Chapter 71

The New Year’s Dance Party arrived amid great anticipation.

Everyone attending had their own motives, but 4520’s were the most abundant—enough to rival most of the crowd combined.

She had to find ways to get close to the person she liked while constantly dodging the one who seemed to like her.

She had to watch out for her roommate charging toward true love and prevent that roommate from getting hurt by it.

She had to seize opportunities in this public setting while avoiding any leaks of information in the same open space.

It was hard. Too hard.

The three of them spent the entire afternoon getting dressed up, and the moment they stepped out, they eagerly slipped on their masks.

Tang Tianman had bought them all, thanks to her impeccable taste and deep pockets.

But this year, her taste and money came off as rather ordinary, even featuring a major blunder: her mask completely covered that pretty face of hers.

Without her face as her ace in the hole, Tang Tianman blended into the crowd as… just a short girl with a nice figure.

Li Tong shot Ruan Ruan a look. Ruan Ruan caught it and felt a pang of worry deep inside.

In the rollercoaster of Tang Tianman’s love life, what she feared most was that it would erode Tang Tianman’s confidence and independence.

She fussed over it like an old mother hen.

The two of them pinched each other’s arms and whispered behind Tang Tianman’s back while she bounced along happily, hopping every few steps until she pulled far ahead.

Li Tong slowed her pace even more and chatted with Ruan Ruan about Wang Tingxi.

“Watching Wangwang dance is just too adorable. Let me tell you, I can spot her from up high in a crowd just like that—haha, no one dances as cutely as her.”

Ruan Ruan: “…”

She couldn’t even picture the scene.

The walk to the auditorium wasn’t far, but the closer they got, the thicker the vibe of youthful energy became.

Probably because of the masks easing any self-consciousness, people had gone all out—some looked like they’d wandered in from a cosplay convention.

Tang Tianman had bounded ahead early and was waving at them from the entrance. “I’m heading in!!!”

She sounded so eager, yet she’d even disguised her voice into a rough, gruff tone.

Li Tong looked baffled. “Is she worried about being recognized?”

Ruan Ruan had no answer.

Li Tong: “Shouldn’t she want a certain someone to recognize her?”

Ruan Ruan had no answer.

Li Tong glanced around. “I don’t think she needs to stress. Look at this crowd—yo! In the dead of winter, there’s a girl showing off her midriff! She’s stunning!!!”

Ruan Ruan looked over. “That’s a guy.”

Li Tong: “…”

Li Tong: “I see another pretty girl. Not sure if I should tell you.”

Ruan Ruan: “Check the gender first.”

“A real pretty girl,” Li Tong said, eyeing Ruan Ruan from a distance before drawling out five words: “Solitary Fishing in Cold River Snow.”

Ruan Ruan’s goosebumps erupted.

She didn’t even turn around, just marched straight toward the auditorium steps. Li Tong trailed after her. “Didn’t expect her to show up.”

Ruan Ruan kept climbing the steps.

Li Tong: “She’s with a handsome guy.”

Ruan Ruan strode on with her head held high.

Li Tong: “And they’re arguing.”

Ruan Ruan stumbled, nearly missing a step.

“Whoa, careful there~~” Li Tong steadied her arm. “They must know each other. Don’t—”

Before “worry” could leave her lips, Ruan Ruan whipped around, scanning the area. “Where?”

“They went that way.” Li Tong pointed.

That direction led to an open lot behind a teaching building. Ruan Ruan’s brows furrowed, and she broke into a run down the steps.

“Hey, where are you going?!” Li Tong called.

“You go ahead.” Ruan Ruan shot back. “She doesn’t usually argue with people.”

Truth be told, she didn’t just avoid arguments—she never even raised her voice.

She did get angry, but it rarely showed on her face. Ruan Ruan was convinced that if this clean freak ever truly lost it, she’d probably smash a bottle over someone’s head without a word.

For someone so particular to appear at the bustling auditorium entrance, amid all these people, was odd enough. Arguing with a guy? No way.

Ruan Ruan’s mind flashed through several news stories about women and children being abducted.

Her feet flew, and she rounded the corner in no time.

She heard the voice before she saw them—a guy’s voice, brimming with irritation. “Come home with me!”

Fuck, it sounded just like a human trafficker’s line!

Ruan Ruan sped up as she turned the bend. There they were, not far off. The guy faced her directly, while Jiang Xue showed only a slender back.

Ruan Ruan charged forward without hesitation, grabbing Jiang Xue’s arm and yanking her behind herself.

Jiang Xue really was slight; the pull nearly toppled her. She steadied herself on Ruan Ruan’s shoulder.

“Who the hell are you?!” Ruan Ruan bellowed at the guy.

Ever since starting her diet, she’d been extra irritable, but daily life rarely gave her a chance to unleash it. So this roar came out wild and satisfying—way more intense than his.

The guy stared at her in shock and yelled back the exact same thing: “Who the hell are you?!!!”

“You don’t get to ask who I am!!!” Ruan Ruan showed no fear. In a public spot like this, only someone as meek as Jiang Xue would suffer in silence. If she kept bellowing at this jerk, security would come running.

“Fuck???” The guy’s shock deepened. “Are you nuts?! Then who the hell am I to you?!!!”

“I don’t give a damn who you are.” Ruan Ruan was there to rescue someone; she had no interest in tangling with some random idiot. After roaring that out, she rolled her eyes in perfect disdainful sync, then turned and dragged Jiang Xue away.

The guy: “…”

Jiang Xue followed obediently, without so much as a glance back.

Ruan Ruan pulled with even more swagger now, as if she held all the justice in the world.

Just as they neared the corner, the guy shouted in utter breakdown: “Sis!!!!!”

Jiang Xue didn’t miss a beat, striding forward like she hadn’t heard a thing.

Ruan Ruan’s heart thumped wildly. She felt she’d done the right thing—and maybe the wrong thing. Either way, it was thrilling. She kept dashing ahead, heart pounding.

They raced up the auditorium steps and reached the entrance, where two security guards stood watch.

Ruan Ruan released Jiang Xue’s hand with a cool, heroic wave—no name, no glory. “Alright, off you go.”

Jiang Xue grabbed her hand back. “Not busy anymore.”

Ruan Ruan: “Then do whatever you were gonna do.”

Jiang Xue: “It’s New Year’s. My cousin was picking me up for dinner at home, but not anymore.”

“I didn’t ask—” Ruan Ruan paused. “Wait, your actual cousin?”

Jiang Xue looked at her. “Yeah.”

“You could’ve said so sooner!” Ruan Ruan shook her hand. She’d screwed up, after all.

She couldn’t shake free; Jiang Xue held on.

“What are you doing?” Ruan Ruan asked again, a hint of panic in her eyes.

“I don’t have to go anymore.” Jiang Xue repeated. “I’m free now.”

“So you’re sticking to me?” Ruan Ruan said, incredulous.

Jiang Xue suddenly smiled. “Your mask looks great.”

Ruan Ruan: “…”

She couldn’t fathom how Jiang Xue had turned into such a clingy pest.

Even less how she’d become her clingy pest.

What baffled her most was why she’d acted like a total airhead—impulsive, illogical, a complete mess.

Did that sly little fox look like some abducted woman???

Ruan Ruan wanted to punch herself.

“My mask has nothing to do with you.” Ruan Ruan adjusted the one on her face, forgetting it was even there.

At least it hid her embarrassment.

“I’m going in.” Ruan Ruan turned, tugging her hand.

Jiang Xue followed.

Ruan Ruan glared back, then realized the mask hid her eyes. “It’s a costume party. No mask, no entry.”

Jiang Xue tilted her head and pointed casually. “She doesn’t have one either.”

“Hers is probably in her bag. She’ll put it on inside.”

“Mine’s in my bag too.” Jiang Xue lied with a straight face.

Ruan Ruan eyed her up and down. Bag? She had two pockets, tops.

“Fine then.” Ruan Ruan stepped just inside the door. “You’re in. Mask up.”

“If I do, can we hang out?” Jiang Xue asked.

“Why do you wanna hang out with me?!” Ruan Ruan yelled.

“You’re the only one I know.” Jiang Xue said, utterly sincere.

“Then don’t hang out!”

“But I want to.”

Ruan Ruan was about to explode. She scanned Jiang Xue again, noting her plain clothes—she clearly hadn’t planned to attend. With a cold smirk, Ruan Ruan said: “Your logic’s airtight, huh? Alright…”

She eyed Jiang Xue’s grip on her wrist. “Keep holding on like that, don’t let go. Put on a mask. If you do, I’ll hang with you tonight. If not, go play wherever by yourself.”

“Okay.” Jiang Xue agreed crisply. Her free hand dove into her pocket and pulled out a face mask, which she looped over her face.

Ruan Ruan: “…”

Ruan Ruan: “That’s your mask?”

Jiang Xue nodded vigorously.

Ruan Ruan: “You’re wearing that all night?”

Nods.

Ruan Ruan: “A mask indoors? You look like you’ve got a bad cold. Who’d dance with you?”

Jiang Xue just shook her hand.

“Fuck.” Ruan Ruan turned her head away.

This was really going to kill her.

Irritatingly, shamelessly, it was killing her—that cold, aloof gaze peeking out with those eyes, acting spoiled toward her. It was utterly killing her.

Ruan Ruan had to admit it: Jiang Xue’s face and personality struck right at her sweet spot. If heaven ever gave her the chance to choose, she’d want to grow up just like Jiang Xue.

What an infuriatingly perfect look.

She didn’t want to argue with Jiang Xue anymore. Her brain felt oxygen-starved.

It had to be starved bad, or else she wouldn’t have dug that pit for herself step by step. Regret was pointless now.

Ruan Ruan lifted her foot to head farther inside, but Jiang Xue kept clutching her wrist.

A pristine, aloof, breathtaking iceberg snow lotus trailed right behind her, never missing a step—like a frightened quail.

The venue sloped downward in tiers, and the entrance they’d come through was actually on the third floor. Ruan Ruan spotted Li Tong. She hadn’t gone down yet and was standing at the far end, gripping the railing and peering below.

No sign of Tang Tianman anywhere.

Ruan Ruan was dying to rush over and ask what was going on, but dragging this quail along? She could already picture Li Tong’s expression.

So, in a moment of shameless cunning, she came up with a plan. “My stomach wasn’t feeling great before I came to the auditorium.”

Jiang Xue immediately looked at her. “Hm?”

Ruan Ruan grinned. “I had to use the bathroom. Probably about as long as you were squatting in the True Heart Building restroom that day.”

Jiang Xue’s brows furrowed. “Let’s go to the school infirmary.”

“No, no, no—you’re not getting it,” Ruan Ruan said.

Jiang Xue tilted her head. “Hm?”

Ruan Ruan glanced at the spot where their skin touched. “I rushed out in a hurry. Didn’t wash my hands.”

Jiang Xue dropped her hand like it was on fire.

“Hahahahahahahahaha!!” Ruan Ruan howled.

She felt so damn good.

That split-second look of embarrassment and horror on Jiang Xue’s face—even though it was only half-visible—Ruan Ruan knew she’d remember it forever.

Next time Jiang Xue pissed her off, she’d just pull up the memory. It was sure to clear the frustration and lift her spirits.

Ruan Ruan strode toward Li Tong, her steps quick and light.

Jiang Xue didn’t follow. Ruan Ruan sniffed. She wondered if she actually did smell bad today.

She reached Li Tong and patted her shoulder. “What are you doing here? Where’s Bean Person?”

Li Tong was beside herself with anxiety, her eyes darting wildly over the crowd in the hall below. “I’m looking for her! She’s gone missing!!!”

“In a place this small, and you still lost her???” Ruan Ruan leaned over the railing to peer down as well.

“There’s someone over there, dressed exactly like Bean!” Li Tong jabbed a finger toward the figure, practically fuming. “But it’s not her!”

“How could it be such a coincidence?” Ruan Ruan rubbed her eyes. “She does look similar.”

“But she’s not as busty as Bean.”

“But she’s not as busty as Bean.”

They spoke in perfect unison, presenting their ironclad evidence.