The Inescapable Celibate Heir Chapter 196: Can't Stump Me

Sophie and Willow glared at Maggie. 

Overwhelmed by Victoria's presence, Maggie took a step back and muttered, "She's a veteran in the dance world. How can I, a young girl, compete with her for awards?"

Dena chuckled and said, "Looks like Ms. Hamilton's got a way with words. Wonder if her dancing's as good as her bragging. Diana's reputation took years of hard work to build. It'd be a shame if her final and most important disciple messed it all up." 

Dena's words seemed to defend Diana, but they were really meant to belittle and provoke Victoria.

Someone in the crowd chimed in, "Yeah, Diana spent years turning down countless girls who wanted to be her students, and finally chose you. We'd love to see what makes you so special." 

Willow and Sophie had been training with Diana since they were three and had won awards in children's dance competitions by the age of ten. Their talent was evident to anyone who saw them. 

But Victoria, at eighteen, was still unknown in the dance community, clearly an outsider. Everyone was eager to see her fail, as her failure would reflect poorly on Diana. 

Diana's marriage and career were the envy of many, and finding a weak spot in her life was a rare opportunity for mockery.

Willow stepped forward and said, "I'll make sure to pass on your concerns to our teacher. But today is our birthday party, not a dance competition, so it's not the right time for a performance." 

Sophie grabbed Victoria's wrist and whispered, "Victoria, don't fall for it. They're just trying to provoke you."

But Victoria gently twisted her wrist free and smiled, "It's fine. If everyone wants to see, I'll give a performance." 

Although Victoria only knew one dance and her outfit wasn't ideal for it, she hadn't agreed to perform a full routine. 

With Dena's professional eye, she would surely find many flaws. However, Victoria had experience in martial arts from her past life, and she could perform high-difficulty martial arts moves. 

Some dance moves were similar to martial arts, and she could execute a few challenging dance moves to impress everyone.

"Alright, your confidence is commendable. Let's see if your skills match up," Dena said, satisfied, while thinking of a difficult challenge for Victoria. 

Many beginners get nervous before performing, and the hall was filled with dance professionals. But Victoria showed no signs of nerves, indicating strong mental fortitude.

Before Dena could set a challenge, Victoria spoke up, "There's no professional stage or equipment here, so the dance won't look great." 

"How about I do a few basic moves for you to critique? I'll start with a series of flips." Victoria preferred to keep control of the situation.

"A series of flips, are you sure?" Dena was surprised. 

This move was highly difficult and usually reserved for showing off. It required at least ten years of dance training, and even then, not everyone could incorporate it into a performance. 

Continuous flips demanded great physical strength. Dena herself could only manage eight in her prime and hadn't practiced such risky moves in years.

Sophie covered her mouth in shock and whispered, "Victoria, don't be impulsive!" 

It was her birthday, and she didn't want Victoria to get hurt.

Maggie quickly interjected, "She said she'd do a series of flips, so she can't back out now. Everyone, make some space for Victoria." 

Maggie couldn't do a single flip herself and thought a series of flips was the hardest dance move. She was eager to see Victoria attempt it. 

If Victoria got hurt, it would be entertaining. It would embarrass Diana and ruin Sophie and Willow's birthday party.

Victoria smiled calmly, "Don't worry. If I said I could do it, it's because I can." She stretched and warmed up briefly.

Maggie pouted, "I saw someone flip three times in a row at the last competition, and they were under twenty. I don't think it's that hard."

Ignoring Maggie's snide remark, Victoria began her flips. 

Using only her waist and leg strength, she flipped her body, her feet alternating as they touched the ground, moving forward quickly and continuously. 

Everyone watched intently, counting each flip aloud, "1, 2, 3... 6! 7, 8, 9, 10!"

By the sixth flip, everyone was already amazed. The champion of the last Starlight Dance Showdown had managed six flips, the highest level for that age group. 

But Victoria didn't stop, continuing to ten flips before halting. Her face showed no strain, as if she could do more. 

Dusting off her hands, she casually asked the stunned Dena, "So, do you think my level is unworthy of being Diana's student?"

Dena was speechless. Victoria's moves were clean and fluid, like a stream flowing down a mountain, the pinnacle of flipping technique. 

Even Dena couldn't guarantee she could do better, and she had never done ten flips in a row. 

Even the waitstaff and manager, who knew nothing about dance, were impressed by Victoria's performance and applauded. 

They didn't understand the difficulty of the move, only that it looked impressive and was highly entertaining.