Chapter 6

A week passed. Zhao Jinglu felt much more comfortable walking into the high school rehearsal room the second time. She arrived a few minutes early and stretched her wrists and ankles.

The door opened, and five tall boys filed in. Besides Ling Peng and Zhang Hao, the other three had vague outlines: Sun Wei, a sports student with a perpetual grin and surprisingly good coordination; Li Rui, who wore black-framed glasses and was always a step behind the times; and Liu Yang, the tallest and somewhat shy boy whom Zhang Hao called "Big Liu."

"Hello, little teacher!" Sun Wei shouted loudly, and the others followed suit, laughing and joking. The atmosphere was a little more lively than the first time. Ling Peng walked last, still expressionless. He gave her a slight nod as a greeting, then put the basketball in the corner.

"Old rules, warm up first." Zhao Jinglu pressed the MP3, and the strong rhythm filled the room again.

Today's lesson was about basic movements and simple formation changes. Five tall, muscular boys lined up in a row, their movements creating a powerful, yet also prone to confusion. Zhao Jinglu stood in front of the mirror, guiding them as she did so, her eyes quickly scanning each person.

"The knee is in the wrong direction, it's diagonally forward, not straight ahead!"

"Slow down your movements and don't bump into anyone!"

"Relax your shoulders, don't hold them up!"

Her instructions were clear and crisp, with an undeniable sense of professionalism. Although the boys still occasionally made eye contact with each other, they were obviously much more serious than the first time.

When it came to the coordinated turns and changes in formation, everyone got stuck. Their hands and feet seemed like they were newly installed, and no matter how they moved them, they felt awkward. They turned all over the place, just like bumper cars.

Zhao Jinglu paused the music. "For this turn, imagine a behind-the-back dribble in basketball, or a turn while dribbling past an opponent. It needs to be fast, explosive, and with the body moving up and down."

As soon as she finished speaking, several boys, especially Ling Peng, Zhang Hao and Sun Wei who often played basketball, showed thoughtful expressions on their faces.

"One more time, ready, five, six, seven, go!"

This time, the effect was remarkable. Although still uneven, the prototype of the "turn" was finally formed. Especially Ling Peng, the moment of turning was obviously much smoother, with a little wind sound, and even a little handsome.

"Oh, Brother Peng finally got it!" Sun Wei smiled and bumped him with his arm.

Ling Peng didn't say anything, but raised an eyebrow at him and continued to stare at himself in the mirror, adjusting his movements. It was indeed quite interesting, and he actually felt a little proud inside.

During a break, several people slumped on the floor, gasping for breath. Zhang Hao pulled a bottle of water from his bag and tossed it to Ling Peng: "Great, Brother Peng, you've used all your tricks on the court."

Ling Peng took the water bottle, unscrewed it, took a sip, and said calmly, "It's okay, it's the same idea."

Li Rui also came over and said, "Little teacher, how did you know how to use basketball as an analogy? You don't play basketball, do you?"

Zhao Jinglu was squatting, checking the speaker cables. Hearing this, he looked up and smiled. "I don't play. But street dance, rap, and street basketball are all part of hip-hop culture, and I'm a bit interested in them. As long as it works, that's fine."

"It works! It really works!" Sun Wei immediately responded, "It's much better than just telling you where to put your hands and feet!"

"When you perform, wear something a little looser. This will enhance your movements, cover up your shortcomings, and make your larger frame look better."

"Great! Professional..."

At that moment, Zhao Jinglu could feel the invisible barrier created by the age and grade gap between them dissolve a little. She gained a preliminary recognition based on her professional ability.

After the break, practice resumed. The atmosphere was noticeably more lively. Occasionally, someone's move was outrageous, drawing unreserved laughter from the others. The person being laughed at would then sneer in self-deprecation and work even harder. Ling Peng, though quiet, was noticeably more engaged. He'd secretly "tsk" when he didn't quite get a move right, and would subtly click his tongue after completing one.

At the end of the practice, several people were sweating profusely.

"Thank you for your hard work, little teacher!" "Can you finish teaching next time?" "This is more tiring than running a thousand meters!"

Zhao Jinglu responded to each of them, watching them leave noisily. Ling Peng was still the last one to arrive. He picked up the basketball from the corner, twirled it between his fingers, and as he reached the door, he paused and glanced back at Zhao Jinglu, who was packing up her things.

"Gone." he said.

"Okay, bye." Zhao Jinglu replied.

The door closed softly. She was left alone in the rehearsal room, the smell of sweat and the echoing music. She didn't feel tired, but instead felt a small sense of accomplishment. Teaching others to dance was much harder than learning it yourself, but it was also more rewarding.

As the cold wind blew downstairs, Ling Peng listened to Zhang Hao and Sun Wei beside him arguing about which move was the coolest. He dribbled the ball twice and suddenly felt that perhaps rehearsals were not entirely a waste of time, and there were indeed some things in common.