382 Shui's birthday banquet arc (12)
“Where!?” Jun’s high-pitched voice was enough to express that he had been really anxious this whole time.
Xing Bi laughed. “Gosh, you are so possessive, Jun.”
“I don’t like unnecessary bugs hovering around her. I don’t want to see useless rivals sprouting here and there.”
“Haha, I am sure you wouldn’t be bothered. Look, her partner is Gu Yating.”
He froze and jerked his head back. His frosty, dark brown eyes were locked onto them as they talked.
Xing Bi, who was completely unaware of his past life, chirped. “Well, they are good friends, so you can be rest assured.”
Rest assured?
That was far from what Jun was feeling at this moment. Out of all the people in this banquet, Ai and Yating picked the chits that matched numbers. Out of all the people in this banquet, the man Ai was going to dance with was Gu Yating.
What was this feeling…
Jun knew it very well that he shouldn’t be bothered by this. It was a dance. Just a few minutes of dance that would soon be over.
But why…is it with Gu Yating!?
“Jun?” Xing Bi waved her hand before his face. “Where are you lost?”
“Nothing…”
But he still felt bothered. Anxious. Restless.
Jun hated this feeling.
Say no, Ai. Say no to him. Don’t dance with him.
He felt his vision darkening and his heart enveloping in a sort of gloominess. It was similar to the emotion he had felt while watching Jin and Ai dance during the wedding anniversary banquet.
I don’t…want to fucking watch this…
—
‘Guiying’, from a distance, tilted her head, observing Jun’s facial expressions. He was trying to smile his hardest in front of Xing Bi, but the restlessness that leaked out from his gaze said how much it bothered him watching Ai and Yating together.
Perfect…’she’ sneered.
It was a good plan to switch Gu Yating’s chit. What I had planned is taking effect. Part one is success.
Satisfaction filled ‘Guiying’s’ heart.
“11?”
Her chit had the number 11 written on it, and ‘she’ turned instinctively. “Yes-“
‘She’ stiffened as Zixin appeared before her.
Zixin glanced at her chit and then smiled. “My chit has the number eleven too.
“Well, I don’t really want to-“
As opposed to last time, ‘Guiying’ couldn’t control the real Guiying from taking over. For some reason, she didn’t want her alter ego to talk rudely to Zixin once again, so when it was regarding talking to Zixin, she felt it was better that she did the job.
“I-I am really sorry for last time!”
Zixin blinked his eyelids and once again felt the difference in her expression and tone.
“Sorry for what?”
Guiying shut her eyes, feeling ashamed. “I talked rudely to you when we just met before. I am sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.”
“I didn’t feel it was rude.”
She awkwardly smiled.
It was definitely rude and disrespectful.
“You have a kind heart…”
Zixin wondered about that. “I am not sure. Don’t fret over it.”
“Thank you,” she slightly bowed.
When she raised her gaze, she saw a hand stretching towards her. She felt her heart stop beating when she suddenly faced his sincere eyes.
“If you don’t mind, will you dance with me?”
“I-I…” She wasn’t sure of how to respond.
“We have the same numbers,” Zixin tilted his head. “We should seriously play this game.”
Guiying stared at him in wonder.
Is it only me or he looks a little…stubborn today?
“Yes, of course!”
Guiying placed her hand in his, making Zixin give a wide smile. “Good. Let’s go.”
—
A few minutes before, the atmosphere between Ai and Yating was at a standstill. It was too sudden and shocking to see their chits with matching numbers. Inwardly, the two of them had a bullet train of thoughts speeding in their minds.
For just half of a second, Yating was overjoyed seeing Ai as his partner. The lingering feelings for Ai filled his heart with a sparkling joy. But it was momentary, considering their situation.
What should I do? Should I ask her for a dance? I-It’s just a game, after all.
Yeah, it shouldn’t be a problem, right? Everybody is dancing.
No, no, forget it, Yating! Don’t be stupid and selfish! Ai will definitely feel uncomfortable. I don’t want to put her in a hard position.
It was a tug-of-war in his heart.
He really wanted to dance with Ai, but he also didn’t want to put her in an odd position.
Ai was in a similar thought process.
Should I go ahead or not?
This is just a game though…
But then again, she could imagine Jun’s heavy distaste if he ever saw them dancing together. Which he would.
But if I reject Yating, will he think it’s his fault for me being suspicious about his feelings? I would have definitely thought that if I was in his place…
She pursed her lips.
Ai didn’t wish Yating to feel guilty either or make Jun restless.
“Ai, it’s okay,” Yating smiled. “Let’s skip the dance.”
Listening to his understanding words, Ai felt guiltier for her hesitation.
“Hey, what is this I am hearing?” The game police, Zhenya, who was passing by, stopped before them. “You cannot skip the dance, okay?
“…”
She puffed her cheeks. “You have picked the chits and found your partners. Now, you cannot leave without dancing, okay? Otherwise, everybody would prefer to skip dancing, especially those ultra max doting boyfriends and husbands! Rules are rules.”
Well, she had a point.
Yating asked, “Is there a penalty I can pay?”
Her mouth twitched. “You will pay a penalty rather than getting over with a five minutes dance?”
He coughed.
“Well there is a penalty indeed. The penalty is a five minutes extra dance!”
“…”
“The penalty for not dancing is more dancing, hahaha! Now get going you two. And I will be counting the time, okay? Ten minutes!”
Yating felt he had no face to show to Ai. “I am sorry.”
“You don’t have to be. Actually, Zhenya is right. Let’s go ahead,” she nodded.
He widened his eyes. “You…”
She smiled. “I am sure of it.”
He gulped and felt his heart pounding in his chest. “If…if you say so,” he offered her his hand, “Shall we?”