Chapter 85: Dancing
Not long after Mia left, the lights in the banquet hall softened, and a harmonious melody filled the air. Many people, hearing the music, paired off and stepped into the dance floor, beginning to dance.
Chloe didn’t have a partner and wasn’t keen on such gatherings, so she stayed in her seat, watching for a while. As the dancing became more spirited and fewer people were at the dining tables, she decided to go and try some desserts. She had heard the chefs at this venue were exceptional, especially known for their delicious sweets, and she was curious to taste them. If they turned out well, she might even bring some back for Mia, although she doubted Mia would want any. In the end, the dessert would likely end up in her own stomach.
From her seat, Chloe noticed Mia chatting happily with a man. She figured she could probably share a ride home with Mia later, so she settled back down. Taking out her phone, she started looking over some research papers she had saved. She had plenty on her phone, and if she finished those, she still had her tablet. She wasn’t in a hurry to leave, so she might as well get some studying done.
She was engrossed in her reading when suddenly, a hand reached out in front of her, startling Chloe.
“Excuse me, miss, may I invite you to dance?”
Chloe recognized the voice and looked up to find Daniel standing there, wearing a black feather mask that matched hers. To
an outsider, they might look like a couple.
She felt uneasy about getting involved with Daniel, especially after their previous encounters, and had hoped to avoid him altogether. Yet here he was again, right in front of her.
After a moment of surprise, Chloe smiled and declined, “Sorry, but I’m not a good dancer, so maybe you should find someone else.”
Daniel nodded thoughtfully at her response. “So, it wasn’t you who was dancing secretly behind the school stage. But I have a photo; do you want to see if that person resembles you?”
As he spoke, he pretended to search for the photo on his phone. Chloe felt utterly defeated by his comment. The only time she had prepared to dance was for her graduation ball, where she practiced for a while, thinking no one would notice. She never expected someone would take a photo of her.
Now she felt a bit annoyed; such incidents could be quite bothersome, and she hadn’t anticipated being caught. Although she had practiced, she never got the chance to perform. The day before the ball, she had sprained her ankle and spent over two weeks in the hospital, missing the event entirely. She had only been there for rehearsal, with no opportunity to showcase her skills.
Chapter 85: Dancing
2/2
If Daniel hadn’t mentioned it, she might have forgotten about the whole thing. And since he had a photo, she couldn’t use it as an excuse to brush him off.
With a sigh, she put her phone away. Just then, a commotion erupted from the crowd.
Turning her head, she saw several people dancing together and suddenly kissing. The cheers were a mix of excitement and encouragement, and then the lights dimmed unexpectedly, a white spotlight shining down on Chloe and Daniel.
For a moment, Chloe was bewildered. Why was the light suddenly on her? She instinctively suspected it was Daniel’s doing; after all, only he could pull off something like this. But he quickly explained, “This hotel has a tradition: during the ball, they randomly choose people for the spotlight. It’s not something I can control. And this place is relatively new, so I had no idea they’d do this. If you don’t like it, we can forget it.”
With so many people staring at them, was it really appropriate to back out now? Chloe felt helpless, she couldn’t exactly chicken out, especially since everyone seemed excited and had no ill intentions.
Hesitating, she caught Daniel’s eye. Sensing her uncertainty, he urged, “With so many eyes on you, why not give me this chance to show off a bit? Even if you’re not into it, we should at least finish this dance; otherwise, it would be awkward. What do you think?”
His words made sense to Chloe, so she stood up and walked with him to the dance floor. As they entered, cheers erupted from the crowd.
Though everyone wore masks, they could tell by Daniel and Chloe’s impressive appearances that they were both attractive. The excitement made Chloe blush, but Daniel remained a perfect gentleman, giving her all the respect she deserved.
“Don’t worry, I’m a decent dancer. If you’ve forgotten your steps and step on my toes a few times, I won’t get mad. Come on,” he said with a smile as they stepped onto the dance floor together.
It had been a long time since Chloe had danced, and she had forgotten many of the steps. Without Daniel guiding her, she probably wouldn’t remember anything at all and would likely step on his feet- which she indeed did several times.
However, just as he had said, Daniel maintained his charming demeanor, showing no signs of irritation even when she stepped on his toes. It left Chloe in a daze, wondering if she really had stepped on him at all.
