Teng Yi followed Ruan Yu in the kitchen, not helping at all but constantly disrupting her, hugging and kissing her from time to time like a mischievous child. Ruan Yu had to watch both the stove and guard against him, nearly mixing up seasonings several times.

Fortunately, under this sweet pressure, she still managed to prepare a table of delicious dishes.

As promised, Shen Bing returned within two hours. Seeing Ruan Yu’s results, she was first surprised, then full of praise. In Shen Bing’s imagination, today’s twenty-year-olds should be like her two sons, either eating at cafeterias, ordering takeout, or dining out, never touching water for cooking. The capable ones might manage instant noodles, while the incapable ones wouldn’t even know which direction to light the stove. Someone like Ruan Yu was as rare as treasure.

Teng Yi called Teng Hao down for dinner, making a perfect table of four.

Teng Hao didn’t know these dishes were made by Ruan Yu. After a few bites, he gave Shen Bing a thumbs up.

“Mom, your cooking is getting better and better.”

“Was my cooking bad before?”

This was a loaded question, but Teng Hao was oblivious.

“Well, I was afraid of hurting your feelings before, so I kept quiet.” Teng Hao picked up some shredded potatoes with his chopsticks. “I remember the potato strips you cooked before were too soft, not tasty at all.”

Pointing his chopsticks at another dish of lily bulb and celery, he continued, “And the celery you cooked last time was very bitter, but these two dishes today are delicious. Mom, your cooking skills are improving as fast as my academic progress – soaring upward.”

Teng Yi massaged his temple, unable to suppress a light laugh.

Ruan Yu wanted to remind Teng Hao, but despite clearing her throat repeatedly, he didn’t notice.

“Tell me, with all this praising me and mentioning your grades, what’s your purpose?” Shen Bing glared at her younger son.

She had given birth to this boy and knew exactly what tricks he had up his sleeve. If he didn’t want something from her, would he waste so much breath at the dinner table?

Teng Hao grinned and leaned towards Shen Bing, acting coy.

“Mom, I want to continue learning street dance.”

“No.” Shen Bing rejected firmly.

“Why?”

“You ask why? Haven’t I let you learn before? You were on and off like fishing for three days and drying nets for two, with no persistence. It wastes time and energy, and interferes with your studies.”

“But haven’t I improved?”

“Getting cocky after a little improvement? If you can guarantee good college entrance exam results, I’ll let you learn.”

“I can guarantee it,” the young man blurted out.

At that time, he didn’t understand that no one’s fate moves in a straight line. Taking a few turns midway, either slipping on gravel toward another direction or stumbling on a boulder and stopping there – such meandering is the true trajectory of fate.

This has nothing to do with effort.

And guarantees – lucky if they work out, meaningless if they don’t.

“You say that so easily.”

Teng Hao grew anxious and tried to seek help from his brother, but saw Teng Yi sitting motionless with a “you’re on your own” expression.

“Mom, what do you want me to do? Tell me, I can do it.” He almost wanted to kneel and swear to heaven to show his determination.

“I don’t need you to do anything. Just study well now and get into a good university. Then, how you want to dance and where you want to dance, I won’t stop you. Why rush now?”

“You don’t understand.”

“Then make me understand.”

Teng Hao fell silent. His Chinese language skills were visibly poor, and he didn’t know how to express the surging passion and impatience he felt at reaching his peak at this stage. Perhaps others couldn’t understand, but for him, dreams needed momentum.

The atmosphere at the dinner table suddenly froze.

Teng Yi, who had been watching the show for a long time, finally spoke up at this moment.

But when he opened his mouth, he first stabbed Teng Hao’s heart.

“Alright, we’ll discuss this later. Let’s eat first, don’t waste Ruan Yu’s good cooking.”

Ruan Yu’s cooking?

Teng Hao looked at Ruan Yu, then at Shen Bing, wishing he could turn back time ten minutes and take back everything he had said.

“Mom…”

“Eat. Your brother is right – don’t waste Ruan Yu’s good cooking. Also, regarding dancing, my attitude remains the same. Whether your earlier flattery was right or wrong, it won’t change my stance.”

–_–

Teng Hao had been served a cold shoulder right to his face. He ate without tasting the food, and when he returned to his room for tutoring, his mind was elsewhere. Ruan Yu didn’t know how to comfort him. She understood Teng Hao but also felt Shen Bing wasn’t wrong, so rather than taking sides, she chose not to.

After a while, Teng Yi knocked and entered.

Seeing Teng Yi, Teng Hao’s dull eyes immediately brightened.

“Brother, have you come to give me advice?”

“No.”

Teng Hao pouted: “Then why did you come in? Don’t disturb my studying.”

Heh.

Teng Yi’s hand pressed on Teng Hao’s shoulder and squeezed hard, making the young man cry out. The previously lifeless room suddenly gained a different kind of vitality.

“Do you need something?” Ruan Yu asked.

Teng Yi didn’t answer. He looked at Ruan Yu and Teng Hao sitting just inches apart, then at the large bed behind the desk. Before, he hadn’t thought it inappropriate for a young man and woman to be alone in a room for tutoring, but now, the more he looked, the more it bothered him.

“From now on, tutor in the study.”

“Why?” the two being arranged asked in unison.

“Because I said so.”

After a moment’s thought, a glint of cunning flashed in Teng Hao’s eyes.

“Brother, you’re not jealous of me, are you?” He glanced at Ruan Yu. “Although Scholar Miss is decent-looking, don’t worry, she’s not my type.”

Teng Yi’s brow furrowed.

Teng Hao immediately became scared.

“Okay, okay, we’ll go to the study, right now, immediately to the study.”

Ruan Yu was completely impressed.

While Teng Hao was carrying his workbooks out, she secretly gave Teng Yi a sideways glance.

He shrugged, his features strong, his gentle eyes containing a hint of mischief.

“Aren’t you ashamed?” Ruan Yu blushed slightly.

“Mm.” He answered frankly.

His lazy response somehow seemed sexy.

Ruan Yu smiled, her emotions peeling away until only sweetness remained. After all, his possessiveness and jealousy all stemmed from her – this feeling wasn’t bad.

Teng Hao spread his workbooks on the desk, waiting for Ruan Yu to enter the study.

This was Ruan Yu’s first time in their family’s study. She had expected shelves full of books, but surprisingly, rather than books, the shelves held more of Teng Yi’s trophies and certificates.

Breaking, Hip-hop.

Top ten, top eight, third place, second place, champion.

The transparent crystal cups held traces of his sweat, and the gold-rimmed certificates carried his understated brilliance.

Regarding dreams, he always wanted to do his best, and if he couldn’t do his best, then he’d do better next time. Sometimes, progress brings more joy and depth than instant success.

Ruan Yu stood before the bookshelf, unable to move her feet.

“Stop looking,” Teng Hao called out.

Usually, he would have been proud of his brother, but today his ambitions had been crushed, and he wasn’t in the mood. So pride turned into unsubstantiated boasting.

“If I had started dancing at my brother’s age, I might have won even more trophies.”

“Then why didn’t you?”

“I had to study.”

“Didn’t your brother need to study at that age?”

Teng Hao was speechless for a moment.

Ruan Yu walked to Teng Hao’s side and pulled out a chair to sit down.

She didn’t rush to look at the problems, just looked at him.

Teng Hao felt somewhat strange under her gaze and rubbed his face, asking, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Teng Hao, only those who are self-disciplined deserve the freedom of choice.”

–_–

Ruan Yu didn’t know if Teng Hao understood her meaning. He was extremely smart but couldn’t shed his childish nature – sometimes he seemed mature, but most times he retained an unworldly innocence.

Recently, Shen Bing stayed in the country due to a financing problem. Under her supervision, Teng Hao couldn’t go to Journey to practice dancing, making him gloomy all day and lacking motivation to study.

Ruan Yu was really worried about him and privately sought Teng Yi’s help.

“You really won’t help him?”

“Why should I help him?”

“Heartless.”

“What? Feeling sorry for him?”

“Why would I feel sorry? He’s your brother, not mine.”

“He’ll be your brother soon enough.”

“…”

Ruan Yu fell silent, but Teng Yi became serious.

“He’s never been steady since childhood. Let him cool off for a while, see what he does.”

“What if he gives up?”

“Then it means he’s not suited for street dance.”

Having been through it himself, Teng Yi knew the hardships of dance practice. Teng Hao had already given up once, and this time allowing him to practice again, Teng Yi had many concerns. With their mother’s intervention, if it really could cut off Teng Hao’s thoughts, it would show his nature hadn’t changed and he wasn’t suited for dancing. But if he was determined to persist, there would eventually be an opportunity for him to grab and change their mother’s mind.

Just like the two-page guarantee he had personally written years ago.

Not long after Teng Yi’s “opportunity theory,” Teng Hao’s opportunity appeared.

Ren Yunshen was discharged from the hospital.

To express gratitude to Teng Hao, Ren Tianhai specially brought Ren Yunshen to thank him in person.

That evening, everyone was home, and Ruan Yu was in the middle of tutoring Teng Hao when Teng Yi came to knock on the door.

Teng Hao was displeased.

“Brother, you’re not here to check on us, are you? Are you really that worried about us being alone together?”

“Shut up and come downstairs. Someone’s here to see you.”

“Who?”

Teng Yi didn’t answer but gave Teng Hao a look, signaling him to hurry. Teng Hao obediently got up and left.

Ruan Yu remained seated, and Teng Yi didn’t move either.

This meant the visiting guests had nothing to do with him, and he didn’t need to be present to entertain them.

“Who came?”

“I’ll take you to see.”

Saying this, he took Ruan Yu’s hand and led her to the second-floor corridor.

Downstairs, Ren Tianhai was carrying many gift boxes, dressed in a suit and tie, his hair combed high, revealing a shining forehead.

Behind him, Ren Yunshen wore a navy blue velvet dress with an exquisite bow at the waist, the skirt falling just past her knees, revealing straight, slender calves.

The young girl’s skin was white as fresh snow, her black hair like a long waterfall.

Her amber eyes, half spring-like and half shy, gazed at Teng Hao as he came around the stairway.

“She’s so beautiful,” Ruan Yu sincerely exclaimed.

That kind of beauty radiated the elegance of a well-bred young lady.

“Not as beautiful as you,” Teng Yi beside her had strong survival instincts.

“Hmph. Lying with your eyes wide open.”

He turned to face her, closed his eyes, and repeated: “Not as beautiful as you.”

“Still lying even with your eyes closed.”

“Haven’t you heard that beauty is in the eye of the beholder?” Teng Yi looked at Ren Yunshen, who was smiling at Teng Hao. “No matter how beautiful she is, she’s not my Xi Shi, but you are.”

As he said the last three words, he looked back at her.

Those eyes, like stars falling into a vast sea, sparkled with dazzling deep affection.

–_–

Shen Bing didn’t know about Teng Hao saving someone, so Ren Tianhai and Ren Yunshen’s visit caught her by surprise. After hearing the whole story, she was even more amazed.

She had never imagined that the child she still saw as not grown up would show such spirit when facing right and wrong.

Ren Tianhai’s gratitude made Shen Bing proud, a pride similar to when sixteen-year-old Teng Yi won awards and attracted crowds of media reporters wanting to interview her.

What surprised Shen Bing even more was that Teng Hao’s act of bravery also resolved her current predicament.

During a casual conversation, Ren Tianhai learned that Shen Bing’s company had a new project facing financing difficulties. With a wave of his hand, he directly agreed to invest and help.

Just when things seemed hopeless, suddenly there was light at the end of the tunnel.

Shen Bing could hardly believe she wasn’t dreaming.

In the living room, the two adults discussed business extensively while the two young people gazed at each other silently. These looks between them, though seemingly plain, were more like an obscure poem difficult to understand.

Suddenly, Ren Yunshen handed over her phone.

Teng Hao glanced at the text on the screen.

“Can I add you on WeChat?”

The young girl used regular script, and very elegant handwriting, as if she had written it herself.

Teng Hao nodded.

She smiled, shallow dimples appearing, sweet and graceful like a still pond after rain, making one want to linger.

They added each other on WeChat, and Teng Hao thought she might have something to say, but she said nothing, as if having his contact information was enough.

After seeing off father and daughter Ren, Shen Bing hugged Teng Hao tightly.

“Son! You’ve made your mother so proud!”

Teng Hao was hugged until he could hardly breathe. This degree of intimacy felt awkward for a boy his age.

He escaped from Shen Bing’s embrace.

“Mom, I didn’t do anything special.” Besides, he had gotten into a fight.

“No, no, no, you did a good deed. Son, tell Mom what you want. Want to go to Maldives at the end of the year? Or Saipan? You choose.”

“I want to dance,” Teng Hao said. “I don’t want anything else, I just want you to let me practice dancing anytime, anywhere.”

“Anything but that request.”

“That’s my only request.”

Shen Bing’s heart softened a bit.

Teng Hao understood his mother – just her hesitation meant there was hope.

So he pressed his advantage.

“Mom, if you agree to let me dance, forget about the college entrance exam for now – just for the final exam, I’ll improve another five ranks. How about that?”

“Really?” Shen Bing was completely wavering.

“Really.”

“Deal!”

“Wow! Mom, you’re the best!” Teng Hao rushed forward to hug Shen Bing’s neck, then quickly turned and ran upstairs, eager to share the good news with the two people upstairs.

“Brother! Scholar Miss! I can continue dancing practice!”

The study door was open, and Teng Yi and Ruan Yu had already heard the conversation downstairs.

Ruan Yu wasn’t concerned about the dancing issue; she only cared about how to improve those five ranks. If she remembered correctly, this wasn’t the first time Teng Hao had made such a promise.

“Who gave you the courage to keep setting flags everywhere?”

“Of course it’s you!”