21 Julia's Invitation

Attending the dance party was not something Clayton actually wanted to do. However, Julia, the spoiled girl who usually quarreled with him, had started calling him a friend. The girl who used to bully him and compare social statuses now seemed to want to befriend him.

“A dance? Crazy! Why did I even agree to this?” Calvin muttered, lost in thought.

Not wanting to dwell on it, Calvin hurried to his part-time job. As usual, the café where he worked was already bustling with customers. He put on his apron and started his duties—cleaning tables and serving orders efficiently. While his hands were busy, his mind kept drifting back to Julia and the dance party invitation.

When break time arrived, Calvin went to the small break room at the back of the café. There, Bao Yu was already waiting for him with an eager expression.

“Hey, Calvin! How’s your proposal going? Is it done yet?” Bao Yu greeted him while sipping her chocolate milk.

Calvin sat beside her, his enthusiasm returning as he smiled.

“Luckily, you’re here, Bao Yu.”

“Why? Don’t tell me you missed me?” Bao Yu teased with a disgusted look.

“Ugh, you! Listen, I’m thinking of using the app you developed to support my new business proposal," Calvin explained.

Bao Yu was surprised, but her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Seriously? Are you really going to use my app? Does this mean I'll get a big investor for my development project if you win?” she asked.

“If you’re serious about growing your startup, you could become my business partner,” Calvin replied.

“Wow! That’s great, Calvin. I hope you win! I’ll support you!” Bao Yu cheered.

Calvin nodded. “So, my concept is to combine the mood detection from your app with food recommendations. It'll be like a food delivery service that suggests orders based on the customer’s facial expression,” he explained.

“Really? Hmm, I think I need to do a lot of development for that. I also need a development team,” Bao Yu said thoughtfully.

“Yeah, you should work on that later.”

Bao Yu smiled proudly, then joked, “But remember, if your business proposal fails, I won’t wait for you, Calvin. My IT technology is very valuable—I’ll find a richer investor!”

“Oh yeah? I’ll block that investor!” Calvin retorted.

They laughed together. Calvin felt more relaxed thanks to Bao Yu’s uplifting presence.

But suddenly, Bao Yu looked at him seriously. "By the way, how are your college friends? Do they still bully you?"

Calvin hesitated for a moment before answering, "Actually, something weird happened. It’s about a girl.”

Bao Yu raised an eyebrow curiously. “Okay, spill it! What about her?”

“Let’s just call her Miss J.”

“A code name, huh? Alright, go on!” Bao Yu held back a laugh.

“She usually bullies me and compares my social status with others, but today she invited me to a dance party. She wants me to be her partner, apologized to me, and said she wants to be friends.”

“And?”

“I agreed.”

Bao Yu looked at Calvin in shock. "What? You just believed her like that? Calvin, this could be a trap. She might want to use you as an easy target for humiliation at the party!"

Calvin scratched his head. "I don’t know... she seemed sincere."

Bao Yu sighed deeply. "Look at it realistically. You need to be more cautious. Don’t let yourself get humiliated in front of everyone."

Calvin nodded slowly. "You might be right. But I already promised, so I have to go."

“Do you even have the right clothes?” Bao Yu asked.

“Clothes? For what?”

“The dance party!”

“Can’t I just wear regular clothes?”

“Oh my God! I’m pretty sure she’ll totally humiliate you if you don’t even prepare the right outfit!”

Calvin smiled awkwardly. “Well... I’ve never been to an event like that before.”

Bao Yu shook her head. “Okay, listen to me. I have a plan to help you. First, we need to find the right outfit. You have to look cool so you won’t become a laughingstock. Second, I’ll give you some dance lessons!”

“Do you even know how to dance?” Calvin asked doubtfully.

Bao Yu grinned proudly. “Of course! You didn’t know? I used to win all sorts of dance competitions. I was the first-place winner at the Golden Steps Modern Dance Championship, and I even earned the Best Performer title at the Velmont Dance Cup. I was also a finalist in the Star Rhythm Championship.”

Calvin was stunned. “Wow, I never expected you to have so much experience.”

Bao Yu chuckled. “Well, now it’s time for me to use my skills to save you from embarrassment.”

***

That night, the stars appeared dimmer at Theodore University. It was because the auditorium lights had been turned up to their brightest, transformed into a ballroom for the annual dance party. The atmosphere was filled with excitement, as students who usually came dressed casually for their studies were now transformed into charming princes and princesses.

The women dazzled in elegant evening gowns, sparkling with jewelry that caught everyone’s attention. Meanwhile, the men wore high-quality suits, perfectly matched ties, and polished leather shoes.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, there were two people who were even busier at the entrance — Julia and Imelda. They looked impatient, passionately debating who would win their bet.

"If Calvin shows up, I’m definitely winning," Julia said, her eyes shining with confidence.

"If he shows up, that means he’s an idiot! He won’t come!" Imelda replied.

"Don’t you know that Calvin is that dumb? He won’t realize that this is a show-off event for rich students. I’m sure he’ll come and embarrass himself," Julia said confidently.

"So, you mean I’ll have to pay for a car for you?"

"Of course! That’s the deal!"

"Hmm, it’s fine. I’ve got plenty of cars. But if he really does show up, I’m curious what kind of outfit he’ll wear. Will it be his old jacket and a shabby T-shirt?" Imelda giggled.

"Definitely!"

"Then, will you still dance with him?"

"Of course not! I have taste!" Julia replied with disdain.

Not long after, Calvin walked in calmly, wearing a perfectly fitted black suit, paired with an elegant maroon tie. His neatly cut hair, with a fade on the sides and a bit of volume on top, only added to his appealing, masculine charm. His polished black leather shoes completed his perfect look.

Julia and Imelda’s eyes widened in disbelief as they stared at Calvin, completely mesmerized. His appearance was far from what they had imagined, much more stylish and luxurious than they expected, leaving them speechless for a moment.

"Julia, I can’t believe my eyes!" Imelda exclaimed, in awe.