Chapter 45 The audience erupted in cheers

The spotlights poured onto the center of the stage like crushed gold, making Chen Qian in her white dance dress look like an elf who had fallen to the mortal world.

She tapped her toes lightly, her form like a butterfly, and with a final magnificent spin, she rose gracefully, her skirt blooming like a snow lotus in full blossom.

Just as everyone was holding their breath, anticipating the perfect finale of this solo dance, an accident occurred without warning.

At the edge of the stage, a corner of the dark red carpet had been silently lifted by someone, like a dormant net waiting for its prey.

The moment Chen Qian landed to finish her move, her flowing skirt caught exactly on the upturned edge of the carpet.

"Riiiip..." The soft sound of fabric rubbing was drowned out by the music, but Chen Qian's ankle tripped violently, and she instantly lost her balance!

Her pupils constricted, her originally elegant posture collapsed instantly, and she fell uncontrollably toward the hard floor off the stage!

"Ah...!" A scream broke through her throat, and the color drained from Chen Qian's face in an instant, turning as pale as paper.

She could clearly feel the dizziness of weightlessness, along with the looming, cold shadow of the floor, and her heart felt like it was about to jump out of her throat.

The audience below the stage instantly erupted into chaos!

"Watch out!" "Oh my god! She's going to fall!" "Catch her, quick!"

Exclamations and gasps rose and fell, countless eyes staring in horror at the falling white figure, yet no one could move faster than this sudden turn of events.

In the blink of an eye! A figure, like an arrow released from a bow, suddenly darted out from the front row!

As fast as lightning, it cut through the panic of the crowd, reaching the edge of the stage within half a second of Chen Qian's descent.

It was Lin Chen!

Because his body still felt weak after the "great battle" earlier today, he had specifically asked his roommates to choose a seat near the front so he could rest, yet his gaze had been unconsciously fixed on Chen Qian in the center of the stage.

Watching that heart-stopping scene unfold, he didn't have time to think; his reaction speed, far exceeding that of a normal person after the system upgrade, activated instantly. His legs, as if equipped with springs, took two steps in one, and in the gap before anyone else could react, he steadily opened his arms and caught the falling Chen Qian in his embrace!

A soft, warm body slammed into his arms, the F-cup pressing against his chest like a comfortable cushion. It carried a faint scent of gardenias, refreshing and pleasant.

Lin Chen felt his arms sink suddenly; the warm, soft sensation in his arms was incredibly delicate, and the fragrance lingering at the tip of his nose made his heart itch.

Even though he had just experienced two tough battles during the day and his composure far exceeded that of his peers, he couldn't help but feel his heart flutter at this moment.

"Th... thank you." The person in his arms let out a whisper as soft as a mosquito, her voice still trembling with lingering fear.

Chen Qian buried her face in Lin Chen's chest, where she could clearly hear his steady, powerful heartbeat. That sound was like a calming pill, allowing her panicked emotions to settle slightly.

She slowly looked up, her cheeks already stained with a flush of red, a thin layer of moisture in her eyes. With lingering fear and gratitude, the look she gave Lin Chen carried a hint of something indescribable.

Lin Chen steadied himself, suppressing that strange throb in his heart. Carefully supporting Chen Qian's slender waist, he helped her stand steady, his deep voice filled with concern: "Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself anywhere?"

"I... I'm fine." Chen Qian stood steady, hurriedly raising her hands to tidy her messy dance dress. Her fingertips inadvertently brushed against the back of Lin Chen's hand as he supported her waist, the warm sensation making her cheeks turn even redder, like a ripe apple.

She looked up and gave Lin Chen a grateful smile, her eyes curving into crescents, "Thank you so much." "Just now... I thought I was going to have a terrible fall."

This scene, falling into the eyes of hundreds of people below the stage, instantly ignited the entire crowd!

"Holy crap!" "This guy is awesome!" "Hero saves the beauty!" "It's a classic case of a hero saving the beauty!" "So cool!" "That speed just now, was that teleportation?" "I'm crying with envy!" "Why wasn't it me who rushed up there!" "Who is he?" "He's got guts, daring to catch our campus belle!" "He scored big! He got to hold the campus belle!"

Discussions, exclamations, and sounds of envy intertwined, almost blowing the roof off.

Meanwhile, Chu Feifei's face below the stage was as black as the bottom of a pot. She stared fixedly at the two figures standing side by side below the stage, grinding her teeth in fury.

"Damn it!" This was clearly a scene she had specifically arranged! She wanted Chen Qian to fall flat on her face in front of the entire school's teachers and students, ruining that aloof and arrogant demeanor of hers!

But who could have imagined that it would end up benefiting such an unremarkable-looking Freshman!

Watching Lin Chen supporting Chen Qian, the picture of the two standing together like a handsome couple, Chu Feifei found it incredibly eye-stinging, a flame of jealousy burning fiercely in her chest.

She snorted coldly, her tone full of disdain and malice, and cursed in a low voice to her lackeys beside her: "What is this? A Freshman who popped out of nowhere, is he worthy of playing the hero saving the beauty?"

Her voice was just loud enough for the few lackeys and classmates nearby to hear. Someone followed her gaze to look at Lin Chen, their eyes filled with a bit of curiosity, but no one dared to respond.

A flash of malice crossed Chu Feifei's eyes, and she muttered to herself: "Chen Qian, consider yourself lucky." "But this is just the beginning, we'll see."

Below the stage, Chen Qian thanked Lin Chen solemnly once more, hesitated for a moment, and then took the initiative to extend her slender hand.

Those hands were fair and slender, the fingertips slightly cool, and the nails were neatly trimmed, showing a healthy pink color.

"Classmate, my name is Chen Qian, and I'm a junior in the English Department." "Thank you for saving me just now," "May I ask what your name is?"

Lin Chen looked at the hand extended before him and smiled slightly. Just as he was about to reach out to shake it, his peripheral vision caught Chu Feifei's gaze from not far away, which looked like she wanted to eat someone alive.

He muttered to himself that this "hero saving the beauty" business seemed a bit of a hot potato. This Chu Feifei didn't look like a pushover, and that carpet just now was nine times out of ten her doing. His actions here had probably inadvertently offended this young lady.

While thinking this, his hand didn't stop moving. He gently grasped Chen Qian's hand, palms touching, warm and soft. "Lin Chen, a Freshman in the Finance Department." "It was just a small favor, don't take it to heart."

"Lin Chen?" "Finance Department?" Chen Qian thought after hearing this: "This name is somewhat familiar!" "It seems I've heard it before."

Several students nearby heard the name and were stunned for a moment, then one of the boys seemed to remember something, slapped his thigh violently, and shouted loudly: "Holy crap!" "Lin Chen!" "You're that Lin Chen who made a bet with our Finance Department's twin department belles, Xia Wanqing and Xia Wanrou," "and dared to challenge teacher Liu Minting?"

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a bombshell thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up huge waves! The crowd, who had just been discussing the "hero saving the beauty," instantly shifted their focus to Lin Chen's identity.

"What?" "He's that Lin Chen?"