Chapter 105: Astonishing News

"Mo Qi, is that you?" He Shuai stood rooted to the spot, not daring to step forward. He stared at Mo Qi without blinking, his voice trembling as he spoke.

Mo Qi turned her head to look at him, a flicker of shock passing through her eyes, though she masked it almost instantly.

"Brother He, were you calling me?" Mo Qi asked with a smile, pretending she hadn't heard him call out "Mo Qi" instead of "Mo Qi."

Now that she had turned around, her features, previously hidden in the shadows, were fully revealed. Her delicate, beautiful face bore no resemblance to Mo Qi’s. Yet, why had he felt, just for a moment, that he was looking at her?

He Shuai kept his gaze on her, clenching his fists in frustration. It must have been the alcohol; he was hallucinating.

"Brother He?" Mo Qi wasn't worried that he would actually discover her true identity. Who would believe in reincarnation after death?

Before Mo Qi could walk over, He Shuai approached her himself.

Seeing his troubled expression, Mo Qi didn't press him for answers.

He Shuai sat down on a rattan chair in the gazebo, buried his face in his hands, and rubbed them hard before finally speaking. "I'm sorry. I mistook you for my girlfriend just now."

Mo Qi’s heart tightened, though she kept a look of appropriate surprise on her face. "Royal Entertainment just released a statement two days ago regarding your rumors, saying you were still single. A girlfriend? Don't tease me, Brother He."

"No, I do have a girlfriend." He Shuai gave a bitter smile. "Most of my fans are young women. If they knew I was dating, I would lose many of them. The company said that to protect my popularity. In fact, for the past two years, they really haven't allowed me to date."

This phenomenon was common among celebrities. As public figures and idols, they often feared that dating would upset their fans and cause their popularity to plummet. Thus, many kept their relationships secret, denying or deflecting even when caught by reporters, rarely admitting the truth.

Mo Qi stood there in silence, listening.

He Shuai continued, "My girlfriend had an accident a while ago. A flowerpot fell from upstairs and hit her head. She's still lying in the hospital. The doctors say she could wake up at any time, or... or she might never wake up at all."

Mo Qi’s pupils contracted, and her heart began to race. He was talking about her. Could it be that she wasn't actually dead?

"Is... is she still alive?"

"Yes." He Shuai looked up, offering her a bitter smile. "I only saw your profile earlier and mistook you for her. To be honest, for a second, I really felt you were exactly like her. I can't describe it, but it was truly bizarre."

Mo Qi paused, then suddenly laughed. "Brother He, don't tell me you always make up such poignant stories to win a girl's sympathy?"

The bitterness vanished from He Shuai's face, replaced by his usual sunny, handsome grin. "Oh, you've seen through me. What a pity. I wonder if Mo Qi was touched by my performance just now?"

"Of course..." Mo Qi dragged out the word, and amidst He Shuai's mock-expectant expression, she added, "Of course not."

"They say you're hard to pursue, and they're right," He Shuai chuckled, unbothered. "Everyone is going to dance. I came out here specifically to find you. Let's go."

"Thank you, Brother He," Mo Qi nodded.

He Shuai smiled and led the way.

Mo Qi followed, staring at the back of his head. Although he had hidden it well, she knew him too well; the bitterness and sorrow hidden in his eyes hadn't escaped her.

Furthermore, it was incredibly surprising that He Shuai would frankly admit to someone else that Mo Qi was his girlfriend.

Could it be that after Mo Qi’s head was smashed open, He Shuai had realized, while facing the possibility of death, that he truly loved her, and had thus undergone a change of heart?

Mo Qi thought of the times she had seen him flirting with other actresses recently and felt a wave of nausea.

If He Shuai could become a devoted lover, then pigs could fly. What was she thinking? This wasn't some melodramatic soap opera.

He Shuai noticed the footsteps behind him had stopped and turned back, looking puzzled. "What's wrong?"

Mo Qi curled her lips into a smile, caught up to him, and said, "Nothing. I felt a bit nauseous, maybe from drinking on an empty stomach. I'm fine now."

"My apologies for the poor hospitality."

Mo Qi smiled and followed him into the house, successfully concealing the turmoil caused by the news that Mo Qi was still alive.

If Mo Qi wasn't dead, did that mean she might one day suddenly return to her own body and become Mo Qi again? And what about Mo Qi? Where would her soul go?

If the real Mo Qi returned, would she become a stranger to Xiaobao, Sister Xiaoling, Shen Yijue, and even Lin Zheng and Xie An?

Mo Qi’s mind was in chaos; she was far less calm and composed than she appeared.

Back in the living room, the lights had been dimmed, with only a few fist-sized colorful candles flickering on the tables. The rotating stage lights in the center cast shifting patterns, and the gentle melody of a piano drifted through the air.

He Shuai extended his hand to Mo Qi with a gentlemanly gesture. "Mo Qi, may I have the first dance?"

"I don't know how to dance," Mo Qi refused without a second thought.

"It's alright, I can teach you. It's very simple." It seemed he had no intention of withdrawing his hand unless she agreed.

As the host of the party, He Shuai already commanded everyone's attention, and this scene quickly drew eyes. Many began to jeer, watching the show with amusement.

Sun Feifei gritted her teeth, glaring at Mo Qi. She had come tonight for He Shuai, and she hadn't expected him to bypass her for the first dance.

Mo Qi looked at He Shuai and suddenly changed her mind.

"I really don't know how; I might step on your feet." Despite her words, she placed her hand in his.

"Don't worry, I'll lead you. It won't happen." He Shuai pulled her onto the dance floor.

The others found their partners and began to dance to the music.

Because of the incident in the restroom, Sister Shang had briefly looked into Mo Qi's background and seen 'dancing' listed as a specialty, so she assumed Mo Qi was just being modest, never suspecting she was truly clueless.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I stepped on you again," Mo Qi said, withdrawing her foot with an apologetic expression.

"It's fine. You should step back here, not forward." A vein pulsed on He Shuai's forehead. The dance had only just begun, and she had already stepped on him three times—each time firmly, fully utilizing the power of her high heels.

He Shuai patiently continued to teach her. Anyone else would have been thrilled, but Mo Qi remained unimpressed. She kept "accidentally" making mistakes, planting her heels onto his shoes.

"Oops, stepped on you again."

"Heh." He Shuai’s smile was becoming strained. His insteps were likely already bruised!