Soul Land: Heartbreak Makes Me Stronger

Amidst the melodious sound of strings and flutes, the students glided gracefully across the floor, immersed in their dances.

In a quiet corner of the grand palace, Qin Jian was carefully guiding Ning Rongrong through the posture of ballroom dancing for the first time.

"Yes, just rest your hand lightly on my shoulder. No need to apply force..."

"Now, place your right hand in mine—yes, just like that. Straighten your arm..."

"Good. Now, simply follow my steps..."

With his right hand gently resting on Ning Rongrong's slender waist, Qin Jian led her into a slow and measured rotation.

Their faces were so close that they could feel each other's breaths.

This was the essence of ballroom dancing—a socially acceptable way to draw people into a moment of intimacy, shortening the distance between strangers under the guise of refined civility.

"Qin Jian, I... feel strange," Ning Rongrong murmured, her voice so soft it brushed against his ear. "We've hugged before, but suddenly my heart is racing..."

Qin Jian leaned closer, his lips near her ear. "It's the atmosphere of the dance—it creates a sense of ambiguity."

"Oh..."

Caught in the mood, Ning Rongrong let herself be led, her mind swirling until she lost all sense of direction.

"Rongrong, Teacher Yue is watching us."

Qin Jian's words yanked her back to reality. In her panic, she stepped on his foot several times.

"Ah?! What should we do?"

"Don't worry," Qin Jian reassured her. "Follow my lead, and I'll teach you a new move. We can make our dance even more elegant."

He explained softly, "This is a reverse motion. It allows us to align our waists and hips, adding a refined flair to our movements."

"When stepping forward with your left foot, move your right shoulder and hip forward. When stepping forward with your right foot, do the same with your left shoulder and hip..."

"And when stepping back with your left foot, allow your right shoulder and hip to move back. The same goes for your right foot."

Although nervous, Ning Rongrong listened intently, imprinting his instructions in her mind and executing them diligently.

"Hmm, this is interesting..."

Initially, Tang Yuehua had frowned, ready to reprimand the pair for their unconventional steps, but as she observed further, she found herself intrigued. Their movements, especially after Qin Jian's guidance, grew increasingly elegant, captivating her attention.

She fell into deep contemplation, considering their unexpected display.

Suddenly, a burst of laughter broke the spell, drawing everyone's gaze and interrupting her thoughts.

The source was none other than Prince Xue Beng, who had been relegated to standing against the wall. Now, pointing at Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong, he guffawed loudly.

"Look at them! What kind of dance is that? It's all wrong! Hahaha!"

"Teacher Yue, you should punish them, too!" he called out gleefully.

"What an incorrigible rascal..."

Qin Jian stopped in resignation as all dancing came to a halt, with everyone's attention diverted.

Ning Rongrong, nervous, clutched at Qin Jian's sleeve like it was her lifeline.

"Teacher Yue, we only just arrived today, so..." she stammered, attempting to explain before Tang Yuehua could speak.

Known for her notorious strictness, Tang Yuehua's reputation had clearly left its mark on Ning Rongrong.

But instead of scolding them, Tang Yuehua walked right past the pair and approached Prince Xue Beng.

Pointing firmly toward the door, she said, "You, stand outside!"

"Huh?"

Xue Beng was stunned.

"Teacher Yue, why are you punishing me instead of them?" he protested.

"I am the teacher, and you are the student. Here, you listen to me," she said coldly.

Though Xue Beng opened his mouth to argue, memories of his recent punishments made him swallow his defiance. With a begrudging "hmph," he reluctantly slinked out, but not without casting a glare at Qin Jian as he exited, clearly marking him as a target for future retaliation.

"Looks like he's pegged me as a part of his little aristocratic performance," Qin Jian mused, shaking his head in silent exasperation.

Tang Yuehua returned, her demeanor softening as she addressed Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong directly.

"You two must be Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong, correct? New arrivals today?"

The students were stunned. The strict Yuehua they knew never spoke so gently to anyone.

At their nod, Tang Yuehua asked, "What dance were you performing? It looked quite different from traditional court dances, yet it carried a deeper sense of social connection."

"It's a form of ballroom dance," Qin Jian replied. "Its very name reflects its essence—'Ballroom Dance.'"

"Ballroom Dance..." Tang Yuehua mused thoughtfully. "It's an excellent dance. Could you two continue? I've had an idea."

Her request shocked the students further. Tang Yuehua, the founder of the Imperial Etiquette Academy and a master in her field, had drawn inspiration from the dance of two newcomers?

"Of course," Qin Jian said readily.

As the music resumed, Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong stepped into rhythm once more, their movements flowing with even greater harmony and elegance.

The longer the students watched, the more mesmerized they became by the beauty of their performance.

"What a beautiful dance!" someone exclaimed.

"I think it looks far more refined than our court dances!"

"Shh, lower your voice. Don't risk angering Teacher Yue!"

But Tang Yuehua ignored the murmurs, her eyes focused entirely on Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong's seamless movements, her thoughts racing.

When the music ended, the pair stopped. Ning Rongrong, flushed red from exertion and shyness, fanned her face with her hands.

It was her first time sharing such intimate moments with Qin Jian in front of so many people.

Before Tang Yuehua could comment, a young girl in an imperial gown, no more than eight or nine years old, emerged from the crowd.

She approached Qin Jian with a sweet smile.

"I'm Xue Ke. Your dance was so beautiful! Can you dance with me, too?"

Xue Ke? The imperial princess?

Qin Jian's thoughts stirred. Sure enough, Xue Ke was staring directly at his face with undisguised admiration.

But before he could respond, Ning Rongrong stepped forward, shielding him from the princess's gaze.

"Qin Jian is my partner! He can't dance with you!"

"Why not?" Xue Ke countered. "He's the one leading. He could lead me just as easily!"

"Don't you already have a partner? Go dance with him!" Ning Rongrong retorted, hands on her hips.

Xue Ke's eyes sparkled with mischief. "But I like how Qin Jian dances. We can switch partners."

"Who said anything about switching partners?"

Ning Rongrong was incensed. "Qin Jian and I are partners forever!"

"Forever?" Xue Ke arched a brow. "Are you engaged or something?"

Ning Rongrong froze. "N-No, we're not..."

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