Chen Hao was completely bewildered. He was wearing a mask, and logically, unless his voice was heard, only those familiar with him would know his identity. Yet, Yan Ling knew.
Like a maddened tigress, Yan Ling reached out and, catching him off guard, ripped Chen Hao's mask off.
Beneath the mask, indeed, was a handsome face.
“So, Chen Hao, if I hadn't had you followed, I wouldn't have known you'd ask this slut to dance behind my back. Was my dancing any worse than this slut’s just now?”
The crowd suddenly understood; it was this woman who was consumed by jealousy.
“Yan Ling, please mind your tone. At best, you’re only my prospective girlfriend. You have no right to dictate who I dance with.”
“You have the audacity to say that in front of everyone!”
“What’s there to be ashamed of? I’m telling you directly from today on, I’m done with you!”
Yan Ling was so furious her face turned ashen, her pale countenance resembling a ghoul. Had it not been for the white-clad girl, Fang Shanshan, who came with her, holding her back, Chen Hao would have likely received a slap.
“Furthermore, I have another announcement to make. Today, my one and only official girlfriend is this exceptionally graceful young lady!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Hao, in a half-kneeling posture, bowed before the girl in the emerald green dress.
The crowd, drawn by the spectacle, grew larger. Ren Yuanhao had intended to get involved, but now, the situation was developing in precisely the way he desired.
He simply nodded at Zhou Lin, who had looked over at him from the crowd. His gaze was gentle and doting. Even without his presence beside her, Zhou Lin seemed to have received immense encouragement and was no longer afraid.
Public proposals were a cherished segment of any ball. However, the moment Chen Hao knelt, Yan Ling began to laugh almost manically, her near-perfect face contorted like that of a witch!
“My dear, I am utterly captivated by your dancing. I’m not a fickle person. With my looks and family background, what woman can’t I win over? Do you really need so much time to consider? Or is it because of your dance partner?”
Chen Hao had never been so humble before a woman, and under everyone’s gaze, with all the spotlights directed this way!
He could only succeed, never fail!
With Zhou Lin’s warm gaze shielding her, all her inferiority complex vanished in an instant. She remained silent, slowly bringing her hands towards the mask.
The crowd held their breath, the atmosphere eerily reminiscent of April Fool’s Day. Everyone waited for the mask to be removed from Zhou Lin’s face, and similarly, for her answer.
Her delicate hands were as flawless as white jade. The Leviathan soldier’s mask slid down bit by bit. Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes held the clarity of spring water, her nose bridge was high and straight. Even the few small blemishes of acne appeared endearingly cute.
Meanwhile, Yan Ling’s exaggerated facial expression caused her chin and nose to sag slightly. The difference between the surgically enhanced and the naturally beautiful was stark!
“So, so beautiful!”
Zhou Lin stood there, a testament to the saying that good land breeds good people. Ren Yuanhao felt as if she had emerged from the Book of Odes, a beauty by the water.
More comically, aside from Fang Shanshan and Yan Ling, no one else recognized Zhou Lin!
“Only such a natural beauty could dance with such spirit and grace. How about it, will you be my~”
Before Chen Hao could finish, he heard Zhou Lin’s crisp, decisive reply: “I will not.”
The three words struck like sharp blades, echoing throughout the hall.
Chen Hao had never experienced such humiliation, and to be humiliated in front of everyone, he gritted his teeth, his face contorted with ferocity.
Just as he was about to erupt, he heard Yan Ling laugh even more wildly!
“You lunatic, what are you laughing at!”
“I’m laughing at your blindness, at your shamelessness. This is karma, retribution!”
Chen Hao suddenly stood up, grabbed Yan Ling’s shoulders, and shook her, “What exactly do you mean!”
“What do I mean? Can’t you see who is standing before you, you little slut?”
Chen Hao shoved Yan Ling backward. Had Fang Shanshan not caught her in time, Yan Ling would have likely fallen flat on her face.
“Who exactly are you!”
Chen Hao could no longer maintain his composure. Seeing that he was about to lay hands on Zhou Lin.
“Hey, Gummy Bear, if you dare to hurt a single hair on her, I guarantee you won’t be walking out of here on your own two feet. Try me if you don’t believe me.”
Ren Yuanhao had not removed his mask. The Leviathan soldier’s visage, coupled with such a chilling voice, caused Chen Hao to flinch. His fingers on Ren Yuanhao’s shoulder felt as if they were digging into his flesh, his bones creaking.
“It must be because of you that this beauty won’t agree to me. Who the hell are you, you piece of trash!” Although pinned by the immense force, Chen Hao’s mouth remained defiant.
“Are your heads filled with water, you rich kids?”
Ren Yuanhao, using only three or four tenths of his strength, pushed him aside, stepping in front of Zhou Lin as her protector. His broad arms provided her with boundless security.
“I’ll give you one minute to get lost immediately. Let me tell you, I am the next president of the Star Entertainment Company in Aishui City!” Chen Hao felt compelled to reveal his identity to regain even a sliver of momentum, yelling as such.
“You servant, hurry up and get out of the way! I can make you…”
Before Chen Hao could finish, Ren Yuanhao pulled Zhou Lin towards him. Before Zhou Lin could even resist, her waist was tightly embraced, and she seemed to melt into his arms.
“A domineering CEO who is this blind is truly something else, right, Zhou Lin.”
The mention of Zhou Lin’s name not only sent a shockwave through Chen Hao but also caused the entire crowd to stir.
“What did you say? She, she’s Zhou Lin?” Chen Hao shook his head incredulously, scrutinizing the girl in the water-green dress, then muttered, “Impossible, she’s known as an ugly woman. How could someone like that…!”
“That’s why they say you’re blind. Beauties are like fruits and fine wines, possessing bones of jade, skin of snow, faces of hibiscus, and postures of willows. More importantly, they must have a kind heart, a poetic heart! You, with your utter worldliness, are not worthy to possess them!”
Ren Yuanhao’s words were sharp and insightful, but he failed to notice two burning gazes fixed upon him from the dance floor.
As he spoke, four burly men from the athletic training team entered the dance floor, their fierce expressions suggesting they would devour him alive.
“I want to see how eloquent that mouth of yours is. Beat him to death! What I want, I always get!”
Chen Hao waved towards the four men. The crowd, fearing collateral damage, immediately retreated. The four men, understanding his intent, closed in on Ren Yuanhao from different directions.