The Red Eagle Street Dance Competition, sponsored by Red Eagle Company, was a national street dance contest held annually in mid-October in a designated city. This year, it was being hosted in Liao City. The competition progressed through several rounds: preliminary selections, top 50 to top 20, top 20 to top 10, top 10 to top 8, and finally the top 8 championship.
Ruan Yu had wanted to experience the competition’s atmosphere in person since the preliminary rounds, but Teng Yi hadn’t taken her to any of the earlier matches. Teng Hao hadn’t gone either, reasoning that the early rounds were just minor players facing off—nothing worth watching. The real excitement would come later, after the waves had washed away the sand, leaving only the masters.
The night the top 8 list was announced, Teng Hao handed Ruan Yu a ticket for the finals. “My brother asked me to give this to you. Tomorrow at one in the afternoon, Red Eagle Stadium.”
Ruan Yu took the ticket and examined it. The Red Eagle logo was printed on both sides in bright red, quite eye-catching.
“Your brother’s back?”
“Yeah, he’s in the practice room,” Teng Hao said, swinging his backpack over his shoulder. “I’m heading back now. See you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow.”
After Teng Hao left the office, Ruan Yu tidied up the calculation papers on her desk and stepped out, locking the door behind her.
When she passed the practice room, she paused and peered inside. There was no music playing. Teng Yi lay on the floor with a baseball jacket covering his head, completely motionless, appearing to be asleep.
The intense competition schedule of the past few days had worn him out.
Ruan Yu didn’t want to disturb him and was about to quietly leave when a hoarse voice came from beneath the baseball jacket.
“Come in.”
He wasn’t asleep?
Was he calling her?
Ruan Yu walked in, and just as she reached his side, he spoke again.
“Got the ticket?”
“Yes.”
Teng Yi stirred on the floor, slowly removing the baseball jacket from his head and sitting up.
“Heading home?” he asked, looking up at her.
“Mm-hmm.”
He didn’t respond, just lowered his head and massaged his temples.
“How did you know it was me?” Ruan Yu asked.
“Hmm?” His thoughts were still sluggish from sleep.
“Just now, when you told me to come in.”
“At this hour, who else would be here besides you?”
“Someone could have been practicing.”
“Those guys aren’t that diligent.”
Ruan Yu couldn’t help but laugh.
Teng Yi stood up from the floor and tossed the baseball jacket aside.
“Help me with one more thing,” he said.
He didn’t specify what help he needed, but Ruan Yu understood immediately.
She nodded, watching as he removed his T-shirt in front of her.
Though she’d only seen it once before, somehow she felt as if his body was familiar to her.
What an embarrassing thought.
Teng Yi went to open the storage cabinet. Ruan Yu expected him to bring out the Yunnan spray, but this time he brought out a Yunnan White Medicine patch instead.
“Where is it this time?” She peeled the patch halfway; its scent had already filled the entire practice room.
Teng Yi pointed to his left shoulder.
“Here?” She roughly traced an area on his shoulder with her finger.
Teng Yi felt as if a feather had brushed his shoulder, sending an odd tingling sensation throughout his body.
He turned his head to see her leaning in, carefully applying the half-peeled patch, then removing the remaining paper backing.
Once the patch covered his shoulder, she raised her hand and smoothed it down, ensuring all four corners were firmly attached.
“Is this okay?” she asked.
Teng Yi remained silent, so she thought it wasn’t and smoothed it down a few more times.
“Nothing else you want to say to me?” Teng Yi turned his head slightly, watching her from the corner of his eye.
Ruan Yu froze her hand still on his shoulder.
Her hand was cool, providing relief from the patch’s heat.
After a moment, she suddenly gave the patch a firm pat, and with that sharp slapping sound, he saw her behind him, face reddened, trying to sound formal as she said: “Good luck tomorrow!”
Teng Yi smiled.
“Mm.”