Chapter Two

1

Tonight, the biggest dilemma in front of me is whether I should accept the hand on my left or the hand on my right. This is really difficult for me, especially when both girls are inviting me to dance. It feels like no matter which side I choose, it's not the right choice.

Ever since I fell in front of the main gate and met Zi Sirou, everyone witnessed how she criticized me at the door. Although I didn't hear some of the whispers, it was enough to spark endless speculations. The unclear rumors were the most prevalent.

After entering the banquet, Zi Sirou has been walking beside me. Such a bold move, can't Li Liu see it? In the blink of an eye, Li Liu also stood beside me. It's quite an honor to have two beautiful women on either side, but their atmosphere is completely off. Despite being cousins, they haven't said a word to each other since we came in, or maybe I just couldn't hear it.

Before long, the singing and dancing started, and everyone invited their dance partners to dance together. That's when trouble began.

Right now, both hands are in front of me, simultaneously reaching out in a way that suggests I accept their invitation. But I haven't even invited anyone yet!

"I... " I looked left and right, trying to decide who should go first and who should go second. The other person will definitely be emotional, and the Imperial Emperor and his sister are watching. Other dancers, intentionally or unintentionally, are also looking over. I'm curious about how they view my choice.

The most troublesome thing is the reporters. God knows if they are lurking around me, or if there are any long-range cameras. Just before I left, my mother told me not to cause trouble, not to make any scandalous news for my father or the royal family. As a duke of the empire, I also have to maintain their reputation. If my mother didn't caution me like this, I could have chosen freely. After all, the Emperor and his sister have a good relationship, so they wouldn't object to either choice. However, it seems that Zilei Yang has some opinions about me. Last time in Li Liu's palace, she made some pointed remarks, and she's technically my future mother-in-law. The neighbor next door is undoubtedly going to be my father-in-law if nothing unexpected happens. When I think about it, it seems like choosing Li Liu would be better. But Su Rou's words were also right. She is the one who publicly announced me as her fiancé to the whole country, and she also has a photo on hand. If I don't choose her, I might not make it to the front-page tomorrow, and there will be gossip about the Qin Family everywhere. Previously, it was spread within the academy, but tomorrow it could be nationwide.

"Qin Yang."

"Ah?" Suddenly, I heard Su Rou's voice, interrupting my thoughts.

"Make a decision quickly, so many people are watching," Su Rou said through gritted teeth, revealing these words through her clenched teeth.

"Let me think!"

"What are you still thinking about? Aren't you a man? Be decisive," she said.

"Sis!"

"I'm pressuring him, don't you mind?"

"No, I just wanted to say you can go first."

"Li Liu, is this what you wanted to say to me tonight?" I asked seriously.

"Qin Yang was invited by me," Li Liu replied solemnly.

"The first dance should be with someone you have a close relationship with. If you have some secret agreement with him that others don't know, they only know about me. You can't just come to this academy's banquet casually," Su Rou's explanation matched my thoughts.

"If it's Black Qin Yang, he wouldn't mind, so Qin Yang, it's up to you," Li Liu said.

"Black? Are there even white ones?" I teased.

"..." Li Liu remained silent.

Even I, myself, can't distinguish which one I really am. To be honest, I have the impulse to directly pull both girls and perform a three-person dance. But there's another extremely rational thought that is holding onto my limbs, as if saying, "You can't do that, you have to think about it."

The live dance music was about to end when suddenly a third hand reached out between the two of them. Without waiting for my consent or for them to come back to their senses, she pulled me out from between the two girls!

With a faint and elegant fragrance, and a pair of bright eyes, all I could see through my lenses were those eyes. I don't know why I was so interested in her eyes. Although Li Liu's eyes were also intriguing, they had a sense of mystery. But this girl's eyes were so clear that they inexplicably put me at ease.

Our bodies lightly bumped into each other as we were being pulled around, but the girl didn't seem to mind at all. She said softly, "Let's start dancing."

I had some knowledge of dancing, but this girl's dancing was impeccable. Her movements were clean and precise, and I found it quite challenging to keep up with her footsteps.

"Why did you invite me to dance?" I asked.

"Because you seem conflicted," the girl replied. She swirled around me in tune with the music, looking truly magnificent.

"Is it written all over my face?"

"It's written on your forehead. Everyone in the room is watching you two."

"They deliberately gave me a tough time."

"Is it really that difficult?" She gestured to our current situation, which seemed to be resolved quite well. Not dancing with the first two girls or with her, it seemed like a good compromise to avoid offending anyone.

"But if I dance with you, won't they be even more angry?"

"Really? I hate people who beat around the bush. Why be afraid of making others angry?" This girl clearly hadn't thought about it too much before taking action, but I was grateful for her impulsiveness. Otherwise, I might have just stayed there all night.

"In the past...maybe a few days ago, I wasn't afraid of anything, or rather, I was afraid of one person."

"And now? Did a few days turn you into an indecisive person?"

"Yes, in just a few days, how did I become like this?"

"You're really a strange person."

"I might truly be a strange person, maybe not even human."

"Don't be silly. You're Qin's son, clearly a human."

"Haha, my mother is from the divine race."

"Whether half god or human, being a human is even more interesting than being a deity."

"That's true, being a human is interesting."

The girl spun around to my back again, and I finally moved my gaze away from her. Maybe it was because I saw her for the first time, but I found her fascinating. Her dance was as elegant as Li Liu's, but she was also talkative and proactive. She led the entire dance, and I gradually felt lighter and more at ease as if someone was guiding me. Maybe it was because I was getting used to her rhythm.

"Why is that old man over there looking at you strangely?" she asked.

"Strangely?" I followed her gaze and saw the old man in Hisa's eyes. Indeed, I could see something in his eyes- a smug smile. I guessed he thought I was hitting on girls again. It was obvious that I wasn't the one making the moves today, so what was he looking at?

"Pay no attention to him. It's not like he fell off the balcony because of you being clumsy."

"Ahaha, you fell down just now."

"I thought everyone in the room knew it was me."

"I don't like getting involved with the crowd, but I still found out, didn't I?"

By the time the song was over, the girl gently let go of my hand and ended with an elegant pose.

As I watched the girl walk away, I stood in the middle of the room and turned to ask the waiter holding the bottle, "Who is that girl?"

"Master Qin, are you joking? Don't you recognize the Second Princess, Your Highness?"

"The...the Second Princess?"

Alright, I really don't know!