Chapter 78
The guy had this fair skin that was smooth and kinda glowing. His long, slightly curled lashes looked like tiny fans, casting soft shadows on his eyelids.
He had this subtle, elegant scent that you just couldn't ignore, making folks wanna take a few extra sniffs.
With a slight tilt of his head and a playful sparkle in his eyes, he gently patted Henry on the shoulder, his voice teasing. "Henry, you finally showed up. Thought you were gonna ditch me. The party's been rolling for a while, and I've been waiting for you. Took your sweet time, huh?"
Henry replied, "Yeah, been crazy busy lately."
He flashed a perfectly timed smile, his tone a bit apologetic. Then he casually wrapped an arm around Sophia's waist, pulling her forward as he introduced her, "Oh, let me introduce you to my dance partner, Sophia Brown."
His hand rested on Sophia's waist, casual but with a hidden intention, his eyes showing a hint of pride.
Turning to Sophia, Henry continued, "This is my college buddy, Chris Walker. We went to the same university."
As he spoke, he slightly turned his body, signaling Sophia with his eyes.
"Yep, same university." Chris lifted his chin slightly, a trace of pride in his eyes. "But I studied dance, while Henry's field was a bit more... boring."
He covered his mouth with a light laugh, stealing a glance at Sophia. "Just so you know, he studied forensic science, Sophia. I can't imagine how someone as beautiful as you ended up with him. Aren't you afraid..."
He dragged out the last word, his eyes filled with teasing ambiguity as he looked at Sophia.
Henry's face instantly darkened, his brows furrowing tightly like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. He coughed lightly, his voice low but carrying a warning. "Cut it out, Chris. I've been single for a while now. Do you want me to stay single forever? Chris, do you think my preferences are the same as yours?"
His eyes showed a hint of anger as he glared at Chris.
Chris's face flashed with a mix of embarrassment and dissatisfaction, but he didn't dare to push too far. He huffed, pretending to be angry. "Henry, I'm just trying to help set the mood, and this is the thanks I get?" He exaggeratedly pouted, but his eyes carried a playful glint.
As the two bantered, Sophia quietly observed Chris's every move.
From his behavior, tone, and the way he looked at Henry, Sophia had a pretty good guess about Chris's identity.
Most likely, Chris was gay but didn't want others to know.
Sophia pondered this silently, maintaining a calm expression as she nodded slightly, concluding, "Indeed, Henry's friends are quite unique."
Her tone carried a hint of teasing, but her eyes were scrutinizing.
Just then, a commotion erupted nearby. A champagne cart suddenly went out of control, barreling towards the trio.
The champagne bottles clinked violently as the cart wobbled.
Sophia reacted quickly, her eyes narrowing as she grabbed Henry's arm and yanked him aside.Chris wasn't so lucky. The runaway cart slammed right into him.
With a loud pop, champagne bottles toppled over, foam spraying everywhere, filling the air with the scent of alcohol.
Chris was drenched, his carefully styled hair now plastered to his face, and his clothes soaked and clinging to his body, leaving him looking like a mess.
His face turned red with anger, his eyes wide like he was ready to explode. He couldn't help but yell at the nearby waiter, "Jack! What the hell were you thinking? Do you want to lose your job? Look at this! My custom shirt is ruined!"
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Walker. I didn't mean to. I just lost control for a moment." The waiter, Jack Young, rushed over, full of apologies, trying to wipe Chris's clothes, repeatedly saying, "I'm sorry."
But Chris shoved him away forcefully, nearly knocking Jack over.
Chris's face was cold, his voice dripping with anger and disdain. "Damn it, I need to change. Wait for me."
With that, he stormed off, his steps hurried, his back radiating fury.
"Alright." Henry nodded, watching Chris's retreating figure, shaking his head slightly.
Jack hurried after Chris, looking terrified, still muttering apologies.
Sophia watched the scene, puzzled, and couldn't help but ask, "Was it really necessary to get so angry over a small mistake?"
Her eyes were filled with confusion as she turned to Henry.
"It was necessary because in the circles of the wealthy, they care a lot about their image." Henry sighed softly, patiently explaining, "To them, appearance is everything, especially at events like this. Something like this is super embarrassing for them."
As he spoke, he grabbed a champagne flute from a nearby tower and handed it to Sophia, his face returning to its teasing smile. "We're at a party, Sophia. Why not try some champagne? Don't keep that serious face; it lowers your charm."
Sophia gave him a helpless look but eventually took the glass. Henry raised his own glass, his enthusiasm evident. "To our second successful collaboration, cheers."
Sophia didn't say anything, just raised her glass and downed the champagne.
At that moment, the lights suddenly went out.
The once brightly lit hall was suddenly enveloped in darkness, conversations halting abruptly, replaced by a chorus of soft gasps.
The room was so quiet that only the sound of breathing could be heard, the darkness filled with a mix of tension and anticipation.
Then, numerous spotlights focused on one spot, where a stage slowly rose.
The stage lights were soft and warm, making the entire stage look like a dreamland.
Chris, now changed, reappeared.
He wore an elegant dance outfit, with the collar adorned with sparkling gems that dazzled under the lights. He walked to the center of the stage, cleared his throat, and his voice echoed through the hall via the microphone. "Thank you all for coming. Allow me to present the first dance. After this, the ball will officially begin."
As soon as he finished speaking, melodious music began to play, and he started to showcase his elegant dance moves, captivating everyone!