The annual Freshers' Party had finally started.
The university hall was beautifully decorated with cascading lights and vibrant flowers. Music echoed through the room. Everywhere you looked, students were taking selfies, laughing, eating snacks, and enjoying the night.
Suddenly... The main doors swung open.
Four girls walked inside together.
Ying Ying wore a beautiful, flowing sky-blue dress. Daiyu looked classy in a sleek black dress, while Xiang An looked effortlessly cute in lavender.
But every eye in the room immediately stopped on one person.
**Xio Zi.**
She wore a simple, elegant pista-green gown. Her long black hair fell over one shoulder, complemented by small silver earrings. She wasn't wearing heavy makeup, yet she effortlessly outshined everyone else in the hall.
Whispers immediately broke out among the crowd of boys.
* "Who is she?"
* "I think she's a freshman."
* "Wow, she's stunning..."
* "I've never seen her around before."
Ying Ying smiled proudly, nudging her friend. "I told you this dress would look amazing on you!"
Xio Zi looked around the crowded hall, her expression turning stiff. "I already regret coming here."
"Why?"
"Too many people."
Ying Ying laughed. "You always say that."
The four of them moved further into the hall.
### On the Second Floor Balcony...
Jeo-on stood near the railing, a glass of mocktail resting in his hand. Beside him stood Yuze, who was busy fixing his hair in a small mirror for the fifth time.
Jeo-on rolled his eyes. "You've fixed your hair five times already."
Yuze offered a confident smirk. "Good looks need maintenance, my friend."
"You need a doctor," Jeo-on muttered.
Before Yuze could fire back, his eyes widened as he looked down at the entrance. "Wooooow..."
"What now?"
Yuze pointed downstairs. "The girl in the sky-blue dress is seriously cute."
Jeo-on followed his gaze toward the hall. But he didn't even notice Ying Ying. His eyes locked entirely on Xio Zi. For a few seconds, he just stared. Then, a quiet, amused smile crept onto his face.
"So, she actually knows how to dress."
Yuze caught the murmur. "What did you say?"
Jeo-on immediately looked away, his expression turning cold. "Nothing."
Yuze raised an eyebrow, smiling suspiciously. "Hmmm..."
### Across the Hall...
Bian Luohuan stood with his group of friends, looking sharp in a black suit with a silver watch gleaming on his wrist.
One of his friends squinted toward the crowd, noticing Xio Zi. "Boss... isn't that the girl from the canteen?"
Bian Luohuan smiled. "Yes."
"The one who... broke your hand?"
Bian looked down at his bandaged hand. Instead of getting angry, a low chuckle escaped his lips. "An interesting girl, isn't she?"
His friends exchanged nervous glances. Something was definitely wrong with their boss.
### Near the Food Table...
Ying Ying was happily piling desserts onto her plate. "Cake... ice cream... chocolate... I'm going to eat everything."
"I didn't know you were this obsessed with me," a playful voice called out from behind her.
Ying Ying spun around. It was Yuze. She immediately frowned. "What?"
Yuze gestured to his own outfit with a proud smile. "You copied my look. You wore sky blue. I wore sky blue. Clearly, you're obsessed with me."
Ying Ying looked at her dress, then at Yuze's sky-blue shirt. "Oh, please! How was I supposed to know you were wearing blue? If I had known, I would've worn black."
Yuze laughed, leaning in slightly. "Don't worry. I know people call me a playboy... but honestly, you're not my type."
Ying Ying folded her arms, matching his smirk. "Oh, really? Good. Because you're definitely not my type either. And one more thing-I already like someone else."
Yuze's confident smile instantly vanished. "...Someone else? Who?"
Ying Ying smiled proudly, turning back to the dessert table. "Why should I tell you? You're not my friend. Now move, you're blocking my path to the ice cream."
She pushed past him and walked away. Yuze stood there quietly, scratching his head in genuine confusion.
"...Why do I suddenly want to know who she likes? This is weird."
### Back in the Crowd...
Ying Ying quickly hurried over to Xio Zi. "You won't believe what that idiot just said to me."
Xio Zi offered a rare smile. "What happened now?"
"He thinks I'm obsessed with him just because we're wearing the same color!"
Xio Zi glanced over at Yuze, then let out a soft laugh. "I think he needs glasses."
From across the room, Yuze watched them laugh. "They're definitely making fun of me."
Suddenly, a loud screech echoed from the microphone. The music cut out, and everyone turned their attention toward the stage.
A charismatic senior smiled into the mic. "Attention everyone! The annual Freshers' Party has officially begun!"
The crowd cheered loudly.
"And we are going to kick things off with our traditional game...
**The Spotlight Couple!**"
The hall erupted in excitement. Many of the boys secretly glanced toward Xio Zi, while the girls turned their eyes toward Jeo-on.
Nobody knew that the game had already been rigged.
Jeo-on stood on the balcony, slowly pulling out his phone. A calculating smile appeared on his face as he opened his messages.
> **Jeo-on:** Put the spotlight on me and the girl in the pista-green gown.
>A few seconds later, a response came through.
> **Lighting Team:** Yes, Young Master.
Jeo-on slipped his phone back into his pocket. "This should be interesting."
Downstairs, Ying Ying looked up at the stage. "The Spotlight Couple?"
Xiang An nodded excitedly. "I heard this game happens every year!"
"The spotlight randomly chooses one boy and one girl," Daiyu explained. "And they have to share the opening dance."
Ying Ying laughed. "I hope it doesn't choose me."
Xio Zi crossed her arms, her gaze cold. "I hope it chooses anyone except me."
Meanwhile, Bian Luohuan was casually chatting with his friends when one of them nodded toward the stairs. "Boss, looks like Jeo-on is interested in our future sister-in-law."
Bian looked toward Jeo-on, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I know."
"So, what are you going to do?"
Bian smiled confidently. "I never lose."
With smooth, deliberate steps, Bian began walking straight toward Xio Zi. At the exact same time, Jeo-on started making his way down the stairs.
Yuze called out after him, "Where are you going?"
Jeo-on didn't stop. "You'll see."
Near the drinks table, Xio Zi was calmly sipping apple juice while Ying Ying finished her cake.
Daiyu suddenly whispered, "Guys... look."
They all turned. Jeo-on was approaching from one side, and Bian Luohuan was closing in from the other. Both boys stopped a few steps away from Xio Zi, locking eyes. Neither of them smiled. The tension in the air instantly became suffocating.
Ying Ying whispered frantically, "Are they going to fight?"
Xio Zi sighed heavily. "I hope not."
Bian broke the silence, looking at Xio Zi first. "You look beautiful tonight."
Xio Zi met his gaze coolly. "...I know."
Jeo-on immediately let out a quiet smirk. But before Bian could say another word, the announcer's voice boomed across the speakers.
"Alright everyone! The Spotlight Game will begin in... five minutes!"
The hall grew chaotic as students quickly positioned themselves near the people they liked. A crowd of boys subtly moved closer to Xio Zi.
Ying Ying giggled, looking at the crowd. "Looks like you're very popular."
Xio Zi just sighed.
Taking advantage of the movement, Bian smoothly stepped directly behind Xio Zi. One of his friends whispered from the side, "Boss, what's the plan?"
Bian smiled, crossing his arms confidently. "I made a little bet with Jeo-on. If the spotlight chooses me and Xio Zi, he has to admit defeat. Luck is on my side tonight."
On the other side of the circle, Jeo-on caught Bian's smug look. The sharp, dark smile that formed on Jeo-on's face made Yuze shiver.
"Oh no..." Yuze whispered. "Whenever he smiles like that, someone is about to suffer."
"Everyone! The game is about to begin! Please stay where you are!"
The lights inside the grand hall slowly dimmed into a dramatic twilight. The crowd erupted in cheers. Ying Ying anxiously grabbed Xio Zi's arm. "I'm getting nervous!"
"For what?" Xio Zi asked, completely unbothered.
"What if they choose you?!"
Xio Zi smirked. "They won't."
High above the ceiling, a massive, brilliant spotlight snapped on. It began sweeping across the room, cutting through the darkness. The bright white beam danced from student to student as people laughed, cheered, and even jumped up and down trying to catch the light.
The beam moved closer... and closer... heading straight toward Xio Zi.
Bian Luohuan's smile widened.
*I knew it,*
he thought, standing firmly right behind her.
*This bet is mine.*
But up in the control room, the lighting operator stared at Jeo-on's text message. Sweating nervously, he whispered, "I'm sorry... I don't have a choice."
He slammed his hand onto the control switch.
*CLICK.*
The spotlight abruptly jerked sideways. It completely bypassed Bian, snapping into a blinding focus right on Jeo-on. Then, without skipping a beat, the beam widened dramatically-perfectly engulfing **Jeo-on and Xio Zi** in a single circle of brilliant light.
The entire hall fell dead silent for a single, stunned second.
Then, the university exploded into a frenzy.
* "WHATTTTT?!"
* "NO WAY!!"
* "IT'S JEO-ON AND XIO ZI!!"
Students cheered wildly, instantly pulling out their phones to record the moment. Ying Ying's jaw dropped. "...You've got to be kidding me."
Xio Zi slowly looked up at the blinding light, and then turned her gaze to Jeo-on. Her left eye twitched with pure annoyance.
"...This can't be happening."
The roar of the crowd was deafening. Everyone was staring at them, whispering furiously.
* "Jeo-on and Xio Zi?"
* "Since when did they know each other?"
* "Wow... they actually look incredible together."
Xio Zi stood completely frozen. It wasn't because she was nervous or starstruck-she was absolutely furious. She slowly turned her head toward Jeo-on, her burning glare sending a crystal-clear message: *You did this, didn't you?*
Jeo-on merely offered a calm, fiercely confident smile in return.
Across the hall, Bian Luohuan's smile completely vanished. His hands clenched into tight fists as he stared at Jeo-on. The realization hit him instantly. *He rigged it. He cheated.*
Jeo-on met Bian's cold stare and flashed a look that proudly declared:
*I won.*
Near the stage, the senior announcer spoke enthusiastically into the microphone. "Congratulations to our Spotlight Couple! Please make your way to the center of the floor for the opening dance!"
As the crowd clapped, Xio Zi immediately took a sharp step backward. "No."
The surrounding students blinked in surprise. Xio Zi looked directly at the announcer, her voice echoing clearly. "I'm not dancing."
Ying Ying quickly covered her mouth. *Oh no... Xio Zi is about to explode.*
Jeo-on smoothly stepped into her space, lowering his voice so only she could hear. "What's the matter? Are you scared now?"
Xio Zi looked at him with eyes like ice. "Do you want to lose your teeth tonight?"
Jeo-on chuckled. "Still so violent. You really don't know how to talk nicely, do you?"
"And you really don't know how to stay alive."
The crowd was waiting, the pressure mounting. Jeo-on leaned a fraction closer. "Listen. If we walk away now, everyone will think you panicked. They'll think we ran."
"I don't care what they think."
"Really?" Jeo-on challenged, his eyes gleaming. "Then why are you still standing here?"
Xio Zi went rigid. He had hit a nerve. She hated losing or looking weak more than anything else in the world.
Jeo-on noticed the shift in her expression and smirked. "I knew it. You hate admitting defeat."
Xio Zi glared up at him. "Don't flatter yourself. You don't know anything about me."
Before she could step away, a slow, melodic, and romantic instrumental track began to play through the speakers. The crowd cheered, completely oblivious to the daggers being thrown between the two.
Xio Zi closed her eyes for a brief second, swallowing her anger. She had no choice. She stepped forward into the light.
"You are shameless," she muttered under her breath.
Jeo-on's smile only grew. "I know."
She placed a tense hand on his shoulder. Jeo-on placed his hand carefully, deliberately around her waist. The distance between them vanished. They were close. Far too close.
For the first minute, Xio Zi looked like she wanted to physically hurl Jeo-on across the room. But Jeo-on looked completely relaxed, entirely unfazed by her death glare.
"You know..." he whispered, leaning down slightly. "You look a lot less scary when you're angry."
Xio Zi smiled dangerously, her voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "You know... my stiletto heel is only a few inches away from your foot."
Jeo-on instinctively glanced down. "Are you seriously threatening me in the middle of a ballroom dance?"
"I'm warning you."
A genuine, quiet laugh escaped his lips.
To the entire university watching them, they looked like a flawless, breathtaking couple moving in perfect sync. But near the drinks table, one person was watching the scene with pure hatred.
**Bain Chuan.** Bian Luohuan's twin sister.
She gripped her glass so tightly her knuckles turned white, her eyes burning holes into Xio Zi. Since their high school days, Bain Chuan had been deeply in love with Jeo-on. She had spent years admiring him from afar-his confidence, his talent, his striking looks. She had always believed that, eventually, he would notice her.
But now, a girl who had only just arrived at the university was standing in his arms, stealing the spotlight.
Bain Chuan's face darkened with jealousy. "Why her?" she whispered fiercely. "What could possibly be so special about her?"
On the other side of the room, Bian Luohuan watched the final notes of the dance play out. For the first time all evening, the easygoing smile completely vanished from his face. Turning his back on the crowd, he silently walked out of the hall.
The music finally faded to an end, and the room burst into thunderous applause.
The exact moment the song ended, Xio Zi brought her heel down sharply onto Jeo-on's foot.
"Ouch-" Jeo-on hissed.
Xio Zi pulled away instantly, looking at him with supreme disdain. "This was a mistake."
Jeo-on rubbed his foot, though his smirk quickly returned. "I disagree."
Giving him one final, icy glare, Xio Zi turned on her heel and stormed off the floor. Jeo-on watched her retreating figure, a lingering smile softening his face.
Yuze quickly jogged over, throwing an arm around his friend's shoulder and looking at him with intense suspicion. "Bro..."
"What?"
Yuze pointed in the direction Xio Zi had gone. "Don't play with me... do you actually like her?"
Jeo-on immediately snapped his head away, his voice stiffening. "No."
Yuze raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
Jeo-on remained silent for a beat, his expression turning serious as he stared into the distance. "I just want to win."
Yuze let out a loud laugh, patting his back. "Sure, bro. Whatever you say."
### In the Courtyard Garden...
A few minutes later, Jeo-on walked out into the cool night air and found Bian Luohuan standing near the stone fountain.
Bian turned around to face him. "So... the winner arrives."
Jeo-on smiled coldly. "Our bet. I won."
Bian let out a dry laugh. "Did you?"
Jeo-on's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Bian stepped closer, his demeanor perfectly calm, yet radiating dangerous confidence. "I said I wouldn't stop you from talking to Xio Zi. But I never said I would stay away from her myself."
Jeo-on's triumphant smile instantly vanished.
"You won a silly spotlight game, Jeo-on," Bian continued, walking past him with a sharp pat to his shoulder. "But the real game has just begun."
Bian walked away into the darkness, leaving Jeo-on standing alone.
Jeo-on's jaw clenched. His hands slowly tightened into fists until his knuckles popped. With a sudden burst of rage, he punched the stone wall beside him.
"Nobody..." he whispered fiercely into the night, his eyes flashing with determination. "Nobody is going to come between me and my revenge."
*To Be Continued...*
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