Chapter 29 – Campus Arc: A Glamorous Romance – The Cinderella Sweetheart’s Endless Love (29)
Tian Lingxue led Bai Tang into the ballroom. In a crowd dominated by European features, the two instantly became the center of attention. Gasps of admiration filled the air, and some, emboldened by their powerful family backgrounds, even stepped forward to strike up a conversation.
A young man smiled warmly and extended an invitation to Tian Lingxue, asking if she would honor him with the first dance. Just as she was about to decline, Owen suddenly appeared beside her, took her hand without hesitation, and openly declared that she had already agreed to be his dance partner.
Tian Lingxue smiled slightly and apologized, while the man, recognizing Owen Bell, chose not to press further. His own family was far beneath the powerful Bell household, and provoking him over a woman wasn’t worth the trouble. With a regretful smile, he wished them an enjoyable evening before turning away.
Owen was sincere about Tian Lingxue and was determined to make the most of tonight. He eagerly glanced at Bai Tang, silently pleading for a chance to be alone with Lingxue. Bai Tang understood the hint. Lingxue was kind, and he already felt guilty for disrupting her romance. In the original story, Owen and Lingxue often bickered, but they were the classic “lovers-quarrel” type, and Owen genuinely cared for her. If Lingxue also liked Owen, then perhaps it wouldn’t be a bad match after all.
Bai Tang waved his hand, assuring them that he would be fine before discreetly slipping away with the system toward the buffet table. Many had been waiting for Owen to leave so they could approach the adorable Eastern beauty, but the moment Owen was gone, so was Bai Tang. Confusion spread as they wondered where he had disappeared to.
As long as tonight passed without the male and female leads becoming a couple, the mission would be officially complete. The system grinned widely, happily munching on a sweetheart cake, already imagining the endless surge of energy that would flow into it once they left this world. Just thinking about it was pure bliss.
Just then, a voice called out, asking if Bai Tang had a moment.
“Student Bai, are you free now?”
Bai Tang lifted his head from the cake, his lips still smeared with cream, and looked at the person in front of him with a confused expression. “Huh?”
…
Hudson had finally taken care of everything. He had arranged it all perfectly.
Rushing to the ballroom, he headed straight for the buffet area. As expected, his little squirrel was stuffing his cheeks with cake, looking utterly content.
The next second, a rather handsome young man approached Bai Tang. Though Hudson couldn’t hear the conversation, the boy’s shy demeanor suggested that whatever he was saying wasn’t something trivial.
“I…” Bai Tang glanced down at his outfit and sighed helplessly. “I can’t give you my button.”
“Oh… okay then.” The boy looked disappointed but eventually walked away.
“Tang Tang…”
Before Bai Tang could finish his last bite of cake, he was suddenly pulled into a familiar embrace. The subtle scent of cologne lingered in the air around him.
Hudson wrapped his arms around Bai Tang from behind, resting his chin on Bai Tang’s head, rubbing against him slightly, and letting out a soft, contented sigh.
“W-What are you doing…” Bai Tang stammered, his face flushing red in embarrassment. They were still in public, with many of their classmates watching.
Hudson was already a well-known figure on campus, and with Bai Tang in his arms, their interaction quickly drew attention. As a crowd gathered, Bai Tang struggled slightly. “Hudson, there are so many people watching. Let go of me!”
Hudson obliged, releasing him—but only to turn him around so they were face-to-face.
“Tang Tang, I have something to say to you.”
His expression was serious, solemn even. In his emerald-green eyes, there was only room for one reflection—Bai Tang’s.
“W-What do you want to say?” Bai Tang stuttered, his face burning under both Hudson’s intense gaze and the eyes of the onlookers. “If it’s about Hannah, that wasn’t your fault… I-I’ve already forgiven you.” He wished he could just find a hole to crawl into and hide.
Hudson took a deep breath. “Tang Tang, can you give me the second button of your uniform?”
Bai Tang’s expression turned odd as he looked Hudson up and down. The latter immediately straightened his back, clearly nervous as he awaited an answer. The surrounding spectators held their breath—it was a rare sight to see Hudson making a confession.
“Qiuer, what’s wrong with these people? Why do they all want other people’s buttons?” Bai Tang, ever the curious one, asked the system, determined to understand what was going on.