Chapter 29: The Nouveau Riche’s Act of Kindness

Lady Eve had been standing on the platform as an onlooker; she was both the initiator and the supervisor of the ball. The encounter with Qiu Zhi was also fully witnessed by her. Qiu Zhi was a special guest; his mother and Lady Eve were schoolmates. Because of this, after learning about his admiration for Wen Maixue, Lady Eve had brushed aside public opinion and opened a "backdoor" for him. The male guests differed from the female guests; they were an interlude to the main melody of the ball. As such, they received less public attention, which is why Lady Eve felt assured enough to embed Qiu Zhi into the event. Unlike Su Ziceng, who joined halfway through, Qiu Zhi found it even harder to blend into the ball; he was vastly different from the erudite and reserved young man described by Old Lady Qiu. He was timid and overly humble; he didn’t even have the courage to strike up a conversation with Wen Maixue. Considering he was the future heir of the Qiu Family, Lady Eve could only bear with it and did not intervene. Qiu Zhi’s eyes bulged, and his steps became disobedient because Su Ziceng, using all his strength, was pulling him towards Wen Maixue. The closer they got to Wen Maixue, the more disoriented his dance steps became, his short fingers struggling under Su Ziceng’s glove like a drowning person. Just as Qiu Zhi was able to smell the unique perfume of Wen Maixue, the dance music stopped. Both his hands and his heart relaxed. The crowd on the dance floor did not disperse immediately; the strings of the violin resonated once more, initiating a new dance. "Partner!" Su Ziceng’s red glove withdrew from Qiu Zhi’s hand as she briskly moved forward, the glowing red roses on her dress dominantly spread, wrapping around another white figure. Caught off guard, Wen Maixue was elbowed by Su Ziceng subtly enough to knock her out of her initial position. Stumbling, she was about to lose her composure, her hand suddenly caught by a plump, firm palm, locking eyes with the nervous gaze of Qiu Zhi. When Wen Maixue turned around, Su Ziceng and Pello had already reached the other side of the dance floor. The lights brightened and the tune was melodious. The brightness caused the night glow rose to vanish among the crowd, making it hard for her to see the people beside her. Qiu Zhi was hardly able to grip the black gloves in his hand; his mouth was still shaped like an "O." Su Ziceng did it on purpose; unlike Wen Maixue’s intense displeasure, Qiu Zhi was almost moved to tears of joy. It was Mai Mai’s hand; he was actually able to dance with his goddess, Wen Maixue. It turns out, Su Ziceng wasn’t like all the vulgar upstarts mentioned by his grandmother. When Maixue tried to maintain her poise, nodded her head gently, and began the new dance steps, she then discreetly moved her body a few steps backward. The relationship between Qiu Zhi and her was somewhat similar to that of Su Ziceng and Hang Yishao, albeit both being more humble, so their interactions were generally friendly. After facilitating that dance, Su Ziceng hid behind Pello’s broad shoulders, carefully observing from a distance. Previously, the reticent Qiu Zhi now resembled a machine gun, talking nonstop with a face brimming with happiness, like a jolly red lantern in the New Year. Su Ziceng disdained in her heart, typical of someone with the opposite sex and no humanity. "Miss Su," a rush of warmth floated down from her forehead as Su Ziceng looked up just in time to see a handsome jaw. The same gold-rimmed glasses with a smile warmer than the March spring breeze—she suddenly realized that she had snatched a "familiar dance partner." "Haha, you’re here too?" Su Ziceng realized that because of her peeking, she was almost lying on Pello’s chest, her lipstick even sticking to his lapel. Pello’s throbbing pulse forcefully passed through her glove, colliding with her heartbeat. "I've been here." Pello’s smile, as his hand moved, caressed Su Ziceng’s dress and lingered on her waist, causing Su Ziceng to instantly be on alert for danger. She felt an urge to flee. However, for some reason, the invisible bindings produced by the Red Love in her hand arose again, countless red ribbons entwined around her legs, fixing her hands in Pello’s grasp, turning her into a marionette that, under Pello’s gaze, spun round and round. As the dance ended, Wen Maixue, feeling relieved, exited the dance floor, and Qiu Zhi immediately followed her. Pello did not lead Su Ziceng away from the dance floor. The red and white remained there until the clock struck midnight, signaling the end of the ball. Throughout this time, Su Ziceng and Pello never left the dance floor, like the tireless dancers atop a music box, flipping and revolving with the changing tunes. As Lady Eve announced the end of the ball, the red ribbons suddenly vanished. Su Ziceng felt a lightness overtake her body, finally free from all bindings, soaked with sweat, her legs gave out, and she fell into Pello’s arms. In contrast, Pello remained unruffled, his face calm and breathing even. "Miss Su," Wen Maixue’s good upbringing came into play again as she lowered her voice, restraining the urge to tear Su Ziceng apart, "the ball has ended." Young men and women left the scene arm in arm, all thanks to Su Ziceng, with Wen Maixue constantly accompanied by Qiu Zhi, who clung to her like a life preserver. "She’s tired." Pello held Su Ziceng in his arms, the Red Love in her hand shimmering with a brilliance it had never displayed before, as if it had sweated. "I should be going." Wen Maixue stubbornly took Pello’s left arm, annoyed at him, wondering where his usual consideration had gone. "I cannot abandon any of my students." Pello, admiring the sudden change in Wen Maixue’s expression, held Su Ziceng even tighter. "The school board wouldn’t miss any eligible student. From the moment Su Ziceng received Eve’s invitation, she was already a new student at Kelly Women’s College." Was she just one of his students? Tears flickered in Wen Maixue’s charming eyes. The music of the ball had stopped, and with the twelve chimes of the clock, she was now an adult. Wen Maixue held her noble head high, ignoring Qiu Zhi’s offer to accompany her, walking away unescorted by any knight, leaving behind a proud silhouette. "Thank you." The cold wind blowing outside dried the sweat on Su Ziceng’s body as she got into the hotel’s limousine, watching Pello standing alone outside, his expression somewhat colder under the moonlight. "No need for thanks, impetuous Princess of the Rose." Pello closed the car door for her, and the stretch limo drove away. Even though Su Ziceng’s unexpected actions had slightly disrupted his rhythm, everything still progressed along the pre-established track. Looking forward to it, the September campus—that’s where the real ivory cage belonging to the princess lies.