I glanced at the center of the dance floor. If I could choose, of course I'd hope the mysterious girl Ning Yingxue mentioned was Zhao Qingshi, but it was impossible. I'd just witnessed her becoming Qi Hemei's official girlfriend. Now, Qi Hemei's hand was wrapped around her waist, his broad chest brushing her cleavage as he pulled her closer. His other hand began to stroke her back through the thin fabric of her dress, their movements bordering on indecent. I couldn't bear to watch anymore and turned away.
Most of the people sitting out were ordinary students like me, except for Wang Hongxi, the Tiandu noble who'd lost his "protagonist" status to Qi Hemei. Originally meant to dance with Zhao Qingshi, he now sat alone, nursing a glass of wine while Zhao Shi danced with a buxom socialite, his pudgy hand boldly kneading her hip. Wang Hongxi pretended to savor his wine, eyes half-closed, as if indifferent to the world—a poor act for someone claiming to be a "young entrepreneur leader." Without his family's status, he'd be nothing, but birthright guaranteed he'd never lack for women.
Ning Yingxue returned from the restroom, her figure turning heads across the hall. When she sat beside me, jealous glances fell on us—a reminder of how people used to assume we were together. Pride swelled in me; once, I'd thrilled at those looks, imagining having such a beauty on my arm.
A sudden urge struck me: invite her to dance. Vanity? Nostalgia for their past camaraderie? A desire to mend regrets? I wanted to stride into the dance floor with her, letting those jealous eyes burn. But I couldn't dance, and she'd likely refuse. Worse, Luo Suohui might see us. Still, he was glued to his game. If we stayed in a dim corner, maybe no one would notice…
"Xue'er…" I began.
"Stop," she cut in. "I can't say more. You'll have to figure out the girl's name yourself."
"No, I was wondering if we could—" My courage faltered. What if she rejected me? Worse, what if she scolded me for overstepping?
"We could what?" she pressed.
Her eyes—wide, expectant—pierced me. Just ask her to dance! my mind screamed, but fear choked the words.
"…play another game," I mumbled, voice barely audible.
She eyed me strangely. "Game? Sure."
I pulled out my phone, relieved yet ashamed. "What else?"
She smiled after a beat. "You looked so serious, I thought you were going to ask me to dance."
My heart skipped. How dare she voice my deepest wish? Now, even in memory, I'd never know if she might have said yes.
"Beautiful miss, may I have this dance?"
Wang Hongxi interrupted, appearing at Ning Yingxue's side, smoothly voicing the question I couldn't. He gave a courteous bow, eyeing me disdainfully.
Rage flared. He'd stolen my moment, but I had no right to intervene—he was the boyfriend, not me. Luo Suohui remained oblivious, gaming furiously. I clenched my fists, dreading her answer.
Thankfully, she refused instantly: "Sorry, I'm already with someone."
Wang Hongxi scanned my cheap clothes and phone screen, sneering: "Let me guess—he invited you to play this childish game?"
I stood to retort, but Ning Yingxue stopped me. "You're mistaken. I asked him to play. He's good, and we're having fun. Please ask someone else."
But Wang Hongxi, spoiled and rejected twice in one night, wouldn't quit. "Useless men rely on games to attract girls. Real value is measured differently." He flashed a diamond-encrusted Vacheron Constantin watch—worth a decade of my salary.
"Lovely watch," Ning Yingxue said coolly. "But to a woman, true value is a man who sees her as priceless. Games or luxury… neither matters."
I nearly cheered, ashamed I'd ever thought her vain. But Wang Hongxi pressed on, mentioning his family's entertainment company and vacant movie roles—clearly a lure to bed her.
"Leave us alone," I snapped. "Go bother someone else."
He twitched with anger but left, preserving face for the crowd.
Once he was gone, I asked tentatively, "So… game or dance?"
Ning Yingxue hesitated. "That Wang guy is from Tiandu. Is his company based there?"
"Thinking of becoming a star?" I asked, worried.
"No, just curious," she replied distractedly.
I pressed gently: "If you want to act, ask Luo Suohui. He's your boyfriend—more reliable than Wang, who just wants one thing."
"I know, I'm not naive. Let's play."
But she played distractedly, staring past the screen, lost in thought. We lost badly.
"Chen Xiao, would you scold me?" she asked suddenly.
"For losing? Of course not. It's just a game."
"Not the game. If I did something else wrong—would you scold me?"
I paused, then said softly: "No."
"Can I take that as a promise? That you'll never scold me, no matter what?"
"Of course. I'll never scold you."
She smiled, a small, radiant curve that pierced me. I'd seen her smile a thousand times, but never like this—heartbreakingly beautiful. Would I ever see such a smile again?