What do you think?

He had no idea how many people had come and gone; all the greetings and courtesies were meticulously observed, yet he simply couldn't remember those fleeting faces. In contrast, Lance appeared far more composed, entirely different from his own awkwardness and stiffness; for Lance, the ritual exchanges and greetings seemed as natural as casual conversation at home.

He was itching to gossip about Lance’s past, present, and future, but every time he was about to speak, a new wave of guests would interrupt him. At long last, when most of the greetings were done, he didn’t bother to prepare—he simply tugged Lance toward himself, hoping to catch his attention and finally ask his questions.

By all rights, with Lance’s strength, he shouldn’t have been pulled off balance by such a tug—but there are always exceptions. Relying on his excellent memory, Lance quickly recognized several key officials among the crowd whom Pang Hou had specially introduced to them, and as he turned to acknowledge them, he was caught completely off guard by his companion’s sudden whim, yanked hard without a hint of warning.

Lance’s center of gravity shifted, and his body, obeying the laws of physics, toppled toward his companion. Hastily, his companion tried to steady Lance, attempting to make up for the mishap caused by his impulsive tug, but his efforts were futile. The heels on his shoes conspired against him, and he staggered backward several steps before finally regaining his footing.

Lance reacted swiftly, wrapping an arm around his companion’s waist and stepping forward with his left foot to maintain balance. His companion reflexively stepped back with his right foot, standing tall—together, they looked for all the world like a pair of eager young lovers about to dance.

Suddenly, a prelude of music rang out—the dance portion of the banquet had just begun.

Without hesitation, they went along with it, spinning out a few perfectly coordinated steps that instantly dissolved the awkwardness. With the evening’s most important guest leading the dance, the crowd eagerly followed suit, and soon the entire ballroom was swept up in motion.

Guided by Lance, his companion fully experienced the charm of dancing and the thrill of being the heroine in a romance novel. With each turn, he heard people whispering in his ear, “You two are such a perfect match,” “So loving,” and the like, and he was so embarrassed he wished he could dig a hole and bury himself, water it, and grow into a plant—anything to escape.

Lance noticed his companion’s discomfort at a glance. Smiling, he leaned close to his companion’s ear, pleased to hear the rapid heartbeat his sudden proximity provoked: “I’ve wanted to ask you this since we entered Qilin Gorge—do you rely on and let your guard down around everyone who gets close to you, or is it something you do only with me?”

The ambiguous question stunned his companion, who had no time to react.

Lance clearly had no intention of giving him time to respond. He pulled back just enough to create a bit of distance, but refused to move away entirely. The damp air at the tip of his nose made his companion’s earlobes flush a nervous pink. “And just now, you pulled me so urgently—was that jealousy?”

His companion’s eyes widened in surprise, but he didn’t dare show his shock in front of the crowd, so he forced a smile to maintain the atmosphere. In truth, his mind was already fried by the string of melodramatic events of the past few days, and he was utterly blank.

“If things are as I suspect, then I can give you a definite answer now…” Lance’s voice faded as his companion looked up in confusion, catching only the wicked, radiant smile blooming on Lance’s lips. “It’s time to switch partners.”

What?! Before he could recover from his daze, he found himself partnered with a complete stranger for a new dance.

With new music and a new partner, the guests’ excitement only grew, including the man now holding his hand, whose trembling grip betrayed his nerves. Yet, his companion’s mind was still reeling from Lance’s words, so he didn’t hear a single word of the stranger’s enthusiastic self-introduction, only nodding absentmindedly to appease him.

The stranger watched his constant nodding and, bit by bit, his passionate smile faded. After posing his last question, he could only smile bitterly at him. “So, I really have no chance at all?”

“Ah, what did I say just now?” The first question he actually processed was so startling, and who knows what outrageous answers he’d given before. He smiled awkwardly, cold sweat beading.

Seeing his somewhat dazed expression, the stranger forced another bitter smile. “Earlier I asked if you liked Mr. Liangyin, and you said yes.”

Uh?

“Then I asked if Mr. Liangyin liked you too, and you said yes.”

Ah?

“Finally, I asked if I had any chance with you, and you answered yes again.”

Heh.

The stranger continued his bitter smile. “Honestly, with those three definite answers, I won’t bother you anymore. You don’t need to clarify anything for me.”

What…?

So, he and Lance had somehow confirmed their relationship—his miserable face and the stranger’s bitter smile made them a striking sight at the banquet.

When the music ended and partners switched back, he and Lance were reunited. Seeing his companion’s still miserable expression, Lance, after days of being dragged along, suddenly felt his suppressed gloom lift.

“Lance.” Hearing his companion call his name so solemnly, Lance was a bit at a loss.

His companion retreated slowly with Lance’s steps, yet his body kept leaning toward Lance: “Maybe you’re right. I never dared to face this properly before, but now I want to…”

Lance was so nervous his mouth felt dry. He’d never seen eyes so clear and yet tinged with grievance, and his companion’s unconscious closeness left him at a loss.

“You’re right. Ever since I entered Qilin Gorge, I’ve been acting strange. I don’t know why, but with you around, everything feels okay, so I keep making mistakes without realizing it,” his companion said earnestly.

Hearing these familiar words, Lance raised an eyebrow, his muddled mind clearing a bit, but his companion’s next words sent his brain into total chaos.

“Though you might laugh or think I’m lying, from the moment I couldn’t help but pull you just now, I knew what I really wanted.” He and Lance spun together again, drawing close. “I want to ask you—”

Lance felt his heart pounding with a wild, unstoppable rhythm as he stared dazedly at his companion’s earnest, shy expression, not knowing how to respond.

“What’s your mother’s surname?”