“Is there a problem?”
At this, Lin Xiaoyu’s expression didn’t change as she asked in confusion.
Jiang Ling sucked in a cold breath. “Look again! This hugging-the-waist, touching-the-legs, kissing-in-one-go routine—are you sure it’s really okay for the two of us to do something like this in front of your mom?!”
Jiang Ling felt that if they actually performed such a scene before Lin’s mother, forget about the bet—she’d probably have to carry Lin Xiaoyu and flee to Kongtong Mountain overnight… Was NOVA really about to be finished?!
Thinking of this, Jiang Ling tried to speak tactfully. “How about we switch to another dance?”
“It’s fine, if anything goes wrong, I’ll take responsibility.”
Only then did Lin Xiaoyu realize what Jiang Ling was worried about, the corners of her lips curling up slightly. “Actually, my family is pretty open-minded.”
“How is that possible? Parents who interfere with even your preferences would never accept us as a couple!”
Jiang Ling poked her arm in exasperation, as if already envisioning her own pitiful fate at Lin’s mother’s hands, waving her hand nonstop in an attempt to dissuade Lin Xiaoyu.
“Who said we’re a couple?”
Seeing Jiang Ling’s hypersensitive reaction, Lin Xiaoyu raised her eyebrows. “Isn’t this proper art? Ballet duets have even more excessive physical contact than this. My mom’s long been used to it. What strange things are you thinking in that head of yours?”
At Lin Xiaoyu’s pointed question, Jiang Ling guiltily averted her gaze and chose to remain silent.
She definitely wasn’t thinking any messy, nonsensical things!
“But this dance does seem like it really tests how well we cooperate.” Jiang Ling examined it again. “Ah, and there are lead and follow roles. Which are you dancing?”
Lin Xiaoyu’s face was perfectly calm. “Is that even a question?”
“….I wish you’d stop saying such hurtful things so casually. And anyway, why can’t I be the one in front?!”
Jiang Ling pouted, all enthusiasm lost.
Today was another day she resented not being able to play the lead!
“This way, the stage effect comes out better. If you were taller than me, I’d gladly let you dance the lead role.”
Lin Xiaoyu, for her part, didn’t seem too bothered and simply stated the truth.
After all, if Jiang Ling were to dance the lead, she’d probably need to put on heels over ten centimeters tall, wouldn’t she?
“The fact I can’t refute that is the saddest part!”
Jiang Ling bit her lip, then gave in and fell into Lin Xiaoyu’s arms, starting the dance practice.
Say what you will, but with Lin Xiaoyu’s patient teaching at her side, Jiang Ling’s learning speed really improved dramatically—less than an hour and she’d almost finished the first section.
“Not bad.”
After watching Jiang Ling run through the moves at 0.75 speed, Lin Xiaoyu nodded in satisfaction. “If you can keep up this pace, that’ll be even better.”
“Hah… Don’t make it harder for me.” Jiang Ling caught her breath. “I’m only learning fast because you’re a good teacher. If I had to figure it out myself, I’d definitely waste a lot more time.”
Lin Xiaoyu didn’t argue further, but played the dance again.
“But as I was watching just now, I felt something was off. I can’t quite put my finger on it, though. Dance through it for me again?”
Hearing this, Jiang Ling didn’t refuse, seriously repeating the moves she’d learned.
As the interlude marking the end of the first section sounded, Jiang Ling turned to look at Lin Xiaoyu, who was frowning deeply. “What’s wrong?”
Lin Xiaoyu pondered for a long time, then took out her phone and watched the full original stage again. Suddenly, she made an enlightened sound. “I’ve got it. It’s that sense of sexiness.”
“Your moves are standard enough, and your rhythm is good too. But right now, you don’t give me a sexy vibe—it’s like luxurious fried rice without any salt. Everything’s there, color and fragrance, but it’s missing some flavor.”
Listening to Lin Xiaoyu’s detailed yet abstract description, Jiang Ling clicked her tongue. “Isn’t it too much to describe someone in terms of food, no matter what?!”
But she quickly understood what Lin Xiaoyu meant.
After all, the female lead in the original version of this song was a very sexy woman—not just her voluptuous figure, but also her captivating dance posture.
Jiang Ling knew she didn’t have such a perfect figure, so she’d have to put in effort elsewhere.
But honestly, sexiness didn’t suit her at all.
Jiang Ling couldn’t help looking into the mirror in front of her.
The two of them reflected in the mirror were starkly different in style. Lin Xiaoyu’s figure was tall and slender, her posture elegant, her chest full and her legs long, white, and straight—an undeniably stunning visual effect. As for herself, well…
Jiang Ling pinched herself in frustration and shed tears of envy.
Why couldn’t she be that well-endowed!
Actually, her figure was a fairly standard youthful type—not particularly curvy, but balanced and cute. But next to Lin Xiaoyu, she just couldn’t compare at all.
How could she possibly look even a little bit sexy?
“Alright, let’s first smooth out the rest of the moves. As for the sexiness, you can think about it later.”
Seeing Jiang Ling’s defeated expression growing heavier, Lin Xiaoyu didn’t force her to keep struggling and suggested a change of pace.
“Fine.”
After practicing, Lin Xiaoyu said she needed to go out and buy something, so she left the dance studio. Jiang Ling, meanwhile, collapsed onto the floor, completely drained, her mind filled with—
How is someone with a grade-schooler face and figure like mine supposed to look sexy?!
Honestly speaking, Jiang Ling was the pure and innocent type—this unfamiliar territory left her at a complete loss.
As she was worrying, the door to the dance studio opened and Fang Wannan walked in with her bag. She spotted the gloomy-faced Jiang Ling at a glance.
“You’re about to turn into a bitter melon over there.”
Fang Wannan put her bag down, the pendant on the zipper swaying slightly and catching Jiang Ling’s eye.
Hey, that’s me again.
Jiang Ling was just about to point out the pendant when Fang Wannan casually stepped closer and blocked her line of sight. “So what’s up? Did Xiaoyu’s mom give you guys a hard time?”
“No, she already said she’d come watch Xiaoyu’s performance, and even made a friendly little bet with us. Overall, things are going smoothly.”
As she spoke, Jiang Ling’s tone turned gloomy. “But now there’s a new problem…”
“What is it?”
Fang Wannan sat down beside her, asking curiously.
After hearing Jiang Ling’s dejected explanation, Fang Wannan couldn’t hold back her laughter. “Pfft, hahahaha!”
“Don’t laugh!”
Jiang Ling’s face turned bright red. She glanced at Fang Wannan’s chest and muttered under her breath, “Aren’t you even smaller than me…?”
“Huh?”
The light in Fang Wannan’s eyes vanished instantly as she drew closer. “I don’t think I heard you just now—who are you calling a washboard, Miss Flat-chest?”
“Don’t make stuff up! I never said anything like that!”
Faced with Fang Wannan’s intense stare, Jiang Ling couldn’t help but back away, her face nervous.
“But this isn’t really a hard problem to solve.”
Fang Wannan withdrew her gaze and rested her chin in her hand, thinking for a moment before throwing Jiang Ling a temptingly mischievous suggestion:
“Hey, want to watch some spicy movies with me?”