Who Dances with the Emperor?

Chapter Thirty-Five

The New Year's Eve gala was held in the vast central square of the Imperial Palace.

Pale blue light screens rose around the square, enclosing the entire plaza and the crowd within.

The freezing wind and snow were blocked outside by the light screens. The guests took off their heavy, expensive coats and held glasses of wine amid cheerful music, chatting about who knew what and occasionally breaking into laughter.

"Why are you here alone? Did Xu Wenyan dump you?"

With a malicious smile on his face, Zhu Shixin lifted his long leg and sat down directly across from Ye Zhineng.

Ye Zhineng did not even raise his head. His right arm was wrapped around the waist of a beautiful omega he had just met, and his voice was gentle. "Go get yourself a drink. I'll come find you in a while."

The beautiful omega shyly glanced at the gentle, handsome alpha, murmured an "Mm," and obediently left.

Only then did Ye Zhineng turn his attention to Zhu Shixin. He deliberately looked around. "You're alone too?"

Zhu Shixin's mouth twitched. Ever since he had failed to help Xu Wenyan enter the Imperial Palace last time, Xu Wenyan had been ignoring him.

"Where's that cousin of yours? You two are so close, so why didn't you bring him?" Zhu Shixin swept his gaze around again but did not see that green-eyed omega.

Ye Zhineng let out a cold laugh. "You can't handle me, so you're going after my cousin instead? Isn't that childish, Zhu Shixin?"

Zhu Shixin's face instantly darkened, his eyes fixed on Ye Zhineng with a wolfish ferocity.

Holding up a wineglass, He Yiming strolled over casually. "You're all here?"

The previously tense atmosphere quickly dissipated. Zhu Shixin smiled at He Yiming. "Brother He."

He Yiming nodded at Zhu Shixin, then said to Ye Zhineng, "Let's have some fun together after the New Year's banquet."

Thinking of something, Ye Zhineng's throat bobbed.

He Yiming had come alone, so Ye Zhineng asked, "Professor Jiang is coming too?"

He Yiming gave a soft laugh. "Of course. It's the first day of the new year. Naturally, we should spend it together."

The first day of the new year, doing something together.

They all understood.

Zhu Shixin grinned. "I'm going to find Xu Wenyan."

He Yiming called after Zhu Shixin, "Don't run around. The banquet is about to begin."

The moment he finished speaking, every light in the square went out. The plaza, previously filled with noise and laughter, fell silent in an instant. Everyone seemed to breathe with care.

Zhu Shixin did not dare move. Like Ye Zhineng, He Yiming, and everyone around them, he lifted his gaze toward the gradually brightening point of light in the center of the square.

Before New Year's galas in previous years, the host would always deliver some stirring opening remarks.

This year, there was no such thing.

No host took the stage, but the enormous statue symbolizing the galaxy's supreme authority was illuminated from the bottom up.

When the colossal statue of the Galactic Emperor was fully lit, the entire square erupted in tsunami-like cheers and applause.

He Yiming and the others set down their wineglasses and clapped loudly along with everyone else.

Humans naturally worshipped the strong, and alphas, with their competitive instincts written into their bones, were even more so.

They were among the finest of the younger generation, top-tier alphas with powerful spiritual energy.

In the eyes of ordinary people, they possessed extraordinary wealth and power.

Yet all of it seemed utterly insignificant before the galaxy's strongest alpha, not even worthy of comparison.

Zhu Shixin was visibly excited. "Is His Majesty going to appear?"

He Yiming strode toward the center of the square, with Zhu Shixin and Ye Zhineng following behind him.

They could not reach the very front, but they could still find seats close to the front rows.

Ye Zhineng and Zhu Shixin could go no farther.

He Yiming continued forward. He passed Xu Wenyan and Zhou Zhixia nearby, but only gave them an indifferent glance without stopping.

He did not stop until he reached the second row, behind his father.

Father He did not turn around, his voice hard and cold. "Sit properly."

He Yiming lowered his head. "Yes, Father."

Specks of shattered light drifted down from above like tiny stars.

Elegant, soothing music followed.

Beneath the enormous statue, a tall, upright alpha stepped out of the darkness.

Under everyone's gaze, the alpha came to a stop and turned to look behind him, as though waiting for someone.

Yan Beiyou held out his hand. "Don't be nervous. Look at me."

Ye Nanxun did not want to be nervous either. The tiny stars falling from the night sky had become blurred patches of light. Though the audience below was shrouded in darkness, the gazes resting on him seemed to carry weight, heavy against his chest.

Every breath was difficult.

There was no obvious sign of nervousness on Ye Nanxun's face, but the fingers held by the alpha were trembling slightly.

Yan Beiyou's voice grew gentler, like a warm breeze in the night. "Ye Nanxun, I'll hold onto you."

Ye Nanxun nodded silently. Standing in the darkness, he looked toward the alpha.

The tall alpha stood in the bright light, the focus of everyone's attention. His handsome face, somehow having become familiar, held a gentle, tolerant gaze as he quietly watched him.

He stepped out from the darkness and, guided by Yan Beiyou, walked into the light.

Yan Beiyou gave him an approving smile, and Ye Nanxun smiled as well, faintly and reservedly.

Yan Beiyou took hold of his other hand too, lifting it and placing it on his broad shoulder.

Then his other hand settled loosely against Ye Nanxun's lower back and applied a little pressure.

Holding his hand and embracing his lower back, they danced gracefully amid elegant, beautiful notes and light as fine as snow.

Once he truly stepped onto the stage and danced with Yan Beiyou, the suffocating nervousness from before had instead vanished.

The alpha's tall frame completely blocked Ye Nanxun's view.

All he could see were the golden buttons at Yan Beiyou's collar. Above them were the alpha's Adam's apple, his sharp chin, healthy-colored thin lips, high nose bridge...

And those deep eyes watching him.

For some reason, Ye Nanxun did not avoid his gaze this time.

The whole dance passed in a daze, as if he were walking on clouds or having a brief dream.

Ye Nanxun did not remember when he left the stage, nor when he came to lie on a warm, soft bed.

"Are you all right?" The alpha who had just danced with him sat beside the bed.

Ye Nanxun nodded. "I'm fine."

Ye Nanxun had been nervous since before going onstage. After coming down, he looked almost drunk, with no focus left in his pupils.

Yan Beiyou did not ask anything. He gave an "Mm" and said, "Rest first. I still need to show my face."

Lying quietly in a room somewhere within the palace, Ye Nanxun watched Yan Beiyou's retreating figure leave the room.

Lights flickered outside the window, and the banquet was still continuing.

Ye Nanxun had only intended to lie down for a while, but his eyelids gradually fell shut without him realizing it.