guilt after venting; since her illness, she was most afraid of seeing others' wary gazes.
"Are you forcing me?" Song Man's face turned cold as expected.
"No," Yun Chui said, still looking earnest. "I'm just begging you to consider our past relationship and soften your heart this time."
Song Man fell silent.
Finally, she said, "Why are you here?"
Yun Chui said gently, "Because someone told me I should come back to see you, and I really want to see you too."
Song Man snorted: "Is it a sudden urge to see you, or something else?"
A smile appeared on Yun Chui's lips: "It's something I've always wanted to see."
Song Man fell silent, staring listlessly at her plate.
"And what about you?" After a while, Yun Chui asked her with a hint of hope.
"What do you mean, 'what'?" Song Man pretended to be stupid.
Yun Chui touched the tips of his fingers together, his probing gaze falling upon him: "Why are you here?"
"Same as you." Song Man poked at the beef on her plate.
Four or five heads were perched by the window.
Thanks to Yun Chui and Song Man, the production team left, tacitly approving tonight's outrageous behavior. After all, this show was prepared specifically for these two.
Qin Lan, pinned at the bottom, finally couldn't take it anymore and asked, "Who's stepping on my leg?"
"Excuse me, Lao Qin." Yu Jintang said with a straight face, taking back his slippers. "Hey, look, look, they're clinking glasses."
"Where is it? Where is it?" Yang Xingji shouted anxiously.
Among the group of people peeking through the window, Feng Manhong and Liu Lü, being the older two, were not capable of such a thing and sat on the sofa next to them, watching the noisy group of young people.
Jiang Yan and Anna sat on the carpet, talking about something.
"Oh my god, they're holding hands!" Xiahou Cheng exclaimed.
Two dark figures flashed past Feng Manhong.
"What just passed by?" Feng Yinghou asked in astonishment.
Liu Lü: "It seems to be... Teacher Jiang and Teacher Anna."
Feng Manhong was a little restless, but after a while she stood up steadily, strolled to the window and looked out at the lawn.
Yun Chui held Song Man's hand and said something, while Yu Jintang was already lip-reading.
Yun Chui said, "Can I take it? Oh, uh?? Don't laugh at me."
Everyone: ?
Yu Jintang said with great seriousness: "Then Song Man said..."
Qin Lan: "Song Man has her back to us."
"Oh, Yun Chui added, 'I'm here, so sighing is also acceptable.'"
"Alright, go die somewhere else."
"Oh! Oh! They've started dancing!"
Liu Lü couldn't resist her curiosity and stood next to Feng Manhong: "This is... Latin?"
"To be precise, it's the Rumba, a Latin dance." Feng Manhong said with a look of enjoyment, "Teacher Song is an internationally renowned dancer, we're in for a treat tonight."
"So beautiful!" Liu Lü exclaimed sincerely. "Their movements are so gentle, yet they exude freedom and passion."
“It’s probably because of the limitations of the dress,” Feng Manhong sighed softly. “I’ve seen Teacher Song’s competition; the dance dress looked absolutely perfect on her…”
"Teacher Yun Chui danced very well too." Liu Lü added, "They have such great chemistry; it feels like she anticipated Teacher Song's every reaction."
Qin Lan chimed in, "They grew up together, and their chemistry is unmatched by any other pair. Song Man is unrestrained and flamboyant, while Yun Chui is reserved and gentle. The two have a perfect balance, creating a striking contrast. I remember that ever since the international association announced that pairings no longer had to be one man and one woman, they've stormed into all the major competitions..."
Feng Manhong sighed, "I've heard of this duo. They were considered the most promising pair to become the world's number one. It's just that Teacher Yun stopped dancing later, and everyone felt sorry for a long time."
The people in the room fell silent.
Outside, it was quiet and peaceful, with "Fairy Tale," a song they were all very familiar with, playing from the stereo.
"And if I was wrong, I know I don't deserve this."
The two moved rhythmically in place. Song Man gently grasped the hand that Yun Chui offered, the warmth of her fingertips just as before.
Yun Chui smiled faintly and stepped forward.
Song Man was led around in a circle by her, and for the first time while they were back to back, Song Man was absent-minded while dancing.
"I need to hear those words you use to tell me."
They both choked for a moment, turning away with evasive expressions. Yun Chui didn't dare look Song Man in the eye, and Song Man also kept her face down.
She spun around, raised her arm, and Yun Chui's arm crossed her waist, causing her skirt to whirl rapidly.
Oh my god. In that instant, her eyes reddened and she almost cried. Song Man closed her eyes briefly, feeling both sad and joyful. This feeling was so long-lost. Yun Chui's scent, Yun Chui's embrace, Yun Chui's gaze—everything Yun Chui had given her had made her miss it madly for four years.
She slowly fell into Yun Chui's palm, every inch of her skin burning. The rhythm of the music pounded in her heart, and she felt like she was going crazy.
"Just tell me this is not the end. Please tell me now."
"I suddenly feel so sad." Yang Xingji choked up, "I never thought I would see them dance again in my lifetime."
The others also looked dejected, and Qin Lan had her eyes downcast. Jiang Yan sat on the carpet in the distance, her forehead pressed against the cold glass, gazing aimlessly at the green light by the water.
Anna came back carrying a bottle of beer.
"Want some drinks?"
"Have a drink."
"What are you thinking? Using someone else's wine cup to pour out your own pent-up feelings?"
"You're so smart, Teacher Anna," Jiang Yan said, glancing at her sideways.
"Is Teacher Qin not good to you?"
“That’s not it.” Jiang Yan clinked glasses with her. “I just feel like… I haven’t completely won her heart yet. Maybe I’m too eager for things to work out, after all, it’s only been a few months.”
"Be patient," Anna comforted her. "You need to give each other time to accept you; you need to work things out."
"But I've waited too long." Jiang Yan closed her eyes: "Three years. It would have been better if I hadn't gotten her, but now she's mine, yet there's something between us. That feeling..."
Song Man said, "I thought you weren't planning on dancing anymore."
"How could that be?" Yun Chui smiled gently.
She was having some trouble breathing. "It's getting a bit chilly, let's go back inside."
The group of people who had been piled up by the French windows had already dispersed as if nothing had happened. Jiang Yan and Anna were nestled in the corner on the plush carpet, chatting away as if no one else was around.
Qin Lan stepped out from the crowd and walked over: "What are you all talking about?"
Anna immediately defended herself: "We were talking about Teacher Yun Chui, and this is a better angle for us to appreciate it."
Jiang Yan smiled at Anna: "You don't need to be afraid of her. She's just a paper tiger and can't do anything to you."
Qin Lan was so angry that he puffed out his beard and glared at her: "Are you trying to pick a fight?"
"I didn't," Jiang Yan said lazily, squinting her eyes and raising her glass with a smile. "Want a drink, Teacher Qin?"
In the dim light of the night, both she and the shimmering glass of wine looked stunning.
Anna ran off on her own.
Qin Lan sat down opposite Jiang Yan, provocatively taking the wine glass and deliberately pressing her lips against Jiang Yan's lip print: "You just want me to have a drink with you?"
She tilted her head back and drank, her narrow eyes squinting disdainfully, exuding an air of arrogant disdain.
Jiang Yan gazed at her with adoration, as if she were a deity.
“Teacher Qin,” she sighed, “you’re such a charmer.”
She always felt she couldn't have it, yet it constantly irritated her and attracted all her attention.
"When it comes to being a vixen, who can compare to Teacher Jiang? Even when she's drinking, she's so flirtatious."
Qin Lan's words were pointed, because Jiang Yan's fingertips were pressing down on the ice cubes in the glass and spinning them.
Jiang Yan suddenly blurted out, "I want to love."
Qin Lan nearly choked on her beer. Looking around guiltily, and making sure no one was listening, she turned her head and whispered, "Hey, you—"
She panicked even more because Jiang Yan leaned in and hugged her neck, shamelessly asking for a kiss.
Qin Lan hesitated for two seconds, then quickly kissed her: "Okay, okay, the show isn't finished filming yet."
"Qin Lan, I'm not happy." Jiang Yan leaned back again, her words clear and distinct.
"Why?" Qin Lan's heart stirred.
"Because of you," Jiang Yan smiled dreamily, "Can you make me happy for once?"
Qin Lan hesitated for a moment, then leaned over and used his body to block her, kneading and kissing her at the same time.
Tears welled up in Jiang Yan's eyes, and she hugged Qin Lan's neck tightly, her voice so beautiful it sent chills down Qin Lan's spine.
"Touch me again," Jiang Yan pleaded, tilting her head back. "It hurts so much."
Qin Lan's pupils dilated slightly: "You really are... in public..."
Jiang Yan looked aggrieved: "Don't you like it?"
Qin Lan had nothing to say and dragged her upstairs.
On Day 9, all guests will need to complete a group game in the morning, and then go back to get their makeup done in the afternoon to prepare for the masquerade ball in the evening.
Dinner will be served cold.
The production team left the villa, allowing them to improvise freely.
So Yu Jintang took on the task of organizing the event. After a long debate with differing opinions, she finally overruled everyone's objections and decided to play the King's Game.
Everyone started drawing cards.
With only one card left in the middle, Yu Jintang began to shout, "Look at your cards, who is the King?"
What a coincidence, the king in the first game was Xiahou Cheng.
Everyone wore expressions of utter despair.
Xiahou Cheng did three somersaults on the spot, then took the last card and put it face down: "2 and 8, do two short eye exercises together!"
"Who is 2? Who is 2?" Yu Jintang asked around, then looked down and said, "Oh, I am 2."
“I am number 8.” Yun Chui suppressed a laugh.
"Hey, you idiot." Yu Jintang sat down opposite her helplessly and said loudly, "Massage my temples and scrape my eye sockets!"
"One, two, three, four..."
Yun Chui said expressionlessly, "Hurry up and count."
"Five, six, seven, eight, two, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight." Yu Jintang's hooves flew: "Okay, next section: press the Du meridian acupoint on the head."
Yun Chui felt the soreness on his scalp: "...Yu, did you practice the Nine Yin White Bone Claw?"
"You flatter me," Yu Jintang said modestly. "We're so close, the air is almost thick with ambiguity."
Yun Chui: "Disgusting."
Jiang Yan was the king in the second round.
She asked, "How much punishment can people accept?"
Yu Jintang gasped, "Teacher Jiang, I never expected you to be the hidden devil."
Jiang Yan: "Is it okay for me to post on Weibo from my main account?"
Everyone said it was fine.
Jiang Yan then decided to try her luck: "1 and 9 confessed their love to each other using their larger accounts."
She first flipped over her hidden card and glanced at it, then her face lit up with joy: "I am 1."
Qin Lan: "She's talking nonsense."
Yang Xingji covered her ears: "I'm still a lifelong single."
Liu Lü laughed at her: "What are you ashamed of? I'm over forty and I've never been in a relationship."
"Who is 9?" Jiang Yan looked at Qin Lan expectantly.
Qin Lan sighed: "I am number 5."
Jiang Yan's disappointment was palpable, mixed with a hint of fear: "Then who is 9?"
Xiahou Cheng laughed wildly.
The two logged into their respective main accounts and edited a message expressing their feelings.
[Jiang Yan]: You are the light that burst into my life, making my heart flutter, causing chaos and tremors. @Cheng·Xiahou
Jiang Yan's fans were completely baffled.
Jiang Yan's confession to Xiahou Cheng became a trending topic.
Xiahou Cheng's response went viral and became a trending topic.
【落烟似水】: Sister, is this an official announcement?
[Fairy Spirit Mist]: Impossible, absolutely impossible!
[The Curtain of Clouds]: Carefully read this text. Knowing my sister as I do, this is definitely not her style for confessing her feelings.
【千山暮雪】: What's wrong with you, Sister Na? Is she doing some publicity for a previous collaboration?
【Klein Blue of Mount Fuji】: Unlikely. The characters of the actress and XHC in the drama are enemies, and there's nothing to create a romantic pairing between them.
【Wind Stops, Wind Rises】: Then... has our sister gone mad?
[Summer Lights]: Are you guys stupid? This looks like someone got punished for playing Truth or Dare!
Jiang Yan's fans suddenly realized what was going on and quickly went around refuting the rumors.
【Orange Xiahou】: Always on his phone, replies to messages instantly, hands in his salary on time, carries players to 50 stars in King of Glory, drives a sports car everywhere, cooks meals at home without needing to be reminded, @Jiangyan
Compared to Jiang Yan's comments, Xiahou Cheng's comments section was much more organized, with everyone using the thread to go crazy.
Tears... overwhelm me...: I want to hold you inside me...
[I am the eldest son's dog]: The deep gaze of a straight woman is the thing I fear most in this life.
[Magical Girl]: Can a homosexual's bland diet make them heterosexual?
The passersby who clicked in left completely bewildered.
The production team carefully controlled the buzz and released a clip of the King's Game at just the right time.
In the third round, it was Cloudfall's turn to become king.
She glanced thoughtfully at her King card, smiled, and said, "Let's kiss the 3 and the 4."
Everyone: "???"
Yu Jintang looked terrified: "I am number 3."
Yang Xingji was even more terrified: "I am number 4."
Amidst Yang Xingji's wailing and screaming, Yu Jintang held her down and gave her a hard kiss on the cheek: "Continue."
The crowd glanced at the two of them silently, then glanced at them again silently, and continued drawing cards.
Anna got the ace.
She also made a shocking statement: "Give 6 and 9 a princess carry and gaze deeply into each other's eyes for 5 seconds."
Qin Lan: "Everyone's a bit crazy today."
Then she looked down and saw that she had received a 9.
Oh no. Who's the 6?
Liu Lusheng stood up, utterly dejected.
Qin Lan couldn't help but glance at Jiang Yan.
Yang Xingji chimed in, "Hey, who are you looking at?"
Jiang Yan said calmly, "It's just a game, it's normal."
Qin Lan braced herself and opened her arms wide: "Teacher Liu is a senior, I can hug her."
Liu Lü stared longingly at Feng Manhong, then hesitantly hugged her.
Feng Manhong blushed with laughter: "Why is Teacher Liu suddenly so shy? She's not usually like this in front of me."
Liu Lü was on the verge of tears, and when she noticed that Jiang Yan's fists were clenched, she closed her eyes in even greater agony.
Qin Lan stiffly reminded her, "And Teacher Liu, with whom you also have a deep, affectionate gaze."
Both of them handled the situation with the utmost professionalism they had ever shown, and then went their separate ways.
Yu Jintang sighed, "After all that work, no one is satisfied."
Qin Lan: "Shut your mouth and everyone's luck will improve."
In the fifth round, Yang Xingji was the king.
She confidently said, "Number 5 and Number 10 will pass a playing card by mouth."
Everyone parted their lips slightly, their hearts skipping a beat.
Feng Manhong: "I am number 5."
Anna: "...I am number 10."
Just as Yu Jintang was about to cancel this round, Yang Xingji said with a smile, "Excuse me, I just remembered another requirement. After drawing number 5 and number 10, the punishment will be automatically transferred to the person to the left of number 5 and the person to the right of number 10."
Everyone: "???"
Yu Jintang sat to Feng Manhong's left.
Xiahou Cheng happened to be sitting to Anna's right.
Anna reacted the fastest, immediately pushing Xiahou Cheng out: "Let's move her away."
Xiahou Cheng, looking delicate and frail, stumbled into Yu Jintang's arms: "Ouch, Teacher Tangtang, I fell...it hurts so much..."
Yu Jintang cupped her face with a look of tenderness: "Where does it hurt? Let me feed you a card and you'll feel better."
She tilted her head, picked up a playing card from the side, and brought it closer to Xiahou Cheng.
Xiahou Cheng's heart pounded uncontrollably, and all he could think about was how beautiful the sunlight was today, making the woman's face look so fair and lovely...
Just as she was completely absorbed in Yu Jintang's ever-growing face, a playing card was shoved into her mouth. Xiahou Cheng froze. She saw Yu Jintang laughing at her, her eyes crinkling, rainbows swirling in her dimples. She raised her chin, her voice humming as she urged her, "Catch it!"
Xiahou Cheng stared at the pretty girl opposite him, unable to look away, and opened his mouth to chew a couple of times, feeling dizzy.
"What? Are you stupid?" Yu Jintang rubbed her head, clearly very satisfied with the fluffy feel. "Go ahead and throw up, we don't need a shredder here."
Xiahou Chenghu jumped up, pressed her onto the mat, and kissed her passionately.
The crowd screamed, the cameraman hurriedly moved the lens away to film others, and the room descended into chaos. Qin Lan watched with great interest, tightly covering Yang Xingji's eyes: "Not suitable for children! Not suitable for children!"
Feng Manhong and Liu Lü watched with great interest, even analyzing whose kissing skills were better. Jiang Yan watched for a while, then secretly glanced at Qin Lan. The remaining few were a little more reserved, except for Song Man, who clenched her fists and roared, "Yu Jintang, how could you let someone pounce on you! Get on the offensive!"
Five minutes later, Yu Jintang slowly sat up and pulled Xiahou Cheng's head onto her lap: "Come on, let's continue playing."
The sixth round's king is Yu Jintang.
"7 and 9 should film a designated video together and say a love quote, then post it on their main account."
After saying that, she flipped over Xiahou Cheng's card, revealing a 9.
Who is 7?
Yun Chui silently raised his hand.
Yu Jintang nodded: "OK, now add supplementary conditions: the punishment will be automatically transferred to the person to the right of number 7 and the person to the foot of number 9."
To Yun Chui's right is Jiang Yan.
There were two people at Xiahou Cheng's feet: Feng Manhong was diagonally to his right, and Qin Lan was directly in front of him.
"Hey." Yu Jintang patted Xiahou Cheng.
"Um?"
Xiahou Cheng withdrew his gaze, moved his toes precisely, and tapped in front of Qin Lan.
Everyone watched silently as these people cheated by letting the game slide.
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