Bend at the Waist

Lu Shu was moving to a new place.

Her friend had told her in advance that her new roommate was fair-skinned and beautiful, with a face that could take your breath away, though she was a little cold.

On her first night in the shared apartment, Lu Shu got drenched in the rain and forgot her keys, so she awkwardly stood at the door and knocked.

When it opened, the “cold roommate” her friend had mentioned stood before her, slender and shapely, wrapped in nothing but a bath towel.

Lu Shu stared, dumbfounded.

Her roommate really was breathtakingly beautiful.

Too bad...

That face belonged to Pei Zhixi.

*

Lu Shu and Pei Zhixi both became famous for classical dance. That year, Lu Shu was “exposed” for having a messy private life and mocked as a fake fairy and a real homewrecker, while Pei Zhixi swept up award after award, becoming the transcendent classical dance goddess in everyone's eyes.

Lu Shu had always felt that she and Pei Zhixi were doomed to be entangled. They had trained in dance together as children, but spent more than twenty years as rivals, butting heads and disliking each other.

When they were young, Pei Zhixi would help her study and tease her at the same time. “Lu Shu, you're so stupid. I've explained it three times and you still don't get it.”

Later, Lu Shu never could have imagined...

Pei Zhixi would kiss her while teasing her, her gaze and voice tender. “Lu Shu, you're so stupid. Do you even know how to kiss?”

Lu Shu half-heartedly pushed her away. “Say that again and I won't let you kiss me.”

*

When Lu Shu met Pei Zhixi again, she was like a tiny flame on the verge of going out. But Pei Zhixi was kindling.

CP: Proud little hedgehog x aloof ice queen

[Mini-scene]

Their classical duet, Shadow, went viral, and Pei Zhixi and Lu Shu's popularity skyrocketed overnight. They became the nation's classical dance goddesses.

During an interview together, the host couldn't resist stirring things up. “Teacher Lu and Teacher Pei are famous in the industry for how in sync they are. I've heard that many of Teacher Lu's choreographies were created especially for Teacher Pei. Some viewers want to know: is Teacher Lu secretly in love with Teacher Pei?”

Lu Shu smiled faintly. “Teacher Pei is a dance fanatic and doesn't understand romance. She's not my type.”

Pei Zhixi only smiled.

That very night, after the interview

Pei Zhixi gently bit Lu Shu's lower lip and asked in a low voice, “Tell me, how exactly am I not romantic enough?”

[Before you dive in]

1. Not a typical childhood-friends romance, but more like bickering rivals. There's not much plot. They spend their everyday lives teasing and arguing like elementary school kids. If that's not your thing, don't read.

2. Each other's first love. They help each other heal. Super sweet.

3. No real-life inspirations. The classical dance details are all based on internet research and my own imagination, so the professional aspects aren't accurate. If that bothers you, read with caution.

Theme: Face setbacks bravely and overcome them.