It was only curiosity.
As the solo dance ended, the music changed.
A soft, romantic melody filled the air.
Hu Yunyun also received flowers from a boy and stepped into the dance floor with him.
Liu Ruan rejected every invitation. She cast a hopeful glance at Jiang Lijin, then finally lowered her eyes in disappointment and retreated behind a Roman column, holding her bouquet with quiet pride.
Lu Ran took Xu Jingran’s hand and led her onto the dance floor.
Xu Jingran blushed. “I don’t know how to dance…”
Lu Ran chuckled deeply. “Baby, I’ll teach you.”
“Step on.”
Her ears instantly turned red. “Step… on what…”
He had her rise onto her toes and step onto his leather shoes. Wrapping an arm around her slim waist, he guided her forward step by step.
Her body pressed tightly against his.
With a mischievous smile, Lu Ran loosened his hold slightly, forcing her to lean into his chest.
He lowered his head wickedly, his voice teasing. “Do you like this position…? Where were you thinking of stepping just now?”
Instinctively, Xu Jingran wrapped her arms around his firm waist, her long dark lashes trembling.
Even through his suit, she could tell how strong his waist was.
Her ears flushed even redder.
As he spun, Lu Ran suddenly lifted her up. His long hand, veins faintly visible, supported her hips. His other hand gripped the side of her thigh, his voice husky.
“Be good. Wrap around me…”
Losing her balance, Xu Jingran had no choice but to cling to his hands and waist. Her pale legs hooked around his side, her entire body held securely against him.
She was petite and delicate; Lu Ran was tall and broad.
Her white waist looked barely half the width of his chest. Hanging against him created a striking visual contrast.
Her fair legs brushed against his black suit pants—the contrast of cold and warm, white and black—almost irresistible to the imagination.
[It’s happening! Lu Ran, you shameless man!]
[Ahhhhhh!!! My heart is pounding!]
[Is this a position I’m allowed to see? I’m getting a nosebleed…]
[Please, just go to a room already! Lu Ran, I want to possess you!]
[Everyone grab your plates, it’s time to eat!]
Holding her like that, Lu Ran kissed her deeply.
He repeatedly pressed against her soft lips.
Xu Jingran couldn’t help but gasp softly; he was too forceful.
With a low laugh, he wiped at the corner of her mouth and teased her, bringing his finger toward his own lips.
“Your saliva’s coming out…”
[Is this really free content?]
[What kind of shameless line is that…]
[What water? Where? I’m drowning!]
[How did this pass review? Oh right, this is basically a steamy novel…]
Lu Ran thought he was being subtle.
But as Xu Jingran held onto his strong shoulders, she could feel several intense gazes without even looking up.
Jiang Si stood on the raised platform, staring in a daze, wishing he could take Lu Ran’s place.
He subconsciously licked his lips, as if he could smell Xu Jingran’s fragrance.
Jiang Lijin let his gaze roam freely over her body, his palms itching.
He wanted to touch something—to feel her ankle, to see if it was really as soft as he imagined.
“So improper.”
Jiang Lijin downed his drink in one gulp. His tone remained arrogant, but inside, a fire burned quietly and uncontrollably.
Jing Yuan had no interest in this kind of scene. His silver ponytail, tied high, swayed in a graceful arc as he moved. “The opening’s over. I’m leaving.”
He thought Lu Ran had gone a little too far.
Too caught up in love.
But soon enough, things would return to normal.
These few years at the academy were the freest time of their lives.
Xiao Si Ming calmly put on a pair of black rubber gloves and toyed with the enormous pile of bouquets before him.
Countless girls had presented him with flowers; stacked together, they almost formed a small garden.
He gently brushed the stamen of a purple iris and crushed it into powder without hesitation.
“This batch of flowers is good quality. I like them. Let’s plant these in the Saint Heaven International Academy garden this year.”
He casually removed his gloves and tossed them into the trash.
The student officer behind him nodded repeatedly. “Yes, President.”
Xiao Si Ming now stood on the second floor, under the glow of a massive crystal chandelier, looking down at the laughter and joy in the grand hall.
The ballroom was filled with flowers and swirling gowns, students smiling brightly, immersed in happiness.
Then the music suddenly stopped.
The opening dance was over.
Under the confused gazes of the freshmen, the nobles from the S District began taking masks from the attendants at their sides and placing them over their faces.
Then they slowly ascended the staircase to the second floor.
Behind the carved balcony railing upstairs, a row of figures wearing ornate masks gradually appeared.
The masks hid their expressions. Only their eyes—playful, cold, or filled with interest—were visible as they looked down at the hall from above.
Their greedy gazes swept over the beautiful faces below, as if locking onto prey in advance.
A metallic voice, altered through a voice changer, echoed through the silent hall:
“Welcome, freshmen, to the true welcoming ceremony of Saint Heaven International Academy—Night Hunt.
Those wearing masks are the cats. The mice will be randomly selected from the first floor and will participate voluntarily.
Game area: the entire Stirling Castle. All areas may be used for hiding, except the exclusive S District floors.”
“The game lasts three hours.”
“The rules are simple: the mice hide, and the cats hunt.”
“Each mouse will receive a silver bell upon entry, which must be tied to the ankle.
The cats’ task is to follow the sound of the bells and seize them.
Anyone who loses their bell is considered captured.
Of course, cats may use any… non-permanent methods to make the mice stop, whether voluntarily or by force.”
“Captured mice will receive a small punishment decided by their captor.”
As the voice finished speaking, attendants entered in an orderly line, trays holding delicate silver bells.
The freshmen exchanged glances—some curious, some uneasy.
“Any freshman who volunteers to become a mouse and avoids being caught will receive a prize of one million, along with the opportunity to dine with any noble from the S District.”
This sentence instantly set off a wave of excitement among the nervous freshmen.
One million? That was no small amount of money.
And a chance to dine with an S District noble.
Any one of them?
Did that mean even dining with the F5 was possible?
“Can we choose to dine with the young masters of F5?” a girl boldly asked.
“Of course. However, spots are limited. There are only twenty mouse positions available—first come, first served.”
The metallic voice gave a clear answer.
Xu Jingran felt Lu Ran’s grip on her hand tighten slightly.
He lowered his head and whispered in her ear, his warm breath brushing against her still-flushed ear. “Baby, do you want to play?”
He picked up a white mask decorated with angel feathers from the side, intending to place it on her face.
Clearly, he wanted her to be one of the hunters.
Xu Jingran shook her head. Holding the mask between her fingers, her thoughts were already tempted by the one-million reward.
One million?
And a chance to dine with an S District noble?
She could even sell that dinner opportunity for another large sum of money.
From another attendant’s tray, Xu Jingran hooked a silver bell and shook it in front of Lu Ran. “Hide-and-seek sounds fun. I want to hide.”
Lu Ran chuckled softly. Taking the bell from her, he crouched down and tied the cool silver bell around her slender, pale ankle.
His fingertips brushed her skin, making her tremble slightly as he held her delicate ankle. “I’ll tie it tighter for you, baby.”
He took a black-and-gold half-mask from an attendant and placed it over his face, hiding his handsome features and the hint of hunting excitement in his expression.
Only his sharp jawline and purple-gray eyes were visible. He gently pinched Xu Jingran’s cheek.
“I’ll definitely be the first to find you. Only I get to take your bell off.”
His magnetic voice dropped even lower, so only she could hear.
“When I catch you, I’m going to punish you properly.”
She cried so easily. In the end, she would cling to him, hugging him tightly and saying she liked only him.
Punishment…
He could kiss her forcefully and have a proper excuse for it.
He liked the idea.
[Explain this “punishment” in detail.]
[Finally, the scene I’ve been waiting for. During this chase game, it’ll happen in the dance studio, in front of mirrors, in the garden…]
[So many locations unlocked? Will Jingran’s waist survive this?]
The obvious desire in Lu Ran’s eyes made Xu Jingran instinctively step back half a pace.
The overwhelming intensity made her feel that being caught by him would lead to no good.
The sound of her bell chiming attracted quite a bit of attention.
Jiang Lijin picked up a cool silver mask and placed it over his face, slowly adjusting his gloves—clearly preparing to join the hunt.