“Mm—” She bit her lip, forcing her moan back down her throat.
Someone in the audience let out a quiet laugh, clearly noticing her strange reaction.
A flush of shameful heat surged onto Mu Xi’s cheeks, yet she dared not stop playing.
She knew Ye Lan was testing her limits, and the price of failure was not something she could bear.
“Moonlight like water, gently caressing my face…”
She began to sing the first verse, her voice trembling slightly from nerves, but it unexpectedly added a fragile beauty.
The vibration inside her suddenly turned into a rhythmic pulse, eerily syncing with the tempo of the music.
Mu Xi abruptly realized that Ye Lan was using that devilish device to conduct her performance.
Whenever the music reached a climax, the vibration would intensify; whenever the melody softened, the sensation would ease—but it never stopped completely.
This was a twisted game, and she was both the performer and the instrument being played.
“Your eyes, hiding the sea of stars…”
The lyrics flowed from her lips, her voice even more melodious than usual.
The tangled emotions of pain and pleasure gave her singing an indescribable allure.
The audience’s whispers gradually faded, replaced by focused listening.
Mu Xi could feel the audience’s gaze turning scorching, admiring not only her exposed body but even more, marveling at her musical talent.
This contrast brought her a faint, twisted satisfaction.
Even in such a humiliating situation, her music could still move hearts.
Mu Xi’s slender fingers lingered on the keys like butterflies dancing among flowers.
Her fingertips trembled, yet still struck each note precisely, playing an intoxicating melody.
Her right foot gently pressed the pedal, controlling the lingering and fading of the notes; her left foot quivered slightly, hinting at the unspeakable torment within her.
“Starlight wine falls upon the lake, reflecting my lonely silhouette…”
She sang the second verse, her voice tinged with hoarseness, adding to its allure.
The vibration inside her suddenly grew stronger; she straightened her back, her knuckles pressing heavily onto the keys to play a soaring high note.
This unexpected note blended perfectly with the song, as if it was always meant to be part of the score.
Someone in the audience whistled.
Mu Xi’s cheeks burned, but she dared not stop.
Ye Lan sat in the very front row, those icy eyes fixed on every subtle change in her expression.
“Please allow me, in your world…”
The lyrics poured from her lips, her voice rising and falling, as if telling an ancient, sorrowful story.
Her legs unconsciously pressed together and then apart, trying to ease the unbearable stimulation.
Beneath her black lace dress, a bead of sweat slowly slid down her inner thigh.
As the music reached its climax, Mu Xi’s fingers danced across the keys, playing a string of complex chords.
At the same time, the vibration within her peaked, a current of pleasure spreading from her lower abdomen throughout her whole body.
She clenched her teeth, her toes curling in her high heels, struggling to maintain her composure.
“In the endless darkness, I search for light…”
Her singing soared, her vision began to blur, her consciousness floating as if suspended in the air.
Reason told her she had to keep playing, but her body almost betrayed her will.
Her waist swayed gently, the thin lace straps on her chest rising and falling with her breaths, barely concealing her charm.
A drop of sweat slipped from her forehead, slid down her long lashes, and landed on the keys.
In her daze, Mu Xi saw that droplet shimmer on the black and white keys, like her own shattered soul at that moment.
“I wish to be your shadow, following forever…”
Her voice now carried an uncontrollable gasp, as if a hidden moan was woven into her song.
This near-forbidden tone gave the music an unusual allure, making it impossible to look away.
The audience no longer whispered—all were stunned by her performance.
Some even leaned forward, afraid to miss a single note or expression.
As the piano piece drew to its end, Mu Xi’s fingers grew ever more agile, even though her mind could barely think.
It was as if the notes had come alive, flowing from her fingertips on their own.
Her left leg trembled uncontrollably, but her right foot still pressed the pedal with precision, creating the perfect fading effect.
“Please remember my name, even in your dreams…”
The final line drifted away like a sigh, Mu Xi’s fingers pausing above the keys, holding the last pose.
For an instant, the banquet hall was utterly silent.
Then, like a volcanic eruption, the entire hall exploded with thunderous applause and cheers.
Some people stood to clap, others whistled, some even tossed their wine glasses into the air in excitement.
Mu Xi barely managed to stand and bowed to the audience.
Her legs were so weak she nearly collapsed to her knees.
But what unsettled her most was that she had actually found a hint of twisted pleasure in this torment, as if her talent and suffering had woven together to create an unprecedented artistic height.
She looked up, her eyes inadvertently meeting Ye Lan’s.
The other woman’s lips curled into that familiar cold smile, idly playing with a small remote control in her hand, signaling that this game had only just begun.
The performance on stage was over, and the applause gradually faded.
Suddenly, the stage lights shifted, focusing on both entrances at the sides.
Five young girls in pure white ballet dresses spun gracefully to center stage, their movements synchronized as if they had just stepped out of Swan Lake.
The music began; it was a classic ballet tune, yet vaguely laced with something strange and warped.
Mu Xi turned to head backstage for a rest, when suddenly her wrist was seized.
A stern-faced female Guard dragged her toward the center stage without a word.
“No, I can’t dance…” Mu Xi protested softly, flustered.
The Guard leaned in close and whispered, “Miss Ye Lan’s orders. If you don’t want to be punished, do as you’re told.”
Mu Xi was pushed into the midst of the Ballet Dancers, who immediately gathered around, smiling as they guided her to follow the rhythm.
On the surface, the steps mimicked Swan Lake’s classic choreography, but in reality, every move had been deliberately altered.
High-kicked legs, provocative closeness, fingers gliding suggestively along curves—every action delivered a blatant message to the audience.
“Chin up, chest out, lift your thigh higher,” one Ballet Dancer whispered, “show off your most beautiful part.”
Mu Xi followed stiffly, her musical talent useless here—dance was a world completely unfamiliar to her.
Her muscles trembled from tension, and the tormenting device inside her only made things worse, leaving her barely able to keep her balance.
“Your dress is so short. The master really knows how to choose for you,” another Ballet Dancer remarked with a knowing smile, laced with envy and jealousy.
The tempo quickened, and the moves grew bolder.
Mu Xi was forced into a difficult spin, her skirt drawing a black arc through the air, nearly exposing all of her legs and even more intimate areas.
Her cheeks burned scarlet, knowing that those in the front row must have caught an indecent glimpse.
Sweat slid down her neck, soaking into the black lace, making the already semi-transparent fabric even more suggestive.
The choreography called for her to lift her thigh and strike an elegant arabesque pose, making the mixture on her inner thigh shimmer under the stage lights.
A drunken audience member in the front let out a low whistle.
Mu Xi felt so ashamed she nearly fainted, yet she dared not stop dancing.