I Helped My Best Friend with Her Romance—and Fell for the Enemy’s Strategist - Chapter 19

It turned out her mind remembered the steps, but her movements were somewhat awkward. As Song Wanqing put it, she resembled a frog walking upright, her back ramrod straight, unable to bend even slightly. Stiff as a wooden board, her posture completely betrayed her strikingly alluring face.

In contrast, Fu Yanxi performed excellently. Every move was executed with precision, flawless to the point of being a carbon copy of the instructor’s demonstration. Truly deserving of her reputation as a top student and the epitome of a well-behaved girl, she moved with the grace of someone who had studied dance since childhood, fluid and supple. Lin Ruocheng, on the other hand, felt worlds apart.

Even the instructor’s gaze toward Fu Yanxi was filled with admiration and delight, making Lin Ruocheng feel like an untamed primate still struggling to coordinate her limbs. The faint gratitude she had initially felt quickly morphed into a fierce competitive drive. Since childhood, she had rarely encountered such a formidable rival. Usually, the instructor’s attention would be fixed on her, but whenever Fu Yanxi appeared, all eyes instinctively shifted to the prodigy. Though Lin Ruocheng acknowledged Fu Yanxi’s merit, she couldn’t help feeling a twinge of resentment, even knowing her own limitations in dance.

“Well demonstrated,” both instructors praised in unison, directing their compliments solely at Fu Yanxi. Lin Ruocheng stood by with an awkward smile. She had learned from a young age that when someone better emerges, one’s own brilliance inevitably dims. That was why she had always strived to be first in everything, academics, competitions, you name it. Her desire to win was intense.

“Without a skilled partner and good coordination, I couldn’t have done it alone,” Fu Yanxi remarked, attempting to ease the tension. Yet to Lin Ruocheng, the words sounded more like mockery, as if questioning why she had been paired with someone who might drag down her performance. There were things Lin Ruocheng could practice and improve, but she could never match Fu Yanxi’s all-around excellence, which seemed to have no weaknesses.

While Fu Yanxi moved with light, effortless steps, Lin Ruocheng’s felt heavy and labored. Though the routine lasted only about three minutes, to Lin Ruocheng, it felt like an eternity. Never in her life had she experienced such social embarrassment. As much as she wanted to flee, she endured for the sake of her grades. She had to learn to accept her shortcomings.

Throughout it all, Fu Yanxi never let go of her hand, patiently guiding her through the steps again and again. A subtle, cool fragrance, reminiscent of white tea, enveloped Lin Ruocheng, soothing her earlier irritation. Fu Yanxi seemed to possess a magical quality, an ability to calm her turbulent emotions. Accustomed to expressing her feelings openly, Lin Ruocheng found her anger inexplicably melting away in Fu Yanxi’s presence, the reasons for her frustration fading from memory.

Fu Yanxi was like a clear stream in a chaotic, dye-stained world, so pristine that one hesitated to leave even a trace on her pure canvas. Her record was impeccable: since childhood, she had consistently won first prizes in math competitions and topped her class, with the exception of a few uneventful years in middle school.

“It’s okay, we’ll take it slow. I’ll stay with you until you learn.”

Fu Yanxi’s eyes behind her glasses seemed to be looking at a very familiar old friend.

The emotions in them were intense, as if she was holding something back.

But Lin Ruocheng truly didn’t have many other impressions of her.

Whether in the past or now, all she could say was that Fu Yanxi was very beautiful, a true perfectionist.

Everything she did was flawless.

After class ended, Lin Ruocheng immediately pulled her hand away.

They had been holding hands for two whole hours, wasn’t she hot?

Her palms were sweaty.

To be precise, both of their hands had started sweating from the moment they clasped them together.

Lin Ruocheng pulled a wet wipe from her pocket and handed it over.

“Fu Yanxi, have you learned dance before? You dance really well. I’ll practice more on my own these days and come find you again once I’ve improved. You know me, I’m very competitive. Let’s wait until I’m not so stiff anymore.”

“You can come find me.”

“Find you?”

Lin Ruocheng raised an eyebrow lightly. She remembered that this student council president was very busy.

Where would she find extra time for her?

She leaned in slightly toward the other’s ear, her warm breath gently brushing against it.

The fine hairs on her lips lightly grazed Fu Yanxi’s earlobe.

Just like that, the other’s ears visibly reddened.

They were bright red and quite adorable.

“Mhm, you can come find me.”

Fu Yanxi lowered her head and coughed lightly. Not only were her ears red, but even her neck had a faint blush.

Did Lin Ruocheng act like this with everyone?

“Never mind, I wouldn’t dare to casually waste Xiao Xixi’s time.”

Lin Ruocheng took a sip of her fruit tea, her expression indifferent.

The cool fragrance on the other person wasn’t the least bit out of place, it suited her perfectly.

Even if she did nothing and just stood there, she was captivating.

Lin Ruocheng had seen many beautiful women, but this was her first time encountering someone like Fu Yanxi.

After class, Lin Ruocheng glanced at her phone.

The cafeteria seemed to be open now.

She turned to look for Song Wanqing.

It seemed Song Wanqing was asking Yu Qiuli out for dinner.

It looked like Song Wanqing was finally catching on.

She was actually taking the initiative to invite Yu Qiuli to a meal, what a teachable student.

“Want to have dinner together tonight, Xiao Xixi?”

Lin Ruocheng looked up at her. Since she had nothing to do in the evening anyway, why not share a meal?

It would also give her a chance to observe the budding romance between those two.

Maybe it would help them take things a step further.

“Okay, let’s eat together.”

Her tone was always rather cold when she spoke.

Lin Ruocheng suddenly leaned in for a closer look at her face. She really was quite good-looking, very pretty.

But why did she have no memory of her?

The two were very close.

Fu Yanxi felt that if she tilted her head just slightly, she could kiss the other’s lips.

“You really are quite pretty.”

“Is that so?”

Fu Yanxi suddenly turned her head, startling Lin Ruocheng.

She immediately slapped her shoulder and pushed her away.

“Are you trying to die, Fu Yanxi?!”

They had almost kissed!

Lin Ruocheng was just teasing, how could this person actually lean in like that?

She was the strategist, not the one meant to charge into battle!

She hadn’t expected that a casual flirtation would make the other person come so close.

“Wasn’t it Xiao Chengzi who leaned in first?”

That was true, but something about it still felt off.

Especially when Fu Yanxi suddenly turned the tables, using Lin Ruocheng’s method and leaned in slightly.

The eyes behind the frameless glasses were so indifferent they showed no trace of emotion.

But from this angle,

they seemed to soften considerably.