Teng Yi let her hit him and speak without blocking, dodging, or defending himself.
The alcohol Ruan Yu had drunk seemed to transform into tears, soaking half his sleeve.
Her crying caught Teng Yi off guard, as did her collapse. By the time he realized something was wrong, she had already gone limp in his arms, unconscious.
“Ruan Yu?” Teng Yi held her waist with one hand while brushing away her long hair with the other.
Her eyes were tightly closed, and on her pale face were only tear stains and smeared makeup. In all these years as a polished, glamorous host, she had rarely appeared so disheveled.
Teng Yi silently held her, his fingers still in her hair, her warmth and fragrance giving him an unprecedented sense of reality.
“Ruan Ruan? Ruan Ruan?”
Wang Jing’s voice suddenly echoed through the corridor, followed by his large shadow appearing before Teng Yi. Behind him was another person—Luo Sheng.
Seeing Ruan Yu passed out, Luo Sheng quickly bent down to help support her.
“Ruan Ruan! Oh no! How did she get this drunk? She was fine just now! How did she collapse so suddenly!” Wang Jing also wanted to help, but with people on both sides of Ruan Yu, he couldn’t squeeze in.
Ruan Yu had been in Teng Yi’s arms, but with Luo Sheng’s forceful pull, her soft body fell toward him, though Teng Yi didn’t let go.
The two men stared at each other, their gazes deep, each with their strength.
“What? Now you’re reluctant to let go?” Luo Sheng smiled, his smile full of mockery.
“She got drunk in my bar. I must ensure her safety,” Teng Yi stood his ground.
“Safety? Rest assured, Manager Teng, I care about her safety more than you do.” As Luo Sheng spoke, he forcefully pulled Ruan Yu into his arms, then lifted her horizontally and turned to hand her to Wang Jing.
This series of movements was quick and decisive, giving Teng Yi no time to react.
“Wang Jing, take her to the car first,” Luo Sheng said.
Wang Jing suddenly found himself with an additional weight in his arms, nearly losing his balance. His unsteady moment immediately drew glares from both men, making him break out in a cold sweat. He hurriedly secured his grip on the beauty and tried to turn to leave, but turned too quickly and almost hit the wall.
Teng Yi, concerned, was about to step forward but was grabbed by Luo Sheng.
“What are you doing?” Teng Yi coldly glanced sideways at Luo Sheng.
“Let’s battle. The winner gets her.”
Luo Sheng had this thought when he first met Teng Yi at the hospital, but with Ruan Yu holding onto him then, he didn’t have the chance to speak with Teng Yi alone.
Today was an opportunity.
He wanted to battle Teng Yi—not with fists or violence, but in the way of street dancers, fairly and honorably determining a winner.
Teng Yi shook off Luo Sheng’s hand.
“Are you afraid?” Luo Sheng pressed aggressively.
“She shouldn’t be anyone’s bet,” Teng Yi said.
“Then let’s bet ourselves. The loser leaves her alone.”
Teng Yi ignored Luo Sheng and tried to leave, but Luo Sheng caught up and pinned him against the wall, gripping his shoulder.
“What? After six years, you’ve become a coward?”
“…”
“Are you afraid to dance? Or afraid to battle me and lose her?”
“…”
“Teng Yi, if you’re not ready to return to her life, you shouldn’t appear before her!”
–_–
Ruan Yu slept until broad daylight, the alcohol making her sleep deeply, but she woke feeling as if she’d been beaten—every part of her body ached from head to toe.
She messaged Wang Jing, asking how he had gotten her home last night and why her entire body felt like it was falling apart.
Wang Jing replied quickly.
“I didn’t take you home, Luo Sheng did.”
Ruan Yu frowned: “Why Luo Sheng? How did he know I was drunk?”
“I called and told him.”
“Why did you call to tell him?”
“To have him pick you up,” Wang Jing added a cute, silly emoji. “I wanted that heartless man Teng Yi to see that you have people pursuing you.”
Ruan Yu sighed helplessly. She held her phone and took a deep breath, then typed: “Perhaps he’s not heartless, he just doesn’t love me anymore.”
After consideration, she didn’t send it, deleting it instead.
Ruan Yu took a shower to wash away the hangover fatigue, then applied makeup and went to work. As soon as she arrived at TG Broadcasting, she met Ying Wen, who hadn’t been seen for a while.
Ying Wen was returning to work today. She looked in good condition, dressed as elegantly and intellectually as ever, with a gentle presence that felt like a spring breeze.
“Sister Ying Wen, good morning,” Ruan Yu took the initiative to greet her.
Seeing her, Ying Wen smiled and nodded, returning the greeting.
As they walked into the lobby together, Ruan Yu was stopped by the receptionist.
“Sister Ruan, there’s a surprise,” the young receptionist said, producing a bunch of fire-red roses from behind her. “Ta-da! Ninety-nine roses, I’m so envious!”
Ruan Yu froze as she took the flowers.
The fragrance in her arms reminded her of Valentine’s Day six years ago when Teng Yi had given her ninety-nine roses. When the dormitory aunt had called her down to get the flowers, the passing female students had worn the same envious expressions as the young receptionist now.
“Who sent them?” Ruan Yu asked.
“I don’t know. They were delivered by the flower shop.”
Ruan Yu remained silent, but harbored a tiny hope—could it be him?
By the end of the morning, news of Ruan Yu receiving flowers from a mysterious admirer had spread throughout the station. Wherever she went, she was teased, making her particularly embarrassed.
“Sister Ruan, you’re now the most envied girl in the entire station,” Assistant Xiu Xiu told her during the break. “Before, everyone envied Sister Ying Wen for her successful career and perfect family, but yesterday I heard that because Sister Ying Wen was always busy with work and neglected her family, her husband had been unhappy with her for a long time. After this miscarriage, they’re getting divorced. Ah, for women, is it impossible to have both a career and a family?”
“These rumors—just listen, don’t spread them around.”
“Oh.”
In the afternoon, the station held a meeting to discuss the Liao City Charity Gala.
The Liao City Charity Gala was a public welfare event jointly hosted by TG Broadcasting, First Central Broadcasting, and Xiu City Television. Held every spring, the gala would invite Liao City’s renowned philanthropists, entertainment stars, outstanding business representatives, major media authorities, and government officials—over a hundred guests in total. Through the exemplary role of these elites, they aimed to promote public welfare and encourage more people to pay attention to and actively participate in charity. All funds raised would be donated to the Liao City Red Cross to help disadvantaged groups.
In previous years, Ying Wen had always hosted this gala, but this year, the station director suddenly announced that Ruan Yu would take over.
“Ying Wen is just recovering from illness, and An Xin lacks experience. Let Little Ruan do it.”
These words were met with silence in the conference room. Though no one openly objected, everyone’s expressions were remarkable, especially Dan An Xin’s.
After the meeting, the station director and deputy director left first.
Seeing the leaders had gone, Dan An Xin called out to Ruan Yu across the conference table, making no effort to hide her feelings: “Host Ruan shouldn’t be called Host Ruan anymore, might as well call her ‘Ruan the Snatcher.'”
“I never intended to snatch anything,” Ruan Yu said seriously.
“Oh, right, you didn’t intend to snatch anything, you’re just lucky. Lucky enough to step over me and Sister Ying Wen to get ahead everywhere!”
“I…”
“Stop fighting!” Ying Wen, who had been gathering her notebook, stood up. “There’s nothing to argue about. Just follow the leadership’s arrangements.”
After speaking, Ying Wen left the conference room, leaving everyone looking at each other awkwardly.
–_–
After the change in the charity gala host position, rumors spread throughout the station. This ill wind blew and blew until it inevitably reached the public.
“TG Broadcasting’s Top Female Host Battle” trended on Weibo for several days.
Curious netizens made a comprehensive comparison of the three main female hosts of TG Station—Ying Wen, Ruan Yu, and Dan An Xin—finally concluding that Ruan Yu was superior.
Such victory held no meaning for Ruan Yu; instead, it made her relationship with Ying Wen subtle.
Ruan Yu felt somewhat sad, but she understood that even the closest friends could grow apart, let alone she and Ying Wen who had another relationship: competitors. Perhaps today’s outcome had been destined from the day they first met.
To avoid overthinking, Ruan Yu threw herself completely into work, preparing for the charity gala with her colleagues.
During this time, she continued receiving flowers from her mysterious sender—one bunch every day for half a month without fail. Both her office and home had become oceans of flowers.
She didn’t know who was sending the flowers, nor did she have the courage to confirm with anyone.
This answer wouldn’t surface until the night of the charity gala.
The Liao City Charity Gala was divided into three parts: the red carpet entrance, guest performances, and charity auction.
From the red carpet onwards, Ruan Yu and her co-host Wei Liao stationed themselves at the venue.
Wei Liao was a host from First Central Television and Luo Sheng’s childhood friend—they were close enough to share clothes. So when Luo Sheng strutted onto the red carpet in his floral suit, Wei Liao opened his arms and hugged him.
After hugging the male host, Luo Sheng fairly and naturally bent down to embrace the female host as well.
With so many cameras pointed at them, Ruan Yu couldn’t be shy and had to politely return his embrace.
“Did you like the flowers I sent?” Luo Sheng whispered in her ear.
So it was Luo Sheng who sent them!
Ruan Yu unconsciously froze for a moment, followed by an inexplicable sense of disappointment.
“You look quite disappointed, Host Ruan,” Luo Sheng patted her back.
“…”
Before Ruan Yu could respond, she saw a black Mercedes stop at the red carpet entrance. The door opened, and Teng Yi stepped out in a black formal suit.
After he stood still, he looked in Ruan Yu’s direction first.
From afar, they made eye contact with Luo Sheng between them.
Ruan Yu quickly pinched Luo Sheng, but by the time she pushed him away, Teng Yi had already averted his gaze.
The driver brought over a wheelchair, and Teng Yi helped Teng Hao out of the car.