Chapter 20
“It seems like all the love and care I’ve given you hasn’t been in vain. Xiao Bian, you can tell your brother anything you want, anything you want to do, and I’ll make it happen for you.”
Zuo Bian didn’t have anything she particularly wanted, she just thanked her brother.
At that moment, the lights in the hall dimmed, and the host invited Chang Wenyan and his grandfather to the stage. Everyone applauded politely.
Zuo Bian didn’t pay much attention to what Chang Wenyan was saying. She only heard 555 chattering in her mind.
【Host, what if you pretend to twist your ankle and fall into the female lead’s arms? It’s dark now, no one will be able to see clearly. It should be easy for you to fake it.】
‘Okay, I’ll try.’
【I’ll help you find the right angle. Yes, turn a little to the right, that’s the angle, now fall!】
Zuo Bian relaxed her body and fell towards Qin Ai like a soft cloud.
Qin Ai had been paying attention to Zuo Bian, so the moment Zuo Bian fell towards her, she instinctively caught her.
Qin Ai’s slender, jade-like hand rested on Zuo Bian’s delicate waist. Zuo Bian leaned back slightly, half-resting in Qin Ai’s arms. A spotlight shone down, illuminating the two of them.
“Let’s see which lucky couple will be our Ball Stars!” The host’s voice echoed through the hall, and everyone’s gaze followed the spotlight.
At that moment, Zuo Bian and Qin Ai became the most dazzling pair at the usually mundane banquet. One was beautiful, pure, and innocent, while the other was alluring, cold, and elegant.
Although both were women, they looked incredibly harmonious together, as if they were destined to be a pair.
“It seems like it’s two beautiful ladies. Please, ladies, step onto the dance floor. You will be the stars of this ball.” The host continued speaking with a smile, completely oblivious to the fact that Chang Wenyan’s face beside him had darkened considerably.
Chang Wenyan looked at Qin Ai and Zuo Bian standing together, wishing he could be in Zuo Bian’s place. But he couldn’t do anything. His grandfather was right beside him, and there were so many people present. So Chang Wenyan could only watch helplessly as Qin Ai and Zuo Bian danced on the dance floor.
Melodious music flowed through the hall, and as Qin Ai and Zuo Bian danced, other couples, both male-female, male-male, and female-female, also stepped onto the dance floor.
Zuo Bian moved her feet clumsily, afraid of accidentally stepping on Qin Ai.
Qin Ai’s hand rested on her lower back. Her fingertips were cool, but her palm was burning hot as if it contained a fire that wanted to seep through the thin fabric of Zuo Bian’s dress and burn her to ashes.
Zuo Bian’s clear eyes gazed at Qin Ai’s face. She pursed her lips. Although she had been very careful, she still left a mark on Qin Ai’s white shoes.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.” Zuo Bian whispered.
“Mm, I know.”
“I really like your gift. Can I treat you to dinner?” The second half of the sentence was taught to Zuo Bian by 555. Reciprocating gifts, treating someone to dinner after they give you a gift, these were opportunities to meet again.
Qin Ai met Zuo Bian’s gaze. “Okay, but who taught you these things?”
Asking for dinner, asking for phone numbers, saying strange things.
“It was…” Zuo Bian was about to answer when 555 interrupted her.
【Host! Don’t! Don’t expose me! Just say you saw it online.】
Zuo Bian swallowed her unfinished words. “I saw it online. It said that if you want to be with someone, you should reciprocate gifts. If someone gives you a gift, you should treat them to dinner. That way, you’ll have more chances to meet.”
“Want to be with someone?” Qin Ai’s voice was a bit low, carrying an inexplicable hint of intimacy in the dimly lit dance floor.
Zuo Bian didn’t notice anything amiss and nodded earnestly. “Mm, yes.”
“But you said you like your brother very much.” Qin Ai spun Zuo Bian away, forcing her to turn a circle before returning to her side.
Zuo Bian was always sensitive to subtle changes in other people’s emotions. She could feel that Qin Ai was in a bad mood. Why? Did she say something wrong?
【Host!】555 almost screamed.
【You praised your brother too much, Qin Ai is jealous! Quickly clarify!】
Zuo Bian understood and immediately said, “Although my brother is good, I like you more.”
Qin Ai’s expression softened, and the corner of her lips curved up slightly. “If you want to see me, you can come to Qin Group or the Qin residence directly. No one will stop you.”
【Congratulations, Host, the progress is now 13.5%!】
“Mm-hmm.” Zuo Bian’s eyes curved into happy crescents, sparkling as if filled with stars.
Zuo Bian couldn’t tell if she was happy because the progress bar was increasing or because Qin Ai said she could visit her anytime, or maybe it was both.
The dance ended, and Qin Ai released her hand from Zuo Bian’s waist.
“Don’t you find this banquet boring?” Qin Ai didn’t even want to spare a glance for the people around them.
All sorts of banquets, parties, and social gatherings bored and annoyed Qin Ai.
“There’s a garden here, let’s go for a walk.” Zuo Bian suggested.
Qin Ai tilted her head slightly, glancing at the man behind her from the corner of her eye, a smile playing on her lips.
To Zuo Yuan, that smile was a blatant provocation! He glared at Qin Ai as if she were his sworn enemy, especially when he saw the hand that had just been around Zuo Bian’s waist. His eyes seemed to shoot lasers.
In Zuo Yuan’s eyes, anyone who got close to his sister, except for their family, was a scumbag!
Just as Zuo Yuan was about to follow them and separate Zuo Bian from Qin Ai, CEO Wang, dressed in red, blocked his way, saying he wanted to discuss the development of the land in the south of the city.
Zuo Yuan wanted to storm off, but then Old Master Chang, Chang Wenyan’s grandfather, came over to greet him. He could only watch helplessly as Zuo Bian and Qin Ai disappeared through the door.
Don’t think he couldn’t see it, this Qin Ai definitely had ulterior motives towards his sister!
Meanwhile, Zuo Bian and Qin Ai were walking along the path in the Chang family garden. Because the Chang family members were talking, everyone was gathered in the hall, leaving the garden empty except for Zuo Bian and Qin Ai.
The chirping of crickets could be heard from the bushes, a relentless and unceasing sound.
Zuo Bian told Qin Ai about what had happened in the garden earlier. When she mentioned what she had said to Hu Miaofu about compensating for damaging someone else’s property, Qin Ai suddenly laughed.
It wasn’t a sneer or a mocking laugh, but a genuine and hearty laugh.
When Qin Ai wasn’t smiling, she was cold and aloof, keeping everyone at a distance. Although she didn’t smile much, it allowed people to see a different side of her.
Lively, vibrant, and so beautiful that it was hard to look away.
Zuo Bian stared at Qin Ai’s face, mumbling like a lovestruck fool, “You’re so beautiful.”
“Next time you encounter something like this, just act like you did today. The person who taught you those things, they didn’t teach you wrong.” Qin Ai stopped laughing, her expression returning to its usual calmness, but Zuo Bian could feel that her mood had improved a bit.
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