"I can teach you," Su Jingwen responded after a brief pause. She realized immediately that Ye Mo saying he didn't know how to dance was probably just an excuse. If someone else had jumped in to offer the first dance, she might not have been able to turn them down so easily.
Sure enough, as soon as she spoke, the people nearby began to stare at Ye Mo skeptically. Learn to dance just like that?
"Jingwen, how about this—since the first dance is about to begin, I'll dance with you, and later we can find a few professional dancers to teach Ye Mo." The voice came from none other than Wang Peng, who had arrived at some point without being noticed.
He came too? Ye Mo looked at Wang Peng, who was staring back coldly—his eyes full of warning.
But Ye Mo's alertness didn't stem from Wang Peng's hostility. What really caught his attention was the fact that Wang Peng's hand had fully healed. Ye Mo knew exactly how he'd injured him—with a thread of genuine Qi embedded in the bone. There was no way modern medicine could remove that.
Which meant only one thing: the person who healed Wang Peng was either a martial arts expert of the internal school or someone who had cultivated real Qi—possibly even a cultivator.
There are experts of that level here? Ye Mo grew cautious. Although he hadn't sensed any cultivators so far, there was no way to be sure. After all, he was one such hidden figure himself. Besides, some martial artists who trained to the peak were more dangerous than beginner cultivators.
Even though he cultivated both internal arts and spiritual energy, Ye Mo's current level was still low. He couldn't afford to be reckless.
"No need. Ye Mo, I'll teach you. Okay?" Su Jingwen quickly turned down Wang Peng's offer and continued to look at Ye Mo.
Ye Mo gave a faint smile. If Wang Peng hadn't shown up, he might've kept refusing. But now that this guy was clearly targeting him, Ye Mo wasn't going to back down. If Wang Peng tried anything, Ye Mo wouldn't mind dealing with his so-called master too.
"Sure. But no need to teach me. Just explain it once," Ye Mo replied.
Just once? No one believed it—not even Su Jingwen. But she didn't really expect him to master it. She just wanted him to stand with her for a few minutes and fend off other suitors. So she patiently explained the basic steps of the waltz and demonstrated a few moves.
"That's enough," Ye Mo said with a smile after she finished.
By then, the music had already started.
Everyone watched them walk toward the dance floor, eager to see whether Ye Mo's "that's enough" meant he'd actually learned anything. Some were practically waiting for him to embarrass himself.
Ning Qingxue quietly observed as well. Ye Mo's confident expression told her he truly believed he could do this.
As Ye Mo took Su Jingwen's hand, a light fragrance floated into his nostrils, making him feel something he couldn't quite describe. Aside from the brief moment Luo Ying had held him when escaping that night, he had never been so physically close to a woman. His heartbeat sped up slightly.
But that moment with Luo Ying had been too quick. He'd barely registered it before losing consciousness. This was different. Now, he was fully awake, holding Su Jingwen's hand, and moving to the music.
"Ye Mo, you liar! You told me you didn't know how to dance, but you're doing great. There's no way you just learned this in a minute," Su Jingwen exclaimed as they danced. She was shocked—he was not only dancing smoothly, he was more agile and graceful than she was.
Ye Mo didn't bother to explain. Even if he did, she wouldn't believe him. What was he supposed to say—that he had divine sense and could memorize complex movements instantly? Compared to cultivation, dancing was child's play.
Instead, he simply asked, "Do you dance often?"
Holding her hands, Su Jingwen could feel Ye Mo's warmth through his touch. Occasionally, their bodies brushed together, and she felt like she was playing with fire. His masculine aura confused her—it was calming yet intense. Is he really just a college student?
Everyone watching came to the same conclusion: Ye Mo had been faking it. He clearly knew how to dance. In fact, he danced exceptionally well. No one bought his earlier excuse. In this day and age, how many young men didn't know how to dance?
Wang Peng's face turned ashen. He felt completely played by Ye Mo. He clenched his fists in anger, silently adding Ye Mo to the same category as that mysterious talisman seller—people who deserved a beating.
Ning Qingxue continued watching from the side. The way Ye Mo and Su Jingwen moved so naturally together, the light music in the background—it stirred something in her, though her expression remained unreadable.
When the music ended, Su Jingwen looked like she wanted more. Only when the applause broke out around them did she remember the song had ended. She felt a twinge of disappointment.
The next song began, and other guests began pairing up for the next dance.
Just as Wang Peng was about to step forward and invite Su Jingwen for another round, his eyes landed on Ning Qingxue. They lit up immediately. He walked over and said, "Hi, I'm Wang Peng. May I have the honor of this dance?"
Ning Qingxue gave him a frosty look. She didn't respond at all. Instead, she turned away and walked up to Ye Mo. "Ye Mo, I didn't finish what I was saying earlier. Can we continue our conversation?"
Wang Peng was left standing there with a face as dark as storm clouds.
Su Jingwen, aware that Ning Qingxue had already broken off her engagement with Ye Mo, was surprised by her persistence. What else does she want with him?
Just as Su Jingwen was about to say something, Li Mumei came over and pulled her aside. "Jingwen, I need to talk to you. Come with me."
As Su Jingwen walked away, Ye Mo turned to Ning Qingxue and said, "Alright. Let's sit over there." He had planned to leave after the first dance, but with Ning Qingxue seeking him out again, he had to stay a bit longer.
Wang Peng could only watch in frustration as the fairy-like Ning Qingxue walked off with Ye Mo. There was nothing he could do but seethe. One day I'm going to make this bastard pay.
Finding a quiet corner, Ye Mo got straight to the point. "I'm no longer part of the Ye family. You and I are from two different worlds. What is it you want from me?"
Ning Qingxue stayed silent for a long time before finally saying, "Ye Mo, I don't want to talk here. Can I come to your place tonight? I'm sorry… but I really need your help."
"What?" Ye Mo was stunned. Did I hear that right? Ning Qingxue—this kind of woman—asking to come to his place at night? No matter the reason, this didn't feel right at all.