Chapter 98: Do You Like Art, or Do You Like Me?
Lin Yibai was truly getting pushed to her limit.
She wasn’t the type to say, “If you think you can do it, then go ahead,” because, let’s be honest, her annoying love rival really could do it.
Xia Changyu originally wanted to play it cool.
You know, that kind of guy who clearly wants to help, but tries not to show it in front of a girl.
But Lin Yibai didn’t give him the chance. She snapped and said, “Either you agree to teach me, or just shut your mouth and stop talking when I’m practicing, okay?”
Uh-oh. Now she probably thinks he’s just pretending to be cool.
So… should he teach her?
Xia Changyu thought dancing was a form of art! And art is one of the greatest things created by humanity, so of course it should be shared and taught freely!
But would Lin Yibai go easy on him?
Come on, we're both guys. Do you think I don’t know what you're really thinking?
She turned around like she was about to leave.
Xia Changyu panicked and quickly said, “Wait! I’ll teach you! Of course I’ll teach you! I never said I wouldn’t!”
The corners of Lin Yibai’s lips curled into a small smile.
Was this an example of one guy totally outsmarting another guy?
And using a girl’s identity to do it?
It felt kind of weird, but also fun. She continued, “Then why did you take so long to decide? I thought asking for your help would be a huge burden or something. If that’s how it is, then never mind!”
Xia Changyu replied, “Don’t say that.”
But Lin Yibai, kind of enjoying this role now, smiled again and said, “I’m sure I know other guys who understand dancing too. I’ll just go ask them instead. No need to trouble you.”
Xia Changyu’s expression changed immediately. He quickly said with a serious and urgent tone.
“No! I’ll teach you right now, this second! If I don’t teach you, I’m not even human... Even if it’s just to contribute to the great cause of human art, I must teach you!”
Wow. Talking about “contributing to human art” really escalated the whole topic.
So you’re still pretending, huh?
Lin Yibai narrowed her eyes and smirked. “So you’re only teaching me for the sake of humanity’s great art, huh?”
Xia Changyu sat up straight and answered. “Yes. For art.”
“Really?”
As Lin Yibai’s teasing look grew stronger, beads of sweat started to form on Xia Changyu’s forehead.
Come on, would anyone believe that kind of excuse?
Clearly, someone wasn’t happy with the answer.
Finally, after a moment, Xia Changyu gritted his teeth and admitted, “I’m teaching you because I want to watch you dance.”
“Really?”
“Truer than pearls!”
“Then I…”
Lin Yibai was about to say she’d reluctantly believe him, but then Xia Changyu added, “Then, if I ask for a reward later, would you dance for me?”
“Can’t you just watch a video later?”
“It’s not the same.”
“How is it not the same?”
“No… I mean, you… Lin Baiyi, just answer the question, yes or no?”
“Deal!”
So… did the two of them just make a win-win deal?
From then on, Lin Yibai kept practicing, and Xia Changyu helped correct her when she made mistakes.
If it was really hard to explain, he’d show her himself.
But since both of them were actually guys deep down, when Lin Yibai got frustrated, Xia Changyu would get nervous too.
Sometimes, Lin Yibai thought she did the move correctly. but it was actually wrong. When Xia Changyu got too focused on teaching, he’d try to guide her hands...
Hmm. Cough, cough. Don’t worry, that guy didn’t have the guts to try anything funny.
Instead, he acted super shy and awkward, like a guy trying to stay polite in front of the girl he likes.
He reached out his thumb and finger and gently held Lin Yibai’s fair wrist.
“Let me teach you myself. Just follow my movements.”
Xia Changyu held her wrist lightly between two fingers and started guiding her through the dance moves.
Honestly, it felt like the two of them were total strangers. So distant!
If it were any other guy, he’d probably be taking the chance to get closer.
So, what Lin Yibai wanted to say was... there’s really no need to be so stiff and overly careful.
After finishing one dance move, she suddenly stopped and said, “Hey!”
Xia Changyu asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I just want to ask, do I look really dirty or something?”
Xia Changyu quickly shook his head. “Of course not! You’re very clean.”
Lin Yibai nodded, then said, “But the way you're acting makes me feel like I’m dirty.”
She even mimicked how Xia Changyu only dared to touch her with two fingers when teaching, showing how awkward and distant he had been. Honestly, that was kind of rude.
She didn’t see herself as the kind of girl who freaks out just because a guy touches her once. And she clearly understood this was a teaching situation.
But nowadays, with how things are in society, Lin Yibai couldn’t help but wonder.
Have those overly dramatic girls ruined things for a normal person like her?
Even if…
Well, maybe she wasn’t exactly a “pure” girl either.
After thinking for a second, Lin Yibai made a serious promise.
“I swear on my character, I would never falsely accuse you! If I break this promise, I... I’ll turn into a super egg-laying chicken!”
Xia Changyu was stunned. Then he gave a helpless smile and shook his head.
He figured Lin Yibai might’ve misunderstood his intentions, but still, he wanted to keep a bit of distance.
He took a deep breath and began to explain.
“That’s not what I meant at all, I just—”
Before he could finish, Lin Yibai cut him off:
“Less talking! I’m not the one who minds, so what’s your problem? Are you even a man?”
Lin Yibai knew how guys think.
That’s why she purposely said something like that, to poke at his pride a little. After all, what guy could hear something like that and stay calm?
Wouldn’t you want to prove yourself right then and there?
So Xia Changyu finally let go of his hesitation.
He grabbed her wrist more firmly this time and started guiding her with more confidence.
The only reason Xia Changyu had been so cautious earlier was because he was scared of making a bad impression in front of the girl he liked.
But now he realized, maybe being serious and focused while teaching was actually the best way to win her favor.
Under his guidance, Lin Yibai’s dance moves became more refined and graceful.
A soft, sweet scent filled Xia Changyu’s nose. If he remembered correctly, it came from a car air freshener that Lin Yibai used to scent her clothes.
Thinking of this, Xia Changyu felt kind of frustrated and thought to himself. ‘Darn it! I should’ve just given her a bottle of perfume already!’
He regretted it. Back when he dated Gu Xiaoxue, she always just asked directly for what she wanted.
But with Lin Yibai, it wasn’t like they were in a relationship. So he had to be the one to take the initiative.
He took a deep breath.
Then another.
(^▽^) So fragrant~~
He didn’t know how it happened. Her clothes only had the scent of car freshener, but maybe it mixed with her natural body scent as a girl, and...
It made Xia Changyu’s heart feel all itchy and restless.
Sniff sniff~
o(////▽////)q!!
Xia Changyu swore, just one more sniff. Just one! This will really be the last one!
But that “last sniff”—
Got him caught red-handed by Lin Yibai.