Chapter 134: Ballet at the New Year's Gala

Lu Yuanqiu stepped back silently, his eyes fixed intently on the scene before him.

Inside the display window, the "Swan" mirrored the movements of the "Swan" outside. Both rose onto their tiptoes, lifted their graceful arms, and spun in place. Under the lights, the girl bent her long legs and tilted her head, revealing the soft, elegant lines of her fair, slender neck. Suddenly, she extended her arms and leaped, one leg raised behind her, one hand reaching forward. She turned quickly, fluidly transitioning into the next movement—every motion elegant and noble.

Lu Yuanqiu was mesmerized. This "Diga" could really dance.

Though he knew nothing of ballet, Lu Yuanqiu could see that Bai Qingxia’s movements were consistent and precise. There was a sense of solid foundation in her form, as if every step were an instinct etched into her bones. Was it possible that over these years, she had occasionally practiced in some hidden corner of her home the dances her mother had once taught her? If that were true, it was almost enough to make one cry.

He did not know why, but as he watched this scene, his eyes stung. It turned out that the self-deprecating, introverted Bai Qingxia possessed an elegant and noble side, one she had kept hidden away. Today, by finally using the "light" bestowed upon her by someone who had endured so much, she had allowed that side to shine. It was not easy—truly, it was not easy. If not for his encouragement, would she have intended to never dance again for the rest of her life?

The thought made his heart ache all the more.

As she finished, the "ponytail Diga" stood still, looking at Lu Yuanqiu. At this moment, it was as if she were truly glowing. Lu Yuanqiu could not see her expression, but he could perceive the joy in her beautiful eyes. Dancing the dance she loved in front of an audience was, in itself, a joy.

"That was amazing! So beautiful!" Lu Yuanqiu praised.

The girl’s eyelashes fluttered and lowered. He couldn't see her face, but her eyes were smiling.

Suddenly, Lu Yuanqiu began to sing happily: "On tiptoes, lifting the hem of your skirt, let my hand rest gently upon your shoulder~"

The girl was stunned. Lu Yuanqiu, acting on a sudden whim, began to sing and grabbed both her hands, dancing a self-invented, improvised routine.

"Step by step, drawing closer to you~"
"Circle by circle, pressed against my heart~"

Under the glow of the display window, the boy stepped to the quirky rhythm, moving back and forth with the girl. Under any other circumstances—out in the open, with Lu Yuanqiu singing loudly and dancing this awkward, chaotic routine—Bai Qingxia would likely have shaken off his hand and fled. But the street was dim, empty, and the only world that existed was the small space illuminated by the window.

In that little world, Lu Yuanqiu was happy, and Bai Qingxia was happy, so she accompanied the boy in his whimsical, chaotic dance.

"Spin, spin!"

Lu Yuanqiu suddenly lifted Bai Qingxia’s hand, and the masked girl clumsily spun in place beneath his arm.

"No one can match my rhythm like you~"
"No one can replace the reliance you give me~"
"So sweet~ so happy~"
"Circles and rounds, spinning them out~"

Though Lu Yuanqiu’s dancing was terrible, he sang quite well. Bai Qingxia couldn't help but ask, "What is the name of this song?"

"It’s 'Love’s Waltz.' Cao Shuang definitely loves singing this."

"Is that a waltz you’re dancing?"

"Pfft, I don't know a thing about waltzes! I'm just making it up. The mood hit, and I just had to grab your hand and dance!"

Bai Qingxia let out a laugh that sounded like silver bells. The girl had made progress today. She had laughed heartily in the outdoors, even though the street was empty, the sky was dim, and her only audience was Lu Yuanqiu.

"Bai Qingxia, if I win the basketball championship, promise me one thing. Deal?" Lu Yuanqiu suddenly stopped dancing and spoke to her earnestly.

The girl looked up at him and asked, "Going to the cinema to watch a movie?"

"Not that."

Lu Yuanqiu didn't rush to explain. Instead, he took the mask off her face and placed it in her uplifted hands. The girl’s pure, moving cheeks were flushed, and a few stray strands of hair rested against her forehead and the tip of her delicate nose. She reached up to brush the hair away, watching Lu Yuanqiu quietly.

"First, I have to ask you: is my winning the championship a condition worthy of you doing something for me?"

Hearing this, Bai Qingxia said shyly, "It doesn't need a condition. I can do something for you regardless, as long as it's something I can do, and as long as it's something you need."

Lu Yuanqiu nodded. "That’s good. I want you to dance a ballet at the final New Year's gala of our high school years."

Hearing this, Bai Qingxia stared at him blankly, unable to process the request for a long while. After a moment, she lowered her head. This request challenged her promise of "as long as I can do it," because based on her personality, this was truly something she could not do. But this time…

Bai Qingxia did not want to say she couldn't do it in front of Lu Yuanqiu again. After all, she had already accomplished something she once thought impossible during the sports meet.

So, the girl looked up, her heart racing, and agreed: "Okay."

Before Lu Yuanqiu could even smile, he heard the girl speak again: "But I have a condition too… not the condition about you winning the basketball game, but another one."

"Tell me."

"I want you to play the guitar and sing 'Darkness' at the New Year's gala."

Lu Yuanqiu was momentarily caught off guard. He thought of what had happened at the KTV that day. Since he couldn't remember the details of middle school from twenty years ago, he assumed this was just a simple request from the girl.

"Alright. I said it before: if you perform, I’ll perform."

"Since it's the first time we've made a deal with each other, let's pinky swear."

Lu Yuanqiu smiled and extended his pinky. Bai Qingxia looked at him and raised her own. The two hooked their fingers together, and Lu Yuanqiu recited the classic phrase:

"Pinky swear, promise true, one hundred years, it won't change."

Their fingers parted.

The sky began to brighten.

...

The next day, at dawn.

Lu Yuanqiu was suddenly awakened by an alarm. He glanced at his phone and saw it was only four o'clock in the morning. Damn, he’d forgotten to turn off yesterday's alarm.

Today was Sunday. He only had to return to school for evening self-study; the day was still a holiday. Lu Yuanqiu laid his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes, intending to go back to sleep, but his mind drifted to the events of yesterday.

He had asked Bai Qingxia to dance at the New Year's gala for a reason. Naturally, it wasn't just so others could see how beautiful and elegant she was. Lu Yuanqiu knew that if Auntie Bai were still alive, she would have wanted her daughter to stand on the stage once more. After all, she had given her daughter such a solid foundation in dance; would it not be a waste to let it go?

Lu Yuanqiu felt that not only did Auntie Bai hope for it, but Bai Qingxia likely wanted it too. It was just that, due to various realities, she lacked the driving force to make it happen.