In the deep of night, the place is bathed in dazzling lights, the rhythmically pulsing music, stirring the blood of the many young men and women, arms flailing, dancing to their hearts' content. Shrieks and cheers fill the space, growing louder and more frenzied as time passes, showing no signs of slowing down.
Some enchanting women are swaying seductively, their captivating gazes and irresistible allure sparking a fiery desire in the men around them, who respond with wolf whistles and applause, further pumping up the atmosphere.
Gu Fan and Lu Yi walked into the nightclub together. Truth be told, they had been here before, but each time they were drawn in by the environment, watching people reveling around them, spilling their youthful spirits. Their own young blood seemed to pulse uncontrollably in response.
While Gu Fan casually danced through the crowd, he was also scanning the club for the sight of Lin Xi. Occasionally, he would encounter a few striking young women, dancing enticingly, which he found quite appealing. Nevertheless, his primary concern was finding Lin Xi.
Lin Xi, along with a cluster of others, had claimed a row of seats in the corner. Spotting Gu Fan in the crowd, she waved, catching his attention.
"You all did well to bag these seats," Gu Fan complimented as he and Lu Yi finally broke free of the crowd. He sighed inwardly at the sheer quantity of people there, the space almost bursting at the seams.
Lin Xi chimed in with a laugh, "This club is owned by a friend of Du Jun's father. He reserved these seats for us. It's perfect for resting after dancing. Hence, we decided to make this our go-to place."
Upon hearing this, Gu Fan couldn't help but exclaim, "It really is different when you're rich. You get to enjoy these privileges. I'm so envious."
"Here, this is for you!" Lin Xi handed Gu Fan a drink, her laughter like bells. Just as Gu Fan was about to accept, a derisive laugh sounded from behind him. "Gu Fan, you're here too! Welcome! Tonight, I'm treating everyone, don't hold back."
Gu Fan and Lu Yi frowned, not even needing to turn around to picture Du Jun's smug smile. Suddenly the drink seemed a lot less appealing.
"Nice, I always appreciate free drinks!" Gu Fan responded, then downed his drink, maintaining a composed expression. However, inside, a storm was raging. He wanted to maintain his composure, but he couldn't help but internally express his frustration.
With a smile, Du Jun walked over to their table and casually sat down next to Lin Xi, not the least bit out of place. His air of superiority upset Gu Fan.
Everyone knew Du Jun's family was wealthier than the sum of Gu Fan's, Lu Yi's and the others combined, but nobody knew what they actually did or how much wealth they had accumulated. This only fueled rampant speculation and envy.
Determined not to be outdone by his romantic rival, Gu Fan equally casually took a seat next to Lin Xi, deliberately getting closer to her than Du Jun was and exchanging a knowing smile with her.
One by one, their dancing classmates returned. A sprightly girl named Li Xiaoyan, her laughter like tinkling bells, headed their way. However, she quickly averted her gaze upon meeting Du Jun's.
"I'm so tired!" Li Xiaoyan exclaimed while heading towards Lin Xi. Seeing Lin Xi's inviting smile, she took Lin Xi's outstretched hand and slid next to her.
Li Xiaoyan strategically seated herself between Du Jun and Lin Xi, effectively separating them. Seeing this, Gu Fan silently gave a thumbs up, "Good job, beautiful!"
Du Jun was not at all perturbed. He continued chatting and raising toasts with everyone, basking in the joyous atmosphere.
Gu Fan only made a token effort to drink, his lack of enthusiasm prompting a puzzled look from Du Jun, "What's wrong, Gu Fan? You seem to have something on your mind. Don't worry about anything today, I'm treating. Just have fun."
"Sorry, but I came here to accompany Lin Xi. I don't think this is an appropriate time for merriment," Gu Fan retorted, earning him a disdainful look from Du Jun. "Is it your aim to ruin our fun?"
Du Jun's meaning was clear. You're not part of our dance society, Gu Fan. You're an outsider trying to impose on our gathering. Be respectful.
Humoring him, Gu Fan replied with a smile, "You're right, I'm not part of the dance society. But Zhao Rui is, isn't he? He has only just disappeared, and his parents are devastated. Yet here we are, having a good time. Does that sit right with you?"
Everyone fell silent, stunned by his words. The atmosphere turned awkward, and Du Jun's face turned sour, "What are you implying? Are you blaming me for Zhao Rui's disappearance? Do you think it's entirely my fault?"
Gu Fan was taken aback by Du Jun's strong reaction. He hadn't intended to accuse or blame Du Jun, but his defensiveness made it apparent he was feeling guilty and aware of his responsibility in Zhao Rui's disappearance.
Just as the atmosphere was growing increasingly strained, Lin Xi intervened to lighten the mood. With a captivating smile, she took Gu Fan's hand, "Come on, let's dance."
Caught off guard, all Gu Fan could manage was a soft "Oh" as he followed Lin Xi towards the dance floor. He wasn't in the mood to party. He was more concerned about distancing himself from Du Jun. Meanwhile, Lu Yi was already lost in the crowd, unreservedly swaying to the beat.
So the young men and women divided again into two groups. Some occupied the seats, while others danced in the dance floor. Lu Yi's motions were somewhat unorthodox, one could say he was blindly enthusiastic. But he didn't seem to find anything embarrassing about it.
It has to be said, Lin Xi, being part of the dance club, was the epitome of grace. At times she took rhythmic steps, at times she gyrated like a seductive snake, and at times her elegant dance moves, coupled with lustrous hair flying and captivating eyes, almost entranced Gu Fan.
As they danced, Lin Xi leaned in close to Gu Fan, whispering into his ear, "You know, I don't think I'm suited to this kind of play either, but Li Xiaoyan wants to get close to Du Jun, so I'm just helping her out."
On hearing this, Gu Fan now understood. He had heard from Lin Xi that her good friend Li Xiaoyan was somewhat materialistic, thus her interest in Du Jun. She was making every effort to get close to him. That's why Lin Xi had just pulled Li Xiaoyan next to her and let her sit between Lin Xi and Du Jun, in reality she was creating an opportunity for Li Xiaoyan.
Understanding the situation, Gu Fan looked over to where they were sitting. Li Xiaoyan was laughing and joking with Du Jun, things seemed to be progressing smoothly. Suddenly something occurred to Gu Fan and he gave Lin Xi a meaningful look, "So, you are helping your good friend marry into wealth. What about you?"
"Now that you mention it, I'm starting to regret a bit. Am I being too stupid? Marrying into wealth is a dream of many girls," Lin Xi said, laughing and dancing, her eyes teasing, making Gu Fan burst into laughter as well.
Perhaps Lin Xi's beauty and dance talent were too attractive. Five guys with a hint of ruffian in their tones approached from their side, paying no heed to Gu Fan and started to approach Lin Xi. One of them, with a brazen attitude, went up and said, "Pretty lady, I've never seen you before. Is this your first time here?"
Lin Xi was indifferent to the attention while Gu Fan stood in front of her. Addressing the five troublemaking youths he said, "Sorry guys, this woman is taken. You can look elsewhere. There's plenty of space here, lots of people and plenty of chances."
One of the troublemakers, with an aggressive attitude, retorted sharply, "What's it got to do with you whether I chat up this lady or not, get lost!". He then shoved Gu Fan aside.
Gu Fan only stepped back once then resolutely returned to his original position, his eyes determined, looking as if he was ready to stand his ground. This instantly irritated the troublemakers even more.
One of the miscreants sneered, his eyes spitting fire, "You're asking for a beating, aren't you?" Meanwhile, another had moved around Gu Fan with a stride, positioning himself next to Lin Xi and started to flirt with her.
Lin Xi ignored them and started to move away, but they persisted in pestering her.
Gu Fan tried to keep Lin Xi shielded but was overwhelmed by their numbers. This worried him. He saw the ruffians surrounding him and Lin Xi, all with a determined look on their faces.
"What are you guys doing? You're not behaving like men at all. Do you know how low your pick-up technique is?" Lu Yi came to his friend's rescue when he saw they were in trouble.
"Another one. Who do you think you are?" The ruffians paid no heed to Lu Yi, considering their numerical advantage.
In response Lu Yi retorted, "I'm not a thing, you guys are the things. Are you satisfied with that answer?"
"You're courting death!" One of the ruffians lost his temper and threw a punch.
With no other choice, Gu Fan and Lu Yi ended up fighting against the five men while Lin Xi, visibly frightened, was unsure of what to do in the face of such a numerical disadvantage.
They were two against five, Lu Yi being chased by two guys while Gu Fan was left to fight off three. It wasn't long before Gu Fan was pinned to the ground. Things were looking bad.
However, to Gu Fan's astonishment, Du Jun and some other boys rushed over to their aid. Du Jun kicked one of the ruffians right off the bat, reducing the pressure on Gu Fan instantly.
With the help, Gu Fan promptly regained his footing and landed a punch to one of the thugs, relishing the satisfaction.
The tide of the confrontation shifted towards Gu Fan and Du Jun as the number of fighters became balanced. Even Lin Xi valiantly tripped up one of the opponents.
However, due to the fighting, the scene became chaotic with objects of all sorts being hurled across the room. The other guests were trying to avoid getting involved and many had already fled outside.
Gu Fan and Du Jun might have their differences, but in times of adversity, Gu Fan saw a different side of Du Jun. He never figured Du Jun could be so honorable in addition to his arrogance.
A short time later, the group fight ended. The students who had never been involved in a brawl before found the whole experience rather thrilling, forgetting the pains of fighting altogether.
It was at this moment that Lin Xi suddenly wondered aloud, "Where's Li Xiaoyan? Where did she run off to?"