Teng Yi stood up amid the screaming, rising so abruptly that he knocked over the mineral water bottle placed beside his chair by the organizers. The bottle rolled twice before stopping at Teng Hao’s feet.
Teng Hao looked at the bottle, then at Teng Yi, concerned. “Brother…” he called out but didn’t know what else to say.
“I’m going out for a smoke.” Teng Yi patted Teng Hao’s shoulder and gave him a reassuring look. “If I don’t come back, buy whatever you want later.”
Teng Hao nodded.
Teng Yi strode out against the audience’s cheers, not looking back at that woman once, despite how beautiful she was today.
Outside the venue was brightly lit but deserted. Along the long red carpet, only trash left by reporters remained – no one was waiting anymore.
Teng Yi pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket, walking down the red carpet to light one against the wind.
The music and screams from behind assaulted his eardrums, the noise in his head pressing against his nerves. He smoked several cigarettes in succession, but nicotine couldn’t ease this oppression; instead, it made him feel worse.
Teng Yi crushed the cigarette pack with its remaining contents and threw it in the trash before getting in his car.
He finally decided to leave because he lacked the courage to return – not just to watch her being surrounded by others’ confessions, but even to simply look at her.
In six years, she had become so wonderful, so excellent.
While he was like that half-pack of cigarettes thrown in the trash – seemingly valuable but worthless.
He wasn’t worthy of her anymore, hadn’t been for a long time.
All four car windows were open, night wind rushing through, hitting his body, face, and heart, yet he felt no cold.
Rui Shu recently said his sensory perception was getting worse. Yes, he felt it too – he was gradually becoming numb, step by step approaching complete insensitivity.
He would never get better, never again.
Teng Yi’s car sped to the Nameless Bar.
The bar was at its busiest, with no parking space, but he didn’t care. He parked right at the entrance, got out, and headed straight upstairs.
Rui Shu happened to be helping at the bar today and thought she was seeing things when he burst in wearing his formal suit.
“Teng Yi! Weren’t you attending the gala with Teng Hao? Why are you back?”
“…”
No answer.
Rui Shu wanted to follow him but was stopped by demanding customers.
After reaching the second floor, Teng Yi walked down the hallway and opened the tightly closed door at the end.
Darkness filled the room. He closed the door, concealing himself in the deep, terrifying darkness.
He couldn’t remember when it started, but he discovered darkness gave him security.
Only when there was nothing before his eyes and silence all around, when he could hear his heart trembling in his chest beat by beat, could he feel he was still alive?
How laughable.
His heartbeat had become the only proof he was alive.
“I won’t dance anymore.”
A voice suddenly pierced the silence.
He startled violently, then the voice began endlessly echoing in his ears like an evil mantra.
“I won’t dance anymore.”
“I won’t dance anymore.”
“I won’t dance anymore.”
“…”
It was his voice.
Teng Yi closed his eyes in agony, his hanging hand gently snapped its fingers.
The sensor lights received the command and “swoosh” – they all burst into brightness, illuminating the room.
This was a practice room, an enormous one, its area almost rivaling half of Xi You.
Glass surrounded all four walls. Teng Yi stood on the vast floor, like standing on the desolate moon, small and helpless.
“Brother.”
Teng Hao’s voice came from far away.
Teng Yi lifted his head to see the mirror before he suddenly became a moving screen, repeatedly playing the scene of a young man falling hard from the stage.
“No!”
Teng Yi clutched his cheeks with both hands, fleeing like a trapped beast, but all four mirrored walls showed the same scene – the nightmare returning, trapping him completely.
“No! No! No!”
Like a madman, he suddenly rushed forward, striking the glass with his fists.
The glass shattered, and within the cracks sprouted more scenes of the young man falling from the stage.
Cruel reality coldly taunted him: “It’s useless, you can’t escape.”
“No…”
The man, hands covered in blood, slowly collapsed to the ground, like a withering poppy, carrying sin and hope, crumbling to dust.
Before he lost consciousness, another voice echoed in his ear.
“Teng Yi, you can stop loving me! But you can’t give up street dance! You can’t!”
–_–
Ruan Yu was stunned by Luo Sheng and his team’s “ambush,” the surrounding screams making her even more uncomfortable. Fortunately, quick-thinking Wei Liao pulled her to move with the music, preventing the scene from becoming too awkward.
When Luo Sheng and his team returned to the stage, Ruan Yu finally relaxed, but when she looked back again, she saw Teng Yi’s seat was empty.
She didn’t know where he went, and he didn’t appear for the final auction segment either. Nevertheless, Teng Hao still contributed the evening’s highest charitable donation on behalf of DT.
After the gala ended, Ruan Yu returned to the makeup room.
The makeup artist and several staff members were eagerly discussing the moment Luo Sheng suddenly jumped off stage to make a heart gesture at Ruan Yu.
“A dance confession, how romantic!”
“Sister Ruan is so lucky – mysterious flower deliveries recently, and now Young Master Luo’s public declaration of love in front of everyone. It’s like a Mary Sue story come true!”
“This will trend!”
Ruan Yu entered the room, and the staff members fell silent for a few seconds before bursting into a teasing chorus.
“Sister Ruan, looks like good news is coming?”
“Oh, you all, don’t jump to conclusions!” Ruan Yu sat down, rubbing her throbbing temples, looking at her reflection – perfectly made up but with lifeless eyes.
“Sister Ruan, Young Master Luo has wealth, looks, and a family background. Could you find someone better than him?”
Ruan Yu remained silent.
Just then, her assistant Xiu Xiu ran in from outside.
“Sister Ruan, Sister Ruan, Mr. Teng is looking for you.”
“Mr. Teng?”
“Yes.”
“Which Mr. Teng?”
“Mr. Teng Hao.”
Of course, it was Mr. Teng Hao – what was she expecting? The other Mr. Teng?
Hah, that man would actively seek her out only if the sun rose in the west.
Ruan Yu stood up and walked out of the makeup room.
In the hallway, Teng Hao sat in his wheelchair, facing away from her direction while on the phone. She walked to his side, waiting until he hung up before reaching out to pat his shoulder.
“What did you want to see me about, tonight’s charitable gentleman?”
Ruan Yu’s tone was light, but when Teng Hao turned around, his expression was grave.
“What’s wrong?” Ruan Yu sensed something amiss.
“Valedictorian Miss, could you come home with me?” Teng Hao frowned. “My brother has collapsed.”