After Being Bitten By Top-Tier O, Flop A Went Viral - Chapter 46

46: Utterly Helpless

Qin Que’s eyes widened. She wasn’t sure if she had misunderstood.

Ran Dong was a movie that, in a certain sense, had “eternally engraved itself in cinematic history.” Back then, its reputation was notoriously bad. Out of curiosity, Qin Que had tried to watch it but couldn’t even get through the first third of the film despite multiple attempts.

But she still remembered the synopsis.

A tangled, ambiguous web of love and hate among three people.

From this, the famous phrase was born: “The three of you should just act out Ran Dong together—that’s more important than anything else.”

In short, it was a love triangle—she loves him, he loves him, he loves her—a particularly chaotic and inexplicable one at that.

But she couldn’t possibly connect this synopsis to Wu Zihan and the other two.

There was indeed some unclear, ambiguous relationship between Yan Yuzhen and Jin Shuo, but Qin Que had always assumed they were just a CP who developed feelings during a talent show.

Adding Wu Zihan into the mix was as bizarre as drizzling chili sauce on a cream cake—utterly baffling.

However, judging from Yan Qing’s knowing expression and the finger pressed to her lips signaling Qin Que not to make a sound, her guess was correct.

Oh… this…

“Have you two rested enough?!”

On the podium, Wu Zihan had already regained her composure and was now glaring at them with displeasure.

“Oh, we’ll start practicing now!” Yan Qing, who had just been quietly gossiping about the teacher, responded in an exaggeratedly guilty tone. She grabbed Qin Que’s hand and quickly pulled her away to practice.

But at this point, no one in the classroom—or the live stream—was focused on the competition results anymore.

Comment 1: What’s happening? What’s happening? I feel like a confused melon-eating spectator.

Comment 2: Something’s off. Really off. Where are the gossip hunters? What have you dug up?

Comment 3: Reporting in! So far, we’ve only found out that Xiao Yan’s mom was once Wu Zihan’s junior sister, but she passed away ten years ago. Jin Shuo’s family also seems influential and has close ties to Wu Zihan’s own family. But as for the specifics of their relationship, there’s no concrete info yet.

Comment 4: And you call that “no concrete info”? I could already write a full-blown soap opera based on this.

Comment 5: Did you hear the way Xiao Yan called out just now? There was a hint of resentment mixed with coquettishness. I’m kinda shipping it now.

Comment 6: What’s even more shippable is Wu Zihan’s reaction. If it were anyone else, she would’ve exploded by now. But the way she’s acting now is just… well, let’s just say this is exactly how elders act when dealing with a spoiled junior.

Comment 7: Am I the only one who noticed the two whispering in the corner? What on earth did Yan Qing write on Que Que’s hand? The poor girl’s expression turned into Σ(っ°Д °;)っ.

Comment 8: Please, Queen Yan, have mercy and tell me quietly. I feel like there are ants crawling all over me right now.

—

Amidst everyone’s distracted state, Nie Sijun unexpectedly won the singing competition.

Her performance of Blind Eyes, Blind Heart reached a professional level in both vocal skill and emotional depth. Her acting, in particular, perfectly captured the despair of someone lost in a fog, desperately groping for an exit but finding none. Qin Que couldn’t help but get drawn into that emotion, unconsciously gripping Yan Qing’s hand beside her.

Yan Qing, however, watched calmly. When Nie Sijun finished and stood silently with her hands covering her eyes, Yan Qing was the first to step forward and gently embrace her.

“It’s all in the past now.”

This time, the two of them lost fair and square. Qin Que thought that while an actor’s duty was to portray fictional lives, performances born from real emotional experiences were undeniably different.

Perhaps she lacked talent in this area. Her reserved personality hindered her ability to deeply understand emotions. Looking back on all her performances so far, none had ever evoked the kind of explosive emotional resonance that Yan Qing’s did.

Wu Zihan looked at Nie Sijun, who seemed a little stunned by her victory. “How does it feel to win?”

Nie Sijun paused for a moment before breaking into an unusually bright smile. “It feels great.”

Wu Zihan nodded. “Remember this feeling. The next time you feel like acting foolish, think back to it.”

“Now, let’s move on to the second lesson—dance performance.” She glanced at the empty classroom doorway, her eyes lowering slightly before she called out the next pair. “Yan Qing, Qin Que, you’ll perform Por Una Cabeza. Qin Que will take the lead, Yan Qing the follow. Learn the basic steps on your own and interpret the piece as you see fit. I’ll check your progress in an hour. Any questions?”

Por Una Cabeza—a tango piece, famously featured in the classic film Scent of a Woman.

It was a very old movie. Qin Que had watched a re-release in theaters with her moms back in elementary school. She couldn’t remember the plot, but she still had some impression of the music.

Beneath the composed, elegant surface, turbulent emotions surged. The melodious tune accompanied the protagonists’ spinning dance steps, creating a push-and-pull tension between intimacy and distance.

A beautiful piece. But for a complete beginner like her to dance it… wasn’t that a bit…

Qin Que nervously turned to Wu Zihan, only to find Yan Qing already arguing with her.

“The lead is the one who guides. Since Qin Que has never learned this before, wouldn’t it make more sense for me to take the lead?”

Wu Zihan gave her a look. “You’re too short. A short lead would look awkward. Unless you plan to go out and change into ten-centimeter heels right now?”

Yan Qing massaged her temples. She never thought she’d be criticized for her height one day. “An inexperienced lead isn’t necessarily better than a short one, right?”

“Tango is a free-spirited dance. There’s no need to obsess over technical complexity.” Wu Zihan remained firm. “Just teach her not to step on your feet. As for the movements, given your intelligence, that shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“Fine, whatever.” Yan Qing decided not to press further, lest Wu Zihan say something even more outrageous. She grabbed Qin Que’s hand and pulled her away.

Behind them, Qin Que heard Wu Zihan say to Nie Sijun, “Do you still remember what I taught you before? You’ll perform Rebirth.”

Qin Que: “…”

Teacher Wu was really going all out.

—

“Yan Qing?”

Practicing an entire dance piece in an hour was an enormous challenge for a complete beginner. Qin Que didn’t even know what she was supposed to do and instinctively turned to Yan Qing for help.

But when she looked over, she realized Yan Qing had already taken off her jacket, revealing a fitted black T-shirt underneath.

The form-fitting shirt outlined the woman’s graceful curves, her snow-white neck long and elegant like a black swan spreading its wings. Qin Que couldn’t look away.

“Quit staring.” Yan Qing flicked her forehead. “Warm up. Time’s tight, and if you step on me later, I won’t go easy on you.”

“Oh, right.” Qin Que quickly shed her own jacket and began stretching her arms and legs.

“Alright, come here.”

Once her body was slightly warmed up, Yan Qing beckoned her over.

Qin Que obediently walked over—only to freeze when Yan Qing suddenly closed the distance between them.

The woman took her hand, their upper bodies nearly pressed together. The thin fabric of their T-shirts did little to block the sensation of skin against skin.

The first thing Qin Que registered was softness. The moment she realized what it was, even with mental preparation, she couldn’t stop the heat from exploding across her face.

“Stop trembling.” Yan Qing smirked up at her. “It’s not like you don’t have them too. Focus.”

That’s not the point!

Qin Que complained internally. But at this moment, she still harbored the delusion that Yan Qing would be just as shy as she was. Driven by some inexplicable competitive spirit, she steadied herself and met Yan Qing’s gaze head-on.

But clearly, when in control, Yan Qing’s mental fortitude far surpassed hers.

Not only was there no blush, but the woman’s smirk even widened as she watched Qin Que’s forced composure—like an adult humoring a stubborn child.

She lightly kicked Qin Que’s foot.

“Why are you staring at me? Hold my back with your hand. Memorize the footwork. There’s no time to teach you properly, so brute-force memorization will have to do.”

“Oh, okay.” Qin Que placed a hand on Yan Qing’s back. She could feel the heat radiating from the woman’s body, the texture even softer than her own.

The music began, and Yan Qing led her into a slow, measured walk, patiently explaining each step in terms even a beginner could understand.

“Right foot first, two steps back, pivot on your right foot, right foot forward, two steps ahead, slide left…”

Afraid of stepping on Yan Qing, Qin Que kept her eyes glued to their feet, following the woman’s gentle instructions. She made it through the opening sequence without a hitch, too focused to think about anything else.

When the music swelled, Yan Qing spun out of her arms. Qin Que’s gaze instinctively followed, watching as the woman twirled gracefully before leaning back, pausing at just the right distance—close enough to tease, far enough to yearn.

She’s so good.

Qin Que could almost imagine how Yan Qing’s skirt would fan out like butterfly wings if she were wearing an evening gown.

While she was lost in thought, Yan Qing squeezed her hand. “Pull me back.”

Qin Que reflexively tightened her arm, and Yan Qing flew back into her embrace like a swallow returning to its nest.

Her heart pounded in sync with the music’s crescendo.

Her gaze drifted back to Yan Qing’s face.

“That won’t do.” Yan Qing chuckled, lifting the hand resting on Qin Que’s waist to tilt her chin away. “Tango originated as a secret dance between lovers. You’re supposed to be wary of your surroundings, so you can’t look directly into your partner’s eyes. Understand?”

A secret dance between lovers…

Qin Que’s eyes returned to their feet as she memorized the steps, her mind wandering.

It was kind of like her and Yan Qing’s situation.

The borrowed time granted by Fated wouldn’t last forever. When the music ended, the lovers would go their separate ways. When the show ended, she and Yan Qing would return to their own lives.

At first, Qin Que had hoped the show would end quickly, afraid of offending Yan Qing or leaving a bad impression.

Just like how she wished the dance would be shorter, so she wouldn’t have to remember too many steps.

But now, she wished the dance could last longer, the woman in her arms staying just a little while more.

The music faded. Yan Qing exhaled in relief. “How much do you remember? Want to go again?”

But Yan Qing might not feel the same reluctance.

Teaching a complete novice to dance was probably exhausting.

Qin Que shook her head and smiled. “I’ve got it mostly memorized. I’ll practice on my own for a bit. You can check for mistakes.”

Yan Qing stretched. “Sure. I haven’t danced in a while either. All those spins are making me a little dizzy.”

For the rest of the hour, Qin Que practiced the steps over and over until she could execute them flawlessly without stepping on Yan Qing’s feet.

By the time Wu Zihan came to evaluate them, their simple routine was error-free.

Proud of her hard work, Qin Que was surprised to see Wu Zihan’s dissatisfied expression. “Teacher Wu, what’s wrong?”

Wu Zihan didn’t answer, turning instead to Yan Qing. “What do you think?”

Yan Qing sighed and walked up to Qin Que, cupping her face. “You can’t look directly into your partner’s eyes, but you also can’t go through the whole dance with a blank stare and stiff body like you’re reciting multiplication tables.”

Qin Que: “…”

She had been silently reciting the steps.

“Both of you have problems.” Wu Zihan looked at Qin Que. “The lead guides the follow. You decide when to pull away and when to close the distance. When the follow leans in, you should actively support her. You’re dancing too cautiously. Even the way you pulled back was controlled by Yan Qing.”

Qin Que: “…”

She hadn’t even realized Yan Qing had been subtly directing her movements.

“And you.” Wu Zihan turned to Yan Qing. “The follow should trust the lead completely, relaxing into their hold. You were too tense. It looked more like a solo performance.”

Yan Qing rubbed her temples, muttering, “What else could I do?”

If she fully relied on Qin Que, a complete beginner, and Qin Que failed to support her, they’d both end up on the floor.

As she pondered how to weasel out of this, Qin Que suddenly stepped in front of her, speaking earnestly. “Teacher, it’s all my fault. I’ve never learned this before, so I couldn’t take on such an important role. Yan Qing did nothing wrong.”

Yan Qing: “…”

She had thought her approach was perfectly reasonable, but with Qin Que defending her like this, she suddenly felt like the heartless playgirl who led people on without commitment.

Especially when the other person was so devoted.

Wu Zihan’s gaze sharpened. “This is a performance, not an opportunity for you to play the hero and take all the blame.”

Qin Que didn’t flinch. “That’s how I see it. There’s no need to force Yan Qing to trust me completely. In this situation, I don’t even trust myself—how can I expect others to?”

Wu Zihan seemed to appreciate her blunt honesty and didn’t push further. She looked past Qin Que at Yan Qing. “Is that how you feel too? If you’re in agreement, I won’t insist.”

“No.”

Qin Que expected Yan Qing to agree, but instead, she heard a firm refusal.

A hand settled on her waist as Yan Qing stepped forward, her expression calm. “Give us another half-hour. We’ll fix it.”

Wu Zihan nodded and moved on to instruct the others.

“Yan Qing?”

Qin Que turned to her in confusion, only to see the woman lower her gaze, her voice quiet. “I owe you an apology.”

Qin Que had proven time and again that she was trustworthy, yet Yan Qing had taken control from the very beginning without even discussing it.

“Huh? No, you didn’t do anything wrong.” The alpha was bewildered but immediately denied it.

That’s exactly why I feel guilty.

Yan Qing didn’t elaborate, simply taking Qin Que’s hand as the music began again.

This time, Qin Que immediately noticed the difference. Yan Qing’s body relaxed completely, melting into her hold.

Heavy yet soft. Qin Que instinctively tensed, carefully supporting the woman, too preoccupied to think about the steps.

But perhaps her earlier repetitions had ingrained the movements into muscle memory—she didn’t make a single mistake.

When the music swelled again, Yan Qing pulled away without signaling. Qin Que hesitated for a split second before drawing her back.

This time, Yan Qing crashed into her, her hair brushing against Qin Que’s chin—a prickling, ticklish sensation.

“Hmm, you need to learn to lead.” Yan Qing paused the music, studying Qin Que thoughtfully.

Qin Que felt like that one run had exhausted her more than ten solo practices. The constant worry about supporting Yan Qing properly had left her drenched in sweat and slightly breathless.

“I… I can’t.”

She was telling the truth. Yan Qing’s trust had only amplified her anxiety, leaving no room for anything else.

“Do you remember the plot of Scent of a Woman?” Yan Qing smiled.

What movie?

Before Qin Que could process the question, Yan Qing continued, “The protagonist was blinded in an explosion but could recognize beauty through scent.”

Qin Que finally connected the dots. “Oh, Scent of a Woman?”

Yan Qing nodded. “Let’s try something similar. You need to relax and follow your instincts.”

How?

Before Qin Que could ask, Yan Qing covered her eyes with one hand.

In an instant, Yan Qing’s pheromones flooded the air, the scent of wine enveloping her completely.

Wait, Yan Qing—!

She didn’t even have time to protest before Por Una Cabeza began playing again.

Yan Qing’s voice was soft, close yet distant. “Don’t worry. Nothing will go wrong.”

You’re lying.

Her entire body burned. Yan Qing had clearly intensified her pheromone output—just enough to be noticeable but not enough to trigger a heat.

Yet for someone who had been marked, it was undeniably overwhelming.

Now, all her focus was on the woman in her arms.

Like how a blind person’s other senses sharpen in compensation, she could feel every shift of Yan Qing’s muscles.

No need to think about the steps—just follow the woman’s movements.

When the music crescendoed again, the intoxicating pheromones retreated.

Without hesitation, Qin Que tightened her grip and yanked Yan Qing back, holding her firmly.

Then she heard the woman laugh.

The hand covering her eyes finally relented.

She saw Yan Qing’s smiling eyes. “See? You did just fine. Believe in yourself.”

Believe in what?!

For the first time, Qin Que wanted to snap at Yan Qing.

Do you have any idea what you just did?

Releasing pheromones to a marked alpha—just to help her dance better?

This isn’t how trust works!

She was fuming, itching to drag Yan Qing outside and give her a piece of her mind.

Yan Qing must have noticed the change in her pheromones but showed no remorse, tilting her head. “I knew you wouldn’t.”

Wouldn’t hurt me.

Qin Que: “…”

She was utterly helpless.