He is Lovestruck in the Revenge by Gu Nanxi

Chapter 8 - 8 007 Masked Ball

Chapter 8: 007: Masked Ball Chapter 8: 007: Masked Ball The ball was lively, and many people came, most of them were tourists. Before coming, Wen Changling had done her research: Lileitu’s Sleepless City also had another name—the City of Romantic Encounters.

From the moment Xie Shang entered, countless eyes were on him. Even in a foreign country where hair color and skin tones were completely different, even though he wore a half-faced fox mask, he was still absolutely a sight to behold. He had the height and the build for it, broad shoulders and a narrow waist, a natural on a suit hanger.

It must be his first time traveling with a companion because he wasn’t quite used to it, always forgetting about Wen Changling, to the point where she often saw his back. He walked in front of her, weaving through a crowd wearing various animal masks. Occasionally he would suddenly remember he had brought a “tail” along, and then he would turn around abruptly. His eyes, blurred by the lights, would slowly focus with an intent look to find Wen Changling, his “tail,” to see if she had kept up. If she hadn’t, he would stop to wait but never rush her. At these moments, Wen Changling would pick up her skirt and run after him.

Amid the crowded throngs, the beer and fireworks, ladies’ swaying skirts, and the occasional intentional and unintentional physical contact within the crowd, there was an invisible pulling force, a surging, a color of desire amongst adults.

No wonder this place was called the City of Romantic Encounters.

At seven o’clock sharp, dance music sounded, fireworks filled the sky, and men and women cheered and leapt as the masquerade ball officially began.

Wen Changling adjusted the glasses on her nose that were very conspicuous and didn’t match her dress or mask at all, and bowed her head, not wanting to attract attention.

“Sir, may I have this dance with you?”

This was already the fourth lady who had invited Xie Shang to dance.

He politely declined, “Sorry, I already have a dance partner.”

While Wen Changling was snacking, she sneakily glanced at Xie Shang turning down the ladies. The ladies who were rejected looked disappointed and reluctant to leave. Sometimes Wen Changling thought that it would be better if Xie Shang were a playboy who welcomed all comers, becoming a shared resource and a social welfare of its own kind.

“Are you here to eat?”

The cake Wen Changling was halfway through almost fell from her mouth, and she licked her lips in embarrassment. She did eat a bit too much, but the food at the masquerade ball was really delicious, with an exotic flavor she had never tasted, each piece made very small.

“Won’t you try some? They’re really tasty.”

Wen Changling picked up another piece of savory cake.

her, took a glass of wine, tasted only a sip, then put it down and sat there listlessly, doing nothing. Still, his mannerisms exuded a refined air of the scholarly gentry. However, his facial expressions were far from proper—elegant, at ease, graceful, casual, yet these

drink, looking for a place to sit, Xie Shang stood up, walked up to her,

been waiting for her

can’t dance,”

knows us here;

his back, he bowed slightly and extended his right hand, a gentleman’s polite invitation, “Miss Wen, may I

Changling hesitated for a moment

the boundaries between men and women, handling the distance with great care. The hand he placed on her waist didn’t actually touch

must have been very

had taught him

“Are you bored?”

looked

was easily drawn to his eyes—very beautiful, beyond comparison, so beautiful it might leave one at a loss for words. His

“You’re zoning out.”

on you smells really nice.” Without much thought,

and she had heard of it from

Xie Shang spoke very slowly, patiently enlightening her, “Its fragrance is hard to produce; it’s called hard-strip agarwood and requires burning to release the scent. However, the aroma is very dominant and takes

tea is a rarity

you really like

have an uncle who loves fragrances, and his dream is to become

grip on her hand

not

“Sorry.”

time Wen Changling stepped

“It’s alright.”

brushed it off with a smile, teaching her over and over again. Even though she

Wen Changling still hadn’t learned how to dance, but she had eaten her fill. After removing her mask, she carefully