161 Dance

Bai Yixuan spoke with an air of absolute innocence and curiosity, rinsing the bubbles off her hands.
Heh, she was witnessing her "innocence" once again.
Xia Yuwei washed her hands with clean water, pulled out a tissue, and meticulously dried them. As she turned to leave, she offered a faint smile. "Miss Bai, those who always imagine others to be utterly filthy are usually the dirtiest ones themselves. Miss Bai has surely known this truth all along, which is why she applies it so masterfully." With that, she tossed the used tissue into the trash can.
Her words left Bai Yixuan stunned for a second. By the time she reacted, Xia Yuwei had already departed. Furious, she kicked over the wastebasket placed nearby.
That sharp-tongued, detestable old woman! To think she actually dared to put on such a pure, fragile, and pathetic act to win sympathy!

When Xia Yuwei returned to the grand hall, all the lights suddenly went out, plunging the place into total darkness where one could not even see their own hand. Startled, she froze in her tracks.
Suddenly, soft, colorful lights beamed down from above the open space in front of the stage, forming a gorgeous dance floor in the middle of the hall. Soft music began to play—the classic light waltz, "Love of Yesterday." It turned out the banquet had entered its second segment: the magnificent ball. Pairs of male and female dance partners glided onto the dance floor one after another, embracing as they danced.
Xia Yuwei took brisk, light steps toward her seat. Halfway there, she saw that Jun Yihan was already waiting for her.
He reached out his hand to her, smiling at her like a prince.
As if drawn by some invisible magnetic force, Xia Yuwei placed her hand in his. His hand was warm and secure.
He led her into the dance. The hem of her dress fluttered gently, and their dance steps matched with astonishing harmony. Like a flying butterfly guided by his lead, she glided across the entire hall, her spirits suddenly soaring. It turned out that dancing could genuinely lift one's mood.
A strikingly handsome and aloof man paired with a mysteriously gorgeous woman immediately drew curious gazes from all around. By the end of the first song, they had become the undisputed center of attention.
"Shall we continue?" he asked considerately after the second dance ended.
"A rest. Let's rest for a moment!" she said with the playful smile of a young girl. How long had it been since she last danced? She never knew she could radiate such brilliant energy and captivate an entire ballroom. In this moment, a long-lost joy bubbled up naturally from the depths of her heart, revealing itself on her face.
He held her hand as they retreated to their seats.
People frequently came over to invite her to dance, but she politely declined them all. "It seems today you are my exclusive partner," Jun Yihan joked, handing her a glass of water.
...
The two of them stepped onto the dance floor to dance together once again.
Xia Yuwei even had the fleeting illusion that she had returned to her girlhood.
A carefree life, days filled with smiles blooming like flowers, her lovely mommy, and her daddy who spoiled her boundlessly...
No hardships in life, no painful memories, and no one who could bully her...
...
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is now time to change partners—
"Please release your partner and grant him/her a brief freedom..."
The DJ on the stage commanded the atmosphere of the entire room. The classic partner-switching music began to play—"Change Partners."
We were waltzing together to a dreamy melody
When they called out "Change partners,"
And you waltzed away from me.
Now my arms feel so empty...
Jun Yihan smiled and released her hand. Amidst the shifting crowds, the two of them drifted apart.
She stood dazed in the middle of the dance floor like a child who had lost her parents. Everyone else was moving; she alone stood still.
She had no idea who she would dance with next. She only knew it was time to change partners, to dance with a stranger, to drift within the massive sea of people...
Suddenly, someone gripped her wrist tightly.
Without even looking, that familiar aura made her want to flee. Subconsciously, she struggled to pull away, but it was useless. His hand held her in place, unmoving.
"Are you really that afraid of me..." he said, his large hand clamping around her wrist like an iron chain.

"Weiwei." Someone called her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder—it was Jun Yihan. "Please let go of my friend. It appears she has no wish to dance with you."
Lu Yichen ignored Jun Yihan's words and simply stared at her. But she turned her head away, looking to the side.
He loosened his grip, slowly sliding his hand into his pocket. Weiwei.
Everything passed in a fleeting instant, like a brief interlude in the ballroom.

"Mr. Jun, I'd like to go back now. May I?" Xia Yuwei asked as they stepped off the dance floor. The ball was not yet over, and a cold buffet was reportedly coming up next. But she no longer had any desire to stay.
"Mm. Alright, no problem. I was having the same thought myself," Jun Yihan said as he gathered his things and led Xia Yuwei out of the venue. Naturally, she couldn't stay here any longer. It seemed someone had ruined her mood.
"I'll take you out for some fresh air," he said, leading her away.
His car drove up to a bridge and parked by the roadside. The two of them got out and strolled along the bridge.
On a summer night, the stars were numerous and huge. The deep blue sky held countless distant worlds, and surely, one of those stars was home to her daddy and mommy.
She crossed her arms over her chest, speaking very little. At first, Jun Yihan tried to prompt her into conversation. After a while, he began to keep her company in silence. Since she needed quiet, he would give her quiet.
"Let's go. Take me home," she said after an unknown amount of time had passed.
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P.S., Thank you for the flowers, dear schoolmates~~~~ ⊙﹏⊙b Sweat~ Sweat