137. Preparing for the Ball

On a summer morning, gentle sunlight streamed through the large glass windows of the living room onto the dining table. A man in a white shirt was slurping down noodles like a storm, sweat beading across his forehead from the thin layer of chili oil. A rosy flush bloomed on his handsome cheeks, and he couldn't help but let out a groan of pure satisfaction.

Holden finished the last drop of noodle soup, tossed the mirror-smooth bowl aside, and patted his stomach with a contented sigh.

Dean wiped the grease off the table, casting a glance at Holden’s heavy eye bags and the rough stubble on his chin.

"Is the Red Dragon Club case still not over? What stage is it at?"

"Almost. Bradley Lincoln has already led everyone in searching the entire Las Vegas, but they've turned up empty-handed."

"However, he hasn't just been investigating the Red Dragon Club case; he's also flipped through every single homicide case file received by the LVPD from last year to this year, including the James Locke father-and-son case, the Abby case..."

"What does he want by digging through these completely unrelated old cases?" Dean stood up, walked over to the living room's glass window, and looked out at the vegetation in the yard.

"You cleaned up the crime scene very neatly, and I went back to tidy up the loose ends for you. As long as you don't mess around in Las Vegas lately, Bradley won't be able to get his hands on any valuable clues."

Holden interlaced his fingers, resting his chin on his hands as he looked at his friend's silent back and shook his head, a complex look flashing in his eyes for a split second.

"And he hasn't mentioned you even once so far. In all likelihood, he'll be slinking away in defeat before long."

Dean massaged his temples, his expression remaining tense.

"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on things for you. Oh right, I have another piece of important news to tell you." Holden paused for a moment. "In another week, around mid-June, my 'exile period' will be up. It's time to head back to Quantico in Virginia to continue my day job at the FBI, helping old colleagues study criminal psychology."

"So soon? Isn't there still a few months left out of that year and a half?" Dean asked, his face full of surprise.

"I've been on my best behavior lately, got my sentence reduced, and am getting 'paroled' early." Holden smiled with gratification, stood up, and patted Dean on the shoulder. To his surprise, in less than a year, this high schooler had grown taller and broader than himself, carrying an indescribable sense of oppression.

"That's it for today. I need to head back to the bureau. I'll come find you for a meal before I leave."

"I'll give you a ride."

Dean changed his clothes and drove Holden away.

Then, as agreed, he drove his car to Gretchen's house to pick up his girlfriend and Abby.

"You guys know what? My parents might end up on television." Abby flopped down in the back seat, her expression instantly lighting up with excitement.

"What's the situation?" Gretchen asked curiously. "Did your parents win the lottery?"

"A while ago, an East Coast production crew came to my house to do an interview about the case where I was framed last year," Abby explained. "They specialize in filming bizarre folklore and urban legends."

That case from last year?

Dean recalled that it had been the case of the Eater of Souls.

"Wait, wasn't that case classified at the LVPD?" Dean asked in surprise. "Where did an East Coast production crew get the inside scoop?"

"I'm not sure about that," Abby shook her head, "but walls have ears."

"So what did your family talk about with the crew?" Dean shifted topics.

"Ha, mostly just expressing their gratitude toward you," Abby said with a serious expression. "If it weren't for Detective Dean stepping in and catching my 'clone,' I would've spent the second half of my life in prison."

"I accept your gratitude," Dean glanced at Abby's smile in the rearview mirror and instructed solemnly, "but if you really want to thank me, the next time someone interviews you, don't mention me by name—not a single word. You know I prefer to keep a low profile."

"Fine, savior, I promise you."

...

After that brief detour, the three of them arrived at the shopping mall.

Today was the weekend.

The mall was bustling with people coming and going, particularly energetic high schoolers around seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed up flashily and laughing as they frolicked, or couples walking around with bright smiles while carrying big and small shopping bags.

Through the corners of the packaging, the sleek outlines of new clothes were faintly visible.

In June, high school graduates across Las Vegas, whether from public or private schools, all began selecting their prom outfits.

As the most formal dance of their high school years, everyone went all out, striving to present their absolute best selves.

...

"Hey, beauties and handsome, are you all ready?" Jenny, the Black girl sitting by the street with her head full of box braids, walked over, linked her arms with Abby and Gretchen, and flashed a brilliant smile.

Behind her, Britney, Lasting, and Baker waved with smiles.

"Let's go, everyone, time to pick out new clothes!"

...

"So, you and Britney are back together?" Dean glanced at Britney, who was walking ahead arm-in-arm with her best friend, and gave Lasting a thumbs-up. A hint of a shy smile appeared on Lasting's face as he shook his head.

"Not yet. Britney said she wants to see how I perform!"

"That means there's a good chance, then. Keep it up."

The group entered a clothing store named Nancy's inside the mall, letting the girls choose their formal prom dresses first.

The racks were filled with all sorts of prom dresses in a wide variety of colors and styles, and they weren't expensive, ranging from fifty to two hundred dollars.

The four girls were as excited as if they had entered a jewelry store, whispering to each other, picking out items, discussing them, and then trying them on.

"Look at me, how is this one?!"

Jenny boldly tried on a long, single-layered lotus-ruffled dress in a blinding shade of Barbie pink. Her dark-skinned face beamed with a hearty smile, and her pearly white teeth dazzled her friends.

"Breathtaking, brighter than the sun in the sky," Baker praised relentlessly, wrapping an arm around his girlfriend's waist before changing his tone. "Still, being too dazzling isn't necessarily a good thing. I think you could try a more elegant and noble style."

Baker pointed to a light blue long dress nearby.

"This one is really nice."

"Do you all think so?" Jenny held up her skirt, clearly somewhat reluctant to let it go.

"Light blue suits you better," Dean rubbed his chin and chimed in boldly. Dark skin paired with blinding Barbie pink had too much offensive power and was a bit too flashy; wearing that to the prom was asking for jealousy.

"OK."

"What about me?" Britney was wearing a white dress. The upper body featured a lace-trimmed, waist-cinching corset that exposed her delicate collarbones and snowy white skin, with the faint curve of her ample breasts just peeking through. The lower half of the dress boasted several textured, fluffy layers.

With her flowing blonde hair, hot figure, and a pretty, naive, yet slightly timid face, she possessed a charm that was both cute and sexy.

"Welcome, Your Highness Snow White, to our humble establishment." Abby, along with Jenny and Gretchen, exaggeratedly lifted the corners of her imaginary skirt and curtsied.

A flash of awe crossed the eyes of all three boys.

"What are you daydreaming for? Go say something nice!" Dean, the first to snap back to reality, shoved Lasting—who had been staring blankly—right in front of Britney.

The girl put her hands behind her back, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him.

"You, uh, are brighter than the stars in the night sky!" Lasting ran out of words, stumbling over his speech for a moment before a flush of embarrassment spread across his face. "I'll buy this for you!"

"It's fine, I'll buy it myself later," Britney said, a flicker of disappointment crossing her eyes as she shook her head with a smile. "Well, you need the money more."

"Don't worry, I'm not short on cash." Stimulated, Lasting suddenly flushed beet red.

"Hey, buddy, don't rush to make up your mind." Dean walked over and threw an arm around Lasting's shoulder. "Let your girlfriend try on a few more."

"Sisters, our true princess is missing one thing: a hairstyle." Jenny and the other two girls appropriately grabbed curling irons and styling gel, dragging Britney into the fitting room.

"Thanks a lot, man," Lasting looked gratefully at Dean, who had helped him out of the awkward spot. "But trust me, I'm going to come into a lot of money."

Baker walked up from behind and threw an arm around Lasting's left shoulder. "I don't mean anything by it, but where are you getting money?"

In both of their memories, Lasting had lost his mother, his family had gone bankrupt, and he was currently crashing at Dean's house while making only a few hundred dollars a month working at the shooting range.

Looking at the twitching curtain of the fitting room, Lasting hesitated before speaking.

"A while ago, when I was getting off work at the Struggle Range, someone came to ask me about the details of Grace's murder."

"Who?" Dean instinctively thought of the newly arrived FBI agent. "Was it a tall, thin guy with black hair?"

Lasting shook his head. "A female lawyer. She promised to help me file a wrongful death lawsuit for compensation against Al Daris, the guy who killed Grace."

"Didn't Al already die?"

"But he left behind a lot of assets, like the Red Dragon Club building, bank deposits, and stocks. The fact that he murdered Grace is crystal clear. According to that lawyer, I can get at least one hundred thousand dollars out of this lawsuit." Lasting ground his teeth and said in a deep voice, "I plan to sue him the moment I graduate."

"I support you one hundred percent. Just say the word if you need anything from me." Baker and Dean both expressed their support. "If you get that money, your tuition for community college and police academy will be completely covered."

...

As the three guys were talking, the girls emerged from the fitting room one after another.

The bangs on either side of Britney's face were swept back into a minimalist princess half-up hairstyle, adding an ethereal touch to her cute and sexy vibe.

Abby had pinned her hair up behind her head and changed into a flamingo-style pale white dress with ruffles and an ultra-long skirt. Her slender waist was remarkably prominent, and her formerly flat chest now had a delicate curve. Paired with her delicate, smooth little face, she exuded the charm of a girl next door.

However, the most eye-catching of the girls was the last one to step out.

Gretchen's dress was very simple, completely devoid of any flashy decorative patterns—just a black, sleeveless, form-fitting dress.

Yet, her heart-stopping curves, slender legs, jade-white and glowing skin, and stunning facial features combined perfectly to create an invincible, youthful sex symbol.

All three boys felt their cheeks heating up.

*Woohoo—*

A passing man outside the shop accidentally caught a glimpse and immediately offered a loud wolf whistle.

"The four beauties are making us mere mortals feel thoroughly ashamed of ourselves." Baker sighed dramatically, casting a glance at Dean and Lasting. "Let's go hang out by ourselves."

Abby, rarely praised by members of the opposite sex, was overjoyed. She covered her mouth and giggled.

Gretchen spun around generously to show off the dress, and it was only then that Dean noticed her simple dress had a hidden surprise in the back—it was completely backless, revealing her smooth, flawless spine.

"I'm dying." Dean stared straight at Gretchen, exaggeratingly clutching his chest and taking two steps back as if pierced by an arrow. He breathed heavily with a trembling voice, then fumbled blindly in the air with unseeing eyes like a blind man. "I can't breathe, and I can't see anything. Oh God, my eyes have been blinded by boundless beauty! Ladies, save me!"

...

"Come on."

Lasting watched his two friends putting on an exaggerated performance with a sense of envy. He usually wasn't tongue-tied, but the moment he faced his crush, he completely lost his composure.

"Audacious! Three little pawns!" Jenny, wearing the light blue long dress, put her hands on her hips like an African queen, puffed out her chest, and issued an order to them. "Hurry up and come put shoes on your queens!"

"Yes, queen!"

...

After lingering in the women's clothing store for two hours, the girls finally finished buying their prom dresses and high heels, spending an average of about two hundred dollars each. They paid for the items themselves out of pocket, as there was no custom here requiring the boys to foot the bill for the girls.

Next up was for Dean and his friends to pick out their prom suits, a process that was relatively mundane.

Suits didn't have nearly as many variations as prom dresses; they were mostly cut from the same cloth.

Moreover, the focus of the prom was always the girls.

Therefore, the three boys moved at lightning speed, trying on two or three sets each before locking in their choices.

Because prom was a very formal occasion, Baker, who usually favored individuality, didn't choose any flashy styles.

He honestly joined Dean and Lasting in buying a black suit, tie, and leather shoes, running up a bill roughly equivalent to the girls'.

Additionally, Lasting and Baker used the store's hair gel to slick back their fluffy, curly hair into polished, mature-looking glossy pompadours.

Dean's black buzz cut was too short to style.

However, his inverted-triangle physique allowed him to fill out the suit to perfection, drawing lingering glances of admiration from the girls.

...

The three spirited young men and four vibrant young women left the clothing store and headed straight to a flower shop.

According tradition, aside from suits and dresses, boys needed to wear a boutonnière on their lapels, and girls needed a corsage.

Furthermore, the color schemes of a dance partner's flowers were best kept consistent.

However, because these items had a very short shelf life, they were simply browsing to pick out a general color palette, planning to buy the actual flowers and keep them fresh in the refrigerator on the day of the prom.

Dean and Gretchen quickly settled on blue tulips.

Baker and Jenny chose red roses.

Lasting and Britney opted for white chrysanthemums.

"What color are you picking?" Britney asked curiously, looking at Abby. Among the seven of them, Abby was the only one without a male date; who would her corsage match with?

"You'll see when the time comes." Abby smiled mysteriously, glancing back. "Anyway, since this ugly duckling couldn't secure a date, I'll just have to borrow the swan sisters' boyfriends to dance with, so any color works."

...

"We need to rent a car. On the day of the prom, we can all ride together to someone's house to get ready, make all the preparations, and then head to the venue." Leaving the flower shop, Baker proposed a bold idea. "I think a Ferrari would be great."

"Are you an idiot? Can a Ferrari fit seven people?" Jenny rolled her eyes.

"A stretch limousine is more than enough to hold all seven of us," Britney offered another perspective. "Um, shall we all go to my house to get ready then?"

"Guys, is all that really necessary?" Dean felt that a stretch limousine was far too high-profile. "Don't we all have cars? Why rent a vehicle just to fake being rich?"

"Prom is one of the most important dances in life, and none of us have ever been to one before!" Gretchen wrapped her arms around his neck in feigned protest. "We have to ride in a luxury car to treat ourselves."

"I know you like to keep a low profile, but your worries are unnecessary. The venue will be surrounded by luxury cars rented by our classmates, and besides, late at night, no one's going to pay attention to what kind of car anyone else drove," Britney gently persuaded.

"That's right, our school is just a poor public high school, unlike those private schools that can host proms on top-floor luxury hotels or yachts. And we don't have fancy seafood dinners, so renting a luxury car is our final shred of dignity!"

Lasting extended his hand, and the remaining six hands placed themselves on top of his in unison.

"It's decided then, a stretch limousine!"

...

Dean shook his head and smiled. "Well then, everyone, I'll cover the cost of the car rental."

He still had over one hundred thousand dollars sitting in his bank account, unused.

"Ahhhhh!" Jenny bit her lip in feigned jealousy, as if she wanted to take a bite out of him. "I don't care, I'm going to fleece you dry before graduation, you nouveau riche!"

The others nodded in deep agreement, six pairs of united, vengeful eyes locking onto Dean.

The latter crossed his arms, smiling with unbothered calm.

"Bring it on, I can take it!"