A Night

Chapter 53: A Night

Tuoniao Club, main hall.

Classical lamps hanging from the surrounding walls and ceiling brightly illuminated the ballroom. Graceful music flowed melodiously through the hall like water as pairs of gentlemen in suits and ladies in gowns danced lightly, immersed in this place of entertainment far removed from the smoke of war.

If the club had not been privately booked, and if professional dancers had not been dressed up as dancing guests, Kyle’s appearance in the ballroom in a tailcoat would certainly have drawn an enthusiastic crowd and caused a sensation.

Kyle, America’s youngest major, was a hero symbolizing America’s strength and conquest. After Hydra had been uprooted and annihilated, he had once again become a legendary figure discussed in streets and alleys across Europe and America.

Though calling him a "legend" might have been a little exaggerated, he had single-handedly influenced and altered the entire European battlefield, dealing a devastating blow to Germany, whose military might had been formidable in World War II. In the eyes of American soldiers and certain fanatical young women, Kyle was a true legendary hero, with fame and prestige that even surpassed generals and officers.

Europe was still relatively calm in this regard. But in America now, of every ten domestic recruitment propaganda films shown, six were exclusively about Kyle, while the other four were war documentary clips of Kyle and Captain Steve fighting side by side.

One could well imagine just how powerful Kyle’s aura as a War Hero had become.

Hope had dimmed, then been rekindled. That confident young man had returned as promised.

Standing in the center of the ballroom, Carter stared at Kyle as he emerged from the parting crowd of dancers, unable to speak for a moment.

Kyle remained silent as well, not knowing what to say. Finally, he took a deep breath and said, "Sorry. I didn’t bring Steve back."

The moment those words were spoken, the previously relaxed and cheerful atmosphere immediately froze into something heavy.

Carter stepped closer and shook her head. "You can’t take all the blame. We couldn’t have predicted what would happen on the plane."

"No, I could have predicted some of it. I underestimated Schmidt too much. I thought…" Before Kyle could finish, Carter shook her head at him again and said softly, "Enough. It’s over."

As she spoke, Carter extended her hand slightly, a trace of expectation hidden in her beautiful eyes. Her red lips parted. "Didn’t Steve ask you to come invite me to dance in his place? Why did you only come now? It’s been two weeks already."

"The sea was a little far away. I’m late," Kyle casually made up an excuse. After hesitating for a moment, he extended his hand with the same gentlemanly manner Howard had, taking Carter’s soft hand in his.

"You don’t know how to dance, so I can teach you. Just don’t step on my shoes." Carter spoke as she prepared to lead Kyle into a slow dance to the tune playing in the hall.

"That won’t be necessary." Kyle laughed helplessly. There truly were not many common skills in this world that he did not know; even if there were, he could simply draw cards for them.

Especially the Evening Dance Green Ability Card, which he had drawn from Carter herself. He simply had not had an opportunity to use it until now.

Just then, the gentle song in the hall ended, and another, faster and more passionate song began.

Kyle immediately stepped forward and seized the lead. With dance skills no less polished than a professional’s, he began guiding her. With exquisite control of his strength, he wrapped one arm around Carter’s waist and spun with her, lifting her slightly off the ground.

Carter swiftly kept up with his steps, her red skirt swirling through the air.

A flash of surprise crossed her beautiful eyes. She truly had not expected that, aside from fighting and killing on the battlefield, Kyle could be so adept at dancing too.

Kyle held Carter’s hand with one hand and wrapped the other around her slender waist, moving with her as the increasingly impassioned melody carried them deeper into the dance.

With his athletic, perfect physique, the tailcoat naturally looked far better on him than on the frail gentlemen raised in the city’s greenhouses. He had lost some of the cold ruthlessness and killing intent of his black Combat Suit, gaining a touch more warmth and handsomeness.

Paired with Carter, who was coldly beautiful tonight, they were already a pleasing sight to behold. On top of that, their dance moves were energetic and sharp, their coordination seamless. They completed difficult movements with ease, their hand motions and footwork perfectly matching the rhythm of the song.

At some point, Kyle and Carter had taken over the very center of the ballroom, drawing the astonished and admiring gazes of everyone around them.

Only when the song ended did Kyle slowly support Carter by her slender waist and steady her body. Carter, meanwhile, lightly pressed both palms against his broad chest.

As though amazed by the dance’s flawless completeness, the people in the ballroom broke into applause.

"That’s it, then." Kyle shrugged and withdrew his hands.

A trace of disappointment flashed through Carter’s beautiful eyes, and she could only slowly lower her hands as she said in surprise, "I didn’t expect you to know how to dance."

"Before I joined the army, I learned from my parents at home," Kyle answered casually. Then he asked bluntly, "Is there anything else you want to do? I happen to be free tonight."

"Are you preparing to head back to the front tomorrow? Right, you haven’t returned to the base to report in half a month." Carter pondered for a moment, then gathered her courage and said, "Then… let’s go have a drink."

"Drink? You and me?" Kyle looked at Carter in surprise. Wasn’t drinking something usually done between comrades and brothers? Why would a man and woman drink together?

After thinking it over, his expression turned slightly hesitant. "You don’t really like me, like Steve said, do you?"

Carter froze for a moment, avoiding Kyle’s scrutinizing gaze as she waved her hand. "How could that be? You’re overthinking it."

"That’s good." Kyle let out a breath and smiled in relief. "I knew it. Steve was lying to me at the end. Even if he hadn’t said that, I’d still take care of you."

"I don’t need you to take care of me." Carter shot him a glance, her tone noticeably colder. "So, are we drinking or not?"

Kyle nodded. "Drinking. It’s rare to get a chance to relax at the end. Why not?"

"Just don’t get drunk. I can’t carry someone as big as you." Carter snorted.

"What a joke. How could that happen?" Kyle shook his head dismissively. There was no need to worry about that at all.

His Super Soldier metabolism was four times that of an ordinary human. Could a little alcohol really knock him down?

The next morning.

A breeze from the window stirred the white gauze curtains, and dazzling golden sunlight streamed into the room.

Kyle gradually woke up in bed, his head still feeling somewhat dizzy and swollen from the lingering effects of last night’s drunkenness.

He really had gotten drunk.

Kyle lay spread-eagled beneath the covers with a bitter smile. It was too embarrassing for a Super Soldier. Thinking he would not get drunk, he had kept trying different high-proof drinks. By the time he realized he was drunk, it had already been too late.

Still, he was in a period of rest. Getting drunk once to relieve the pressure of wartime was no big deal. If he had been on standby or in the middle of a mission, he would not have touched even a drop of alcohol.

"Come to think of it, Carter really had a hard time last night."

Kyle pulled back the blanket and saw that his tailcoat was nowhere to be found, replaced by the club’s simple pajamas.

He vaguely remembered that Carter, along with several attendants, had gone through quite a bit of trouble just to help him into the room. Carter seemed to have helped him change out of his clothes as well.

After that, he had no memory of what happened after he passed out drunk.