Being around these young women, Ji Li’s smile unknowingly grew brighter. "It’s just emotional expression. Many dance students can do it."

"I think... everyone seems to emphasize the movements but forgets about the eyes," one of the girls said, propping her chin on her hand. "That saying, ’letting your eyes do the talking’—that must be what you were just doing, right?"

Ruan Tang clutched the pearl like a treasure. "Our Ali is the best! I used to think you were just all kinds of beautiful and ethereal, Ali. Only now do I realize you have this side to you, too."

"I swear, if a beauty like you were to spare me a single glance, I’d be willing to offer up my entire life and fortune."

Ji Li ruffled Ruan Tang’s hair. "You can’t say that. I still have many shortcomings. What would I do with your life and fortune? As long as you’re living well and are happy every day, that’s enough for me."

After having dinner with the young women and seeing them off in a taxi, Ji Li tightened her trench coat and started walking slowly back toward her hotel. To her, the dance was over and done with, but she had no idea that the internet was already buzzing with excitement.

Everyone was on short-video apps these days, and the restaurant Ji Li had visited was a popular "internet-famous" spot with a huge local reputation. When she went up to dance, countless people had raised their phones to record her, some even uploading the videos on the spot.

At first, people didn’t think it was Ji Li, since her style was so different from her usual image. But soon enough, they confirmed it really was her, and the internet exploded with activity.

Ji Li was a little surprised. "I just performed one dance. It can’t be that big of a deal, can it?"

"’Not that big of a deal?’ It’s because the contrast tonight was too great! It’s only natural that people can’t believe it." Tan You laughed. "I didn’t expect you to actually participate, let alone perform a dance like that."

Ji Li pulled the collar of her trench coat up higher. "Actually, I wanted to perform ’A Thousand Charms,’ but the stage, my outfit, and everything else weren’t right. I would never perform that dance in a setting like this. What do you think about me performing ’A Thousand Charms’ properly when I get back? Tonight’s performance felt a bit half-hearted in the end."

Tan You replied, "You could, but a dance like that needs a professional stage. If you just do it in a dance studio, it will undoubtedly feel a little lackluster."

Ji Li said, "I’ll look for a professional stage when I get back."

Tan You said, "Before you perform that dance, shouldn’t you reply to your fans first? Everyone is curious why you performed a dance like this and what the story is behind it."

Ji Li took out her phone. "Alright, I’ll go check in with Ruan Tang."

Tan You said, "That young lady has already posted a short video. You can just reply to it directly. She’s quite savvy, worried that you might get some hate."

Ji Li put on a straight face. "Don’t you look younger than her? And you’re calling her a ’young lady’?"

Tan You was unconcerned. "I forgot. I’m mentally older."

Instead of rushing back to the hotel, Ji Li sat down on the edge of a roadside planter and replied to Ruan Tang right then and there. The moment she confirmed it was her, her fans went wild. The general consensus was a demand for Ji Li to release a proper video, formally performing the dance from that night.

Ji Li laughed and replied, "There’s no point in repeating the same dance. I’ll perform a new one in a few days."

A fan pressed, "Still in the same style?"

Ji Li thought for a moment before replying, "It’s this style, but it’s a classical dance. Just wait and see."

It would have been better if she hadn’t replied at all; her response only fueled everyone’s curiosity. But after that, Ji Li refused to reveal any more details. All everyone could do was wait patiently.

While things were buzzing on Ji Li’s side, Wen Zhe’s situation was no less eventful. As everyone knows, a wedding with young people in attendance is bound to be lively, especially since Wen Zhe hadn’t seen his old roommates and classmates in a long time.

After the newlyweds made their toasts, the old classmates started chatting about everything under the sun. Those not part of the conversation focused on scrolling through short videos—it seemed to be what everyone did with a spare moment these days.

As a major streamer on the platform, Ji Li’s reach was undeniably massive. She was especially well-known among her university classmates, since she was the only one who had built such a successful career as a streamer after graduation.

And so, one of the classmates happened to come across a video of Ji Li.

The classmate was puzzled. "Ji Li is in this city, too? Wen Zhe, you haven’t been in touch with her?"

"How could Ji Li be here? Hasn’t she been holed up in her little mountain village?"

"There’s no way I’m mistaken. I’ve been following this restaurant for a long time. I was even planning to check it out tomorrow after the wedding. It has great reviews online."

"You know, that mountain village must really agree with her. Ji Li didn’t seem this beautiful before, but looking at her now, she’s like a fairy."

"That’s Ji Li? You’re telling me that’s Ji Li?" A guy next to him leaned over to look, his eyes immediately widening. "This... she’s so different, isn’t she? Just watching this makes me feel... flustered."

"You mean your heart is racing and you’re blushing, right? I feel a little embarrassed just watching." The classmate whose phone had been snatched took it back and replayed the video from the beginning. "You know, it’s true what they say. You don’t have to wear less to be sexy and alluring."

"It’s mainly her eyes. One look from those peach blossom eyes of hers, and you’d probably feel like your bones have turned to jelly, right?"

Wen Zhe was completely bewildered by the conversation. Perhaps the confusion on his face was too obvious, because the guy who had started the topic generously shared the video with him. "Here. Just saw this. I always thought Ji Li could only do those ethereal, fairy-like dances. I never knew she had this side to her."

The moment Wen Zhe tapped play on the video, he was mesmerized. He couldn’t hear a word anyone said after that. After watching it several times and then scrolling through the comments below, Wen Zhe just felt a wave of irritation and confusion.

But of course, someone just had to ask him, "Why haven’t you contacted Ji Li? It’s rare for everyone to be in the same city. It’d be fun to get together."

Wen Zhe grew even more annoyed. He pushed his chair back. "I’m going to the restroom."

As soon as he left, the people at the table exchanged glances. "Well, Wen Zhe’s definitely feeling uncomfortable now."

"That just goes to show he has no taste. Everyone could see the way Ji Li used to look at him back then. And now look. How well is she doing for herself? I’d love to live a life like that, so carefree."

"She was smart to cut her losses, and she had the guts to do it. It just goes to show, the moment a woman stops wasting her energy on a man, she starts to shine."

"We could all see that Ji Li liked him. You think Wen Zhe couldn’t tell? He’s had so many girlfriends, he’s an old pro by now. How could he not know what a girl is thinking?"

"The way I see it, he was just playing dumb, deliberately stringing Ji Li along. And now look..."

The classmate was getting into his rant when the guy next to him gave him a tug. He immediately shut his mouth, then broke into a smile when he turned and saw Wen Zhe. "Wen Zhe, hey, come sit down. Yifeng even hired a live band for the wedding today..."

Wen Zhe was also all smiles. "Great. I’ve never seen a live band perform before."