Attending Rui Luo's birthday party? Given Maine and Rui Luo's current relationship, what's wrong with Maine's uncle making such an invitation?
Xie Sen knew Maine valued his uncle, so he only grumbled inwardly. He asked, "Did you agree?"
Maine nodded, "I couldn't refuse."
Xie Sen looked at him in surprise. What did he mean by "couldn't refuse"?
Maine pursed his lips. "I don't want to embarrass my uncle. Admiral Kes gave him the order." At this point, Maine's tone was slightly cold. "Maybe he wants to talk to me about something!"
Xie Sen speculated, "Maybe he saw you won the league championship and thinks you're capable, so he wants to use this opportunity to improve our relationship?"
"Perhaps," Maine said. "We'll know tomorrow."
Xie Sen was a little worried. Maine's most important person was his uncle. His closest relationship was with his uncle's brother and Rui Luo. If Maine turned evil, it would most likely be related to them.
With all these people at Rui Luo's birthday party, there were too many possible scenarios.
"I'll go with you," Xie Sen thought it over and quickly suggested. "Can you take me with you?"
Maine asked, "You really want to go?"
Xie Sen nodded affirmatively. Maine said, "I'll ask my uncle for another invitation."
"Don't bother. At a party like this, you should be able to bring a dancing partner, right?" Xie Sen asked.
Maine looked at him and nodded, "Sure."
After deciding to go together, the two rented a dress online again. Neither of them had much thought about Rui Luo's birthday party, so they simply went to the same rental shop and rented the same outfit they'd worn to Jie and Jin Yao's engagement ceremony.
The next day, Xie Sen returned home from work to change into his dress. He had dinner with Maine again before heading to the Kes residence.
The Kes residence was built in a style similar to the Yaben residence, a vast castle. From the gate, through the corridor to the banquet hall, the path was lined with simulated ornamental plants, making it a particularly beautiful sight.
"Oh, dear Maine, I'm so glad to see you." Sokto, dressed in a sharp black suit, walked up to Maine and gave him an open embrace, a warm greeting.
After the greeting, Sokto stepped back, looking at Xie Sen beside Maine with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. "Wouldn't you like to introduce me to this beautiful female?"
Xie Sen's characteristic smile froze, and he gritted his teeth, trying hard to suppress the urge to blurt out, "You're the female!"
Maine corrected him, "This is my friend Xie Sen, he's a male."
"I'm so sorry," Sokto said apologetically, extending his hand to Xie Sen. "Please forgive my slip of the tongue. It's nice to meet you."
Xie Sen extended his hand and shook his, trying to be generous. "It's okay."
"There's still twenty minutes before the event officially starts. You can walk around and grab something to eat. I have to go and see the guests."
Maine nodded, and Sokto greeted another visitor. Xie Sen looked around and pulled Maine to the sofa in the corner.
He could already sense the occasional glances from the guests around him, accompanied by a flurry of surprised chatter.
The recent conflict between Maine and Rui Luo had been a hot topic, and Maine's presence at Rui Luo's birthday party was indeed quite surprising.
He had barely taken a few steps with Maine in tow when a tall man in a matching suit approached them. Like most of the others, he had handsome features and held two wine glasses.
He bent slightly and offered the glass in his right hand to Xie Sen, his demeanor elegant. "Beautiful young man, would you like to have a drink with me?"
Maine frowned, giving the man a cold glance before turning to see Xie Sen's reaction.
Xie Sen's mouth twitched. He was indeed handsome now, but he wasn't at all used to being described as "beautiful."
"Thank you, I don't drink," he politely declined.
Wine was an absolute luxury here. The fact that the Kes family had wine at the banquet showed their considerable power.
The man looked disappointed and shrugged, not insisting. "I hope to have the honor of dancing with you later." He then gracefully stepped aside, no longer blocking their path.
Xie Sen didn't reply. He had never seen a Brant Star dance, let alone dance. Even if he could, he wouldn't dance with a stranger.
He pulled Maine, whose brows relaxed at his reaction, and continued walking towards the corner. After a few steps, he heard the sound of a discussion, not deliberately suppressed.
"Wow, is this female a fool? She actually rejected the idea of the Qiao family's young master being with the Kes family's illegitimate son!"
"Could she be unaware of the Qiao family's young master's identity?"
"I think it's very likely. She might have thought Maine could get into the Kes family just by attending the banquet, that he'd be clinging to the Kes family's influence!"
"How could it be that easy to get into the Kes family? He's a illegitimate child! And
he doesn't have the family's backing." "Oh, what a short-sighted female! If she knew the Qiao family's identity and Maine's lack of respect in the Kes family, she'd regret it!"
Xie Sen had been holding Maine's arm and could immediately feel his muscles tense.
Xie Sen turned his head and rolled his eyes at the three short women gathered around, discussing. "Don't be so chatty. If you're whispering, act like you're whispering. Otherwise, just grab a loudspeaker and let the whole place hear you gossiping." It wouldn't matter
if they didn't hear, but if they did
, it would ruin their mood. His voice was loud, immediately drawing the attention of many people, who then followed his gaze to the three gossipers.
The three females were completely caught off guard by his outcry, and the stares from all around them made their faces flush. One of the light-gray-haired boys glared at him angrily, "What's it to you about what we say? Did we say something wrong?"
"Of course I didn't!" Xie Sen pointed at himself. "First, I'm a male. Second, you mentioned me, so of course it's about me. Doesn't it mean I mentioned you?"
The three looked at him in surprise, never expecting him to be a male.
The light-gray-haired boy, after a moment of surprise, scoffed, "How can you be considered a male? You might as well be called a pseudo-female!"
Xie Sen instantly understood his words: pseudo-female = effeminate.
Xie Sen's face darkened, his masculinity questioned!
He pointed at the boy, "You superficial female who judges people by appearances? Find a male you think is formidable and have him spar with me. If I win, apologize! And say I'm a male ten times!"
The boy was stunned. He had never expected Xie Sen to react like this. The others around him also stared at him in surprise. How could he be so confident?
The boy sized up Xie Sen's small frame. "What if you lose?"
Xie Sen gritted his teeth. "I'll apologize to you and admit what you said."
"And apologize to my friend!" the boy said.
"Okay." Xie Sen agreed immediately. Even if he had to use up all his energy and rain down super potatoes and chili powder, he would win!
The boy opened his wristband and said, "Brother, someone's bullying me. Come here!"
Xie Sen was speechless. "Stop lying! You were the one mocking me. How did I bully you? I challenged you openly and honestly. So many people are watching!"
The boy snorted and looked towards the door. A moment later, a tall, muscular man in a black suit entered. The boy immediately waved.
The man in the black suit approached the boy, who pointed at Xie Sen and said, "Brother, he wants to challenge you."
The man looked at Xie Sen with surprise, "What's going on?"
Xie Sen explained, "Let's find an open space and have a sparring match!"
The man patted his brother's head. "Stop messing around! Apologize to him." He smiled at Xie Sen. "Sorry, we're in the wrong here. I'm admitting defeat. How about I get your contact information and treat you to dinner sometime to make amends?"
"Brother, I asked you to teach him a lesson, not to flirt with him!" The boy covered the back of his head, annoyed.
Xie Sen's mouth twitched. Maine looked at the man with a sour expression, and laughter rang out around them.
"Apologize," the man said sternly, looking down at his brother. "You were in the wrong to begin with. Gossiping about others and making sarcastic remarks. Where are your manners?"
The boy bit his lip in grievance. Under his gaze, he angrily said to Xie Sen, "I'm sorry."
Xie Sen was like a deflated balloon. He had originally planned to fight to clear his name, but the outcome was completely unexpected. He felt completely nauseous and cruel.
He waved his hand to indicate that it was okay, not bothering to dwell on it.
He pulled Maine toward a corner. The man followed, extending his wristband. "I'm truly sorry. Give me a chance to make amends."
Xie Sen watched speechlessly as the man used the same tactics his roommates had used to pick up girls against him. He didn't know whether to laugh or be angry. He shook his head. "Your brother has already apologized. You're welcome."
The man was about to say something when Maine grabbed Xie Sen's arm and shifted him. He stood between them and looked at him coldly. "Your brother ran away in anger. Perhaps you should go and talk him down."
The man glanced back. Sure enough, his brother was gone. He looked at Maine, and their eyes met as if lightning struck.
After a moment, the man smiled with a carefree expression. "There's no point guarding him. You can't."
Maine's face darkened instantly. The man smiled at Xie Sen, said goodbye gently, and turned to leave, chasing after his angry brother.
Xie Sen rolled his eyes at the man's back. He thought to himself that impure relationships made everyone look impure. He and Maine were close friends, and yet they were talking so intimately!
He tugged at Maine's sleeve. "Don't be angry. He's just talking nonsense."
Maine looked at him, and Xie Sen smiled brightly. "Don't be angry with strangers. Come on, let's go sit in the corner and try the food."
But after just two steps, someone else came over and offered him some attention.
Xie Sen dismissed three people in succession before finally settling into the corner sofa with Maine. He rested his hand on his chin, puzzled, and pinched the side of his face. "Have I changed? Am I better looking than you?"
Is it so attractive that just looking at me makes you fall in love?
Maine shook his head. "No."
Xie Sen was puzzled. "Then why is he so unusual today?"
Maine murmured softly, "Maybe..."
What?" Xie Sen didn't hear clearly and leaned his head closer. "Maybe what?" Maine
looked at him, then turned his head to look around. He whispered, "Go back and tell them that the Kes family must have surveillance cameras everywhere to ensure the safety of their guests." "
Xie Sen was even more surprised. What amazing thing could he say that he had to avoid surveillance?
Suddenly, all the lights in the banquet hall went out. Xie Sen was startled. The next moment, his right hand was held by a pair of large hands. The palms of the large hands were warm and covered with thin calluses. Although the owner of the hands was very young, Xie Sen felt very at ease.
He turned his head and the lights on the podium in the banquet hall were turned on. The light radiating to the corner was not very bright, but it was enough to see people clearly. He met Maine's eyes.
Xie Sen always felt that Maine's eyesight was different from usual, which made him inexplicably flustered.
"Welcome, everyone..."
Xie Sen's melancholy and halting opening remarks brought him back to his senses. He concealed his gaze by turning towards the podium, but noticed Maine's eyes hadn't left him. He wanted to ask why he was looking at him, but felt strangely awkward.
After the welcome speech, Rui Luo performed his instrumental performance. He had only just begun to look thinner, his complexion pale, and with his delicate features, it was easy to evoke pity.
His performance drew enthusiastic applause. He thanked the audience with a sincere, yet slightly frail, voice, and humble demeanor. His meticulous etiquette earned him widespread praise.
The hall's lights returned, albeit dimmed. Music began to play, and many couples began to dance.
Xie Sen watched with curiosity. The dance was energetic, somewhat like the rumba, though less lingering and passionate. It wasn't long before the atmosphere heated up.
Maine placed a hand on his shoulder and asked, "Want to dance?"
Xie Sen quickly shook his head and said honestly, "I don't know how."
"I can teach you. " "Maine said.
Xie Sen looked up and saw a couple facing each other, close together. The male's hands were pressed together on the female's shoulders, then slid down to her waist, while the female's right foot hooked the male's left leg, gradually moving up from the ankle.
It was hot and ambiguous.
He quickly retracted his eyes, his face flushed and he said vaguely: "No, no, my hands and feet are not coordinated, and I am not suitable for dancing."
"Really?" Maine chuckled.
Xie Sen coughed lightly and nodded seriously.
"Brother," Rui Luo came over and called affectionately. Unlike his voice, his face was not very good, with a stiff smile on the corner of his mouth. Obviously, his acting skills were not good enough, but he had his back to the hall, and the others could not see his expression. He raised his voice slightly, "I am so happy that you came to my birthday party."
Xie Sen rubbed his arms. Fortunately, this man was not an actor, otherwise he would piss off the director.
Maine looked at him coldly, without giving him any face and directly exposed him: "If your expression was synchronized with your voice, I might believe your sincerity. "
Rui Luo's expression froze, and he sat down across from them: "Brother, you misunderstood. I just," he coughed lightly, "I'm still injured."
"I'm sorry, brother. I was so ignorant before. Please forgive me." He said, his hands on his knees and clenched into fists.
Maine looked away and ignored him.
Xie Sen laughed out loud. Rui Luo glared at him, but quickly changed his expression to a gentle one: "You're here too, that's great."
He picked up a pile of dried meat: "Try it, it's delicious."
Xie Sen waved his hand: "I don't feel like eating right now."
Rui Luo stood up and sat next to Xie Sen, saying eagerly: "So what do you like to do? Racing or shopping? Or traveling to outer space? Is there any place you want to go? I'll treat you."
Xie Sen moved closer to Maine and looked at him strangely: "What do you want to do?"
"You're my brother's friend, so you're my friend." He glanced at Maine's unpleasant face, and finally smiled less forcedly. "I like you and want to play with you."
Maine stared at him coldly: "He won't play with you."
Rui Luo chuckled and suddenly reached out to lift Xie Sen's collar, but Maine slapped him away.
Rui Luo covered the back of his hand and glared at him fiercely, then looked at Xie Sen and smiled: "Is this suit rented? I can buy it for you and give you a few more. You're working too hard at Gold Medal. I can help you find an easier job with a higher salary."
"No need." Xie Sen was speechless. Is this to support him? He's a man, does he need someone to support him? Who is he looking down on!
"I'm so happy to see you two brothers having such a good chat." Sokto walked over, his face full of emotion.
Xie Sen pouted and lied with his eyes wide open!
He said to Maine: "Come with me, Admiral Kes wants to see you."
Maine frowned subconsciously, but he had already prepared himself mentally. Some things must be made clear. He stood up. "Can my friend come with me?"
Sokto spread his hands helplessly. "I don't think the admiral wants anyone else to see him and you. Don't worry, Ruiluo will take care of him."
Maine grew even more worried and said to Xie Sen, "I'll be back soon. Stay here and don't leave."
Xie Sen replied, then thought for a moment and asked, "Where is the admiral?"
"The study." Sokto pointed to a house behind the banquet hall.
Xie Sen glanced over there. It wasn't far away. He said to Maine, "Contact me if you need anything."
"You too."
Sokto smiled and patted Maine on the shoulder. "Don't be nervous. There's no man-eating monster. You young people just like to imagine things. So many guests have seen you tonight. No one will hurt you."
Maine and Xie Sen exchanged a glance and followed Sokto out.
Rui Luo picked up a stack of dried meat again: "Maine is not here, you can try it, right? This is really delicious."
"I don't want to eat it," Xie Sen sat opposite him and kept a distance from him, "Maine is not here, you don't have to act, you were deliberately using me to anger Maine just now?" "
How could that be?" Rui Luo smiled, "I really like you. I don't understand why you have to follow Maine. He has nothing, and I..."
Xie Sen raised his hand to stop him from saying the next words: "Maine and I are friends because of who he is, not because of what he has. As for you, I'm not interested at all."
"You!" Rui Luo sneered, "Who is he? You are eighteen years old, right? I really didn't expect that an adult would be stupid because of his appearance."
Rui Luo said: "You don't understand him at all. He is a devil, born wrong, and an ominous person."
Xie Sen frowned: "Are you brain-damned? Star kid, what nonsense are you talking about?" If we continue, will we talk about the ancient curse?
"I'm not kidding," Rui Luo said firmly. "You don't understand him. You don't know. His dad..."
He paused, and Xie Sen was startled. He had never heard Maine mention his father before. On Brant, a father was like a mother.
"What's wrong with his dad?" Xie Sen asked nervously.
Rui Luo studied his expression. "You want to know? Let's go play in the backyard. Someone's setting off fireworks. It's beautiful. You have a prejudice against me, and I think playing together will change your impression of me."
Xie Sen pouted. "Speak or not, I'll stay here."
Rui Luo muttered to himself, "Stubborn as an old man. I don't understand why Dad wants me to please him."
Xie Sen ignored him and adjusted his sitting position, sliding back against the sofa to make himself more comfortable. He opened his wristband and casually scrolled through the news.
Rui Luo was silent for a moment, trying to find something to talk about. "Have you been there..."
He asked a series of questions. Xie Sen glanced at him at first, then stopped even looking up. All he could hear was Rui Luo talking about beautiful scenery, delicious food, and how much he spent on this and that.
After listening for a while, Xie Sen finally understood. This wasn't about promoting a tourist destination; it was simply flaunting wealth!
"Hey, after all I've said, don't you have any ideas? Don't follow Maine anymore. Stay with me, and I'll give you everything I have," Rui Luo tempted.
Xie Sen couldn't bring himself to complain. We're just friends, why did this sound so wrong?
Rui Luo searched for every topic he could think of, but Xie Sen didn't react at all. He gritted his teeth and said, "Weren't you just interested in Maine's dad?"
Xie Sen instinctively looked up, but quickly stopped himself mid-move. If he showed genuine interest, Rui Luo might offer another offer. He lowered his head to read the news, feigning disinterest, his ears pricked up.
Rui Luo taunted, "I told you, Maine is ominous. You'll be unlucky if you're with him. He's like a fool, thinking his dad died in a car accident, but in fact, he committed suicide for him!" "
What did you say?" Two voices rang out simultaneously from Rui Luo, one in front and one behind.
As Xie Sen asked, he suddenly looked up and saw the owner of the other voice—Main.
Main stood behind the sofa where Rui Luo sat, his face sinister and his eyes dark. He took two steps forward and grabbed Rui Luo by the back of his collar. His force was so strong that veins popped on the back of his hand. "Say it again!"
Rui Luo's face flushed red as the collar pinched his neck. He tried to pry his hand away, coughing violently. "Let me go!"
Xie Sen jumped, and stood up quickly. "Main!"
Main seemed unable to hear him. His eyes were fixed on Rui Luo, and his voice was extremely cold. "Say what you just said again!"
Rui Luo shuddered, his body shaking. He gritted his teeth and said, "Demon." He quickly unbuttoned his shirt, turned around, and raised his hand to hit Main. Main took a step back, and he took the opportunity to take off his clothes.
"What do I say? You're the fool!" Rui Luo sneered.
Maine's eyes flashed red as he lunged forward, effortlessly leaping over the sofa with one push. With his right hand, he grabbed Rui Luo's neck and pinned him to the sofa. "You guys pushed him, didn't you?"
The man in his memory, though timid, possessed a passion for life and would never commit suicide for no reason.
Rui Luo's face paled, speechless.
Xie Sen was stunned. With Maine's strength, he had no doubt Rui Luo's neck would be broken in an instant. He reached out and grabbed Maine's left arm. "Don't be impulsive!"
Killing Rui Luo here, even with the most compelling reason, would undoubtedly result in dire consequences for Maine.
His words had barely left his mouth when a two-meter-tall gray wolf suddenly appeared in the living room. It howled, then leaped into the air, lunging towards Maine.
Xie Sen's eyes widened, and before he could react, Maine shoved him to the left. He fell to the ground, not even bothering to get up, and looked in Maine's direction.
Maine dodged to the right. After landing, the gray wolf continued to attack him, slapping his shoulder with a claw. With Maine's skills, he could have easily avoided it, but he didn't, staring at the gray wolf.
"Riluo, how are you?" Sokto followed closely behind the gray wolf, picked up Ruiluo, who was slumped on the sofa, and shouted anxiously, without even looking at Maine.
The light on Maine's body seemed to disappear in an instant, leaving only endless darkness. He looked at the gray wolf, the corners of his mouth slowly curled up, and he let out a short sound: "Huh."
It was true, it was all fake, everything was fake! They were all liars! Hypocrisy, disgusting!
He knew it all, knew it all! As a top student in the Department of Information, how could he not know that there were doubts about Sokto's words? But Sokto's words were so beautiful, and they spoke to his deepest desires.
Perhaps if he believed it, it would be true.
Maine's voice was clearly very light, but it was like a heavy hammer hitting Xie Sen's heart. Xie Sen was instantly distressed. He was about to call Maine when a voice came from beside him.
"Are you okay?" The young master of the Qiao family had stood beside him at some point, bent down and offered a hand to help him, asking with concern.
Xie Sen then realized that he was still sitting on the ground. He quickly got up and looked up politely to say thank you: "Thank you."
Maine's eyes moved. No, he still had hope, a faint hope. He looked in Xie Sen's direction - the elegant man was holding Xie Sen, and Xie Sen looked up and spoke to him with a smile.
"Hahaha..."
Maine suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter was full of ridicule, all directed at himself. He laughed and laughed, then suddenly yelled, his voice was shrill and frightening, he glanced at Sokto and Ruiluo with cold eyes, turned and ran out.
"Maine!" Xie Sen shouted anxiously, trying to catch up.
The young master of the Qiao family grabbed his arm: "You have a scratch here, you should see a doctor."
Xie Sen was so anxious that he slapped his hand away, and without saying a word, he ran towards Maine.
The blood on Maine's shoulder flowed half of his body, and his crazy look at this time was particularly scary. The guests hurriedly moved aside to make room for him. He was so fast that he was out of the banquet hall in a flash.
Xie Sen was not as fast as him, and as he was running, a man stopped him: "Don't chase him, he is very dangerous now, he will hurt you."
Xie Sen glared at him fiercely and pushed the man away: "Get out!"