Jiang Nian was wearing a short, goose-yellow dress. Her hair, usually tied up casually, had been carefully styled into a slightly wavy princess half-updo.
She appeared in front of everyone looking a little dazed, her fawn-like eyes darting around.
Chi Yexuan stood frozen in place, staring dreamily in Jiang Nian's direction.
Lu Yige sighed inwardly. Could the male lead maybe learn a bit about expression control? His parents were still standing right there.
Jiang Yu, however, merely cast a seemingly casual glance in that direction before withdrawing his gaze.
The difference in experience was obvious at a glance. If Jiang Yu was a thousand-year-old fox, then Chi Yexuan was a husky that had just turned seventeen.
Once again, Lu Yige felt that the only reason this simple-minded young master could end up with the heroine was sheer protagonist halo at work.
Madam Chi paid no attention to the commotion, smiled, and said, "You young people go have fun among yourselves. Your father and I won't disturb you."
Before leaving, she warned Chi Yexuan, "Tonight is your spotlight. I want you to enjoy yourself, but remember to behave. Don't cause trouble."
"I know, you've said it a million times already," Chi Yexuan replied impatiently.
Madam Chi nodded to Lu Yige, then left with her husband.
The moment the parents were gone, Chi Yexuan immediately headed toward Jiang Nian.
Jiang Nian had just found a corner seat. When she looked up, she saw Chi Yexuan approaching—and Jiang Yu standing behind him.
"Xiao Yu." She waved at Jiang Yu, completely ignoring the person in front of her.
Dear heroine, you're really not giving your future husband any face at all.
Lu Yige tilted her head toward Jiang Yu and said, "Let's go over there and take a look."
"No need," Jiang Yu replied flatly.
"Why?" Lu Yige smiled. "You're all classmates. Or is it because you see her every day, so there's no rush?"
Jiang Yu frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Ah—careless.
Lu Yige had been so focused on watching the show that she'd accidentally spoken the truth out loud.
She looked at him and said gently, "Nothing. She just called you, and apart from us, she's the only one from our class here."
"Alright."
Chi Yexuan stared at Jiang Nian for a while, then stepped forward and trapped her between himself and the wall. "Why are you ignoring me?"
"Am I? I didn't see you," Jiang Nian said, glaring at him.
"You're lying." Chi Yexuan lifted her chin. "Was I so handsome you forgot how to talk?"
"Narcissist." Jiang Nian turned her head and saw Jiang Yu and Lu Yige approaching, quickly pushing Chi Yexuan away.
"Xiao Yu..."
"What are you two doing here?" Chi Yexuan looked coldly at Jiang Yu, his tone hostile.
Lu Yige stepped forward and said, "I wanted to come over. There are a lot of people here I don't recognize, and Jiang Nian is our classmate, so I wanted to chat with her. Sorry—are we disturbing you?"
She was telling the truth. Most of the guests Chi Yexuan had invited were his friends, classmates, and the sons and daughters of other families. Lu Yige didn't know many of them.
"No—no." Jiang Nian waved her hands frantically, her face red.
Lu Yige glanced at Jiang Yu and was satisfied to see his expression darken.
Serves you right for acting all the time—can't keep it up now, can you?
"I've said what needed to be said. You can leave now," Chi Yexuan said bluntly.
"Let's go." Jiang Yu looked at Lu Yige and turned to leave without hesitation.
Lu Yige followed behind him, watching his slightly thin back. Truth be told, she quite enjoyed seeing Jiang Yu take a loss.
That restrained, frustrated look—he thought he hid it well, but she had already seen through it.
They found a random place to sit. People were constantly coming and going at the party, and many gathered around Chi Yexuan and Jiang Nian, cheering and calling Jiang Nian "sister-in-law."
Lu Yige glanced at Jiang Yu and saw that his expression was calm, his beautiful eyes revealing not the slightest emotion.
Boring.
So she shifted her attention to the desserts set nearby.
So delicate. So tempting. Such beautiful colors.
To eat, or not to eat—that was the question.
Restless, Lu Yige finally made up her mind to grab a plate—only to have someone block her path.
A boy with purple highlights in his hair, chewing gum, looked down at her. "Where'd this little beauty come from? Are you from our school? Why haven't I seen you before?"
Lu Yige was speechless. How did someone this non-mainstream still exist in this era?
"Please move."
"Nope—unless you agree to dance with me later." He tilted his head and grinned.
"I won't."
"Pretty cold, huh." He glanced at the lackey behind him. "Tell her who I am."
Lu Yige rolled her eyes internally, smiled at the lackey, and said, "Tell him who I am."
The lackey looked at the purple-haired boy, then at Lu Yige. "Brother Ye, she's from the Lu—"
He was cut off mid-sentence.
"Tell her who I am."
Brother Ye. Lu Yige instantly understood—Ye Chen, just missing the "Liang" from Ye Liangchen.
Ye Chen was Chi Yexuan's close friend. Both were school tyrants at Hengyang High. Compared to Chi Yexuan's innocence, Ye Chen was a notorious playboy who had dated over a dozen girlfriends in two years of high school.
Lu Yige had always felt this character was the author's little joke.
Ye Chen's chūnibyō arrogance and domineering attitude far surpassed Chi Yexuan's. Truly worthy of being best friends since childhood.
"This is our Brother Ye—Ye Chen," the lackey said.
"Got it." Lu Yige nodded, unimpressed.
"You from our school?" Ye Chen asked.
"Yes."
"Then how come I've never seen you before? If I had, someone like you—I'd have made a move in freshman year."
"Because she was sick before," Jiang Yu said, blocking Ye Chen's hand as it reached for Lu Yige's face.
"Jiang Yu?" Ye Chen squinted at him. "Shouldn't you be guarding your childhood sweetheart? What are you doing here playing knight in shining armor?"
"She doesn't want to talk to you, and she doesn't want to dance with you. Please leave," Jiang Yu said calmly.
"Nosy. Why do you stick your nose into everything?" Ye Chen smiled at Lu Yige. "See you next time, little beauty."
Lu Yige gave Jiang Yu a half-smile. He was clearly very practiced at this sort of thing—no doubt he'd blocked people for Jiang Nian countless times.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine. Thank you."
"He's not a good person." Jiang Yu lowered his gaze slightly as he looked at her.
Maybe—but he's nothing compared to you. At most, he's a womanizer. As for you...
Never mind. Since you helped me just now, I won't curse you today.
Lu Yige nodded to show she understood.
Suddenly, the lights in the hall dimmed. A spotlight shone on the center of the dance floor, and soft music began to play.
"May I have the honor of dancing with you?" Jiang Yu turned slightly and extended his hand to her.
"No."
Lu Yige smiled as she watched the confusion flash across Jiang Yu's face.
"Why?" he asked, a little tense.
Shaking her head, she said, "Because of my health, I never learned to dance. When we had ballroom lessons in elementary school, I always just watched from the side."
Jiang Yu hadn't expected her to refuse and stood there stunned.
"It's fine," Lu Yige said calmly. "You can go dance with someone else. I don't mind."
Jiang Yu looked at her deeply. In the end, he gave up.
Lu Yige: As if I'd agree—how else would the plot move forward?
Sure enough, Jiang Yu went to find Jiang Nian. While Chi Yexuan had been called away by his parents, he successfully invited Jiang Nian onto the dance floor.
When the young master came back, he'd probably explode. Lu Yige watched the two of them holding hands.
Just as expected, when Chi Yexuan returned, his eyes burned with fury, though he restrained himself because his parents were present.
"Yige," Madam Chi called out.
Lu Yige walked over and greeted Chi's parents.
"Are you alone, Yige?"
She nodded.
"Perfect, then you can dance with our Yexuan," Madam Chi said with a smile.
Lu Yige: ?
"I don't know how," she said softly.
"That's alright. Yexuan can lead you."
"No—"
Before she could finish, Chi Yexuan grabbed her in a huff and pulled her into the dance floor.
Standing in the center of the floor, Lu Yige was completely stunned.
What kind of development was this?
The novel only mentioned that Young Master Chi got jealous and sulked when he saw Jiang Nian and Jiang Yu dancing. It never said what he did afterward.
There was actually hidden plot like this?
"Let's work together," Chi Yexuan whispered in her ear.
"What?"
"We team up. Jiang Nian is mine. Jiang Yu is yours."
Lu Yige was so stunned she almost laughed. She looked at him helplessly.
Then, past his shoulder, she saw Jiang Yu looking over.
Author's note:
Crying T﹏T—I just realized I set the draft time wrong.
***
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