Chapter 66: The Dancer's Roots
The stage exploded with energy once again.
Ruan Yu was so mesmerized by Big Flower’s windmill spins that she couldn’t even blink.
Under the lights, this unremarkable-looking man truly bloomed like a vibrant flower, radiating passion.
Street dance had soul.
No matter how ordinary a person might seem, once they possessed such a free and focused spirit, they would become dazzling.
Ruan Yu couldn’t help but clap enthusiastically, the loud "clap-clap-clap" drawing Teng Yi’s attention as he turned to look at her.
He wore an amused, half-smiling expression.
Ruan Yu glanced at him, then at the crowd around them, only to realize that no one else was clapping. Instead, they were cheering and waving their hands in excitement, expressing their awe.
She was the odd one out.
Biting her lip, Ruan Yu’s clapping slowed before she awkwardly clasped her hands together and lowered them.
"Like this."
Teng Yi suddenly grabbed her wrist, lifting it and swaying it back and forth. Through the thin fabric of her cardigan, she could clearly feel the warmth of his palm. His thumb pressed against the end of her lifeline, skin against skin.
Ruan Yu quickly pulled her hand free.
Her face must have flushed red again, but thankfully, the dim lighting would hide it.
"In street dance battles, many hand gestures have special meanings," he explained, flicking his wrist. "Like this—it means the performance was amazing, absolutely killer."
"Like this?" Ruan Yu mimicked him, raising her arm and slightly curling her pinky and ring finger as she flicked her wrist.
"Right."
After a moment’s thought, Ruan Yu extended her hand toward him and repeated the gesture.
"Hmm?"
"I didn’t get to do it for you earlier. Consider this a make-up." Her expression was earnest.
Teng Yi watched her.
The lights flickered overhead, and the stud on her earlobe glimmered intermittently, like a tiny fish darting before his eyes.
Her hand remained in front of him.
For a moment, Teng Yi felt the urge to grasp that delicate, pale hand.
"Bro." Teng Hao called out.
Teng Yi snapped out of his thoughts.
"What?"
"Bi Chengjie doesn’t seem as impressive as I imagined."
Teng Yi didn’t respond, shifting his gaze back to the stage.
Big Flower’s performance had ended, and now it was Bi Chengjie’s turn. As the champion of the past two years, Bi Chengjie’s skills should have been outstanding. But today, his performance showed no significant improvement from before.
Clearly, he had neglected practice this year.
Then again, compared to the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry and the thrill of chasing fame, dance practice must have seemed dull and tedious. But as a street dancer, one must never forget their roots—the foundation of being a dancer.
Ruan Yu didn’t pick up on these nuances. All she heard were Bi Chengjie’s fans screaming their throats raw in support.
Suddenly, Big Flower made a "sleeping" gesture toward Bi Chengjie.
Ruan Yu didn’t understand its meaning, but before she could ask, Teng Yi explained.
"He’s provoking him."
The gesture was a silent challenge, questioning whether Bi Chengjie could step up his game.
Such provocations were common in street dance battles. Bi Chengjie remained unfazed, sticking to his rhythm, but his fans were visibly displeased.
"Who do you think will win?" Ruan Yu asked.
"Hard to say," Teng Yi replied cautiously.
In the end, Bi Chengjie won.
After all, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse.
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