Chapter 69: The Mire
Ruan Yu's footsteps faltered.
Teng Hao, walking behind her, unexpectedly bumped into her, his chin hitting the back of her head. It hurt her, and it hurt him too.
"What's the matter?" Teng Hao rubbed his chin, his expression a mix of irritation and confusion.
The competition results had been too disheartening, leaving them all in low spirits.
Ruan Yu didn’t respond and continued walking forward.
Teng Yi had already reached the entrance, with Fang Wan practically clinging to his back. She had one arm looped through his while her other hand patted his shoulder, murmuring something soft and soothing.
She must have been comforting him.
Ruan Yu’s emotions instantly grew complicated. She was still angry—angry on his behalf—but that feeling slowly sank to the bottom of her heart, replaced by a rising bitterness and sorrow.
She hated herself for feeling jealous at such a critical moment, but she couldn’t help it.
The crowd jostled her outside, where the sky had long since darkened.
The city lights glowed gold, and the chilly autumn wind pushed the clouds across the night sky, obscuring the moon and stars.
Teng Yi’s car was parked at the stadium entrance. He leaned against it now, one hand braced on the hood, the bauhinia flower on his sleeve pressed against the sapphire-blue paint, suddenly appearing more vivid.
Everyone gathered around him—aside from Xiao Qing and the others, there were also a few senior figures from the street dance scene.
Ruan Yu was pushed aside, ending up on the outermost edge.
The people in front of her were all tall and broad-shouldered, blocking her view of Teng Yi entirely.
She exhaled sharply and took a couple of steps back, sitting down on the steps. After all, she didn’t know what to say to comfort him. And besides, he didn’t need her words of consolation.
People continued to trickle out of the stadium. Some glanced at her as they passed, but she didn’t move.
Her gaze remained fixed on Fang Wan in the distance.
Fang Wan, as Teng Yi’s official girlfriend, stood naturally and gracefully by his side, accompanying him as he received everyone’s sympathies.
"Ruan Yu?"
A male voice suddenly sounded beside her.
It felt familiar, but she couldn’t immediately place it. She turned and saw a young man in a baseball cap standing behind her.
He was tall, dressed in a smoky-gray tracksuit, standing out cleanly amidst the colorful crowd.
"Don’t remember me?" he asked.
"Han Zuo," Ruan Yu accurately recalled his name.
The young man let out a relieved chuckle and joked, "Good, you remember. Otherwise, I’d have been embarrassed. You know, I’m someone who cares a lot about face."
Ruan Yu smiled.
"What are you doing here?" She stood up, facing him.
"Here to watch the pros dance, maybe learn a thing or two."
More people streamed out of the passageway. To prevent her from being bumped into, Han Zuo lightly guided her shoulder, signaling her to step aside.
They descended the steps and walked over to the flower bed.
"You dance too?"
"I do, but not as well as them," he said modestly. "What about you?"
"I’m just here to watch a friend compete."
Han Zuo nodded and casually asked, "Where’s your friend now?"
Ruan Yu turned to look in Teng Yi’s direction.
The crowd around him had dispersed. Someone had handed him a cigarette, and he was exhaling smoke rings, his gaze fixed on her from afar.
The night made his eyes look dangerous.
"Ruan Yu! Let’s go!" Xiao Qing waved at her.
Ruan Yu responded, then turned back to Han Zuo. "I have to go.""Wait a second." Han Zuo quickly stopped her. "Let's add each other on WeChat. I forgot to ask last time at the infirmary."
Teng Yi blew out a smoke ring.
He had started smoking in high school. His first cigarette was given to him by Sam—a foreign brand. He couldn’t remember the taste anymore, but he recalled the beige packaging with a long string of English letters and a little whale flicking its tail.
Back then, the pressure from dance practice and schoolwork had suffocated him. Sam told him smoking could relieve fatigue and sharpen his focus, so he picked it up. To hide it from his mother, Shen Bing, he would always take off his jacket before smoking, then brush his teeth and rinse his mouth afterward to eliminate any lingering smell. His mother never found out, but he didn’t keep it up for long—he quit when he realized the effort to mask the smell and deceive her was even more exhausting.
After that, he never smoked again.
Whatever he chose to do or not do, he could always persist or restrain himself perfectly.
Just now, a senior from the street dance circle, a friend of Sam’s, handed him a cigarette—the same brand as his first one. The scent hit him, and suddenly, the craving returned.
The restlessness and frustration inside him needed something to ease it. Smoking seemed like a decent choice.
Through the hazy smoke, he spotted the guy standing next to Ruan Yu.
Tall and straight-backed.
"Who’s that?" Teng Hao, beside him, asked.
"Can’t see clearly," Xiao Qing replied, then added, "Looks like love at first sight."
"How can you tell it’s love at first sight?"
"Kid, you wouldn’t get it." Xiao Qing patted Teng Hao’s nape. "Look at them—are they adding each other on WeChat?"
Teng Hao squinted.
Under the dark shadows of the trees, the guy in a baseball cap was holding up his phone, screen facing up, while Ruan Yu bent slightly toward him, phone in hand—clearly scanning his QR code to add him.
"Adding WeChat means love at first sight?"
"When two strangers suddenly exchange WeChat in a setting like this, what else could it be?"
"Tch." Teng Hao sounded displeased.
"Don’t ‘tch’ me. With your top-scorer girl’s slow-to-warm-up personality, do you think she’d add someone on WeChat unless she liked them?" Xiao Qing shrugged. "I mean, we’ve known each other this long, and I still don’t have her WeChat."
Beside them, Teng Yi stubbed out his cigarette.
Something felt off about the smoke today—the more he smoked, the more agitated he became.
"I have her WeChat," Teng Hao argued.
"You’re her little employer. Of course you do—it’d be weird if you didn’t. Ask your brother—does he have it?"
Teng Yi stayed silent.
He really didn’t.
"See?"
Teng Hao had nothing to say.
"Ha, today’s been weird, but at least it’s not a total loss. Our top-scorer girl might’ve scored herself a romantic encounter—maybe even a future relationship."
"Stop talking nonsense." Teng Hao’s brows furrowed.
Xiao Qing laughed and slung an arm around his shoulders. "What’s the matter, kid? Don’t tell me you’ve got a thing for your top-scorer jiejie?"
"No way!" Teng Hao’s face flushed as he shouted. "I have—"
He cut himself off mid-sentence.
"You have what? You have what?" Xiao Qing egged him on. "You’re secretly dating someone, aren’t you? Got a girlfriend?"
Teng Hao pinched Xiao Qing hard, then immediately glanced guiltily at his older brother, Teng Yi.Teng Yi seemed lost in thought, as if he hadn’t heard their conversation.
As the two were fooling around, Ruan Yu ran over, her phone clutched in her hand, the screen still lit with the WeChat interface displayed.
“Oho…” Xiao Qing teased.
“What’s wrong?” Ruan Yu asked.
“Nothing, nothing. As long as you’re happy.”
Ruan Yu was puzzled. She turned to look at Teng Yi, but he didn’t even glance at her before pulling open the car door and getting inside.
-_-
“Let’s go eat together,” Fang Wan said as she walked over. “To Chang’an Street. I heard Teng Yi likes it there.”
“Sure,” Xiao Qing agreed.
Fang Wan turned back and opened the passenger door of the Maserati, sliding into the seat.
The car started and sped off, its crimson taillights cutting a gash through the night.
Ruan Yu stood where she was, quietly watching Teng Yi’s car merge into the traffic.
“Let’s go.” Xiao Qing snapped his fingers in front of Ruan Yu, signaling for her to follow.
“I won’t go. I’m heading back to school.”
“Don’t be like that. Teng Yi’s in a bad mood today. Let’s all go together to cheer him up and take his mind off things.”
Ruan Yu hesitated.
“Come on, hurry up.” Xiao Qing waved his hand as if shooing a stray lamb.
Ruan Yu was afraid of seeing Teng Yi and Fang Wan being affectionate if she went, but she also couldn’t help worrying about him. In the end, she reluctantly got into the car.
Zhou Xihe had called for a business van, which fit everyone perfectly.
At night, Chang’an Street was bathed in shimmering lights, even more beautiful than during the day. But for some reason, Ruan Yu always felt strange whenever she came here.
Last time was the same. This time, too.
Teng Yi and Fang Wan had arrived first. Fang Wan had already ordered, and the restaurant owner stood patiently beside her, going over the menu one more time.
When Ruan Yu entered, the owner smiled at her.
“Come on, everyone, take a seat,” Fang Wan called out. “Teng Hao, sit next to your brother.”
Teng Hao sat down and pulled out a chair for Ruan Yu beside him.
“Oh my, you’ve grown up, turning into quite the gentleman—more and more like your brother,” Fang Wan remarked meaningfully.
Teng Hao wasn’t used to being teased, and his face flushed red again.
Ruan Yu set her bag down and stole a glance at Teng Yi from across Teng Hao. Teng Yi sat facing south, expressionless. Since they had arrived, he had kept his head down, swiping through a game on his phone.
At one point, someone called him, but he immediately hung up.
Dishes arrived one after another, and Cai Hong asked the owner for a case of beer.
“Boss, let’s drink until we drop tonight. When we wake up tomorrow, all this nonsense will be behind us,” Cai Hong said as he poured Teng Yi a drink.
“Cai Hong’s right,” Xiao Qing chimed in. “We won’t stoop to their capitalist level. Red Eagle is really something—ruining their own reputation like this. Their street dance competition won’t last beyond this year. Who in the dance scene would even participate after this? On the way here, I saw online that Bi Chengjie had already signed with Red Eagle. They planned this all along—to let him complete a three-peat, then package him as an idol and fully debut him.”
“If someone like him can get famous, I’ll livestream myself taking a shower,” Zhou Xihe said.
“Pfft, who wants to watch you shower?”
“Didn’t you just say I’m better-looking than him?”
“Just because I said you’re handsome doesn’t mean you can act like a pervert in public!”
“Hahahaha…”Teng Yi picked up the glass of liquor before him amidst the clamor and downed it in one gulp.
Teng Hao shot him a worried glance. He could still sense the simmering anger in Teng Yi. And who could blame him? After practicing so hard for this competition, only to end up as someone else’s prey—no one would be happy about that.
"Alright, enough bickering. It’s annoying," Fang Wan said, shooting a meaningful look at the group.
Xiao Qing immediately caught on. "Hey, we’re all rough around the edges—not great with words or comfort. Ruan Yu, you’re the top scholar here. Why don’t you say something on our behalf?"
-_-
Ruan Yu had been quietly eating when her name was suddenly called. Her chopsticks froze mid-air.
She looked up to find everyone at the table staring at her—including Teng Yi.
The soft glow of the overhead lamp and the distant sounds of oars and fishermen’s songs outside seemed to transport them back to that day—the day when it had been just the two of them here.
Ruan Yu grabbed the freshly opened beer bottle, poured herself a glass, and raised it toward Teng Yi. She took a sip, as if steeling herself.
"I’m not good at comforting people either," she said, her voice slightly hoarse from the alcohol. "All I know is that the world was never fair to begin with."
"Top Scholar, what kind of talk is that? You—" Teng Hao started, only to be cut off when Xiao Qing shoved a steamed bun into his mouth, silencing him.
Ruan Yu lowered her head slightly, her hair swaying at her temples.
"See? I told you I’m no good at this."
"It’s fine, just say whatever," Xiao Qing encouraged.
Ruan Yu nodded and turned her gaze back to Teng Yi.
He sat with his arms crossed, leaning against the chair, his expression as faint as the taste of beer in her glass.
"Today’s outcome took everyone by surprise, but that very surprise proves you were the one everyone rooted for. Your skills speak for themselves. And I’ve always believed that honors are just external things—real strength is what truly belongs to you."
Silence followed her words, then scattered applause broke out.
"As expected of the top scholar—so eloquent," Xiao Qing praised.
"Yeah, yeah, she’s got a point," Cai Hong and the others chimed in, nodding eagerly.
Teng Yi stood up, clinked his glass against Ruan Yu’s, and downed his drink again.
"Thanks," he said.
Ruan Yu smiled at him and was about to finish her own drink when her phone on the table buzzed.
A WeChat notification.
"Oho, the guy you just added is already messaging you?" Xiao Qing teased.
"It’s not what you think!"
"Then what is it?"
Xiao Qing leaned in, pretending to peek at the name on her screen. Ruan Yu hurriedly covered it with her hand, spilling half her drink in the process.
"Tsk tsk, so secretive. Just admit it already."
Flustered, Ruan Yu instinctively glanced at Teng Yi, only to find he had already sat back down and was now turned toward Fang Wan, deep in conversation.
And Fang Wan kept playfully punching his arm from time to time, clearly acting coquettish.
"Hey hey hey! What’s up with your hairstyles today?" Zhou Xihe suddenly piped up, as if just noticing Fang Wan’s dreadlocks. "Matching couple looks?"
The topic swiftly shifted, and the table erupted into teasing laughter.
Amidst the suggestive chuckles, Ruan Yu opened WeChat to see a photo from Han Zuo—a shot of the little rabbit plushie she always kept on her backpack.
It was a gift from her father."Is this yours?" Han Zuo asked.
"You dropped it on the ground earlier. You were running too fast—I didn’t even have time to call out to you." He sent another WeChat message.
Ruan Yu quickly checked her bag—sure enough, it was empty where the item should have been.
"It’s mine," she replied.
"Where are you? If it’s convenient, I can come to your school now."
"I’m on Chang’an Street."
"That’s too far. I can’t make it there right now. Can I bring it to you tomorrow?"
"Sure, thanks."
"No problem." Han Zuo sent a grinning emoji. "Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of this little bunny friend tonight."
Ruan Yu couldn’t help but smile at the words on her screen.
Screech—
The sound of chair legs scraping against the floor reached her ears. She looked up and saw Teng Yi standing.
-_-
"What’s wrong?" Fang Wan grabbed his arm.
"Going out for some air."
"I’ll come with you."
"No need."
Teng Yi shook off Fang Wan’s hand and walked out of the hall.
His tall figure soon melted into the night.
The others at the table exchanged glances.
"Boss is acting a little weird today," Cai Hong said.
"Right? He’s danced for years, competed in so many events—he’s never been the type to care about rankings. Normally, he’d be over it by now." Xiao Qing scanned the table. "Did any of you piss him off?"
No one answered.
Fang Wan stood up. "Keep eating, don’t worry. I’ll go check on him."
With that, she hurried out.
Outside, there was a river, a bridge over it, and a lone figure standing on it. Soon, that figure became two.
The night outlined their silhouettes—both wearing similarly oversized jackets, both sporting the same bold dreadlocks. They matched not just in appearance, but in presence too.
Silently, Ruan Yu grabbed the glass beside her and began downing drink after drink. She had never had alcohol before and didn’t know her limits, but right now, she felt like she needed it.
If she could get drunk, if she could forget everything—even better.
The others at the table chatted about tonight’s competition, about Bi Chengjie, occasionally slamming the table in indignation. No one noticed Ruan Yu.
With only a plate of peanuts to accompany her, she emptied two beer bottles.
Outside the window, Teng Yi and Fang Wan remained standing on the bridge.
Other pedestrians came and went, their figures overlapping, blurring the two into the background.
Ruan Yu stood up—her head heavy, her feet unsteady—and swayed violently before suddenly collapsing to the floor. A sharp pain shot through her backside, making her grimace.
"Hey! What happened?"
The guys at the table rushed over to her.
"I’m fine! I’m fine!" She waved them off, using Teng Hao’s arm to pull herself up. "I just need to use the restroom."
"Had too much to drink?" Xiao Qing picked up the empty bottles on the table. "You drank all this?"
"I— hic ."
A hiccup escaped her, answering for her.
"What were you thinking?" Teng Hao said, holding her at arm’s length with a look of disgust. "You gonna puke?"
"It’s not that bad. I just need to wash my face."
Ruan Yu pushed Teng Hao away and staggered to the restroom on her own.
The restroom had men’s on the left, women’s on the right, with a sink in the middle. A few lush potted pothos sat on the counter, and a mirror hung on the wall. In the reflection, her pale face stared back—utterly lifeless.Ruan Yu scooped a handful of water and splashed it heavily onto her face.
She hadn't meant to cry, yet tears slipped out under the cover of the cool water.
She bent her face under the faucet again, scrubbing vigorously. When she straightened up, the mirror suddenly reflected another person standing diagonally behind her, silently meeting her gaze in the glass.
It was Teng Yi.
"Why are you crying?" he asked.
"I'm not." She avoided his eyes, quickly washing her face again.
"Then why are your eyes so red?"
"Had some alcohol. It's nothing." She pulled tissues from her pocket, wiped her face, and hurriedly escaped the cramped space.
Teng Yi didn't stop her, standing there heavily.
Ruan Yu had already reached the corridor when she hesitated and turned back.
"Don't be sad. It's not worth it," she comforted.
He suddenly stepped toward her, the sharp scent of alcohol following his movement.
"Do you know what I'm sad about?"
-_-
Their shadows on the ground merged as he approached.
Ruan Yu stared into his pitch-black eyes, speechless.
"Teng Yi, the designated driver's here! Let's go!" Fang Wan's voice called out.
Teng Yi remained motionless, as if he hadn't heard.
Ruan Yu quickly retreated two steps, stumbling toward the main hall.
Everyone in the hall was standing, ready to leave. Teng Hao handed Ruan Yu her bag when she emerged.
"Are you okay?"
She shook her head.
Teng Yi came out moments later, his face freshly washed and still dripping wet, untouched by any towel.
Fang Wan immediately reached out with tissues toward his face...
Ruan Yu averted her gaze and was the first to step out of the hall.
The night had deepened, and the wind grew colder.
Back in the dorm, she buried herself under the covers and slept. When she woke the next morning, the alcohol's effects seemed lingering—her head throbbed painfully. She got up and took a shower.
By the time she finished, Jian Xiangxiang and the others were awake.
"Did you watch the Red Eagle Street Dance Competition livestream yesterday?" Jian Xiangxiang poked her messy-haired head out from the blankets.
Xia Qiaofeng nodded. "That Bi Chengjie is shameless. I used to think he was handsome."
"Teng Yi's so unlucky to encounter organizers like that. But every cloud has a silver lining—his firm stand against the rigging and walking away without looking back won him tons of fans online yesterday."
"Yeah, so many girls are screaming about having his babies."
"..."
Ruan Yu listened silently to their chatter. Though she'd witnessed everything firsthand, she found herself unable to contribute a single word.
Every cloud has a silver lining—she hoped Teng Yi saw it that way too.
Her mind flashed back to his cold expression last night.
"Do you know what I'm sad about?"
He'd asked her that.
No, she didn't know.
But then, did he know what she was sad about?
Ruan Yu gathered her books and quietly left the dorm. The hallway was peaceful, most still asleep.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket.
Pulling it out, she saw a message from Han Zuo.
A smiling sun emoji.
Ruan Yu had nearly forgotten—amid yesterday's chaos, she'd bumped into him, and her rabbit plushie was still with him.
"Morning. Is my bunny friend behaving?" she replied.
"Didn't cry all night. Very well-behaved."
Ruan Yu smiled, pondering her response when another message arrived.
"Planning to return it at noon. Will you be free to receive it?"
"Sure."The two settled on a time, and Han Zuo didn't reply anymore. Ruan Yu put away her phone and headed to the English corner.
The morning was packed with four consecutive classes. By the time they ended, Ruan Yu was starving. As she walked out of the classroom with Jian Xiangxiang and the others, ready to rush to the cafeteria, she suddenly spotted a familiar figure in the hallway.
Dressed in a casual sweater and jeans, he had a black backpack slung over one shoulder, hands tucked in his pockets, gazing up at the murals along the corridor.
Girls passing by couldn’t help but glance at him, though he seemed completely oblivious.
“Isn’t that Han Zuo?” Jian Xiangxiang noticed too.
“Looks like him,” Xia Qiaofeng replied.
“Oh no, is he here to expose us?” Chen Manbai turned and pulled the three roommates close. “Quick, let’s go the other way before he sees us.”
“He’s here for me,” Ruan Yu said.
-_-
Under the suggestive stares of her three friends, Ruan Yu walked toward Han Zuo.
Han Zuo had been standing still, but sensing her approach, he turned his head. The moment their eyes met, he smiled.
“Hi!”
“Weren’t we supposed to meet at the school gate?” Ruan Yu felt a little awkward.
Their classmates were all around, and Han Zuo already drew enough attention from the girls. Now that she stood next to him, even the boys were giving them curious looks. The suggestive glances made her uneasy.
“I remember.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I—”
“Han Zuo!” Their homeroom teacher, Cai Zhi, rushed out of the classroom, waving at him from a distance.
Han Zuo responded with a smile before glancing back at Ruan Yu.
Her face instantly flushed red—so he wasn’t here for her after all.
“You go ahead, I’ll catch up with you later.”
Ruan Yu wanted to escape, but Han Zuo caught her wrist.
“Wait, it won’t take long,” he said before heading toward Cai Zhi.
Turns out, Cai Zhi had left his flash drive at home—it contained all the lecture materials he needed for the afternoon class. With no time to retrieve it himself, he had called Han Zuo, who had no morning classes, to fetch it for him.
Han Zuo handed the flash drive to Cai Zhi, and after a brief exchange, they parted ways.
Ruan Yu’s face was still burning when Cai Zhi passed by. She deliberately turned her head away to avoid his gaze.
Han Zuo, standing behind her, caught the whole scene, his smile deepening.
The hallway gradually emptied as everyone headed off to satisfy their hunger—food was far more important than gossip at this point.
Han Zuo circled around to face Ruan Yu and pulled out a slightly worn rabbit plushie from his backpack.
“Here.” He held it out. “Returning it to its rightful owner.”
The little rabbit sat in his palm, its buck teeth smiling up at Ruan Yu.
“Thank you.”
Just as she reached for it, Han Zuo pulled his hand back, leaving her grasping at air.
“Just a verbal thanks? Shouldn’t you treat me to a meal?” His clear eyes glinted with mischief.
“Sure, what do you want to eat?”
He had helped her twice now. Even though his “heroic” intervention during the sports meet nearly backfired, his intentions were good. A meal was the least she could do.
“I heard the lamb rice noodles in your cafeteria are amazing.”
Ruan Yu nodded.The cafeteria recently opened a new stall called "Cui Hai's Noodles." Cui Hai is a person, and quite a famous one at that. Viewers who enjoy Liaocheng Technology Channel's community news programs know him well—he's a witty, outspoken, and responsible host. Cui Hai was also a former student of Yangshan University, and this time, leveraging his popularity, he opened a noodle shop on campus to give back to his alma mater. Rumor has it that all profits beyond operational costs go toward supporting financially struggling students.
Once the stall opened, teachers and students flocked to it, and their signature lamb rice noodles quickly became an internet sensation. Ruan Yu had visited a few times—the portions were generous, and the prices were affordable.
"It's really good, but the lines are always long."
"No worries, I'm not in a hurry."
"Alright, let's go then."
-_-
Teng Yi followed Tian Cheng out of the cafeteria.
Both wore slightly retro jackets, making them look less like teacher and student and more like friends.
"So, how was the viral noodle dish?" Tian Cheng asked, chewing on a toothpick as he glanced sideways at Teng Yi.
"Mhm."
"That's it? Just 'mhm'?"
"It was fine."
"Boss Teng, if you're so picky, why bother tagging along to the cafeteria with me?"
Teng Yi didn’t respond, walking silently beside Tian Cheng.
Just as Tian Cheng was about to change the subject, someone called out to him.
"Big Brother Tian!"
Tian Cheng looked up to see two figures approaching—one male, one female, both familiar faces.
It was Han Zuo and Ruan Yu.
"Well, well, you two… What brings you here?" What Tian Cheng really wanted to ask was why they were together.
"We’re heading to the cafeteria to try that famous viral noodle dish," Han Zuo replied, nodding at Teng Yi beside Tian Cheng.
Teng Yi didn’t know Han Zuo, but Han Zuo had long heard of Teng Yi. He had watched many of Teng Yi’s competitions online, and last night, to experience Teng Yi’s skills up close, he even bought a ticket to the live event. Though the outcome was unexpected, Teng Yi’s explosive performance made the ticket worth every penny.
"Great, go ahead—the crowd’s light right now," Tian Cheng said, patting Han Zuo’s shoulder. "Drop by when you’re free."
"Sure, see you around."
As the four passed each other, the lively chatter between Tian Cheng and Han Zuo masked the fact that the other two had their gazes fixed elsewhere, avoiding each other entirely.
"Where were we?" Tian Cheng asked.
"You were telling me not to follow you to the cafeteria."
"Oh, right. So why did you come with me today?"
"No reason."
Teng Yi’s mood seemed even gloomier than before, and Tian Cheng naturally attributed it to yesterday’s Red Hawk competition.
"I watched that match," Tian Cheng said. "Personally, I think it was your best performance yet."
Yesterday, on stage, Teng Yi had been flawless—not just in skill but in emotion. His unshakable confidence and proud demeanor carried a subtle hint of something else: a quiet desire to share, to be acknowledged. That cautious longing softened his dominance, mellowing his edge, making his street dance more than just a display of power and technique—it conveyed something richer, deeper."The process is more important than the outcome, and sometimes, hardships and unfairness help people grow more than smooth sailing ever could," Tian Cheng continued to console. "Besides, it's not like you gained nothing. At least this incident brought you a lot of attention—more than the champion or the competition itself."
"Why would people pay attention to me?"
"Because you're handsome. Not just your face, but the way you stood up against the rigging was even more impressive."
Teng Yi snorted.
That was exactly the problem.
A street dance competition ended with everyone focusing on the rigging and his looks, forgetting the charm of street dance itself. This kind of reversal of priorities wasn’t the result Teng Yi wanted.
"I get what you mean, and I understand your passion for promoting street dance. But these things take time. Everyone needs a process to accept new things. Look at it this way—people paying attention to you means they’re also paying attention to street dance, right? Don’t put too much pressure on yourself or overthink it. Take it slow."
The two walked from the cafeteria to the publicity office. Just as they entered the lobby, Teng Yi suddenly stopped.
"Oh, by the way, Teacher Tian, who was that person earlier?"
"Which one?" Tian Cheng was confused. Over a dozen students had greeted them along the way—how was he supposed to know who Teng Yi meant?
"The one who called you 'brother.'"
"Oh, him? That’s Han Zuo, the president of the street dance club at Hongshang University next door."
"Hongshang’s street dance club?"
"Never heard of it, right?" Tian Cheng chuckled. "That’s normal. There aren’t many real street dancers at Hongshang. Unlike Yangshan, where you have so many brothers to stick together, Han Zuo single-handedly keeps that club running."
Single-handedly running a street dance club.
It sounded a bit bleak, but also kind of cool.
Teng Yi suddenly remembered—this Han Zuo was the same person who had been talking to Ruan Yu outside Red Eagle Stadium last night. Though it had been too dark to see his face clearly, his height and build matched.
"Han Zuo is just like you—truly passionate about street dance. I remember back in high school, he’d carry a boombox after school, climb over the wall to practice in some shabby community hall. His family tried everything to stop him, but nothing worked. Once, he even broke his leg jumping the wall. Everyone thought he’d finally take a break, but as soon as the cast came off, he was back at it... A total dance fanatic."
Teng Yi fell silent for a moment.
"Teacher Tian, if he’s interested in 'Journey to the West,' tell him to come find me."
-_-
Ruan Yu and Han Zuo walked into the cafeteria together. The lunch rush was over, and as Tian Cheng had said, there weren’t many people left.
Jian Xiangxiang and her friends were just finishing up, clearing their trays to leave. When they saw Ruan Yu and Han Zuo, the three of them exchanged knowing glances, their smiles laced with mischief.
Han Zuo greeted them warmly, while Ruan Yu seemed distracted.
Her mind was full of Teng Yi.
Earlier, they had passed each other like strangers—no words, not even a glance. That distance made her ache.
She knew she was holding a grudge against Fang Wan, nursing jealousy without any right to. But what about Teng Yi? Why was he ignoring her? Had she done something to upset him?
"What do you want to eat?" Han Zuo asked beside her.
"Same as you," Ruan Yu replied.Han Zuo ordered two bowls of mutton rice noodles at the window.
The canteen chef worked swiftly, and the mutton rice noodles were ready in no time.
The two found a nearby seat and sat down.
"Chili? Vinegar?" Han Zuo asked again.
Even though it was her school's canteen, she somehow felt like a guest.
"Vinegar."
Han Zuo fetched the vinegar and handed it to her, then took some chili for himself.
The noodles were generously topped with a hearty portion of mutton piled high, making one's mouth water just looking at it.
Han Zuo drizzled a circle of chili sauce into his bowl and took the first bite.
"Mmm, not bad." He raised an eyebrow, his eyes brimming with satisfaction. "Eat up."
Once again, he had taken the host's role.
Ruan Yu smiled. "Are you close with Professor Tian Cheng?"
"Yeah, Brother Tian used to be my uncle's student. Now that he's graduated and returned to his alma mater, he's become my uncle's colleague. The two of them get along really well. Brother Tian often drops by my uncle's place for meals—we've known each other for a long time."
"Oh."
They both lowered their heads to eat their noodles. There were no other topics, but thankfully, it wasn’t awkward.
Han Zuo’s face was quite eye-catching, and girls kept glancing at their table, intentionally or not. The scene reminded Ruan Yu of Teng Yi—perhaps this was also one of the reasons Teng Yi rarely came to the canteen.
"You seem pretty popular," Ruan Yu said.
"Do I?"
"You didn’t know?"
Han Zuo looked up and scanned the room. The girls who met his gaze immediately buried their faces in their bowls, blushing.
"I don’t know what they like about me."
"Your face, probably." Ruan Yu chuckled. "It’s the era of judging by appearances, after all."
Han Zuo looked at her and suddenly set down his chopsticks. "Then, if I use this face to ask you out for meals in the future, would you say yes?"
His dead-serious expression made Ruan Yu’s heart skip a beat.
That sentence carried a lot of weight.
The early stages of attraction between a man and a woman are like condensation on glass—hazy and indistinct. Through that haze, everything seems beautiful. But once you wipe it away, who knows what’s left in the mirror?
Ruan Yu had never been in a relationship before. Sometimes she was painfully oblivious, other times overly sensitive.
With Han Zuo, it was the latter.
When he had asked to add her on WeChat, she had already sensed something, but she didn’t dare assume—after all, he was so handsome, and so many girls liked him.
But no matter what Han Zuo meant, the answer in her heart remained the same.
"I… don’t judge people just by their face," Ruan Yu said.
The implication was clear: she wouldn’t fall for someone at first sight just because they were good-looking.
She was being tactful, but Han Zuo understood immediately.
In adult social etiquette, anything less than an enthusiastic "yes" is a veiled rejection.
Han Zuo regretted it a little. Had he been too hasty? But in that moment, the atmosphere had been just right—if he hadn’t spoken up, he didn’t know when the next opportunity would come.
"I…"
"But we can have meals together again next time." Ruan Yu blinked. "Just meals."
"Okay." Han Zuo nodded with a smile, making no further attempts to salvage the situation.
He sensed Ruan Yu’s stance—a firm one.
The beauty hidden behind the haze, after all, doesn’t last.
The condensation fades, whether you wipe it away or not.
-_-
Han Zuo’s fleeting advance left Ruan Yu teased by her dorm’s gossip trio for days. At first, she tried to explain earnestly, but eventually realized it was pointless and simply let it be.It turns out that not only is loving someone exhausting, but being loved by someone you don't like is equally draining.
Ruan Yu struggled upward through this weariness, but every time she encountered Teng Yi, she was plunged back into the abyss. After the Red Eagle Street Dance Competition, the two of them had completely regressed into strangers.
Before, though they hadn’t been close, they could at least exchange greetings when they crossed paths. Now, when Teng Yi saw her, he didn’t even acknowledge her—he simply looked right through her.
Ruan Yu fumed. If he ignored her, then she certainly wouldn’t take the initiative to speak to him either.
But she was miserable.
Why did Teng Yi act like this? Why was he warm and gentle with everyone else, yet so cold toward her?
She didn’t want to like him anymore, but the more she struggled in this quagmire, the deeper she sank. Telling herself not to think about him was just another form of longing.
Ruan Yu could only try her best to avoid running into him.
When she went to the Journey to the West Street Dance Training Center to tutor Teng Hao, she stayed in the office, no longer joining the noise of the practice room or the late-night snacks in the break room. She arrived punctually every day and left right on time.
No one noticed her silent battle with herself—everyone’s attention was on Fang Wan.
Fang Wan had been showing up at the center almost every day lately, always bringing coffee or milk tea to win everyone over before seeking out Teng Yi. She watched him practice, stayed by his side when he rested, never leaving his side, as if afraid that if she let her guard down for even a moment, someone might snatch him away.
Ruan Yu and Fang Wan had crossed paths once—in the restroom.
At the time, they were the only two there. Ruan Yu nodded at Fang Wan in greeting, but Fang Wan, shedding her usual sweet and friendly demeanor, didn’t even glance her way.
Putting on an act in front of others, only to reveal her true self behind closed doors—it was startling to Ruan Yu.
But perhaps it was better this way, with the pretense stripped away. At least neither of them had to keep up the charade anymore.
By late October, Liaocheng was caught in an unbroken spell of autumn rain. Before the rains came, Journey to the West’s logo was finally completed and hung up, marking the imminent opening of the Journey to the West Street Dance Training Company.
During this time, Teng Yi was busier than ever. Between classes, dance practice, and an increasing number of social engagements, Ruan Yu had seen him carried back dead drunk more than once.
Her heart ached for him, but she knew she had no right to feel that way. The only thing she could do was watch him from afar, careful not to annoy him.
At the end of October, the university opened registration for the Mandarin Proficiency Test.
Ruan Yu was aiming for Level 1-A.
After the test reforms, achieving Level 1-A had become increasingly difficult. Several seniors who were also attempting it had enrolled in a Level 1-A training course at the Liaocheng Broadcasting Station Training Center.
Ruan Yu didn’t have the money, so she bought CDs to study on her own.
She became very busy too. The busyness kept her from dwelling on uncertainties and temporarily numbed the tangled emotions in her heart. But she knew that no matter how hard she tried, she could never go back to being the unflappable Ruan Yu she once was.
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