“Masquerade Ball?”

“Yeah, it’s a hotel tradition. It happens every six months with a different theme each time. Last time, it was a costume ball, and before that, a haunted house for Halloween. This time, the theme is more classic, so I bet it’ll be packed tonight.”

With Christmas approaching, the hotel was decked out with festive decorations—Christmas decors everywhere, twinkling lights hanging all around, and a strong holiday atmosphere in the air.

Shao Yuwei grinned. “I just came in from outside, and I saw that all the waiters were already wearing masks. This is gonna be so much fun!”

She picked out a fox mask for Su Yumian and a lion mask for herself—Queen of the Jungle, exuding pure confidence.

Su Yumian raised an eyebrow. “Why not a tiger instead?”

“And why would I pick a tiger?”

“Isn’t a tigress even more badass?”

Shao Yuwei narrowed her eyes. “…Do you have a death wish?”

Su Yumian grabbed her mask and bolted, putting it on as she ran. “Hurry up, we’re gonna be late!”

“Hey—get back here! Who are you calling a tigress?! You are!”

—

23rd Floor, at the Banquet Hall

The moment they stepped out of the elevator, Su Yumian could feel eyes on her from all directions.

She wasn’t fond of crowded places, but knowing she had a mask on made it more bearable. Shao Yuwei pulled her through the crowd toward the bar.

“One martini. Mianmian, what do you want?”

“Lemon water.”

Shao Yuwei twitched. “Say that again, I dare you.”

“…I’ll have a lemo—”

Before she could finish, Shao Yuwei cut her off and turned to the bartender. “One Bloody Mary for her!”

The bartender smiled. “Got it.”

Su Yumian: “…” No words.

Little did she know, in the shadows, a pair of eyes were locked onto her, unable to look away…

Jiang Yihuai leaned against the wall near the banquet hall entrance, occasionally glancing at his watch.

He wore a Golden Venetian Music mask—a striking combination of cracked black and gold with irregular musical notes, making him look both cold and elegant.

He had paired it with a white dress shirt, slightly unbuttoned below his Adam’s apple, giving off an irresistible allure. Passersby couldn’t help but steal second glances.

After waiting five minutes, Jiang Yihuai was already getting impatient and was about to leave when Shi Muxi suddenly tapped his shoulder from behind. “Babe, I’m here!”

He turned around. She was wearing a white rabbit mask, the fluffy ears matching the soft innocence of her rabbit-themed eye makeup. It perfectly suited her pure and delicate aura.

“I got lost and ended up at the wrong place, so I was two minutes late. Sorry!”

She took his hand and swayed it lightly. “I heard the lucky guest tonight wins a mysterious grand prize! With my luck, I’m definitely getting picked.”

Jiang Yihuai had been slightly annoyed at first, but seeing her adorable expression, most of his frustration melted away.

“Come on, then. Don’t you want to win?”

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Meanwhile, Shao Yuwei had just set her drink down when she spotted a good-looking guy passing by—exactly her type.

Before she could even say anything, Su Yumian spoke first. “Go on. Have fun, but don’t get too wild.”

Shao Yuwei blew her a kiss. “I’m off, then.”

Su Yumian rolled her eyes, then scanned the room. The place was packed, and most guests had dressed up for the occasion, adding to the ball’s sense of grandeur.

The romantic atmosphere, the foreign-style music, the crowd moving to the rhythm—it was all a scene straight out of a movie.

She wandered over to the dessert table, picked up some pastries, then found a quieter corner to sit down. As she ate, she pulled out her iPad and started browsing through research papers.

Suddenly, a well-defined hand appeared in front of her, accompanied by a deep, elegant voice.

“May I have this dance, beautiful lady?”

The man was dressed in a sleek black suit, with eye-catching sapphire cufflinks. His light-colored Patek Philippe watch had a vintage charm that surprisingly complemented his Phantom of the Opera mask.

Su Yumian met his amused gaze and recognized him instantly.

Shen! Shi! Yan!

“Sorry, I don’t dance.”

But Shen Shiyan confidently countered, “I’ve seen you dance before—on your toes, backstage at school.”

Caught in a lie, Su Yumian was momentarily speechless.

She suddenly remembered—he must be talking about her senior year. The graduation gala.

She had spent two months practicing a solo dance, only to miss her performance because of a leg injury.

She had nearly forgotten about it, but somehow, he knew.

Just then, the host on stage made an announcement, and a spotlight swept across the crowd.

Excited screams erupted from the guests.

Before Su Yumian could react, the white beam landed right on her and Shen Shiyan, encircling them in a glowing halo.

Shen Shiyan smirked. “Ballroom rules: if the spotlight lands on a pair, they must dance. Even fate is on my side. Are you really going to let everyone down?”

As he spoke, he bowed at a precise 45-degree angle and extended his hand in a formal dance invitation.

The crowd started chanting.

“Say yes! Say yes!”

“Dance! Dance!”

Su Yumian clenched her teeth. With no way out, she reluctantly placed her hand in his. Shen Shiyan wasted no time, leading her straight into the center of the dance floor.

Step forward, step back, spin, embrace.

The tall, handsome Phantom of the Opera had captured a sly and adorable little fox.

Their outfits intertwined as they moved—his suit pants brushing against the hem of her dress. Their eyes met, and Shen Shiyan’s smile was both pleased and satisfied.

Su Yumian wasn’t just a passable dancer—she was excellent.

She owed that to her mother, who had raised her to be a well-rounded young lady. Dance, painting, music, etiquette—she had been trained in them all.

But she had found her true talent in academics.

Physics, chemistry, biology, computer science—she had entered every competition, from regional to national to international levels.

That year, she had stunned the entire country, standing on the Olympiad podium.

Top universities had extended offers—full scholarships, study abroad opportunities. But she turned them all down, choosing to take the national entrance exam and securing the highest science score in the city.

“What are you thinking about?” Shen Shiyan’s voice pulled her back to the present.

“Old memories,” she replied.

“University days?” His tone darkened slightly, as if recalling someone he didn’t want to think about.

“No.” She shook her head.

He suddenly chuckled, his deep laughter reverberating in his chest. With a quick step and a flick of his wrist, he spun her gracefully. The crowd erupted in cheers. Even though she was being led, forced to match his rhythm, he kept his movements subtle—not overbearing, not aggressive.

His hand at her waist rested lightly, respectful yet firm.

“You look beautiful tonight,” he murmured, amusement in his voice. “The fox mask suits you.”

Su Yumian raised an eyebrow. “What a coincidence. You’re on vacation too?”

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