Chapter 42: The Rival Appears, a Battleground Erupts! ...
"I've found you."
That deep voice, carried by the night wind, gently tapped on Lin Suxing's eardrums.
What came into view was a handsome Eastern face with a hearty smile.
The newcomer was tall and wore a well-tailored burgundy cotton-linen evening gown. His long, wolf-tail hair was casually tied back, with a few stray strands falling across his forehead.
He had deep-set eyes and a high nose bridge, the kind of handsome that made him stand out in a crowd. At this moment, he was leaning slightly forward, staring intently into Lin Suxing's eyes.
Why aren't you saying anything?
Lin Suxing was taken aback, then recognized Zhou Muchen, the artist who had worked in the next studio when shooting the cover for Figaro.
The Zhou family is a prominent noble family that has existed for centuries, with a rich heritage, so it is no surprise that they were able to attend this banquet.
At the time, his art exhibition required the creation of several body paintings, which were taken in the photography studio next to Lin Suxing's. He came over and greeted the editor-in-chief of Figaro, who even took the initiative to ask him for his opinions on the composition, color and other details of the cover photo.
"Mr. Zhou?" Lin Suxing suppressed the fleeting sense of disappointment that even he found absurd, and responded politely.
Zhou Muchen's peach blossom eyes curved slightly with a smile, as if filled with sparkling stars. When he spoke, his voice was clear and pleasant, with a natural charm: "You still remember me? That's great. I thought you had forgotten who I was just now, judging from your reaction. I was a little sad."
"Ah... I haven't forgotten. There was no one here just now, and then someone suddenly appeared. I was a little startled." Lin Suxing's heart was pounding, and she hadn't yet recovered from the mix of excitement and disbelief she had just experienced.
"Did I scare you? I'm so sorry," Zhou Muchen said, sitting down on the bench next to him as if they were old friends. He looked at Lin Suxing with a hint of apology. "I saw some people here, so I came over to see who was skipping the banquet like me. I didn't expect it to be you."
Zhou Muchen's use of the word "escape" was quite apt, instantly hitting Lin Suxing's mark. This caused the handsome young man to gradually recover from his earlier wariness and smile, "Yes, I was trying to escape the banquet, but you caught me."
Zhou Muchen's eyes lit up, his smile deepened, and he maintained a perfect social distance from Lin Suxing: "I can't stand it either, it's too noisy inside, the music, the small talk, the socializing... I feel like my face is frozen from smiling."
Seeing that Zhou Muchen was only exchanging pleasantries, Lin Suxing relaxed and nodded slightly: "Yes, I felt a little breathless, so I came out for a walk."
“I totally understand how you feel,” Zhou Muchen shrugged empathetically, his posture casual yet elegant. “The last shoot was too rushed, and we didn’t even have a chance to chat properly. I saw the final photos of your cover shoot later, and the sense of fragmentation was captured so perfectly. You are truly born for this style.”
He skillfully steered the conversation back to the scene of their first meeting, his tone sincere and unpretentious.
It's always nice to be praised, especially when the other person is good at it. Lin Suxing smiled and said, "Thank you. But that photo... was a bit revealing. I'm almost embarrassed to look at it myself, haha."
However, the staff who filmed the shoot all said it looked good, as it didn't appear erotic due to the exposed skin on the back, and it effectively conveyed a sense of fragility through the amount of skin exposed and the expressions.
Zhou Muchen said with a smile, "I could tell when I visited your studio, which is why I chatted with you for a bit and made some jokes to help you relax."
“...So that’s how it is.” Lin Suxing hadn’t expected that Zhou Muchen’s small talk was for this purpose, and she couldn’t help but feel grateful. “Thank you. If you hadn’t been there to guide the movements, the final result wouldn’t have been so good.”
"Why are you being so polite? If you don't mind, just treat me as a friend. There's no need for all these thanks." Zhou Muchen said naturally, his tone completely unpretentious.
“Of course I don’t mind, then I won’t stand on ceremony. Actually, before we met, I heard about your art exhibition. It was very well received, and tickets were hard to come by for several shows.” Lin Suxing turned her head to look at him, remembering that some people on her WeChat Moments were asking if they could buy tickets to Zhou Muchen’s art exhibition at a higher price.
"Heh, it's just some old family stories that have been buried deep inside, haphazardly painted over with paint. It's not that impressive." Zhou Muchen waved his hand, his tone carrying a hint of self-deprecating nonchalance, but his eyes revealed obvious pride.
The two chatted about everything from photographic composition to color usage, from anecdotes from a banquet to recent art exhibitions they were both interested in.
Zhou Muchen continued the conversation along their shared area of expertise: "Speaking of which, I was very impressed by the composition of the photoshoot in Figaro last time, where you turned to the side and looked back. The photographer was very bold, placing you on the third-third line of the frame, with a large amount of blank space behind you. That feeling of detachment and intrigue was immediately apparent."
Lin Suxing nodded: "Mr. Zhou, you have a good memory. That one did indeed try the golden ratio to create a sense of story."
“Just call me Mu Chen,” Zhou Mu Chen readily corrected, then leaned forward slightly, his eyes shining. “When it comes to storytelling, color is the most direct expression of emotion. For example, I saw an installation by a Swiss artist in Basel before. It used only one color, cobalt blue, but through the layering of different materials and the control of light, it managed to express the layers from the tranquility of the deep sea to the vastness of the universe. That’s what you call telling a story with color.”
Zhou Muchen was knowledgeable, witty, and adept at guiding the conversation, making Lin Suxing feel exceptionally relaxed and happy.
During the conversation, Lin Suxing absentmindedly recalled the unrealistic idea that had suddenly popped into her mind, and couldn't help but chuckle.
I was just overthinking it. How could the pixelated characters in the system really break through the dimensional barrier and come into reality?
This idea is too absurd and too unrealistic.
Perhaps it's because I've been caught in the eye of all sorts of melodramatic storms lately, feeling so lonely and helpless, that I really long for... a reliable person in real life to be by my side.
He composed himself and focused his attention back on the real conversation in front of him.
The soft moonlight bathed Lin Suxing, outlining a warm, gentle edge around his slightly aloof profile.
As Zhou Muchen spoke, his gaze lingered for a moment longer on Lin Suxing's smiling face.
He had seen countless beauties, but rarely encountered someone like Lin Suxing, who possessed a pure and clean aura yet was also a contradictory and intriguing presence.
At this moment, in such a quiet atmosphere where it's just the two of them, it's especially heartwarming.
The handsome man leaned forward slightly, his voice lowered, carrying a barely perceptible probing and invitation: "Speaking of which, there will be a dance party in the second half of the banquet. Do you know the rules here? Traditionally, the opening dance must have a partner, especially if you're a new face at the banquet. And... it would be quite embarrassing if no one invited you."
Lin Suxing frowned slightly, frantically typing to the system in his mind: "Dude, why has no one ever told me about this?!"
The system, which was slacking off and sleeping, was woken up and lazily said, "Host, I don't know about this part either. The original novel focuses on Lin Ke as the protagonist, and he has a dance partner at the banquet. But you are depressed at home because of cyberbullying and did not attend the banquet. So the novel does not emphasize the rule that this stranger must have a dance partner."
"Damn." Lin Suxing was impressed.
Zhou Muchen suddenly leaned closer, a faint smile playing on his lips: "I haven't found a dance partner yet, want to join me?"
Startled by his sudden approach, Lin Suxing tensed up and quietly shifted a little to the other side of the bench: "Um... about this..."
Seeing that he didn't panic and immediately agree to his "kind" invitation because he didn't know the rules, Zhou Muchen didn't want to give up the opportunity.
He always takes the initiative when it comes to people he likes: "It's okay, you can think about it again. I'm not forcing you to say yes. But if you want to make a good impression on everyone at the dinner party, saying yes would be a good choice."
Just then, a cold voice pierced the night:
"Lin Suxing".
Li Xinian was standing a few steps away, the moonlight casting a cold, hard shadow on his deep features.
His gaze swept lightly over Zhou Muchen, finally settling on Lin Suxing.
"...Mr. Li?" Lin Suxing saw his sharp and somewhat sinister gaze fixed on her, and a strange feeling of relief welled up inside her, as if she had been "saved".
The way Zhou Muchen was pressing him so closely just now made him feel a strange sense of fear.
Li Xinian did not answer, but instead looked at Zhou Muchen: "Su Xing and I have something to talk about."
Zhou Muchen remained unmoved, instead smiling at Lin Suxing and saying, "So, how's the ball going? After all..." He paused meaningfully, "I've been with you for so long."
These words caused Li Xinian's gaze to turn cold.
Lin Suxing had just told him he was "bored," and he assumed Lin Suxing would be here alone.
But now it seems that this is not the case.
The two figures sitting side by side under the wisteria trellis, Zhou Muchen's slightly forward-leaning posture and Lin Suxing's relaxed profile, created an overly harmonious scene under the moonlight.
So he's this happy even when he's with other people?
Li Xinian interrupted Zhou Muchen without saying a word: "Su Xing and I have already agreed that I will be each other's opening dance partner."
Lin Suxing had just felt that Zhou Muchen's aggressive behavior tonight was a bit unusual, and when she heard Li Xinian's words, she nodded in agreement: "Yes, we had already agreed on it."
After saying that, he immediately got up and walked towards Li Xinian: "The ball is about to start, let's go."
This response caused Zhou Muchen's smile to falter slightly.
Li Xinian said no more, gently put his hand on Lin Suxing's shoulder, and led him away in a protective manner.
Under the moonlight, Zhou Muchen stood alone, watching the two figures gradually disappear into the distance, a thoughtful smile slowly curving his lips.
On the way to the banquet hall, Li Xinian's hand never left Lin Suxing's shoulder.
The force wasn't heavy, but it carried an unyielding determination that couldn't be refused, as if silently declaring something.
The moonlight, like water, flowed quietly along the cobblestone path in the garden, elongating the shadows of Li Xinian and Lin Suxing as they walked side by side.
Although Lin Suxing had a thousand questions in her mind, such as why Li Xinian happened to be there, the words that came out of her mouth were inquiries about the banquet and ball.
“Mr. Li, thank you for getting me out of that situation just now,” Lin Suxing said carefully, her voice particularly clear in the quiet night. “This is the first time I’ve attended a banquet of this caliber. As a… newcomer, will I really receive a lot of attention and be required to participate in the ball?”
Li Xinian walked steadily and did not answer immediately.
His deep gaze swept across the lights of the banquet hall in the distance, and after a moment, his deep and steady voice slowly rang out, revealing no trace of emotion:
"The ball format originated from the system of European nobility. Although the forms have changed in various ways today, the core etiquette is still tacitly observed. If someone, especially a newlywed, is not invited to dance during the entire ball, it is easily seen as a reflection of their social status or popularity."
Although Li Xinian did not explicitly say that "those who are not invited to dance will be looked down upon and considered unpopular," he had already subtly conveyed this meaning.
He paused, then added, "The atmosphere at modern dance parties is much more relaxed. For example, the old custom that male and female guests had to be in pairs has been broken. Nowadays, two ladies or two gentlemen are allowed to dance together at dance parties. However, some underlying rules are still being used as the unspoken rules within the circle."
After hearing Li Xinian's explanation, Lin Suxing felt a strange tightness in her heart.
He himself didn't care about losing face; the main thing was that his grandfather had sent them to represent the Lin family at the banquet, and there was also that damn mission that had just been assigned...
Just then, as if it had heard what Lin Suxing was thinking, the system notification in his mind popped up:
Lin Suxing pouted: "Are you crazy? Didn't you see that he didn't smile once from beginning to end? Why would I invite him?"
He glanced quickly at the man beside him. Li Xinian still had that unchanging icy expression, radiating an aura that kept strangers at bay. Invite him to dance? Just thinking about it made Lin Suxing feel immense pressure.
The system, however, seemed not to hear and continued, "Target Li Xinian's overall strength assessment: far surpasses Li Jingjia. As the core heir of the Li family, his influence and status are incomparable to Li Jingjia's. If the cooperation is successful, it will effectively curb Lin Ke's arrogance and perfectly achieve the mission objective."
Lin Suxing's fingertips trembled slightly.
He could make a big deal out of his own affairs before; at worst, he would just be cyberbullied and forced to leave the entertainment industry.
But then she remembered that the mission reward was related to the whereabouts of "Niannian's" mother...
He took a deep breath and confirmed with the system, "You have to promise that you will tell me where Niannian's mother is later."
The system, though troubled, said, "Host, I assure you, this time it will definitely work."
Thinking of Niannian, Lin Suxing's eyes sparkled: "You saw what happened when I was ostracized and cyberbullied, and when I was treated unfairly. I didn't care at all. The last time I agreed to shoot for the magazine, and this time, it was all for Niannian. I'm not the kind of person who wants to fight back or make a comeback, but for him... I still want to give it a try."
Li Xinian's heart stirred slightly.
He only cares about his own affairs...
This realization softened Li Xinian's heart even more.
The system, rebuked by Lin Suxing, couldn't help but complain: "The gossip about Niannian's mother is too much to explain in just a few words. After completing the last mission, I only got the first half of the information. Only by completing this big mission and upgrading the system can we accurately collect information about things from so long ago. After all, he is a marginal character in the novel, so it is inherently difficult for him to collect information."
After receiving the system's assurance, Lin Suxing suppressed his fear and stopped just as Li Xinian was about to take the next step.
“Mr. Li,” Lin Suxing’s voice trembled slightly, but more so with a desperate courage, “Do you have a dance partner tonight? If not, may I offer myself?”
He raised his head, his gaze fixed firmly on Li Xinian's unfathomable eyes.
Li Xinian stopped in his tracks.
He slowly turned around, and the full moonlight finally illuminated his angular face.
The man's deep gaze, seemingly penetrating, fell upon Lin Suxing, and a very slight smile appeared on his lips: "...Okay."
That smile was like a polar glacier melting in the first rays of spring sunshine, carrying a heartwarming warmth.
In his deep gray-blue eyes, the ice that had remained frozen for years shattered instantly, rippling out delicate and dazzling light, like sunlight piercing through the Arctic Ocean. Coldness and gentleness miraculously blended together, making him almost unreal in his handsomeness.
Lin Suxing was completely stunned. He had never seen Li Xinian smile like that before. His heart felt like it had been clenched tightly by something, then suddenly released, followed by a wild, uncontrollable pounding.
He instinctively held his breath, his gaze fixed on that face as if drawn by a magnet, unable to look away even for a moment.
All the surrounding noise seemed to fade away instantly, leaving only this smile in his world, a smile that could make even the moonlight pale in comparison.
Li Xinian took in his amazement and dazed expression, and the smile in his eyes deepened.
He took a step forward, leaned slightly, and closed the distance between them. His deep, pleasant voice seemed to possess a bewitching magic at that moment:
"My pleasure."
***
After a brief walk together under the moonlight, Li Xinian and Lin Suxing returned to the brightly lit banquet hall one after the other.
As soon as he stepped into the hall, Lin Siyi was greeted by two strangers, a hint of relief on his face.
"Good evening, Mr. Li." He first nodded slightly to Li Xinian, then turned to Lin Suxing, his tone carrying the special concern of an older brother: "I was just about to look for you, but in the blink of an eye you disappeared and didn't answer your phone."
He stepped aside to introduce the man and woman beside him: "This is Shunyu. The invitation to the Wang family's dinner party was obtained from Shunyu."
A refined-looking man wearing gold-rimmed glasses stepped forward beside Lin Siyi and said with a gentle smile, "Su Xing, we finally meet. I am Wang Shunyu. Your brother has mentioned you to me countless times. Today I finally get to see you in person."
"Hello, Shunyu... Brother?" Lin Suxing asked uncertainly.
Wang Shunyu's smile deepened, and he nodded: "Yes, I'm a little younger than your brother, so it's perfectly fine for you to call me brother."
"This is Shunyue, Shunyu's younger sister. You're about the same age, so you should have a lot to talk about." Lin Siyi then introduced the girl next to Wang Shunyu to Lin Suxing.
Wang Shunyue stepped forward gracefully. She was wearing a champagne-colored dress, her eyes bright, and she looked Lin Suxing up and down without any restraint. Then she smiled brightly and said, "Lin Suxing, right? Your brother is right, you are really beautiful."
Her words were direct and sincere. Then her gaze shifted between Lin Siyi and Lin Suxing, and she added, "Besides, you two look very alike. You must be brothers."
This straightforward praise caught Lin Suxing off guard. She could only nod slightly and reply softly, "Ms. Wang, you flatter me. It's a pleasure to meet you."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Lin Siyi got down to business and explained to Lin Suxing, "The opening dance at the spring banquet is always very formal. As newcomers to the banquet for the first time, we are especially likely to attract attention. If we don't participate, we might be letting down Grandpa's original intention and good intentions in sending us to this banquet."
His tone was gentle but firm: "That's why I specially asked Shunyu to be your dance partner. Don't blame me for not informing you beforehand; if I had, you probably would have made an excuse not to come."
Lin Suxing suddenly remembered that last week, Lin Siyi had suddenly had the idea to call in a Vienna waltz dance teacher, saying she wanted to learn to dance, and then dragged him to learn for several days without saying a word...
He initially thought Lin Siyi was just impulsively interested in learning, but it turns out it was all preparation for this banquet!
“I know, but…” Lin Suxing looked at Wang Shunyu with some difficulty, “Just now, I invited Mr. Li to be my dance partner.”
Lin Siyi: ?
Siblings Wang Shunyu and Wang Shunyue: ? ? ? ?
Lin Siyi's shock was similar to that of Wang Shunyu and Wang Shunyue, but also different.
What they had in common was their surprise at how Lin Suxing, who had only attended two banquets since returning to the Lin family, had come to know someone as powerful and unapproachable as Li Xinian.
The difference is that Lin Siyi was unaware that Li Xinian had never attended any banquets or dances.
Making an exception for someone is enough to demonstrate how important that person is to him.
There were rumors in the industry that Li Xinian might be physically uncoordinated, which is why he often pretended to be uninterested and watched from the sidelines. However, because Li Xinian acted too decisively and ruthlessly, even the rumors gradually faded away.
It seems quite normal for a man as decisive and ruthless as him not to like dancing.
The fact that a habit of many years has been changed because of one person sounds incredibly significant, like an iron tree blossoming.
Wang Shunyu and Wang Shunyue exchanged a glance, both seeing in each other a bizarre vision, like dinosaurs coming back to life. However, because Li Xinian was present, they didn't immediately start gossiping.
But their eyes already revealed their thoughts: They were really looking forward to seeing Li Xinian dance!
“In that case, I will naturally follow the principle of first come, first served, and then find someone else to dance with.” Wang Shunyu readily agreed and gave Lin Suxing a way out.
At the same time, he didn't forget to put down his friend Lin Siyi: "Su Xing, you don't need to feel guilty. If I'm going to blame someone, it's Siyi. He didn't tell you in advance that you had already found a dance partner."
Lin Siyi looked at him but couldn't say anything to refute him because she was in the wrong: "...This is my fault. I'll go ask around and see if anyone needs a handsome dance partner. I'll definitely find one for you."
Seeing that the three of them had made up their minds, Wang Shunyue gently touched his brother's arm and smiled as he smoothed things over: "Alright, then let's go find a dance partner for our brother first. See you later."
She winked playfully at Lin Suxing: "I look forward to seeing your dance at the ball. We'll be exchanging partners for the second dance, and I hope we can dance together."
Wang Shunyu and Wang Shunyue's nonchalant attitude in letting the matter pass by greatly eased Lin Suxing's initial sense of guilt: "Okay, I definitely will when I have the chance. Take care."
Lin Siyi frowned slightly, unsure whether it was a good thing or a bad thing that her younger brother was dancing with Li Xinian.
On the bright side, having his younger brother with such a prominent figure as Li Xinian will undoubtedly make him stand out and gain wider recognition, which will help him be accepted into the industry in the future.
On the other hand, Lin Siyi also felt that being too conspicuous was not a good thing, especially for someone with a complicated background like Li Xinian.
But at this moment, Lin Siyi looked at Li Xinian standing silently beside Lin Suxing, never refuting Lin Suxing's words, and guessed that Li Xinian was actually a better person than she had imagined.
The quick-thinking man instantly imagined Lin Suxing's accidental discovery of the banquet's rule that there was a dance and the newlyweds had to attend, leading to his hasty encounter with Li Xinian outside the banquet hall and his desperate plea for Li Xinian to be his dance partner...
Li Xinian agreed.
Regardless, Li Xinian helped Su Xing out of good intentions, and even if there were negative consequences, it was not what Li Xinian wanted.
"Mr. Li, thank you very much this time," Lin Siyi said with a polite and grateful smile. "I'm really sorry. This is our first time attending this banquet, and we weren't very well prepared, which caused this misunderstanding."
Li Xinian looked at Lin Siyi, secretly observing whether the other party did indeed have similar features to Lin Suxing, but his tone remained calm: "It's nothing, just a misunderstanding."
Lin Suxing took a soft breath and gave her brother a reassuring smile: "Brother, is that settled then? You guys help Brother Shunyu find a dance partner?"
Lin Siyi's gaze lingered between the two for a moment before she finally nodded: "President Li, you two talk first. I have to go ahead and find a dance partner for Shunyu."
As he turned to leave, he didn't forget to turn back and add, "Su Xing, call me if you need anything later."
After his elder brother had walked away, Li Xinian turned slightly to the side. Moonlight shone through the window lattice onto his sharply defined profile, making his deep eyes even more unfathomable.
“Now,” he said in a deep voice with a barely perceptible gentleness, “we can focus on preparing for our ball.”
“Mr. Li, I only have a superficial understanding of waltz. I wonder if you would be willing to dance the male steps and teach me?” Lin Suxing looked up at him, her gaze clear and pure.
Li Xinian nodded: "Of course."
Watching the two walk away side by side from a distance, Wang Shunduo couldn't help but raise an eyebrow: Li Xinian really made his move quickly!
The two discussed the division of labor for the waltz steps and slowly walked to the banquet guests' rest area.
On the east side of the banquet hall, a gilded archway cleverly separates it from the main hall, creating a tranquil space for guests to relax in.
A heavy burgundy red velvet curtain partially obscured the entrance, shutting out the noise of the dance floor.
Stepping inside, you'll find soft Persian handmade carpets under your feet, and rows of dark brown leather sofas and high-backed velvet armchairs arranged to create relatively private little spaces.
On the black walnut side table between the sofas, there is a crystal ashtray and the latest issue of an art book.
The lighting here was deliberately dimmed, with only the table lamps with tassel shades next to each sofa casting a warm glow.
Lin Suxing blinked, her eyes feeling uncomfortable and painful, and her vision began to blur.
He whispered to Li Xinian beside him, "Mr. Li, I'm sorry, there seems to be a problem with my contact lenses. I need to go to the restroom to take care of them."
Upon hearing this, Li Xinian immediately said, "I'll go with you."
Lin Suxing was grateful, but felt it was inconvenient to trouble Li Xinian to accompany her for such a small matter as going to the restroom to fix her contact lenses. She also did not want him to miss any possible social engagements because of her, so she politely declined, saying, "No need to trouble Mr. Li, I will be back soon."
Seeing his insistence, Li Xinian nodded slightly and waited for him in the same spot.
Lin Suxing walked alone through a large area of the rest area, and was caught by Lin Ke, who was resting there: "Isn't that Lin Suxing? He really is alone!"
Seeing that Lin Suxing was all alone, he became even more convinced that Lin Suxing had no idea about the rules of the spring banquet or that she had no idea about finding a dance partner.
Lin Suxing was now alone, which was a good opportunity to carry out his plan!
“Honey, come with me to catch up with Lin Suxing. Let me remind him of the etiquette for this banquet; he’ll thank me.” Lin Ke immediately took Li Jingjia’s arm and gracefully caught up with Lin Suxing.
He deliberately raised his voice, which sounded particularly jarring amidst the elegant attire and bustling crowd: "Hey, isn't this Su Xing? What are you doing wandering around here all by yourself?"
He affectionately linked arms with Li Jingjia, but his gaze was like a poisoned needle as he looked Lin Suxing up and down. "Could it be... that you haven't found a dance partner yet?"
The banquet had ended long ago, and many guests had come here to rest because they were tired. The rest area next to Lin Ke was almost full.
The surrounding laughter and chatter suddenly subsided, and countless gazes focused on them, both openly and secretly.
"Lin Ke's posture clearly indicates that he's going to make things difficult for people."
"I found it strange that Lin Siyi didn't bring Lin Ke with her just now. Don't they only have two children? And this handsome little boy also has the surname Lin..."
"He might be an illegitimate child who can't be brought into the open, and Lin Siyi was forced to bring him here."
"No wonder Lin Ke has such a bad opinion of him; I'd probably be even angrier if it were me."...
Lin Suxing paused, clearly sensing the scrutiny, pity, and even more so, the schadenfreude in those gazes.
Seeing that she had attracted everyone's attention, Lin Ke's tone became even more "concerned," but in reality, every word she uttered was adding fuel to the fire: "According to old customs, it's not very respectable to be alone after the spring banquet ball has started. We are all respectable people, so how about I ask Jingjia to ask around and see if any of your friends need a dance partner? It's better to make do with someone temporarily than to stand there like an idiot later."
Whispers spread like a tide.
"It seems that the young master Lin Siyi brought along isn't very popular..."
"They might just be country bumpkins who don't understand our local customs. People look down on those even more."
"His brother heard that he and Miss Wang have exchanged invitations, why doesn't he help him find a suitable dance partner?"
"People in families like ours are used to this kind of thing. They pretend to be good brothers, putting their arms around each other's shoulders and acting all friendly, but actually they deliberately don't tell you the rules, just hoping to make you look bad."
"That's true, these kinds of things happen all the time."
"What's the use of being good-looking? In this kind of occasion, you're just a decoration if no one flatters you."
"I heard he hasn't been showing up much in high society, so it's normal that he can't find a dance partner... He probably doesn't even know many people."
...
Li Jingjia stood to the side, cooperating with a fake smile, his eyes full of schadenfreude.
Lin Ke watched with satisfaction as Lin Suxing's jawline tightened slightly amidst the crowd's discussions. He wanted to show everyone who was truly accepted by this circle.
Lin Suxing stood there, so embarrassed in front of everyone that he almost laughed out of anger: "Lin Ke, who are you trying to fool with your pretense? Who said I don't have a dance partner?"
Lin Ke snorted coldly, thinking that Lin Suxing, who was still alone when the ball was about to start, must be putting on a brave face: "Oh? Then who is your dance partner? Everyone at the banquet knows each other. If you tell me, I will feel at ease and won't have to ask Jingjia to help you find someone."
The man with a tall, broad nose bridge resembling that of an Avatar, with a powdered face, looked disdainful but still put on a kind face: "Su Xing, don't force yourself. It's not shameful to not have a dance partner. We'll help you find one. Don't worry about troubling us by lying."
Lin Suxing: "..."
Just as the disdainful gazes seemed to solidify into reality, a deep, magnetic voice, devoid of any emotion, shattered the suffocating atmosphere:
"His dance partner is me."
Upon hearing this, the room, which had been filled with buzzing whispers, suddenly fell into a deathly silence!
-----------------------
Author's Note: It's time to introduce a rival to Nian Nian, so he knows that wives are like cute little kittens you see on the street—first come, first served! [rainbow fart]
Speaking of kittens, Xiaosong has been seeing two little ones in the neighborhood lately, an orange tabby and a tabby, playing together every day—they're so adorable! Every time Xiaosong sees them, he takes out some cat food and canned food (if available) and feeds them! [Starry eyes][Let me see]
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