Chapter 1 The Free Dance Party Night

Beneath the round vaulted eaves of the auditorium, thousands of lights hung down, hazy and swaying like spreading willow branches.

Sitting in the car, Jiang Wan tightly clutched her black dress. Even with the car's heating on full blast, she still felt a chill… a spiritual chill, she could see the myriad lights and shadows outside through the glass, overlapping.

The world outside the car window was noisy.

But inside the car, it was quiet.

She recalled her parents' instructions and teachings. This dance was very important. She absolutely couldn't act according to her whims and cause any trouble… Last time, because of the investigation into the abnormal patients in the old city district, she had been grounded for a long time after returning to Nanwan.

As soon as she got out of the car, a blast of cold air hit her.

Autumn and winter in Dadao were practically connected, entering winter right after late autumn.

"So cold…"

The cold wind was biting. Jiang Wan took a deep breath before getting out of the car and rubbed her cheeks. The moment she stepped out, she resumed her expressionless, aloof demeanor. She took a deep breath, lifted the hem of her dress, and walked towards the entrance of the auditorium with her head held high, like a proud and spirited white swan, drawing the attention of the crowd.

Jiang Wan was full of energy, treating tonight's free dance as her battlefield.

"Wait a moment… we need to perform a simple check on you."

At the entrance, a gentle voice sounded.

Jiang Wan frowned, thinking how familiar this voice sounded.

She looked at the young man standing at the gate, holding an inspection device, wearing a simple security guard uniform, and a mask. She said in surprise, "...Little Gu Doctor? Why are you here?"

…

…

Gu Shen's mood was very complicated.

He had been stirred up by the old guy's words, his blood boiling, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the free dance… but what he got was a security guard uniform. What was the way to enter the free dance without an invitation?

Simple, become a security guard for the dance…

He could already imagine what kind of pep talk Zhou Jiren would give him when they met next time.

"Want to become a hunter at the dance?"

"Start as a security guard first!"

The only comforting thing was that he had a companion… Song Ci had also changed into this simple security uniform. The two of them were checking the personal belongings of the attendees, actually verifying and confirming the information and identity of the dance attendees according to the list.

Although he didn't know many people, Gu Shen still chose to wear a mask to prevent being recognized.

But… what he feared most was what happened.

Gu Shen didn't expect Jiang Wan to attend the dance.

On second thought.

Jiang Wan's parents were members of the Huazhi board of directors… it was reasonable for her to receive an invitation. On the contrary, it seemed very abrupt for him to appear here.

He said in surprise, "Even like this… you can still recognize me?"

"But it's so obvious, I recognized you at a glance…" Jiang Wan quickly lowered her voice, puzzled, "Why is Little Gu Doctor working as a security guard here?"

"Part-time… part-time…"

Gu Shen made an excuse, quickly flattering her, "As expected of a reporter, you have good eyes."

Jiang Wan smiled and then said seriously, "By the way, I haven't thanked you for what happened last time. If Little Gu Doctor is short of money… you can come to me, you don't need to do this kind of part-time job."

"Thank you for your kindness." Gu Shen pretended to be flattered and said solemnly, "I will consider it after the dance is over."

After Jiang Wan left, Song Ci leaned over with a cheeky smile. He imitated Jiang Wan's tone just now with malicious intent, saying, "Little Gu Doctor~"

Gu Shen got goosebumps all over.

"That girl just now… is there something going on between you two?"

"Bullshit." Gu Shen said angrily, "She's a client from my previous clinic, a clean doctor-patient relationship."

"Being able to attend the dance, her identity is not simple." Song Ci said meaningfully, "You've probably been single for eighteen years, wouldn't you consider a rich woman?"

"Sorry, I'm already taken." Gu Shen rarely showed off, saying, "You should worry about yourself."

Song Ci spat.

He raised his eyebrows, wanting to say some arrogant and unrestrained bold words, like "Nan Jin and I are already engaged for life" or something… but before he could open his mouth, he suddenly caught sight of a graceful figure in the distance and quickly stopped talking.

A limousine stopped outside the auditorium's red carpet.

Zhou Jiren, wearing a top hat, a white suit, and leaning on a dragon-headed cane with one hand, walked slowly towards the hall with a young female companion on his arm, dressed in formal attire.

The female companion was Lu Nan Jin.

Senior Sister was no longer wearing that old trench coat, but instead chose a fluffy black纱纱长裙, revealing her snow-white shoulders. However, her aura was completely different from Jiang Wan's. The exposed back muscles were strong and tight, and you could still see slight scars, all traces left by battles. Even wearing a princess's盛装, she still couldn't change the aura of a warrior.

Song Ci saw Lu Nan Jin and chickened out from eight hundred meters away.

"Tsk…"

Gu Shen mocked mercilessly, "Coward."

Song Ci was as steady as Mount Tai, and said calmly, "So what? Isn't she going to put her hand in mine later? This lady, please raise your hand—"

…

…

"Beep—"

While the instrument was checking.

Zhou Jiren smiled softly to Gu Shen, "Thank you for your hard work."

Gu Shen gritted his teeth and said, "This is the way you thought of for me to enter the venue? What about the promised hunter at the dance?"

The old guy shrugged helplessly, raising both arms in cooperation with the inspection.

"Want to become a hunter at the dance?"

"Start as a security guard first!"

Sure enough… the lines were exactly as expected.

"Why can Senior Sister enter the venue?" Gu Shen sighed, "But I can only stay here and be a security guard."

"Nan Jin is the Madam's younger sister, she has a share of Huazhi's original shares… even if it's just a small share, it's much more valuable than that invitation." Zhou Jiren winked and said with a sly smile, "Security guards have their own advantages. When we enjoy the performance later, you can enjoy us."

On the other side.

Song Ci coughed and said, "This lady, please raise your hand—"

Lu Nan Jin raised her hand in cooperation.

Song Ci caught sight of a short knife tucked into the side of someone's long skirt. He scratched his head, wanting to say something.

"I suggest you pretend you didn't see it." Lu Nan Jin said calmly.

Song Ci chickened out again. He sighed and said, "Okay… next one."

The two unfortunate brothers looked at each other and smiled bitterly.

Suddenly, both of their eyes lit up.

A familiar figure appeared in the distance.

"Young Master Zhao is in a good mood, you're actually attending tonight's dance…"

"Young Master Zhao hasn't appeared in Dadao for a long time. I heard you were in the hospital for treatment some time ago? Is it because you had a terminal illness?"

The man surrounded by a throng of people had a smile on his face, but it was a stiff and perfunctory smile.

It was Zhao Qi, the young master.

He was currently struggling to deal with the "siege" of several guys.

After getting out of the car, Zhao Qi saw several guys with ill intentions from afar, seemingly wandering outside the auditorium, seemingly waiting for someone… it was obvious that these guys were paparazzi reporters. A grand event like the annual free dance was bound to attract the paparazzi.

And every year, the news storm would always revolve around some good-for-nothing playboy.

Zhao Qi detoured a bit with self-awareness, but was eventually discovered, and in the end could only be forced to travel together.

Damn it… these guys were really waiting for him.

It was him every year.

If they didn't make fun of him, they wouldn't even be able to write news anymore?

Zhao Qi was filled with anger.

Last time, he was attacked by two unknown wild dogs while walking at night in the old city district, and the culprit had not been found yet.

These days, he had been hiding in the hospital to recuperate. He had finally healed his face and filled his teeth, but such a big storm had occurred in Zhao's family.

"Young Master Zhao, we are reporters from Dadao Evening News. Many people are concerned about your life. Some people say you have turned over a new leaf. Can you come out and deny this rumor…"

Zhao Qi stopped.

He gritted his teeth and looked at these chattering guys, then took a deep breath and smiled, "Sorry to disappoint everyone… It's okay to use turning over a new leaf to describe me, because I am indeed not the same Zhao Qi as before. I haven't been anywhere during this time… I did stay in the hospital for a while, but it wasn't because I had a terminal illness, but because I was simply bitten by a dog."

The reporters surrounding Zhao Qi were somewhat disappointed.

"What do you think about your father amending his will?"

"No comment."

He walked so hard.

Arriving at the auditorium hall, the noisy sounds in his ears finally quieted down a bit… Zhao Qi breathed a sigh of relief, it was finally over.

He straightened his tie and stood at the entrance for routine inspection, cooperating with the two security personnel.

But he heard a "beep" in his ear.

"Sorry, sir… this item is in violation."

Zhao Qi frowned, looking down at the metal brooch pinned to his chest.

He suddenly felt the voice was very familiar and suddenly looked up.

"Song Ci?"

Zhao Qi's expression was strange, and he took two steps back subconsciously… When he was in the hospital, he had heard about this guy's fierce record, fighting one against a hundred at the Jiangtan Dam, and winning.

Because the Jiangtan incident completely blew up, in the end the speakers of Nanwan and Huazhi came forward and reached a reconciliation, and the disputes that arose because of Chen Jingtian also came to an end.

Seeing the crow, Zhao Qi was a little nervous.

"Don't worry, I'm not that kind of villain like you… it's just a routine inspection, I won't make things difficult for you." Song Ci said calmly, reaching out and unceremoniously taking off the brooch, "This thing can't be brought into the venue, you don't mind if I confiscate it, right?"

"… Unlucky."

Zhao Qi silently opened his mouth in his heart, and said lightly on the surface, "You can take it if you like it."

"What are you talking about?" Crow said lightly, "Can I still take advantage of you?"

"I just want to give you a piece of advice, after you go in… don't have any crooked thoughts."

"Otherwise the end… will be like this…"

He stretched out two fingers and slowly rubbed the brooch.

The glittering gilded brooch was ground into ashes.

Zhao Qi's pupils shrank, he straightened his clothes, coldly cursed a lunatic, and then walked quickly into the venue.