Chapter 43: The first time the main couple (top and bottom) got together offline!
In the absolute silence, Li Xinian walked slowly through the space where the crowd automatically parted. The lights seemed to favor him, casting a cool sheen on his crisp suit.
He didn't even glance at Lin Ke and Li Jingjia, but walked straight to Lin Suxing's side. His gaze calmly swept over the people who had been talking the loudest, and wherever he looked, everyone stiffened and dared not speak again.
Finally, the man turned his gaze back to Lin Suxing, his voice not loud, but loud enough for everyone to hear: "Why did you go to the restroom by yourself without waiting for me?"
Li Xinian's tone was not as cold as usual, and his manner was obviously familiar.
Of all the people present, very few had ever heard Li Xinian speak in such a tone.
As soon as Li Xinian said this, the surrounding discussions rippled like pebbles thrown into water:
"President Li? Why is he here too? Doesn't he always disdain these kinds of ballroom events?" A lady in a royal blue dress covered half her face with her hand and whispered in surprise to her companion.
"Did you hear what he just said? He said... he's Lin Suxing's dance partner?" Her male companion looked equally incredulous. "How is that possible! Everyone knows that President Li has never danced with anyone at any public ball!"
"Did I hear that right? That guy from the Li family, who's never smiled, would actually talk to people like that??"
"Just who is this young master whom the Lin family has just recognized? How could he possibly persuade Li Xinian to make an exception for him?!"
"This...and the way they're talking doesn't seem like they're strangers."
The color drained from Lin Ke's face at a visible speed, turning deathly pale.
His meticulously planned humiliation was about to succeed, so why did Li Xinian suddenly appear out of nowhere?
He simply couldn't believe that someone as aloof as Li Xinian, who wouldn't even bother to give them a second glance, would be involved with Lin Suxing, let alone be her dance partner!
He subconsciously gripped Li Jingjia's arm tightly beside him, as if trying to draw some confidence from it, or to confirm that this was not an illusion.
However, Li Jingjia, on whom he had placed high hopes, was in an even worse situation than him.
The arrogant and domineering air he had displayed at the banquet had completely vanished from the man with the pointed mouth and monkey-like face.
The moment Li Xinian appeared, he was like a punctured balloon, all his energy and spirit leaking out at once.
Li Xinian didn't even look at him for a second longer. He only felt the invisible pressure from Li Xinian, and he involuntarily straightened his body, forcing out an extremely stiff and even obsequious smile.
Li Jingjia understood that Li Xinian was someone he absolutely could not afford to offend.
Perhaps people from other families, especially those who have just entered the circle, do not know enough about Li Xinian. They only think that he is ruthless and unsmiling, but Li Jingjia knows that Li Xinian is not just like that.
If that were all, it would be impossible to survive and grow up in the Li family, a place rife with infighting and backstabbing, without the support of one's mother's family.
Just thinking about how terrifying Li Xinian was, and what fate awaited those he targeted, sent chills down Li Jingjia's spine.
Li Xinian's gaze finally swept over indifferently and landed on Li Jingjia.
That gaze was calm and unwavering, yet it made Li Jingjia feel as if he had been doused with icy water in the freezing north wind during the dead of winter.
"Uncle... Uncle." Li Jingjia's Adam's apple bobbed, and he almost forced himself to call out respectfully.
Although Li Xinian was actually younger than him, his seniority and absolute strength forced him to bow down.
Li Xinian did not respond to his address, but spoke in a cold tone that revealed neither joy nor anger, as if stating a perfectly ordinary fact, yet every word carried immense weight:
“Li Jingjia,” he paused, his gray-blue eyes devoid of any warmth, his voice chilling, “it seems you’ve been quite free lately, even having time to instruct others.”
Li Jingjia's face instantly turned ugly, and fine beads of cold sweat even appeared on his forehead.
Li Xinian continued, his tone still indifferent, yet carrying an undeniable warning: "Since you have some free time, you should think more about what kind of words and actions will not disgrace the family name. In the future, be careful with your words and actions outside. The Li family's reputation is not for you to do rude things."
He didn't speak harshly or raise his voice, but every word was like an invisible slap in the face, shattering Lin Ke's little bit of reliance.
Li Jingjia almost lost the courage to say "yes," and could only nod stiffly: "Uncle, I understand. I will definitely pay attention in the future."
Li Xinian's cold gaze slowly shifted to Lin Ke, whose face was deathly pale, and his gray-blue eyes narrowed slightly.
He gracefully adjusted his cufflinks, his tone as calm as if discussing the weather: "And this gentleman is?"
Li Jingjia immediately bowed and replied, "Uncle, this is Lin Ke, who came with me tonight."
He deliberately avoided the term "boyfriend," clearly eager to draw a clear line between himself and Lin Ke.
Li Xinian must have seen Lin Ke bullying Lin Suxing just now, and there is absolutely no way he can sit idly by now. If he still dares to speak up for Lin Ke, he might be the one who loses his head tomorrow!
Lin Ke stood frozen in place, and Li Jingjia's eagerness to distance himself from him made him the biggest joke of the entire room.
Li Xinian nodded, his gaze still fixed on Lin Ke, his tone casual yet chilling: "Just now, he was the one bullying my dance partner, wasn't he?"
“Uncle, you are wise!” Li Jingjia immediately stated, his tone resolute, “He and I are just ordinary friends, with absolutely no deeper relationship. If I had known he would be disrespectful to Mr. Lin, I would never have brought him into the venue.”
When he turned to Lin Ke, his face instantly darkened, and his tone became stern: "Lin Ke, hurry up and apologize to President Li and Mr. Lin! Just now you insisted on making things difficult for Mr. Lin. I clearly advised you not to be so aggressive, but you didn't listen to your friend's advice at all."
Li Jingjia's deliberate emphasis on "friends" made Lin Ke's eyes widen suddenly, and the anger of being betrayed by the other party made his thin body tremble wildly.
Lin Ke's teeth trembled as she lowered her voice and said viciously, "You gave it to your friend who's sucking Dick, right? Li Jingjia, you really have no shame, calling me just a friend..."
He was vicious, but not insane. In front of Li Xinian, he didn't have the courage to argue loudly with Li Jingjia or go crazy.
Li Jingjia completely ignored his accusations and continued loudly, "I never knew you were such an ill-mannered person. From this day forward, we have nothing to do with each other. You'd better watch yourself!"
These words were like ice water poured over Lin Ke's head, leaving her completely frozen in place.
His greatest support is now eager to cut ties with him, and even turn around and accuse him.
The surrounding guests' gazes shifted from initial surprise to undisguised disdain, and their whispers were as piercing as needles.
The conversation was filled with undisguised sarcasm and gloating.
"Hehe, some people have gotten involved with a distant relative of the Li family, and they think they've climbed the social ladder like a phoenix, showing off all over the banquet hall," a socialite who had previously disliked Lin Ke's flamboyant behavior laughed out loud. "Look, she hasn't even acknowledged him as her boyfriend yet. He's just throwing himself at her, and she'll dump him once she's done with him."
"Yeah, she was just jumping around like that, openly showing concern while secretly mocking someone for not having a dance partner. Now look what's happened, her face's been slapped in the face, hasn't it?" Her companion chuckled softly, glancing meaningfully at Lin Ke's pale face. "She really brought this upon herself."
The man watching with great interest nearby also spoke with sharp wit: "This is what they call trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead. He wanted to embarrass someone, but ended up becoming the biggest joke himself. The person he was mocking had a dance partner who was a thousand times better than the scraps he found."
"With his undignified manner, it's no wonder that Lin Siyi brought Lin Suxing along and didn't interact with him at all during the entire banquet. If my brother were to fawn over someone like that and be so smug, he wouldn't act like a proper young master at all, and I would definitely break his legs."
These blunt comments, like countless fine needles, relentlessly pierced Lin Ke.
His carefully applied makeup could not conceal the ashen complexion. He felt that the surrounding gazes were full of mockery. All his previous pride and glory had shattered into dust the moment Li Xinian appeared, and now it was being repeatedly trampled on amidst the whispers of the crowd.
He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, but he felt no pain at all, only boundless embarrassment and resentment.
Li Jingjia, standing beside him, was in an equally awkward position.
Faced with Li Xinian's absolute authority, he dared not show even the slightest dissatisfaction. He could only lower his head and try his best to minimize his presence. His heart was already filled with fear and regret.
At this moment, Li Jingjia deeply regretted why he had chosen to "play" with Lin Ke, who had undergone plastic surgery. Wouldn't it have been the same to choose someone else?
At the time, he was only interested in the fact that Lin Ke was the young master of the Lin family and a star in the entertainment industry, which gave him a great sense of face and a feeling of conquest.
But if he knew that Lin Ke dared to provoke Li Xinian's people, even if he broke three of his legs, he wouldn't dare to have anything to do with Lin Ke!
He could only pray that Li Xinian would let him off the hook because he had severed ties with Lin Ke.
Li Xinian remained indifferent throughout, until Lin Ke was in a sorry state under everyone's gaze, at which point he spoke calmly: "Since she is an irrelevant person, there is no need for her to appear in this setting again."
This seemingly casual remark effectively sealed Lin Ke's social fate at the banquet.
Li Jingjia immediately understood and readily summoned a waiter: "Send this gentleman away." His tone was icy, a stark contrast to his previous intimacy with Lin Ke.
Lin Ke looked back and forth between Li Xinian and Li Jingjia in disbelief: "No, I was invited here, you can't do this..."
However, no one paid attention to his protests, and everyone looked at him with schadenfreude and contempt.
"Mr. Lin, please." The waiter in the white shirt and black bow tie had been observing the situation since the conflict began, and immediately stepped forward to "support" Lin Ke's arm.
The force was like an iron clamp, incredibly powerful, and Lin Ke simply couldn't break free!
These waiters may appear to be handsome and well-built, but they are actually highly skilled close combat and gun handling experts who can quickly assemble into a small unit to protect guests and launch a counterattack in case of emergencies.
Accompanied by waiters, Lin Ke was almost staggered as she was led away from the venue.
Li Xinian didn't even glance at him, but turned to Lin Suxing and reached out to straighten his not-so-disheveled collar: "Don't be afraid, it's alright."
He then naturally extended his hand to Lin Suxing, his previous cold expression fading away, and looked at her with gentle eyes: "Let's go, the ball is about to begin."
He didn't glance at the silent Li Jingjia again. Holding Lin Suxing's hand, amidst the astonished, envious, and inquisitive gazes of the crowd, he calmly left, like Moses parting the sea, as the crowd naturally parted once more.
The guests who had just been mocking Lin Suxing along with Lin Ke were now displaying a variety of expressions, all their ridicule and contempt turning into shock and disbelief.
Who would have thought that this "new face" they had just been secretly mocking would not only receive Li Xinian's protection, but also have him personally speak out and assert his sovereignty in such a powerful manner!
Those who had been looking at Lin Suxing with pity or amusement just moments before were now filled with amazement and admiration, and the focus of their discussions had all shifted to Lin Suxing.
“This young master of the Lin family, standing next to President Li, they are truly a perfect match, both talented and handsome!” A lady covered her mouth with a fan, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “I knew it! Anyone who can catch Li Xinian’s eye could not be an ordinary person.”
“Look at his demeanor, calm yet noble, and his appearance is outstanding. No wonder President Li treats him with special regard.” Another gentleman nodded in agreement, “Now that I think about it, Lin Siyi personally introduced him to all parties tonight, instead of Lin Ke. This attitude itself speaks volumes. It is obvious that he values this younger brother very much.”
“That’s right, I’ve always felt that Lin Suxing looks extraordinary.” Someone immediately chimed in, as if they had a unique insight from the beginning. “With that appearance and figure, she shines in the crowd. It’s hard not to notice her. President Li is a man of great stature, so his eyes are naturally sharp.”
"Lin Ke's face looks stiff from all the plastic surgery. Even her smile is so stiff. How can she compare to someone like Lin Suxing? I don't know how Lin Ke has the nerve to ridicule Lin Suxing. Doesn't she ever look in the mirror?"
"Yeah, if you don't have a mirror, you can always pee, right? Take a piss and see what you look like before you start mocking others."
Walking along the corridor covered with a dark-patterned carpet towards the restroom, the surrounding noise is shut out.
Li Xinian turned his head and looked at Lin Suxing's soft profile: "...Are your eyes still bothered?"
Lin Ke's mean face and the whispers of the surrounding guests were still deeply etched in his memory.
Those arduous past experiences stand in stark contrast to the bright smiles that often grace the faces of these young people today, as if they know nothing of sorrow.
Li Xinian could almost piece together another kind of hardship that Lin Suxing faced after returning to this so-called "home".
His parents' indulgence allowed the spoiled young master, who didn't belong to the family, to bully him at will and make things difficult for him at every turn, while he could only silently endure it.
Those seemingly glamorous occasions are probably traps he needs to be careful to avoid at every turn, just like tonight.
No wonder he hates these banquets and prefers to go outside and enjoy the evening breeze.
But this person always smiled in front of me, with a touch of cautious concern, trying to radiate positive energy, as if all the past and present hardships were insignificant.
A strange, bittersweet feeling of heartache gripped Li Xinian's heart without warning.
Li Xinian's originally cold gaze suddenly froze when it swept over Lin Suxing's face.
Those eyes, which always held a smile, were now slightly red, with a blush-like hue spreading at the corners. Her long eyelashes were wet and stuck together, trembling gently with each blink, like butterfly wings dampened by rain.
Lin Suxing was unconsciously rubbing the corner of her eye with her knuckles, her delicate brows furrowing slightly, revealing a vulnerability and helplessness that she would never normally show.
In Li Xinian's deep gray-blue eyes, a thin crack quietly appeared on the frozen lake surface.
He clearly saw the young man struggling to open his eyes wide, trying to clear his blurry vision. His forced composure and unwillingness to cause trouble for others felt like a fine needle, unexpectedly piercing the softest corner of his heart.
A strange, bittersweet feeling instantly washed over me, surging silently.
The boy who stayed up all night working by his adoptive mother's sickbed, all the hardships he might face after returning to the Lin family, all the difficulties he never spoke of, seemed to melt into his reddened eyes, glistening with physiological tears.
Li Xinian's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
He almost raised his hand, wanting to brush away the unsightly wetness with his fingertips, wanting to confirm whether the reddened corners of his eyes also carried an abnormal burning sensation.
But he managed to restrain himself in the end.
But those thin lips, which were always pressed into a cold, hard line, softened by an almost imperceptible slight curve.
"Don't rub it." He finally spoke, his voice even lower and softer than he had expected, carrying a cautious tone that he himself was unaware of.
"...I feel uncomfortable." Lin Suxing's voice was a little nasal, and with her wet eyes, she looked pitiful, as if she was crying from grievance.
As Li Xinian watched him remove his contact lenses in front of the mirror, he couldn't help but remind him, "...once you take them out, don't wear them again."
"Okay!" Lin Suxing washed her face and regained her usual energy.
Li Xinian stood behind him, looking at the young man in the mirror whose cheeks were wet with water droplets, yet who was still incredibly handsome despite not wearing any makeup: "Lin Suxing."
Lin Suxing looked up at his reflection in the mirror, puzzled, her eyes filled with questions.
Li Xinian stared at him, his gray-blue eyes churning with indescribable emotions.
He spoke, his voice lower than usual, carrying an unmistakable seriousness: "After you returned to the Lin family, have they been...bullying you like this?"
Lin Suxing was clearly stunned, his pupils contracted slightly.
He clearly hadn't expected Li Xinian to ask such a direct question. Immediately, almost reflexively, he flashed a smile, as if he were already used to it.
"No, not at all," he said lightly, even with a hint of deliberate nonchalance. "It's alright. Actually... everyone's pretty busy, so there's no question of bullying anyone."
He tried to gloss over his grievances and embarrassment with a lighthearted tone, not wanting to expose his "undignified" struggles to this radiant man.
Lin Suxing wasn't the kind of person who liked to play the victim, because he felt that doing so would only make those who hated him laugh and those who truly cared about him suffer.
Looking at Lin Suxing's forced smile and the fleeting sadness in his eyes, he felt a sharp, persistent pain in a corner of his heart.
Li Xinian was silent for a moment, and when he finally spoke, his voice was deep and clear, each word carrying immense weight: "From now on, no one will bully you anymore. If anyone does, I will... stand up for you."
The man with the deep-set eyes paused, making sure the other person heard every word.
He looked at Lin Suxing's slightly widened eyes and spoke each word gently:
So... don't be sad.
***
The melodious waltz music, like a stream flowing under the moon, rippled through the brightly lit banquet hall.
The usually aloof and distant heir of the Li family was now looking down slightly, intently gazing at his dance partner in his arms.
He held the young master of the Lin family firmly on the lower back with one hand and grasped his other hand with the other. His dance posture was elegant and composed, showing no signs of being uncoordinated or bad at dancing as rumored in the industry.
Lin Suxing tilted her head slightly, carefully following his every dance step. As the lights shifted, one could catch a glimpse of his reddened ear tips and his lowered, trembling eyelashes.
The height difference between the two was just right; Lin Suxing's forehead could almost touch Li Xinian's chin.
As they spun rapidly in the Viennese Waltz, their bodies were pressed so close together that, from a distance, Li Xinian's broad shoulders almost completely enveloped the handsome young man in his arms.
"Spin around." Li Xin gently reminded her, and Lin Suxing leaned under his arm and spun around lightly, then immediately took his hand and leaned back into his arms.
As her tense nerves gradually relaxed, Lin Suxing couldn't help but exclaim softly, "President Li, you danced so well... Even a novice like me didn't make a single mistake."
Although Lin Suxing had not studied dance for long and had only a superficial understanding of waltz, with Li Xinian's guidance and reminders, he could feel that every turn and every step forward and backward was perfectly in time with the beat.
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Xinian's smooth jawline seemed to tighten slightly, and the soft light in his gray-blue eyes dimmed.
He had heard titles like "President Li" and "Mr. Li" countless times.
But when Lin Suxing said it, it carried a businesslike distance, as if drawing an invisible line between them.
He didn't like Lin Suxing calling him that.
What a coward! When he was wearing an invisible "mask," I always called him affectionately like "Niannian" or "Baby," but now that we have the chance to interact like that in person... I call him so politely.
It was as if...they were really just strangers who had only met once, and had never had any connection with each other.
Lin Suxing herself was unaware of Li Xinian's emotional changes.
His tension and anxiety gradually dissipated with the smooth dance steps. Once he was sure that he wouldn't step on the other person or embarrass himself in public, he finally relaxed.
With this relaxation, sensory perceptions that had been temporarily ignored due to tension surged forth like a tide.
It was only then that Lin Suxing seemed to belatedly realize how intimate their posture was.
Li Xinian was slightly taller than him, and at this moment, in order to match the dance steps, he leaned slightly, which, from the perspective of others, looked almost like he was embracing him.
The fir trees in the pine forest after the snow, glistening with morning dew, mixed with a hint of dry amber moss, seeped into Li Xinian's breath through his neck and collar, domineeringly and undeniably enveloping his entire being.
Their palms met; Li Xinian's hands were dry and warm, and he held his hand tightly.
Through the thin fabric of the dress, he could even vaguely feel the body temperature emanating from the other person's chest.
This near-intimate distance, this pervasive exchange of body heat and breath, made Lin Suxing's heart beat faster involuntarily.
Such a distance... was as intimate as that of lovers in the throes of passion, completely devoid of the awkwardness and unfamiliarity that Lin Suxing had originally imagined.
A warmth crept up Lin Suxing's ears and cheeks. He felt somewhat flustered and wanted to say something to break the unsettling, ambiguous atmosphere.
However, the words caught in his throat.
His gaze, unwavering, met Li Xinian's eyes as he looked down at him.
The music gradually shifts from gentle to exciting, and the dance on the dance floor is about to progress to a movement that needs to be unfolded.
"Take a step," Li Xinian whispered, his arm clasped with Lin Suxing's loosening, his body moving at just the right distance, the opening dance pose about to be in place as the music progressed.
However, Lin Suxing was completely immersed in the unexpected eye contact and the sudden acceleration of her heartbeat. Her mind went blank, and she completely missed Li Xinian's guidance signal. Her feet were still mechanically repeating the steps she had just taken.
"...Well!"
In the chaos, Lin Suxing took a hasty, wrong step and tripped right on Li Xinian's outstretched leather shoe!
A strong sense of imbalance suddenly gripped him.
In the midst of the dizziness, he felt Li Xinian's arm around his waist tighten instantly, trying to steady him, but the momentum had already taken hold.
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Author's Note: [Winking][Flattery] Ladies, want to guess what will happen in the next chapter?
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