Chapter 98: Five Kills
The arena battle not only tested the contestants' street dance skills but also their physical stamina and mental resilience. Teng Yi, originally the most favored among the team leaders, now drawing the first slot as the defending champion, added an unexpected twist. After all, in recent years, no defending champion in street dance arena battles had ever held their ground till the end. Fighting one against five was already a near-impossible feat, especially when the five opponents were no ordinary dancers but the strongest leaders from each team.
After Luo Sheng stepped off the stage, he joined the audience.
Standing in the front row with his teammates, he crossed his arms and watched Teng Yi on stage with a look of amusement.
Teng Yi started steadily, his dance moves and demeanor calm and composed, showing no trace of panic. But Ruan Yu could see the fire burning in his eyes.
That fire wasn’t fueled by fear—it was excitement.
To anyone else, the situation seemed like a crisis, but for Teng Yi, it might not be.
Ruan Yu remembered Teng Yi once saying, "What’s so remarkable about doing what everyone else can do? Only by accomplishing what others can’t can you create your own records."
And now, he was challenging himself to do just that—to make history.
Team Leader No. 2—eliminated!
Team Leader No. 3—eliminated!
Team Leader No. 4—eliminated!
...
In just a few minutes, three team leaders were knocked out one after another.
Teng Yi’s stunning comeback sent the audience into a frenzy, while his versatile and masterful dance skills left fellow dancers in awe.
Breaking, locking, popping—he excelled in every style, showcasing his strengths uniquely. The word "all-rounder" was embodied flawlessly in him once again.
The judges marveled, both intimidated by his prowess and curious about what more this young man had in store.
Then, Team Leader No. 5 stepped up.
Compared to No. 5’s relaxed demeanor, Teng Yi was already drenched in sweat, his temples glistening.
Team Leader No. 5 was also a breaking expert. His skills were on par with Teng Yi’s, but more importantly, he had 100% stamina to spare.
Like the tortoise and the hare, the outcome seemed predetermined.
But fortunately, while stamina and technique were crucial, mindset was the ultimate decider.
Team Leader No. 5 was arrogant. He believed Teng Yi, after three consecutive victories, was as physically spent as a frail old man and that seizing the champion’s spot would require little effort.
His opponent’s underestimation gave Teng Yi the opening he needed.
In a desperate counterattack, he capitalized on his rival’s mistake and defended his title with a flawless windmill.
One last battle!
Only one more to go!
On stage, Teng Yi yanked open his jacket’s zipper, pulled it off, and tossed it aside.
Underneath was a black T-shirt, already soaked and clinging tightly to his body, accentuating his lean, muscular frame.
Some girls in the audience began screaming.
Teng Yi loosened his T-shirt and threw off his baseball cap.
At this point, even the slightest weight of his clothing felt like a burden.
Someone tossed a bottle of water onto the stage. Teng Yi picked it up, unscrewed the cap, took a couple of sips, then poured the rest over his head...
Ruan Yu stood in the audience, her heart clenched into a knot.
To others, the young man on stage—with his slides, spins, and handstands—was a spectacle of brilliance. But to her, every move was a collision of bone and flesh against the floor, each impact a silent agony.She felt an overwhelming ache for him.
--?--
Teng Yi seemed to have entered a frenzied state. Despite his exhaustion, he appeared increasingly exhilarated, his excitement reaching its peak.
The final battle track was especially intense, carrying a grand, sweeping energy as if tailor-made for Teng Yi—every beat perfectly aligned with the moment.
The sixth team leader had initially thought himself lucky to draw the sixth spot, but now, he suddenly felt like the unluckiest one.
If he won, the audience wouldn’t acknowledge his skill—they’d only say the previous team leaders had drained Teng Yi’s stamina. If he lost, the crowd would sigh even more: How could he lose when Teng Yi was already worn out by the earlier battles?
Tough. So tough.
Distracted by these thoughts, the sixth team leader had already lost to Teng Yi in focus. He missed the rhythm several times, stepping off-beat. In contrast, Teng Yi, fighting with his back against the wall, no longer dazzled with his earlier flurry of moves—but he was rock-solid, his musicality never faltering.
“Teng Yi! Teng Yi!”
“Holy shit! Unreal!”
The crowd roared in encouragement.
Riding this momentum, Teng Yi held on until the very end. Only when the judges announced the sixth team leader’s elimination and Teng Yi’s successful defense did he finally collapse.
Five victories in a row!
The audience erupted into the most thunderous applause yet.
Even Luo Sheng and the others raised their hands high, clapping for Teng Yi with genuine admiration.
This moment deserved to be etched into the history of street dance, remembered by every dancer.
While the crowd buzzed with adrenaline, Teng Yi—the one who had created this electrifying record—simply lay flat on the stage, eyes wide open, breathing quietly.
The warm stage lights bathed him in a glow, making him look like a hero from a movie who had slain a dragon at great cost—his energy spent, as if the light might carry him away at any moment.
From afar, Ruan Yu watched Teng Yi, suddenly covering her mouth as tears cascaded down.
Moved.
Proud.
And even a little afraid.
A storm of emotions overwhelmed her, leaving her powerless to hold back.
Xiao Qing and Han Zuo clung to each other, their eyes also brimming with tears.
“We won! We won! We won!”
“Xi You won!”
It took a while before Teng Yi finally sat up.
The first thing he did was scan the audience for Ruan Yu. When he saw her sobbing uncontrollably, he immediately jumped off the stage.
The host had just moved to interview him, microphone in hand, when Teng Yi said softly, “Hold on—my girlfriend seems to be crying.”
The words, meant to be quiet, were amplified by the mic.
Teng Yi’s tenderness and care stood in stark contrast to his dominating stage presence moments ago. This contrast completely won over the female audience, who burst into applause once more.
Ruan Yu had been wiping her tears, but the more she tried, the more they fell. Through her blurred vision, she saw Teng Yi push through the crowd, vault over the front-row seats, and sprint toward her—before she knew it, she was wrapped in his arms.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, still panting, his chest burning against her.
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you crying?”
His question broke the dam all over again.
“I’m just… proud. My boyfriend is amazing !”
“That’s all?”
“Mhm.”
Teng Yi couldn’t help but laugh, his exhaustion vanishing instantly. He held her even tighter.“Silly girl.”
A soft murmur completely soothed Ruan Yu’s emotions.
She clung tightly to him, matching his deep breaths.
The scent of sweat on him made her feel grounded.
“Teng Yi.”
“Hmm?”
“I’m really, really, really proud of you!”
“Don’t rush. This is just the semifinals.” He remained clear-headed, neither arrogant nor impatient. “Wait until I truly win—then you can be proud.”
With that, Teng Yi released Ruan Yu, gave her a gentle head pat, and, at the host’s call, leaped back onto the stage.
It all felt like a dream, yet it was happening right before her eyes.
What an incredible spirit of street dance.
What an incredible Teng Yi.
After the Top 10 to Top 4 battle, Teng Yi earned himself a nickname: the All-Round War God.
This battle also firmly established his reputation as a powerhouse in the street dance scene. Regardless of the final outcome in the World Cup domestic qualifiers, his skills were undeniable.
Xi You secured the last spot in the semifinals, and now, the finals awaited.
The finals would be a group dance format, and choreography was Xiao Qing’s forte. To maximize the team’s strengths, mask their individual weaknesses, and truly unite them as one, Xiao Qing racked his brains relentlessly.
From song selection to choreography, from choreography to rehearsals, from rehearsals to adjustments—day and night, without rest.
Teng Hao tagged along daily, sometimes sneaking away mid-study session under the pretense of using the bathroom, only to secretly watch them rehearse for hours—unpredictable and impossible to guard against.
Ruan Yu occasionally grew curious about their progress, but the guys were always secretive, insisting on keeping it from her so that the finals would feel like a true surprise.
Since they wanted to keep it under wraps, she didn’t press.
Still, she couldn’t help but worry about them. Every time they buried themselves in the practice room, it was like they entered another world—obsessed, sometimes forgetting to eat or drink, collapsing from exhaustion wherever they stood.
Last night, when Ruan Yu got off work, the practice room was eerily silent. Puzzled, she quietly pushed the door open and peeked inside.
What she saw startled her.
The guys were sprawled haphazardly across the floor, fast asleep. Sleeping on the floor was one thing, but they were all in short sleeves, heedless of the cold.
Ruan Yu stepped in, found their discarded jackets, and carefully draped them over each one.
Teng Yi was a light sleeper; the slightest movement roused him.
Opening his eyes to see Ruan Yu, he smiled faintly and sat up.
“If you’re tired, sleep a little longer,” she whispered.
He shook his head, not wanting to wake the others, and gestured toward the door, signaling to talk outside.
She followed him out, carefully closing the door behind her.
Without the music, the hallway was unusually quiet.
“You haven’t slept properly in two days. Aren’t you exhausted?” She reached up, tenderly brushing his gaunt face.
“I’m fine.” Despite his words, he leaned into her.
Ruan Yu staggered under his weight, her back pressing against the wall as his presence enveloped her.
The atmosphere instantly turned intimate.
“Stop fooling around. You should be using this time to rest and recover,” she protested, pushing at him.
“Didn’t you already confirm that my stamina is more than enough?” He smirked mischievously.
Ruan Yu flushed. “Xiao Qing and his big mouth.”He buried his face in the crook of her neck, laughing, his hands already slipping beneath Ruan Yu’s clothes to grip her waist.
“Teng Yi…”
“I’ve been too busy lately—has it been too long since I kissed you?” He brought his lips close to hers.
Ruan Yu didn’t answer, only tightened her grip on his hands at her waist, afraid he might start misbehaving right there in the hallway.
“Do you want to?” he asked again.
“Want what?”
“For me to kiss you.”
“No.”
“Liar.”
Ruan Yu turned her head away, laughing.
Teng Yi pinched her chin and turned her face back to his, pressing his lips firmly against hers.
First, he smeared away her lip balm, then deepened the kiss, pouring all his longing into her and drawing out hers in return.
The kiss quickly became inseparable.
Ruan Yu wrapped her arms around Teng Yi’s neck, pressing her entire body against his.
Taking advantage, Teng Yi let his hands roam freely.
“Mmm.” Ruan Yu’s tongue tingled, almost cramping.
But Teng Yi remained effortlessly in control. Sensing her retreat, he softened the pressure of his tongue, no longer so domineering, gradually gentler.
Strange—how had his kissing skills improved even more despite training all day?
……
When the kiss ended, the two sat on the floor in the hallway, leaning against the wall, fingers intertwined, nestled close.
“The finals are coming up—are you nervous?” Ruan Yu asked.
“No. Do your best and leave the rest to fate.”
“Hard work pays off.”
“Like the top scholar?”
“I’m not as hardworking as you.” Ruan Yu rested her head on Teng Yi’s shoulder. “You’re the most hardworking person I’ve ever met.”
The lonely days and nights in the practice room had forged everything about him—and would forge his glory too.
So, in Ruan Yu’s heart, he was bound to succeed.
--?--
The qualifiers had been fraught with twists and turns from the start, but thankfully, they had overcome every hurdle. Just when they thought things would go smoothly from then on, fate had other plans.
The day before the finals, Lin Shan’s hand was unexpectedly injured.
And it was all tied to You Lexuan.
After breaking up with You Lexuan, Lin Shan had gradually grown closer to Chen Manbai. They kept in touch, but only as friends.
On Valentine’s Day, Chen Manbai mustered the courage to take Lin Shan’s hand, finally breaking through that barrier. After that, they officially started dating.
Lin Shan was reserved and quiet, while Chen Manbai, though lively, wasn’t the type to flaunt things. Both believed love was a private matter, not something to announce to the world, so their relationship remained low-key. Few on campus knew they were together—You Lexuan certainly didn’t.
Then, the day before the finals, You Lexuan suddenly saw Lin Shan and Chen Manbai walking hand in hand. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined her ex-boyfriend would end up with her nemesis.
In that moment, rage burned through her. She was convinced it was all Chen Manbai’s scheme—that she had deliberately broken them up. Though You Lexuan hadn’t even liked Lin Shan that much, she still felt betrayed and jealous.
“Hey! You cheating scum!” You Lexuan couldn’t resist rushing over to provoke them, completely forgetting that Lin Shan still had leverage over her. All her previous caution vanished without a trace.Chen Manbai was talking with Lin Shan when she completely failed to realize that the distant shout of "shameless couple" was directed at them. By the time she processed it, You Lexuan had already charged up to them.
"You fucking bitch! Stealing someone's boyfriend—you deserve to die!"
Screaming obscenities, You Lexuan shoved Chen Manbai before she could react, sending her stumbling into the middle of the road.
Cars whizzed past as Chen Manbai nearly collided with an oncoming vehicle. Lin Shan swiftly pulled her aside, and both tumbled onto the concrete pavement.
To shield Chen Manbai from injury, Lin Shan took the full impact beneath her. His elbow struck the ground hard, fracturing instantly.
Lin Shan groaned in pain while Chen Manbai stood frozen in shock. After a moment, she snapped back to reality and urgently called an ambulance.
Seeing the chaos she'd caused, You Lexuan tried to flee but was stopped by several witnesses who had seen everything.
"Call the police! Please help me call the police! She assaulted us!" Chen Manbai pointed at You Lexuan.
You Lexuan turned pale, terrified by what she'd done.
"I—I didn't mean to! I just—"
"Shut up, You Lexuan!" Chen Manbai seethed. "If anything happens to my boyfriend, I swear I'll sue you for this and what happened last time—until you're ruined!"
The ambulance arrived with blaring sirens, rushing the injured Lin Shan to the hospital. After X-rays, the doctor said, "It's not too bad—just a fracture."
But to Lin Shan, those words were a thunderbolt.
He had a match tomorrow—one that would determine whether their team could break into international competitions, one his teammates had poured their hearts into day and night.
A fracture?
How could he have a fracture?
How?
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