Lin Mo: "..."
She typed a reply: [No way, this is art!]
Zhao Ziling saw the message, bit her lip, and replied: [My bad, my bad!]
Caught up in the moment, she had blurted it out without much thought.
That’s just how girlfriends talk—unfiltered and carefree.
She’d go home and punish herself by tapping an electronic wooden fish ten thousand times!
Lin Mo didn’t reply further.
She might as well choreograph a dance herself.
Wait, no—that wouldn’t work either!
Xie Guanyan would probably be so shocked he’d have her shipped off to outer space overnight!
A group of elites stood chatting, naturally drawing many sidelong glances.
When they heard that Lin Mo had been in a car accident and bedridden for eleven years,
someone suddenly smacked their forehead.
"I remember now! It finally came back to me!"
The person next to them glanced over. "Remember what?"
"This Lin Mo was the top scorer in the college entrance exams that year! I also recall Xie being the city’s second-place finisher. They were rivals back then. So many people bet on who’d take the top spot—I lost five grand and got beaten by my wife because she thought I’d spent it on a massage!"
Many others suddenly remembered too.
"No wonder Xie agreed to let her dance. They’ve known each other for ages—both from the same high school."
"Now that you mention it, I remember! I can’t believe she’s alive. She aced the math section that year—absolute legend!"
"Well, I’m screwed. I can’t even look her in the eye now—she’d probably calculate I’m an idiot in one glance!"
"Haha, no way. Lying in bed for a year would dull anyone’s mind, let alone eleven. She shouldn’t even go back to school—it’d be too humiliating."
"Am I the only one who wants her skincare routine?"
The chatter spread.
Xu Yan overheard the murmurs.
With the monthly exams coming up, they’d soon see how Lin Mo really fared.
Xu Zunlong caught some of it too and turned to Lin Mo. "If you struggle with your studies, you can ask Xu Yan. He’s quiet but brilliant—if you ask, he’ll definitely help."
Lin Mo smiled politely. "Sure."
Xu Yan looked at her. "After the exams, I’ll see where you need help."
Back in the cafeteria, he’d just wanted her to prove she wasn’t a fool.
He refused to believe Lin Mo could’ve become one.
But she must’ve forgotten a lot, making studying a struggle.
Not wanting to embarrass Xu Zunlong in front of everyone, Lin Mo replied courteously, "Sure, we’ll see then."
Shen Yihan wore a cold expression.
No matter how good anyone was at academics, they couldn’t hold a candle to his sister!
Xie Guanyan watched the exchange, his gaze lingering on Xu Yan for a second longer.
He’d been one of the people staring at Lin Mo all day.
Had they known each other before?
"May I have this dance?" Xu Yan suddenly asked Lin Mo.
All eyes turned to her.
Xu Zunlong narrowed his eyes.
Was his son interested in Lin Mo?
She was way older than him.
Then again, age was just a number!
Xie Guanyan’s gentle expression faltered, his silver-framed glasses darkening his gaze.
Gu Jingzhou had planned to ask Lin Mo after she finished chatting.
Beaten to it again!
Xu Yan was already famous at school—the icy, top-ranked student turned out to be the sole heir of the Xu family in Jingnan.
A bona fide young master!
Lin Mo wouldn’t dare refuse him.
Zhao Ziling thought Xie Guanyan was in trouble!
This Xu Yan was low-key but sharp, and he was Lin Mo’s age—tough competition!
Yet Lin Mo herself just smiled at Xu Yan. "No."
Xu Yan frowned. "Why not?"
Lin Mo blinked. "You’re just a kid to me. I don’t dance with kids."
Xu Yan clenched his hand lightly. "I’m not a kid. I’m eighteen."
Lin Mo: "But I’ve changed your diapers."
Xu Yan: "..."
The others stifled their laughter.
This was Xu Zunlong’s son, after all.
Xu Zunlong also bit back a chuckle—his son would get mad.
He might even tattle to his mom, and then he’d be doomed!
The boy had been born with a silver spoon, sailing through life effortlessly except for the occasional illness.
A little setback would do him good.
Still, he was his son. Heart aching slightly, he consoled, "How about a dance with your old man?"
Xu Yan: "I didn’t even want to dance that badly."
Xu Zunlong: "..."
Ungrateful brat!
Zhao Ziling went the whole evening without a single dance invitation.
Everyone knew she and Huo Tingshen weren’t fully divorced yet.
But she really wanted to dance, so she seized the chance to ask Lin Mo.
"What about me? Lin Mo, may I have the honor?"
Lin Mo beamed. "Absolutely!"
The two beauties took the dance floor, drawing every eye in the room.
Jiang Wan, ever popular in their social circle, was swarmed with dance requests.
Watching Zhao Ziling and Lin Mo dance hand in hand, she was green with envy.
Xu Yali had wandered off to chat with friends.
Xu Zunlong and Xu Yan went inside to wheel out the birthday cake.
For a moment, only Huo Tingshen and Xie Guanyan remained.
Huo Tingshen’s eyes ached at the sight of Zhao Ziling’s red dress swirling.
He glanced at Xie Guanyan, baffled by his admiring gaze. "What’s your deal?"
Xie Guanyan kept his eyes on the figure in yellow. "Her happiness is mine."
Huo Tingshen scoffed. "Keep lying to yourself."
Xie Guanyan ignored him.
Huo Tingshen frowned, voicing a calculated offer. "Stay out of my business with Zhao Ziling, and I’ll give you a prime property."
Without Xie Guanyan’s legal team, Zhao Ziling would never finalize the divorce.
Xie Guanyan adjusted his glasses with one finger, tone flat. "I’m not meddling in your marriage."
Huo Tingshen’s face darkened. "They say it’s worse to break up a marriage than to destroy ten temples. Zhao Ziling loves me—she’s just throwing a tantrum!"
Without backup, she’d have crawled back long ago.
Xie Guanyan finally turned to him, deadpan. "Can you spare some of that confidence for me?"
Huo Tingshen: "..."
Dancing with Zhao Ziling had been pure joy.
Afterward, Lin Mo spotted Xie Guanyan standing alone and hurried over.
"Old Xie, are you well-versed in classical dance?"
Before Xie Guanyan could answer,
a pink figure darted between them.
Both looked up.
It was Jiang Wan.
Xie Guanyan’s brow furrowed slightly.
He vaguely recognized her.
Lin Mo pressed her lips together, guilt pricking her heart.
She hated hurting such a sweet girl.
But her feelings for Xie Guanyan were real.
Jiang Wan fidgeted, gripping her skirt. "May I have this dance?"
Lin Mo’s eyes widened in genuine admiration.
Jiang Wan was so brave!
Xie Guanyan replied calmly, "No."
Jiang Wan shot him a look. "I was asking Lin Mo!"
Xie Guanyan: "..."
Lin Mo: "..."
