“Since you only have one week, we’ll just practice the basic dance steps, focusing on coordination.”
Sun Jiao had the two girls start with some stretches.
“Bend forward, further down, touch your toes.”
Lin Yiren discovered her flexibility was surprisingly good. Before, even with bent legs, she could only reach just above her toes; now, with straight legs, she could easily bend all the way down.
“Now put your leg on the barre.”
Lin Yiren grasped her slender ankle and lifted her leg, pushing forward, feeling the stretch in her ligaments.
Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at the person beside her.
Chen Zhaoyue’s shoulders were relaxed, her long legs lifted even higher than hers, both flexible and powerful.
So impressive.
Lin Yiren’s eyes flickered. Did Miss Chen actually have dance training before?
She was watching the person ahead when suddenly that person looked over, as if catching her gaze.
Lin Yiren quickly turned her head and focused on stretching.
“Next, we’ll do two sets of Yoga poses.”
Sun Jiao motioned for them to get down on all fours and brace their bodies.
“Arch upward, then press down.”
Lin Yiren followed Sun Jiao’s instructions, arching and pressing down. Her supple body tensed and stretched with each breath.
***
After several sets of stretches, Sun Jiao began teaching them the dance steps.
“Your dance song was originally performed by a man and a woman, so one of you needs to dance the male steps.”
Lin Yiren raised her hand, “I’ll do the male steps.”
She sneaked a glance at Chen Zhaoyue and saw that she didn’t react.
Sun Jiao said, “Hmm… Yiren, you’re a bit shorter, so it would be better for you to do the female steps.”
Lin Yiren’s small hand paused, instinctively glancing at the top of Chen Zhaoyue’s head.
After becoming a girl, Lin Yiren was about 1.65 meters tall—not short for a girl, but Chen Zhaoyue was still a few centimeters taller.
Damn, if I still had my old height, Miss Chen would barely reach my shoulder.
Chen Zhaoyue curled her lips into a smile and said, “Then I’ll do the male steps. I can lead, so it’ll be easier for Yiren.”
Lin Yiren reluctantly lowered her hand, muttering to herself—even if she’s not dancing the male steps, she could still take the lead.
“Alright, I’ll demonstrate once. Feel the rhythm.”
Sun Jiao turned on the music, and a gentle, graceful melody drifted through the quiet Dance Studio.
Sun Jiao elegantly extended her hand, hovering in the air. Following the rhythm, her feet glided as if treading on lotus blossoms—graceful and crisp as she stepped and spun. In that moment, the air itself seemed like the perfect partner, her hand unwavering, each movement flowing and strong. Dressed in black, she bloomed like a flower.
As the final beat fell, the song ended.
Lin Yiren blinked her slightly sore eyes. She heard Chen Zhaoyue clapping and quickly reached out to applaud such a wonderful performance.
Sun Jiao exhaled, seeing her two students staring blankly like spectators, she laughed, “Don’t just clap. Did you notice how many basic dance steps were in this piece?”
The two who were simply enjoying the show glanced at each other.
Looks like performing too well has its downsides.
***
Sun Jiao had them get up and face each other.
“Hold one of each other’s hands first.”
Lin Yiren grasped Miss Chen’s hand—her slender palm was soft and warm.
“Zhaoyue, place your other hand on Yiren’s back. Yes, right here. Yiren, hold her arm.”
Lin Yiren felt the warmth of her palm seep through the thin clothes to her skin.
She and Chen Zhaoyue locked eyes, their breaths mingling together.
Lin Yiren’s heartbeat quickened uncontrollably, and where their bodies touched, it felt like they were heating up.
“No need to keep your heads so close. You can each turn to the side a bit.”
Lin Yiren quickly turned her head, avoiding Miss Chen’s eyes.
She calmed down a little.
“Alright, now let’s practice moving forward and back. Watch my steps.”
The two held hands, moving their feet cautiously.
Lin Yiren followed Chen Zhaoyue’s lead, stepping forward and back in the narrow space, repeating the motions over and over.
Their legs overlapped and parted, their gauzy skirts swaying softly and brushing against each other.
After constant adjustments to the dance steps, the two started circling around the studio.
Following Sun Jiao’s instructions, they kept close together, maintaining the correct dance position as they moved.
Summer Solstice had passed, and the cicadas chirped endlessly.
The Dance Studio’s air conditioning wasn’t strong, so the heat from outside seeped in.
Lin Yiren panted slightly, their joined hands growing sweaty.
She could hear Chen Zhaoyue’s breathing. On the patch of fair, delicate skin within her sight, tiny beads of sweat rolled down.
She could smell… Chen Zhaoyue’s scent.
The sudden thought threw Lin Yiren’s mind into chaos, and she stumbled a little.
“Ouch.”
She nearly fell into Chen Zhaoyue’s arms.
“Alright, let’s rest for a bit.”
Thinking she was tired, Sun Jiao told them to take a break.
The two let go of each other’s hands.
Chen Zhaoyue steadied the girl, noticing her flushed cheeks and the few beads of sweat at her temples. Her face looked as if it was radiating heat.
She gently wiped away a bead of sweat near her eye and said, “Go take a break.”
Lin Yiren nodded, her pink ears exposed to the air without the cover of her hair.
Good thing it’s summer.
Sun Jiao handed them two bottles of water and smiled, “Not many people try to learn a whole dance song in a week. You both did well just now.”
When not teaching, Sun Jiao dropped her serious demeanor, showing a friendly side.
“Thank you, Teacher, but we’re still not very skilled yet.”
Chen Zhaoyue raised her head and took a sip of water, humbly saying so.
“If you could get it down in half a day, you wouldn’t need me at all.”
Lin Yiren didn’t join the conversation, instead curiously caressing the wooden floor, feeling its texture.
She wondered how it was different from the ball court’s flooring.
As she thought, she looked around.
Suddenly, she noticed two pots of Begonia by the window.
Begonia.
Lin Ma also kept flowers, but afraid she couldn’t take care of them well, she bought two easy-to-keep ones—a pot of Rosa and a pot of Begonia. Even after seven or eight years, they still thrived.
When Lin Yiren was still in high school, she would help take care of them.
“Are those flowers yours, Teacher?” Lin Yiren asked.
Sun Jiao followed her gaze. “Oh!” She grabbed a bottle and went over to water the plants.
“Whew, I almost forgot again.” Sun Jiao came back and explained, “Those are cared for by the students at the Dance Studio. Whoever remembers waters them.”
She added a little embarrassed, “But after the more attentive students graduated, hardly anyone takes care of them.”
The petals looked rather droopy now.
Lin Yiren looked at the two pots of Begonia, recalling how they used to be carefully tended.
Sun Jiao glanced at the time and called them back to training.
Lin Yiren withdrew her gaze and once again stood with Chen Zhaoyue.
“Let’s start.”
The two girls clasped hands once more, rising and falling like butterflies.
***
After lunch, the two practiced for a few more hours.
By the end of class, their shirts were soaked with sweat and clung to their bodies.
Lin Yiren struggled to peel herself out of her clothes and was just about to undo her hair.
A voice came from behind, “Let me help you. Don’t pull too hard.”
Lin Yiren jumped in surprise, turned around, and stammered, “Y-you, how did you get in here?”
Did I forget to lock the door?!
Realizing, she hurriedly covered her upper body.
Even though Miss Chen had seen her more than once, for some reason she felt even more embarrassed now.
“It’s not like I haven’t seen it before.”
Chen Zhaoyue looked as calm as ever, gently turning her face back around.
Lin Yiren felt the same touch smoothing through her hair as before.
But this time, she nervously clenched her fists.
She’d heard that girls’ sweat wasn’t fragrant either. Did she smell bad now? Yet even after sweating, Miss Chen still smelled nice.
Lin Yiren’s mind raced with wild thoughts.
“All done.”
Her long, black hair tumbled down again, covering her smooth back.
“Get dressed, let’s go. We still have to pick up Xing Yao.”
Lin Yiren heard Chen Zhaoyue’s footsteps as she left.
After leaving the changing room and closing the door, Miss Chen raised her hand and touched her own face.
It felt a bit hot.