From Today On, Dance Only for Me

The early morning in the magic city still carried a hint of the chill that follows the end of a bustling night.

In the premium suite on the top floor of the Peninsula Hotel, the curtains were drawn tight, leaving the room dim and quiet. On the custom-made king bed large enough to fit three or four people, Xia Lin was curled up in a velvet quilt, sleeping soundly.

Yesterday, or rather, until the early hours of this morning, she finally understood what it truly meant to play with fire.

She originally thought that after taking Su Bai to race on the track and visit the art exhibition, the physical exertion of the past few days would be enough to make even a strongman like him feel tired. But she never expected that after returning to the hotel, Su Bai seemed to have some strange switch flipped by that painting Abyss. In that river-view bathtub, he gave her a private lesson on human anatomy and underwater mechanics that lasted for several hours.

Now, let alone getting up to see him off at the airport, Xia Lin felt like her whole body was falling apart even if she just moved a single finger.

Ugh... animal...

She rolled over in her sleep, muttered a curse, and fell back into a deep slumber.

Meanwhile, Su Bai was already sitting refreshed in the first-class cabin of a flight to Jiangcheng.

Looking at the sea of clouds outside the window, he took a comfortable sip of champagne. The trip to the magic city had been quite fruitful. Not only did he get his diving certificate and receive a Patek Philippe watch, but more importantly... well, those who know, know.

However, there were new toys waiting for him back in Jiangcheng.

...

Two hours later.

Jiangcheng International Airport.

As soon as Su Bai walked out of the arrivals gate, he saw a capable-looking woman wearing a beige trench coat and sunglasses leaning against a white Porsche Panamera.

Xu Xinran.

This famous beautiful reporter in Jiangcheng was still dressed as a workplace elite today. Under her trench coat was a black slim-fit knit shirt, paired with sharply tailored suit trousers and red-soled high heels. Her whole person exuded a resolute and valiant aura.

It is such an honor to have Reporter Xu personally pick me up at the airport.

Su Bai handed his suitcase to her and teased with a smile.

Stop being glib.

Xu Xinran took off her sunglasses, her peach-blossom eyes sweeping over him as if confirming something. Looks like you had a good time in the magic city? Looking at your complexion, not only are you not drained, but you look even more nourished. Didn't that Miss Xia squeeze you dry?

Squeeze me dry? That depends on whether she has the ability.

Su Bai opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat. What about you? You urged me to come back so anxiously. Is the matter with the dance troupe settled?

Half settled.

Xu Xinran started the car, and the Panamera roared onto the airport expressway. I've prepared all the legal documents. The debt transfer agreement, the equity change document, and the new labor contracts are all in the folder on the back seat.

However, there's a sudden situation.

Xu Xinran's expression turned a bit serious. I just received news that those creditors banded together today to cause trouble at the dance troupe's headquarters. They said they are going to take away the equipment inside to offset the debt, and someone even threatened to make those girls work in their KTV to pay off the debt.

Oh?

Su Bai raised his eyebrows, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. What a coincidence. It seems I came back at just the right time.

Indeed it is.

Xu Xinran glanced at him. This is a typical hero saving the beauty script. Those girls are scared out of their wits right now. If you descend from the sky at this moment, settle the matter for them, and then smoothly incorporate them... Tsk tsk, Young Master Su, I am ashamed of my inferiority compared to your methods of winning people's hearts.

This is called circumstances creating heroes.

Su Bai nodded. Let's go. Let's go see my future private girl group.

...

Galaxy Art Center.

This place was once the glorious ground of the commercial dance troupe affiliated with the provincial song and dance theater, located in the core area of Jiangcheng's cultural district. But with the boss going to jail and the capital chain breaking, it has long lost its former bustle, leaving only a scene of desolation.

However, at this moment, the largest rehearsal hall on the third floor was extraordinarily noisy.

Move it! Move it all! The speakers, the lights, as long as it's valuable, tear it down!

A bald man with a face full of fierce flesh and a gold chain around his neck was directing several subordinates to rampage through the rehearsal hall.

Stop! You can't take them!

Opposite this group of fierce-looking men was a group of tall young girls wearing practice clothes. Most of them were only in their early twenties. They were usually glamorous on stage, but right now they looked like a flock of frightened quails, huddling in the corner and shivering.

Standing at the very front was a woman wearing a black spaghetti-strap leotard.

She looked to be about twenty-four or twenty-five, tall and slender, as elegant as a swan. Even in this chaotic situation, she still kept her back straight, her cold and exquisite face full of stubbornness.

Lin Qingyu.

The principal dancer of the troupe, and also the current temporary person in charge.

Boss Zhao, we have said it many times.

Although Lin Qingyu's voice was trembling slightly, it was still firm. The equipment here belongs to the fixed assets of the theater, not the personal property of the former boss. You have no right to take it away privately! Besides, we are already in contact with a new investor. The money we owe you will be paid back very soon!

Very soon? How soon is very soon?

The bald man sneered and stepped forward, his lecherous eyes unscrupulously sizing up Lin Qingyu.

He had to admit, this chick was really hot.

Those legs, that waist, that temperament... If he could get her to his own venue, she would definitely be a cash cow.

Beauty Lin, your big brother here isn't an unreasonable person.

The bald man took a step closer, blowing the heavy smell of tobacco onto Lin Qingyu's face. But my brothers need to eat too. You've dragged out this debt of over a million for three months. How about this...

He reached out his greasy hand, wanting to touch Lin Qingyu's face. As long as you take these sisters of yours to dance at my Dynasty Number One for a month, and keep a few big clients company... I'll waive the interest for you, how about it?

Don't even think about it!

Lin Qingyu suddenly took a step back, her eyes full of disgust. We are professional dancers, not barmaids!

Why pretend to be so pure?

The bald man's face darkened, revealing his fierce nature. Rejecting a face-saving offer, huh? Since you don't want to dance, then pay with your bodies! Brothers, take this woman away! Let's see who dares to stop me today!

Ah!

The little girls behind her screamed in terror.

Lin Qingyu's face turned pale. Looking at the burly men surrounding her, her heart was filled with despair.

Could it be... that she was really going to be ruined here today?

Just at the moment when that dirty big hand was about to grab Lin Qingyu's wrist.

Bang!

The heavy soundproof door of the rehearsal hall was kicked open from the outside.

This loud noise exploded like a clap of thunder, making everyone's movements freeze.

Everyone looked back.

Only to see a man and a woman walking in against the light.

The man was tall and straight, wearing a well-tailored dark overcoat. His face was as handsome as a celebrity stepping out of a poster, but the intimidating aura he exuded without showing any anger made people afraid to look him in the eye.

The woman wore a professional suit, holding a black briefcase in her hand, her eyes cold and sharp.

"Who dares to touch her?"

Su Bai's voice was not loud, as casual as if he were saying "the weather is nice today," but at this very moment, it carried a terrifyingly oppressive weight.

"Who... who are you?"

The bald man was deterred by this sudden aura and subconsciously pulled his hand back. "Mind your own damn business! We're here to collect a debt, it's perfectly justified!"

"Collect a debt?"

Su Bai chuckled lightly. He took long strides, walking straight through the group of burly men, and arrived in front of Lin Qingyu.

He didn't even look at the bald man; instead, he looked down at the woman before him, who kept her back perfectly straight even in such a desperate situation.

[System Scan:] [Name: Lin Qingyu] [Profession: Classical/Modern Dance Principal] [Appearance: 94] [Figure: 96 (Golden ratio, Flexibility S-rank)] [Special Tags: Aloof and proud, Extremely protective of her own]

"Not bad."

Su Bai evaluated her in his mind. With these looks and this figure, she was indeed qualified to be the star pillar of his private dance troupe.

"Are you alright?" Su Bai asked softly.

Lin Qingyu stared blankly at the god-like man before her. For a moment, she forgot to answer and simply shook her head subconsciously.

"Good."

Su Bai turned around, finally looking the bald man directly in the eye.

"You want to collect a debt, right? How much in total?"

"Including... including principal and interest, 1.8 million!" Although the bald man felt a bit intimidated, he still braced himself and said, "What? You're going to pay it off for them?"

"Reporter Xu." Su Bai tilted his head.

"Here."

Xu Xinran stepped forward in her high heels, pulled a document from her briefcase, and slapped it onto the nearby table.

"This is a check for 1.8 million, ready to be cashed at any time."

Xu Xinran said coldly, "Also, this is a debt transfer agreement. Sign it, take the money, and get out immediately. If I ever see you around here again, or harassing these girls..."

She paused and offered a professional smile. "I am Xu Xinran from the Jiangcheng Daily. I believe you've heard of me and know how many ways I have to put a gang of loan sharks like you on the front page, and then send you straight to prison."

Hearing the name "Xu Xinran," the bald man's expression changed instantly.

In their line of work, the most feared people were journalists, especially prominent ones with powerful backgrounds.

He glanced at the check on the table, then at the calm and composed Su Bai, realizing they had hit a tough wall today.

"Fine! You win!"

The bald man gritted his teeth, took the check, inspected it, and after confirming it was real, aggressively signed his name.

"Let's go!"

He waved his hand and led his subordinates away from the rehearsal hall with their tails between their legs.

As the main door closed, the rehearsal hall instantly fell silent.

The twenty-plus girls were still standing in the corner, looking at Su Bai with eyes full of shock, gratitude, and a hint of unease.

They had just fended off a tiger at the front door, but would a wolf enter through the back?

What did this young, handsome man want in return for spending so much money to help them?

"Th... thank you."

Lin Qingyu took a deep breath, walked up to Su Bai, and bowed deeply. "This money... we will find a way to pay you back. Although things are difficult right now, as long as we can get some performances..."

"Pay me back?"

Su Bai smiled and interrupted her.

He looked around, his gaze sweeping over those young and beautiful faces before finally settling on Lin Qingyu.

"1.8 million is nothing to me. But I am a businessman, and I never make a losing deal."

Su Bai walked to the front of the rehearsal hall, turned around, and faced everyone.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Su Bai."

"From today on, I will take over all the debts of this dance troupe. I will pay off all your previous unpaid wages in one lump sum. Not only that, starting next month, everyone's base salary will be doubled, and performance fees will be calculated separately."

"Really?!"

An irrepressible gasp echoed through the crowd.

Doubled base salary? Unpaid wages cleared? This was simply a pie falling from the sky!

"However."

Su Bai changed the subject, his tone becoming domineering and unquestionable.

"There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world."

"I bought this troupe not to do charity. From this moment on, this dance troupe no longer belongs to any theater, nor does it belong to the public."

He walked up to Lin Qingyu, extended a finger, and gently lifted her chin, forcing her to look straight into his eyes.

"It belongs to the Su family."

"You will no longer need to take on any messy commercial gigs, you won't need to accompany clients for drinks, and you won't need to suck up to anyone."

"I will provide you with the top-tier rehearsal venues, the best costumes, and the most professional choreographers."

"In return..."

Su Bai's voice wasn't exaggeratedly loud, yet it clearly resonated throughout the entire rehearsal hall.

"You will dance only for me."

"Do you understand?"

The rehearsal hall fell dead silent.

Everyone was stunned by his words.

Dance only for one person?

This sounded... like the private pets kept by ancient emperors.

But after experiencing the terror of being forced into a corner just moments ago, when faced with the two options of "going to a nightclub to accompany clients for drinks" and "becoming the exclusive dancers of an ultra-rich tycoon," the answer was almost obvious.

Not to mention, this tycoon was so handsome and so generous.

Lin Qingyu looked at Su Bai, who was right in front of her.

In those deep eyes, there was none of the disgusting lust that the bald man had, only a pure sense of appreciation and control.

That powerful confidence and domineering aura made her constantly tense, falsely strong heart suddenly skip a beat.

If it meant dancing for a man like this...

It seemed... not too bad?

"Understood."

Lin Qingyu looked into Su Bai's eyes. Though her voice was soft, it carried a resolute sense of submission.

"Boss."

Following this "Boss," the twenty-plus girls behind her also snapped out of their daze and shouted in unison:

"Boss!"

Their voices were crisp and melodious, echoing in the spacious rehearsal hall.

Su Bai released his hand in satisfaction, a smile curling at the corner of his lips.

"Very good."

"Since we are all on the same team now, don't just stand there."

He pointed to the folder in Xu Xinran's hand.

"Sign the contracts."

"After signing, everyone pack your things. We're moving."

"Moving where?" Lin Qingyu asked subconsciously.

"To a place... where you can display your beauty to the fullest."

An image of the massive underwater suite in his private club surfaced in Su Bai's mind, along with that one-way transparent glass wall.

"I think you'll like it there."

Xu Xinran stood on the side, watching Su Bai tame this flock of proud swans with just a few words, and couldn't help but secretly admire him.

This man was born to be a devil who manipulated people's hearts.

However...

She watched Su Bai's tall, well-built back, a flicker of desire flashing in her eyes.

It would be an absolute crime against nature not to have a child with genes like his.

It looked like she would have to find a chance tonight to properly "celebrate" the success of the acquisition with him.