Chapter 81

Elise stared at Theo, unable to speak for a moment.

Her third brother wanted to dance with her too? He was usually the one teasing her and making sharp remarks. Why was he being so gentle now? And what was so appealing about dancing with her, anyway?

“Don't worry, Ellie,” Theo said softly. “Just pick someone to dance with. You don't have to think about anything else.”

Mu Chuan's expression grew more serious. Adrian's interference had been trouble enough; with Theo joining in, his chances looked slimmer by the second. He watched Elise's face closely, searching every little change for a sign she might choose him.

Adrian was furious. But if he started arguing with Theo now, Theo would only look considerate while Adrian looked childish. He settled for glaring at him.

Three pairs of eyes were fixed on Elise. She looked miserable.

The people nearby had heard enough to erupt into whispers. What was going on? Three men were competing to dance with this girl?

Qi Yaqiu could hardly believe it. How could Elise be so lucky? Three desirable men were circling her, while Qi had exhausted herself pursuing Mu and couldn't even get him to look her way. Now he was willingly competing for Elise's attention.

Elise felt the gazes on her and grew more uneasy. Some people looked anxious, others jealous. Their stares seemed to burn against her skin.

She would rather be at home doing homework.

If she chose Mu, she might upset her brothers. If she chose one brother, the other would surely be hurt. This problem was too hard. She couldn't solve it!

And with so many of Adrian's and Theo's fans here, she was afraid their jealousy would burn her alive whichever brother she picked.

After thinking it over, she raised her head. “I'm sorry. I... don't want to dance tonight. So I'm not choosing anyone.”

The onlookers were speechless. Did she know what she was turning down? In their place, they would crawl out of a hospital bed for a dance with any one of those men. An opportunity like this might never come again!

Mu lowered his eyes, disappointment flickering across his face. Then he sighed. Choosing no one was the fairest answer. Elise was always considerate of others; of course she wouldn't want to hurt anyone.

A smile touched his lips. She was as kind as ever. There would be other chances to dance with her. He could wait.

Adrian's face stayed frozen for a moment. Then he glanced at Theo and relaxed. As long as she hadn't chosen Theo, he could live with it. His sister must have declined him because she was afraid of hurting the other two. She was so kind.

Theo pressed his lips together. He was disappointed, certainly. This was the first time he had stepped forward to compete for an opportunity like this. But if Elise didn't want to dance, what could he do?

He reached out and brushed a finger lightly over the tip of her nose. “Silly girl,” he said, affectionate and resigned.

The host saw the stalemate. After a staff member whispered in his ear, he made a couple of jokes to smooth things over and moved the program along. He had intended to draw another lucky woman, but a look from Mu made it clear that wasn't welcome either, so he dropped the idea.

The gala continued. Seeing that neither brother was angry, Elise breathed easier. Choosing had been impossible, but she still felt guilty for refusing everyone. Perhaps she could buy her brothers gifts in private to make it up to them. Then surely they wouldn't be upset with her.

People were still stealing glances at her, making her squirm. She had drunk too much water earlier, so she asked a staff member for directions to the restroom.

When she came out and rounded the corner, she stopped. Mu was leaning against the wall a short distance away, staring ahead as though lost in thought. He held a cigarette, taking an occasional drag.

Elise frowned and went over. “Since when do you smoke?”

She had never seen him do it before. He sent her a health tip every day; he seemed so careful about taking care of himself. And he smoked?

His eyes brightened when he saw her. Smiling, he stubbed the cigarette out in the ashtray on a nearby trash can. Smoke still lingered in the air, so he took her hand and led her a little farther away.

“I've always known how,” he said with a sigh. “I don't do it often.”

“You should smoke less. It's bad for you.”

His eyes lit up. “Are you worried about me?”

She nodded. “We're friends. Of course I am.”

Friends.

Mu gave a small, inexplicable laugh, then lowered his head and shook it. Standing with her brothers just now had given him a real sense of danger. In Elise's heart, her brothers would always matter more than he did. The thought had irritated him so much that he'd sent Pei Yi away and given in to a couple of drags.

When would he ever win against those brothers? Pursuing Elise had to be the hardest thing in the world.

He plainly wasn't in a good mood. Elise studied him for a while, then said hesitantly, “My brothers have caused you trouble. I'm sorry. I'd like to apologize for them.”

Since she and Mu had become friends, her brothers had given him trouble one after another. Miles had beaten him without hearing the whole story; Adrian and Theo had treated him badly too, and the two of them had disrupted the event the organizers had arranged for him tonight.

“You feel guilty?”

She dropped her gaze and murmured yes. She did, especially when she remembered the injuries Miles had left all over him. She almost wanted to bring Miles to Mu's door to apologize in person.

Mu chuckled. Elise had interlaced her fingers and looked painfully awkward, as though she feared he wouldn't forgive her. He resisted the urge to stroke her hair.

“If you feel guilty, shouldn't you find some way to make it up to me?”

Her head came up. “Yes! Tell me what you want. If it's something I can do, I'll make it up to you properly.”

What he wanted. There were so many things.

His gaze traveled over her face. He wanted to kiss her eyes, to touch and gently pinch her nose, to feel the warmth of her full, rosy cheeks. When he reached her pale pink lips, he wanted to kiss those too.

Elise looked puzzled. Why was he staring without saying anything?

Mu caught himself and found his own distraction amusing. He made himself look away. “Then how about this? I gave you that colored diamond last time, and you wouldn't take it. I was hurt. I thought you didn't consider me a friend. If you're sorry, accept it now. Don't leave it gathering dust in storage.”

Her eyes widened. “Could you ask for something else?”

The diamond cost a fortune. Just holding the box had made her hands shake.

His expression took on a dangerous edge as he smiled. “If I asked for something else, I'm afraid you couldn't give it to me.”

“What?”

“Nothing,” he said quietly.

Elise hesitated. “I didn't refuse because I don't think of you as a friend. I'm always like this. I think money is better saved than spent on jewelry that's beautiful but impractical. I never accept expensive presents, even from my brothers. Really.”

Mu raised an eyebrow. She didn't accept expensive gifts? Julian had swept through the auction. How had he managed to give Elise anything?

His gaze fell to her wrist. If he wasn't mistaken, the blue diamond bracelet she wore was the one Julian had bought at auction a few months ago for $5.6 million. What trick had Julian used to make her accept it?

Mu pondered that. Elise refused the diamond no matter what he said, so he let the matter rest. He would find out how Julian had persuaded her before trying again.

After they had gone, Qi Yaqiu emerged from the restroom, stunned. Had she heard correctly? Mu had bought the colored diamond for Elise?

She thought back to how stubbornly he'd insisted on dancing with her. The pieces began to fall into place. Had Mu rejected Qi because he was pursuing Elise? Perhaps even the selection for the dance had been his doing.

Qi had chased him for so long without a response, and all the while he had been pursuing another woman, one Qi looked down on. The diamond at the auction had been intended for Elise too. Julian had bid against Mu for it. Had he also wanted to give it to Elise?

Her jealousy and resentment grew. Why should Elise have such wonderful brothers and have Mu waiting on her as well?

Elise returned to the hall and found a seat in a corner. Before long, Qi approached with a smile. Elise's skin prickled at the sight. For some reason, the smile didn't seem sincere.

Qi sat beside her with an air of familiarity. “Elise, you know both those men from earlier? I'm so jealous. You know so many famous people. Unlike me; I don't know anyone.”

Elise edged an inch away. “They're my brothers. Of course I know them.”

Qi stiffened. Both were Elise's brothers? Then again, they shared a last name. She had assumed it was a coincidence.

She remembered what she'd overheard outside the restroom: Elise never accepted expensive gifts. Looking down, she saw the blue diamond bracelet shining on Elise's wrist.

The first time she had seen it, Qi had assumed it was an imitation. Who could afford a bracelet worth $5.6 million? But the second time she'd seen Elise, the girl had bought several auction lots worth millions. The bracelet had to be genuine, the one and only blue diamond bracelet.