Zhang Yindai nodded, looking at Fu Xiaotang, “Little girl, it’s quite rare for the usually high-handed Second Young Master Fang to seek help from me for a woman. I hope you won’t disappoint us.” Fu Xiaotang glanced at Fang Junjie, whose eyes were gentle and encouraging. She felt a warmth in her heart and deeply bowed to Zhang Yindai, “I understand, please guide me.”
Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Old Friend
Zhang Yindai was extremely strict, almost harsh, with Fu Xiaotang. It wasn’t just about dancing; she had rigorous demands on her posture, gait, mental state, gaze, and even her voice when speaking. The slightest dissatisfaction resulted in a swift strike from Zhang’s ever-present small wooden stick, leaving red marks. Despite Fu Xiaotang’s considerable dance skills and flexibility, she still received several hits by the end of each day. This left Doris clicking her tongue, applying ointments, and massaging, feeling sorry for her. Fu Xiaotang, though exhausted, was in high spirits, even joking about counting the red marks, which annoyed Doris to the point of tapping her head, “You really have no heart. Are you laughing because she’s gotten good at hitting you? Isn’t it just bullying?”
Fu Xiaotang dodged with a laugh, inadvertently pulling at her injuries, and while saying “ouch,” she hugged Doris, “What’s wrong with that? It’s for my own good, isn’t it? No pain, no gain, right?” “Bah, bah, bah, I curse that ‘no pain, no gain.’ You still say it, you still say it,” Doris said while pinching Fu Xiaotang’s lips, her eyes welling up unexpectedly. Fu Xiaotang hugged Doris’s waist, looking up at her, “Dear Doris, I know you’re worried about me, afraid I’ll remember those hard times in the troupe. But even if I do, it’s fine; look at me now, all good. How else would I appreciate the good times now? Plus, I can tell the difference between a symbolic hit and a real beating. The teacher is very kind; Master Junjie told me on the first day, ‘She’s got a sharp tongue but a kind heart, she might seem fierce, but she’s really good.’ And she really is; I’ve learned so much!”
“Ha!” Doris finally smiled, poking Fu Xiaotang’s nose, “Of course, what Master Junjie says is like a decree. I just don’t believe it; you said Zhang Yindai is very fat now, I don’t believe she can still dance.”
“She doesn’t dance anymore,” Fu Xiaotang said with a hint of regret but earnestly, “But she knows so much: ballroom, folk, modern, ballet, even street and tap dance, there’s nothing she doesn’t know. Although she doesn’t dance, just by posing, the aura and gaze she has are enough for me to learn for a long time. It’s hard to imagine how stunning she must have been on the Heavenly Realm’s stage 20 years ago.”
