Two Beauties Tango
The melodious classical music in the hall has been replaced by lively and cheerful folk tunes, creating a festive atmosphere. There are at least twenty-seven or twenty-eight tables in the hall; Mr. Tang has really gone all out this time.
Cold dishes were already laid out on the table, including traditional dishes such as jellyfish skin with aged vinegar, honey-glazed lotus root, Shaoxing wine chicken, Shanghai-style smoked fish, and braised gluten with four kinds of happiness, as well as Western-style vegetable salad, foie gras and caviar, and cheese cubes with sliced ham.
Looking at the table full of delicious dishes, Qingcheng, who hadn't had much of an appetite before, suddenly felt a little hungry. Then the waiters brought out braised pork belly that was neatly arranged and reddish-brown, fried shrimp that were crystal clear, crispy duck that was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, as well as seasonal crab meat pancakes, steamed yellow croaker, braised goose feet with abalone, and the ultimate four delicacies dish...
Qingcheng felt as if he were eating not food, but silver dollars. These delicacies were worth at least three silver dollars, enough for Principal Wu's family's living expenses for half a year.
On stage, the wives of officials were reciting "Ah, Red Plum Blossom," and it was unclear who they were moved by. Qingcheng recalled a passage from "Dream of the Red Chamber": "The poor of today are burdened by food and clothing, while the rich are filled with insatiable desires."
The class divide between the two is almost insurmountable, and resources are severely skewed, resulting in the poor getting poorer and the rich getting richer. This is the fundamental problem, and it cannot be solved by holding a few charity events.
Perhaps seeing that she had finished eating, Gao Junxiao offered her a peeled orange: "Do you recognize the ladies on stage?"
"I only recognize a few. The one in the middle leading the group is Mrs. Xiong. To her left is Mrs. Zhao from your General Affairs Department. I don't recognize the lady on the right; she's not from our circle." Qingcheng took the orange and leaned closer to Gao Junxiao, intending to elicit some gossip. "You know her?"
“That’s the police chief’s wife, Mrs. Lu. And this was a special program arranged by Mr. Tang,” Gao Junxiao replied.
“I can understand currying favor with the Municipal Council and government officials in the concession, but why would I need to curry favor with your Garrison Command? It’s completely unrelated.” Qingcheng couldn’t understand what benefit this would bring to Mr. Tang.
“Businessmen need as many friends as possible. Mr. Tang is having them engage in ‘wife diplomacy,’ which is like buying futures. If they can ease the work-related conflicts between the two gentlemen, he will be a top contributor. I think he has a high chance of doubling his winnings this time.” Gao Junxiao seemed to see through her little scheme at a glance and patiently explained to Qingcheng.
"Oh, he's doing you a favor. I was wondering why none of the men in your headquarters brought their families. Turns out they're all on stage." Qingcheng's mood instantly sobered up. She happily peeled open an orange and gave half back to Gao Junxiao; she couldn't eat any more.
"There's only one left, aren't you still sitting?" Gao Junxiao teased her with his head tilted. If it weren't for the elders around, Qingcheng would have really wanted to pull his skin to see just how thick-skinned he was.
"Huh? Don't talk nonsense. I don't even know which way your headquarters faces," Kiyosumi denied vehemently. "Even our intern reporters at the newspaper wouldn't dare to write something like that."
"Didn't you just promise me a permanent position? You've changed your mind faster than flipping through a book. Isn't that cheating?" Gao Junxiao's speech became extremely fast, as if he was really anxious.
"What do you mean by 'permanent'? Go find your Commander Xiong if you want to become permanent. I don't care about your work." Qingcheng took a bite of orange and played word games, thinking to herself that she only promised to become permanent, not immediately. His tickling earlier was just being shameless, and her casual agreement was just a delaying tactic.
"If you can't manage my work, you can manage my life." Gao Junxiao's eyes were like a burning thicket of thorns, bright and expectant.
"You flatter me too much. You're not some random cat or dog that can be fed scraps and made into a makeshift shelter." Qingcheng deliberately used sharp words to try and get him to stop worrying about the promotion for now; she hadn't thought it through yet.
“Yes, I can’t settle for less. As long as you keep your word, I can teach you how to manage me step by step.” Gao Junxiao seemed determined to make a fuss.
"Pah! He's addicted to being a father. Who knows who will take care of whom in the end?" Qingcheng said dismissively, not wanting to engage with him. "Why don't you just write an instruction manual? Call it 'Gao Junxiao's User Guide'."
"Haha, do you have a rebellious bone in your head? I say one thing and you say ten." Gao Junxiao laughed instead of getting angry, touched Qingcheng's back of the head, and suddenly said in surprise, "Hey! You really do have one, no wonder your little mouth is so sharp."
The two were standing close together, and Qingcheng couldn't get out of the way. Not only had Gao Junxiao messed up her hair, but he was also treating her like a rare and exotic animal. This was too much to bear, so she pinched the man's thigh hard and only felt relieved when she saw him wince and let go.
When Qingcheng looked up, all the dozen or so pairs of eyes at the table were staring at the two of them. She could only kick Gao Junxiao's leather shoes under the table to remind him to be mindful of the occasion. Gao Junxiao swallowed the rest of his words with just a glance out of the corner of his eye. He awkwardly adjusted his posture by touching his forehead with his hand, and a suspicious red mark crept up behind his ear.
After a suffocating silence, the former director of Guangci Hospital came to their rescue: "Actually, the term 'rebellious bone' is a superstitious belief. The protruding bone at the back of the head is the occipital protuberance, which is called the occipital tuberosity in anatomical terms. Some people have it prominently while others don't; it's all normal."
But his words made Qingcheng and Gao Junxiao even more embarrassed. It turned out that their conversation had been overheard, and the end of gossip was their own gossip.
"You two are so grown up now, why are you still acting like you did when you were little? Stop being naughty, or you'll just make a fool of yourselves in front of the director." Auntie gave both of them a way out.
“Junxiao, the older you get, the less disciplined you become. Stop being naughty, or I’ll call home and have someone teach this little rascal a lesson,” Mrs. Tan chimed in.
After being lectured, Gao Junxiao, this nearly thirty-year-old "big kid," hung his head, completely speechless. Who could his godmother turn to? It had to be his godfather. Unfortunately, his godfather was a man of refined tastes, preferring to stay home reading rather than attend social events; otherwise, he could have immediately given him a dressing down.
Qingcheng's smugness didn't last long before her aunt across the table cast a warning glance at her. Her gaze was like fine needles, piercing her heart one after another. Even if her aunt was open-minded, her requirements for a good girl still couldn't escape the words "dignified and reserved." Qingcheng took a sip of tea, feeling wronged. It wasn't like she was the one who started it.
At this moment, Gao Junxiao gently tugged at her skirt. He dipped his finger in tea and wrote the words "I'm sorry" on the table. As if afraid that others would see it, he quickly covered it with a plate and knocked over his teacup in his haste.
Alright, now that the body has been disposed of, there's no need to cover it up anymore.
The man's awkward demeanor calmed Qingcheng down considerably. Qingcheng whispered to Gao Junxiao, also speaking to herself, "You said I have a rebellious streak, so do I look like someone who could rebel?"
"All you can do is rebel against me, you heartless wicked girl," Gao Junxiao said in an unusually serious tone, though a faint sadness lingered in his shifting gaze.
"Hmph! You really dare to say that." Reminded by Gao Junxiao, He Qingcheng had a bold idea pop into her head. She loved solving complicated problems the most. "From now on, every word you say and every action you take will be converted into a number. Once you reach ten points, you'll be promoted. This is only for today. Pinky promise."
Perhaps sensing an opportunity, Gao Junxiao couldn't wait to pinky swear with her under the table, and then tentatively asked, "Explain the rules clearly, at least tell me the bonus points."
Qingcheng quietly scrutinized the man. Her sixth sense told her that this man's intentions were not pure. She wanted to see just how far Gao Junxiao could go: "Just say what I want to hear, and I'll give you the points as I see fit."
"Don't be like that. The manual scoring is neither public nor transparent. There must be something fishy going on. Just tell me what you want to hear. Stop torturing me." Gao Junxiao started to act spoiled again, revealing his frustration.
"So, do you want to be my boyfriend, or someone else's boyfriend?" Qingcheng blinked and asked Gao Junxiao a soul-searching question.
"Yours! Do as you ask." Gao Junxiao replied helplessly. It's so comfortable talking to smart people.
Suddenly, the entire hall was plunged into darkness with a "bang," and then white spotlights converged from three directions onto the center of the stage. Mr. Tang calmly walked onto the stage: "Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for any shortcomings in my hospitality today."
The guests below the stage all expressed their gratitude: "No, thank you, Mr. Tang."
"In that case, I, Mr. Tang, will make sure everyone has a great time. As you all know, there will be a dance later, and where there's a dance, there will be competitions, and of course, where there are competitions, there will be prizes, which I, Mr. Tang, will personally cover," Mr. Tang said with a smile.
"What's the prize?" the crowd whispered among themselves.
"Don't rush, I'll keep you in suspense for now. First, please collect your masks for the ball. After you've collected them, please take a short break."
"Bravo!" Another round of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience.
When the waiter appeared with a half-face mask adorned with flowers, she immediately understood the purpose of the flower in her bag. It turned out that the decorative flowers on the half-face masks could be paired with the corsages chosen for the men upon entry, while the masks given to the men did not have decorative flowers.
The flower pairing might be related to the competition's scoring system. Of course, if you're good at socializing, you could also exchange masks or corsages with others. Perhaps Mr. Tang's original intention was to encourage everyone to socialize more.
Regardless, she had her own mission, so she specially chose a mask with small white flowers on it. While touching up her makeup, she secretly replaced the original flower with a white orchid that she had prepared beforehand.
After a short break, the saxophone's witty and smooth tone filled the air. The entire venue had been cleaned up, with the carpet removed to reveal the original wooden floor, and a space enclosed by red velvet railings had been set up as a dance floor.
Mr. Tang stood on the stage and announced, "Our dance is about to begin. Please put on your masks. Thank you for your cooperation." People put on their masks one after another.
"Alright, since everyone is so cooperative, I won't waste any more time. The rules for judging the Queen of Dance today are as follows." Mr. Tang said, picking up a card and reading out the rules:
"One, two people per group, that's obvious." Hearing Mr. Tang's complaint, the audience burst into laughter.
"Second, use a scoring system, with a maximum of 10 points per game, for a total of three games, and the team with the highest total score wins. There's nothing wrong with that."
"Third, please dance the most suitable dance to the music. Haha, the moment to test your dance experience has arrived."
"Four, oh dear, what nonsense! There are only three left. I told you so." Mr. Tang tossed the card behind him dismissively. This action drew laughter from the crowd.
"Don't laugh yet. We're all very serious and earnest. The judges are all seasoned veterans of the dance floor, like me." Mr. Tang's ability to liven up the atmosphere is truly top-notch in Shanghai. "So today, we old hands won't bully you. That's all."
On stage, Mr. Tang pretended to turn around and leave, then turned 180 degrees back: "Hey~ doesn't everyone want to hear about the lucky draw?"
"Yes!" came the unanimous reply from the audience.
"What? I can't hear well." Mr. Tang's act of pretending not to hear was incredibly comical.
"Want—" The crowd's volume rose once again.
Mr. Tang waved his hand to quiet everyone down: "I won't keep you in suspense any longer. Since you all love and respect me so much, I'll do you a favor and promise to do one thing for each of you who wins the championship this time."
This prize was like a bombshell, causing an uproar in the hall. Everyone present knew how valuable Mr. Tang's reputation was; it was something priceless.
But Qingcheng felt that Mr. Tang was a cunning old fox. He believed that favors were something that could be used to get something for nothing; they could be very valuable or worthless, for example, what if he couldn't fulfill someone's request?
"Let me tell you all a little secret: look at your chest. If you can team up with a lady wearing the same flower mask, your score will double. Wouldn't that greatly increase your chances of winning?" Mr. Tang reignited the crowd's enthusiasm.
The crowd below the stage was making a ruckus as everyone started looking for someone, but with so many heads everywhere, it wasn't easy to find someone with the exact same floral arrangement.
"Mr. Tang and you were taught by the same master, so you always like to round up the scores." Gao Junxiao, who had been quiet for a while, started talking nonsense again.
"You don't like whole numbers? Then I'll start adding from the five decimal places." Kiyosumi rolled her eyes at him, still daring to hold a grudge against fractions.
"No, no, no, I like whole numbers the most. Why bother with such complicated calculations? Don't tire yourself out." Gao Junxiao said sweetly, having learned his lesson quite a bit.
Tables and chairs were set up around the dance floor. The two found an empty spot and sat down. Qingcheng then asked, "I'd like to ask for Mr. Tang's favor. Would you mind if I dance with someone else later?"
"Who do you take me for? Do you think I'm that old-fashioned?" Gao Junxiao stared at her and retorted, "Besides, I still want Mr. Tang's favor."
Just then, a black figure came into Qingcheng's view. A yellow rose was pinned to her mask. Qingcheng leaned closer to the man and whispered, "I just saw your bonus points. Do you want to dance with her?"
"I can't jump anymore, I'm full and I need to rest." Gao Junxiao slumped into a chair like an old man, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding noise.
"Such a grown man, and he has no manners at all! Doesn't he know any shame?" Qingcheng propped her chin on one hand, her gaze darting over the man: "Mr. Tang, you don't need my favor anymore."
"Is Mr. Tang more important than you? I feel like you're trying to trick me into revealing information so you can deduct all my points." Gao Junxiao's "I'm not falling for this" attitude amused Qingcheng. Why was he always thinking about points?
"Do you have any points now, Mr. Duck Egg?" Kiyosumi couldn't help but remind this brilliant man, but a glance at the corner of her eye caused her smile to freeze on her face.
The woman wearing the yellow rose mask raised her glass, defiantly toasting her. If it were anyone else receiving the yellow rose, it wouldn't be a problem, but her receiving it clearly indicated premeditation. So, was her target herself or Gao Junxiao?
"Teacher He, could you give me some? Zero points doesn't look good." Gao Junxiao grabbed Qingcheng's slender hand, interrupting her thoughts.
Kiyosumi leaned against him and whispered in his ear, "Okay, take off your clothes."
A hint of disbelief flashed in Gao Junxiao's deep, unfathomable eyes, then he quickly took off his coat and asked with concern, "Are you cold?"
"Not cold, and I didn't mean anything by it. I'll give you two extra points." Qingcheng put on the men's suit with satisfaction and turned back to give the man a big "flirting look."
Under Gao Junxiao's delighted gaze, Qingcheng stood up, put on her coat, and walked methodically in her high heels to the woman in black. Ignoring the surrounding people's comments about her strange attire, she extended her hand and invited, "Miss, would you like to dance with me?"
"This...you're a girl." The woman in black lowered her head and smiled slightly. Her smile was faint, like a wisp of smoke, fleeting in an instant.
"The rules don't say two women can't dance. By the way, my surname is He, and my given name is Qingcheng." Qingcheng looked sincerely into the other person's eyes, making her seem both confident and approachable.
"To preserve the clarity of your spirit, you must let your essence enter and your impurities be removed. I imagine your father hopes that you will cultivate both your inner and outer selves, and forever maintain a clear and pure mind." A hint of tenderness appeared in the black-clad woman's eyes as she gently placed Qingcheng's hand on hers and said, "Alright. My name is Song Li, the 'Li' in 'standing tall and upright.'"
When Qingcheng led Song Li into the venue, it caused a stir among the crowd. Everyone made way for them, and countless flashes were taken at them. Women dancing ballroom dances with other women was not a big problem, except for the novelty.
Each session is limited to five teams. After the five teams greet each other, they set up the dance platform. Song Li is no exception. He leans back and rests his left hand slightly on Qing Cheng's shoulder, while Qing Cheng's right hand is on Song Li's waist, and the rest of their hands are tightly clasped together.
"Enough with the chit-chat, let's enjoy this romantic night tonight, music!" Mr. Tang snapped his fingers, and only the judges' platform and the area around the dance floor remained lit.
At the same time, the musicians received instructions, and the violinists rubbed the strings, producing a soothing sound through the resonance of the violin case. Immediately afterward, the piano sounded "dong, dong dong dong," with a soothing melody tinged with ambiguity.
Kiyosumi could roughly guess what the background music was, and the accordion music that followed confirmed her guess: it was tango.
“European tango is just twisting and turning, the steps are really a bit monotonous. Miss He, do you know of another kind of American tango that is more interesting?” Song Li turned to look at Qingcheng.
"I know a little bit, I recognize the steps, but I'm not very skilled," Kiyosumi said modestly. If European tango is a subtle form of infidelity, then American tango is an open display of flirtation.
“Then when we change rackets, Miss He, you must stay close to me.” Song Li’s eyes were serious.
As the accordion begins to play, the lively keyboard, guided by the musicians, leads the dancers in simple yet powerful steps. With a variation, the two dancers, expressionless, simultaneously toss their heads, their hips touching, and all the musical notes are woven into their footsteps.
When talking to Song Li, Qingcheng had to be very careful. The more serious she was, the more cautious she had to be, because she didn't know what Song Li would do next. So she smiled and agreed, "Miss Song, you dance well. I am naturally willing to follow. But if you stretch your legs too far, we will both fall down and suffer the same fate."
"I know what I'm doing. Don't let those 'idle people' outside the arena distract you and disrupt your dance steps." Song Li glanced quickly at the outside and then turned his head to the side.
Qingcheng's mind raced as she calculated her reply, without giving a direct answer: "It just so happens that we've come at the right time. If it were twenty or thirty years earlier, women wouldn't even be able to dance. Young ladies from respectable families would have their feet bound and be locked up in their boudoirs, never stepping out of their homes. They wouldn't even be qualified to see any 'unnecessary people'."
"Indeed, who doesn't like a rich family's daughter? Untouched by worldly hardships, innocent and naive." Song Li sneered, answering his own question as the two brushed past each other to the beat of the music. "But you neither want to marry him nor allow him to touch other women, isn't that a bit too domineering?"
This meant she was there for Gao Junxiao. Qingcheng's heart skipped a beat, but she still had to keep smiling and change the subject: "Miss Song, your dance steps are skillful, you seem to be an expert."
"He's not exactly an expert, but you've spoiled him too much. I should test whether he's a true gentleman." Song Li reverted to his usual indifference, not even glancing at Qingcheng.
"You've miscalculated. A true gentleman is not tainted by external things. For your own sake, it's best not to provoke him. You don't have what he wants," Qingcheng whispered in Song Li's ear, a threat that was also a reminder.
“Since we know he has ulterior motives, we should be more careful. We need to control his money, power, reputation, and connections. Only then can we make things easier later on,” Song Li said.
"Oh, then I'd like to learn a thing or two about Miss Song's skills." Qingcheng's words were basically a challenge. Tango is different from other dances; it's only interesting when two people are competing.
On the dance floor, just as Qingcheng threw Song Li away, the deep cello rhythm that suddenly appeared in the music began to slow down. The two exchanged glances across the distance, and with an elegant turn, Song Li spun back into Qingcheng's arms.
After Qingcheng hugged Song Li, their eyes met and then immediately snapped away. At the same time, their hips began to move in a figure-eight motion, their toes tentatively drawing circles on the floor. After another rotation and pull back, their upper bodies pressed tightly together.
This time, guided by Song Li's female dance steps, the two women twirled and spun to the music, their black floral cheongsams and golden sequined skirts intertwining, like black swallowtail butterflies dancing gracefully in a sunflower field, their steps so fast they were almost invisible.
The duo's unique dance moves quickly caught the attention of everyone, including the judges, while the audience outside the venue stood up to see them clearly, wishing they had eyes that could see a thousand miles away.
Three men were chatting happily at a table. As they clinked glasses, Chen Yao stood up and looked excitedly at the dance floor. A moment later, he stomped his foot and lamented that he hadn't brought high-powered binoculars.
Gao Junxiao glanced at Chen Yao with disdain, but Chen Yao stubbornly insisted on coming closer. Chen Yao's current state, resembling that of an idiot, was truly embarrassing. However, his own eyes honestly remained fixed on the two women dancing, and he thought to himself that these two sisters were somewhat interesting.
Chen Yao turned to the man in white beside him and asked, "Xu Xi, what's the background of the woman you brought? She's beautiful and can dance. Are you trying to make her a star?"
"I'd like to, but she might not be willing. Miss Song is a person of status," Xu Xi replied with a silly grin as he lowered his head.
"Which family's Miss Song is she from?" Chen Yao asked curiously.
"What do you care where she is from? It's none of your business." Gao Junxiao couldn't help but tease him. Xu Xi was obviously interested in the girl, but he was too timid to confess.
"That's right, I won't tell you." Xu Xi changed the subject and grabbed Gao Junxiao's arm, pleading, "Brother Xiao, your Miss He is such a great dancer, can I dance with her one more time, just one?"
"Don't ask me. Ask her yourself later. I can't make the decision for her," Gao Junxiao said tactfully.
“Ask him, it’s no use. He doesn’t even have a proper title yet.” Chen Yao’s words caused Gao Junxiao a pang of pain in his heart, and he almost threw the wine glass in his hand at him.
It's just a title, he's going to get it today.
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