Chapter 58: The Enigmatic Couple

  Lin Xiaotang looked at Duan Yuran on the stage, and suddenly, the bits and pieces of their time in Nanjing appeared before her eyes. The woman in front of her had more elegance and nobility compared to before, without any trace of the despondency she had shown back then.

  Lin Xiaotang's mouth corners slightly raised, "Duan Yuran, Chu Yuanyan, how many identities do you have? Which one is the real you?"

  Duan Yu Ran finished singing "A Sunny Spring Day" and the applause was thunderous, it's clear that she is still a renowned name in Nanjing.

  With a gentle and elegant bow, she stepped down from the stage. At this moment, all the lights that were originally closed in the venue turned on, and among the dense crowd, she suddenly noticed something unusual in the greedy, enthusiastic, and lustful eyes of the audience.

  In the distance, by the wall, stood a man. Although his attire, hairstyle and temperament had all undergone great changes, that familiar gaze which was both disdainful and playful still allowed Duan Yu Ran to recognize him at a glance.

  "It's him! How did he end up here?" Duan Yuran's heart suddenly started racing, she could almost feel her face burning, and for a moment, her mind went blank, even her smile froze on her face.

  However, it was just those few seconds, Duan Yuran immediately returned to normal, she hurriedly bowed her head again to thank the audience, and then walked down the stage with a swaying figure.

  Next, the host announced that the dance after dinner would officially begin, with Duan Yunran inviting her guest of honor to dance the first two dances. Zhou Fohai had just finished speaking and left in a hurry, now the most respected person in the venue was Mei Siping, the Minister of Industry of the puppet government. As expected, Duan Yunran invited him to dance the first dance.

  Mei Siping was a core member of the Wang puppet government and a confidant of Wang Jingwei. He was a high-ranking intellectual from Peking University, but he became notorious for following Wang to collaborate with the Japanese and establish a puppet government. However, what made him famous nationwide was his 13-year-old daughter Mei Aiweng and his stepmother and two younger sisters recently published an open statement in the newspaper, wanting to completely cut off their relationship with Mei Siping, because he had become a traitor who sold out his country for personal gain.

  At this time, Mei's face was calm and collected, with a medium build and a well-fitted suit that made him look elegant. His dance steps were light and skilled, as he twirled around the dance floor with Duan Yuran, who had a slender figure. The surrounding guests responded with another round of warm applause.

  As the dance came to an end, it was time for Duan Yuran to choose her second dance partner. The guests all pushed forward, their eyes shining with excitement, hoping to share a dance with the goddess of their dreams. After all, Duan Yuran was currently Nanjing's hottest red song star, and rumor had it that she would soon be making her film debut, so many officials and nobles were eager to get close to her, but tonight was a rare opportunity!

  Duan Yuran was surrounded by the crowd, her whole body shrouded in the light of the dance pool, with a smile at the corner of her mouth, and she took a step forward. Everyone's gaze was drawn to her direction and footsteps for a moment.

  Ma Qixiang swallowed his saliva, "This woman is really turning the world upside down! If it weren't for our family's two mother tigers, I'd say I'm going to fight for it tonight!"

  Ma Qiweng furrowed his brow and before he knew it, he had quietly slipped out.

  Lin Xiaotang coldly watched the ugly appearance of the people in the field and also planned to find an opportunity to go out for a breath of fresh air.

  Suddenly, a person jumped out of the crowd, holding a huge bouquet of flowers and ran straight to Duan Yuran's face. "Miss Yu Ran, I'm here to dance with you for the second time!"

  Duan Yu was startled by the sudden appearance of the person, and when he saw the person's face clearly, a deep color of disgust and displeasure appeared on his face.

  The man was around thirty years old, quite tall, but thin like a bamboo pole. His hawk-like nose was particularly striking, and the bouquet of roses in his hand had to be at least several hundred stems. The gaze he directed at Duan Yuran was fervent beyond measure.

  Next to him, the guests who were about to invite Duan Yuran suddenly seemed to have been stung by a bee and hastily retreated backwards, clearing out a space for the old man.

  Duan Yunran gazed past the rose in front of her, her voice icy as she replied, "Mr. Yan, please understand, I'm inviting a distinguished guest to dance with me now. Excuse me, goodbye!"

  After finishing speaking, he turned around and walked past the person, continuing on his way.

  Smoking is not allowed in the venue, which made Lin Xiaotang feel suffocated. He was searching for a side door to go out with Ma Qixiang when suddenly a beam of light shone on him.

  Lin Xiaotang was caught off guard, only to find that Duan Yuran had already walked up to her and was smiling at her, "Sir, may I invite you to dance with me?"

  The crowd suddenly burst into an exclamation, and people whispered to each other, inquiring about Lin Xiaotang's background. It turned out that he was able to get the current number one beauty of Nanjing to invite him to dance personally. Who is this extraordinary person?

  The emcee on the distant stage caught sight of Lin Xiaotang, rubbed his eyes, and then checked the guest list again. Suddenly, he shouted in an extremely excited voice: "Ah ha! Miss Duan Yuran has finally chosen her second dance partner for today! Who is this noble guest? I believe everyone must be very curious! So, let me reveal the answer!" Immediately, the band followed with a timely and urgent drumbeat, "He is, from Shanghai, the new rich man of the business world, the chairman of Longsheng Trading Co., Ltd. - Mr. Lin Xiaotang!"

  It suddenly dawned on everyone.

  Lin Xiaotang stood under the light, looking at Duan Yuran's outstretched hand with embarrassment, and said in a low voice: "I don't know how to dance."

  Duan Yu Ran suddenly grabbed his hand, "Don't worry, I'll teach you!"

  The two of them walked hand in hand towards the dance floor. Lin Xiaotang, under everyone's gaze, suddenly had an urge to run away, and her back began to sweat instantly.

  Ma Qixiang stared blankly at the two people's backs, "I'm going, this guy has such a good relationship with women, what if that tigress finds out?"

  The tall and thin man stepped forward, blocking the way of the two people, throwing the rose to the ground, "No, Miss Duan's second dance must be with me!"

  Duan Yunran's almond-shaped eyes widened, but she hadn't spoken yet. The tall and thin man's impertinence made Lin Xiaotang particularly displeased, so he pulled Duan Yunran with his hand and said to the tall and thin man in a soft voice, "Get out!"

  The tall and thin man was taken aback, relying on his father's power and the backing of those behind him. He had never met anyone who dared to speak to him in such a domineering manner before. With a strange cry, he threw a punch at Lin Xiaotang, and the surrounding area immediately erupted into a chorus of shocked cries.

  Lin Xiaotang didn't even look at him, and directly threw a punch, hitting the man's fist right on top. With a "ka" sound, the man let out a painful hum, and his arm immediately couldn't be lifted up.

  Lin Xiaotang coldly laughed and said, "Scram!"

  The tall and thin man did not dare to block them again, so he could only hold his own fist and watch the two enter the dance pool. He shouted loudly from behind, "Lin, we'll see about that! I'll make you look good in a moment!"

  Mei Si Ping couldn't take it anymore and stepped out, "Yan Xiao Yi, know your place! This isn't where you can act wildly, go do what you're supposed to do!"

  Yan Xiao Yi saw that it was Mei Si Ping, and suddenly he had no choice but to leave with a huff, casting a vicious glance at Lin Xiao Tang as he departed.

  The music started, Lin Xiaotang clumsily danced along with Duan Yiran, and the guests around them couldn't help but laugh at his awkward dance moves.

  Duan Yunran saw the sweat on Lin Xiaotang's forehead and chuckled, "Don't be nervous, follow my footsteps, and move to the rhythm of the music!"

  Lin Xiaotang took a deep breath, to be honest, facing the hail of bullets, he was not as tense as he is now. He tried to calm his nerves and began to feel out the rhythm of the music.

  After his emotions calmed down, his hands and feet gradually relaxed, but he felt a strange feeling in his brain directing the coordinated movements of his limbs. Lin Xiaotang smiled wryly in his heart and secretly cursed: "This dead ghost is showing off again!"

  The surrounding guests were amazed to find that in a short while, Lin Xiaotang's dance steps became much smoother and more skilled, following the light and quick music rhythm, and occasionally adding a high-difficulty spin. Gradually, it became Lin Xiaotang who was leading Duan Yiran spinning around.

  Duan Yunran stared at Lin Xiaotang in surprise, this man had given her too many unexpected surprises. From the first time they met in Nanjing, he had treated her with indifference, completely unlike other men who would gaze at her with strong possessiveness in their eyes. Perhaps it was this that made Duan Yunran realize his difference from others and left a deep impression on him. And this time, when they just stepped down from the dance floor, he was completely a novice, but in less than a minute, he could already skillfully lead her to dance elegantly, with elegance, confidence, and proficiency that absolutely couldn't be faked.

  The man in her eyes was like a riddle, deeply attracting Duan Yuran.

  "Should I call you Miss Duan or Miss Chu?" Immersed in Lin Xiaotang's dreamy dance skills, Duan Yuran was startled by his words.

  The momentary panic in Duan Yuran's eyes was fleeting, but Lin Xiaotang caught it quickly. This woman was a mystery to Lin Xiaotang, especially since she might be Japanese? This made Lin Xiaotang both curious and cautious at the same time.

  Duan Yu Ran smiled sweetly, "Which name do you like? Call me whichever one you like!" Her tone was full of confidence and a hint of tenderness.

  Lin Xiaotang couldn't help but sigh, a beauty is a calamity indeed!

  "How did you end up coming back to Nanjing?" Lin Xiaotang had no choice but to change the subject, and it wasn't wise to pry into her personal affairs at this time.