228: Chapter 228 uses the technical term "charming".

Shen Nian walked to the center of the living room, bent down to pick up the phone on the coffee table, and played the accompaniment.

Music with an exotic flair drifted out from the speakers.

Barefoot, Shen Nian stood on tiptoe and slowly spread her arms out to her sides.

Her body swayed to the rhythm, the hem of her yellow dance dress lifting with her movements, completely exposing her fair thighs.

Jiang Fan leaned against the sofa, legs crossed, watching quietly.

Shen Nian's physical condition was evident; thanks to years of dance practice, her flexibility was excellent.

She hit every beat with precision, and her movements were clean and sharp.

But after watching for a minute, Jiang Fan shook his head.

This dance still fell short of the original version of the Jade Rabbit Spirit provided by the system.

"Stop."

Shen Nian stopped, her chest heaving violently, and walked over to wipe the sweat off her neck with a towel.

"The movements are fine, but something is still missing."

"Missing what?"

"You are dancing too rigidly."

Shen Nian bit her lower lip.

"The dance instructor also told me to let go a bit, but I'm not very good at capturing that feeling."

"That feeling isn't something a dance instructor can teach."

Jiang Fan stood up, picked up the phone, and pulled the progress bar back to the beginning.

"Do it again. This time, don't just think about the movements."

Jiang Fan walked back to the sofa and sat down. "Just watch me while you dance. Imagine I am Tang Monk. There is only one goal for this dance—make me fall for you."

Shen Nian stood there, looking at Jiang Fan on the sofa.

Her body began to move again with the music.

She no longer looked at the floor-to-ceiling mirror to see if her movements were standard; her gaze remained fixed on Jiang Fan.

The movement of her arms sliding past her sides was half a beat slower, and her fingers grazed lightly over her waist.

Her movements carried a hint of coy hesitation.

Jiang Fan didn't speak, tapping his right index finger twice on the sofa armrest.

There was progress, but it still wasn't enough.

After finishing the dance, Shen Nian stood in place looking at him, her breathing slightly rapid.

"How was this time?"

"There is progress." Jiang Fan held up a finger. "You aren't in a dance competition. You are a spirit, and spirits eat people."

Shen Nian grew anxious.

"Then what should I—"

"Do it again."

"This time, don't worry about whether the movements are correct; use your eyes to seduce me. If you can't seduce me, you won't pass Director Yang's audition; she never shows mercy when eliminating people."

When Shen Nian heard the word "eliminate," her chest tightened slightly.

She wanted to seize this opportunity too badly.

This role was secured for her by Jiang Fan; if she couldn't pass Director Yang Shuhua's test and was cut on the spot, it wouldn't just be her own face that was lost.

The music played for the third time.

Shen Nian completely cast aside those dance frameworks.

A wildness appeared in her eyes; she was no longer the obedient idol singer on stage, but had transformed into a spirit eyeing its prey.

Her dance steps spun, the yellow skirt hem flying.

Her gaze remained pinned on Jiang Fan, full of the most straightforward demand.

Jiang Fan nodded inwardly.

This girl really learns things quickly; as long as she is given a direction, she can find the way on her own.

The more Shen Nian danced, the more she let go. When her skirt spun around, a thin layer of sweat had already coated the patch of fair skin on her waist.

The music was still halfway through.

Jiang Fan stood up, walked over, and pressed the pause button on the phone.

The music came to an abrupt stop.

Shen Nian stopped, panting heavily, sweat from her forehead sliding down her cheeks to her chin.

"What's wrong? Is it still not good enough?" Her voice trembled.

"It's too good." Jiang Fan took a step forward. "So good that I need to perform a temporary inspection."

"Inspect what..."

Jiang Fan cupped her exposed waist with one hand.

His palm pressed against her warm skin, which was covered in fine beads of sweat.

"After the Jade Rabbit Spirit successfully seduces Tang Monk, what happens next?"

Shen Nian's ears flushed red, and she grabbed the hem of Jiang Fan's shirt.

"Enter the bridal chamber." She paused, her voice dropping lower. "But it didn't succeed in the original work."

Jiang Fan lowered his head, his lips brushing against her earlobe.

"This is not the original work."

Shen Nian was lifted by Jiang Fan and sat on the sofa, her feet resting on the edge of the sofa.

The yellow dance outfit was pulled open, golden sequins scattering onto the sofa cushion.

Jiang Fan lowered his head.

Shen Nian's hand habitually reached out to grab Jiang Fan's hair.

Before, every time it reached this point, she liked to pull his hair; that feeling of resistance helped her find a fulcrum.

Her fingers grasped empty air and touched a smooth, rounded surface instead.

Shen Nian opened her eyes and looked down at Jiang Fan's shiny bald head under the living room lights.

She froze for a second, couldn't hold it back, and laughed.

Jiang Fan stopped and looked up at her.

"What are you laughing at?"

Shen Nian stifled her laughter, spread her palm, pressed it firmly onto the top of Jiang Fan's head, and rubbed it hard twice.

"Nothing." She couldn't suppress the corners of her mouth. "It just feels really good, easier to handle than when you had hair."

"Easier to handle?"

"Yeah." Shen Nian pressed both hands onto it and rubbed it around a couple of times. "Keep this hairstyle from now on."

Looking at her serious expression as she evaluated it, Jiang Fan slapped her hands away, annoyed.

"Fine, I'll let you touch it to your heart's content tonight."

He lowered his head again.

Shen Nian's laughter instantly turned into a scream.

Her fingers reached back up, gripping the back of Jiang Fan's head tightly.

Twenty minutes later, Shen Nian was flipped over, kneeling on the sofa.

Her hands supported her against the back of the sofa.

Jiang Fan pressed against her from behind, using one hand to brush her loose hair to one side.

"During the third time just now." Jiang Fan's fingers slid down her spine. "The angle of your waist pressing down needs to be greater."

Shen Nian bit her finger and gave a soft "Mm."

"A little lower."

Shen Nian bent her waist lower.

Jiang Fan took advantage of the momentum and moved forward.

Shen Nian shifted forward, blocked by the back of the sofa, her forehead bumping against the fabric.

——

Nearly two hours later.

Shen Nian curled up on her side in the sofa.

One hand rested on top of Jiang Fan's head, rubbing it absentmindedly.

Jiang Fan lay flat on his back, eyes closed.

The system panel popped up.

[Deep Compatibility × 2, Lifespan Value + 2000]

[Current Lifespan Value: 106800 points]

Jiang Fan closed the panel.

"For the audition the day after tomorrow, just maintain the state you had just now." Jiang Fan opened his eyes and turned to look at her. "Don't be afraid of Director Yang. She may be fierce, but as long as the feeling is right, she won't give you a hard time."

Shen Nian nodded, her fingers still drawing circles on his head.

"Will you go then?"

"I'm going too; I'm going to play Tang Monk."

Shen Nian's hand stopped.

She propped up half her body, tilting her head to look at Jiang Fan.

"You're playing Tang Monk?"

"Yes."

Shen Nian's gaze swept from his bald head to his face, and then from his face back to his bald head.

"So you shaving your head wasn't to experience life."

"No."

Shen Nian stared at him for five seconds, then propped herself up to sit straight on the sofa.

"You lied to me."

"I didn't lie to you; you didn't ask carefully."

Shen Nian narrowed her eyes.

"You said you were experiencing life just now."

"Experiencing the life of Tang Monk, is there a problem with that?"

Shen Nian pressed her knees against his waist, leaned forward, and placed both hands back on top of his head.

"Daring to lie to me, see if I don't deal with you."

Jiang Fan blocked her wrist with one hand and took the opportunity to pull her down, causing Shen Nian to collapse onto his chest.

"You're going to deal with me?"

Shen Nian felt Jiang Fan's body change again.

"You... you just—"

"One last inspection. Sit tight, don't fall off."

Shen Nian was pressed down by her waist, biting her lip, her hands braced on Jiang Fan's shoulders.

Jiang Fan patted her. "That waist movement from the third time, try using it now."

Shen Nian's face was flushed with shyness, but she still moved.

"Yes, that's it. Remember this feeling. When you audition the day after tomorrow, use this exact look in your eyes."

Shen Nian curled up in his arms, speaking weakly.

"This... state." Shen Nian's voice was very small. "Wouldn't it be too..."

"Too what?"

"Too seductive."

Jiang Fan looked down at her; when this girl uttered those two words, even the roots of her neck burned bright red.

Jiang Fan rubbed the top of her head: "That's called allure, a technical term."

Shen Nian gave a soft hmph, buried her face in his chest, and didn't speak again.