Head bowed, cheeks flushed, Akizuki Airi poked her fingers, mind buzzing. After a long pause, she finally looked up.

"If… if you accompany Airi to the dance… Airi will let you touch her for half a minute. How about that…?"

*Someone like Jiuyu—seeming free-spirited on the surface but actually upright and honest—would definitely refuse first, then accept some tiny, harmless price before agreeing to go with her, right?*

"Anywhere I can touch?" Zhou Jiuyu raised an eyebrow.

"Huh?" Airi’s expression froze for a moment.

"Then I’ll just massage away those useless fat bits. They’re pointless anyway. Come here." He beckoned casually.

"Huh?!" Her face went utterly blank.

*No, no, no—this isn’t the script! Jiuyu should be the type who talks big but never follows through!*

"Huh what huh? Pay first, work after."

Airi’s face burned crimson. But thinking of the dance, she gritted her teeth, stepped forward reluctantly, and glared. "Three seconds now. The rest… tonight."

*He’s joking. He won’t really touch me. He’ll just pinch my cheek and tease me…*

Her anxiety eased slightly.

Zhou Jiuyu’s hand descended.

Pinched. Pulled. Tugged.

Then a firm, sweeping squeeze.

"Mmm?!"

Airi let out an involuntary whimper, shuddered back a full step, utterly stunned.

*Wait… that wasn’t her cheek…*

"Y-you actually touched me?! Pervert! Disgusting!"

Flustered and furious, she stomped toward his foot—but he pulled back. Her heel slammed the floor. She hissed in pain. "Y-you jerk!"

"Heh. Minnow." Zhou Jiuyu shot her a disdainful glance. "Talk. Why drag me to this dance? There’s a reason. Tell me. I’m still waiting on the rest of my payment." He savored the memory.

*Soft. Ample. No wonder baby-faced Airi-chan’s curves stood out even in anime. In this 3D world? Undeniably generous.*

"It’s nothing!" Airi crossed her arms, huffing. "There’s this dormmate, Tong Qin. Acts like everyone owes her eight million yuan. I snapped back once, and she declared I’m ‘banned’ from the party—no one’ll talk to me, no dance partner. Basically, isolating me!"

"Who does she think she is?! I didn’t even want to go before—but now I *will*!"

"Tong Qin? Your roommate? Interesting." Zhou Jiuyu’s brow lifted slightly.

*Complete opposites: one timid, the other throwing heavy punches.*

"You know her?" Airi blinked.

"Just the name. Forget it. Let’s get your gown."

…

After picking out formal wear, night fell swiftly.

Inside Tianhai Martial Academy’s auditorium, new students mingled in elegant attire.

Airi sat alone in a corner chair. Only Zhou Jiuyu remained beside her.

Even among the girls, her beauty stood out—stunning. The gown softened her youthful innocence, giving her the air of a cool, aloof loli.

Boys glanced her way, lingered a second… then looked away. Tong Qin’s warning weighed heavier than unattainable beauty.

Truly, a pitifully unclaimed loli.

As the dance began, her expression dimmed further.

Couples glided across the floor to gentle music, smiling. Even snack tables emptied. She sat forgotten in shadow.

"Um… do you… know how to dance?" Airi suddenly asked, voice small.

"No." Zhou Jiuyu shook his head flatly.

How would someone who once lived on three steamed buns a day know ballroom dancing?

"Huh?! You promised to help!" Airi gaped.

"Can *you*?"

"I… can’t either." She turned away, flustered.

"Stop worrying. I’ll get you the spotlight." He smiled.

*Can’t now doesn’t mean can’t later.*

"Huh. Those two haven’t split up?" Zhou Jiuyu spotted Jing Yuansheng and Lu Simo dancing smoothly, as if this morning’s drama never happened.

"Look! That’s… Tong Qin!" Airi pointed.

Tong Qin and her brother Tong Yu had just joined the floor. Tong Yu stumbled slightly, presence faint—but Tong Qin radiated dominance. School-flower-tier beauty, confident smile, innate arrogance.

The moment she stepped in, conversations hushed. Eyes turned.

She drank it in. *This is mine.* Talent, looks, lineage, power—she stood atop the freshman hierarchy.

"Keep up. I drilled you endlessly. Pathetic." Her smile stayed bright for the crowd; her whisper to Tong Yu was ice.

"Your pace is too fast, Sister… not like rehearsal…"

"Then figure out why *I* can." She sniffed.

Tong Yu fell silent, straining to follow.

All attention locked on the siblings. Only Airi remained in the dim corner, eyes catching fractured light from the dance floor.

*Envy.*

It was written plainly across her face.

"Time for us." Zhou Jiuyu stood, lips curved, hand extended.

"But… we can’t dance. We’ll just look like clowns…" Airi kept her head down.

Tong Qin glittered. Even Lu Simo and Jing Yuansheng shone. *We’ll be laughed at.*

"Stop overthinking. Dancing? We don’t know now—we will soon."

He smiled.

Spirit Energy rippled within him.

*Grant us world-class dance skills.*