Chapter 114

After her failed attempt to grab Lin Tian’s arm, Bai Bing’er stopped trying to annoy him.

Instead, she quietly followed Lin Tian and the others to the entrance of the banquet hall.

By now, the area in front of the hall was bustling with people.

Although this event was primarily intended to entertain the prominent clans of the Zhao, Bai, and Li families, the Xuan Yuan family had gone all out with the preparations.

In a sense, a banquet of this level was far more than just a dinner party. It represented a family’s image and heritage, held social significance, and provided a platform to showcase certain attitudes and positions.

When Lin Tian and his group of four arrived, they ran into Xuan Yuan Qingya, who was welcoming guests at the entrance.

Given her status, even if she had chosen to sit inside the banquet hall and wait—or appear later—no one would have said a word. Guests could simply enter on their own.

However, today the eldest daughter of the Xuan Yuan family was breaking from her usual demeanor by personally greeting guests at the door.

Each time someone arrived, she offered a faint, elegant smile. Though she was polite and reserved, this was considered a rare honor by those familiar with Xuan Yuan Qingya.

Of course, she wasn’t standing there to welcome guests; she was waiting for Lin Tian.

The moment she saw him, her expression brightened instantly.

She seemed as if she wanted to step down the stairs and greet Lin Tian. Then, something crossed her mind and she stopped herself.

Lin Tian lifted his head and looked at the tall, elegant woman standing at the top of the steps, his heart stirring slightly.

Xuan Yuan Qingya wore an opulent sky-blue gown with matching hair ornaments, delicate jade earrings, and a diamond necklace against her slender neck.

At that moment, she seemed to radiate a holy, almost divine brilliance.

Beneath the grand, intricate hem of her gown, she wore matte black velvet high heels.

Her fair ankles and shapely calves were framed by the artistic heels, exuding a breathtaking allure.

However, since Xuan Yuan Qingya had already secured Lin Tian’s promise, she didn’t feel the need to go overboard with her appearance. She was simply Xuan Yuan Qingya, the proud and aloof woman whose very presence outshone any ornament.

Shang Chan and Zhao Mengmeng walked ahead with Lin Tian in the middle, and Bai Bing’er followed behind.

Had Xuan Yuan Qingya not known that Lin Tian was a retainer of the Zhao family, she might have thought he was a young master from an influential clan, accompanied by three stunning women.

In fact, any aristocratic heir who could show up with women of Shang Chan’s, Zhao Mengmeng’s, and Bai Bing’er’s caliber would undoubtedly become the most dazzling figure of the night!

Lin Tian wasn’t afraid of attention, but he didn’t want to steal the spotlight for no reason.

When they reached the entrance of the banquet hall, he quietly stopped and said something to Shang Chan and Zhao Mengmeng.

“You two go in first. I’ll come in later.”

They seemed to understand that he didn’t want to draw attention. They wanted to stay by his side, but they were also eager to meet the Dragon Lord, Shang Yan, who might be their grandfather.

Upon hearing this, both women nodded and gracefully ascended the steps, entering the banquet hall.

Bai Bing’er stepped forward to stand beside Lin Tian and whispered softly.

“Lin Tian, after the banquet, there’s supposed to be a dance. Do you have a partner yet?”

Lin Tian shook his head. Dancing was the last thing he was interested in.

He didn’t know how to dance, and even if he did, there was no way he would step onto the dance floor in this kind of setting. He didn’t know when that might draw unwanted attention.

The best approach was the same as at the Zhao family’s ancestral banquet: find a quiet corner and observe calmly as things unfold. That was exactly what Lin Tian wanted.

When Bai Bing’er saw him shake his head, her moist lips curved into a faint smile. In a voice laced with temptation and sensuality, she said, “Come with me.” As she spoke, she raised her fair, lotus-like arm to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

Lin Tian happened to catch that single, graceful motion out of the corner of his eye.

In an instant, a ripple stirred in his heart. The fact that he could maintain his composure at that moment set him apart from most men.

Even without makeup, Bai Bing’er was intoxicatingly beautiful. In fact, a casual glance from Lin Tian nearly left him unable to look away!

Damn! This woman is too much of a demoness! Somebody save me!

Lin Tian groaned inwardly and quickly averted his gaze. He was terrified that Bai Bing’er might make another inappropriate move—if she did, he wouldn’t be able to handle it.

Even now, the memory of her running through the rain to his room made his heart beat faster.

This woman was born a temptress!

Upon hearing Lin Tian’s inner voice, Bai Bing’er let out a soft laugh.

In the past, she had chosen to hide her charm. Wasn’t her lazy, languid air, in its own way, a suppression of her natural sensuality?

Now, in front of Lin Tian, she didn’t want to hold anything back—she wanted to unleash all of her charm!

If she could make Lin Tian waver, she would have succeeded.

Her rosy lips parted slightly. Her voice was soft and soothing with an elegant clarity. This extreme contrast made her words sound like the mythical song of a siren. Just a few syllables were enough to make Lin Tian lose focus for an instant.

“Then…how about I be your dance partner?”

Lin Tian froze for five full seconds before snapping back to his senses.

He turned his head toward Bai Bing’er, then immediately turned it away.

Are you kidding me?!

Not only can I not dance, I don’t want to. Even if I did, there’s no way I’d pick you!

Does this woman realize how dangerously alluring she is?

Lin Tian was certain that if he chose Bai Bing’er as his dance partner and they did nothing but sway back and forth on the dance floor, at least 80% of the men present would hate him on the spot.

Bai Bing’er’s sensuality fit the aesthetic of men of all ages and tastes.

Lin Tian quickly shook his head and said hurriedly: “No, no, no… Miss Bai, I don’t know how to dance. You’d better find someone else to be your partner.”

The corners of Bai Bing’er’s lips curved slightly as she leaned in closer and whispered, “You can learn. I’ll teach you. How about that?”

Lin Tian shuddered all over.

Everything about this woman radiated temptation: her voice, her movements, and even the faint fragrance clinging to her.

Lin Tian was starting to feel like he couldn’t hold out much longer.

Suddenly, he sensed a surge of killing intent coming from not far ahead.

Due to the constant pressure of his “villain’s aura,” Lin Tian had become extremely sensitive to such things. He immediately looked up.

Only to see Xuan Yuan Qingya descending the steps like a queen reigning over the heavens.

Step by step…

By the time she reached Lin Tian and Bai Bing’er, her intense aura had reached its peak and felt almost tangible.

Momentum, or aura, was mysterious and intangible.

However, when combined with movement, expression, gaze, attire, and the surrounding environment, that intangible aura became a tangible pressure.

Lin Tian’s mouth twitched.

What is Xuan Yuan Qingya doing? Was she about to declare war on Bai Bing’er?

The next moment, a cold, imperious voice drifted into his ears:

“Mr. Lin, Miss Bai, why aren’t you going inside?”

Bai Bing’er was no fool. Having been able to read people’s hearts since childhood, she immediately sensed the hostility radiating from Xuan Yuan Qingya—and that it was aimed at her specifically.

It took Bai Bing’er only a moment to understand that this hostility was because of Lin Tian.

Her beautiful eyes slid toward Lin Tian, a playful glint flickering within them.

So Xuan Yuan Qingya has fallen into Lin Tian’s vortex, too? Interesting!

Bai Bing’er had never known fear. Even when she tried to spread the truth and was met with crushing blows, she simply chose to give up rather than compromise her principles or go with the flow.

Now, when it came to her feelings for Lin Tian, she was absolutely certain.

No matter who the opponent was, she would never hesitate to stand her ground!

This was just like what she had said to Shang Chan and Zhao Mengmeng in Lin Tian’s room.

“Shang Chan, Zhao Mengmeng… Some things you can pursue, and so can I. In this respect, we’re equals. If you don’t want to give up, prove it with action, not laughable excuses.”

In love and in life, Bai Bing’er was just as strong-willed as Xuan Yuan Qingya.

The corners of her lips curved slightly, and her languid aura spread across her entire being.

This was her most comfortable state—and her battle stance.

“I was just about to go in. I wanted to invite Lin Tian to be my dance partner, and he already agreed.”

What the hell?! When did I agree to that?” Lin Tian cursed inwardly.

He quickly waved his hands and said anxiously, “No, no… I didn’t agree to be Bai Bing’er’s dance partner! I don’t even know how to dance!”

Then, turning to Bai Bing’er, he lowered his voice.

“Bai Bing’er, what are you doing? When did I ever agree to that?”

Bai Bing’er didn’t even glance at him. In a standoff like this with Xuan Yuan Qingya, looking away would mean conceding defeat.

“Oh? He didn’t? Then I must have remembered wrong… So, Miss Xuan Yuan, do you have any advice for me?”

Xuan Yuan Qingya ignored whatever Lin Tian was saying. She could feel the sharp, unyielding hostility radiating from Bai Bing’er.

If Shang Chan and Zhao Mengmeng’s closeness to Lin Tian stemmed naturally from their roles as “Zhao family retainer” and “Xinghai employee,”

Then Bai Bing’er and she were different—their connection to Lin Tian was nothing more than a chance encounter that blossomed into something deeper.

And in this situation, Xuan Yuan Qingya understood Bai Bing’er’s intentions perfectly.

All she wanted was to defeat her, to make her give up on Lin Tian…

…

But Xuan Yuan Qingya was not someone who gave up so easily!

Her expression grew even more proud, her gown seeming to ripple as if stirred by the wind, adding to her imposing presence.

“Advice? Hardly… It’s just that tonight, I’ve already reserved Lin Tian as my dance partner. Miss Bai, don’t you think it’s a bit much to try and steal him right in front of me?”

Xuan Yuan Qingya didn’t care that Lin Tian had already refused, nor did she care whether Bai Bing’er knew about this so-called arrangement.

She simply wanted to make one thing clear—she would not retreat a single step!

Lin Tian was dumbfounded. When the hell did I become Xuan Yuan Qingya’s dance partner?!

“Miss Xuan Yuan, no… don’t make things up! When did I ever become your dance partner?”

Lin Tian let out a heavy sigh and said:

“I’m not dancing tonight. No matter who asks, I’m not dancing… Can you two please stop making a scene here?”

Xuan Yuan Qingya gave him a faint glance, then turned her gaze back to Bai Bing’er.

The tension between the two women was growing thicker by the second.

Suddenly, a voice came from not far away, carrying a hint of timidity and a deeply hidden joy:

“Bai… Bai Bing’er, you’re here?”

At the sound, Bai Bing’er’s eyes turned cold as she looked over.

Not far away stood a young woman in a fluffy dress, her entire style radiating sweetness and innocence. She stood gracefully, her expression shy and cautious as she looked at Bai Bing’er.

It was none other than Meng Xiaoling, the only daughter of the Meng family!