11 – Going to Ancheng
Although the sprain wasn’t severe, she would still need to wait until fully recovered before continuing dance practice.
Xie Yurao sent a message to Jiang Mingci, telling him not to come over recently.
Then she went to Ancheng with Tan Shen.
“Can you walk?”
Tan Shen got out of the car first, glancing back to ask the little fox inside.
Xie Yurao gathered her skirt and looked up upon hearing this. “Didn’t you say you never hold me in public?”
Tan Shen was a man of restrained virtue—it was difficult to flirt with him.
In the past, when Xie Yurao asked him to hold her, at his most extreme, he would retort:
“Young Miss, asking to be held even in front of others—aren’t you ashamed?”
Only in the villa, occasionally annoyed by her pestering, would he reluctantly carry her upstairs.
Tan Shen glanced at her ankle. “Special circumstances.”
Her slender, jade-like ankle was now wrapped in white gauze, exuding a fragile, broken beauty.
Tan Shen said, “I didn’t say I wouldn’t hold you, except when you’re being dramatic.”
After all, as her bodyguard, her safety took priority when she was injured.
“You’re the dramatic one!”
Xie Yurao, wearing fluffy slippers, decisively got out of the car herself.
“I don’t need you following me. Wait outside.”
With that, she lifted her skirt and walked into the shop alone.
“…”
Tan Shen watched her slender figure swaying in the long skirt, slowly leaned against the car door, and chuckled softly.
“If this isn’t dramatic…”
At the private custom dance shoe studio, Qin Yun had already made arrangements. As soon as Xie Yurao entered, someone immediately greeted her.
“Young Miss Xie, I heard you were injured. Please, have a seat.”
The man eagerly invited her to the lounge area.
Xie Yurao nodded and walked straight to the lounge to sit down.
“Have some tea.”
He instructed someone to bring fine tea and fruits, then pointed to a thick album on the table. “These are some sample designs. Please take a look to see if there’s anything you like. I’ll arrange for a designer to take your measurements.”
“Alright.”
Xie Yurao didn’t like tea. She picked up the album, placed it on her knees, and leisurely flipped through it.
Suddenly, a slightly shrill female voice sounded beside her. “Oh, isn’t this Young Miss Xie?”
Xie Yurao lazily looked up toward the source.
In another part of the lounge, several socialites were gathered together, sipping tea while glancing her way.
She didn’t recognize the girl who spoke, but there was a familiar face among them.
It was Guan Yin, the campus belle of Beijing Dance Academy.
“I heard Young Miss Xie just received an invitation to the Venus Festival. How did you sprain your ankle after just a few days?”
The girl continued gleefully, “Is it because even heaven knows you stole this opportunity from our Yin Yin?”
“Zhihan, don’t talk nonsense,” Guan Yin said.
She was elegant and beautiful, with delicate, fairy-like features. Well-liked at the academy for her pleasant demeanor, she had always been hailed as the campus belle of Beijing Dance Academy.
But only she knew the truth.
Although she was the campus belle, that was only when Xie Yurao wasn’t around.
Whenever Xie Yurao returned to the academy, it inevitably caused quite a stir.
Her ethereal charm paled in comparison to the enchantress Xie.
Guan Yin said gently, “Yurao received the Venus invitation based on her own abilities. There’s no question of stealing anything.”
“Yin Yin, you’re just too kind,” Lin Zhihan said, feeling it was unfair to her. “Everyone knows she relies on her family.”
There is only one spot at the Capital Dance Academy. If it weren’t for Xie Yurao relying on her family background, with her on-and-off attitude, how could she possibly compete with Yin Yin?
“Yeah.”
Hearing the agreement, Lin Zhihan was about to nod when she suddenly felt something was off.
Why did that come from Xie Yurao?
Xie Yurao leaned lazily on the sofa, her wide skirt embroidered with exquisite flowers. Such a vibrant and flamboyant dress seemed to suit only her—bewitching yet not vulgar, as if born to wear it.
With just a curve of her fox-like eyes, she could captivate anyone.
“Originally, I wanted to rely on my own skills to compete, but unfortunately, I never got the chance. As soon as the organizers heard my mother was the treasure goddess of the classical dance world back in the day, they sent me the invitation without a second thought.”
The beauty raised her slender, pale fingers, somewhat theatrically rubbing her temples.
“Not being able to showcase my skills is truly troubling~”
“…”
Her words nearly made people die of anger.
How could someone be so shamelessly boastful?
Lin Zhihan’s lips twitched. “What skills do you even have?”
“Xie Yurao, don’t get too cocky. You don’t know yet, do you? Yin Yin is also on the Venus invitation list now.”
At this, Xie Yurao raised an eyebrow.
Although she had deliberately spoken lightly just to provoke them, actually securing an invitation was difficult.
Guan Yin had gotten one too?
Guan Yin lowered her eyes shyly. “Don’t say that. They’re just considering it; nothing’s been finalized yet.”
Lin Zhihan said firmly, “Yin Yin will definitely get it.”
Finding the conversation dull, Xie Yurao was about to leave when the studio’s designer approached to take her precise measurements.
“Yurao.” Guan Yin suddenly called out to her.
Standing in the sunlight in a white dress, her smile gentle and ethereal, Guan Yin looked at her warmly and extended an invitation. “There’s a jewelry auction in Ancheng tonight. Since you rarely come to Ancheng, why not join us?”
Before Xie Yurao could respond, Lin Zhihan couldn’t hold back.
“Yin Yin, why invite her?”
Tonight’s event would be attended by Ancheng’s socialites. Having Xie Yurao there would be awkward.
Guan Yin smiled softly. “We’re all alumni, and we might become sisters in the future. Any conflicts or misunderstandings can be resolved.”
Lin Zhihan shook her head, looking at her with pity. “Yin Yin, you’re just too kind-hearted.”
Another voice chimed in agreement.
“Yeah.”
Lin Zhihan: “?”
Again?
Xie Yurao nodded along. “Truly too kind-hearted. No wonder they call you Guan Yin.”
Her saintly aura could save all living beings.
“…”
“I appreciate the offer. I’ll see if I have time tonight.” With that, Xie Yurao followed the designer and left.
Lin Zhihan scoffed, “Look at her ungrateful attitude!”
Guan Yin watched Xie Yurao’s retreating figure, lost in thought, a faint smile on her lips.
After leaving the private custom studio, she headed straight to a café.
By the window sat an exceptionally handsome silver-haired man in a shirt and trousers, leaning casually against the backrest. Dappled sunlight fell on him, making him look like a painting come to life.
Hearing the movement, he lazily glanced up.
Guan Yin’s fair cheeks flushed instantly. “…Second Young Master Xie.”
“Done?” Xie Jingchuan asked nonchalantly.
Guan Yin carefully sat across from him, her gaze lowered meekly.
“Sort of. Xie Yurao said she’d think about it tonight, but didn’t specify whether she’d go or not.”
Xie Jingchuan lazily curved his lips, toying with a silver spoon.
“She’ll go.”
Xie Yurao was delicate and vain—she loved collecting shiny jewelry and enjoyed joining in the fun.
Having come all this way, she would naturally go.
Guan Yin couldn’t help but feel a surge of delight. “Second Young Master, then the Venus invitation you promised me…”
The man suddenly lifted his gaze, glancing at her with a faint, teasing smile.
His lazy, magnetic tone was casually captivating.
“That depends on how you perform tonight.”