Everyone stood up, raising their glasses of red wine towards Shen Liannuo.
"Welcome, Miss Shen."
"Welcome, Liannuo."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Shen."
"Cheers."
"To you."
"Don't hesitate to ask if you need anything in the future."
The crowd was very enthusiastic towards Shen Liannuo, a scene that left her flattered. She stood up, holding her wine glass, and nodded slightly, "It's a pleasure to meet you all, and I look forward to your guidance."
Following that, the delicate clinking of wine glasses created a crisp, melodious sound, like the chime of silver bells.
A lavish dinner was spread across the rectangular table, featuring champagne, fine wines, a variety of Chinese and Western delicacies, desserts, and fruits – everything one could wish for.
As night descended, the starry sky, like black satin, was dotted with twinkling constellations. A gentle breeze rustled, and a few fireflies danced above the greenery, making the night even more romantic and beautiful.
They chatted and laughed freely, but avoided mentioning Shen Liannuo's identity.
They watched movies, chatted, sang songs after dinner, and when the mood struck, they would invite their dance partners to the side for a dance.
The music shifted to a beautiful waltz. Qing Muyue stood up and walked to Meng Jingwei, placing one hand behind his back and extending the other towards her. He bowed slightly, "Beautiful lady, may I have the honor of a dance?"
After the constant thrill and danger of the hidden clan, stepping into such a romantic setting felt surreal, almost dreamlike, for Meng Jingwei.
A smile played on her lips, her face beaming. She shook her head, "I don't know how."
"It's alright, I'll teach you," Qing Muyue said with a gentle smile, his usually stern face softened with a rare tenderness. The intense affection in his eyes seemed almost ready to overflow.
"But I really don't know."
"It doesn't matter."
He took her hand and led her to the side, placing one hand on her waist and holding the other. "Come, follow my steps, slowly. It's very simple."
"If I step on you, don't blame me."
"I'm too worried about hurting you to ever blame you," the man whispered in her ear.
Meng Jingwei truly didn't know how to dance, though she had danced at a college ball once, her steps were clumsy. She occasionally stepped on his feet.
Her awkward dancing made Meng Jingwei herself laugh.
Shen Liannuo, sitting nearby, held her red wine and leaned back in her chair, her posture languid. Her gaze, however, never left Qing Muyue and Meng Jingwei.
Watching them chat, laugh, and exude happiness and romance, she felt a pang of envy.
She knew they had finally found their sunshine after enduring much hardship.
"Miss Shen, would you like to dance?"
Lu Yanming, sensing Shen Liannuo's thoughts, stood up and proactively invited her to dance.
"It would be my great honor."
She set down her wine, took Lu Yanming's hand, and they joined the dance.
Meanwhile, Tang Si and Shi Ran were also dancing. Only Song Ci, Song Jun, Han Yu, and Pei Ying remained seated, looking somewhat bored.
Pei Ying, observing the three dancing couples, nudged Song Jun with her elbow. "Come on, let's go dance too?"
"Not interested."
Song Jun leaned back in his lounge chair, gazing at the starry sky, his eyes closed as if dozing.
"My brother doesn't want to dance, let's dance together," Song Ci said, standing up and extending his hand to Pei Ying. After a moment's hesitation, Pei Ying took Song Ci's hand, and they began to dance to the music.
It was a beautiful night, filling everyone with a sense of joy and relaxation.
Shi Ran stood before Tang Si. Since dinner, she had been wearing her mask, concealing the scar on her face.
Tang Si couldn't help but say, "Ran Bao'er, you know... you can take off the mask."