“Oh～so that’s how it is.”
Fu Yi drew out her tone, her gaze circling Yu Qing’s face.
She cleared away unnecessary thoughts in her mind and spoke nonchalantly.
“It’s just some basic industry analysis, nothing special. The location… well, it’s a bit far from the School, over by the CBD. Even if I told you, Senior, you probably wouldn’t know.”
Anyway, Yu Qing didn’t know these things, so Fu Yi casually named a well-known office building area in the City Center.
It sounded fancy, but the scope was still broad.
Even if Yu Qing really wanted to find it, he’d be like a headless fly bumping around.
“That is pretty far. Isn’t commuting inconvenient?”
Seeing that Junior Yi didn’t take the earlier joke to heart, Yu Qing breathed a sigh of relief and decided not to pry further, instead pretending to be concerned.
“It’s fine. I’m used to it.”
The matter was mostly done, and with Yu Qing chattering here, she had no mind to continue working.
Fu Yi closed her laptop and stretched lazily, her curves on full display.
But she didn’t care about Yu Qing’s gaze, generously showing herself.
“Anyway, it’s just something casual to earn some Living Expenses. My Family still relies on this bit of Salary from me to get by.”
She tossed out the words lightly, inadvertently revealing her poor family background, then immediately turned the topic back to Yu Qing.
“But Senior, your dancing is getting better and better. You improved a lot today. Looks like you’ve been practicing hard in private, huh?”
Her words were like soft threads, seemingly casual but filled with hidden hooks.
Yu Qing knew that Junior Yi might have already sensed his probing, but she didn’t call him out.
Instead, it was as if she was teasing a cat trying to extend its claws but not daring to scratch, enjoying watching him cautiously rack his brain for information.
This feeling of being looked down upon made Yu Qing uncomfortable, but he could only continue the act with Junior Yi.
“It’s okay. Teacher Shen teaches well, and you lead very well too, Junior Yi.”
Yu Qing smiled shyly, naturally pushing the credit back.
Fu Yi also let out a light laugh, saying nothing more.
But her gaze clearly said:
“Keep pretending. I want to see how long you can keep it up.”
Yu Qing shrugged, maintaining his smile, looking like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water.
***
Break time ended, and rehearsal resumed.
Yu Qing, full of complaints and a slight sense of being looked down upon, threw himself back into practice.
Because she’d finished her work, Fu Yi was also called over by Shen Tang to practice together.
She was a bit reluctant at first, but since she wanted to tease Yu Qing, she had no choice but to pinch her nose and accept.
As the two danced together for longer, Yu Qing’s movements grew smoother, and their coordination became increasingly harmonious.
This time, Shen Tang uncharacteristically didn’t call for a stop.
The air in the Dance Studio was mixed with sweat and the faint fragrance from Junior Yi’s body.
This complex scent lingered at the tip of Yu Qing’s nose, making his expression a bit strange.
The music gradually reached its climax.
Yu Qing’s hand hovered at Fu Yi’s waist, occasionally brushing the warm skin beneath her clothes.
He instinctively wanted to pull back, but ultimately forced himself to endure it.
With Junior Yi’s dancing talent, Yu Qing’s cooperation today was smooth.
The basic advances, retreats, and turns were no longer as awkward as before.
Sometimes, he could even spare attention to Fu Yi’s breathing rhythm.
Aside from a slight sense of his body being out of control, there were no other problems.
“Stop.”
As the music ended, Shen Tang’s voice pulled Yu Qing back from his dance with Fu Yi.
She opened the Video, projecting the scene of the two dancing onto the White Cloth, and pointed out a few problematic spots.
“Yu Qing, look here. When you’re turning, keep your arm steady—don’t swing it around. Fu Yi’s spin depends on you providing a pivot. If you’re unstable, she can’t spin properly.”
Fu Yi watched in the Video as she nearly fell to the ground due to Yu Qing’s mistake.
Though Yu Qing’s expression didn’t change much, the ‘I’m doomed’ look in his eyes made her cover her mouth and laugh.
She didn’t look at Shen Tang.
Instead, she tilted her head and gazed at Yu Qing’s slightly sweat-dampened temple, her lips curving in amusement.
She rose on tiptoe, bringing her mouth close to Yu Qing’s ear.
“Senior, were you spacing out just now?”
Her voice was as light as a whisper, making Yu Qing’s heart itch.
“Were you thinking about how to lead me? Or… about me?”
Yu Qing’s Adam’s apple bobbed, but he didn’t reply.
He admitted that his performance in that segment was poor, but wasn’t it understandable?
After all, it was only the second day of practice.
But Fu Yi didn’t seem to care about such things.
She always found a way to hit Yu Qing’s guilty spots with the most casual tone.
After summarizing their mistakes, the two began practicing again.
This time, they practiced the Cross Step.
Yu Qing focused his mind, rehearsing in his head.
He applied slightly more force with his hand, guiding Fu Yi smoothly in the intended direction, her skirt swirling like a small wave.
There seemed to be no issues this time.
Relying on his understanding of the female steps, Yu Qing roughly judged the follow-up, and with Junior Yi’s skill, this segment should pass in one go.
But at the exact moment their bodies crossed paths, Fu Yi’s pinky swiftly hooked Yu Qing’s palm.
A feather-like tickle shot up his spine, like a drop of icy water splashing onto his foggy mind.
Yu Qing’s leg went weak, and his step nearly faltered.
By the time he steadied himself, Fu Yi was already standing calmly as if nothing had happened.
Only a fleeting gleam in her eyes betrayed her as the instigator, as if such mischief brought her immense joy.
She didn’t even give Yu Qing a chance to protest, turning directly to Shen Tang and speaking loudly.
“Teacher, the rhythm here seemed half a beat fast just now?”
Shen Tang nodded, then instructed Yu Qing.
“Mm, it was a bit fast. Yu Qing, make sure to keep up.”
?
Alright, fine, so that’s how you want to play.
Yu Qing held back a sigh, helplessly nodding, forcing a stiff smile.
He finally understood—Junior Yi was deliberately toying with him.
It was like she held an invisible thread, the other end tied to Yu Qing, occasionally tugging to watch him fluster and unable to protest, taking pleasure in it.
This effortless, lofty attitude was more tormenting than direct mockery.
But the music had started again, and Fu Yi moved, leaving Yu Qing no time to think.
As the music reached a sequence of continuous spins, Yu Qing took a deep breath, heightening his vigilance.
If nothing unexpected happened, Junior Yi was very likely to pull another prank during this part.
He led Fu Yi in the spins, secretly watching her movements.
One turn.
Two turns.
As expected, on the third spin, Fu Yi’s toe gently stepped on him.
Not hard, but enough to distract him if he wasn’t prepared.
Fortunately, Yu Qing had anticipated this.
Fu Yi’s sudden attack didn’t affect him at all; he continued his dance steps steadily.
This made Fu Yi glance at him in surprise.
At the end of the spin, Yu Qing followed the choreography, about to pull Fu Yi into his arms, supporting her slender waist for the final pose.
So…
Now!
As Fu Yi was about to lean on Yu Qing’s arm for support, he suddenly lowered his arm.
The expected scene of Junior Yi losing balance and falling didn’t happen.
Instead, as soon as he moved, her arm somehow wrapped around his neck, her soft body hanging onto him.
Her beautiful face looked at Yu Qing with a smile that was both amused and mischievous, as if she were admiring a cute pet performing tricks for its owner.
Yu Qing clicked his tongue.
The counterattack failed, but he didn’t mind much.
He was about to pull Junior Yi back into his embrace when she suddenly released her hold, her whole body slipping down until she landed steadily on Yu Qing’s now-supporting arm.
“Ah…”
Fu Yi let out a small cry, her fingers clutching the fabric on Yu Qing’s shoulder.
Only after Yu Qing held her again did she breathe a sigh of relief, as if narrowly escaping danger.
“Sorry, Senior, I don’t know what happened—I made a mistake and made you look silly.”
“……”
“Ah…haha… Junior Yi, you’re really careless.”
Yu Qing replied with a stiff smile.