Chapter 47 Not on Purpose, Okay?

Chapter 47: Not on Purpose

Meng Shu was too nervous, his breathing was completely thrown off.

His gaze swept over Ling Qingjue's pale lips, high bridge of the nose, and eyes devoid of warmth.

Every inch was crafted to Meng Shu's aesthetic preferences.

He stood still for a long time, and Ling Qingjue grew impatient, urging him, "Lord Hero, don't keep me waiting."

Meng Shu came to his senses, he imitated those around him, bending slightly and holding out his left hand, both gentle and solemn.

The silver earring on his earlobe caught the light.

Ling Qingjue couldn't help but squint, and only then noticed that Meng Shu was wearing such flashy earrings, something he had completely missed before.

Because Meng Shu's face was more eye-catching—his deep pupils like a whirlpool, dark and heavy, yet also like an unquenchable flame, somehow grabbing all your attention and overshadowing such exaggerated earrings.

That face was truly blessed by the gods, though Meng Shu himself didn't seem to realize it.

"May I have this dance?" Meng Shu's tone trembled slightly.

He clumsily mimicked others, trying to beg for a little sympathy.

Ling Qingjue stared at him for a moment, and just as Meng Shu was about to give up, he gently placed his hand into Meng Shu's palm, "If you're this half-hearted next time, I won't agree."

"Selected partner has accepted your invitation."

"Please complete the dance within two hours."

"Thank you." Meng Shu hadn't expected him to actually agree. Holding his hand, he still couldn't quite believe it.

Ling Qingjue's face still showed no smile. He suddenly leaned down, right next to Meng Shu's ear, and asked, "Did you really promise him you'd dance together tonight?"

Meng Shu wasn't good at lying, "If you wouldn't pay me any attention, I had to find an acquaintance to deal with the situation."

Ling Qingjue gave a flat "Oh."

"Are you angry?" Meng Shu asked, feeling uneasy.

"Why would I be angry?" Ling Qingjue didn't answer directly. Turning his head toward the center of the hall, he said, "Let's go, I'll dance one song with you."

Until they stepped onto the dance floor, Meng Shu felt grateful, thinking Ling Qingjue was really a sweet kitty.

Ling Qingjue was taller than him and naturally wrapped an arm around his waist.

His slender fingers rested on Meng Shu's waist, not intimate, just basic manners. Meng Shu's body stiffened, and he forced himself to relax.

That area of his waist was sensitive; even a light touch tickled.

Ling Qingjue looked him up and down, "Did Xu Linzhou buy you those clothes too?"

"... I'll transfer the money to him later." Meng Shu gritted his teeth and decided to pay it back.

Money can be made again, but making the kitten angry would be truly hard to soothe.

Ling Qingjue's Adam's apple bobbed slowly, "I see."

"... Are you sure you're not mad?" The more Meng Shu looked at him, the stranger he seemed.

"Why would I be mad?" Ling Qingjue gave a wry smile. "You have your life, I have mine. You're the hero, I'm a native character. For you, this is just a game."

Hearing that, Meng Shu's eyes widened in disbelief. "You—"

Ling Qingjue extended a finger and pressed it against Meng Shu's lips. "Lord Hero, no need to explain. I don't need your explanation."

Meng Shu bit back his words, "... I don't know how to dance."

Ling Qingjue still wore that gentle expression, gentle to the point of being unsettling. "It's fine, I'll teach you."

Two minutes later, Meng Shu was led into the dance floor, only for Ling Qingjue to stomp hard on his foot.

Meng Shu nearly yelped, his face twisting in pain before he managed to stifle the cry.

Ling Qingjue apologized insincerely, "Sorry, looks like I've forgotten how to dance too."

Meng Shu let out a forced laugh, "Ha, ha."

"You won't blame me, right?" Ling Qingjue said. "You're so forgiving with others, you should be just as forgiving with me, right?"

"... Of course I won't blame you." Meng Shu smiled stiffly. "I believe it was an accident."

No sooner had he spoken than Ling Qingjue stomped on him again.

Putting his full weight into it.

Meng Shu clenched his fists. Bearing it, bearing it, bearing it!

Ling Qingjue leaned his head down, their faces so close they could feel each other's body heat and breath, shockingly hot.

Once again came the insincere apology, "I'm so sorry..."

Meng Shu was just as gentle, "It's fine—ouch!"

That bastard stepped on him again!

Ling Qingjue's eyes were clearly malicious, with unmatched arrogance: "Oh, sorry?"

He even phrased it as a question, as if the apology was totally unnecessary.

Meng Shu let out a cold laugh, his eyes practically shooting fire, "No need to apologize!"

A few seconds later, Meng Shu unexpectedly stomped right back on him, acting even more wronged than Ling Qingjue: "Sorry about that!"

Ling Qingjue's face tensed, and he ground his teeth, "... It's okay!"

They stomped on each other like a couple of kids, turning the elegant ballroom into their own ring for payback.

When the song finally ended, the two of them limped off the dance floor, still putting on a friendly act.

The moment they stepped off, Ling Qingjue shook off Meng Shu's hand and said irritably, "Clumsy as hell."

Meng Shu replied, "Where was I clumsy?"

"Can't even learn such simple steps?"

Ling Qingjue was incredibly fussy.

It was okay for him to step on others, but when someone stepped on him, he got angry.

Meng Shu feigned surprise: "I thought this dance was all about stepping on each other's feet—didn't I learn that from you?"

He put on a sincere face: "I've never taken dance lessons before, never been to a ball. This is my first time dancing with someone else, and I just followed your lead."

"...I'm never dancing with you again."

Ling Qingjue turned his head away and fell silent.

Meng Shu had only been teasing him, but seeing that he was genuinely sulking, he hurriedly apologized, "Sorry, I won't do it again."

Ling Qingjue's brows furrowed. "You'll do it next time."

"No, I won't, I won't." Meng Shu was very sincere in his apology. "If I step on you again, may I be struck by lightning."

"That's not what I meant."

A hint of irritation flashed across Ling Qingjue's face. "Can't you just stay away from those stray cats and dogs?"

Was "stray cats and dogs" referring to Xu Linzhou?

Meng Shu, without thinking twice, blurted out his apology: "I'll definitely keep my distance from stray cats and dogs, and I won't step on you anymore."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a line of text popped up beside Ling Qingjue's head.

"Current Affection: 30"

This meant Ling Qingjue had accepted his apology.