Taking advantage of Xia Sanghuan's momentary daze, Lin Shan gently pushed her in the direction of Leng Chuanjin.
"Go on quickly."
Looking at the man in front of her, the girl hesitated and glanced back at Mrs. Leng.
However, before she could back out, Leng Chuanjin had already stepped forward.
He bent slightly, extending his right hand palm - up, and said to the girl gentlemanly,
"May I have this dance, beautiful lady?"
He still had his usual expressionless face, but there was a distinct difference from before.
If he had merely looked cold when facing Leng Wanqing earlier, now, when facing Xia Sanghuan, he was completely doting.
Even his voice was much softer.
This made the young ladies who had mocked Xia Sanghuan earlier couldn't help but murmur.
What exactly was the relationship between Miss Fu and Young Master Leng?
Just a while ago, after Xia Sanghuan was led upstairs by Lin Shan, Leng Chuanjin followed closely behind and pushed the door open.
He looked extremely grim, as if he was about to throw everyone present out at any moment.
Thankfully, he didn't do that. Instead, like all the invited guests, he walked in slowly and stood still beside Leng Wanqing.
He turned his head and gave his younger sister a cold look. He didn't say a word, but his eyes seemed to convey everything.
Leng Wanqing felt a chill down her spine under his gaze, and a sense of fear welled up in her heart.
Her originally arrogant and overbearing expression could barely be maintained when her mother returned, but after seeing her elder brother, she instantly deflated like a punctured balloon and couldn't muster any energy.
Remembering the punishment her elder brother had given her because of Xia Sanghuan before, she instantly regretted it.
What should she do?
She thought she had hidden things well enough, so why did it still turn out like this?
She glanced at Xia Anying beside her.
This woman seemed completely oblivious to her unease. Instead, she was boldly winking at her elder brother without a care in the world.
Leng Wanqing gritted her teeth in anger, but to maintain her image, she had to swallow her resentment.
Leng Chuanjin's cold and untouchable aura didn't stop him from being the focus of all the women at the party. For a moment, all the women present were looking at him with infatuation.
In the social circle, there was a well - known fact.
That was, Young Master Leng of the Leng family never danced with anyone when attending banquets.
No, it should be said that he never even brought a female companion.
Even so, these women still secretly hoped and fantasized that he would invite them as his dance partner.
However, their hopes were shattered when Xia Sanghuan appeared.
They watched as the girl who had looked so dowdy before was now wearing a dress they had never seen before. Like an angel, she slowly walked down the stairs.
And Leng Chuanjin had broken his long - standing rule for this girl and invited her to dance his first dance in years.
Xia Sanghuan stared at the man in front of her blankly, and then he grabbed her hand without hesitation.
The slow and melodious music started playing just in time, marking the beginning of the ball.
People around them formed a circle, and they were in the center of it, moving their steps to the music.
The girl could clearly feel that the looks of the young ladies in the crowd had gradually changed from mockery to envy and jealousy.
Leng Chuanjin held her waist and leaned down slightly, whispering,
"Can you dance?"
The girl shook her head and answered honestly,
"No."
She had never attended any large - scale gatherings in her life, so how could she know how to dance?
The only memory she had about dancing was when Xia Laosi had insisted on sending her and Xia Anying to a dance class run by an aunt at the village entrance when she was a child.
However, that dance class only lasted for two weeks before the aunt closed it.
She thought that after her second brother heard her answer, he would find an opportunity to take her off the dance floor.
But unexpectedly, he just nodded and then started dancing with her.
"It's okay."
"I'll lead you."
The man's voice was deep, like an elegant cello.
He was so close to her that it seemed as if he was breathing in her ear.
Her face blushed involuntarily, but before she could feel shy, she was distracted by the complicated dance steps.
Leng Chuanjin had chosen the simplest type of ballroom dance to suit her.
Thankfully, during her high - school years, the school had organized such activities, and she had learned a little back then.
But three years had passed, and she had almost forgotten all the steps.
When she accidentally stepped on her second brother's foot for the third time, she took a step back involuntarily.
"Don't be afraid."
Noticing her unease, he pulled her back into his arms.
"It's all right."
He comforted her softly and became even more careful in his movements, as if she were a fragile glass object.
Lin Shan, who was standing on the periphery watching them, had a content and gratified smile on her face.
When the song ended, Mrs. Leng was the first to clap.
Following her lead, others also started to clap.
For a moment, the applause thundered.
Leng Chuanjin looked down at Xia Sanghuan, then let go of her hand, took two steps back, and bowed to her.
The girl was stunned for a moment, then imitated him, lifted her skirt, and curtsied to him.
Just as she turned around to leave, several girls suddenly rushed out.
Holding their skirts, they all rushed towards Leng Chuanjin.
And in the lead was Xia Anying.
"Mr. Leng, please dance with me!"
Xia Anying stood still in front of the man and awkwardly curtsied to him, looking so ugly that even Leng Wanqing didn't want to admit knowing her.
The other young ladies who had been pushed behind her rolled their eyes so hard.
Even Xia Sanghuan turned around to see how Leng Chuanjin would react.
After all, no one would refuse a girl's invitation in public.
Moreover, her second brother was a gentleman with good manners.
Xia Anying probably thought the same way, so she looked extremely confident now.
Just when everyone thought Young Master Leng of the Leng family would agree, Leng Chuanjin simply said,
"I decline."
His voice was not loud, but it was loud enough for everyone present to hear.
Suddenly, the whole hall fell into an awkward silence.
To avoid laughing out loud, Xia Sanghuan quickly walked towards Mrs. Leng, who was waving at her.
The other young ladies also covered their faces with their fans and secretly laughed at Xia Anying.
Seeing that Young Master Leng had refused this woman, the other girls were not to be outdone and stepped forward.
"Mr. Leng, please dance with me..."
However, this time, Leng Chuanjin didn't even wait for them to finish their sentences before he simply walked around them.