Chapter 28
Downstairs, the dance floor was ablaze with lights, and a sea of elegantly dressed people filled the air. Countless eyes, some expectant, some curious, some nervous, focused on the stairwell, awaiting the reveal of tonight's birthday boy and his opening dance partner.
Atobe Keigo descended a wide, red-carpeted staircase, descending step by step to the resplendent, glittering ballroom below. The light from the crystal chandelier shone like shattered diamonds on his pristine white gown. He was like a young emperor inspecting his kingdom, his every step drawing countless glances of admiration, awe, and curiosity. Everyone's attention was fixed on him, awaiting the announcement of his partner for the opening dance.
Just as he habitually scanned the entire audience, preparing to announce the opening—
At the entrance of the banquet hall, a figure appeared, like a drop of melted glacier water thrown into the clamorous splendor, instantly grabbing all his attention and temporarily silencing all the surrounding noise.
It is hidden in the fog and mountains.
She is here.
She was wearing a blue-purple halter dress.
That is definitely not an ordinary blue-purple color. It is as deep as the blue core of the Rocky Mountain glaciers, and has a mysterious purple hue reflected by the glaciers in the sunlight.
The design of the skirt is as elegant as a vine, with silk and light tulle layered and interwoven. When walking, the fabric flows like an undercurrent surging under a glacier, and like the unpredictable aurora.
Under the light, the delicate vine patterns seem to come alive, gleaming with a low-key and luxurious luster.
She meticulously tied up her long hair, revealing her slender, smooth swan-like neck and graceful jawline, which further highlighted her innate cool and noble temperament.
What made Keigo Atobe's heart skip a beat was the two faint lights on her ears. The pair of glacier-blue flower earrings he had given her. The violet crystal petals and soft pearls perfectly complemented her fair skin and her gorgeous dress, like the most exquisite gemstone flowers quietly blooming on a glacier.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
Atobe stood in the middle of the stairs, forgetting to take a step. His eyes reflected that cool yet brilliant figure. In his mind, the fragrance review echoed like a spell:
"You are the last rose in my barren wasteland."
But at this moment, she is no longer the rose of the wasteland.
She is a rose that blooms proudly on the top of the glacier in the eternal ice.
Cold, mysterious, breathtakingly beautiful, with a breathtaking power that could overturn his entire magnificent kingdom, she suddenly entered his sight and also the deepest part of his heart, stirring up a huge wave.
Small, suppressed exclamations and whispers echoed around them. Clearly, the shock caused by Kiriyama Gakure's outfit was no less than that of Atobe himself.
Atobe forced himself to suppress the turbulent waves in his chest, took a deep breath, regained his composure, and continued to complete his steps. He walked to the center of the dance floor, picked up the microphone handed to him by the waiter, and his deep and gorgeous voice resounded throughout the audience.
However, his next words surprised everyone who was waiting with bated breath for the gossip to be revealed.
He extended his arm gracefully, and the person he invited was not any young and beautiful lady, but a woman sitting in the guest of honor seat with a graceful temperament and a kind smile - his great-aunt, a highly respected female elder in the Atobe family.
The melody of the opening dance sounded melodiously.
Atobe Keigo danced gracefully with his great-aunt in the center of the dance floor, their movements impeccably graceful. But countless glances, besides respect for their elders, were filled with astonishment and the disappointment of having their passion for gossip extinguished. Many people stared at Atobe in the center of the dance floor, filled with confusion and inquiry.
Kirishan Yin didn't seem to care about these looks.
She stood quietly near the dining table, watching the couple on the dance floor, her face expressionless. The string in her heart, which had been tense because of the "opening dance," quietly loosened.
He really kept his promise.
The following moments were followed by the customary high society ritual of toasting and gift-giving. Guests presented carefully prepared gifts, including dazzling diamond cufflinks, limited-edition luxury watches, priceless antiques, and even a purebred racehorse. Each gift, a testament to status and wealth, elicited admiration.
I couldn't help but be amazed when I saw the dazzling array of gifts that exuded the scent of money.
This is the world of Keigo Atobe.
I quietly retreated to the edge of the banquet hall, hid in a relatively quiet corner, and focused on the snacks on the table that were as exquisite as works of art.
Occasionally, a few well-dressed boys came up to me with confident smiles and invited me, but I politely but firmly declined them all on the grounds that I "can't dance."
"Kiriyama-san."
Yuushi Oshizu walked over with a champagne glass in hand. His blue eyes behind his glasses lingered on the dress I was wearing with undisguised admiration. "This dress is truly stunning."
His tone was filled with professional certainty. "If I'm not mistaken, this is Elie Saab's Spring/Summer Haute Couture collection, 'Tears of the Glacier'? My sister's fashion magazine once devoted two full pages to it, calling it 'a masterpiece that weaves the soul of a glacier into silk thread.'"
I glanced at him with some surprise. I didn't expect him to recognize me immediately. I nodded slightly, "Oshizuka-san has good eyesight."
Oshitari pushed his glasses up, his smile widening with a hint of inquiry and depth. "It's more than just good taste. This couture piece caused a sensation at the Paris show that year. It's the only one of its kind in the world. Even many A-list female celebrities might not be able to borrow it."
He paused, his eyes sweeping across my calm face meaningfully, "It's truly impressive that Kiriyama-san can wear this."
This statement undoubtedly reveals a subtle message: the person who can easily obtain such a top-notch and unique haute couture dress must have a background that is far more complicated than it appears.
I smiled slightly, didn't respond, but just picked up a glass of juice and took a sip.
Family background has never been a label I want to show.
The atmosphere at the banquet was still lively, but the clamor had left me feeling a little tipsy. I put down my cup, lifted my skirt, and quietly left the center of the brightly lit and bustling dance floor. I walked along the softly carpeted corridor to the side door leading to the garden deep within the manor.
I need some fresh air and peace and quiet.
The night in the manor is quiet and beautiful.
Moonlight poured down like mercury, casting a hazy silver hue over the meticulously tended gardens, fountains, and distant forests. Far from the clamor of the interior, the only sounds were the chirping of insects and the rustling of leaves in the breeze. The air was filled with the fragrance of roses and tuberoses.
I walked to a white marble bench surrounded by tall rose bushes, where the moonlight fell. The flowing light of the skirt was even more cool and mysterious under the moonlight.
Just then, steady footsteps were heard behind me.
I turned around.
Atobe Keigo also came out at some point.
He had taken off his tuxedo jacket, leaving only his white dress shirt, slightly open at the collar. He looked less formal and more casually handsome. He approached, his eyes like a deep galaxy in the moonlight, reflecting my figure clearly with a concentration that almost drew me in.
He stopped a few steps in front of me, his gaze lingering for a moment on the dress I was wearing that was a fusion of moonlight and flowing light, with undisguised amazement in his eyes.
Finally, his gaze fell on the pair of faintly shimmering glacier blue earrings on my ears.
"Wushan." He spoke, his voice sounding particularly low in the silent garden, with a barely perceptible hoarseness, as if soaked by the night dew.
"Happy birthday, Atobe-kun." I smiled and took out a small box wrapped in dark black velvet from the exquisite handbag I carried with me, which was the same color as my dress.
The box is not big and has a square shape.
Atobe's eyes were instantly drawn to the box. He reached out his hand, and when his fingertips touched the cool velvet, he paused imperceptibly before taking it steadily.
His long fingers opened the lid of the box.
Under the moonlight, lying quietly in the box was not a dazzling diamond or jade, but a necklace.
The necklace's chain is made of sturdy black leather, exuding a rugged yet restrained sense of strength, while the pendant is a small yet exquisite tennis ball crafted from gold.
It is not a simple sphere, but is clearly carved with the patterns of a tennis ball. Every groove is clearly visible, and under the moonlight it emits a warm and restrained, eternal light that is unique to gold.
A hint of surprise flashed in Keigo Atobe's eyes.
He picked it up carefully. The golden tennis ball felt heavy in his hand, with the unique coolness of metal, but the exquisite craftsmanship and unique shape made his heart move slightly.
"This is..." He looked up at me with a questioning look.
"Chinese people like to give gold as gifts on important occasions, as it symbolizes longevity, nobility and good luck."
I explained softly, my eyes fixed on the tiny golden tennis ball. "I drew a blueprint and asked the best craftsman in the country to create it out of pure gold. Maybe it looks a little plain?"
I smiled, a little uncertainly, "I know you have everything you need, but this ball, I think it has some special meaning."
Atobe's fingertips unconsciously stroked the fine lines on the tennis ball, waiting for my next words.
I looked up at the brilliant stars in the night sky. My voice sounded ethereal and distant in the moonlight: "Do you know that gold, this metal that we treasure, was not actually born from the earth itself?"
Atobe's gaze also turned to the vast night sky, with a hint of focused exploration.
"According to science, the gold in the universe is currently produced mainly by two extreme and magnificent astronomical phenomena."
My voice was soft, yet it seemed to resonate throughout the universe. "One is a supernova explosion, the most glorious and complete curtain call of a massive star at the end of its life. The other is a binary neutron star collision, the ultimate energy released in the devastating impact of the incredibly dense 'corpse' left behind by the dead star."
The moonlight fell on us and the garden was silent.
"Only in these most violent and extreme furnaces of the universe, in the flames of stellar destruction and the annihilation of 'corpse' collisions, can heavy elements like gold be forged."
I looked away, at the golden tennis ball in his hand, glowing quietly in the moonlight. My eyes were clear and serious. "So, all the gold on our Earth, and even in the entire solar system, couldn't have been produced naturally."
"They are the debris from the explosions of distant stars that died billions of years ago, and the stardust that was ejected from the violent collisions of neutron stars."
"These fragments, containing the final light of a star's life, drift silently in the vast universe, sleeping for billions of years."
"It wasn't until the birth of a new star system that they were swept up in the cosmic dust and eventually came here, forming the Earth beneath our feet and the golden tennis ball in your hand."
I paused, looking at Atobe's eyes that looked particularly deep under the starlight, and spoke with a strange tenderness and strength:
"So, the light of this golden tennis ball isn't just metallic. It's the condensation of the last, most magnificent light of a dying star."
"It has traveled through billions of years of time and space, spanning destruction and rebirth, to finally reach your hands. It's a fragment from the stars, the afterglow of a stellar explosion, and the eternal light bestowed by the universe."
I returned my gaze to his face, offering a humble smile. "My gift isn't expensive; it's just a token of my appreciation. I hope you don't despise this 'little gift' from the stars."
Atobe Keigo stood there, as if under a spell of immobilization.
He fixed his gaze on the small golden tennis ball in his palm. The warm and solid touch of gold came from his fingertips, yet it felt as if a billion-degree heat was burning his soul.
Fragments from the stars...
The afterglow of a star explosion...
The eternal light given by the universe...
Her light words stirred up a storm in his heart that was more violent than a supernova explosion.
The significance of this gift has long surpassed the material itself. She connected his love for tennis, his pursuit of perfection and the brilliance of his self-burning on the court with the most magnificent and majestic life cycle of stars in the universe.
This golden tennis ball is no longer just an ornament.
It is the symbol of his conquests on the court, endowed with the vastness and eternity of the universe.
It is the embodiment of his will that burns like a star every time he swings his racket, every time he jumps, and every time he challenges his limits.
It is the crown of stars that belongs only to him, Keigo Atobe, and has traveled through time, space, destruction and rebirth, and finally condensed here.
An unprecedented, huge, soul-shaking feeling and indescribable throbbing swept over him like a tsunami.
He gripped the black leather rope tightly, his knuckles turning white from the strain. He raised his head, his eyes blazing under the starlight and moonlight, churning with intense, inextricable emotions: shock and emotion, and an almost devout sense of belonging.
He opened his mouth, but his throat seemed to be blocked by scorching stardust, and in the end, he could only make a low and hoarse cry that almost broke through his chest:
"hidden……"
My heart skipped a beat and my body stiffened almost imperceptibly.
He called me... "Hidden"?
This name is too intimate and exceeds the usual distance between us.
Subconsciously, a trace of resistance surged in my heart.
However, looking into his eyes, blazing beneath the starlight and moonlight, the words of rejection were on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn't bring myself to say them. The undisguised emotion in his eyes was like an invisible net, shackled to my words.
What's more... today is his birthday.
Forget it, the birthday boy is the biggest.
Just allow him to... call me that just once today.
I pursed my lips and didn't respond, but I didn't refute either, which was considered as tacit consent to this sudden intimacy.
It seemed that Atobe understood my tacit consent from my silence. The stars in his eyes seemed to light up in an instant, flowing with a strange glow.
He took a step towards me, and the distance between us shortened instantly. The crisp scent of pine mixed with the faint aroma of wine on his body was clearly audible in the cool night breeze.
He held out his hand to me, palm up, in an elegant gesture that held an undeniable invitation. The moonlight fell on his slender, clean fingers, as if they were coated with a layer of silver.
His voice was very low, with a subtle, almost coaxing magnetism: "It's very quiet here, no one will disturb you. Xiaoyin... dance with me?"
"Just the two of us."
His eyes were focused and expectant, as if this quiet garden was his dance floor, and I was his only partner. His gaze was so intense it almost melted me.
My heart started beating faster and I subconsciously wanted to take a step back, wanting to use the excuse of "I can't dance" to refuse again.
However, before the words came out——
"A-choo!"
A cool night breeze blew past, chilling the skin of my exposed shoulders and neck. I couldn't help but sneeze, and my body shuddered.
Atobe's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, the anticipation and coaxing on his face replaced by surprise and a hint of regret. He clearly felt the chill of the night breeze and subconsciously tried to take off his coat, only to find he was only wearing a shirt, leaving his expensive tuxedo jacket in the bustling banquet hall.
"Damn it." He cursed softly, his brows furrowed, his eyes full of worry, and he no longer had the slightest desire to dance.
"It's too cold here." He made a quick decision, glancing around sharply, "Let's take another way. I'll take you back inside to rest. Don't worry, you won't run into anyone that way."
"No need to trouble..." I was about to decline and say that I could go back.
"Don't be so stubborn." Atobe interrupted me, his tone was strong and unquestionable, but also revealed a subtle concern.
He didn't give me a chance to refuse. He reached out and, with precision and restraint, simply grasped my wrist without taking any further action. His palm was warm, with a thin callus, ironing my slightly cool skin.
"This way." He pulled me and wanted to walk quickly through a hidden path beside the garden that led to the back of the main building of the manor.
However, the pair of high heels I was wearing to match my dress became my biggest obstacle. My stilettos slipped on the cobblestone path in the garden, and I stumbled.
"Ah!" I cried out and lost my balance.
Atobe reacted very quickly and immediately tightened his arms to steady me.
He stopped, looked down at my high heels that were getting in the way, then looked at my slightly disheveled appearance, his brows furrowing even tighter. Then, as if he had made up his mind, a glint of the almost willful light of the birthday boy flashed in his eyes.
"I'm the birthday boy," he looked at me, his tone full of self-righteous arrogance, "The birthday boy is the most important. So..."
Before he could finish his words, in front of my astonished gaze, he suddenly leaned over, put one arm around my shoulders and the other arm around my knees.
The next second, the world was spinning!
He held me up sideways, steadily and in an extremely standard posture.
"Hey! Atobe! Put me down!" I screamed, my cheeks instantly burning. This posture was too intimate, and too sudden.
"Hold me tight." But Atobe ignored me and tightened his arms to hold me more firmly.
He walked steadily and swiftly up the hidden path, avoiding any main roads where people might pass. His chest was solid and warm, and through the thin fabric of his dress he could hear his strong heartbeat.
The evening breeze blew through his hair, bringing a cool breath.
I froze in his arms, not daring to move. I could only feel the strength of his arms and his body temperature through his shirt, the heat from my cheeks spreading all the way to my ears.
He held me in his arms, as if he were holding the most precious and fragile item, and walked unimpeded through the back garden. Through an inconspicuous side door, he entered the rear of the main building of the manor, the more private area where the owner lived.
The corridor was covered with thick carpets and the lighting was warm and soft, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the ballroom.
He gently placed me on the softly cushioned bench in the hallway before releasing my hand. His movements were quick and decisive, as if he hadn't been the one to have so aggressively lifted me up earlier.
"Wait here for me." He said, turned around and walked quickly to a room next door. Soon, he took out a soft cashmere blanket and put it on my shoulders without saying anything.
The warmth instantly enveloped my slightly chilled body. I wrapped myself tightly in the blanket, my cheeks still burning from the shock of the moment.
The grand birthday party finally came to a close. Outside the window, luxury cars, like the receding tide, drove away from the brightly lit manor, the low hum of their engines fading away. The clamor faded, leaving behind a room filled with splendor and silence.
I stood up and folded the cashmere blanket and placed it on the bench. "The party is over, and it's time for me to leave, Atobe-kun. Happy birthday again."
The gift has been given, the dance has not been performed, and after experiencing a "thrilling" transfer, it's time to leave.
"Wait." Atobe spoke immediately. He stood in front of me, his tall figure casting a shadow in the soft light of the corridor. "The convoy outside is too long. If we go out now, we will only get stuck in traffic."
He had a good reason, and with a clear tone of trying to keep her, "Besides, it's not convenient for you to squeeze in dressed like this."
As soon as he finished speaking, as if at the perfect moment, the butler, who had always been as efficient and low-key as a shadow, appeared silently from somewhere.
He bowed slightly, a perfectly respectful smile on his face. "Ms. Kiriyama, the guest room is ready for you. It's on the east side of the second floor, very quiet, and has everything you need, including clean clothes. Please rest assured. I will arrange a car for you tomorrow morning."
The butler's words were flawless and his tone was so natural that it seemed as if this was a very common arrangement.
I looked at Tezuka who looked as if it was a matter of course, and then at the butler who had a smile on his face and an impeccable attitude, and I felt like I had fallen into a premeditated "trap".
A gentle trap that is irresistible, woven with "birthday celebrants' privileges" and "thoughtful housekeepers".
"This..." I was speechless for a moment.
"It's settled." Atobe struck while the iron was hot and made the final decision. His tone was filled with unquestionable determination, but a glimmer of success flashed across his eyes. "Butler, lead the way."
"Yes, young master. Miss Kiriyama, please follow me." The butler turned sideways and made a guiding gesture.
I looked at the master and servant in front of me, who were singing the same tune and cooperating with each other perfectly, and sighed helplessly.
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