Chapter Ten: Nothing More Than Filthy Trash

When she returned to the banquet hall, the sound of clinking glasses and lively chatter filled the air. As Luo Yunmian walked back, Fu Tingshen was deep in conversation with Mr. Huo.

"Yunmian, come here for a moment," Fu Tingshen beckoned.

As she looked toward him, he appeared crisp in his tailored suit, his hair perfectly in place, his expression calm and composed. He exuded an air of elegance and prestige. Yet, the moment Luo Yunmian recalled the desperate, impatient way he had been with Shen Xin'er just a short while ago, the stark contrast felt like a giant boulder pressing against her chest. It left her feeling nauseated and disgusted. If he didn't love her, he could have just told her; why deceive her? That was the one thing she could not forgive.

"Miss Luo, Mr. C will be arriving shortly. I hope you will be his dance partner. It’s quite a coincidence, but he was actually the one who gifted you that evening gown," Mr. Huo said, stating his purpose plainly.

Luo Yunmian couldn't help but think of the words spoken by the masked man earlier. Could it be…

"Yunmian?" Fu Tingshen called out, noticing her dazed silence.

"Mr. Huo, this is..."

"Mr. Huo, Yunmian would be happy to be Mr. C's partner," Fu Tingshen answered for her.

Everyone knew who Mr. C was—young, accomplished, one of the top three wealthiest people in the world, and incredibly mysterious. He never gave interviews, so the outside world had no idea what he looked like. If she could collaborate with him and have Yunmian as his dance partner, there would surely be deeper opportunities for cooperation in the future. Fu Tingshen was eager for this to happen.

Luo Yunmian had not expected that Fu Tingshen would still push her away for the sake of his own interests.

"Who is talking about me?" a crisp, cool male voice sounded.

Luo Yunmian turned around, and as expected, it was him. After the group exchanged greetings, the man held his glass and specifically clinked it against hers. "I'll be troubling you later, Miss Luo."

"Mr. C, I’m not very good at dancing," Luo Yunmian said, clearly reluctant and resistant.

"It doesn't matter. I will teach you. Surely Mr. Fu wouldn't mind being that stingy, would he?" Mr. C’s gaze deliberately lingered between the two of them.

"Of course not. Yunmian will be a wonderful dance partner," Fu Tingshen said, signaling with his eyes for Luo Yunmian to consider the big picture.

The lights in the dance area shifted, and music began to play. Mr. C stared at Luo Yunmian with blatant intensity, as if waiting for her invitation. With a slight twitch of her lips, she reluctantly extended her hand. He grabbed it firmly and pulled her toward the center of the floor. Seeing this, Shen Xin'er hooked her arm into Fu Tingshen’s. "Tingshen, let's go too."

Luo Yunmian looked up at the man who was a head taller than her, her tone guarded. "Have you been investigating me?"

"Miss Luo is so beautiful; it is only natural for people to appreciate beauty."

"I have a boyfriend."

Just as they reached the center of the dance floor, Mr. C placed one arm around her waist and took her hand, moving with the rhythm of the music. "You call that a boyfriend? He’s nothing but filthy trash." He tightened his grip on her waist, as if punishing her. "And you, Miss Luo, are actually willing to recycle him?"

"I didn't realize you were so sharp-tongued, Mr. C." Luo Yunmian remained noncommittal. He was indeed filthy trash, but she had never been a recycling bin.

As they spun to the music, Mr. C led her, guiding their steps toward a dimmer corner of the stage. Luo Yunmian caught a glimpse of Fu Tingshen and Shen Xin'er dancing close together. She understood immediately—he was trying to keep her away from them.

"So, Mr. C, do you like me?" Luo Yunmian raised an eyebrow. Her intuition had always been sharp, but she had stumbled when it came to Fu Tingshen, which was quite ironic.

"Miss Luo is as confident as ever." A light chuckle escaped his throat; Luo Yunmian inexplicably felt the voice was very familiar.

"Are you from the Hong Kong district, Mr. C? Have we met before?"

He did not respond. Instead, his gaze dropped to her ankles, noticing the high heels she was wearing. His smile held an inscrutable emotion, and then, she heard his voice, tinged with a hint of heartache. "If the shoes don't fit, throw them away. Why squeeze into them and hurt yourself?"

Luo Yunmian’s heart trembled; a surge of bitterness and frustration rose within her. It felt as if a knife had been plunged into her, mincing her heart, until she could barely stand. The man beside her seemed to notice something was wrong and softened his tone. "Reluctant to let go?"

She gritted her teeth, forcing the words out. "Yes. To 'let go' means to cut something out from the very center of your heart. The pain will eventually pass." She looked down and gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Do you think I’m foolish? But since it’s called 'letting go,' there must be a healing process."

She had realized the shoes were the wrong size yesterday, but she had stubbornly wanted to try one last time to see what it was like to wear shoes that didn't fit. The result was that her feet hurt the most. Six years of youth, six years of love—she had masochistically wanted to struggle for herself, and that was why she had sought revenge that very day.

"Miss Luo is simply lost in the moment. Once the clouds part, the moon will shine through."

Luo Yunmian was surprised; she hadn't expected such a domineering man to comfort her. Just as she began to think a little better of him, she heard his roguish tone again. "Miss Luo, you smell wonderful." He leaned down to whisper in her ear, his warm breath sending a tingling sensation down her skin.

He was flirting with her.

Luo Yunmian glared at him through gritted teeth, while his large hand on her waist deliberately rubbed against her back. She lifted her heel and stepped hard onto his leather shoe. With a sharp hiss of pain, Mr. C didn't let go.

"Miss Luo, I didn't realize you were so prickly."

As the music ended, Luo Yunmian immediately released his shoulder and stepped back to create distance. "Excuse me, Mr. C, I need to go to the restroom." She turned and left, clearly wanting no further conversation.

Unfortunately, she ran into Shen Xin'er in the restroom.

"Miss Luo, do the shoes fit well? Tingshen accompanied me to buy clothes yesterday, and I picked out a pair for you while I was at it." Shen Xin'er washed her hands and applied lipstick with care, her expression bright and pleased.

Luo Yunmian flicked her wet hands, grabbed a paper towel, and wiped them, letting out a soft laugh. "No wonder. I was wondering why Mr. Fu’s taste had become so poor. These shoes are truly awful." Without waiting for a response, she turned and left, not wanting to stay for even a second longer.

Shen Xin'er chased her to the stairwell and grabbed her, her voice shrill and arrogant. "Tingshen loves me. Don't deceive yourself, Miss Luo."

Luo Yunmian pulled her arm away in disgust, her expression chilling. "He loves you—what does that have to do with me?"

"Miss Luo, let me show you whether Tingshen believes me or you."

Before the words had even finished echoing, and before Luo Yunmian could process them, she saw Shen Xin'er’s body suddenly tilt backward. A gasp was followed by a pained cry. Everyone looked toward the sound to see Shen Xin'er rolling down the stairs, only coming to a stop at the bottom.

Instantly, all eyes were drawn to the scene, and the crowd erupted in an uproar: "My god! Someone fell down the stairs!"

Luo Yunmian stood there in shock, never having expected such a cliché from a novel to play out in reality. Hearing the commotion, Fu Tingshen ran over and scooped up the tear-streaked Shen Xin'er. His eyes were filled with anxiety, his voice trembling slightly. "Xin'er, are you alright? Are you hurt?"

Shen Xin'er slowly raised her eyes, tears welling up as she sobbed, "I... I was just having a disagreement with Miss Luo at the top of the stairs..."

The crowd shifted their gaze, casting strange and accusatory looks at Luo Yunmian.