“Ruan Yu, why are you standing there blankly?” Xiao Qing called out to her from inside.
Teng Yi, who had his back to her, turned around to look at her when he heard Xiao Qing call her name.
“Come in,” he came out to take her hand.
Inside and outside were like two different worlds.
Ruan Yu wore a turtleneck sweater, while the boys in the practice room were all in T-shirts, and even then, their foreheads and temples were glistening with sweat.
“Are you all that hot?”
“Yeah, we got carried away dancing,” Zhou Xihe said while doing some sliding steps on the spot, swaying left and right.
“Looks like you’re determined to impress Teacher Jiang.”
“Of course, just look who’s personally taking charge.” Zhou Xihe threw an arm around Teng Yi, with a hint of admiration. “This time it’s something else. I never thought street dance could be done this way.”
Ruan Yu couldn’t help but wonder how exactly they were doing it.
Teng Yi seemed to read her mind. He pointed to a cushion next to the mirror and said, “Sit there, you can judge for yourself in a moment.”
“Judge? How am I qualified to judge when I know nothing about this?”
“Because you were the inspiration.”
Ruan Yu obediently sat on the cushion.
It had gotten cold, and sitting directly on the floor would freeze her legs. When she had casually complained about this before, Teng Yi had immediately ordered a batch of cushions, placing several in each practice room.
When Teng Yi was attentive, he could surpass even girls in thoughtfulness.
After a while, Fang Wan returned from the bathroom. As soon as she entered and saw Ruan Yu, she immediately smiled, appearing as warm and friendly as when they first met.
If she was going to put on an act, Ruan Yu would play along.
So she returned the smile.
“One more time,” Teng Yi clapped his hands, signaling the resting team members to gather. “We’ll take a break after this run.”
The boys responded to his command and got into formation.
Fang Wan also stood by.
The practice room was silent for a few seconds before the sounds of jinghu, yueqin, drums, and clappers filled the air. Along with the flowing, clear singing voice of Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang, the four boys led by Teng Yi began popping. Although the Peking Opera rhythm was slow, their timing remained precise and their movements fluid, appearing as if in slow motion, yet not out of place.
Midway through, Fang Wan entered, performing with Teng Yi in a street dance interpretation of Yu Ji’s suicide and Ba Wang’s grief.
As the female lead fell and exited, the music transitioned from the Peking Opera’s “Farewell My Concubine” to the pop song version. The four resumed their synchronized dance.
Teng Yi had personally edited the music and rearranged the composition to make the transition more natural. As usual, he added Breaking elements at the end.
Although the group’s synchronization in the ensemble parts still needed work, the overall dance was highly professional, enhanced by the Peking Opera elements. With just two more days of practice, they would surely impress Teacher Jiang Weiguo.
“Oh no, no, no!”
Before the music ended, Fang Wan suddenly called out.
“What’s wrong?” The boys all stopped.
“I feel the farewell scene’s choreography isn’t striking enough.” As she spoke, she half-leaned against Teng Yi. “Shouldn’t Yu Ji be more tragic before her death? Like this? Or maybe a fake embrace?”
With those words, Fang Wan opened her arms and moved to embrace Teng Yi.
Just as Teng Yi was about to step back, Xiao Qing grabbed Fang Wan’s collar from behind.
“Hey! Miss! His girlfriend is right here. Show some restraint, use your words, not your hands!” Xiao Qing winked, looking righteously indignant. “If you must get physical, come at me instead!”
“What? Get lost!” Fang Wan pushed Xiao Qing away and shrugged, looking at Ruan Yu. “Sister-in-law, you’re not that petty, are you? I’m like a brother to everyone in this room, we’re used to fooling around. If you’re going to be jealous over something like this, I don’t know what to say.”
–_–
In one statement, Fang Wan had called her “Sister-in-law,” referred to herself as “brother,” and preemptively shut down any accusations of “pettiness” or “jealousy” – a perfect manipulation.
This was Ruan Yu’s first encounter with a rival in love and such a formidable one at that. She felt momentarily lost.
Should she say she “doesn’t mind”?
No, she didn’t mind, and she didn’t want to play into Fang Wan’s hands.
Should she say she “minds”?
But when the other party was putting on such a good show, how could she lose face?
“I generally follow three principles with others: no pettiness, no jealousy, no minding.”
“Sister-in-law is so generous,” Xiao Qing praised.
“Yes, very generous. But whether it’s genuine generosity or fake, only he knows.” Ruan Yu said, casting a sidelong glance at Teng Yi.
“Looks like I’ll be kneeling on the remote tonight,” Teng Yi spread his hands.
Everyone laughed.
Ruan Yu handled this round well, using humor to both establish her position and demonstrate the confidence of a legitimate girlfriend. Of course, most important was having Teng Yi as her trump card, and his willingness to back her up at any moment.
The boys didn’t quite understand the subtle dynamics between girls, thinking a laugh would clear the air. But it wasn’t so simple – Fang Wan was extremely displeased with Ruan Yu, while Ruan Yu was equally wary of Fang Wan’s presence. However, she didn’t want to show these emotions in front of Teng Yi, fearing he might think her too sensitive.
Out of sight, out of mind.
After that, Ruan Yu never went to watch their rehearsals again. But Fang Wan seemed to delight in causing trouble in front of her.
On Friday evening, Fang Wan cornered Ruan Yu in the hallway.
“Sister-in-law, why haven’t you come to watch us practice these past few days?”
When others called her “Sister-in-law” it was friendly teasing, but from Fang Wan, it dripped with sarcasm and disdain.
“I’m here to work part-time. I don’t have time to watch you practice every day.”
“Oh, right, Sister-in-law is so busy.” Fang Wan touched her chin. “Today is Yi’s birthday, we’re all going to celebrate later. Don’t tell me you’re too busy for that too?”
Today is Teng Yi’s birthday.
Ruan Yu was stunned. Teng Yi had never mentioned anything about his birthday to her; she had no idea.
Fang Wan caught something in her expression.
“What? You didn’t know?”
Before Ruan Yu could answer, Fang Wan seemed to have confirmed her suspicion, dropping a “How interesting” before walking away.
Music drifted from the various practice rooms – Chinese songs, English songs, Peking Opera… a bit of everything. Ruan Yu stood motionless in the hallway, her thoughts as chaotic as the mixed melodies.
Teng Hao, not having seen her for a while, came looking for her.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
Ruan Yu pulled Teng Hao into the office and asked quietly, “Is it your brother’s birthday today?”
“Yeah, everyone’s been celebrating in the group chat all day. Didn’t you see?”
“Group chat?” Ruan Yu quickly pulled out her phone. She had been studying all day and hadn’t checked the messages.
Sure enough, people had been wishing Teng Yi a happy birthday since morning.
Only she hadn’t sent a single greeting.
“I thought you might have sent private wishes, but you didn’t know?” Teng Hao clicked his tongue. “Top scholar, are you perhaps a fake girlfriend?”
“…”
Ruan Yu was already feeling bad, and Teng Hao’s words made her feel even worse.
Indeed, besides being a fake girlfriend, there wasn’t any other reasonable explanation.
What should she do now? Where could she find a gift on such short notice?
As Ruan Yu was thinking, Teng Yi knocked and entered.
–_–
“Brother.”
“Mm, both of you finish up early today, we’re going to KTV later,” Teng Yi said.
“Okay, I want to bring a friend.”
“Who?”
“Yun Shen.”
“You’re taking Yun Shen to KTV?” Teng Yi was surprised. Everyone knew Yun Shen had difficulty speaking; taking her to karaoke seemed like a poorly thought-out decision.
“Yes, she said she wanted to go, so I agreed.”
“Fine, but take good care of her when we get there.”
“Mm, I know.”
Teng Yi turned his gaze to Ruan Yu: “Top scholar, why so quiet? Is there a problem?”
Ruan Yu shook her head.
“Alright then, hurry up and finish,” he said before turning to leave.
Ruan Yu absently explained a few example problems to Teng Hao. Soon after, they heard people gathering outside.
Teng Hao couldn’t sit still anymore and quickly packed up his things to run out.
Many people had arrived downstairs, including not just the familiar faces but many Ruan Yu didn’t recognize at all. To her surprise, Jian Xiangxiang was there too.
“Ruan Ruan!” Upon seeing her, Jian Xiangxiang quickly let go of Zhou Xihe’s arm and rushed over.
“Xiangxiang.” Ruan Yu greeted her listlessly.
“What’s wrong? Not feeling well?”
“No.”
“Then what’s with the long face? It’s your boyfriend’s birthday today.”
Before Ruan Yu could answer, Teng Yi and the others came down.
Teng Yi was wearing a black short-sleeve shirt and putting on a jacket. His long arms stretched out, blocking the crowd behind him.
As usual, he did a headcount first, and once everyone was present, they set out together.
Ruan Yu rode in Teng Yi’s car. She had so much she wanted to say to him, but with Teng Hao and Yun Shen – two third wheels – sitting there, many things weren’t convenient to discuss.
This was Yun Shen’s first time going to KTV in her life. She was excited, occasionally typing messages on her phone screen to show Teng Hao, making him laugh.
Teng Hao had been frequenting various KTVs in Liao City with classmates since middle school, and faced with Yun Shen’s innocence, he took on the air of an experienced veteran.
“I’ll sing my specialty for you later,” Teng Hao said.
Yun Shen asked him what song.
“It’s by Jacky Cheung, you must have heard it.” With that, he started singing right there: “I kiss you goodbye, on an empty street, letting the crazy wind laugh at my inability to refuse, I kiss you goodbye, in the chaotic night…”
Teng Hao’s voice was somewhat similar to Teng Yi’s – ethereal and deep, like a bell toll echoing in the depths of night, carrying a mysterious distant quality.
Yun Shen had never actually heard this song before. She had grown up learning piano, and to create the right environment, her family had always played Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven, rarely any popular music.
She swayed her head left and right to Teng Hao’s singing, completely like a fangirl.
Seeing this, Teng Hao sang with even more passion.
A young man’s attempt at being romantic was like drawing a tiger but ending up with a dog, yet this scene half-hidden in the night became one of the few vivid scenes in Yun Shen’s mind.
Like a rainbow piercing through a black-and-white world.
Like a single green blade of grass coloring an endless desert.
“So this is the kind of song you sing when you go to KTV with your classmates,” Teng Yi realized.
“Yeah, what did you think we sang at KTV, brother? ‘Two Tigers’ or ‘Counting Ducks’?”
Everyone laughed.
Teng Yi: “…”
–_–
The KTV had been booked by Teng Yi – an all-you-can-eat KTV where you could eat, sing, and play at the same time. He had reserved the largest room, which could accommodate many people without feeling crowded.
Today’s main character, Teng Yi was surrounded as soon as he entered the room. Everyone pushed him to the song selection console, asking him to contribute the first song of the night.
Ruan Yu had heard from Jian Xiangxiang that Teng Yi was not only good at dancing but also singing. Earlier in the car, she had already been impressed by Teng Hao, and she was equally looking forward to Teng Yi’s performance.
Teng Yi finally chose an unfamiliar English song. Wearing his black sweater jacket, he leaned against the sofa armrest, one hand in his pocket and the other holding the microphone. That shade of black became the gentlest backdrop, attracting various colored lights to linger and play before fleeing.
He was so sexy.
Fluent English, deep voice – indeed, it was enough to make one weak at the knees.
Ruan Yu sat diagonally across from Teng Yi, gazing at his nearly perfect profile, still finding it hard to believe that this man belonged to her.
During the chorus, Teng Yi’s gaze shifted from the lyrics to Ruan Yu, just a glance, not lingering too long. Confirming that she was listening attentively, he sang even more seriously.
That desire to perform for someone you like while being shy about it was both adorable and captivating.
The room was particularly quiet as if the noisy buttons had temporarily lost their effect, everyone immersed in Teng Yi’s singing.
Yun Shen quietly typed “handsome” on her phone screen and showed it to Ruan Yu, then added another line “more handsome than Teng Hao.”
Ruan Yu smiled.
She knew that in Yun Shen’s heart, being more handsome than Teng Hao meant the ultimate, the peak, the pinnacle that no one could surpass.
When the song ended, everyone applauded.
Teng Yi encouraged everyone to relax and enjoy themselves, then passed the microphone to Xiao Qing beside him and walked toward Ruan Yu.
“Yi!” Fang Wan suddenly pounced forward and grabbed Xiao Qing’s arm, shouting into the microphone he was holding: “Remember this song?”
The speakers played “Seaweed Dance,” a viral hit song.
Before Teng Yi could respond, Zhou Xihe, Caihong, and the others had already stood up and started dancing to the music. Though it looked spontaneous, the boys’ movements were surprisingly synchronized.
This song held shared dance memories for them.
“This is the song we danced to when we battled with Brother V and the others last year,” Fang Wan shouted into the microphone again, seemingly explaining to someone deliberately, or perhaps showing off to someone.
With that, she pulled Xiao Qing to dance as well.
The boys and girls moved their bodies rhythmically while approaching Teng Yi. Surrounded in the middle, Caihong and the others pulled at Teng Yi’s arms, gesturing for him to join in.
Teng Yi smiled and touched his forehead, helplessly joining the joyful dance. Once he joined, the group seemed to find its center, becoming more complete.
“Like seaweed seaweed seaweed seaweed swaying with the waves seaweed seaweed seaweed seaweed dancing in the spray…”
Everyone in the room, whether sitting or standing, joined the Xi You Street Dance Society members in dancing. Even Yun Shen, pushed by Teng Hao, abandoned her usual quiet ladylike demeanor and swayed along with everyone else.
Music and dance have their infectious power, and that infectiousness is where their charm lies.