Chapter 15 The Aesthetics of Chinese Elegance

The stage lights dimmed slightly, signaling a temporary pause in the rehearsal as the director stepped forward to give more notes to the lighting team. I could feel the heat of the spotlight still lingering on my skin, the adrenaline coursing through my veins making it difficult to calm my racing heart. Ji Xunran, still catching his breath beside me, raised an eyebrow at my unexpected confession.

"Your ex-boyfriend?" he repeated, his voice low but tinged with curiosity. He tilted his head slightly, his sweat-dampened bangs brushing against his forehead. "And he's here today? In the audience?"

I nodded, glancing briefly toward the front rows where Shen Jibai sat, his figure partially obscured by the shadows beyond the stage lights. Even from this distance, I could make out his sharp, chiseled features and the way he sat with an air of effortless authority. His presence dominated the room, even though he wasn't doing anything other than watching. I couldn't tell whether he was impressed, bored, or indifferent, but the mere thought of his gaze lingering on me sent a jolt through my chest.

"Cheated on you, huh?" Ji Xunran's tone was casual, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—perhaps amusement, perhaps disbelief. "So, what's your plan? Dance him into submission? Make him regret it?"

I smirked, leaning in just a little closer, my voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Something like that. If nothing else, I want him to see what he threw away. Let him realize just how badly he messed up."

Ji Xunran chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You're something else, you know that? Most people would just block their ex and move on, but you... You turn it into a performance."

"Well," I said, straightening up and giving him a playful shrug, "why waste a perfectly good stage when I have one? Besides, it's not just about him. It's about me. Proving to myself that I'm better off without him."

Ji Xunran studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he gave a small nod, a hint of admiration flickering in his gaze. "Fair enough. Just don't trip over your own drama, alright? We've still got a real audience to impress."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "Don't worry about me. I've got this."

The director's voice rang out again, calling for everyone to reset for another run-through. Ji Xunran and I exchanged a quick glance before moving back to our starting positions. As I took my place, I stole one last glance toward Shen Jibai. He hadn't moved an inch, his posture still perfectly composed, but there was something about the way his eyes seemed to follow me that made my pulse quicken.

The music began again, the haunting melody filling the auditorium and setting the tone for the tragic love story we were about to reenact. This time, I poured even more of myself into the performance. Every step, every gesture, every fleeting glance was imbued with emotion. I wasn't just dancing for the audience or the director or even for Shen Jibai—I was dancing for myself, for the version of me that had once been broken and betrayed but was now stronger, more determined.

When the high-difficulty lift came, Ji Xunran and I executed it perfectly, our movements synchronized as though we were two halves of the same whole. The holographic projection of the male lead appeared again, and I sprinted through it with all the grace and desperation of a woman chasing a love she could never truly have. The stage bloomed into that breathtaking sea of crimson once more, and for a moment, it felt as though time had stopped.

The applause from the audience was thunderous, even though this was just a rehearsal. I could hear the murmurs of approval, the excited whispers about the stunning visuals and the chemistry between the dancers. But none of it mattered as much as the thought of Shen Jibai's reaction. Had he clapped? Had he smiled? Had he even noticed me?

As the scene ended and the director called for another break, I finally allowed myself to relax. My chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath, the exertion of the performance leaving me both exhilarated and exhausted. Ji Xunran walked over, handing me a bottle of water with a knowing smirk.

"Still trying to impress your ex?" he teased, his tone light but his eyes sharp.

I took the water gratefully, twisting off the cap and taking a long sip before responding. "Not just him. Everyone. Myself included."

"Well, if it's any consolation," Ji Xunran said, leaning casually against the edge of the stage, "you definitely caught someone's attention. He hasn't taken his eyes off you since the moment you stepped on stage."

My heart skipped a beat, and I glanced toward the audience again. Shen Jibai was still there, his expression as inscrutable as ever. But there was a subtle shift in his posture, a slight tilt of his head, as though he were studying me more intently than before. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking, but the fact that he was watching at all was enough to send a thrill through me.

"Good," I said, more to myself than to Ji Xunran. "That's exactly what I wanted."

Ji Xunran raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "You're really something else, you know that?"

"Yeah," I replied, a hint of defiance in my voice. "I know."

As the director called us back for one final run-through, I squared my shoulders and prepared to give it my all once more. This was my stage, my moment, and I wasn't going to let anyone—least of all Shen Jibai—look away.