Douluo Continent: Getting Stronger After Heartbreak

Chapter 21: Change Dance Partners?

Amidst the sounds of traditional Chinese string and wind instruments, the students danced gracefully.

In a corner of the palace, Qin Jian had just begun teaching Ning Rongrong the postures for ballroom dancing.

"Yes, just gently place it on your shoulder, no need to use force..."

"Then give me your right hand, yes, put it on my left hand, come on, straighten it..."

"Okay, now just follow my steps..."

Qin Jian gently put his right arm around Ning Rongrong's waist and slowly turned her around.

At that moment, their faces were almost touching, and they could feel each other's breath.

This is the essence of ballroom dancing: using a respectable reason to allow strangers to do the most intimate things, quickly bridging the distance between them.

"Qin Jian, I... I feel so strange..."

Ning Rongrong whispered in her ear, "We usually hug each other, but suddenly my heart is beating really fast..."

Qin Jian leaned in and whispered in her ear, "This kind of dance creates an ambiguous atmosphere..."

"oh…"

Ning Rongrong, feeling dizzy and disoriented, was gradually led astray by Qin Jian, losing all sense of direction...

"Rongrong, Teacher Yue has seen us."

Qin Jian's words snapped Ning Rongrong back to reality. In her nervousness, she even stomped on his feet repeatedly, exclaiming, "Ah?! What do we do then?"

"Don't panic, let me teach you the tricks, and we can jump even better..."

Qin Jian said, "This is a counter-movement that allows us to turn our bodies sideways with our waists and hips close together, increasing the beauty of our dance moves."

"Next, as you step forward with your left foot, thrust your right shoulder and right hip forward; as you step forward with your right foot, thrust your left shoulder and left hip forward..."

"When stepping back with the left foot, the right shoulder and right hip should move back; when stepping back with the right foot, the left shoulder and left hip should move back..."

Qin Jian said in a low voice.

Because of her nervousness, Ning Rongrong immediately memorized everything he said and then put it into practice…

"Hmm? This is interesting..."

Tang Yuehua was initially prepared to criticize Qin Jian and his companion for dancing so differently from the others, but she stopped watching as they continued, especially after Qin Jian taught them the techniques, their dance became even more graceful…

She gradually fell into thought...

"Hahaha…"

Just then, a burst of laughter rang out, attracting everyone's attention and interrupting Tang Yuehua's thoughts.

She looked over angrily and saw Prince Avalanche, who had been standing by the wall as punishment, pointing at Qin Jian and the other man and laughing loudly: "Look at what they're doing! Completely wrong, hahaha!"

"Teacher Yue, let's make them stand as punishment too!" he exclaimed excitedly.

"This kid... is really determined to be a spoiled brat to the very end..."

Qin Jian reluctantly stopped.

Because everyone was interrupted at that moment, no one continued.

As Tang Yuehua slowly walked over, Ning Rongrong nervously grabbed Qin Jian's sleeve, as if only then could she feel a little safe.

"Teacher Yue, we just arrived today, so..."

Before Tang Yuehua could speak, Ning Rongrong couldn't help but speak up.

She had heard rumors about the owner of Yuexuan; he was known for his strictness…

To everyone's surprise, Tang Yuehua did not stop, but walked past them and headed straight for the laughing avalanche.

She stretched out her hand, pointing directly at the door: "You, get out here!"

"what?"

The avalanche was stunned.

"Teacher Yue, why don't you punish them and instead ask me to leave?" he said, somewhat displeased.

"I am the teacher, and you are the student. You should listen to me here," Tang Yuehua said calmly.

Avalanche wanted to argue, but remembering the punishment she had received a few days ago, she had no choice but to back down and leave.

He glanced back at Qin Jian just before leaving, and the deliberate cold snort was clearly a message to Qin Jian that he was being resented.

"This guy probably thinks I'm part of the playboy act..." Qin Jian thought helplessly.

Tang Yuehua finally turned around and came back to Qin Jian and the other person under everyone's gaze.

Unlike before, this time her attitude was much gentler: "You must be Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong? Did you just arrive today?"

This surprised the other students, because everyone knew how strict Teacher Yue was, but she had never treated a student like this before.

Seeing Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong nod, Tang Yuehua said, "What kind of dance were you just performing? It looks completely different from court dances, but it has a stronger social aspect."

Upon hearing this, Qin Jian said, "Teacher Yue, this is also a kind of ballroom dance, and that's what it's called."

"Named after ballroom dancing...?"

Tang Yuehua nodded and said, "This dance is excellent. Can you continue? The teacher just had a bit of inspiration."

Her words shocked everyone even more.

After all, Tang Yuehua was the founder of the Imperial Etiquette Academy, and her expertise in this field was unparalleled. It was truly unbelievable that she would be inspired by a dance performed by Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong.

"no problem."

Qin Jian naturally wouldn't refuse.

Then the music started again, and Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong began to spin around to the rhythm.

This time, everyone was watching them, and the longer they watched, the more they could feel their beauty.

"What a beautiful dance!" someone exclaimed.

"I think it looks much more sophisticated than our court dances."

"Hey, keep your voice down, don't accidentally upset Teacher Yue..."

"..."

Inside the palace, the students were buzzing with discussion.

But Tang Yuehua paid no heed; her eyes were fixed only on Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong's elegant, twirling dance moves, both advancing and retreating...

Finally, the dance ended, and the two stopped.

Ning Rongrong kept fanning herself with her small hands to relieve the burning sensation on her face.

This was the first time she had ever done something so intimate with Qin Jian in public...

Before Tang Yuehua could say anything, a girl dressed in palace attire, about eight or nine years old, suddenly stepped out from the crowd.

She ran straight to Qin Jian and said sweetly, "I'm Xue Ke. Your dance was so beautiful! Could you teach me to dance it too?"

Xue Ke? Imperial Princess?

She seems to be... a member of the "looks-matter" club?

Qin Jian's heart skipped a beat, and sure enough, he noticed that Princess Xue Ke was staring intently at his face...

But before he could agree, Ning Rongrong stepped in front of him, blocking Princess Xue Ke's burning gaze: "Qin Jian is my dance partner, he can't dance with you!"

"Why can't you dance with me?"

Xue Ke retorted without hesitation: "Anyway, you're being led astray by him, so I can too!"

"Don't you have your own dance partner? Let him lead you in dancing!" Ning Rongrong said, hands on her hips.

Xue Ke's eyes darted around, and she said, "I like Qin Jian's dancing, so we can switch partners."

"Who wants to switch dance partners with you!"

Ning Rongrong was furious: "Qin Jian and I are partners forever!"

"A partner forever?"

Xue Ke glanced at her: "Are you two engaged?"

Ning Rongrong was stunned: "No...no..."

(End of this chapter)