Wang Yue, the Dance Enthusiast

Chapter 50: Wang Yue, the Dance Enthusiast

That weekend, the Wang and Xia families took the kids to an arts training center. A guide showed them around some classes that were in session.

As they passed a large glass window, they saw children dancing inside, looking so graceful that the kids couldn't tear themselves away.

When asked if they wanted to learn, all the kids seemed eager but shy. In the end, Wang Yue and Xia Junshan agreed to learn along with them. Xia Junshan had been embarrassed at first, but seeing how unconcerned Wang Yue was, he couldn't very well refuse—not with the kids there.

Before you've tried dancing, it seems like it should be easy. But once you actually start learning, you realize it's nothing like that.

On the first day of dance class, Wang Yue was driven home by his beloved Guan Guan. The two kids were a little tired, but still had enough energy to tease their dad.

Wang Yue didn't mind. He didn't even know what he might learn yet; if he ever wanted to go back, dancing would be a useful skill. So he happily joined in the kids' antics in the back seat, while Ruan Wan smiled and shook her head as she drove.

Yuan Yuan and Tuan Tuan had good reason to tease Wang Yue. He kept messing up many of the steps in the sequences, and he was even worse than Xia Junshan.

Xia Junshan was much better at dancing than Wang Yue. Watching Wang Yue's ridiculous moves, he dubbed him the "Idiot of the Dance World."

To the kids, both adults' dancing looked clumsy. But instead of making fun of them, they were a little envious. That was what other people's dads were like.

Somehow, one of the dance students posted videos of Wang Yue and Xia Junshan's awkward moves online, with the caption "Other People's Dads." Wang Yue's nickname, "Dance Enthusiast," spread across the internet.

When Wang Yue and Xia Junshan arrived at work on Monday, they noticed everyone sneaking glances at them. Wang Yue took it all in stride, but Xia Junshan looked like he'd forgotten how to walk.

"Wang Yue, doesn't it bother you when they keep looking at you like that?" Xia Junshan asked, incredulous.

"If you don't feel awkward, then the other person will," Wang Yue replied. He even nodded at the people staring from afar, leaving the few gossiping about them so embarrassed that they scattered like birds and beasts.

Xia Junshan was stunned. So you could do that? It was like a whole new world had opened up to him. Come to think of it, he'd already embarrassed himself in front of the entire internet. Why care about a few nobodies? As a devoted dad to his daughter, Xia Junshan quickly started acting more natural.

But they didn't get to enjoy it for long before their director stopped them.

"You two aren't young men anymore, and each of you leads a work team. You need to watch your image!" the director said earnestly.

"Yes, thank you for the praise, Director. Not everyone gets to be known as a good dad by the whole country. I'll make sure to maintain my image," Wang Yue said, nodding in wholehearted agreement.

"Was I praising you?" The director's eyes widened.

"Wasn't it? If you don't believe me, ask your niece at home whether I have a positive image!" Wang Yue argued. He knew how much the director doted on his daughter. Maybe his daughter had wanted him to learn dancing with her, and he'd come to talk to them—the two at the heart of this whole thing.

Xia Junshan quietly gave Wang Yue a thumbs-up, but the director spotted him. Furious, he chased them off. "Get back to work! Xia Junshan, sort things out with Mr. Fang already, or you'll regret it!"

After the two had walked away, the director muttered, "Those two are just here to annoy me." But how did Wang Yue know his daughter wanted to learn dancing with him too?

Of course, Wang Yue had no idea the director's daughter felt that way. But he did know the director was a devoted dad. He'd seen it for himself!

While working, Wang Yue suddenly paused at the thought. Could the director be holding a grudge against him because he was a witness?

That had to be it! What a shameless guy! Seeing Wang Yue grinding his teeth, a few of his subordinates working nearby grew nervous.

That day, Wang Yue was practicing dance at home with Yuan Yuan and Tuan Tuan. Left hand, right hand, one slow motion. It was really the two kids who were teaching their dad to dance. They were enjoying their new role as teachers.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Wang Yue called out, "Come in!"

The indoor camera turned, found Wang Yue, and watched him turn to look at it for less than three seconds before the door opened.

Xia Junshan came in first. He wasn't surprised to find no one at the door; he'd been here many times. But Yan Peng, following behind him, was quite surprised.

Seeing how accustomed Xia Junshan was to it, Yan Peng was shocked. Things are this smart now? I've been playing games and missed all this? Are we even living in the same era?

"Oh, you're still practicing?" Xia Junshan glanced at the dance video playing on Wang Yue's TV and smiled. He'd just been dancing with the kids at home himself.

"If we don't practice, we won't keep up with the rhythm. We'd embarrass the kids! Look how strictly they're supervising us." Wang Yue went over, poured each of them a glass of water, and motioned for them to sit.

Seeing that her dad had guests, Yuan Yuan took Tuan Tuan back to Tuan Tuan's toy room and closed the door. Wang Yue poured himself a glass too, then sat across from the two men. He took a sip and set the glass down by the edge of the table.

"That's right. I was practicing at home just now too. Yan Peng came by to ask me about Huan Huan's tutoring class," Xia Junshan said with a sigh. Still, dancing had brought the family closer together.

"Isn't Yan Ziyou in Ze Shu Gold Class? That place is actually pretty good." Wang Yue was surprised. Had something else happened recently?

"Ah, the kid's grandma had a falling-out with one of the teachers at Ze Shu. They said they wouldn't take him anymore, no matter what," Yan Peng said, his gaze shifting uneasily.

Wang Yue could tell there was more to the story. He glanced at Xia Junshan, whose expression was helpless, and decided not to press.

"You know why you came straight to me instead of going to Zhong Yi. Old Xia knows that Zhong Yi handles things on my end. But your wife got Zhong Yi fired once, so you'll need to have her apologize to him. I'll make the call and get Yan Ziyou into Huan Huan's competition class. Otherwise, he can still come, but I'll have to put him in another class. What do you think?" Wang Yue said, feeling helpless too.

Zhong Yi was stubborn. If Wang Yue insisted that he accept Yan Ziyou over this, Zhong Yi might not refuse. But after that, their relationship would be nothing but employer and employee. Yan Peng was asking him to choose between Zhong Yi and himself. Why put him in such a difficult position? Why couldn't he put Tian Yulan in a difficult position instead?

Yan Peng gave an awkward laugh. He understood that this was indeed the situation and didn't push further. But he'd come without telling Tian Yulan, and he wasn't sure he could get her to apologize.

They chatted about other things for a while, then Xia Junshan left with Yan Peng.