The entire afternoon, aside from having her measurements taken, Xu Yueyao had been learning under the guidance of Teacher Shi Man. It was only now that Xu Yueyao understood why there were so many so-called finishing schools and elite training programs—there was truly so much knowledge to acquire. Wearing high heels, Xu Yueyao practiced walking over and over again, even learning how to eat properly and practicing dance. By the end of the afternoon, looking at herself in the mirror, she confidently felt she had been completely transformed.
In the evening, when Zhan Rong Xuan arrived, Xu Yueyao was still in front of the mirror, practicing how to hold her posture—sucking in her stomach, straightening her chest, and working on her back lines and swan neck. Seeing Zhan Rong Xuan, she was so startled she nearly twisted her neck.
“Why didn’t you make a sound when you came in? You scared me!” Xu Yueyao rubbed her neck, complaining in a coquettish tone.
“I came to check on your injury. What are you doing?” Zhan Rong Xuan asked, puzzled.
A mischievous glint flashed in Xu Yueyao’s eyes as she pulled him to sit on the sofa. Sitting with perfect posture—legs together, hands resting on her knees, back straight—she spoke softly, “Rong Xuan, my injury is completely healed now. Thank you for your concern.” After saying this, she gave a slight nod and smiled gently at him.
Zhan Rong Xuan looked at her. Perhaps to make it easier to apply medicine, she was wearing a light purple one-piece shorts set. She had a tall and slender figure, with long, straight, and delicate legs. Her skin was fair, tender, and seemingly flawless. Her face was as exquisite as a painting—eyebrows like crescent moons, eyes bright as stars, a straight and delicate nose, and red lips with white teeth. Every movement she made carried an air of grace and elegance.
Zhan Rong Xuan uncomfortably averted his gaze. “Speak properly.”
Remembering the dance she had practiced that afternoon, Xu Yueyao thought it would be the perfect opportunity to practice with him and build some understanding. She stood up, turned on some music, and with a slight bow, extended her right hand. “May I have this dance?”
Seeing that Zhan Rong Xuan hadn’t moved for a while, she simply took his hand and pulled him up. “Come on, practice with me.”
Xu Yueyao placed her hand on his shoulder, counting the beats in her mind and reminding herself not to step on his feet. Zhan Rong Xuan gently held her waist. The two were very close, and he could clearly feel her breath and his own heartbeat, catching the faint scent of her perfume. Zhan Rong Xuan tilted his head slightly to the side.
As they danced, their rapport grew. Xu Yueyao didn’t step on his feet even once. Recalling how many mistakes she had made when she first started practicing that afternoon, she felt like a natural. It was a pity her teacher wasn’t there to witness her brilliance.
Overjoyed, Xu Yueyao looked up with a smile and asked, “Am I dancing well?Unexpectedly, she found herself gazing into a pair of loving eyes. His eyes were deep and bright, exuding an irresistible charm, like an endless abyss that drew one in to explore. For a moment, Xu Yueyao lost her train of thought, forgetting everything around her, completely captivated by him.
Zhan Rong Xuan looked down at her. Her eyes seemed to hold countless stars, shimmering with brilliance. Her soft, black hair cascaded down her back. Her lips were slightly parted, full and moist, curving upward as if inviting him to explore her world. At this moment, she exuded an irresistible allure and an innocent charm.
In the midst of this intense ambiguous tension, Zhan Rong Xuan looked away, defeated. He released his hand from her waist and lowered his head, saying, “It’s getting late. I should head back now.”Xu Yueyao lowered her head and nodded vigorously. Only after hearing the sound of Zhan Rong Xuan leaving and closing the door did she dare to look up. She fanned herself with her hand, taking deep breaths of air. It was so stuffy and hot. Glancing at the air conditioner, she picked up the remote and lowered the temperature a few degrees. She slumped onto the sofa, the etiquette she had learned today completely forgotten as she let her mind go blank.
Zhan Rong Xuan returned to the car and said to the driver, “Back to Liyuan.”
“Understood, Young Master.”
Zhan Rong Xuan unbuttoned three shirt buttons in a row and took off his jacket. Just as he was about to toss it aside, his hand holding the jacket suddenly paused. It seemed he could still smell Xu Yueyao’s scent on his clothes. He placed the jacket on the seat beside him, his brow slightly furrowed. It felt as though he had touched upon a realm he wasn’t good at—a feeling he didn’t like, but… he didn’t exactly dislike it either…
The next day, Xu Yueyao prepared to go to school. She didn’t want to stay at home anymore. Looking at the dark circles under her eyes in the mirror, she sighed and carefully applied her makeup. Staring at her reflection, she reminded herself once again: Xu Yueyao, don’t touch love, absolutely don’t touch it.
Arriving at school, “Yaoyao!”
Hearing someone call her, Xu Yueyao turned around and saw Zhang Beilu, who seemed to have returned to her old self.
“Yaoyao, is your injury okay now?” Zhang Beilu asked, looking her up and down.
“Don’t worry, I’m fine,” Xu Yueyao said, linking arms with her as she used to, and the two walked into the classroom.
“Who on earth did this? How despicable!” Xia Nuannuan looked around at the classmates and loudly accused.
“Yeah, who was it?”
“Have they checked the surveillance?”
“The security guard said the cameras here have been broken for days.”
“Zhiyi, don’t be sad. I’ll definitely help you find the culprit,” Xia Nuannuan comforted the crying An Zhiyi.
Xu Yueyao pushed through the crowd and saw that An Zhiyi’s locker had been vandalized—her dance costume was cut up, her books torn to shreds, and everything inside destroyed. Not a single item was left intact.
Seeing all this, Xu Yueyao was filled with shock because there seemed to be a similar scene in the book, where the one who damaged these things was none other than her, Xu Yueyao. But she clearly hadn’t done anything now, so why was the plot from the book still unfolding? Who was it? Who had taken her place?
“Xu Yueyao, was it you?” Xia Nuannuan looked up and noticed Xu Yueyao’s strange expression, loudly questioning her.
Hearing her name, An Zhiyi also looked up at her, her face tear-streaked and pitifully sad.
“Don’t act like a mad dog, biting everyone you see. I wasn’t here yesterday, didn’t you know?” Xu Yueyao thought to herself, thankful she hadn’t been there yesterday, or even she might have suspected herself. Xu Yueyao ignored them and returned to her seat to sit down. Zhang Beilu followed and sat beside her.
Someone else chimed in to comfort, “Yeah, Xu Yueyao wasn’t here yesterday. Let’s clean this up first.”
Xu Yueyao looked around, trying to figure out who had done it. Suddenly, her eyes met Gao Yuyan’s. Gao Yuyan panicked and lowered her head to avoid her gaze. Xu Yueyao shook her head—it wasn’t her. She bullied people openly, never behind their backs.
Xu Yueyao turned and looked at Zhang Beilu beside her. She was wearing headphones, humming happily to herself. Noticing Xu Yueyao watching her, she took off her headphones and asked with a smile in her eyes, “Yaoyao, what’s wrong?”Is that you, Zhang Beilu? Xu Yueyao looked at her but ultimately asked nothing, shaking her head. “It’s nothing.”
Watching her put her earphones back on and hum softly to herself, Xu Yueyao didn’t know what to do for a moment. If it really was her, she shouldn’t just let her continue like this—but how could she persuade her? Would she even listen? Xu Yueyao was at a loss for how to begin.