Chapter 11: Sweet Delusion That Can't Be Escaped 3
After the first snow fell, New Year's Day came in a blink of an eye. What the classmates looked forward to most on New Year's Day was the New Year's Day masquerade ball, or in other words, it was what Ling Jiao looked forward to the most.
"Hey, Fu Lingmiao, don't be so depressed. I'm still short of a female companion for the masquerade ball, you have to come." Ling Jiao slapped a red invitation with a black border and a Gothic style on my desk and announced arrogantly.
I looked at the invitation on the table, feeling a little numb. Ever since I stayed at Ling Jiao's house for one night last time, Ling Jiao's affection for me has skyrocketed. She is usually willing to take me with her to any event. Of course, as always, she doesn't care whether I am happy or not.
I said with some embarrassment: "Dance? I don't know how to..."
"Don't say anything that will bring shame to the Nie family." Ling Jiao said, "Uncle Nie is gone, and Brother Xinyuan is in charge. It's not easy to keep you 'elites'."
I bit my lower lip. Since the chairman passed away, Nie's stock has plummeted, and the general manager has not restored Nie's vitality since he took office. At this time, someone on the board of directors proposed "increasing revenue and reducing expenditure", and our elite plan was the first to bear the brunt. It was the general manager who single-handedly overcame all objections and saved us.
"What is this?" Hongze, who was passing by, picked up the invitation curiously and asked.
"The New Year's Day masquerade ball will be held at 8 o'clock on the evening of December 31st in the school auditorium. You are responsible for bringing Fu Lingmiao to appear on time." Ling Jiao's eyes lit up, and she grabbed Hong Ze and spoke a series of words at once, not giving Hong Ze any chance to interrupt.
After saying that, Ling Jiao turned around and ran away, leaving Hongze and I looking at each other in bewilderment.
Hongze blinked and asked me, "What is the dance for?"
Li Weiwei came over with a sly smile on her face: "Hey, Hongze, are you going to the dance? Do you need a female companion? I recommend Ai Jia."
Ai Jia blushed and punched Li Weiwei with her little pink fist: "Weiwei, don't talk nonsense. How do you know that Hongze doesn't have a female companion?" Although she said this, Ai Jia looked at Hongze with expectation.
Hongze nodded straightforwardly and pointed at me: "Yes, she is it."
Aijia's face turned pale, and she said disappointedly, "Oh, so that's it. That's good. Weiwei, let's go."
I was a little embarrassed, tugged at Hongze's clothes, and whispered, "I don't remember when I promised you!"
Unexpectedly, Hongze looked at me with contempt and said in Ling Jiao's tone: "Don't say anything that will embarrass the Nie family."
I was stuck in the middle of the road, unable to go up or down, and after a long while I managed to utter, "Can you dance?"
"No! What's wrong?" Hongze said a word loudly, as if he was competing with me to see whose voice was louder .
I rolled my eyes and said unhappily, "If you can't dance, then why are you attending a dance? Nonsense!"
"Hongze doesn't know how to dance, I'll teach him!" Zhou Mian came out from nowhere, put his arm around Hongze's shoulders, looked at me and said, "As long as you join, I will teach Hongze."
"I've never been interested in such activities. Don't you know that?" I looked at Zhou Mian helplessly, with a face full of displeasure. "I can't convince Ling Jiao. Can you help me talk to her?"
"I won't help you with this. I hope you can participate." Zhou Mian waved his hand. "Ling Jiao said that I spoiled you too much. This is not good."
I pouted and said, "Just go, it's no big deal."
Hongze was not happy, so he shook off Zhou Mian's hand, held me and said, "I'm your dance partner!"
I didn't understand what was wrong with Hongze all of a sudden. I tilted my head to look at him and said, "Huh? You are my dance partner."
"Well, since you beg me, I will reluctantly be your dance partner."
After hearing this, Hongze immediately let go of my hand and walked away with the invitation. Suddenly, he turned around abruptly, as if he remembered something, and said unhappily: "Didn't you say you were going to teach me how to dance? Hurry up!"
Zhou Mian and I burst out laughing, and Zhou Mian shouted, "My young master, can you wait until school is over?"
On the day of the dance, Zhou Mian brought a suit for Hongze. Hongze was not happy about it, so he changed himself into a wine red suit with two white roses embroidered on the chest pocket, a black and white checkered shirt, a red checkered bow tie, and a pair of bright black leather shoes. Hongze's broad shoulders and slender legs were clearly visible under the suit.
I couldn't help but stare at it in amazement, and it took me a long time to say, "Not bad."
"Jiheng helped me choose it." Hongze touched his hair handsomely and turned his hand, and a large cardboard box appeared in his hand. "Jiheng chose it for you."
I was a little surprised and hesitated to answer: "I have clothes."
"Wear this! Jiheng said we are a set!" Hongze stuffed the big cardboard box into my arms with dissatisfaction, and I had to take it.
Opening the paper box, inside was an exquisite high-waisted sleeveless dress, with a white vest on the upper body, a few delicate red roses embroidered on the waist, and an irregular wide skirt on the lower body, bright as fire. There was also a pair of burgundy strappy high heels.
Looking at this little dress, I felt a little nervous: "This..."
"Don't waste time, go change. We're wearing the same set!" Hongze pushed me into the room without saying anything. I had no choice but to change into the dress, put on my high heels, and walked out of the room shyly .
When Hongze saw me, he took a step back, sat down on the sofa, stared at me, and without saying anything, two lines of blood flowed from his nose.
I screamed in surprise and was about to run up to hand him a tissue when a thick coat suddenly fell over me, covering my entire body.
I finally managed to get my head out of my coat. Hongze had already blocked his nose with a tissue, and Zhou Mian was nowhere to be seen.
Hong Ze, who was having trouble breathing , turned his head and said incoherently: "Zhou Mian left first because of something. Let's go. It's cold today. Don't take off your clothes at the dance, or you don't have to go to the dance."
Suddenly there was a knock on the door, and Zhou Mian's voice: "Hongze, what are you doing? Hurry up and open the door. Lingmiao has changed her clothes and we are ready to leave. If you are any later, we will be late!"
"Oh no, I regret it." Hongze was like a little child, refusing to leave.
I knew Hongze was being awkward, and I found it funny and sweet. I walked over to him, pulled him up, and said with a smile, "Let's go. I'll keep my coat on."
After hearing what I said, Hongze rubbed his hair in dissatisfaction and said with a displeased look on his face: "I wouldn't have gone if I had known."
I opened the door with a smile and smiled apologetically at Zhou Mian outside.
Zhou Mian shook his head in understanding and said jokingly, "Your Highness, are you no longer in a bad mood?"
Hongze turned his head away without giving Zhou Mian any face, snorted, and ignored him. That made Zhou Mian and I laugh again.
