This was a joint dance party hosted by the troops and several local units, with the purpose, of course, of resolving marriage issues for a group of eligible single men and women.
In other words, it was a blind date mixer.
The reason He Yingzi had been able to give Qiao Shu that stack of photos with information ahead of time was entirely because she had ‘bribed’ the person in charge of the roster.
Thus allowing her to pre-screen a batch of the most outstanding eligible young men for Qiao Shu.
Although it was obvious that all these efforts she had made for Qiao Shu were in vain.
“Shushu, don’t overthink it. Just treat it as coming to make some friends.”
After He Yingzi brought her to the venue of the mixer, she looked at Qiao Shu, whose expression clearly showed some discomfort, and softly comforted her.
“Mm…”
Although Qiao Shu really wanted to tell He Yingzi that she didn’t need to make any friends at all—after all, in her previous life, she had lived just fine without any friends.
But she also understood that He Yingzi was thinking of her and doing this for her own good.
So she didn’t say anything, merely thinking that she would go through the motions inside and then find an opportunity to leave.
Thus, Qiao Shu obediently followed behind He Yingzi and entered the large auditorium where the mixer was held.
Upon entering the auditorium, she could clearly feel the lively and… joyful atmosphere, completely different from the cold and desolate vibe outside.
Because He Yingzi and Qiao Shu had arrived a bit late, the mixer had already begun. In the dance floor, quite a few men and women were already dancing intimately together in a social dance.
Listening to that beautiful and melodious tune, and watching the pairs of smartly dressed, fashionable, and attractive men and women in the dance floor, it was just like a scene from a movie— so romantic and wonderful.
As Qiao Shu watched the group of young men and women joyfully dancing in the floor, she actually felt it wasn’t so boring after all. Watching them dance was quite interesting.
Although… she herself had no desire to dance.
“Sister Yingzi, why did you only come now? All the most outstanding young men have already been snatched up by those little nurses dressed to the nines. Didn’t you say you were bringing your little sister? How come you arrived so…” late.
A woman with long hair, around thirty years old, wearing a white blouse on top and a green long skirt below, walked over.
The woman’s appearance was average—neither particularly beautiful nor ugly—but her fair and translucent skin, along with her glossy black long straight hair, gave her a bit of a literary youth vibe.
However, the tone of her speech was not at all like a literary youth; instead, it was straightforward and bold.
Because the woman had been keeping an eye on the auditorium entrance, waiting for He Yingzi to bring over the little sister she had mentioned, she was the first to spot He Yingzi holding Qiao Shu’s hand as they walked in, while everyone else’s attention was on the dancing couples in the floor.
Since dancing was underway, the lights in the auditorium were dim, so although the woman recognized He Yingzi, she couldn’t clearly see what the girl being led by the hand looked like.
When she walked closer and finally saw that face, previously hidden by the darkness, now flickering in and out of the light and shadows, the woman froze completely.
The words she had been about to say caught in her throat.
The usually talkative woman suddenly seemed to have lost her ability to speak, staring blankly at Qiao Shu.
At that moment, there was only one thought in her mind—
‘Tian ah! This little sister is so beautiful!’
As she said it, the woman subconsciously reached out to grab Qiao Shu’s hand.
But regrettably, her hand was unceremoniously swatted away by He Yingzi.
“Lu Qian, act normal.”
Feeling the sting from her hand, Lu Qian, who had been dazzled by Qiao Shu and lost in admiration, finally snapped back to reality. But upon seeing Qiao Shu’s stunningly beautiful face again, she dazed out for another second pathetically.
Then, with genuine emotion, she said, “Sister Yingzi, I’m not exaggerating— with your little sister’s looks, who could stay normal after seeing her?”
After that, she asked with some confusion.
“But wait, Sister Yingzi, when did your family get such a fairy-like beautiful little sister?”
With the long-standing friendship between the Lu Family and the Feng Family, she would have heard long ago if the Feng Family had gained such a stunning relative!
“Enough. I brought my little sister here to have fun and make friends, not for you to interrogate her background.”
He Yingzi was afraid Lu Qian would discover Qiao Shu’s true identity and cause awkwardness, so she gruffly cut her off.
Hearing He Yingzi say that, Lu Qian suddenly realized that this fairy-like beautiful little sister was also here for blind dating today!
Having lived for thirty years, it was the first time Lu Qian felt extremely annoyed that she was a woman and not a man.
“Aiya! Sister Yingzi, how could you not tell me earlier that you had such a fairy-like beautiful little sister! If you’d said so sooner, I would’ve dragged our little brother over no matter what!”
Originally, not many people had noticed Qiao Shu’s side yet. After all, with the beautiful dance music playing, everyone was either dancing in the floor or watching the dancing couples.
No one had the spare attention for He Yingzi and Qiao Shu, who had just entered from outside the hall.
But unfortunately, Lu Qian had a big voice. Her shouting, which clashed so obviously with the beautiful melody, quickly drew dissatisfied glances from those nearby.
And as these people turned their heads toward Lu Qian, they all froze in place, their eyes filled with amazement.
Of course, this group was amazed because they had seen Qiao Shu.
Just as everyone who turned to look was captivated by Qiao Shu’s stunning face, losing their souls in a daze, a young man dressed in a crisp military uniform—with sky-blue collar tabs edged in yellow and a metal gold five-star badge① in the center, the kind only cadres could wear—walked straight toward Qiao Shu…
“Comrade, may I have this dance?”
The man stopped in front of Qiao Shu, smiled gently at her, and extended his hand in a very gentlemanly manner.
As Qiao Shu looked at the man inviting her to dance, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly that this man’s appearance was truly outstanding.
He was absolutely the warm, jade-like, elegant young noble type—refined, gentle, humble, with no hint of aggression.
His features were upright and noble, yet his brows and eyes conveyed elegance and warmth, making people feel close and trusting from the first glance, hard to dislike.
At least, Qiao Shu felt no repulsion toward this stranger before her.
Of course, appreciation was appreciation, and lack of repulsion was lack of repulsion.
But she still had to refuse when it was time to refuse, after all, she didn’t know how to dance.
“Sorry, I don’t know how to dance.”
Without the slightest hesitation, Qiao Shu directly refused the man’s invitation.
Seeing this scene, Lu Qian felt that… Qiao Shu’s fairy-like face truly had immense power!
Not only had it bewitched a shallow person like her who appreciated beauty, but it had also effortlessly won over the high and mighty flower of the Air Force Compound, who kept a polite distance from everyone!