In the distance, the crowd had gathered into a small circle, a jumble of voices rising and falling like sparks flickering in the dark.
As Lin Yiren and Shen Que drew closer, the agitation within the crowd became even more palpable.
Lin Yiren was about to tiptoe, peering through the gaps between shoulders to see what was happening, when a vicious voice rang out from within—
“Chen Zhaoyue, you shrew.”
The words exploded in Lin Yiren’s ears like thunder, her temples throbbing with surging blood. She quickly pushed aside the shoulders of those in front, forcefully squeezing her way in.
“Yiren Jiejie?” Shen Que watched as Lin Yiren dove straight in, startled by her sudden movement.
Lin Yiren didn’t have time to explain. She called out softly, “Excuse me,” shouldering her way through to the front of the crowd like a fish slipping through the current.
The first person she saw was Chen Zhaoyue.
Miss Chen stood there, lips pressed into a line, anger brimming in her eyes.
Her clothes and hair remained as neat as ever.
Lin Yiren let out a small sigh of relief—at least Chen Zhaoyue was unharmed.
She followed Chen Zhaoyue’s gaze—
Standing opposite Miss Chen was a man sprawled on the ground, his suit smeared with dust and creases, looking utterly disheveled.
“Watch your mouth,” Chen Zhaoyue said coldly, her voice sharp as a blade.
Seeing all eyes on him, the man’s face twisted with embarrassment. He struggled to stand, his gaze toward Chen Zhaoyue turning sinister and vicious.
“Watch my mouth? Chen Zhaoyue, you…” The man paused mid-sentence, as if remembering something. He swallowed his next words resentfully, then muttered, “Who would have thought Miss Chen would turn out to be that kind of person behind the scenes?”
His words were vague, as though he knew some secret but dared not say more under the weight of her presence.
Chen Zhaoyue frowned in displeasure, stepping forward.
“Hey, hey, planning to hit someone?” The man, sensing an opportunity, straightened his suit and put on a righteous air. “Can’t you talk it out? You people are just so emotional.”
He glanced around discreetly; already some in the crowd were whispering, probing looks landing on Chen Zhaoyue.
A smug glint flashed in his eyes. Ignoring the anger building in Chen Zhaoyue’s gaze, he prepared to continue.
***
Suddenly, a slender white hand shot out from the side, grabbing his collar. Off balance, the man was forced to look down—only to meet a pair of furious, stormy eyes.
They were clearly a young girl’s bright eyes, yet the icy sharpness within sent chills down his spine.
This sudden interloper sliced through the tense atmosphere like a blade.
Chen Zhaoyue was surprised to see that clear and resilient figure standing protectively in front of her, but the sense of calm that washed over her quickly soothed her agitation, and the tension in her face eased.
“Whoa,” Shen Que finally made it to the front of the crowd, just in time to see the beautiful, gentle Yiren Jiejie in her eyes gripping the man’s collar. She couldn’t help but gape. When her gaze shifted to the girl standing next to Lin Yiren, she froze again.
Among the crowd across from her, two girls stood together. One wore a pensive look; the other mirrored Shen Que’s expression.
“Looks like we’re not needed after all?” Tang Chaoyun nudged Luo Qing’s shoulder, her face brimming with excitement, the earlier indignation gone.
“If it really comes to blows, we can help out with a kick or two.” Luo Qing’s expression was calm as she shrugged, but Tang Chaoyun’s hand clung to her like sticky candy.
“Who are you?” the man shouted, bewildered at the girl with the tightly clenched fist that had appeared out of nowhere.
Lin Yiren’s fingers gripped his collar, knuckles pale. “I’m Chen Zhaoyue’s… bodyguard. If you keep spouting nonsense, don’t blame me for being rude.”
“Hmph.” Chen Zhaoyue stepped up from behind, unable to hold back a smile at those words. She pressed her lips together, walking to Lin Yiren’s side.
“Don’t think you can just…” The man was about to retort, when he felt his collar tighten and a fist already whistling toward his face.
He recoiled sharply, wrenching himself free from her grip.
The punch missed, but Lin Yiren wasn’t angry. She shook her wrist and made to swing again.
Where did this girl who throws punches without a word come from?!
Still shaken, the man’s collar was askew, dust clinging stubbornly, making him look like he’d rolled several times on the ground.
“Lunatic.” Seeing Lin Yiren ready another punch, he turned and squeezed out of the crowd, fleeing like a beaten dog.
“Tch.” The girl in the fluttering white dress raised her brows disdainfully, like a warrior driving away a ruffian who dared bother her girlfriend.
A gentle gaze landed on her.
Lin Yiren turned back to find Chen Zhaoyue looking at her with appreciation.
From the corner of her eye, she saw the crowd still encircling them.
Without another word, she took Chen Zhaoyue’s hand, shielding her behind and forging a path through the crowd.
The throng parted, forming a passage. The girl in the white dress looked straight ahead, gripping the hand behind her tightly. The girl in black kept her head down, watching their joined hands, letting herself be gently led forward. Without pausing, they walked on, leaving all the prying eyes behind.
***
Pushing open a side door, Lin Yiren finally let go of the soft hand, only then feeling her cheeks flush red.
Why did she stop holding on?
Chen Zhaoyue felt the softness in her palm vanish and was a little disappointed.
Still, that gentle hand just now had been so strong, swinging a fist to protect her, veins standing out with the force behind it.
It was cool.
A warm light shimmered in Chen Zhaoyue’s eyes as she walked beside Lin Yiren, strolling slowly together down the empty side corridor.
“What happened back there, anyway?” Lin Yiren asked, still curious.
“You were ready to hit someone for me without even knowing what happened?”
“No, I was just trying to scare him. People like that don’t handle threats well, but they care a lot about their pride.” Lin Yiren’s ears turned pink, so different from the cold, sharp girl she’d been a moment ago.
Chen Zhaoyue chuckled softly and explained, “That guy’s always been at odds with me. Earlier, he saw me with Xing Yao and started imagining things, so he came to provoke me. I just pushed him a little, but who knew he was so weak and would fall so easily?”
She spoke lightly, but Lin Yiren’s heart clenched in worry. “He knows about Xing Yao? Then…”
“Don’t worry,” Chen Zhaoyue soothed, massaging her shoulder, “He wouldn’t dare say anything, or my dad will deal with him.”
Chen Zhaoyue watched as Lin Yiren’s ears turned even pinker, her face cycling through countless little expressions before she puffed up her cheeks and said fiercely, “I should have just planted my fist on his face.”
So cute.
She’d turned from the dashing Yiren she wanted to rely on, into a Yiren she wanted to scoop up and cuddle.
***
Just then, soft, beautiful music drifted from the Ballroom—
The ball had begun.
“So, shall we go back and dance?”
“Of course. Otherwise, all that practice these days would be for nothing.”
Chen Zhaoyue took two steps back, one hand curved at her waist, the other behind her, bowing deeply.
She raised her eyes to look at the girl.
“Would you do me the honor of this dance, Miss Lin Yiren?”
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