After Transmigrating, I Lived with the Charismatic/Beloved Female Lead - Chapter 17
Chapter 17
However, the gloomy expression on Lan Shangui’s face vanished in an instant.
When Wei Yue looked again, he was still the same sunny and cheerful person, only tinged with disappointment. He said softly, “Is that so? Well, alright then… I hope you and your partner have a pleasant time.”
He looked up at Lu Yuanqiu with a sincere expression.
But clearly, Lu Yuanqiu was unmoved, her smile becoming even fainter. She replied politely, “Thank you. I hope you can also find a suitable dance partner.”
Seeing Lu Yuanqiu completely unperturbed, Lan Shangui grew more frustrated but couldn’t let it show due to the setting.
He had assumed that Lu Yuanqiu would no longer have a fixed partner from now on and that he was the obvious choice. Moreover, his family had told him that the dance tonight would certainly go as he wished. He hadn’t expected someone else to seize the opportunity first.
Which overconfident person could it be!
The dance was about to begin. As the co-host of the birthday banquet, it would undoubtedly be embarrassing if he couldn’t find a suitable partner. Lan Shangui finally shifted his gaze to the people around him and noticed Wei Yue nearby.
Time was critical. Others had likely already found partners. Wei Yue was currently the best option.
Lan Shangui thought this. After all, Wei Yue had always been infatuated with him. If he actively invited her, even if she already had a partner, her personality meant she would accept without hesitation.
Wei Yue had long noticed Lan Shangui’s condescending gaze. A quick thought process allowed her to accurately guess his intentions.
He wants me? Dream on!
Compared to the “worthless” and annoying Lan Shangui, Wei Yue was certainly more willing to interact with her good roommate, even if facing Lu Yuanqiu made her OOC level volatile.
“Lu Yuanqiu, I’ve somewhat forgotten how to lead the male part of the dance. Do you remember?” Wei Yue took a step, getting slightly closer to Lu Yuanqiu, and said assertively, “If you remember, teach me.”
“If you don’t remember how to lead, why did you choose the male part?” Xu Mengning ruthlessly roasted her.
“It’s okay. Ballroom dancing isn’t difficult. With Student Lu’s help, Student Wei should recall it quickly,” Jiang Yun Juen reassured, highly optimistic about her two classmates.
Lu Yuanqiu looked at Wei Yue, the smile reforming in her light-colored eyes. She said, “I remember some of it. But I need to go to the lounge to put away the gift box. Will you come with me?”
Seeing their back-and-forth, Lan Shangui, before he could express his annoyance at being ignored, was stunned by the information gathered from their words. Lu Yuanqiu’s partner is… Wei Yue?!
“Wait, wait a minute!”
Seeing Wei Yue about to answer Lu Yuanqiu, Lan Shangui didn’t care about manners anymore and directly interrupted, “Wei Yue… what are you doing leading? Why do you need Yuanqiu to teach you?”
Wei Yue originally wanted to retort with a simple “None of your business,” but considering her precarious OOC level, she said, “Because my dance partner is Lu Yuanqiu. I’m wearing a suit, and she’s wearing a gown. It wouldn’t make sense for her to lead and me to follow, would it?”
“What?!” Lan Shangui was utterly shocked. He looked at Wei Yue in disbelief, then turned to Lu Yuanqiu. Seeing no objection from her, he forgot all else and strode forward, attempting to grab Lu Yuanqiu.
But Lu Yuanqiu was quicker. She turned away, evading Lan Shangui’s touch, and the smile on her face disappeared. She said, “Mr. Lan, this is a public setting. Please mind your words and actions.”
“Exactly! Brother Shangui, while I know you really want to dance with Lu Yuanqiu, but—”
Wei Yue also stepped forward, even linking arms with Lu Yuanqiu, and said innocently, “But she already agreed to be my partner first. You wouldn’t want Lu Yuanqiu to be a person who breaks her promise, would you?”
“You!”
Lan Shangui glared fiercely. He saw Wei Yue holding onto Lu Yuanqiu, with the latter showing no sign of protest, and instantly felt certain that Lu Yuanqiu was being coerced and threatened by Wei Yue, forced to submit to her.
Because of this incident, Lan Shangui spoke loudly without restraint, causing many people to turn their attention toward them.
Many influential families had heard rumors of the entanglement between Wei Yue, Lu Yuanqiu, and Lan Shangui, and they naturally pricked up their ears to listen.
The open stares of people watching the drama highly displeased Lu Yuanqiu. A trace of subtle aversion flickered in her eyes.
She softly said to Wei Yue beside her, “Alright, let’s hurry up. Shall we go?”
Hearing Lu Yuanqiu’s voice, Wei Yue realized how close she was to her. The faint scent of the other girl became stronger. The hands they linked transmitted a comforting warmth. Looking up, she could even clearly see the fine downy hairs on Lu Yuanqiu’s cheek.
Fortunately, Wei Yue’s reaction speed was decent this time. She only spaced out for a moment before replying, “Ah? Mm, mm!”
Having received the confirmation, and after saying temporary goodbyes to Xu Mengning and Jiang Yun Juen, Lu Yuanqiu led Wei Yue toward the lounge on the second floor.
Ignored, Lan Shangui’s hidden gloom was uncontainable after Lu Yuanqiu left.
He recalled the moment Wei Yue held Lu Yuanqiu and looked at him. That look caused him a moment of disorientation.
Lan Shangui clenched his jaw, roaring inwardly: Why is that dead person still haunting me!
Congratulations to the host for completing the Side Mission, helping Lu Yuanqiu escape, and gaining 6 hours of life value! Current cumulative life value is 30 hours. Please keep up the good work!
All the way up, the system’s voice rang in Wei Yue’s mind. A new Side Mission had popped up during Lan Shangui’s entanglement with Lu Yuanqiu—help Lan Shangui or help Lu Yuanqiu. She chose Lu Yuanqiu without hesitation.
A series of subtle digs not only didn’t affect her OOC level but also completed the mission—it was a great success.
The only problem was that the plot had now deviated beyond belief. What would happen after the banquet was unpredictable.
However, Wei Yue wasn’t overly concerned. After all, she had survived this long without knowing the original plot. The bigger challenge now was… she couldn’t ballroom dance!
Following Lu Yuanqiu into the lounge, Wei Yue was still internally crying. There were barely ten minutes left. Even if Lu Yuanqiu taught her thoroughly, she couldn’t possibly learn it in time!
This room was Lu Yuanqiu’s lounge, temporarily used to store the gifts received today.
Looking at the mountain of gifts piled up, Wei Yue once again marveled at the female lead’s grandeur.
“Um, Lu Yuanqiu… actually…” Wei Yue carefully considered. She decided she had to explain the situation to Lu Yuanqiu and hopefully ask if they could find a corner to dance in, keeping out of sight as much as possible.
However, as she spoke, she realized this might not be the right time.
There was a man standing in the lounge.
The man’s temples were slightly grey, and his face showed the marks of age, but his eyes were sharp, and his aura was powerful. Even standing at the doorway, Wei Yue could feel the pressure emanating from him.
The system appeared just in time to show her: Lu Hong, Lu Yuanqiu’s father, the head of the Lu family.
“Dad.”
Because Wei Yue was standing behind her, she could only see Lu Yuanqiu’s back, but she could clearly sense a dryness in the other person’s voice, whether from nervousness or something else.
Lu Hong’s gaze toward his daughter was not particularly warm. He clearly had something to say to Lu Yuanqiu, but upon seeing Wei Yue at the door, he frowned before slowly speaking:
“The dance is about to start. Why are you coming up here?”
“I received a gift. I came to put it away.”
Lu Hong frowned tighter, his tone becoming more severe: “Shouldn’t that be entrusted to the attendants? What if you delay the dance by coming up here?”
“…It was my oversight.” Lu Yuanqiu slightly bowed her head, seemingly acknowledging a mistake.
With an outsider present, Lu Hong naturally had to maintain the Lu family’s reputation. After making his point, he said, “Alright, put the thing down and hurry back downstairs. Don’t keep that Lan boy waiting.”
“Dad, my dance partner… isn’t him.” In a place Wei Yue couldn’t see, Lu Yuanqiu’s eyes were half-closed, not looking directly at her father. Her voice, filled with coldness, delivered the news.
“What did you say?!” Lu Hong’s expression instantly changed. His voice sharply rose as he glared at Lu Yuanqiu.
Before the banquet even began, he had announced that the Lu and Lan families intended a marriage alliance. The dance was just a transitional step. Lu Yuanqiu’s partner could only be Lan Shangui, and he would publicly announce the engagement after the dance.
Although changing partners wouldn’t affect the outcome, Lu Hong had a strong desire for control, and this unexpected event displeased him greatly.
Looking at the man’s furious glare, Wei Yue was utterly shocked. She couldn’t believe a person would look at his own daughter with such hostility.
It wasn’t like looking at his child; it was like looking at an enemy.
Looking at Lu Yuanqiu’s slender back, this time, without the system’s prompt, Wei Yue acted more directly.
She stepped forward and stood beside Lu Yuanqiu, saying, “Uncle Lu, Lu Yuanqiu’s dance partner is me.”
Lu Hong cast a surprised look, narrowing his eyes. He said, “You?”
He knew Wei Yue and his daughter had many conflicts and were usually at odds. Why would they suddenly join forces at such a critical moment?
“Yes, Uncle Lu. The clothes I’m wearing today aren’t suitable for dancing as usual, and it’s hard to find a partner, so I asked Lu Yuanqiu,” Wei Yue said openly. She looked directly at Lu Hong, completely unafraid of him.
It sounded like her usual self…
A hint of contempt appeared in Lu Hong’s eyes. He was already familiar with Wei Yue’s outrageous behavior and recklessness. He assumed she saw Lu Yuanqiu as easy to talk to and simply latched onto her.
As for Lu Yuanqiu…
He looked at his biological daughter, his eyes filled with coldness.
In the past, he found Lu Yuanqiu’s gentle nature and striking resemblance to his wife endearing, and he had doted on her. Now, however, he found her overly gentle, lacking any assertiveness, and increasingly felt she was not a suitable heir.
This temperament was better suited to being a candidate for a marriage alliance to expand the Lu family’s network.
“I see. I thought Yuanqiu was acting up,” Lu Hong instantly withdrew his oppressive air and smiled at Wei Yue. “Then I hope Yuanqiu can give you a good experience at the dance.”
“Thank you, Uncle Lu. I think Lu Yuanqiu won’t disappoint,” Wei Yue said, patting Lu Yuanqiu’s shoulder and smiling at her. “Right?”
“…Mhm,” Lu Yuanqiu’s eyes were unreadable, but she pursed her lips and agreed.
“Alright, then I won’t disturb you young people anymore,” Lu Hong coughed and turned to leave.
Before exiting, his eagle-like sharp gaze fixed on Lu Yuanqiu again, and he coldly instructed, “Yuanqiu, don’t run off after the dance. This banquet has very important matters to attend to.”
Wei Yue heard a faint laugh beside her, but when she glanced over, she only saw Lu Yuanqiu gently smiling as she said to Lu Hong, “I understand, Dad.”
Having received Lu Yuanqiu’s reply, Lu Hong walked out of the lounge without looking back, as if his presence there was merely a coincidence.
What is going on…
Wei Yue was speechless. No wonder this person brought an illegitimate son home while his daughter was in a coma. That look, that tone, his attitude toward Lu Yuanqiu is appalling!
With a daughter as wonderful as Lu Yuanqiu, shouldn’t he be feeling incredibly fortunate?
Thinking this, Wei Yue felt a rising anger, grinding her teeth in frustration.
Suddenly, she felt a touch on her shoulder.
“Wha… Hey?! Lu Yuanqiu, what are you doing!”
Wei Yue turned around and found Lu Yuanqiu’s hand on her shoulder while the other was reaching for her hand.
“Didn’t I say time was short and I needed to show you how the lead part works?” Lu Yuanqiu blinked, looking completely matter-of-fact.
“Ye-yes, that’s true… but you…” This time, Wei Yue felt the heat was no longer limited to her earlobes.
When Lu Yuanqiu’s hand held hers, and the soft sensation traveled from her palm to every inch of her fingertips, she felt the temperature on her face soaring uncontrollably.
Lu Yuanqiu met her gaze, curved her eyebrows, and chuckled softly, “I’ll quickly guide you through the initial steps. You should be able to recall how to dance.”
Wei Yue: “…”
Feeling her finally calm heartbeat start jumping wildly again, Wei Yue thought breathlessly: Can she run away now?