Xiang Yu and Lu Heng had been giving each other the silent treatment for two days. In this tense atmosphere, the first dance party arrived as scheduled. The teacher had already taught them some basic ballroom dance steps, so everyone had been briefed and prepared. At eight in the evening, it was time to test their skills. Xiang Yu and her dorm mates entered the hall together, all wearing dresses. The young girls, light and graceful, made a striking sight as their skirts fluttered while they walked. They found a row of seats near the entrance and sat down. From a distance, Fang Meigui saw Lu Heng and glanced at Xiang Yu. "Did you arrange to dance with Lu Heng tonight?" There was a hint of displeasure in her voice, which she might not have noticed herself. Xiang Yu looked at her, then turned to look at Lu Heng. "No, I didn't arrange with anyone," she replied calmly. "Then why don't you ask Lu Heng to dance?" Fang Meigui's voice now carried a touch of nervousness. "I won't," Xiang Yu said decisively. "Then I will," Fang Meigui said quickly, standing up before anyone could stop her. She cheerfully ran towards Lu Heng, wearing a red dress and a matching headband that accentuated her fair skin and black hair, making her look passionate and vibrant. "She is indeed very beautiful," Xiang Yu thought, feeling a bit angry but also thinking she had no reason to be. Fang Meigui had already reached Lu Heng and was saying something to him amidst the teasing voices around them. Xiang Yu rubbed her temples. "I'm going out for a bit. My dress strap seems to be caught on something. I need to check it." Without waiting for a response, she walked out.
Lu Heng, upon hearing Fang Meigui invite him to dance, instinctively looked in Xiang Yu's direction, only to see her back as she walked out. His heart was in turmoil, and his palms were sweaty. "I can't dance. You should ask someone else," he said to Fang Meigui with some difficulty. "Xiang Yu said she wouldn't dance with you, and you won't dance with anyone else either?" Fang Meigui asked in a lowered voice. Lu Heng looked at her in confusion. "Why wouldn't she dance with me?" Fang Meigui was a bit angry. "You should ask her why she wouldn't. Since you don't want to dance with me, forget it." With that, she stood up and left.
Xiang Yu didn't return to the dormitory but instead walked around the corridor to the garden beside the planting area. She found a flat stone to sit on and looked up at the starry sky. Could the stars in the sky know people's hearts? Xiang Yu couldn't help but laugh at herself for having such a silly thought. She felt like her mind was full of thoughts, but she couldn't grasp any of them, with no clear direction. In her previous life, Lu Heng had done many things for her. She remembered that after Xiao Zhanyuan disappeared, she wanted to break up with Lu Heng, but he disagreed. They planned a farewell trip to see if they really couldn't stay together. They flew to the distant west, with grasslands, snow-capped mountains, forests, and lakes. The scenery was mesmerizing. Due to the remote location, there were no hotels, so they stayed in the tents of local herders. Lu Heng took great care of her the whole trip, making sure she didn't have to worry about anything. Every day they would go out exploring, sitting by the lake in a daze, sunbathing, hiding in the woods to find each other, and sometimes drinking fresh goat milk at the herders' homes. The milk tastes very strong, but sitting there, being blown by the wind, one could hear the sound of bees flapping their wings. That kind of tranquility had an extraordinary soothing effect on the soul. One day, they rode the herders' horses up the mountains to overlook the winding lake. Xiang Yu hadn't expected horseback riding to be so exhausting. After a few hours of bumping on horseback, she felt like she was falling apart and developed a fever that night. The temperature dropped in the mountains at night, and even with a stove in the tent, it wasn't warm enough. Lu Heng was very worried and didn't sleep at all. Xiang Yu, exhausted from the fever, fell asleep, feeling someone occasionally touching her forehead, changing towels, and sometimes feeding her water. "Grandma, grandma," Xiang Yu murmured. In her memory, only her grandmother had taken care of her like that. When she woke up the next day, the first thing she saw was Lu Heng. He was half-lying, half-sitting on her bed, leaning against the headboard, his brow slightly furrowed, his face looking tired, and a shadow of stubble on his lips. One of his hands was placed between her head and the headboard, as if to prevent her from hitting it, while the other hand was holding hers. Xiang Yu then realized that they were holding hands with their fingers interlocked. She moved slightly, and Lu Heng immediately woke up. Seeing her awake, he blurted out, "Do you feel better? How are you?" He touched her forehead again and sighed with relief. "The fever's gone. Do you want something to eat?" Xiang Yu didn't speak but looked at Lu Heng. "What's wrong?" he asked, touching his face. Xiang Yu shook her head, reached out, and pulled Lu Heng closer, resting her head on his chest. She silently shed tears, not knowing why she was crying or if her tears were from joy or sadness. She just cried silently. Lu Heng didn't move or say anything. After a while, he brushed her hair aside and tucked it behind her ear. "It's okay, I'm here. I'll always be here. Don't worry," he said, his voice filled with a gentle firmness that was just for her. "Lu Heng, let's get married," Xiang Yu said with a nasal tone. "Would you be willing to marry me?" Lu Heng placed his hand over her mouth. "That's something I should say. It's me who wants to marry you."
As Xiang Yu looked at the sky, her eyes were filled with tears, but her lips curved into a smile.