Hidden Assassin

Chapter 84 Ball(2)

A huge vaulted ceiling towered over the splendid and magnificent hall, the steel framework on all four sides drawing towards the center and rising up to the skylights. The skies above visibly darkened as night arrived. Big and small crystal neon lights set off an atmosphere of splendor. The sound of gently running water played in the background while waiters shuttled back and forth amidst the gorgeously dressed crowd engaged in animated conversation. Entering the ball room, Jiaming and the three reflexively looked for a secluded nook to sit and eat. Almost immediately, Yahan spotted some of her family members and wanted to go over to say hello.

After Yahan left, the three engaged in friendly banter while simultaneously looking around for people they knew. In the distance were the siblings Dongfang Lu and Dongfang Wan. Huang family members were scattered throughout the crowd including Huang Haobing and Huang Haoyun. However, it looks like they hadn’t noticed Jiaming in the corner. In addition, they were a lot of newly familiar faces from school, all from various well-to-do families. Xu Mo was staring tensely at Yahan’s distant figure from another corner, together with some of Jianghai City’s rich businessman who were conversing with the female royalty, Natalie Annis. Of course, Jiaming naturally would not bring this to Lingjing and Shasha’s attention.

Even though they purposefully secluded themselves in the corner, the two girls still drew the notice of more than a few people. Lingjing’s innocent charm had a hint of maturity brought about by them living together. Although her appearance was still that of a fresh faced young girl, when compared to same aged girls who only knew how to be frivolous, she gave off the opposite impression. Shasha at the moment was sitting there awkwardly, but her original brashness had been replaced with an alluring and gentle shyness. They couldn’t help but draw a few extra looks from the people who happened to glance at their area. Still, the first one to come over to break the ice was a familiar person.

“eh? Lingjing, you are also on the cruise. Haha, you’re looking beautiful tonight. Are these two your friends…….”

“ah, Teacher Chen, you’re also here? Lingjing was pleasantly surprised as she stood up. “Jiaming, Shasha, this is the Teacher Chen that I often tell you about. Teacher Chen, these are my two best friends, Gu Jiaming and Liu Huaisha.”

Lingjing had indeed mentioned this piano teacher named Chen Ke-an from Nordic Fantasy restaurant to Jiaming and Shasha several times before. According to her, he was a very good piano player and had taken considerate care of Lingjing even though she was a newcomer. He was also very earnest in his greetings to the three. After a few moments, Zhang Jingfeng also came over holding a glass of wine: “eh, Ke-an, how did you….huh? Lingjing!” His gaze took in the stunningly beautiful Lingjing sitting to the side, then smiling: “No wonder you didn’t accept the work reward I offered. It turns out you already had arrangements. Ah, ah, I was too presumptuous, too presumptuous……

After another round of introductions, Zhang Jingfeng also sat down on the sofa. They had only said a few words when Yahan brought over an almost 30 year old woman with well maintained looks. Jiaming recognized her of course. It was Yahan’s stepmother. He had even personally knocked her unconscious one time. Seeing the unexpected addition of two men to their company, Yahan was a little taken aback. However, after waiting for Zhang Jingfeng and Chen Ke-an to introduce themselves, the woman who looked like she could be Yahan’s older sister also put on a warm expression.

“Oh, so is it the Ouling Group’s 2nd young master? I heard that you just came back from your studies abroad, started from the bottom managing one of your family’s restaurants and have done quite well. I had recently met your father, how is his health? Ah, ah, our Yahan also returned from studying abroad, no wonder you became friends……”

That stepmother gave a dazzling smile. It looks like she already added this Zhang Jingfeng as one of the candidates for Yahan’s husband to be. As the two started conversing, Yahan sat to the side, eyeing Jiaming’s group of three with a stiff expression, then tried to make conversation with Chen Ke-an. Not long after, the lights gradually dimmed. Dream Star cruise’s captain went up to say some welcoming words, encouraging everyone to enjoy themselves and so on. Yahan’s stepmother excused herself with a quick apology, got up and went over to where Yahan’s father was. From all around, the dance music started up. This was the first song and generally one would look for their most significant person to dance with.

Lingjing pushed Shasha towards Jiaming, telling her softly: “Let Jiaming accompany you for the first dance.”

“But……I don’t know how to dance……how about you go Lingjing……” Since there were two outsiders present, Shasha could only whisper. Jiaming took a look at Lingjing’s clear smiling expression, then also smiled: “It’s fine, I’ll teach you.” He pulled on Shasha’s hand to the dance floor. Chen Ke-an exchanged a look with Zhang Jingfeng, laughed and extended a hand towards Yahan: “Miss Zhang, may I have the honor to invite you for the first dance?”

“Of course.” Yahan, who was hiding feelings of abandonment, relaxed her guarded expression, gave a laugh and stood up. This left Lingjing alone with Zhang Jingfeng in the seating area.

With the situation turning out so conveniently, Zhang Jingfeng’s heart felt a little excited. However, when he observed Lingjing sitting to the side, he got an extremely weird feeling. This was because even though Lingjing was sitting there smiling, she was indifferent and never looked a him. Instead, she was looking at the fringe of the dance floor, where her two friends were spinning around clumsily. This attitude made him feel a bit disconcerted.

Zhang Jingfeng just by himself was impressive. Adding on his family’s affluence, when it came to the problem of women, he had never encountered any major setbacks. However facing off against this inexperienced and naïve looking young girl unexpectedly gave rise to a sense of insecurity, giving him a bizarre feeling. Taking a deep breath, he tried to make his tone as natural as possible: “How about……Lingjing, lets go dance too.”

At this moment, Lingjing’s reactions seemed to have become listless. She slowly turned her head towards him, seemingly sizing up his appearance as she looked him up and down. Then the corners of her mouth quirking up to reproduce her most brilliant smiling expression: “Apologies, I can’t dance.”

“eh……” Zhang Jingfeng nodded and smiled, “It doesn’t matter, I’ll teach you.”

Lingjing shook her head, gave a clear smile: “No, I’ll accidentally step on you.”

To be blunt, this was already a very clear rejection. Zhang JingFeng was stymied, but nevertheless continued smilingly: “It doesn’t matter. Being stepped on by a lady is the privilege of a gentleman. Come.”

His hand had already been extended in the air for a while now. Seeing Lingjing still apologetically shaking her head, he finally had no choice but to sit back down on the sofa with a sigh. He glanced at Lingjing then at the slowly swaying pair on the outskirts of the dance floor, trying to puzzle out the extraordinary relationship between the three. As for Lingjing, she merely sat watching the couple intertwined on the dance floor, one hand holding a glass of red wine and taking occasional sips. Whenever Shasha happened to step on Jiaming’s shoes, she would cover her mouth to laugh in genuine amusement.

For the first time ever, he felt a twinge of jealousy……

Under the sound of romantic music, Jiaming and Shasha were lightly going over the dance steps. Actually, there wasn’t much of a wonderful feeling. Shasha was not at all knowledgeable with regards to dance moves. Although Jiaming that prodigy could dodge bullets using his senses, he was unable to avoid the destructive power of Shasha’s mystical ability to step on feet. After floundering about for a while, the situation finally improved. Shasha rested her forehead on Jiaming’s shoulder, gingerly moving in pace with the dance steps. Then murmuring: “Jiaming, I don’t like this kind of feeling……”

“Is it because I dance badly?”

“It’s not that. You know that’s not what I’m talking about……” Shasha’s personality was originally very blunt and outspoken. Having kept it in so long, she finally said the words that were in her heart. “I don’t like……I don’t like the way the three of us are right now. It’s evident we’re not happy. I’m unhappy, Lingjing’s unhappy, Jiaming you’re probably unhappy too. But we still have to try to appear happy……I want it to be like what it was back then for the three of us. The three of us together, free from any care and worries. I don’t want it to become complicated, like how it is now……”

“When people get together, it always becomes complicated.” Jiaming replied hesitantly, “Don’t worry, you’re probably not pregnant. It’s most likely a simple case of seasickness.”

“But……even if it’s not now, it’s still going to happen some day……so if I were to get pregnant, Lingjing might decide to leave us. If it was Lingjing instead, I would also feel, feel……”, she sounded like she was choking back a sob, “Why should it be like this? Three months ago, Lingjing even pulled me aside and declared that we would be together forever. Lingjing is my best friend and you’re the boy I like the most. I would rather nothing had happened that day and the three of us just remained friends forever. Never get married, just stay friends, just never get involved that way……”

“Hmmph, it’s all your fault, all your fault. Why did you have to be a boy? What if that day you didn’t do that to us, wouldn’t we still be fine? Men are all bad, all bad. Not a single one is a good thing……” as she continued to speak, she couldn’t contain her anger and lifted up her leg to stomp on Jiaming’s foot with all her strength. For the moment, Jiaming could only smile bitterly.

“Jiaming, is there no way all three of us can still be together?” After a period of time, Shasha leaned on him, murmuring. Jiaming looked glum, replying helplessly: “I don’t have any solution either.”

“You’re not allowed to have no solution! I order you to think of something!” Shasha proceeded to stomp mercilessly on Jiaming’s foot.

“Hmm, how about we make it our goal from now on to get me elected president, then change the marriage laws……”

“Nonsense, that won’t work”. Another stomp.

“Ah, we can start building a time machine, go back to the ancient era. With our combined knowledge and smarts……”

“Nonsense, something else!” Yet another stomp.

“Then unless……” when mentioning the third idea, Jiaming’s smiled strangely……

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