Ji Jia drank quite a bit tonight, and his emotions were a bit high. He's usually someone who loves to have fun, and now he's even more carefree, sending someone over to push Pan Yiming aside. As soon as the lights went out, he dashed towards Luo Ding's spot, hoping to connect with Luo Ding during the upcoming program.
He remembered the texture of Luo Ding's clothes, brushing past complaints he heard along the way as insignificant when he felt the cool fabric in his hand.
It was still dark around, but the chaos gradually subsided. The people who were initially scared soon realized Ji Jia's usual provocative behavior and began laughing and guessing what new game he was up to.
The background music suddenly changed from gentle to intense, but it wasn't Ji Jia's voice that followed. "Please quiet down!!"
The crowd that was chatting and laughing subconsciously closed their mouths upon hearing this. Luo Ding was squeezed and couldn't move. With one hand pushing against Duan Xiubo's chest and the other trying to brush away Ji Jia's hand on his shoulder, he heard the host continue, "Are you ready to play big? Hold onto the person next to you, and we'll select participants for the opening dance!"
There was a burst of cheers from the audience below, with men and women excitedly screaming. In the entertainment industry, the extravagance was more serious compared to ordinary circles. Those who could stand here were all people who could afford to play.
Ji Jia grabbed onto Luo Ding and didn't let him move a step. Seeing the flashlight suddenly light up in the darkness and swing randomly above the crowd, he vaguely recognized that the person caught was indeed Luo Ding without mistake. With a sense of satisfaction, he approached, "Luo Xiaoding, don't be scared. Maybe we'll be selected together in a moment—"
The flashlight had been intentionally swinging towards Luo Ding's direction, but it suddenly stopped when Ji Jia's voice hadn't even finished, casting light from above.
"... Huh?" Ji Jia's head was still leaning towards Luo Ding's ear, but his eyes had already met the person standing in front of Luo Ding, who was holding him in a protective posture.
"... Lao... Lao Duan? When did you arrive?" Thinking of the warning Duan Xiubo gave him about Luo Ding and Gong Liangguang's relationship at the anniversary celebration, Ji Jia was still a bit nervous. Half of his drunkenness suddenly sobered up.
Duan Xiubo pursed his lips. Although the corners of his mouth were still upturned, his mood was definitely not good. His cool, smile-less gaze swept over Ji Jia, who was tightly holding onto Luo Ding's shoulder, and then directly locked eyes with Ji Jia. It was well known to everyone that Ji Jia had ulterior motives towards Luo Ding. Duan Xiubo and his friends had known each other for many years, so naturally, he knew that Ji Jia's taste leaned towards young guys in their twenties. In the past, he might have just found Ji Jia's worldly ways a bit disagreeable, but now, inexplicably, that dislike had escalated into disdain.
Duan Xiubo rarely felt disdain towards anything. He had a small heart, with few people who could fit inside, and anything that didn't match his feelings was none of his concern. Ji Jia was one of his few genuine friends, and precisely because of this, this disdain came so directly and fiercely. So much so that he didn't even want to conceal it.
"What are you doing?" He stared at Ji Jia's hand on Luo Ding's shoulder, speaking softly.
Ji Jia's hand retracted as if it had been burned, and he met Duan Xiubo's gaze, feeling guilty for a moment. "... Dancing."
Luo Ding had exerted all his strength to break free from Duan Xiubo's embrace when the flashlight lit up. Although it was just a slight change of turning sideways after separating, by the time the flashlight's light shone from above, there was no trace of any ambiguity in the standing posture between him and Duan Xiubo. The entertainment industry was a place where a rumor could easily become a reality, and Luo Ding was used to not giving anyone a handle anytime, anywhere.
Duan Xiubo's embrace suddenly emptied, but Luo Ding's scent still lingered in the original spot, though he had distanced himself. He glanced at the seemingly normal smile on the opposite side, then looked at Ji Jia's disheveled clothes and drunken appearance, feeling inexplicably frustrated.
The surrounding area erupted in cheers when the flashlight lit up, with Duan Xiubo and Ji Jia, either of them could be considered the absolute protagonist of the party. Adding to that, Luo Ding, who had been quite eye-catching since his entrance, anyone who joined the opening dance would have more than enough weight.
No one cared about two men dancing together, they were just curious about how Ji Jia was on stage just now but now in the dance floor. However, under the enthusiastic atmosphere of the party, this doubt didn't last long, and nobody noticed the awkward atmosphere between the three men who were good at disguising themselves, standing too far away. The host on stage laughed heartily, seemingly unaware of Ji Jia's backstage maneuvering, and enthusiastically shouted to the crowd, "Can you afford to play? Can you afford to play?!"
"Can you afford to play?!" "Can you afford to play?!" The crowd began to cheer along.
Luo Ding glanced at the other two and saw that they were both looking at him, raising his eyebrows. Weren't they good friends? Why not team up and open the dance together?
Seeing his intention, Duan Xiubo choked as if he had swallowed a fly, almost unable to hold back his expression of disdain. He glanced at Ji Jia, noticing that the latter's expression wasn't any better than his own, realizing that this disdain wasn't just one-sided.
If at first you don't succeed, you may as well die trying.
Ji Jia made up his mind, ignoring Duan Xiubo's threatening gaze, and faced Luo Ding directly. "You..."
"Can you dance?" Duan Xiubo's voice from the side interrupted him.
Luo Ding raised his head and, in the darkness illuminated by the light, saw the other's silent eyes, as calm and cold as his own buried deep within them.
Under the gaze of everyone, Luo Ding didn't flinch. "Rumba, samba, waltz, I only know the male steps."
"How coincidental." Duan Xiubo smiled faintly, a hint of malice hidden in the depths of his eyes. "I only know the male steps too."
"..." Luo Ding didn't know how to respond, then saw Duan Xiubo extending a hand towards him, with a gentle posture. "Care to dance with me?"
The cheers and applause from the surrounding crowd left Luo Ding with no way out. He could only nod, but instead of placing his hand in Duan Xiubo's palm, he smoothly extended his other hand for a firm handshake, then crossed over Duan Xiubo's shoulder and headed towards the center of the dance floor.
Duan Xiubo hesitated for two seconds, then withdrew the hand that had been extended for the shake, unconsciously rubbing his fingertips together, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. Luo Ding really wouldn't give in to any loss of dignity.
The forgotten trio didn't speak to each other, yet their aura was strangely harmonious.
The original host couldn't dance, but Cao Dingkun had specifically studied dance. He had been practicing for about seventeen years until his death, with a solid foundation. Although he had never participated in any professional assessment activities, his dance skills were probably not much worse than those of professional dancers.
The rhythmic and passionate music of the rumba, stirring up emotions, began to play. As Luo Ding moved, he effortlessly discarded his suit jacket into the crowd, his masculine and graceful movements causing a stir among the female guests. He was adept at playing the role appropriate to the occasion, and his perfectionist nature didn't allow for any mistakes, even in public.
With each unhurried step, his demeanor gradually changed, from his gaze to his body movements, gradually matching the exuberant music.
Duan Xiubo was almost instantly captivated by his gaze, despite knowing that the other was a capricious person. At this moment, he couldn't help but feel a sense of competitiveness. He chuckled softly, moving closer with a few sliding steps, teasingly circling Luo Ding, their eyes meeting, their auras equally compelling.
A dance symbolizing affection, performed with a mix of strength and tenderness by two people. Despite it being their first collaboration, and both dancing the male steps, they showed no signs of hesitation. Spins, missteps, shoulder-to-shoulder contact — the most primitive form of masculine confrontation was evident in their flexible movements.
The dance floor, voluntarily cleared by onlookers, grew larger and larger. Applause was sporadic at first, but as the dance reached its most intense and passionate stage, the venue fell silent, except for the music.
As Luo Ding entwined his arm around Duan Xiubo's outstretched arm, he slid gracefully, attempting to conclude the dance with a ladylike turn.
But Duan Xiubo skillfully avoided it, because half a minute ago, he had planned to do the same. He narrowed his eyes and gave Luo Ding a look that said, "You still have a long way to go."
With the dance nearing its end, both men dared not get too close to each other, fearing a compromising situation.
The music suddenly intensified.
They exchanged a glance, each seeing the other's unyielding determination.
Reaching a silent agreement to not yield to each other's softening, they could only lean back to back at a safe distance, hands clasped, heads close together, and with a toss of their heads, they completed the dance as the music ended.
Sweat trickled down their damp hair, tracing a subtle arc in the air. It had been a long time since Luo Ding had danced so freely, and although the intense movement made him breathe irregularly, the comfort emanating from every limb made him completely disregard this slight discomfort. He released Duan Xiubo's hand with a breath and stepped back, running his hand through his hair, making a handsome finishing gesture to the guests, then bowed with gentlemanly grace to end the performance.
There was a moment of silence at the scene.
Three seconds later, the ladies began to cheer as if they had gone mad.
"So handsome!!!" "Who is this!!!" "Luo Ding! Luo Ding!!"
See, people's affection just appears out of nowhere.
Amidst the cheers, Luo Ding walked towards the lady who was holding his jacket, whispered a thank you, and she immediately blushed as she handed him his jacket, her movements even somewhat shy.
Facing these seniors in the industry, Luo Ding naturally didn't wear the idol mask he did in front of his fans. In fact, women familiar with the rules of the entertainment industry were much more sober than fans, their fervent admiration always fleeting. Taking advantage of their lingering affection for him, Luo Ding swiftly and subtly integrated into the inner circle, employing some tactics to further increase their fondness for him.
He didn't look at Duan Xiubo again. The incident just now, when Duan Xiubo hinted at him to dance the female steps, made him a little angry. He also knew that Duan Xiubo was used to playing hot and cold, and in front of him, it was better to be more straightforward than smooth.
Duan Xiubo stood among the crowd, graciously accepting everyone's compliments on the dance, but his attention was absentmindedly focused on Luo Ding's movements under the lights.
Luo Ding's hair was still damp under the lights, a faint blush still on his face from the vigorous activity. His sweaty appearance made even his restrained smile seem a bit more enticing.
Unconsciously, Duan Xiubo swallowed, licked his somewhat dry lips.
It was strange, his heart rate was really abnormal.
Ji Jia drank quite a bit tonight, and his emotions were a bit high. He's usually someone who loves to have fun, and now he's even more carefree, sending someone over to push Pan Yiming aside. As soon as the lights went out, he dashed towards Luo Ding's spot, hoping to connect with Luo Ding during the upcoming program.
He remembered the texture of Luo Ding's clothes, brushing past complaints he heard along the way as insignificant when he felt the cool fabric in his hand.
It was still dark around, but the chaos gradually subsided. The people who were initially scared soon realized Ji Jia's usual provocative behavior and began laughing and guessing what new game he was up to.
The background music suddenly changed from gentle to intense, but it wasn't Ji Jia's voice that followed. "Please quiet down!!"
The crowd that was chatting and laughing subconsciously closed their mouths upon hearing this. Luo Ding was squeezed and couldn't move. With one hand pushing against Duan Xiubo's chest and the other trying to brush away Ji Jia's hand on his shoulder, he heard the host continue, "Are you ready to play big? Hold onto the person next to you, and we'll select participants for the opening dance!"
There was a burst of cheers from the audience below, with men and women excitedly screaming. In the entertainment industry, the extravagance was more serious compared to ordinary circles. Those who could stand here were all people who could afford to play.
Ji Jia grabbed onto Luo Ding and didn't let him move a step. Seeing the flashlight suddenly light up in the darkness and swing randomly above the crowd, he vaguely recognized that the person caught was indeed Luo Ding without mistake. With a sense of satisfaction, he approached, "Luo Xiaoding, don't be scared. Maybe we'll be selected together in a moment—"
The flashlight had been intentionally swinging towards Luo Ding's direction, but it suddenly stopped when Ji Jia's voice hadn't even finished, casting light from above.
"... Huh?" Ji Jia's head was still leaning towards Luo Ding's ear, but his eyes had already met the person standing in front of Luo Ding, who was holding him in a protective posture.
"... Lao... Lao Duan? When did you arrive?" Thinking of the warning Duan Xiubo gave him about Luo Ding and Gong Liangguang's relationship at the anniversary celebration, Ji Jia was still a bit nervous. Half of his drunkenness suddenly sobered up.
Duan Xiubo pursed his lips. Although the corners of his mouth were still upturned, his mood was definitely not good. His cool, smile-less gaze swept over Ji Jia, who was tightly holding onto Luo Ding's shoulder, and then directly locked eyes with Ji Jia. It was well known to everyone that Ji Jia had ulterior motives towards Luo Ding. Duan Xiubo and his friends had known each other for many years, so naturally, he knew that Ji Jia's taste leaned towards young guys in their twenties. In the past, he might have just found Ji Jia's worldly ways a bit disagreeable, but now, inexplicably, that dislike had escalated into disdain.
Duan Xiubo rarely felt disdain towards anything. He had a small heart, with few people who could fit inside, and anything that didn't match his feelings was none of his concern. Ji Jia was one of his few genuine friends, and precisely because of this, this disdain came so directly and fiercely. So much so that he didn't even want to conceal it.
"What are you doing?" He stared at Ji Jia's hand on Luo Ding's shoulder, speaking softly.
Ji Jia's hand retracted as if it had been burned, and he met Duan Xiubo's gaze, feeling guilty for a moment. "... Dancing."
Luo Ding had exerted all his strength to break free from Duan Xiubo's embrace when the flashlight lit up. Although it was just a slight change of turning sideways after separating, by the time the flashlight's light shone from above, there was no trace of any ambiguity in the standing posture between him and Duan Xiubo. The entertainment industry was a place where a rumor could easily become a reality, and Luo Ding was used to not giving anyone a handle anytime, anywhere.
Duan Xiubo's embrace suddenly emptied, but Luo Ding's scent still lingered in the original spot, though he had distanced himself. He glanced at the seemingly normal smile on the opposite side, then looked at Ji Jia's disheveled clothes and drunken appearance, feeling inexplicably frustrated.
The surrounding area erupted in cheers when the flashlight lit up, with Duan Xiubo and Ji Jia, either of them could be considered the absolute protagonist of the party. Adding to that, Luo Ding, who had been quite eye-catching since his entrance, anyone who joined the opening dance would have more than enough weight.
No one cared about two men dancing together, they were just curious about how Ji Jia was on stage just now but now in the dance floor. However, under the enthusiastic atmosphere of the party, this doubt didn't last long, and nobody noticed the awkward atmosphere between the three men who were good at disguising themselves, standing too far away. The host on stage laughed heartily, seemingly unaware of Ji Jia's backstage maneuvering, and enthusiastically shouted to the crowd, "Can you afford to play? Can you afford to play?!"
"Can you afford to play?!" "Can you afford to play?!" The crowd began to cheer along.
Luo Ding glanced at the other two and saw that they were both looking at him, raising his eyebrows. Weren't they good friends? Why not team up and open the dance together?
Seeing his intention, Duan Xiubo choked as if he had swallowed a fly, almost unable to hold back his expression of disdain. He glanced at Ji Jia, noticing that the latter's expression wasn't any better than his own, realizing that this disdain wasn't just one-sided.
If at first you don't succeed, you may as well die trying.
Ji Jia made up his mind, ignoring Duan Xiubo's threatening gaze, and faced Luo Ding directly. "You..."
"Can you dance?" Duan Xiubo's voice from the side interrupted him.
Luo Ding raised his head and, in the darkness illuminated by the light, saw the other's silent eyes, as calm and cold as his own buried deep within them.
Under the gaze of everyone, Luo Ding didn't flinch. "Rumba, samba, waltz, I only know the male steps."
"How coincidental." Duan Xiubo smiled faintly, a hint of malice hidden in the depths of his eyes. "I only know the male steps too."
"..." Luo Ding didn't know how to respond, then saw Duan Xiubo extending a hand towards him, with a gentle posture. "Care to dance with me?"
The cheers and applause from the surrounding crowd left Luo Ding with no way out. He could only nod, but instead of placing his hand in Duan Xiubo's palm, he smoothly extended his other hand for a firm handshake, then crossed over Duan Xiubo's shoulder and headed towards the center of the dance floor.
Duan Xiubo hesitated for two seconds, then withdrew the hand that had been extended for the shake, unconsciously rubbing his fingertips together, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. Luo Ding really wouldn't give in to any loss of dignity.
The forgotten trio didn't speak to each other, yet their aura was strangely harmonious.
The original host couldn't dance, but Cao Dingkun had specifically studied dance. He had been practicing for about seventeen years until his death, with a solid foundation. Although he had never participated in any professional assessment activities, his dance skills were probably not much worse than those of professional dancers.
The rhythmic and passionate music of the rumba, stirring up emotions, began to play. As Luo Ding moved, he effortlessly discarded his suit jacket into the crowd, his masculine and graceful movements causing a stir among the female guests. He was adept at playing the role appropriate to the occasion, and his perfectionist nature didn't allow for any mistakes, even in public.
With each unhurried step, his demeanor gradually changed, from his gaze to his body movements, gradually matching the exuberant music.
Duan Xiubo was almost instantly captivated by his gaze, despite knowing that the other was a capricious person. At this moment, he couldn't help but feel a sense of competitiveness. He chuckled softly, moving closer with a few sliding steps, teasingly circling Luo Ding, their eyes meeting, their auras equally compelling.
A dance symbolizing affection, performed with a mix of strength and tenderness by two people. Despite it being their first collaboration, and both dancing the male steps, they showed no signs of hesitation. Spins, missteps, shoulder-to-shoulder contact — the most primitive form of masculine confrontation was evident in their flexible movements.
The dance floor, voluntarily cleared by onlookers, grew larger and larger. Applause was sporadic at first, but as the dance reached its most intense and passionate stage, the venue fell silent, except for the music.
As Luo Ding entwined his arm around Duan Xiubo's outstretched arm, he slid gracefully, attempting to conclude the dance with a ladylike turn.
But Duan Xiubo skillfully avoided it, because half a minute ago, he had planned to do the same. He narrowed his eyes and gave Luo Ding a look that said, "You still have a long way to go."
With the dance nearing its end, both men dared not get too close to each other, fearing a compromising situation.
The music suddenly intensified.
They exchanged a glance, each seeing the other's unyielding determination.
Reaching a silent agreement to not yield to each other's softening, they could only lean back to back at a safe distance, hands clasped, heads close together, and with a toss of their heads, they completed the dance as the music ended.
Sweat trickled down their damp hair, tracing a subtle arc in the air. It had been a long time since Luo Ding had danced so freely, and although the intense movement made him breathe irregularly, the comfort emanating from every limb made him completely disregard this slight discomfort. He released Duan Xiubo's hand with a breath and stepped back, running his hand through his hair, making a handsome finishing gesture to the guests, then bowed with gentlemanly grace to end the performance.
There was a moment of silence at the scene.
Three seconds later, the ladies began to cheer as if they had gone mad.
"So handsome!!!" "Who is this!!!" "Luo Ding! Luo Ding!!"
See, people's affection just appears out of nowhere.
Amidst the cheers, Luo Ding walked towards the lady who was holding his jacket, whispered a thank you, and she immediately blushed as she handed him his jacket, her movements even somewhat shy.
Facing these seniors in the industry, Luo Ding naturally didn't wear the idol mask he did in front of his fans. In fact, women familiar with the rules of the entertainment industry were much more sober than fans, their fervent admiration always fleeting. Taking advantage of their lingering affection for him, Luo Ding swiftly and subtly integrated into the inner circle, employing some tactics to further increase their fondness for him.
He didn't look at Duan Xiubo again. The incident just now, when Duan Xiubo hinted at him to dance the female steps, made him a little angry. He also knew that Duan Xiubo was used to playing hot and cold, and in front of him, it was better to be more straightforward than smooth.
Duan Xiubo stood among the crowd, graciously accepting everyone's compliments on the dance, but his attention was absentmindedly focused on Luo Ding's movements under the lights.
Luo Ding's hair was still damp under the lights, a faint blush still on his face from the vigorous activity. His sweaty appearance made even his restrained smile seem a bit more enticing.
Unconsciously, Duan Xiubo swallowed, licked his somewhat dry lips.
It was strange, his heart rate was really abnormal.
