"As mentioned earlier, the winners of tonight's dance will receive prizes from Xingluo."
Seeing that not many people had stepped onto the dance floor immediately, Sima Lanxiao decisively continued to hype up the atmosphere. "Our selection process is actually quite simple. Each delegation will nominate five esteemed representatives for preliminary selection. After the preliminary selection, there will be ten candidates each for Best Dressed Man and Woman, Most Handsome Man and Most Beautiful Woman, and Best Dance Couple. Next, all members will vote to determine the final winners."
Upon hearing this, some who had originally not planned to participate immediately became interested.
Those present were elites from two continents. If one could leave a deep impression here on their peers and fellow delegation members from the other country, it would also benefit their own careers.
After all, a banquet was the best occasion to expand one's network.
Seeing people around them getting involved, Xie Xie scratched his head and finally turned to Xu Xiaoyan. "Xiaoyan, would you like to..."
"No." Xu Xiaoyan rolled her eyes. "I don't want to dance with a comedic sister."
"..."
Had the "sister" joke not passed yet? And why did it feel like there was some terrible prefix added?
Was that your true feeling, Miss Xiaoyan?
Xie Xie's eyelid twitched. "You had better look around. That guy Le Zhengyu is getting along too well with the Xingluo female students, which has caused those male students to turn their attention to our Douluo Federation's female students. Without a Flower Protector, you are going to have a hard time later."
Although Xiaoyan had good acting skills and a scheming side, her personality was still relatively soft. Unlike Ye Xinglan, who had a cold aura, she simply could not refuse if a group of people invited her. He was also trying to look after this girl.
After all, among their group, Xu Xiaoyan was the group pet.
"Hmph." Xu Xiaoyan walked proudly toward Yuanen Yehui and hugged her arm. "No problem. I have Sister Yuanen to protect me."
In terms of a sense of security, Sister Yuanen Yehui was top notch. Once she activated her Titan form, she loved no one.
"You need to understand, she is your sister!" Xie Xie complained.
Yuanen Yehui glanced at him, a smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. She suddenly reached out and grabbed Xu Xiaoyan's wrist. "Then let's go dance."
Xiaoyan was probably joking, but this was a shield delivered to her door. Although she liked to wear men's clothes and use makeup to disguise herself as a man, there was a reason for it. It did not mean she liked to deceive girls' feelings. With Xiaoyan by her side, she could also refuse others' invitations.
"Ah?" Xu Xiaoyan was startled.
She was just joking. Why was Sister Yuanen joining in the fun?
Before Xu Xiaoyan could react, Yuanen Yehui pulled her onto the dance floor.
Xie Xie watched the two depart, dumbfounded. After a long while, he finally choked out, "What is this? Am I less charming than a girl? Do you all really think of me as a girl?"
Tang Wulin had just refused several invitations when he saw this scene. He held back a laugh and patted Xie Xie's shoulder. "My condolences, Sister Xie Xie."
"..."
Xie Xie was silent for a moment, then turned to look at Tang Wulin with a strange smile. "Wulin, for a gentleman, possessing elegant dance skills will surely make him stand out before girls and double his charm."
"It is a pity Senior Ouyang is not here, otherwise you could invite her. For now, I will reluctantly teach you."
Tang Wulin looked at him in disbelief.
I made one teasing remark, and you want to take us both down?
I don't want that.
On the other side, Dai Yun'er saw Huo Yuhao leave Duoqing Douluo and the others because the dance had begun. She hesitated.
Huo Yuhao had been sitting at that table earlier, almost signaling that he did not want others to invite him.
If she invited him to dance here, he would probably refuse.
Just then, Dai Yun'er saw Huo Yuhao's movement. She paused, smiled bitterly, and shook her head, then did her work as a host.
With that girl beside Huo Yuhao who surpassed her in every aspect, going over would only bring humiliation upon herself.
In the direction Dai Yun'er had been observing earlier, Huo Yuhao slightly bowed and took the initiative to invite Gu Yuena, who had been watching the dance floor with sparkling eyes. He smiled and said, "Na'er, would you like to dance with me?"
A flicker of surprise passed through Gu Yuena's purple eyes, but it quickly turned into a beaming smile. She gently placed her delicate hand in Huo Yuhao's palm and nodded softly.
"Yes."
When the two stepped into the center of the dance floor, the surrounding guests unconsciously made space. The music began. It was an elegant waltz.
As they stepped onto the dance floor, Huo Yuhao's arm naturally encircled Gu Yuena's slender waist, pulling her slightly closer to him. Gu Yuena's faint, delicate fragrance lingered at Huo Yuhao's nose.
This movement was intimate but not frivolous, carrying the unique familiarity of a couple.
"Why the sudden urge to dance? I thought you would keep chatting with Soul Calming Douluo and the others." Gu Yuena looked up and asked, her breath lightly brushing against Huo Yuhao's chin.
Huo Yuhao chuckled softly, his hand tightening slightly on her waist. "Someone was staring at the dance floor for a long time, her eyes practically sparkling." He turned her around in a spin. "I couldn't just pretend not to see it."
The music played. Huo Yuhao led the dance steps with ease. His movements were elegant and confident. Each turn protected Gu Yuena in the most advantageous position. Every turn, every advance and retreat was as precise as if measured, yet carried a natural, fluid grace.
Although Huo Yuhao had never systematically learned to dance, with his spiritual power and control over his body, mastering the rhythm and technique of dance was effortless.
In the banquet hall, the melody of the music was both elegant and passionate. Sima Lanxiao had carefully arranged it. He hoped that through this musical atmosphere, he could push the entire banquet's atmosphere to a climax. Only in a lively atmosphere could the communication between both sides be more smooth and deep.
In the center of the dance floor, Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena completed another gorgeous spin at the climax of the music. When Gu Yuena spun back into Huo Yuhao's arms, she suddenly changed her originally elegant dance posture. Her delicate hand slid from Huo Yuhao's shoulder and turned strong intertwined her fingers with his.
The distance between them instantly closed to within breathing range. Gu Yuena slightly tilted her head back, her amethyst like eyes looking directly into Huo Yuhao's eyes. The corner of her lips curled into a faint, barely perceptible smile. Her full chest gently rose and fell with her breath, inadvertently touching Huo Yuhao's chest.
Huo Yuhao's breath was clearly caught. But the next second, a flicker of amusement passed through his eyes. Not only did he not retreat, but he used this posture to lead Gu Yuena into even bolder dance steps.
This girl, did she still think he was the same as before?
Gu Yuena's movements grew bolder and bolder. Their physical contact also increased. But Huo Yuhao took it all in stride.
On the dance floor, the others had long stopped dancing. Everyone's gaze was focused on Gu Yuena and Huo Yuhao.
Not only were the two outstanding in appearance and extraordinary in temperament, but even their dance moves and mutual understanding reached a perfect state.
Such a performance appeared naturally exceptionally dazzling on the stage.
***
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(End of Chapter)