"Don't worry too much, don't care about the gazes of those around you. If you step on me at the dance, no one will notice, but if you pay too much attention to others' eyes, they will be drawn to you instead."
Sheng Chenjin explained carefully to her. She nodded, her serious expression making Sheng Chenjin feel like she was a poisonous fruit by his side, sometimes so dull, sometimes so focused, every expression making him want to take a bite.
Every minute, every second was tempting Sheng Chenjin to taste her sweetness, but he knew that if he ate this fruit at the wrong time, he could only taste sourness, and the fruit, having been bitten before it ripened, would only rot early.
He didn't want such an imperfect ending; he had to persevere until the end.
"Then let's continue," with firm belief in his heart, Sheng Chenjin continued his mission, enduring the unintentional temptations from Shi Xinxin on one hand, and working hard to close the distance between them on the other.
He had to seize every opportunity tightly, for if any step was missed, she might leave him.
"The part you danced before the butler arrived was excellent; remember that state, try to immerse yourself in the song, feel my rhythm, and slowly follow me."
After speaking, Sheng Chenjin led Shi Xinxin to dance again.
At first, her nervousness caused her to still make mistakes, but when she stepped on him, Sheng Chenjin didn't react. He didn't even let go of Shi Xinxin's hand, telling her to return to her position, and the two continued to dance.
After a few more times, Shi Xinxin gradually adapted. When she stepped on Sheng Chenjin's foot, she no longer apologized excessively, quickly retracting her foot and returning to the dance steps to continue practicing.
Slowly, she relaxed, and the dance steps seemed to be remembered. "Open your eyes, don't close them. Enjoy this dance; don't treat it like rigid mathematics."
Sheng Chenjin expressed his dissatisfaction with Shi Xinxin closing her eyes and memorizing the dance steps mechanically. He wanted her to look at him. He wanted Shi Xinxin to feel the beauty in the dance; to enjoy the time dancing with him, rather than treating it as a task.
Doing all this just to complete it, like doing math homework, rigidly remembering formulas and mechanically completing assignments, working like a machine – that wasn't what he wanted.
He hoped Shi Xinxin would be completely relaxed, like before, and dance lightly with him.
Shi Xinxin was startled by Sheng Chenjin's command. She closed her eyes not just to memorize the dance steps, but more importantly, to avoid looking into Sheng Chenjin's tempting eyes.
Looking into Sheng Chenjin's eyes, she couldn't help but fantasize about the happy times they had together before, when there was no gap in their identities, just talking and laughing like good friends.
And those ambiguous actions that made her wonder why. When he slowly knelt before her, gently took off her shoes, and gently massaged her feet, thinking of these things always ignited a spark in her heart.
She couldn't help but fantasize that Sheng Chenjin might have feelings for her, that he liked her, a liking that went beyond a boss's liking for an employee, a liking that wanted to be with her.
Not to mention those situations she didn't know about. She didn't know how Sheng Chenjin carried her to bed, but she knew that every time she heard from the butler, he was very worried about her safety, wanting to take care of her, wanting to protect her.
When he carried her back from the bar and saw she was injured, Sheng Chenjin's worry and anxiety, all these things that happened when she wasn't present, made her imagination run wild.
Let alone opening her eyes to see that handsome face less than ten centimeters away. How could she not fantasize? But the closer it was, the more nervous she became.
She enjoyed the process, but she was also afraid. If Sheng Chenjin discovered this, would he laugh at her? Would he distance himself from her, thinking she was dreaming? Thinking she was after his money, trying to seduce him like other women.
Thinking she had ill intentions. If that were the case, what should she do? More than worrying about others laughing at her, Shi Xinxin was more worried about Sheng Chenjin laughing at her, so she dared not look at Sheng Chenjin.
But Sheng Chenjin had commanded it, so she had to obey. Reluctantly, she opened her eyes. That devastatingly handsome face appeared before her again. What was even more maddening was that Sheng Chenjin's gaze was not as gentle as usual. Shi Xinxin felt as if she was about to fall into it.
She couldn't pull herself out. At this moment, Sheng Chenjin held her, with indescribable feelings in his heart. His movements were as polite as possible. He wished he could pull Shi Xinxin closer, just a little more, then he could kiss her cherry-red lips.
But he couldn't. He didn't know if the woman before him was thinking the same as him. When he thought of their happy times together, the dance steps became lighter. He no longer had to worry about those predictable yet elusive dance steps.
He no longer had to worry about the distance between them, their identities, their wealth. He only had to worry if their feelings were mutual. He still couldn't be sure if Shi Xinxin's attitude towards him was respect for a superior or shyness towards a lover.
He desperately hoped it was the latter. But if he guessed wrong and it was only the former, he feared his actions would drive Shi Xinxin further away, so he could only nervously continue forward.
They cooperated perfectly, and until the music ended, neither of them made another mistake. Shi Xinxin's progress was remarkable. When the music ended, Shi Xinxin respectfully thanked Sheng Chenjin.
Sheng Chenjin nodded, "Not bad, you've improved very quickly. It seems we can put on a great show at the dance." Shi Xinxin lowered her head shyly.
"How is that possible? It would be good enough if I didn't make a fool of myself."
"It's very possible. Do you know how long it took me to learn dancing? Three days and three nights. You learned it in just one morning. I suspect you might have learned dancing before."
Shi Xinxin couldn't help but laugh at this cliché compliment, "What era are we in? You're still using such old tricks." Sheng Chenjin chuckled, "But you dance really well."
"I know," Shi Xinxin shed her previous shyness and instead proudly accepted, "I'm naturally an excellent dancer."
"Hey, then who was stepping on me so many times just now?" Sheng Chenjin looked at Shi Xinxin's demeanor and immediately changed his tune.