Chapter 83: If bribery doesn't work, then...?

“Me?”

Jiang Ling was stunned on the spot, looking at her expression, which clearly wasn’t a joke.

She waved her hands in panic. “No, no, no, how could it be me?”

“If you want a really good stage performance, you should ask Xiao Ran. Both of you are great at dancing. I really shouldn’t get involved.”

It wasn’t that Jiang Ling wanted to refuse Lin Xiaoyu, but she truly felt she wasn’t up to the task.

After all, this stage might determine whether she could continue dancing with NOVA in the future. With something so important, Jiang Ling felt she absolutely couldn’t do it.

But Lin Xiaoyu shook her head without any hesitation. “No, this is something only you can do.”

If Jiang Ling hadn’t made that so-called “bet,” Lin Xiaoyu probably wouldn’t even have the chance to prepare all of this right now. So regardless of ability, Lin Xiaoyu sincerely believed that this stage belonged to both herself and Jiang Ling, who had worked so hard for it.

Meeting Lin Xiaoyu’s resolute gaze, Jiang Ling suddenly felt like a struggling student suddenly entrusted with hope by her homeroom teacher and asked to apply for the top school.

She wanted to die!

She insisted again, “Xiaoyu, get a grip! I’m the woman who the whole internet says dances worse than a zombie!”

“I’m perfectly clear-headed.”

Lin Xiaoyu showed no sign of wavering, and even gave an untimely comment, “And you’re already way better than a zombie now.”

“Thanks a lot.” Jiang Ling was both amused and exasperated. “But I have to refuse!”

If it was singing, for Lin Xiaoyu’s sake, she was willing to try her best. But dancing…

To be honest, her skills now were a lot better than before. Even passersby and fans on short video apps had praised her obvious improvement.

But once she thought about how this dance was about Lin Xiaoyu’s future, Jiang Ling completely lost her confidence.

This was completely different from before!

One careless mistake, and she might miss out on this precious opportunity.

“Is that so… alright, let’s leave it at that for now.”

Seeing Jiang Ling so determined, Lin Xiaoyu’s eyes flickered with a trace of disappointment, and she nodded in compromise.

She didn’t press further, instead withdrawing her gaze with a calm air.

But after living together for a while, Jiang Ling could easily see the subtle change in Lin Xiaoyu’s mood. Although she felt bad, she couldn’t help but chant in her heart:

I’m a zombie, I’m a zombie, I can’t do it, I can’t do it!

The mantra worked quickly. When she opened her eyes again, Jiang Ling had fully become the most cowardly woman in the universe, leaving the living room without looking back.

Lin Xiaoyu watched her departing figure, lowered her gaze, and stared thoughtfully at the duet dance on the screen, tilting her head in thought.

If enticing her doesn’t work, then…

Back in her room, Jiang Ling collapsed onto the soft, big bed, her mind replaying the events of the morning, rolling back and forth on the bed with a look of joy on her face.

“Hehe, I actually managed to persuade Auntie!”

You had to know, before this, she was a hopelessly gloomy, socially anxious girl!

Even thinking back now, Jiang Ling felt immense admiration for her past self who had blurted out those words.

In fact, she hadn’t thought much at the time—she’d spoken almost on instinct. No, it must’ve also been that strong urge to make Lin Xiaoyu happy.

She really couldn’t stand seeing such a beautiful girl cry!

Jiang Ling grinned foolishly, glancing at the NOVA plushies she had placed on the desk.

Her teammates might be weird sometimes, but overall, they were all good people… Well, except for Bai Xue!

After being ruthlessly tormented by Bai Xue, Jiang Ling pursed her lips and muttered curses in her heart: Bad woman!

Almost the moment she thought this, Bai Xue’s voice came from outside the door. “I’m coming in, okay?”

“Hiss!”

Jiang Ling immediately shot up like a startled fish, panic written all over her face.

People really couldn’t stand being thought about, could they!

Bai Xue entered and caught sight of Jiang Ling’s flustered expression, arching an interested eyebrow with a playful smile. “Why so nervous? Don’t tell me you were secretly self— 0721 just now?”

“How is that possible?! What the heck are you talking about!”

Jiang Ling retorted, her face red with embarrassment and a bit of annoyance in her voice.

“I heard you don’t want to do the duet with Xiaoyu?”

Bai Xue stopped teasing her and got straight to the point.

“Um… Yeah, because I think I’ll drag her down.”

#

Jiang Ling didn’t hide anything and honestly revealed her thoughts. “There are definitely better choices than me.”

“But maybe Xiaoyu doesn’t see it that way?”

Bai Xue looked at the conflicted Jiang Ling and tapped her on the forehead. “How is this any different from a mother who keeps saying it’s for her daughter’s own good, but ignores her wishes?”

Those words made Jiang Ling freeze.

It really did seem that way.

“Don’t be so lacking in confidence.” Bai Xue turned and waved with a smile as she left, “I’m off. You think about it carefully.”

After returning to her room, Bai Xue suddenly realized she hadn’t told Jiang Ling something important—

Lin Xiaoyu had borrowed some “little things” from her just now.

After Bai Xue’s reminder, Jiang Ling fell into deep thought again.

Indeed, her way of thinking was no different from Lin’s mother…

…Or so she thought!

In the end, the real reason Jiang Ling hadn’t agreed was because she worried about her own ability. She was afraid of ruining the stage Lin Xiaoyu had worked so hard for.

Ah, really—if only her dancing skills were good enough for her to accept confidently!

Jiang Ling couldn’t help but fantasize in her mind, when she suddenly heard the sound of the door handle turning.

It was probably Lin Xiaoyu coming back?

She didn’t pay much attention, leaned back with her eyes closed at the edge of the bed, and continued her thoughts.

Step, step.

Lin Xiaoyu’s slippers shuffled on the floor and came to a stop.

Jiang Ling suddenly felt something fall over her eyes. Instinctively, she opened them, only to be met with darkness.

Eh?!

She panicked and quickly reached up, her fingers touching a smooth silk fabric—it seemed to be a piece of cloth?

Jiang Ling raised her hand to pull it off, but her wrist was caught mid-air, unable to move.

“Xiaoyu?”

The cool touch on her wrist made her call out tentatively.

What greeted Jiang Ling was Lin Xiaoyu gently caressing her through the blindfold, her warm breath drifting down. “Mm.”

“Did something happen?”

Now that she was sure it was Lin Xiaoyu, Jiang Ling finally relaxed, though her voice held confusion. “Why are you suddenly covering my eyes?”

Lin Xiaoyu smiled faintly, her fingertips stroking Jiang Ling’s cheek as she parted her red lips:

“Since you refuse no matter what, then I’ll just have to find a way to make you agree.”

At this point, she still hadn’t realized how serious the situation was.