The dress took Allie nearly twenty minutes to convince herself to wear.
It wasn't the fanciest thing she owned, but it was the nicest outfit she had brought from home – a soft midnight blue dress that flowed just past her knees, simple but elegant.
The fabric shimmered slightly whenever it caught the light.
She stood in front of the mirror in her dorm room, staring at her reflection as if it belonged to someone else.
Her usually messy hair had been carefully styled into loose waves.
A little makeup highlighted her eyes just enough to make them stand out without feeling unnatural.
For the first time since arriving in Shanghai, she didn't look like the confused foreign girl everyone whispered about.
She looked like she belonged.
Allie exhaled slowly.
"Okay," she murmured. "You can do this."
A knock sounded at the door.
She grabbed her small clutch purse and hurried across the room.
When she opened the door –
Lu Feng leaned in casually against the doorframe.
He froze the moment he saw her.
"…Wow."
Allie instantly felt self-conscious.
"That bad?"
"Bad?" he said. "Chicago, you look like you walked out of a movie."
She laughed nervously.
"Don't exaggerate."
"I'm not."
Lu Feng straightened, giving her an exaggerated once-over.
"Seriously. Half the guys at the ball are going to forget how to speak."
"Great," she groaned. "Exactly the attention I wanted."
He grinned.
"Ready?"
Allie hesitated.
"Wait."
Lu Feng blinked.
"What?"
"Why are you here?"
"To pick you up?"
"No," she said. "Why are you picking me up?"
"You're my friend."
"I thought Lin Xuan was supposed to escort me."
Lu Feng shrugged.
"He is."
"Then why isn't he here?"
"He's already at the ball."
Allie frowned.
"That feels suspicious."
Feng laughed.
"You're overthinking it."
"Am I?"
"Yes."
He offered his arm dramatically.
"Shall we?"
Allie rolled her eyes but took it.
The Welcome Ball was being held in the university's largest event hall.
By the time Allie and Feng arrived, the entire building was glowing with warm golden light.
Music drifted through the open doors.
Students in formal dresses and tailored suits filled the space, mingling beneath enormous crystal chandeliers.
Allie paused just inside the entrance.
"Okay," she whispered.
"I regret everything."
Feng nudged her gently.
"You look amazing. Relax."
"Easy for you to say."
"Trust me."
He leaned closer.
"When you walk in looking like that? People won't remember the rumors."
Allie wasn't convinced.
But when she stepped further into the ballroom –
The whispers did start.
Only this time…
They sounded different.
"Is that her?"
"The American girl?"
"She looks –"
"Wow."
Allie blinked.
Wait.
Those didn't sound hostile.
Lu Feng smirked.
"Told you."
Across the ballroom, a small group of older men stood speaking with the dean.
The moment Dean Liang spotted Allie, his face lit up.
"There she is!"
He waved her over enthusiastically.
Allie froze.
"Oh no."
Feng grinned.
"Oh yes."
They crossed the ballroom together.
Dean Liang immediately began introducing her to the group.
"This," he said proudly, "is Miss Allie Reed."
One of the board members smiled politely.
"The illustrator?"
Allie nodded.
"That's my main focus."
Dean Liang chuckled.
"Don't let her modesty fool you. Miss Reed is also one of the most promising young programmers we've seen in years."
Allie nearly choked.
"You're exaggerating."
"I am not," the dean insisted.
He turned to the board members.
"She placed in two international programming competitions before graduating high school."
Another man raised his eyebrows.
"Impressive."
"And her digital art portfolio," the dean continued, "is already being studied by our illustration department."
Allie felt her face burning.
"This is embarrassing."
"Nonsense," Dean Liang said cheerfully.
"You earned your place here."
Across the ballroom—
Lin Xuan watched the interaction quietly.
Standing near one of the tall windows, he observed the scene with his usual calm detachment.
Except his gaze lingered on Allie longer than necessary.
The dress suited her.
Unexpectedly well.
Lu Feng noticed him first.
He nudged Allie.
"Your escort is staring."
Allie turned.
Their eyes met across the room.
For a moment –
Everything else faded.
Then Lin Xuan started walking toward her.
The crowd shifted instinctively as he approached.
Feng leaned down.
"Alright, Chicago. My job here is done."
"Your job?"
"I delivered you safely."
Allie elbowed him.
"You're ridiculous."
Xuan stopped in front of them.
His gaze moved briefly to Feng.
Then returned to Allie.
"You arrived."
Allie nodded.
"Eventually."
"You look…appropriate for the event."
Feng snorted.
"That's Ice Prince for 'you look beautiful,' by the way."
Xuan ignored him.
Allie rolled her eyes.
"Good to know."
The music shifted.
A slow waltz began playing.
Feng grinned.
"And that's my cue."
He stepped backward dramatically.
"Have fun, you two."
Before Allie could protest—
Xuan extended his hand.
"May I?"
Allie hesitated.
Then placed her hand in his.
He led her onto the dance floor.
The moment the music swelled, Lin Xuan's hand settled lightly at her waist.
Allie's heart jumped.
"You're very calm," she said quietly.
"I am dancing."
"That wasn't what I meant."
He guided her through the first steps with effortless precision.
"You are doing well."
"That's because you're doing all the work."
"Correct."
Allie laughed softly.
For a few minutes –
It felt strangely normal.
Just dancing.
Just talking.
Just the two of them.
"You handled the rumors well," Lin Xuan said.
"I panicked internally."
"That is expected."
"And Chen Yu?"
Lin Xuan's expression cooled slightly.
"She will not bother you again."
"You say that like you ordered the weather to change."
"I spoke with her."
Allie blinked.
"…oh."
Before she could ask more—
The music ended.
The dean and board members began leaving shortly afterward.
Students relaxed as the formal portion of the evening ended.
Which was when the problem started.
Allie had stepped away to grab a drink when a group of girls approached.
Chen Yu's friends.
Their smiles were sharp.
"So," one of them said sweetly.
"The famous Allie Reed."
Allie sighed.
"Please don't."
Another girl leaned closer.
"You really think you belong here."
Before Allie could respond –
Something cold splashed across the front of her dress.
Wine.
Dark red.
Spreading across the blue fabric.
Gasps echoed around them.
The girls stepped back instantly.
"Oh no," one of them said.
"How clumsy."
Allie stared down at the stain.
Humiliation burned through her chest.
The room seemed suddenly too loud.
Too bright.
Too full of eyes.
Allie took a step backwards.
Twisting her ankle and falling to the ground.
Before she could move to get up –
A familiar voice cut through the crowd.
"Alright."
Lu Feng pushed forward.
"That's enough."
He looked at the ruined dress.
Then at Allie.
"You okay?"
She nodded weakly.
"Just…embarrassed."
"Don't be."
Without warning –
He lifted her into a bridal carry.
The crowd erupted into whispers.
"Emergency medical transport!" Feng announced dramatically.
Allie buried her face in her hands.
"I hate you."
"Later," he said cheerfully.
"We're going to the nurse."
Across the ballroom—
Lin Xuan had been momentarily occupied.
One of the university's board members had stopped him near the tall windows overlooking the courtyard. The older man spoke enthusiastically about a potential partnership between XuanTech and the university's research department.
Lin Xuan listened with polite attention.
He answered questions.
He nodded when appropriate.
But his attention wasn't entirely focused on the conversation.
Across the room, he could still see flashes of midnight blue moving through the crowd.
Allie.
Students kept approaching her. Some curious. Some polite. Some clearlyhopeg to confirm the rumors surrounding her.
She handled it better than he expected.
She smiled when she needed to.
She spoke calmly.
She did not shrink away from the attention.
Interesting.
"…Mr. Lin?"
Lin Xuan blinked slightly.
The board member was still speaking.
"Yes," Xuan replied smoothly.
"That is a possibility. XuanTech has been considering expanding its research partnerships."
The conversation continued.
But somewhere in the background—
The atmosphere shifted.
A ripple of sound moved through the ballroom.
Not loud.
But sharp enough to break through the steady hum of conversation.
Gasps.
Whispers.
Xuan's gaze flicked toward the center of the room.
He saw a small cluster of students gathered together.
Someone had spilled something.
Wine, perhaps.
Xuan's attention finally shifted completely away from the conversation.
"…Excuse me," he said calmly.
Before the man could respond, Xuan stepped away from the window.
By the time he reached the edge of the crowd –
He was already too late.
Xuan stopped walking and watched them leave.
Lu Feng was carrying her.
Allie cis linging to him.
Wine stains spread across the front of Allie's dress.
Her heel hung awkwardly from one foot.
And her posture –
Told him everything he needed to know.
Humiliation.
Embarrassment.
The aftermath of something deliberate.
Lu Feng continued towards the exit.
Students parted for him instinctively.
Allie didn't look up once.
She just hid her face.
Xuan's expression remained perfectly calm.
But something sharp twisted in his chest.
Not anger.
Not exactly.
Something sharper.
Annoyance.
Definitely annoyance.
Because Lu Feng's arms were wrapped securely around her.
Because she had instinctively clung to him.
Because by the time he had realized what had happened—
She was already being carried away.
Because for some reason –
He couldn't stop thinking that it should have been him carrying her instead.