I didn’t see Yin Li after that . Originally, I had planned to wake up early the next day to check up on him, but when I went to look for him I was met with an empty bed . Strangely, I felt a little disappointed . But I stifled these feelings and the end, I didn’t take the initiative to contact Yin Li .

To my surprise, Wei Yan called me several times . He was currently translating a recipe that incorporated imported foods from France and asked me about a few unusual terms . But unexpectedly, this handful of calls would later give me a huge headache .

I don’t know what rumor Wei Yan’s girlfriend, Su Lin Lin, had caught wind of, but when Monday rolled around she and her whole posse of friends sought me out . Su Lin Lin laughed as she said, “Yan Xiao, today’s my birthday . I’m inviting the whole cla.s.s out to celebrate, and I especially wanted to thank you for helping my Wei Yan out yesterday . That’s just how he is; his French is spotty here and there . If it weren’t for you, he probably would’ve been too busy today to remember my birthday gift . ” As she spoke, she feigned an air of nonchalance to glance down at the Hermès bag in her hand . Then she shyly lifted her head, and with a modest look on her face she smiled embarra.s.sedly at me .

“Happy Birthday! It’s a pity I didn’t know, I didn’t prepare anything for you today . ”

Su Lin Lin smiled magnanimously . “It’s no big deal . Just your presence is enough . Besides, helping out Wei Yan is the same as helping me out . That’s the best birthday gift I could ask for . ”

Once she left, Wu Mei, who had been next to me the whole time, tugged on my sleeve . “Be careful . She’s definitely got something planned to trip you up with tonight . Su Lin Lin’s jealousy is legendary . Last semester, Liu Lan Lan and Wei Yan were collaborating on a short skit for French cla.s.s and rehea.r.s.ed together . There were a couple of times where Lan Lan bought food for Wei Yan and, as a result, Su Lin Lin used her family connections to toss out Lan Lan’s spot in a year-long exchange program to France . ”

Even though Su Lin Lin’s conduct earlier clearly looked as if she was staking her claim on Wei Yan, anyone with a brain could tell that there was also a little provocation . But I didn’t really care . After all, what on earth could she trip me up with?

But that evening, contrary to my expectations, Su Lin Lin didn’t bring out Wei Yan . In fact, she didn’t invite a single male cla.s.smate . She said only that it was to be a “girls’ party” and invited all the female students in the cla.s.s . Her family’s chauffeurs drove a fleet of cars to ferry everyone to a fancy clubhouse . Upon seeing the name of the clubhouse, everyone started whispering .

“Oh my gosh it’s Palace! I thought only people working in finance and trade could enter? They even have a members.h.i.+p system where you’re only invited if your annual income is high enough . ”

“What does Su Lin Lin’s family do? Can we really enter?”

Su Lin Lin seemed to have already antic.i.p.ated our doubt . She just confidently smiled . Tonight, she wore an evening gown studded with gems and rhinestones, looking refined and gorgeous . After exchanging a few words with the attendant at the door, she brought everyone in with her . As the group walked in, some girls were already sighing in admiration at the hallway’s interior design . And those walking around the main lounge all wore wors.h.i.+pful expressions as they stared at the high society around them .

After pa.s.sing through two hallways and making a turn, the lighting grew dimmer . This place was set up like a bar . In the shadowy room, Su Lin Lin turned around and revealed a smile . “Tonight we aren’t doing the truths in truth or dare, we’re jumping directly to the dares . Everyone, party your heart out!”1

After pa.s.sing through two hallways and making a turn, the lighting grew dimmer . This place was set up like a bar . In the shadowy room, Su Lin Lin turned around and revealed a smile . “Tonight we aren’t doing the truths in truth or dare, we’re jumping directly to the dares . Everyone, party your heart out!”1

1 不醉不歸 is an idiom that translates literally to “to not go home until drunk” …Yeah it shouldn’t be too hard to guess its meaning .

Her smile seemed to turn sinister under the dim lights and my hairs stood on end . I prayed that I wouldn’t fall into her clutches .

“Aiya, Yan Xiao, it’s your loss . This time it’s my turn to penalize you!” A pity the heavens never listen to mortal prayers . Su Lin Lin looked at me like a fox that had caught the rabbit, and I knew things weren’t going to go well . We had played cards to determine who would decide and who would do the dare, and I knew I wasn’t her match in cards .

“What dare should I give you…” Su Lin Lin stirred the cherry in her wine gla.s.s . She bit her lip and pasted an awkward expression on her face . “How about this . Do you see the man in grey sitting at the bar over there? Go up and confess your love to him, then give him a kiss on the lips . ”

My heart shook with fear2 as I looked for the man she described, but then magically it settled down . This was because, through the noisy and blurred crowd, I spotted Yin Li .

2 心驚肉跳 (“heart frightened, body leaping”) is an idiom that means “to feel scared in the face of disaster” .

2 心驚肉跳 (“heart frightened, body leaping”) is an idiom that means “to feel scared in the face of disaster” .

He wasn’t the man in grey that Su Lin Lin had singled out . That guy looked like a frivolous dandy, and his gaze flitted to and fro, as if he were looking hunting for his next prey . But Yin Li was different . His suit jacket had two b.u.t.tons open and he looked composed and at ease . He was currently alone, leaning against the counter in a corner of the bar, nursing a drink . It looked like he had just concluded some business negotiations and was taking a break to unwind . Yet he also seemed to give off an aura that dissuaded people from approaching . Two girls came up and tried to hit on him, but seeing that he paid them no interest, they felt it was dull and left .

I turned to look at Su Lin Lin . She had finally revealed a c.o.c.ky expression on her face that seemed to antic.i.p.ate a good show . She must have been familiar with the people at this club, and purposefully pointed out the man in grey for me . That man must be some famous playboy3 in these circles . If I really went to confess and kiss him, people would think I was some cheap girl who threw myself at anything that moved . Now that would cause me endless trouble .

3 花花公子 (“Flowery Prince”) is slang for a playboy

I smiled at Su Lin Lin: “That man in grey is no challenge . The man behind him drinking by himself seems to be more difficult . ”

Su Lin Lin looked at Yin Li and snorted . “That’s obvious, that’s the Yin family’s eldest son . Of course he would be more difficult . He can’t even be bothered to speak to those on my level, not to mention someone like you . He’s at the tipsy-top of the pyramid, you got it? If you want to go try your hand at confessing and kissing him, I won’t object, and I’ll also consider it as you completing the dare . ”

“Su Lin Lin, don’t be like this . We can’t afford to offend anyone here . Let Yan Xiao drink a few gla.s.ses of some nasty concoction we throw together, or let her eat some straight wasabi, and let’s call it a day,” Wu Mei promptly advised . She looked at me with some worry, hoping that Su Lin Lin would change her mind . At the same time, she also gave me a meaningful look, hoping that I’d admit defeat . Then we could both back off and resolve the situation .

Su Lin Lin looked at Yin Li and snorted . “That’s obvious, that’s the Yin family’s eldest son . Of course he would be more difficult . He can’t even be bothered to speak to those on my level, not to mention someone like you . He’s at the tipsy-top of the pyramid, you got it? If you want to go try your hand at confessing and kissing him, I won’t object, and I’ll also consider it as you completing the dare . ”

“Su Lin Lin, don’t be like this . We can’t afford to offend anyone here . Let Yan Xiao drink a few gla.s.ses of some nasty concoction we throw together, or let her eat some straight wasabi, and let’s call it a day,” Wu Mei promptly advised . She looked at me with some worry, hoping that Su Lin Lin would change her mind . At the same time, she also gave me a meaningful look, hoping that I’d admit defeat . Then we could both back off and resolve the situation .

Su Lin Lin seemed to antic.i.p.ate that I would admit defeat, and currently was looking down her nose at me . 4

4 居高臨下 (“live high, look down”) is an idiom that means “to look down on others based on one’s higher social standing” .

I gratefully smiled at Wu Mei, and then finished off my c.o.c.ktail . “So what? I’ll do it, plant a kiss on Yin family’s eldest son for all of you to see . ”

Despite hearing Wu Mei worriedly call out, “Yan Xiao come back, you’ve had too much to drink,” I valiantly strode on forwards to a.s.sault Yin Li .