Chapter 453: The Alt Account Appears |
“Zhaozhao, why are you wearing a bunny costume too?” Qin Yunhan glanced over in surprise.
“Sister Yunhan, I guess we just have that kind of connection,” Mu Zhaozhao said sweetly, playing cute. “We must’ve thought alike.”
She wouldn’t admit the truth, of course.
Wen Jing, who stood beside them, understood what was going on. Since she and Zhaozhao were close classmates, she had no intention of exposing her and definitely wouldn’t create trouble for Wang Haoran either.
Zhaozhao’s gaze swept to the side and landed on Xu Muyan. “Wait… you two are wearing the same thing too?”
Qin Yunhan and Xu Muyan normally didn’t get along. Seeing them dressed alike definitely seemed off to her.
“We got a discount for buying two,” Qin Yunhan explained casually. “It was to save money.”
Zhaozhao rolled her eyes. “Sister Yunhan, a rich heiress like you, actually worries about saving money? Yeah right. I don’t believe that for a second.”
Her body might not have absorbed much nutrition, but her brain worked just fine. There was no way this was as simple as Qin Yunhan made it sound. There had to be a story here.
“You’re wearing the same thing too?” Qin Yunhan and Xu Muyan spoke in unison as they turned to Yu Shiqing.
Ever since Yu Shiqing got close to Qin Yunhan, she gradually became part of their small friend group. Seeing them gathered here in the gym, she naturally came over to join them.
“I just picked it randomly. I didn’t mean to match with you guys.” Yu Shiqing blinked, a bit surprised to see she was dressed just like them.
She remembered what Wang Haoran told her and kept their connection secret to avoid provoking the other girls. So she casually lied and brushed it off.
The five of them stood together, exchanging glances with confusion in their eyes. All of them wore bunny outfits, complete with rabbit ear headbands, and each one looked striking in her own way.
Among them, Yu Shiqing drew the most attention by far. Her beauty, elegance, and figure were off the charts. Wen Jing was undeniably attractive too, but compared to the others, she didn’t stand out quite as much and attracted the least attention.
“What’s going on? All four of the first-year campus belles are wearing bunny outfits?”
“They’re clearly close. Must’ve planned this together.”
“Yu Shiqing is just too beautiful. She’s like a living goddess.”
“Mu Zhaozhao’s bunny costume is the cutest though.”
Around them, the male students were buzzing with excitement, discussing the group of girls animatedly.
Suddenly, a wave of excited screams from nearby girls drowned out the boys’ chatter.
“Whoa, school hunk Wang is here!”
Everyone turned toward the gym entrance and saw Wang Haoran walking in.
He wore his usual casual clothes, except for a gray cartoon wolf hat perched on his head. It looked like he wasn’t taking the costume part very seriously.
But that didn’t dampen his popularity one bit. The moment he stepped in, all eyes locked on him.
His gaze swept across the crowd, and it didn’t take long to spot the girls. Their coordinated outfits made them stand out even more.
Seeing them, he immediately regretted suggesting that costume to each of them. Hopefully, they wouldn’t catch on.
He whispered a silent prayer and moved a little closer, stopping around six or seven meters away from them. With a calm smile, he looked toward their group.
Each girl assumed he was smiling at her, and all of them smiled back.
Wang Haoran saw their responses and felt relieved. Everything still seemed under control. He didn’t get any closer or speak to them, though. One wrong word could blow the whole situation apart.
As he pondered his next move, Liu Yue appeared and started walking straight toward him.
His eyes shifted.
She wore a sleek, elegant black evening dress with refined makeup and long, soft waves cascading down her back. Her heels clicked against the gym floor as she approached, full of allure and confidence.
She looked nothing like the stern, no-nonsense professor she was in class.
“What are you even dressed as?” she asked, raising a brow when her eyes landed on his hat.
“Big bad wolf. Can’t you tell?” Wang Haoran tapped the hat with a grin.
“And why the big bad wolf?” Her eyes wandered, pausing when she noticed the girls in bunny outfits nearby. “Ah, let me guess—you want to eat those little bunnies?”
“You figured it out that easily?” Wang Haoran looked surprised.
“Enough joking. Where is he?” Liu Yue glanced around, her nerves showing.
“Who?” Wang Haoran pretended not to understand.
“Drop the act. You asked me to come to this party. Don’t tell me your master didn’t arrange this?”
“You really are sharp, Professor Liu.” Wang Haoran played along and praised her as if she’d seen through a scheme.
“Of course.” She straightened a little with pride, but her unease quickly returned. “So where is he?”
“He should be on his way. Just wait a bit.” Wang Haoran checked the time with a calm expression.
The ball officially began shortly after.
Not many students actually danced. Most of them came for the food or just to watch. The event mainly served as a social gathering, meant to help students from departments with skewed gender ratios to meet others. But very few of these interactions ever led anywhere.
What people really came for was the food, which was abundant and completely free, thanks to the school’s sponsorship.
“I’m heading to the restroom,” Wang Haoran suddenly said to Liu Yue.
She barely acknowledged him, distracted and still scanning the crowd for any sign of the mysterious man she expected to appear.
Several male professors came over and tried to invite her to dance, but she turned them all down and kept searching.
Time passed, and her neck started to ache from all the looking. Still, there was no sign of anyone suspicious.
Anxiety welled up in her chest.
Then came a voice behind her.
“May I have the honor of a dance, beautiful lady?”
She froze in place.
The deep, magnetic voice struck a familiar chord. She heard it many times over the phone. That distinct tone and rhythm—there was no mistaking it.
Her heart thudded wildly as she reached up and tucked a few loose waves behind her ear. Slowly, nervously, she turned to look over her shoulder.
A tall figure stood there, coming into view through her wide, glistening eyes.