Volume 1 Chapter 6: Swaying Dance Steps

In the evening, Meng Tingjin had a tea engagement.

He did not deliberately avoid Shu Wan when he took the call, so she heard it.

Watching the man emerge from the bedroom dressed and ready, Shu Wan immediately stood up from the sofa, her eyes filled with expectation as she voiced her request: "Um... I don't want to be at home alone. May I go with you? You can handle your business, and you only need to spare a tiny corner for me."

Meng Tingjin draped his suit jacket over his wrist, squinted slightly, and did not reply.

She wasn't asking; she had already made up her mind.

She was already dressed, wearing a simple yet exquisite white long dress. Her hair was braided to one side, adorned with a small yellow flower clip at the loose ends, and she carried a tiny handbag that could barely fit a mobile phone.

"What would you be doing there? Blocking drinks for me?" The man strode toward the door, his pace steady and unhurried.

Unable to tell if this was consent or refusal, Shu Wan felt unsure, yet she silently followed behind him.

The driver was the security guard who had gone to Nancheng with them to pick her up. Seeing her come downstairs, he waved in greeting: "Miss Shu."

Shu Wan stood two steps away from the car door with a smile, engaging the guard: "Just call me Shu Wan."

Seeing that Meng Tingjin had already climbed into the car without waiting for her, she couldn't shamelessly force her way in, so she stood in place, waiting for instructions.

The black sedan did not move. After about half a minute, Meng Tingjin’s gaze fell upon her through the dim light, and he tapped his knuckles lightly against the car window.

This had seemingly become a silent understanding between them, serving as his permission. Shu Wan nimbly climbed in, shut the door, and turned her head to whisper a thank you with a smile.

When the girl smiled, the tear mole at the corner of her eye seemed to deepen in color, and a shallow dimple appeared on her cheek. Her obedient appearance was utterly harmless.

She had truly become a little tail that couldn't be shaken off.

Meng Tingjin averted his gaze and instructed coldly: "Without my permission, do not wander off."

"...Okay."

The security guard in the front was somewhat surprised by her change. Compared to the state she was in when they went to Nancheng to fetch her, the girl was like a different person.

Now, as she sat there, compared to his cold and ruthless boss, she was like a little sun radiating light and warmth.

The tea room was located in an old courtyard house within the First Ring Road.

It was unclear which prince's former mansion this had been in ancient times. The steps were made of aged marble, and even the two red-lacquered gates and the stone lions beside them were relics that had weathered a hundred years of storms.

Before Meng Tingjin had even exited the car, a dozen people were waiting at the entrance to receive him. There were both men and women, all showing great respect.

Most of them were older than him, and judging by their attire, they were influential figures in Beicheng.

Shu Wan even caught a glimpse of a familiar figure—the beautiful woman she had encountered at the mall earlier. Now, she was dressed in a well-tailored black suit, wearing high heels, and exuding an excellent temperament.

Taking a few steps forward, Meng Tingjin glanced back at Shu Wan, signaling her to stay close.

Shu Wan withdrew her gaze and followed in his shadow, not straying an inch.

The accompanying security guard had been worried that the young woman might suffer from stage fright, but it seemed that concern was unnecessary.

During the years when the Shu family was at its most prominent in Nancheng, they were no less prestigious than the current Meng Tingjin. Having grown up immersed in such circles, she had naturally seen every grand occasion.

The tea room was set on the second floor; the environment was tranquil and elegant, with antique and exquisite furnishings. Shu Wan remained silent throughout, yet she drew countless gazes, whether out of curiosity, admiration, or inquiry.

"Director Meng, who is this young lady?" Finally, someone could not help but ask Meng Tingjin, thinking that this gentleman had recently developed a taste for the pure college-student type and wondering if they should find a few for him.

Meng Tingjin gestured for Shu Wan to take a seat by the window, then whispered to a waiter to bring her some light refreshments before answering calmly: "A junior from the family. Does Director Gu have any thoughts on this?"

The man choked, laughing awkwardly to smooth things over: "So she is family. A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding, my apologies."

Shu Wan was no stranger to such scenes. In the past, she would occasionally accompany her father, though they usually didn't let her listen to their discussions.

The content of tonight's meeting didn't seem particularly special either; it was nothing more than talk of who was rising or falling, which positions were vacant, and who might fill them. Shu Wan had no interest in any of this.

Meng Tingjin did not drink, and he wouldn't let her block for him anyway; he just liked to intimidate her.

As for the tea others were drinking, she didn't have any either. Meng Tingjin had the waiter bring her a hot drink and a plate of finely crafted pastries.

She tasted one and, finding it quite good, ate a few more. Occasionally, she listened to their conversation and realized that the topic never seemed to stray from her uncle—either flattering him or asking for favors.

The man listened quietly, neither agreeing directly nor refusing on the spot. He parried with Tai Chi-like grace, blurring the focus, and with just a few words, handled everything with ease.

This tea party was clearly held specifically for him. Many people who came to such an event usually ended up becoming tainted and unable to clear their names.

But he was different. His calm, sharp, and naturally imposing aura made people retreat three feet even when he wasn't speaking, and the few words he did utter were enough to make one break out in a cold sweat.

Wherever he was, that was his home court. No one could dictate his rhythm; he was a master of both culture and strategy.

Observing this, Shu Wan managed to sit for half an hour without dozing off. Any longer, and she wouldn't have been able to hold on; her eyelids began to fight, and she finally turned her gaze toward the window.

From her angle, she could see the brilliant lights of the bustling city not far away. There was an event in the square, and in the center, someone dressed as a clown was performing, which looked quite interesting.

"Want to go?"

A voice drifted leisurely into her ear, the volume lower than usual.

He had clearly been talking to someone else just a moment ago; she didn't know how he had managed to notice her. Shu Wan looked back into Meng Tingjin's deep, dark eyes and nodded.

The man gauged the distance between that spot and the tea house and relented: "Keep your phone on."

Shu Wan's eyes brightened: "I will."

"Tingjin, which junior from the family is this? From the Meng side?" After she left, Jiang Jie asked.

In his line of sight, the girl had headed straight for the lively square after going downstairs. Meng Tingjin said faintly: "No."

Jiang Jie thought for a moment, then suddenly realized: "Could she be... the daughter of your eldest sister, Meng Xian?"

"Yes."

After all, being in the same system, the affairs of the Shu mansion were known to those who should know, even as far away as Beicheng. Jiang Jie did not ask further.

It turned out that the mall was holding an event. If you were chosen by the clown and danced with him, you could receive a doll as tall as a person.

How long had it been since she stood in a noisy crowd? Shu Wan could barely remember.

It seemed that since the day signs of "looming disaster" appeared in her home, her mother had not allowed her to go out, except for school—it had been over three months.

The surrounding music was cheerful, with people coming and going. She alone stood in the prosperity, yet felt entirely lonely.

Suddenly, the clown with the painted face reached out to Shu Wan: "Young lady, would you like to dance with me? After the dance, you can get the doll for free."

Shu Wan was stunned and shook her head with a smile.

"Don't know how to dance?"

Of course she knew how, but it didn't seem quite appropriate. Yet, she really wanted that big doll.

"Just one dance, you must be a beautiful dancer." The clown continued to invite her, and people around began to applaud and cheer.

Unable to refuse such kindness, Shu Wan hesitated and finally placed her hand lightly on the clown's fingertips.

The music started. Shu Wan counted the beats and quickly improvised a new set of steps to the rhythm.

The men in black that Meng Tingjin had sent to protect her were about to rush forward when the clown approached her, but seeing the girl dancing in the crowd, they retreated silently.

Perhaps no one in the square expected that a pretty passerby chosen at random would have the foundation of a master dancer.

Shu Wan performed a piece of Chinese classical dance. Her entire form was soft as a willow branch, rising and falling like a dragonfly skimming the water, graceful as willow catkins in the wind, and beautiful as a lotus in the water.

The dance seemed to be a memory carved into her bones and blood. Give her a song, and she could become completely immersed, forgetting where she was, merging entirely with the music.

The lights, the semi-dark night, the onlookers, the bustling world, the girl's overly prominent yet youthful face, and her light, nimble steps formed the most harmonious scene within a hundred meters.

As the dance ended, Shu Wan placed one hand behind her back, bent her knees slightly, and bowed gracefully to the crowd.

For a moment, the applause was deafening.

The girl did not show any stage fright; she seemed long accustomed to such cheers and admiration.

She cast her gaze into the crowd, as if searching for something, looking longingly, but she could not find the beloved family members who had watched her dance countless times. She felt deeply disappointed.

At this moment, the host, dressed as a clown, excitedly announced into the microphone that she was the MVP of the night! Finally, he handed the large doll into her arms with both hands.

Shu Wan’s eyes curved into crescents as she accepted the doll. After thanking him, she looked up at the sky: From today on, I will live well, with him.

After collecting her thoughts, Shu Wan looked up and unexpectedly fell into a pair of deep, falcon-like eyes that seemed bottomless.

She didn't know when Meng Tingjin had arrived, or if he had seen her dance.

In any case, the black sedan was parked by the roadside, and the man was leaning his back against the car body—black shirt, black suit, legs crossed, hands in pockets, a lit cigarette in his mouth, his gaze falling faintly upon her.

Shu Wan called out to him, and after much effort dragging and hugging the doll to the car, she beamed as she showed it off: "Look, I won such a big prize!"

Without exposing her forced cheer and sense of relief, Meng Tingjin flicked the extinguished cigarette butt into the trash can and said emotionlessly: "I saw."

"It's just a bit big. Will it fit in the car?"

"If it doesn't fit, shall I get you a plane?"

"............"