Chapter 36
Editor: Princess
Mo Shanshan leaned gently against the corridor railing, looking down at the handsome men and beautiful women dancing gracefully in the center of the banquet hall.
A faint smile appeared at the corners of her lips unconsciously as she sighed with emotion: “I suddenly feel that Huanxi is truly capable of anything. I always thought his life was particularly singular before, with nothing beyond the violin. Actually, he possesses both literary and martial talents, and nothing can stump him no matter what it is. Today I discovered that he even dances so well.”
Her gaze followed Qin Huanxi and Su Yang. Regardless of what purpose Fu Zecheng had for hosting tonight’s banquet, Qin Huanxi and Su Yang had undoubtedly become the most dazzling people at the entire event.
If people didn’t already know that Su Yang had someone she deeply loved, they would be the perfect combination of prince and princess that countless people envied.
Li Junyan watched Mo Shanshan and said gently: “People say that where there is gain, there must be loss. Young Master Qin’s omnipotence certainly wasn’t innate. He has put in more effort than anyone else, but likewise, he has also lost much freedom. When he was spending large amounts of time studying and practicing, others were enjoying leisure time. Even if they were just wasting time, they still enjoyed that happiness.”
Mo Shanshan suddenly smiled and looked at Li Junyan steadily: “I understand what you mean.”
Li Junyan somewhat embarrassedly rubbed the tip of his nose: “Of course, Young Master Qin is a well-known genius. His talent isn’t something everyone can possess. While others might find his constant repetitive practice extremely boring, perhaps he finds it quite joyful.”
“Yes, I believe what you’re saying.” Mo Shanshan gently placed her hand on the railing. “Because I’m like Huanxi in that regard. Many times I also lock myself in the studio and stay there for an entire day. Perhaps many people find it hard to understand, but that’s something I love with my life. No matter how tedious or boring it might be, for me, those are the moments that best prove myself. Many times it can even make me forget the passage of time.”
“I also believe you. Someday you will prove yourself in the way you most desire.” Li Junyan encouraged.
“Thank you.” Mo Shanshan lowered her head with a light laugh, and her fair, smooth face gradually took on a faint blush.
At this moment, one song ended, and the crowd burst into warm applause. Qin Huanxi led Su Yang in an extremely elegant bow to the guests, and immediately the applause became even louder. The two politely declined the guests’ attempts at conversation and flattery, then walked arm in arm toward Mo Shanshan and Li Junyan’s direction.
“I’m so tired.” Su Yang leaned against Mo Shanshan as soon as she saw her, taking several deep breaths exaggeratedly.
Mo Shanshan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “Everyone is still watching you. You’ve already abandoned your noble young lady image so quickly. What will those young masters who are still mesmerized by your elegant dancing think?”
“This is just my personality. They haven’t known me for just one day. Those who should be disillusioned have long been disillusioned. Besides, am I the type of person who lives according to others’ opinions?” Su Yang waved her hand dismissively and looked at Mo Shanshan and Li Junyan with raised eyebrows: “Such a good opportunity today – are you two really not going to dance together?”
Mo Shanshan and Li Junyan exchanged glances and both smiled somewhat embarrassedly.
“You know I only understand the basics of dancing. I don’t want to embarrass myself. However, Huanxi really amazed me. I was just telling Junyan that you’re truly capable of anything, Huanxi. Sometimes I’m really curious – is there anything in this world that you can’t do?” Mo Shanshan looked at Qin Huanxi with a smile.
Su Yang also turned to look at Qin Huanxi and boldly reached out to pat his shoulder: “When the banquet started earlier, Fu Zecheng had us dance. Although I still think he was deliberately trying to make things difficult for you – after all, everyone knows I can dance, but I’d never seen you dance before – when you agreed to Fu Zecheng’s request, I really broke out in a cold sweat. Shanshan is right. You truly are capable of anything. I think Fu Zecheng never expected that you’re not just skilled at playing the violin, but also a master of the dance floor.”
Qin Huanxi just smiled without speaking and turned his head to look at Mo Shaoheng and He Jingyi, who were surrounded by crowds.
The original host indeed couldn’t dance. For the past dozen years, his life had been surrounded by the violin, leaving no extra time to learn other talents. But he was Ning Xue. Ning Xue’s life had been carefree and unrestrained. Whatever interested him, he would put his heart into learning and carefully studying it. No one would restrain him.
However, Qin Huanxi didn’t think that Fu Zecheng giving him and Su Yang such a grand opening at the banquet was simply to deliberately make things difficult – it probably couldn’t even be called making things difficult.
Fu Zecheng’s actions, besides making people think he was giving him and Su Yang plenty of face, were more likely a form of probing – probing to see how much more there was to him, this genius violinist in everyone’s eyes, and what unknown sides he might have.
Qin Huanxi’s eyes darkened, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly. His bottom line lay in his soul, not in his current identity.
While Qin Huanxi was deep in thought, a fair, slender hand appeared before his eyes holding a wine glass. He looked up at the smiling Mo Shanshan, took the glass and clinked it with hers, then took a sip and gently swirled the glass: “Thank you.”
“What are you thinking about? So absorbed?” Mo Shanshan leaned lightly against the railing, looking at Mo Shaoheng in the crowd. Her expression showed complete understanding as she raised her beautiful eyebrows and asked teasingly: “Thinking about Uncle Mo?”
Qin Huanxi shook his head with a light laugh: “I was thinking about what Su Yang just said…”
As soon as Qin Huanxi finished speaking, he realized that both Su Yang and Li Junyan had disappeared. He asked in confusion: “Where did they go?”
Mo Shanshan laughed: “I told you that you were spacing out. Su Yang went to touch up her makeup, and Junyan went to the restroom. By the way, you just said you were thinking about what Su Yang said. Is something wrong?”
Qin Huanxi considered for a moment: “It’s nothing. I was just speculating that Fu Zecheng’s actions weren’t meant to make things difficult, but to probe.”
“Probe?” Mo Shanshan was surprised, as if she somewhat understood Qin Huanxi’s meaning. “Actually, I asked my uncle before. Fu Zecheng’s purpose in hosting this banquet was probably to probe you. Moreover, among those who attacked Su Yang and Guan Yi before, there were Fu Zecheng’s people. The situation at that time definitely couldn’t be hidden from him.”
“Mm…” Qin Huanxi responded faintly. If it was just probing, he felt more at ease.
At this moment, a waiter approached and said respectfully: “Miss Mo, Miss Su requests that you go to the restroom.”
“Su Yang?” Mo Shanshan looked at Qin Huanxi in confusion, then turned back to ask the waiter: “What happened?”
The young waiter seemed somewhat nervous. After being stunned for a while, he carefully explained: “When Miss Su was returning to the hall earlier, a guest accidentally bumped into her. That guest’s wine spilled a bit and splashed onto Miss Su’s dress.”
“Where is she now?” Mo Shanshan breathed a sigh of relief.
“Miss Su has already gone to the lounge.” The waiter answered respectfully.
Mo Shanshan turned back to Qin Huanxi: “Huanxi, I’ll go to the lounge first to check on Su Yang.”
Qin Huanxi merely looked at the waiter quietly.
The young waiter felt somewhat at a loss under Qin Huanxi’s gaze, keeping his head down and not daring to look at Qin Huanxi at all.
“If you’re worried, I’ll go with Shanshan.” Li Junyan said as he returned from the restroom, having heard the conversation between the waiter and Mo Shanshan. Seeing the silent Qin Huanxi, he seemed to guess his thoughts and volunteered.
Mo Shanshan glanced at Li Junyan and said to Qin Huanxi: “Don’t worry. We’ll go and come right back. You wait here for Uncle.”
Only then did Qin Huanxi nod: “Alright.”
After Mo Shanshan and Li Junyan left with the waiter, Qin Huanxi picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and slightly narrowed his eyes as he surveyed the crowd. Fu Zecheng’s banquet had invited many guests. Basically all the prominent figures in T City were attending this event, and they were now gathered in small groups, toasting and socializing.
“Is it a coincidence?” Qin Huanxi looked down at the beautiful liquid in his glass and murmured to himself. Perhaps he was being overly suspicious. The waiter had said that a guest had accidentally bumped into Su Yang. When Su Yang returned, he could just ask her for that guest’s name and conduct some investigation afterward.
Mo Shanshan had Li Junyan with her, so there shouldn’t be any need to worry. Li Junyan seemed to be quite shrewd indeed. He had only remained silent briefly without immediately responding to Mo Shanshan, and he had immediately seen through his concerns. With such a person accompanying Mo Shanshan, even if there really were some tricks involved, Li Junyan would be able to discover them in time.
Qin Huanxi walked down the stairs, placed his empty glass on the table, and looked across the crowd toward Mo Shaoheng. The other man seemed to sense his gaze and turned back to look at him. The corners of his lips curved, then he pointed in the direction of the restroom, and only turned to leave after Mo Shaoheng nodded in acknowledgment.
Qin Huanxi entered the restroom and had just turned on the faucet to wash his hands when he suddenly felt his head spinning. A burning heat rushed up from his lower abdomen with fierce intensity. He immediately supported himself against the sink with his hand, forcing himself to calm down. He looked up at the refined face reflected in the mirror, his eyes cold and clear.
Since entering this banquet hall, he hadn’t eaten anything. The only drink he’d had was the glass of wine Mo Shanshan had given him.
Because it was from Mo Shanshan, he had been completely unguarded. He had indeed been careless. Of course he wouldn’t suspect Mo Shanshan, but if someone had been determined to tamper with the drink when Mo Shanshan wasn’t paying attention, Mo Shanshan, being just a girl with a simple nature, naturally wouldn’t have noticed.
Qin Huanxi felt his head becoming dizzier and his vision starting to blur. He leaned his body weight against the restroom wall. The cold touch helped restore some clarity to his thoughts. With trembling hands, he took out his phone and quickly dialed Mo Shaoheng’s number. He was afraid that if he delayed even a moment longer, someone would come to take away his defenseless self, and then he would truly become a lamb awaiting slaughter.
The phone was quickly answered. Just as Qin Huanxi was about to speak, he heard footsteps outside the restroom. He immediately moved his legs, wanting to rush forward and lock the door. Unfortunately, the drug’s effects were extremely potent. As soon as he took a step, his body staggered forward, and the weakness throughout his body made him unable to even hold his phone steady.
With a “crack”, the phone fell to the ground.
He leaned against the wall, covering his forehead with one hand while desperately trying to maintain his body’s balance. His other hand reached toward the restroom door. His head was spinning, and he could no longer see the things around him clearly. If his willpower hadn’t been strong enough to support him until now, he would probably have lost consciousness long ago.
He only heard the restroom door finally being opened. The footsteps drew closer and closer to him. He finally couldn’t hold on any longer and his body fell forward. A pair of strong arms caught his waist just in time. He grabbed the person’s chest clothing and, with his last bit of conscious awareness, looked up and tried hard to see the face of the person before him.
He only managed to see the person’s facial features clearly, but it was enough to etch them deeply into his mind.
Ning Shen!
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