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Li Tiange couldn’t stand the behavior of those two anymore. “Wei Yuanfang, you should tone it down. I haven’t heard that dance partners need your approval. And Wang Qian is so young. Are you trying to take advantage of her? Let me tell you, if you push us too far, we’ll seek help from the teachers. We won’t tolerate being labeled just because we can’t find dance partners. We all come from out of town, and we don’t know any guys. Let me make it clear – we don’t have male dance partners either. You figure it out.”
Li Tiange didn’t mince words, and the others in the dormitory agreed. Zhu Shan and Hu Lianduo were particularly supportive of Li Tiange’s stance.
“Dong Xuan, none of us have male dance partners. You figure it out. We’re in a tough spot too. We don’t know any guys, so maybe reconsider your dancing idea,” they expressed.
The unanimous dissent in the dormitory against bringing their own dance partners caught Dong Xuan and Wei Yuanfang off guard. They had hoped to manipulate the situation to bring these two individuals over, expecting widespread approval due to the general fascination with handsome guys. However, not only did Wang Qian disagree, but even the entire dormitory was against the idea. This left the scheming duo feeling uncertain.
Wang Qian glanced at the two and added, “Let me advise you both. If there are any more unreliable arrangements in the future, think about my age. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say you’re harming the country’s young ones. If such incidents occur again, I will refuse to participate. If baseless accusations arise, and the matter escalates to the department, it won’t reflect well on anyone.”
Wanting to prevent similar incidents in the future, Wang Qian felt the need to reiterate her stance. She couldn’t fathom why a class couldn’t simply celebrate New Year’s without all these complications. While it might be seen as lively, it also presented an opportunity for indulgence, especially in admiration of handsome guys.
Her words caught the two off guard. They hadn’t expected such a strong response from the young girl. However, if this matter were to escalate, their reputations would be at stake, considering their hidden intentions.
Quick to smooth things over, Dong Xuan spoke up, “Wang Qian, don’t worry. It was our oversight due to forgetting your younger age. We will consider everyone’s opinions carefully and ensure you are not put in a difficult position.”
Even with their scheming ways, they couldn’t ignore the disapproval and lack of support within their own dormitory. Despite their hidden motives, they had to consider everyone’s feelings at this point.
Eventually, news arrived that the idea of bringing dance partners was scrapped. Instead, they invited male students from other departments and some friends to the dance party. While the event couldn’t be canceled in Wang Qian’s eyes, she had zero interest in it.
Before New Year’s Day, Dong Xuan and her classmates collected some money to buy snacks for the event, which everyone seemed fine with.
As the New Year’s Eve party approached, the girls in the dorm began to dress up, except for Li Tiange and Wang Qian, who remained in their usual attire. Even those like Tian Chang, who typically didn’t bother much with appearance, got involved.
Wang Qian glanced at Li Tiange, and they exchanged a silent smile, engrossed in their books without saying a word.
“Why aren’t you two changing clothes?” Zhu Shan asked, noticing they hadn’t moved yet. They were about to head to the class, so why the lack of activity?
“Hehe, Sister Zhu, I don’t need to change. Look at my clothes; I keep wearing the same few pieces. Besides, I’m still young; no need for dressing up,” Wang Qian responded with a knowing look, indicating her age and lack of interest in meeting new guys didn’t necessitate a wardrobe change.
Li Tiange nodded from the top bunk, “Exactly. Wang Qian and I are in the same boat. We don’t have many clothes, just the same old ones. We’ll stick with this. You all can dress up nicely.”
Wang Qian glanced at her upper bunk and thought to herself that Li Tiange did indeed look quite good. Apart from her slightly tanned skin, her features were quite attractive. With a bit of grooming, she would likely outshine those two.
“Wang Qian, put the book down. Let me take you to the classroom to see who’s there today,” Li Tiange suggested, setting aside her book and leading Wang Qian out of the dorm. The chilly wind outside made Wang Qian instinctively pull her head back.
“On such a cold day, do you think Dong Xuan and the others in skirts aren’t feeling cold? I’m freezing just thinking about it,” Wang Qian remarked.
Chuckling, Li Tiange held her hand. “Whether they’re cold or not, they know best. Let’s just go check out the scene. Stick with me; don’t wander off if anyone calls you.”
Li Tiange felt the girls in the dorm might not be as kind-hearted, so she made sure to keep an eye on Wang Qian. She was determined to protect this lovely girl, knowing her qualities. They found a discreet spot in the classroom, sitting where they wouldn’t be easily noticed, even if someone wanted to ask them to dance.
As the party commenced, with various announcements, the male students from their class and other departments began inviting girls to dance. However, Wang Qian couldn’t shake the feeling that the friends Dong Xuan had invited seemed off. They appeared to be treating the dance as a place to seek out attractive girls, especially with Wei Yuanfang seeming to engage in secretive conversations with one of them, giving Wang Qian a sense of unease.
“Tiange, my stomach hurts. Can you accompany me to the restroom?” Wang Qian had to come up with a quick excuse to get Li Tiange out, especially after she had stood up for her the day before. Her instinct told her to bring Li Tiange along.
Li Tiange wasn’t oblivious. Her eyes had scanned the classroom, sensing that something was amiss. When Wang Qian mentioned feeling unwell, she promptly informed the class leader and stepped out with her.
Seeing them about to leave, Dong Xuan and Wei Yuanfang hurriedly stopped Li Tiange. “Where are you two going? The music is about to start. Dance first before leaving.”
Wang Qian turned around, holding her stomach in discomfort, and said, “I need to use the restroom. Something I ate isn’t sitting right. I can’t wait. Tiange, please help me.”
Feigning urgency, Wang Qian indicated she couldn’t wait any longer. Dong Xuan, somewhat disdainfully, waved them off. “Hurry up and come back.”
They left the classroom, but Wang Qian didn’t head to the restroom. Instead, she guided Li Tiange out of the school building.
“Tiange, have you also noticed that something seems off?”
Li Tiange allowed herself to be led along without speaking, leading Wang Qian to speculate.
“Yeah, those guys seem sketchy, with a real thug-like appearance. Probably some playboys or troublemakers. Wei Yuanfang and her crew may not dare to slight them, but I suspect they might be connected to some privileged or official families,” Li Tiange surmised accurately, aligning with Wang Qian’s suspicions.
“We can’t control their actions. Let’s leave them to their own devices. Tiange, let’s go out for a walk. How about I take you to my place? Tomorrow’s a holiday, it might be hard to explain once we go back but you could say you’re taking me to the hospital. They won’t have an excuse to question us,” Wang Qian suggested.
It was the first time Wang Qian had invited someone from the dorm to her home. After spending considerable time together, she found Li Tiange to be a good person, loyal and intelligent. Given today’s events, she believed that Li Tiange deserved to see a glimpse of her life. Feeling grateful for Li Tiange’s kindness, Wang Qian saw no reason to keep secrets. She decided to take her home to avoid witnessing the unsavory characters at the event.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Li Tiange hesitated, “Wang Qian, I haven’t bought any gifts. Is it appropriate to visit empty-handed?”
“There’s nothing inappropriate. We’re classmates and friends. No need for gifts. Just bring me some delicious treats next time you visit your home,” Wang Qian reassured her.
Without hesitation, Wang Qian pulled Li Tiange out of the school gate and boarded a bus heading home.
Back in the classroom, Dong Xuan and Wei Yuanfang were waiting for them, planning to reprimand the two for their absence. However, they were surprised when Wang Qian and Li Tiange didn’t return even after a long time spent in the restroom.
Growing impatient, Wei Yuanfang went outside to look for them but couldn’t find any trace of the two. Frustrated, she returned to the classroom, visibly annoyed.
Noticing Wei Yuanfang’s demeanor, Dong Xuan discreetly pulled her aside to inquire about Wang Qian and Li Tiange’s whereabouts.
“Frustratingly, I searched around but couldn’t find them anywhere. No idea where they’ve gone,” Wei Yuanfang complained.
Dong Xuan calmly surveyed the others in the dorm, seeing them engaged in their activities. It seemed they were unaware of where Wang Qian and Li Tiange had disappeared to.
“Let’s not dwell on it. They’ll show up eventually. Right now, let’s focus on welcoming our guests properly. They’re all friends, and we mustn’t neglect their presence,” Dong Xuan suggested.