I'm A Baller - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Help from a Kind-Hearted Soul
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

After Wang Yan left, the teenager started harassing her even more.
“Junior, my name is Wang Xing. Wang means emperor, while Xing means traveler.
“Why are you returning to school? Our club is taking part in a competition at the international level. As a third-year senior, I’m considered the backbone of the team. If you’re interested in robotics, I can invite you to watch our competition.
“As a student from Capital Dance, you work harder than us science students. I respect you for that. You could have used your looks to earn a living, but you chose to develop your talent instead…”
Although she was being praised, Liu Li felt increasingly frustrated instead.
To be fair, Wang Xing looked decent and was a decent height. He studied at a good school. Overall, he had a good style, and his appearance stood out.
But compared to Wang Yan, whom she had just met, he dulled in comparison immediately.
While waiting for the bus at the bus stop in Gujiao, Liu Li had formed an impression of Wang Yan, but it was nothing that could be considered an unfavorable impression.
The change had occurred when they were waiting to transfer trains.
As they were waiting for another train in Shen Cheng, Liu Li sat diagonally opposite Wang Yan. She witnessed how Wang Yan stayed in a relaxed position without moving at all for 20 minutes as he read a book.
That calm composure and focused attitude was something that Liu Li respected.
Moreover, Liu Li felt that Wang Yan was approachable due to his bearings.
His back was straight, his head was in the correct position, and his shoulders were pulled back. It was a natural state of ease.
He walked tall and straight, sat upright, and maintained eye contact when having a conversation.
Based on all those traits, it seemed like he had learned to dance before. However, Liu Li was certain he didn’t have any dance background. Children who had learned dance before would have adjusted their postures based on what was taught to them during lessons. Those details were something that wouldn’t escape the eyes of a professional.
This could only mean that Wang Yan had a good upbringing and took note of his posture since he was young, resulting in having good body coordination and confidence that showed through his movements.
Thus, even though Wang Yan wasn’t handsome and might have seemed a little immature, Liu Li still felt his character was respectable.
Even if Wang Yan dressed casually to the extent that it appeared a little shabby.
It wasn’t easy for a young man to maintain his posture.
He had matched his cheap clothing with a pair of canvas shoes that cost over a thousand dollars and a travel bag that cost over ten thousand dollars, but it didn’t seem out of place for him to dress in that manner. That seriously bewildered her.
If there was another person who had a gilded exterior but a bad character to serve as contrast, then he would have made an even more favorable impression.
According to psychology, this was called the “Contrast Effect.”
Liu Li hoped Wang Yan would return earlier so that she could get rid of the annoying neighbor.
‘You aren’t even qualified to be a rebound. Why don’t you have any idea at all?’
As she anxiously looked for Wang Yan’s silhouette, Liu Li realized something. Wang Yan hadn’t opened the door to the toilet. Instead, he just took a turn in front of the toilet door and walked back.
What was going on?
Did he not want to go to the toilet?
While she was still in a daze, Wang Yan had already returned and was standing at the aisle. He blinked his eyes and smiled at her.
“Senior, there’s someone in the toilet. Could you let me sit in the aisle seat instead? It would be less troublesome when I go out again later.”
“Oh… sure!”
Liu Li finally caught on to what Wang Yan was doing. She was overjoyed and moved inside right away.
“I wanted to sit at the window seat to look at the scenery, too! Thank you, junior from the rival school!”
Finally, she was away from the source of disturbance. She felt comfortable!
After Wang Yan sat down too, she couldn’t hold in her happiness and whispered in his ear, praising him. “Junior, you’re so smart!”
She breathed into his ear. As the gust of wind brushed past his ears and through his hair to his neck, he lost his cool.
By logic, the Habit Incubator could only guarantee his demeanor but couldn’t control his body’s natural reaction. Thus, Wang Yan had goosebumps, and his ears flushed hot red.
Watching Wang Yan’s reaction, Liu Li realized that her actions were overly intimate. She blushed while immediately moving away to put some distance between them.
However, looking at his reaction, it seemed he had never touched any woman in his life, and her shyness was immediately overtaken by the urge to laugh at this humorous situation. She even felt a gush of forbidden excitement to laugh at him about it.
‘I’m a female tyrant, and he’s like an obedient puppy!
‘Hmm, he has a dark skin tone. A little black puppy!’
She didn’t like him, for that would be way too fast. Nevertheless, Wang Yan did make Liu Li feel comfortable, that was for sure.
Thus, she couldn’t resist the urge to tease him. “You’re so interesting, junior… Never been in a relationship before?”
How could he put up with the fact that he had been exposed by such a frail-looking woman?
“I’ve never been in a relationship.” Wang Yan replied honestly and took the initiative to look Liu Li in the eye. “The main reason is that I’ve never met someone like you who’s pretty and charismatic.”
Only heaven knew how much Wang Yan was panicking. His heartbeat was increasing as time passed, and it showed no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
No matter how rich he was, a beginner would still be a beginner.
Regarding relationships, knowledge from books was useless, and his past experiences were basically invalid.
Those who could hold the opposite gender’s hands without feeling nervous were brave.
Wang Yan’s heart was racing, but Liu Li didn’t know. Receiving those stares from him, her cold aura completely disappeared, and shyness and excitement were all that was left.
“Hmph! Luckily, you know how to talk!”
Wang Yan heaved a sigh of relief and continued asking, “Senior, what about you? Have you been in a relationship?”
“Of course!”
Liu Li aggressively raised an eyebrow, then deflated before mumbling, “Do ones in elementary school count?”
“Yes.”
Wang Yan held his laughter and consoled her. Curiosity got the better of him, and he asked, “Senior, do you not have any suitors? Why have you been single up until now?”
“What a joke! I also want to be in a relationship, but when would I have the time for it?”
The question was clearly a trigger that caused Liu Li to start ranting.
“Do you think it’s that easy to get into Capital Dance? Every year, they only accept 300 students, and art students from all over the country fight for the limited spots. It’s a cutthroat selection process. All those who got into Capital Dance from outside the capital practice for at least eight hours daily for eight years!”
“Eight years and you trained for at least eight hours every day?! It must be tiring!”
“You would think that after being accepted into the school, we could relax a little, right? In the end, we wake up at six in the morning to dance, train, and attend cultural lessons, all the way until at least eight at night. When the official lessons end, there will be some crazy people asking for additional training. Once my head touches the pillow at eleven, I fall asleep right away…
“It’s even worse during the holidays. What’s a winter vacation? If you don’t practice for a day, you’ll regress. If you don’t practice for a week, you’re finished.
“I returned home on the 22nd, and every day, there were lots of people at the park staring at me, but I have to keep practicing my foundations. Today, after celebrating the birthday, we all have to camp out at the training center again…”
“A relationship? Our school has a three to seven guy to girl ratio. You think that all the guys have girlfriends? You’re wrong! More than half of them are single!”
He was shocked. Did the country’s first dance institution really have so few couples?
Wang Yan couldn’t believe it nor could he comprehend. “Why pressure yourself so much?”
Liu Li looked down with a disappointed expression, but she seemed lost at the same time. She said softly, “Dancing is something that you have to spend your youth on. You wouldn’t understand.”
Wang Yan felt a throbbing in his heart, but it probably had nothing to do with anything other than hormones.
Young boys would likely experience this one day.
Anyway, Wang Yan gently encouraged her, “Talk to me about it. Maybe I would understand?”
Liu Li raised her head and blinked twice.