Chapter Forty-Six: If I Get Drunk, I'll Seduce You Once More

Xue Tianai was taken aback by Gan Bingning’s words, her eyes widening in surprise. “Are you planning to go dancing?”

“What’s wrong?” Gan Bingning smiled at Xue Tianai, her face blooming like a flower.

“Aren’t you worried that some people might take advantage of you?”

“That’s exactly why I invited you to come with me. Seriously, did you not listen to what I just said?” Gan Bingning pouted, clearly dissatisfied.

“So you want me to protect you?”

“Can’t you speak properly? It’s called guarding a flower, not just protection.” Gan Bingning kept her hand extended to Xue Tianai, persisting, “Making a lady wait this long for an invitation—hardly what a gentleman would do.”

“Looks like I haven’t been gentlemanly enough.” Xue Tianai smiled, raised her glass to Gan Bingning, finished her martini in a single gulp, then stood and gently took her small hand, leading her to the center of the dance floor.

Once inside the dance floor, Gan Bingning was far less skilled than she had imagined, moving her hips awkwardly to the rhythm.

Xue Tianai couldn’t help but smile at her clumsy manner; it was obvious she didn’t dance often—her steps and sense of rhythm were both chaotic.

So Xue Tianai wrapped his arm around Gan Bingning’s slender waist and began to guide her through the dance. Dancing had once been a compulsory course for him; any dance suitable for social occasions, he had mastered with ease, let alone this relaxed, simple bar-style hot dance.

As the music’s tempo increased and Xue Tianai’s close guidance continued, Gan Bingning gradually caught the rhythm. She began to move with more confidence, her steps growing wild, her whole body pressed closely against Xue Tianai.

She still made occasional mistakes, sometimes stepping on Xue Tianai’s foot, but their coordination improved rapidly.

Gan Bingning was a beautiful and alluring woman—one glance could ensnare a soul. Now, pressed tightly against Xue Tianai, the warm breath from her cherry lips carried a hint of Bloody Mary, sometimes brushing against his face, stirring waves in his heart. The rich perfume mingled with the fresh scent unique to young women, stimulating Xue Tianai’s senses, making him feel as if his spirit were galloping across the vast grasslands of QQhaer.

Xue Tianai was hardly a model of restraint, firmly believing in seizing every advantage, and his hands wandered shamelessly over Gan Bingning’s body.

Her steps grew more skilled, and Xue Tianai’s flawless dance matched hers perfectly. Handsome man and beautiful woman—for a moment, it seemed the entire dance floor had been crafted just for them.

They moved as one, hearts in harmony. No matter what mistake Gan Bingning made, Xue Tianai could always cover for her seamlessly.

The music felt like a special theme composed just for them, the stage their domain for dancing.

“This piece is ending soon, hold my hand!” Xue Tianai suddenly said.

Gan Bingning obeyed without hesitation. As the final notes lingered, the others stood still, but Gan Bingning did not. Xue Tianai gripped her hand with a peculiar strength, and Gan Bingning, using his palm as the center, spun around him.

There were no dazzling costumes, no exclusive soundtrack, yet Gan Bingning drew the gaze and spotlight of the entire room. Her heels struck the floor in a rapid rhythm, her shoes flaring with silver light.

At that moment, Gan Bingning was like a swan, like a goddess descending from Mount Wu.

The audience was spellbound, lost in the beauty and dreamlike scene. Men stared at Xue Tianai with jealousy; women gazed at Gan Bingning with envy.

Thunderous applause erupted, like a storm. Whether out of admiration or envy, some people led the clapping. It was a perfect visual feast.

Under the gaze and applause of many, Xue Tianai and Gan Bingning left the dance floor before the next song began, returning to the bar.

Back at the bar, Gan Bingning ordered a rum and cola for herself and a Tequila Sunrise for Xue Tianai. The bartender bowed respectfully, then turned to prepare the drinks. Unable to contain her inner joy, Gan Bingning burst out laughing, her smile tinged with intoxication and delight.

“Hahaha!” Her exquisite face, white teeth gleaming under the lights, appeared especially beautiful.

“Bingning, was that your first time dancing?” Xue Tianai couldn’t help but ask.

“Yes, this was my first time dancing in a bar! It feels like I broke through some forbidden barrier!” Gan Bingning smiled at Xue Tianai.

“Did you avoid dancing before because you were afraid someone might take advantage of you?”

“Of course. Do you think this lady’s charms are for those filthy men to exploit?” Gan Bingning seemed to recall something, giving Xue Tianai a mischievous look. “Like you, for example—didn’t you touch my chest while dancing…”

Xue Tianai’s eyelid twitched, inwardly urging the bartender to hurry up with the drinks.

“And I think you even grabbed my butt, a handful or two!” Gan Bingning winked at Xue Tianai, continuing, “Well, Sir Xue, did you enjoy the feel?”

Dark lines crossed Xue Tianai’s face. How was this woman so completely different from her demeanor at the office?

“Of course, it felt great. But I have to say, touching with or without clothes is entirely different!” Xue Tianai shamelessly replied.

Now it was Gan Bingning’s turn to darken, though her face was flushed with a charming blush, adding a hint of allure to her beauty.

“So, do you want me to let you touch again without my clothes?”

Xue Tianai was stunned by her words—this woman was fierce! In the office, she exuded elegance, but in the bar she seemed to transform entirely.

“Let’s not talk about that. Tell me, why are you so good at dancing?” Gan Bingning, afraid Xue Tianai would continue with his nonsense, quickly changed the subject.

She was genuinely impressed by Xue Tianai’s exceptional dance skills. She herself was a clueless novice, but under his guidance, she had delivered a spectacular performance.

Her curiosity was piqued.

“Those dances used to be compulsory courses for me,” Xue Tianai said quietly.

“Compulsory? Were you trained as a dancer?” She looked at his tall, handsome figure and speculated.

“No, dancing was just the easiest of those courses,” Xue Tianai replied with a bitter smile. Compared to combat, firearms, wilderness survival, thirteen languages… dancing was indeed the most relaxed.

“So what did you do before? And why did you come to work at Menghua Group?” Gan Bingning’s curiosity about the man who had once been so intimate with her only deepened.

“Ah, the drinks are here! Bingning, let’s drink!” Xue Tianai deftly sidestepped the question, calling out in delight.

A rum and cola was placed before Gan Bingning, a Tequila Sunrise in front of Xue Tianai.

Xue Tianai smiled, raised his Tequila Sunrise, and said to Gan Bingning, “Bingning, cheers!”

Gan Bingning noted that Xue Tianai had again dodged her question, feeling a little annoyed, but her curiosity only grew stronger. She resolved that one day she would make him tell her everything.

Her face betrayed none of her irritation. She smiled, raised her glass, clinked it with Xue Tianai’s, and drained it in one go.

“You know, every girl dreams.” Gan Bingning set down her glass, her face fresh and delicate, tinged with pink.

“Dreams? What kind of dreams?” Xue Tianai asked, puzzled.

“Dreams of being whisked away by a handsome prince on a white horse, or riding a rainbow cloud, and living a happy life without worries, where everything is joyful and beautiful—no sadness, no sorrow, no farewells,” Gan Bingning said simply.

“I’m afraid I don’t quite understand.” Xue Tianai apologized after listening to her words. In truth, he could understand, but he didn’t know how to respond.

She was hoping her future partner would be a hero, while Xue Tianai was the one who had unintentionally taken her precious first time. He wasn’t sure what to say.

For some reason, Gan Bingning especially wanted to hear Xue Tianai say, “I’m willing to be the one who rides the white horse and the rainbow cloud to take you away.” But, unsurprisingly, he didn’t say it.

“Have you ever dreamed of anything?” Gan Bingning asked, her smile tinged with disappointment.

“Me?” Xue Tianai was momentarily speechless. Dreams? For him, the meaning of dreams had changed forever on that night when he was seven years old.

Perhaps it was more accurate to call his dreams ‘broken dreams.’ Since that night, Xue Tianai never dreamed normal dreams again, let alone beautiful ones.

Only endless cycles of nightmares, painful struggles of the soul.

“Brother Tianai, I’m scared, I’m really scared!”

“Brother Tianai, where’s my mom?”

“Brother Tianai, help me, save me!”

“You brat, trying to play hero?”

“Oh, a pair of young lovers!”

“Boss, run, you must survive!”

“Boss, Butterfly can’t make it without you!”

“Brother Tianai…”

“Boss…”

Gan Bingning saw once more that immense sadness on Xue Tianai’s face, a look of desolation, regret, sorrow, and even a trace of fear.

It made her shudder! Yes, it was that same look she’d seen in his car, though now it was even more sorrowful, more profound.

Could this man have a special past? Just one question about dreams brought out such grief.

What had happened in his life? He was definitely a man with stories: he should have been in China but left behind a stack of dollars, saved her that first night with remarkable skill, danced flawlessly… Gan Bingning felt her curiosity about him grow ever deeper.

Yet, seeing the sadness on his face, she felt a strange pang in her heart.

Xue Tianai’s expression became more tortured, almost grimace-like, his grip on the empty glass tightening.

Suddenly, with a crack, the glass shattered in his hand!

Gan Bingning was startled by the sound and snapped out of her introspection. She saw Xue Tianai’s face twisted in pain, blood seeping from his palm where the broken glass had sliced him, running down his arm and dripping onto the floor, blooming in tiny red petals.

Her heart clenched, feeling genuine concern, and she cried out, “Xue Tianai!”

Xue Tianai jolted back to himself, staring blankly at his hand, then glanced at Gan Bingning’s anxious face.

The sadness vanished from his face in an instant, replaced by his previous carefree demeanor.

He apologized to the stunned bartender, “Sorry, I got a bit carried away.”

Then he turned and smiled at Gan Bingning, offering no explanation for his actions, tilting his head playfully. “My dreams are simple, really—I just wanted to become Ultraman and fight little monsters!”

Gan Bingning watched his sudden change of expression and smiled wryly. Clearly, Xue Tianai was a man of many secrets.

She wanted so badly to hear his story, but restrained herself, feeling that even if she asked now, he wouldn’t tell her.

So she smiled gently. “Looks like your dream is coming true—you can already smash glasses with your bare hands. Do you need to bandage it?”

Xue Tianai laughed and shook his head. “It’s just a minor injury, no need for bandages.”

“That’s good.” Gan Bingning breathed a sigh of relief, then beckoned to the bartender. “Two more Long Island Iced Teas, please!”

“Bingning, you’re still drinking?” Xue Tianai looked at her in surprise. He’d thought his uncontrolled outburst would scare her and end their date, but she ordered two more drinks!

“What, is Sir Xue getting tipsy?” Gan Bingning raised her eyebrows in challenge. She was starting to want to get Xue Tianai drunk so she could finally ask him about his secrets and satisfy her curiosity.

“Just call me Xue Tianai, or Tianai. ‘Sir Xue’ sounds like a pervert’s name!” Xue Tianai wiped his brow, then asked, “What if you get drunk?”

“If I get drunk, I’ll take the initiative with you again tonight!” Gan Bingning suddenly leaned close to his ear and whispered,

“What do you think, Tian~ai~?”

She drew back, winked at him, and stuck out her little tongue, gently licking her upper lip.