Chapter 359: Dance Class

When Zhuo Xiu spoke, Wang Haoran chuckled and didn’t take her words seriously.

Lu Yan was clearly a female lead. The way Zhuo Xiu talked about her was textbook behavior—envy wrapped in casual dismissal. That only made the challenge more interesting.

If he could win her over with just a wink and a smile, it wouldn’t be fun.

Zhuo Xiu and her classmates led him to a dance studio. Students were still arriving, their chatter echoing lightly in the high-ceilinged space. One by one, girls with fresh faces and long legs walked in. It was obvious this was an arts academy—the average beauty and figure of the students here far outclassed what you’d see in a typical university.

Still, none of them stood out in the way that truly caught his eye.

Then the door opened again, and a few more girls entered. Among them was one with long black hair, tall and straight-backed, her features so refined and symmetrical that she looked like she’d stepped out of a painting. Her beauty was almost surreal, the kind of face that would stop traffic. She was easily a 97.

No need to ask. This had to be Lu Yan.

And as if to confirm his thought, Zhuo Xiu leaned over and whispered, voice tinged with jealousy, “That tall girl with the straight black hair? That’s Lu Yan.”

Wang Haoran glanced sideways at her. “You don’t seem to like her very much.”

“She’s too aloof. A lot of girls don’t get along with her,” Zhuo Xiu said, the resentment barely hidden.

Wang Haoran didn’t bother replying. He could see through it with a glance. Zhuo Xiu was bitter that Lu Yan was better looking. It was that simple.

In terms of looks, Lu Yan sat at the top. Zhuo Xiu was right behind her. That kind of proximity always bred tension.

She was probably the type to wonder why someone as dazzling as Lu Yan had to exist in the same space as her.

“Step back a bit. Don’t stand so close to me,” he said to her under his breath.

If Zhuo Xiu didn’t like Lu Yan, then odds were Lu Yan didn’t like her either. No reason to let her drag him down.

Zhuo Xiu hesitated for a second, but quickly got the message. She moved away without another word, not wanting to get in the way of this rich guy’s game.

Aside from the students enrolled in the class, there were also a few auditors—mostly girls, very few boys. That made any guy in the room stand out even more, and Wang Haoran, with his sharp features and composed demeanor, was already drawing glances from across the room.

Girls whispered behind their hands, smiling and blushing, stealing looks when they thought he wasn’t watching.

Lu Yan noticed the buzz when she walked in and naturally turned toward the source. Her eyes met Wang Haoran’s for a moment. He saw her gaze linger longer than the others—just a second too long—before she looked away, unfazed, and walked with her friends to the edge of the studio.

Soon, the teacher arrived.

Today’s class was Western classical dance. The instructor started with a rundown of its history and basic theory. It was the students’ first time encountering this style, so the theory portion took up the first half of class.

Then came the practical. The teacher began demonstrating entry-level choreography. Most of the students had solid foundational training and picked it up quickly. By the time they finished learning the breakdown of movements, the period was already over.

But the whole afternoon was reserved for this subject. After a short break, they’d be putting the full routine together.

The instructor sent a few of the boys out to move equipment. While the rest of the class rested, Lu Yan sat cross-legged at the edge of the room, breathing steadily as she recovered.

Wang Haoran thought about approaching her but decided against it. Sure, he was good-looking, but charming a female lead wasn’t something that could be done with just a few smooth lines.

Walking up to her out of nowhere would feel forced, maybe even shady. She might assume he had ulterior motives.

He rubbed his chin and started running through scenarios in his head.

Just then, the classroom door opened again. A group of boys entered, pushing a piano into the studio. Among them was a tall guy with sharp features and a polished air. One look and it was clear he was the golden boy type.

“Whoa, that’s Chi Renliang from the music department!”

“The school hunk? What’s he doing in our class?”

“He’s so hot… I’m gonna faint…”

A wave of whispers and squeals rolled through the girls. They practically swooned on the spot.

The teacher, seeing the distraction, explained quickly. “To help you get a better feel for classical Western dance, Chi Renliang volunteered to play live piano accompaniment during your next rehearsal.”

That only made the reaction louder. The studio suddenly felt like a fish market.

Wang Haoran narrowed his eyes, watching Chi Renliang with quiet annoyance. This guy wanted to steal the spotlight?

The other boy didn’t disappoint. With perfect timing, he played the charming senior card, saying a few flattering words that had the girls eating out of his hand.

Then he walked straight up to Lu Yan, flashing a smile that could melt ice.

“Lu Yan, right? Hey there.”

The other girls looked on, burning with jealousy.

Lu Yan’s face remained calm. She didn’t respond beyond a polite smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

Zhuo Xiu, watching from the side, noticed the way Wang Haoran was eyeing Chi Renliang. She tiptoed over and said in a low voice, “Chi Renliang comes from a music family. He’s rich, plays piano like a pro, and changes girlfriends like outfits. Dumped the last one just yesterday. I think he’s trying to chase Lu Yan. Looks like you’ve got competition.”

She paused, then added slyly, “If you want, I can dig up dirt on him. Expose what a scumbag he is. That’ll make Lu Yan hate him.”

“No need,” Wang Haoran replied without looking at her.

Her idea would take too long. Days at least. He wasn’t in the mood to wait.

Besides, Chi Renliang was just a small-time scumbag character. Lu Yan would never fall for someone like him.

He didn’t even need to think of him as a real rival.

That said, Wang Haoran didn’t appreciate being upstaged.

The bell rang for the second half of class.

Students returned to their positions. Chi Renliang walked confidently toward the piano, ready to launch into his performance and impress everyone with his skills.

But halfway there, his foot caught on something invisible. His body lurched forward, and he slammed face-first into the floor with a sickening crack.

His teeth scattered across the hardwood like dice.