Almost Lover

Chapter 135 Competing for the Nation (Finale)

"I'd do anything for you, but I don't want to see you always getting hurt." Her fingers lifted the hem of Teng Yi's shirt as she examined the bruises on his back. "Look at you, practicing so hard lately—"

Ruan Yu's words trailed off.

Wait—had he just proposed to her?

She looked up at him, meeting his gaze filled with tender warmth, and instantly, a flush spread across her cheeks.

Teng Yi stepped forward, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her into his embrace.

"Little Fish, will you marry me?" he asked, his voice deep and earnest.

"Mr. Teng." Ruan Yu poked at the medicinal patch on his arm. "Are you seriously proposing with just a pain-relief patch?"

Teng Yi realized his mistake. Of course, a proposal shouldn’t be this casual. In truth, he had already prepared a ring and imagined countless ways to propose. But in that moment, swept up by the atmosphere, he couldn’t suppress the pounding in his chest and the words had slipped out.

"Sorry, I—"

Ruan Yu quickly pecked his lips.

"I do," she said.

Teng Yi grinned. "Anchor Ruan, just how much do you love me?"

"Let me calculate." She mimed counting on her fingers before locking eyes with him. "I love you way, way more than you think."

Teng Yi cupped the back of her head and kissed her firmly, then—deciding it wasn’t enough—planted kisses on her forehead, cheeks, and neck.

It tickled.

Ruan Yu squirmed in his arms, burying her face against his chest to escape.

"Little Fish, why do you love me so much?"

"Because you’re good to me. In this world, aside from Dad and Grandpa, you’re the one who treats me the best."

From the very first instant noodles he made for her, to every act of tenderness and devotion that followed—she remembered them all. He had shown her that she was worthy of love, and made her believe that even the most barren life could bloom, as long as she met the right person.

"Ruan Yu, for the rest of our lives, I’ll treat you even better."

After the proposal, Teng Yi began preparing for their wedding. Coincidentally, Teng Hao and Yun Shen were also planning to marry, so the four of them decided to hold a joint ceremony.

None of them were ostentatious by nature, nor did they want their private affairs to consume public attention. They unanimously agreed on an elegant, low-key celebration.

Ren Tianhai initially objected, insisting on a grand spectacle. But after Yun Shen’s persuasion, he gradually came to understand their perspective.

In youth, people often feel the need to proclaim their love to the world, as if more blessings would bring more happiness. But in truth, happiness is simply a feeling within—at its grandest, it’s still just a matter between two people. Those who are truly content don’t fuss over external validations, nor do they put on a show.

Before the weddings, Teng Yi and Teng Hao moved into neighboring villas within the same community, ensuring they could support each other. After marriage, Teng Yi continued dancing, Ruan Yu remained an anchor, Yun Shen still played the piano, and Teng Hao managed the company as always...

The fairytale ending might seem ordinary, yet it was the kind of ordinariness that inspired envy—because the people they loved and the passions they cherished were always by their side.

The following spring, "L" and "Journey West" officially merged, rebranding as "Dance Home.""Dance Home" became the top street dance crew in Liaocheng and even all of China.

That same year, at the Street Dance World Cup, the four members of "Dance Home"—Teng Yi, Luo Sheng, Han Zuo, and Xiao Qing—secured victory in the national qualifiers and headed to South Korea to compete in the global event.

Ruan Yu happened to be on vacation at the time, so she accompanied them.

Among the four, only Luo Sheng had prior competition experience. Unfortunately, his team had underperformed back then, failing to even make the top five—a regret that had weighed heavily on him.

For Teng Yi, Xiao Qing, and Han Zuo, this was their first time competing in the Street Dance World Cup. When they received their team jerseys, seeing the national flag on their chests and the word "China" on their backs, they were instantly filled with fervor and pride.

Representing their country—this was what it meant to stand tall with honor.

The World Cup lasted a week. Teng Yi and his crew battled against international dancers, advancing triumphantly through each round, showcasing the extraordinary skill and charisma of Chinese dancers on the global stage.

In the final crew battle, their performance—infused with elements of Chinese martial arts and Tai Chi—earned them the world championship title.

Years of perseverance, passion unyielding. Tempered through countless trials, their dreams remained unbroken.

Finally, he had done it. They had all done it.

The four men embraced tightly on stage, laughing and crying. Back home, their brothers flooded the group chat with celebratory messages, sharing in the joy.

When the host interviewed Teng Yi, his eyes brimmed with tears as he spoke at length. He thanked street dance for giving him a dream to chase and his brothers for standing by him on this journey.

Finally, Teng Yi raised his hand, flashing the wedding ring on his finger. His gaze cut through the crowd, landing firmly on Ruan Yu.

He said, "For this, my heart remains unchanged. For you, my devotion is unwavering."

Tears streamed down Ruan Yu’s face in the audience.

In this fleeting life, to love one person and chase one dream—that is how one lives without regret, making every moment count.

May everyone find their passion, pursue it with all their might, ride the winds of their dreams, and never look back.