### Chapter 173: The Duet Dance (Part Three) (Monthly Ticket Request)
Before the official shooting kicked off today, the duo had done some basic practices for the dance in the MV.
He Zhi Chen said that this duet dance was very simple; there was no need to perfect it. The key was to keep up with the rhythm and coordinate their footwork.
Everything else could be polished post-production—editing, layering with music, and voilà, a stunning effect!
So, during their practice sessions, they didn’t actually hold hands; they just mimicked the moves for a while. Gan Yan Yu didn’t mention it, and Lin Tian kept his mouth shut like Fort Knox.
It seemed they’d reached some strange tacit understanding.
Sure, practicing a duet without holding hands was bizarre; anyone witnessing it would think it was odd. But somehow, they managed to harmoniously agree to this peculiar arrangement.
Now, however, it was the real deal.
“.”
“Mm.”
Gan Yan Yu, her head faintly flushed, nodded gently in response to Lin Tian’s invitation.
She grasped Lin Tian’s hand.
In his palm, her hand felt soft and tiny.
“Uh, Gan Teacher, did you grab the wrong hand?” Lin Tian asked, a little embarrassed.
Gan Yan Yu looked down and realized she had grabbed his left hand with her left, making them stand face-to-face in a “Z” formation.
What is this, a meeting of world leaders?
“Oops!”
Gan Yan Yu quickly retracted her left hand and extended her right.
This time, her palm covered Lin Tian’s palm.
Now they were officially holding hands!
“.”
But as they lifted their hands and positioned them above their shoulders, Gan Yan Yu found herself leaning against Lin Tian’s shoulder.
They stood in a line, looking less like dancers and more like they were doing some folk dance.
Now they resembled a “W.”
It felt… odd.
“Uh, not quite right…”
Lin Tian hastily released her hand, deep in thought as if contemplating something very serious.
Then, with a flash of inspiration, he stepped in front of Gan Yan Yu, straightening up, and said, “Raise your hand.”
Gan Yan Yu lifted her hand, fist at her ear, looking as determined as if she were about to pledge allegiance.
“Now open your palm.”
Gan Yan Yu complied and opened her fist.
Just as she did—
In the next moment, Lin Tian’s hand came over her palm, fingers entwined, enclosing hers.
He held firmly.
Then, with his other hand, he wrapped her waist.
“Now that’s more like it!” Lin Tian chuckled.
Gan Yan Yu’s pupils widened slightly, and she suddenly felt her face burning up.
“Ready?” Lin Tian asked.
At that moment, the playback of the accompaniment began.
The two followed the rhythm, gently moving their feet in an empty corner of the café.
“.”
This scene quickly caught the attention of a bunch of trainees.
“Look! They’ve started dancing!”
“Cat-chan is so beautiful; no wonder she’s worthy of Teacher Moonlight!”
“Wah, do they even need to dance? Just standing there is a treat to the eyes!”
“Wait a minute… aren’t Moonlight and Cat-chan just friends?”
“Shut up, you chatterbox!”
“.”
Thump, thump.
That was Gan Yan Yu’s heartbeat.
It felt oddly chaotic yet calm.
What’s going on?
The young woman continuously followed Lin Tian’s lead.
They stepped back and forth on the wooden floor.
His touch at her waist sent shivers up her spine. Holding on to his right hand, she felt her palm getting a little sweaty.
From the planning of this MV, to deciding to dance together, to practicing, and now officially shooting.
It was clear that “holding hands” was assumed, a given.
They never discussed this matter, nor did they wonder if it was inappropriate or whether they could pull it off smoothly.
It seemed that the meaning behind “holding hands” was something they both intuitively ignored.
As long as they immersed themselves in the MV, transitioning to holding hands felt natural and seamless—no one mentioned it, no one said anything, and before they knew it, they were at this stage.
But when they truly held hands and began to dance…
Gan Yan Yu realized it was not so simple.
The heartbeat was real; the feeling of his palm was real, and Lin Tian’s face was merely a foot away—this was all real.
For some reason, she couldn’t stop smiling.
As the piano notes transitioned, Lin Tian released his hold around Gan Yan Yu’s waist.
The young woman spun away and when she turned back around, her purple skirt and the gauzy fabric around her elbows flared dramatically, floating with her movements.
Lin Tian’s eyes widened.
The sapphire earrings swayed slightly as Gan Yan Yu reached out her hand, beaming with a radiant smile.
He couldn’t take it anymore—Lin Tian felt both helpless and amused.
So, Gan Teacher, ever since you walked in earlier, what’s got you smiling so much?
If you’re this happy, let me join in on the fun!
“.”
Lin Tian grasped the young woman’s hand and pulled her closer!
With a spin, they found themselves back in Lin Tian’s embrace.
The trainees collectively gasped, “Oooooh~!”
Then, to the rousing sounds of “One Step Away,” they leaped from the corner, dancing their way to the center of the café!
By now, all the equipment and crew were set and ready. Everyone froze, abandoning their tasks to watch the duo dance, captivated as if witnessing a grand performance up close.
“Wow, this is amazing!”
“For such a speedy dance, their synergy is incredible!”
“It’s so youthful; it takes me back to my student days!”
“I think they’d make better idols than mere professional musicians!”
“If they aren’t a couple, I’m seriously gonna be mad!”
“.”
As people quietly discussed, He Zhi Chen quickly called over the director with a wave.
“Hurry up and film, what are you waiting for?”
This is such great footage; let’s record while we can!
The director immediately got the hint and hurriedly waved the photographers to roll tape.
But the next second—
“Aah!”
Caught off guard, their dance abruptly halted.
The scene froze on Lin Tian’s foot, quite literally stepping on Gan Yan Yu’s high heel.
“Sorry, Gan Teacher!” Lin Tian stammered, retracting his foot sheepishly.
Actually, while dancing, they had stepped on each other two or three times.
But this time, in his excitement, Lin Tian had stomped down a little too hard.
“It’s fine. We didn’t really practice anyway,” Gan Yan Yu replied quietly, pulling her foot back.
“Alright, alright.” He Zhi Chen stood up and addressed everyone.
“Let’s first record the music, and we’ll sh**t the dance later.”
This MV was intended to have both a “standard MV” and a “live performance” version; the former for recording parts in the studio, the latter a carefully prepared surprise by Lin Tian.
So, the first step now was to record the live ensemble content.
“Let’s go.”
“Mm.”
Lin Tian released his grip on Gan Yan Yu, but his heart raced as if it were still in overdrive.
His palm was still damp from her lingering sweat.
Despite not exerting much energy, he was surprisingly sweaty.
He took a glance at Gan Yan Yu’s small face.
Oh no.
How is it that after dancing, she’s even cuter?
Lin Tian resisted the urge to keep looking at her.
He wiped his hand on his clothes and headed toward the camera.
Gan Yan Yu followed behind Lin Tian’s tall silhouette. When no one was paying attention, she lifted her hand, placing her palm near her nose, and sniffed lightly.
Then, she quickly caught up with him.
(End of Chapter)
