The lights in the banquet hall dimmed. A spotlight beam fell directly onto the pair of man and woman in the center, drawing every eye in the room.
“It’s starting,” someone murmured.
Gu Lü, in his pristine white suit, stood tall and elegant. Jiang Mengwan, in her pale lavender gown, exuded an orchid-like grace. White and purple complemented each other perfectly. As the music began, the two started to dance.
“Big Brother Gu and the eldest Miss Jiang make quite a matching pair,” Fang Zheng said, propping his chin on his hand in admiration.
“With the Gu and Jiang families joining forces, they’ll only rise higher. Old Master Gu must be delighted to see this,” Zhou Zisheng remarked, arm around his own date, watching the dancing couple in the center of the hall.
Under the spotlight, the two moved in perfect harmony with the music. The man’s posture was upright and commanding; the pale lavender skirt swirled like vivid blooming flowers, following their every step, petals unfurling gracefully. Their movements flowed like clouds and water—smooth, effortless, and a feast for the eyes.
Ji Huaixiang’s hand paused mid-bite. Her gaze settled on Gu Lü and Jiang Mengwan. Their flawless coordination reminded her of events from her previous life.
Back then, after she had gone abroad for a competition, rumors spread that the Gu family’s second young master was to marry into the Jiang family. But at the engagement banquet, Jiang Mengwan publicly rejected the marriage to Gu Wujin, declaring that she loved Gu Lü instead. The humiliation turned Gu Wujin into the laughingstock of the entire city.
In the end, Gu Wujin met with an “accident” and died. Many whispered that he had taken his own life over heartbreak. Thinking of this, Ji Huaixiang’s eyes darkened.
“Enjoying the view?” Gu Wujin followed her line of sight and saw she was looking at his older brother. His handsome, refined face instantly darkened. His words came out sour and bitter: “My brother is good-looking and runs Ding Sheng Group. Half the women in the city want to marry him.”
“Is that so?”
Ji Huaixiang withdrew her gaze. She turned her head to look at the man sitting beside her. His perfectly shaped thin lips were slightly pursed; his deep black eyes met hers, reflecting her image back at her. This feeling was wonderful.
She scooted a little closer to him, their bodies now touching lightly. She said softly, “It’s a good thing their eyesight isn’t very good… In my eyes, your brother can’t even compare to you.”
He had no idea just how exceptional he truly was.
Her small face, so close now, was fair and glowing. Her expression was utterly serious. The tense lines on Gu Wujin’s face softened. He praised her lightly:
“Your taste really is excellent. Make sure you keep this standard from now on.”
Ji Huaixiang nodded obediently.
As the music came to an end, the dancing couple in the center stopped. Thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall.
Jiang Mengwan’s lips curved in a polite, shallow smile.
“Big Brother Gu, you dance so well. Thank goodness you were leading me just now.” Feeling the hot, envious gazes around her, she straightened her spine and basked in the admiration and jealousy.
“You danced beautifully too. Are you tired? Let me take you somewhere to rest and get something to eat,” Gu Lü said considerately.
“Then I’ll trouble you, Big Brother Gu.”
With the opening dance finished, new music started. Many guests began to take to the floor.
“A-Jin, take your girlfriend out for a spin,” Zhou Zisheng said, downing his drink in one gulp and teasing.
“Yeah, just sitting here is boring,” Qin Hao chimed in. They had never seen Gu Wujin dance before—what a rare chance. Of course they wanted to watch.
Ji Huaixiang had been sitting quietly, eating while observing the steps of the dancers. Hearing Gu Wujin’s friends speak up, she quickly refused. “No need. I don’t know how to dance.” She turned to look at Gu Wujin.
“Want to give it a try?”
Gu Wujin had a cigarette between his lips, but he hadn’t lit it.
She lowered her voice and leaned close to his ear, whispering, “Is your leg okay? Can you manage?”
She didn’t know how to dance anyway—she just didn’t want to make things difficult for him.
Gu Wujin was in a very good mood. He raised an eyebrow, took the unlit cigarette from his mouth, and tossed it into the ashtray. Then he grabbed the girl’s hand and pulled her to her feet.
“You’ll find out soon enough whether I can manage or not.”
“Heh heh.” Fang Zheng got excited. “Looks like Brother Jin is about to make his move.”
Gu Wujin lifted his chin slightly, lips curving in faint disdain.
“Small-minded.”
The moment the two stepped into the center of the dance floor, they instantly drew every eye in the room.
There was no helping it—Gu family’s second young master was born to attract attention. Now, with a beauty by his side who was in no way inferior to him, it was impossible for anyone to look away.
The gazes carried varying degrees of disbelief and shock. Quite a few people even started snickering.
“Huh? Isn’t that the Gu family’s second young master? Is he actually going to dance?” someone whispered in surprise.
“Heh, a cripple dancing? First time I’ve seen that. Where does he get the confidence?”
“Wasn’t the Bai family’s daughter supposed to be his partner tonight? So he’s bringing another woman out just to slap them in the face?”
“Oh dear, he actually has the nerve to come out and embarrass himself. Isn’t he afraid he’ll end up crippling his other leg while dancing…?”
…
The crowd buzzed with discussion, all wearing expressions of waiting to watch a good show.
The moment Ji Huaixiang stepped out, she regretted it. Facing those questioning, mocking, sarcastic, and probing stares, her heart felt as if it had been sliced by a knife—fresh red blood seeping out, both painful and sour.
“Put your hand on my shoulder.” Gu Wujin drew closer, one arm wrapping around her slender, soft waist. “Don’t freeze up.”
Ji Huaixiang’s mood was terrible, as if a lump of air was stuck in her throat—stifling and aching.
“Why are you pouting? Didn’t you say you wanted to learn to dance?” Gu Wujin pulled her closer against his body, lowered his head to her ear, and spoke in a low, elegant, gentle voice laced with his unique magnetic quality: “What’s wrong? Feeling wronged? Regretting standing by my side?”
He tugged at the corner of his mouth. Before the girl could respond, he continued:
“Too late for regrets. You chose this yourself, Ji Huaixiang. Even if you’re subjected to everyone’s scornful stares, you can’t escape anymore.”
Ji Huaixiang was very smart. From childhood, her grades had always been first in her year. She only needed to see or memorize something a few times and she wouldn’t forget it. Dancing was no different. Right now, she followed the man’s steps, her body swaying gracefully, curves beautiful and flowing.
Hearing Gu Wujin’s words, she lifted her head, eyes shining brightly.
“I don’t regret it. If enduring humiliation and ridicule is the price to stand by your side, then I’m willing to bear a thousand accusations.”
Even if she ended up battered and bleeding in the future, she would still throw herself headfirst into Gu Wujin.
Her mouth was full of sweet words and honeyed promises:
“I’m just heartbroken for you. My boyfriend—I can’t even feel enough heartache for you myself. Why should you have to endure their gossip and judgment? Those people are really disgusting.”
The corners of Gu Wujin’s mouth curved into a smile. The arm around her slim waist tightened further. His warm fingertips unintentionally brushed the bare skin of her back, sliding lightly. The touch was so tender and smooth, warm and jade-like. His gaze darkened slightly—he was starting to regret choosing this dress for her.
A faint blush gradually spread across her cheeks. Of course Ji Huaixiang felt the man’s fingertips caressing the skin of her back.
Back at the boutique, the long gown Gu Wujin had picked for her was a striking red—simple and vintage in design, with the only special detail being the completely open back. Her skin was very fair; against the red fabric, her flawless back looked like a piece of the finest white jade, so beautiful it made people itch to reach out and touch it.
And right now, the man had already acted on that impulse. He wasn’t being particularly flirtatious—just using his thumb to slowly rub back and forth along the center of her spine. Ji Huaixiang’s skin was too delicate, too sensitive. By comparison, the man’s fingertips felt a little rough, and every pass made her body tremble lightly.
They drew closer and closer. By her ear, Ji Huaixiang could even hear the man’s breathing grow a little heavier.
She bit her lip. Ji Huaixiang’s dark eyes were watery, glistening with moisture. She tilted her head up, cheeks flushed crimson, voice soft and shy as she said,
“Can you restrain yourself a little? Right now we… we still can’t get intimate.”
Afraid he might misunderstand, she hurried to explain:
“After my eighteenth birthday passes, then it’ll be okay.”
Gu Wujin’s fingers pressed firmly several times against the girl’s back, sending waves of tingling numbness through her.
“What are you thinking about in that messy little head of yours?”
When had he ever said he wanted to do that with her?
“Don’t keep having those kinds of thoughts about me in your mind all day. You’re going to make things really difficult for me.”
The man’s tone sounded annoyed, yet the corners of his perfectly shaped thin lips lifted high.
“No… that’s not what I meant. When I said ‘intimate,’ I meant kissing, touching—not that.” Ji Huaixiang tried to clarify.
Gu Wujin gave a light snort. He lifted his chin slightly, expression arrogant.
“I’ve only just become your boyfriend, and you’re already trying to demand kisses so soon? Woman, have a little restraint.”
The hand Ji Huaixiang had resting on his shoulder nearly slipped off in shock.
Under the spotlight, Gu Wujin and Ji Huaixiang danced in each other’s arms—one in black, one in red; one hard, one soft. Their entwined figures were impossible to look away from. Though people wanted to mock them, they had to admit: on appearance alone, the two were an incredibly good match.
Jiang Mengwan held her wine glass, her fair fingers gripping the stem so tightly they turned pale. Her gaze shifted to the intimately embracing pair on the dance floor, and it stung her eyes. Especially that red figure—slender and graceful, swaying seductively, with exaggerated curves that screamed temptation, paired with that bright, bewitchingly beautiful face. A wave of disgust rose in her heart.
“A-Jin is really going too far this time,” Gu Lü said, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Bringing her out to dance like this—he’s slapping the Bai family in the face and openly defying Grandfather.”
“That girl is in my class. Her name is Ji Huaixiang,” Jiang Mengwan said softly. “They probably met at school.”
“No matter what, Grandfather will never agree to it.”
“Yeah.” Jiang Mengwan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Seeing Ji Huaixiang’s radiant, smiling face, she spoke casually and gently:
“If Grandfather Gu doesn’t allow it…”
At that moment, a small commotion stirred at the entrance.
“It’s the Bai family.”
Someone recognized Bai Shixiong. As the words spread, many heads turned to look.
The Bai family was a newly risen powerhouse, growing aggressively fast. Their recent product launches had all been massive hits. Their chief perfumer was the famous “Magic Hand” in the domestic fragrance world—capable of creating nearly ten new scents in a single year, every one of them wildly popular. Several companies had once offered astronomical sums to poach that perfumer, but the Bai family had done them a great favor in the past, and no amount of money could sway them. That was exactly why the Bai family could afford to be so high-profile and fearless right now.
“Old Master Gu, how have you been feeling lately?” Bai Shixiong approached Gu Jinjiang (Old Master Gu) with a warm greeting.
“Now that my eldest grandson is handling the company, I spend my days at home taking care of my health. Very good,” Old Master Gu replied with a smile.
“You really are blessed, Old Master Gu. With such a capable eldest young master, you don’t have to worry about company matters at all—and your second young master is also an outstanding talent among men.” Bai Shixiong laughed heartily. “This is my youngest daughter, Bai Nini. Last time you only caught a quick glimpse of her; we didn’t have the chance to properly introduce her. Nini, say hello.”
“Hello, Grandfather Gu,” Bai Nini said sweetly.
“Heh heh, this child is quite nice,” Old Master Gu nodded. The girl looked fair, delicate, and obedient.
“Where’s Second Young Master Gu? I was hoping to let Nini get to know him. Young people should make more friends,” Bai Shixiong said, noticing Old Master Gu’s obvious satisfaction and feeling encouraged.
At the mention, Old Master Gu’s face darkened slightly. He looked toward the dance floor where Gu Wujin was still embracing a woman, and said stiffly,
“He’s dancing.”
Bai Shixiong followed his gaze and immediately understood. His tone hardened a fraction.
“Young people—they like to have fun.”
“Daddy, where’s Gu Wujin? I want to find him.” Bai Nini tugged at Bai Shixiong’s sleeve, shaking it. “I want my husband…”