Became a National Couple with My Ex Chapter 60: The Sacred Must Not Be Defiled

Bian Xu wasn’t joking.

Even though their physical relationship had always been relatively harmonious— after all, Liang Yixuan was incredibly flexible and willing to cooperate, letting him twist and turn her any way he pleased— she had always been the passive one.

Even when he occasionally felt like handing over control to her, she would just sit on top of him like an abacus: she only moved when he did, and stayed still when he didn’t.

She rarely made noise at the start either— she always tried to hold back, only letting go when she truly couldn’t take it anymore.

In the past, Bian Xu didn’t push her. He thought forcing things wasn’t fun.

But now… he was starting to think a little resistance made things more interesting.

"Babe, how about it?" Bian Xu leaned in toward her.

Liang Yixuan sat on the edge of the kitchen counter, at a loss for words for a long moment. She gave his leg a gentle kick with her toes. "You think calling me that means I’ll do whatever you want?"

Bian Xu pointed at her foot like a patient teacher guiding a student. He said slowly, "Isn’t this good for you? Just look at your footwork— it’s already improved today."

"?"

"You used to only wrap your legs around my waist. Today, you’ve reached my shoulders."

"…"

"There’s still room for your hips to improve too. Want to give that a try?"

"…"

Liang Yixuan felt like she was going insane.

Everything Bian Xu was saying sounded like twisted logic— and yet, somehow, it had this weird persuasive power.

She’d thought about it before. Lately, she had been receiving more praise from the dance company instructors and even the foreign choreographers. Her breakout performance had gone viral overseas. That kind of recognition wasn’t just luck.

When she really thought about it, the turning point— the thing that had helped her break through her plateau— was right after her breakup with Bian Xu, when she filmed that dating reality show.

But it wasn’t the show itself that had changed her. The real magic came from a person— someone who had helped her become a different version of herself.

Someone who let her lose her temper without guilt, who made her feel safe enough to shout, cry, and be vulnerable. Someone who taught her how to say no, how to stand up for herself, how to express what she really wanted— and not be ashamed of it.

She had gradually gained a sense of emotional safety. For the first time in years, she realized that expressing her feelings didn’t have to be awkward or shameful.

What Coach Cao said back then— "Sometimes, forming a close relationship can help someone open up, emotionally and physically"— finally made sense to her.

That kind of closeness wasn’t just about emotional intimacy. It was also physical.

Liang Yixuan’s eyes darted around, uncertain.

Noticing her hesitation, Bian Xu sighed. "You’re the one using me like a tool. Shouldn’t I be the one feeling mistreated?"

"I never said I was mistreated…" she muttered, rubbing her nose.

Bian Xu opened his arms wide. "Then what are you waiting for?"

Liang Yixuan wrapped her arms around his neck and slid down from the counter.

"Where do you want to do it?"

Bian Xu carried her out of the kitchen in his arms, lifting his eyes to look at her.

Being stared at like that, Liang Yixuan lowered her head. She leaned her chin against his shoulder and whispered, "Can we… turn off the lights?"

"You're in charge tonight. You decide."

"Then… um…"

"Hmm?"

"Let’s… go to your piano bench…"

Bian Xu stopped walking. His eyebrows lifted slowly, and he turned her face toward him with one hand, gently pinching her chin.

"Liang Yixuan, have you been thinking about jumping me for a long time?"

The next morning, Liang Yixuan was forced awake by the sound of her alarm, still wrapped in Bian Xu’s arms.

The moment she opened her eyes, the masculine scent so close to her instantly brought her back to last night.

If a qualified partner was someone who patiently guided her when she was clumsy and hesitant, and then matched her energy once things got going— then Bian Xu only did the first part right.

Last night, just when she had finally worked up the courage in the dark and started to get into the rhythm, Bian Xu, with his strong sense of self, suddenly switched things up and turned on the lights.

She didn’t want to give up halfway, so she kept trying to go with it— but somehow, she ended up triggering something in him. After holding back for a long time, he gave in and whispered, "Sorry, baby. That’s it for your training session today."

Before she could even react, he carried her over and placed her right on the piano keys.

The black and white keys clanged beneath her in chaotic noise. She was startled, but he didn’t hesitate at all.

She tried to get down, panicking that the piano might get damaged.

But even as she screamed and broke down, Bian Xu didn’t stop.

After the madness was over and they’d cleaned up, she wanted to check on the piano— but he insisted on carrying her straight back to bed.

Now, in the morning, Liang Yixuan regretted it.

She had only chosen that never-before-used location because she wanted a sense of sacred ritual— but she had seriously underestimated what that "ritual" meant to him. To a pianist, the piano isn’t just furniture— it’s sacred, not to be defiled.

That piano, while not as valuable as the antique ones he kept on the island, was still worth at least six figures in RMB. If it was really damaged, the cost would be enormous.

After silencing the alarm, Liang Yixuan noticed Bian Xu was awake too. She immediately asked, "Shouldn’t we check on the piano?"

Bian Xu was still regaining awareness. It took him two seconds to realize what she meant.

"No need," he said, ruffling her hair. "If it’s broken, I’ll just stop playing it."

"You can’t just not have a piano—"

"Then I’ll buy a new one," he said with a smirk. "This one has its own… special purpose now."

"…"

Just because "All pianists treat their pianos as sacred" and "Bian Xu is a pianist", it doesn’t necessarily follow that "Bian Xu treats his piano as sacred."

The classic three-part logic? Yeah— it didn’t work on Bian Xu.

Over breakfast, Liang Yixuan finally calmed down enough to get back into work mode.

Luckily, despite all the chaos last night, Bian Xu— who was now used to her boundaries— had perfect control. He didn’t leave any marks on her skin that would show under her dancewear.

And thanks to years of high-intensity training, her body was strong enough that even this "extra workout" didn’t leave her sore. After a night’s rest, she had already recovered her energy.

At the dance center, she changed into her practice clothes in the locker room. Just as she was about to enter the studio, she overheard a few women chatting inside.

"So it really was an ACL tear?"

"Yeah, looks like she’ll need surgery."

"Then… can Sister Li ever come back?"

An ACL tear. Surgery. Those words alone were enough to send chills through any professional dancer. Combined with Li Pei’s age and years of accumulated wear and tear, it was truly uncertain whether she’d ever return to the company after recovery.

"Everything else can wait. The priority now is what to do about《Giselle》."

"Oh, no wonder I saw Mr. Deacon and Ms. Qin in a meeting first thing this morning."

"I guess they’ll have Sister Miao take over the A role from Sister Li, and Sister Zhu will move up to take Miao’s B role."

Currently, at Nanba, there were three leading female dancers, including Li Pei.

Li Pei was the principal dancer, while the other two were senior soloists.

《Giselle》was a major production, with A and B casts assigned to important roles. The double casting was to balance performance schedules and to provide backups in case of emergencies.

And by definition, the A role represented the first-tier cast.

As the only principal ballerina at Nanba, Li Pei naturally took on the A role in《Giselle》.

Back during casting, both "Sister Miao" and "Sister Zhu" had rehearsed under Deacon for a period. After discussion between Deacon, the producer, and the artistic director, Sister Miao had been chosen as the B cast.

Now, in the rehearsal room, most of those chatting were lead and solo dancers— none of whom were really in the running for a role like Giselle, so the conversation remained light and cheerful.

Suddenly someone said, "But doesn’t Sister Zhu lack the ethereal quality Giselle needs? Wasn’t that why she got cut last time? Honestly, I think Yixuan would be more suitable. Not even talking about seniority— if she gets promoted this time, the soloist spot will open up, and that means more opportunities for us. I’m rooting for her."

"Isn’t she planning to move into showbiz though?"

"Who said that?"

"She’s been getting a lot of buzz online lately. I heard some TV stations even invited her to their New Year’s gala. And there are talent agencies trying to sign her…"

Right at that moment, Liang Yixuan happened to walk up to the door and got stuck outside after hearing her own name.

TV station invitations? Signing with an agency?

Just then, footsteps approached from behind. Liang Yixuan turned and saw Deacon and Qin He.

She turned around and bowed politely to both instructors.

Still mid-conversation, Qin He and Deacon nodded in acknowledgment and motioned for her to go in first.

Inside, the dancers heard the voices at the door and quickly went quiet.

Liang Yixuan stepped into the room just before Qin He and Deacon finished talking and followed her in after changing shoes.

Qin He clapped her hands in the rehearsal room, signaling everyone to gather at the front.

Among all the soloists and lead dancers, Liang Yixuan stood front and center in the first row.

The others, who were stretching or warming up, quickly got up and lined up.

"You’ve probably all heard the news by now," Qin He said straightforwardly.

Everyone nodded.

"We all want the role of Giselle, right?" Qin He looked around at the twenty-something girls in the room.

Ever since it premiered over 170 years ago, the romantic ballet《Giselle》has remained one of the most beloved classics— often called the "crown jewel" of romantic ballet. Of course no ballet dancer would say they didn’t want that role.

But very few would dare say they were ready for it.

With Qin He’s question hanging in the air, most of them looked down, knowing they weren’t qualified and not daring to meet her gaze.

"If you want it, speak up," Qin He continued. "Last-minute cast changes happen in every company, and often. Many of the principal dancers you admire— not all, but at least half— rose to their positions by stepping in unexpectedly. Even Sister Li herself got promoted this way. So don’t feel shy or embarrassed to put yourself forward now."

"This is your chance to level up— and also a time when the company needs you. Sister Zhu is already a solid backup. After discussing it with Mr. Deacon, we’ve decided to choose one or two more candidates from among you. If anyone thinks they can master this role within a month, step forward."

The rehearsal room was dead silent.

Qin He’s eyes moved evenly across the group, careful not to single anyone out or create too much pressure.

Standing at the front, Liang Yixuan lowered her gaze.

She really was familiar with《Giselle》.

Not just because it was considered a dream role for many ballerinas, but because she had first heard Bian Xu’s "Rosabella" when she was eighteen— and in the lyrics, the female lead danced《Giselle》. She hadn’t known then that the girl was supposed to be her, or that the story was Bian Xu’s own imagination.

Over the years, even though she never had the chance to perform in it, she had come to know the story and the role of Giselle like the back of her hand.

In fact, just last December, she had danced a《Giselle》excerpt for Bian Xu at Lanshen Tianfu.

But taking on the role now would mean adapting to a brand-new choreographic version in just a month— plus building chemistry with the male lead.

Liang Yixuan took a slow, deep breath.

"Still no one?" Qin He pressed.

Liang Yixuan took a step forward, out of line, and looked up at Qin He and Deacon.

"Teacher, I believe I can handle the role of Giselle within one month."