Chapter 74: The Challenge
"They say it's the melancholy of autumn's solitude / They say it's the longing of distant seas / If someone asks about my sorrow / I dare not speak your name..."
Teng Yi sat on a classroom desk, with Xiao Qing leaning beside him, engrossed in a game on his phone.
A familiar female voice recited a short poem over the broadcast.
"I dare not speak your name / If someone asks about my sorrow / They say it's the longing of distant seas / They say it's the melancholy of autumn's solitude."
Xiao Qing suddenly nudged Teng Yi with his elbow.
"Hey, isn’t that your top scholar’s voice?"
"Whose top scholar?" Teng Yi replied coldly.
Just thinking about that woman made him angry.
She had left without a word that morning, despite him getting up early to make her breakfast. When he knocked on her door, he found the room spotless—every piece of clothing she’d worn, every towel she’d used, all washed and hung out to dry. It felt so distant, as if she was deliberately drawing a line between them.
"Teng Hao’s top scholar, which basically makes her yours," Xiao Qing said.
Teng Yi stayed silent.
"Hey, my literature isn’t great—what’s this little poem about? Love?"
"No idea."
"Sounds like it to me. Seems your top scholar’s got something going on lately. Wonder how things are progressing with that guy she fell for at first sight?"
Teng Yi stood up abruptly and kicked the trash can near the podium.
"What’s taking Zhou Xihe so long? Every time he goes to the bathroom, it’s like he’s gone missing."
Sensing his foul mood, Xiao Qing quickly pulled out his phone. "I’ll hurry him up."
Before he could dial, Teng Yi’s phone rang first.
He glanced at the caller ID—Cai Hong.
"Yeah?"
"Boss, someone’s looking for you. When are you coming over?"
"Who is it?"
Cai Hong gave a name, and Teng Yi’s expression instantly darkened.
"I’ll be right there. Tell him to wait." He hung up.
Before Xiao Qing could even reach Zhou Xihe, Teng Yi was already striding out of the classroom. Xiao Qing hurried after him.
"Teng Yi, where are you going?"
"Back to the studio."
"Weren’t we supposed to grab lunch? You’re not eating?"
"Not anymore."
Teng Yi rushed down the stairs.
Over the broadcast, Ruan Yu’s voice continued, but he didn’t have time to listen. He sprinted to the school gate where his car was parked, got in, and drove straight to the West Journey Dance Studio.
The studio hadn’t officially opened yet, so whoever was free during the day would drop by—usually Cai Hong managed things.
As soon as Teng Yi entered, he spotted a tall figure standing by the floor-to-ceiling window.
The visitor was studying the "West Journey" sign with keen interest, staring at it for a long time without looking away. Only when he heard Teng Yi’s footsteps did he turn around.
It was Han Zuo.
The same Han Zuo who had exchanged WeChat with Ruan Yu and gone to the cafeteria with her.
"Hello," Han Zuo greeted with a smile. "I’m Han Zuo."
"Teng Yi," he replied.
The two shook hands briefly.
"Teacher Tian Cheng recommended I come here. He said this is the hub for street dance enthusiasts, so I thought I’d check it out." Han Zuo seemed a little shy.
"I know." Teng Yi took off his jacket, draping it over his arm, then jerked his chin toward the second floor. "Come on, let’s go upstairs and battle."
Han Zuo blinked in surprise. A challenge right off the bat?
"Battle who?"
"Me."Teng Yi headed upstairs, signaling for Han Zuo to follow.
Han Zuo immediately grew excited. When it came to street dance, he had many dreams—one of which was to battle Teng Yi. No doubt, this was also the dream of many dancers in Liaocheng.
Facing off against a strong opponent was a form of communication, as well as a way to learn.
The two went upstairs.
"What style do you usually dance?" Teng Yi asked.
"Hip-hop. I’m better at hip-hop, but I also do breaking."
"Then let’s go with hip-hop."
His tone was casual, yet carried an inexplicable confidence.
Han Zuo felt his competitive spirit ignite. Though he knew Teng Yi was skilled, he also had faith in his own hip-hop abilities. This time, he might not lose to him.
Cai Hong, hearing footsteps, rushed out of the practice room.
"Boss, you're here!"
Teng Yi nodded and asked, "Is Lin Shan around?"
"Yeah."
"Get him out here to help judge."
"What? You guys are battling?"
"Yeah."
Cai Hong glanced at Han Zuo, then back at Teng Yi.
"Then I’ll be the judge," Cai Hong said, sidling up to Teng Yi and whispering so only he could hear, "Boss, this guy seems like trouble. If I judge, I can go easy on you when it counts..."
Teng Yi grabbed the back of Cai Hong’s neck and gave it a firm squeeze.
Cai Hong yelped in pain.
"Boss! Boss! I was wrong! I admit it, okay?!"
"Go get Lin Shan. Now."
"Right, right, right..." Cai Hong scrambled away, shouting toward the practice room at the end of the hallway, "Shanzi! The boss wants you!"
Lin Shan emerged at the call.
Compared to the sly, mischievous Cai Hong, Lin Shan’s demeanor and personality exuded steadiness.
"That’s Lin Shan," Teng Yi introduced to Han Zuo. "Runner-up in Liaocheng’s one-on-one hip-hop competition, invited judge for the Super K University Street Dance Contest. He’s completely fair."
He emphasized the word "fair."
Han Zuo understood—Teng Yi was saying, Don’t worry, we won’t gang up on you.
"Hi, I’m Han Zuo," he greeted Lin Shan with a smile.
Lin Shan remained expressionless, giving only a slight nod before turning and heading into Teng Yi’s practice room first.
"Don’t mind him, that’s just how he is," Teng Yi explained.
"Yeah, usually he’s as quiet as a sealed jar, but when he dances, he’s a whole different person," Cai Hong added.
"I don’t mind," Han Zuo said, still smiling.
Why would he? Just meeting these legendary dancers in person was enough to make his day. What more could he expect—a warm hug? That would be weird!
They all entered the practice room.
Teng Yi’s space was huge. Han Zuo estimated it could fit about thirty people dancing at once.
Bright lights, wide mirrors, top-notch sound equipment—everything was even more impressive than he’d imagined.
"Cool!" Han Zuo gave a thumbs-up.
"Of course it’s cool! And it’s only gonna get cooler!" Cai Hong boasted proudly.
"Let’s go."
—?—
Teng Yi tossed his jacket aside and exchanged a glance with Lin Shan.Lin Shan walked over to the computer.
“Random song. You’ll both dance to the same one. For fairness, rock-paper-scissors to decide the order.”
“I’ll go first,” Teng Yi interjected.
“Boss…” Cai Hong started to speak but was cut off by a sidelong glance from Teng Yi.
Teng Yi knew what Cai Hong wanted to say—dancing to the same song meant the second dancer could familiarize themselves with the melody, so going first was always at a slight disadvantage.
“I don’t care about the order,” Han Zuo retorted, unwilling to back down.
“Guests first,” Teng Yi said.
And just like that, the order was decided.
Lin Shan randomly searched for a music library online and blindly selected a song—a classic by Han Baoyi, somewhat dated but widely recognizable, with an especially upbeat melody.
"Summer, summer quietly passes by / Leaving behind little secrets / Buried deep in my heart, deep in my heart / I can’t tell you / The evening breeze warms my heart / And I think of you again / So sweet, so sweet / How could I forget..."
Cai Hong instinctively started singing along.
Lin Shan and Han Zuo, meanwhile, kept their eyes fixed on Teng Yi.
Everyone knew Teng Yi’s breaking was flawless in every aspect, but hip-hop and breaking were entirely different styles of street dance. Hip-hop didn’t require the same level of technical skill as breaking—it emphasized natural flow and musicality. For a dancer to excel in both styles was no easy feat.
Teng Yi adapted to the music within seconds. With lively steps, he moved to the center of the practice room, his initially serious expression gradually softening with the rhythm.
Musicality, groove, and freeze poses—he executed them effortlessly. As the music swelled, he seamlessly transitioned between speed changes, moonwalks, and several complex waves.
The coordination and control of his movements left even Lin Shan in awe.
Truly, excellence in one area often meant excellence in all.
“Wow!” Cai Hong was hyped. “Boss, you killed it!”
A look of admiration flickered in Han Zuo’s eyes, but he wasn’t intimidated by Teng Yi’s presence. If anything, such a formidable opponent only strengthened his resolve to win.
Once Teng Yi finished, Han Zuo took the floor.
Lin Shan had never heard Han Zuo’s name before and had assumed he was just another newcomer. But he quickly realized he was wrong.
Han Zuo’s musicality and dance sense were on par with Teng Yi’s. His movements were varied and fluid, devoid of any rookie awkwardness or hesitation. Instead, they exuded confidence and a solid foundation.
Sharp splits, seamless transitions between styles—every move was eye-catching.
“Wow!” Cai Hong slapped Lin Shan’s shoulder. “Dude, you’re in trouble now!”
Lin Shan knew it too. How was he supposed to judge a match this evenly matched?
“Uh… let’s do another song,” Lin Shan said, immediately switching tracks.
"Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia / Curry, bak kut teh, Indonesian basil leaves / Spa, fireworks, sauna / Coco, pineapple, mango, mango / Pattaya’s sunshine is scorching hot / Melons, beer, scenery like a painting / Night market, seafood stalls, pool parties / Doo-doo-doo-doo, what’s up, what’s up..."
Teng Yi: “…”
Han Zuo: “…”
Lin Shan: “…”
“What the hell is this?” Cai Hong rolled her eyes.
--?--Xiao Qing and Zhou Xihe arrived at the base after finishing their meal. As soon as they entered, they heard an oddly infectious song drifting down from upstairs.
"Curry curry, just a little touch / Curry curry, spicy hot..."
Zhou Xihe, walking ahead, instinctively swayed her hips to the music, and Xiao Qing, in perfect sync, began swaying her waist as well. The two of them bobbed their heads and danced their way up to the second floor, moving to the rhythm.
Inside the practice room, Teng Yi and Han Zuo were locked in an intense dance battle. Xiao Qing and Zhou Xihe joined the crowd of spectators.
This invisible battle between romantic rivals had initially seemed like it might turn tense, but unexpectedly, Lin Shan's unfortunate song choice had turned it into something far more lighthearted.
Of course, this kind of spontaneous joy was part of the charm of street dance.
Even after the dance-off, Lin Shan still couldn't decide who had won. So the battle continued, song after song, until stamina became a crucial factor in determining the outcome.
"Why is Lin Shan so stubborn? Boss is usually so good to him. If he really can't decide who won at a critical moment, he should just let Boss win," Cai Hong whispered into Xiao Qing's ear.
"You don't understand. That's exactly Lin Shan's charm—and the reason Teng Yi likes him."
"..."
In the end, the spectators all drifted off for their afternoon naps, and even the judge disappeared. Yet Teng Yi and Han Zuo still hadn't settled their duel.
The spacious practice room echoed with music as the two lay sprawled on the floor, panting heavily.
"Not bad. You're really good," Teng Yi complimented Han Zuo.
"Your hip-hop is impressive too," Han Zuo replied sincerely.
For a long time, Han Zuo had harbored a dislike for the term "all-around dancer." He believed that being all-around meant spreading oneself too thin, dividing training time, which could only lead to one result: mediocrity.
Today, Teng Yi had completely shattered that prejudice.
It turned out that being all-around could truly mean excelling in everything.
"By the way, I forgot to ask earlier—do I get to join if I win or if I lose?" Han Zuo turned his head to look at Teng Yi.
Instead of answering, Teng Yi asked, "Why do you love street dance?"
Han Zuo wiped the sweat from his temple and stared at the ceiling light, thinking for a long time.
"Maybe... because street dance changed me. When I was a kid, I had terrible grades. I was introverted, insecure, and avoided talking to people. My parents were afraid I'd become socially withdrawn, so whenever they had time, they'd take me out to the streets. That's where I first encountered real street dance."
Han Zuo still remembered that male dancer—long, curly hair, tattoos. His mother had instinctively wanted to avoid someone like that, but when the dancer noticed Han Zuo's furrowed brow, he started doing robot moves right in front of him to cheer him up.
Back then, Han Zuo didn’t know what "popping" was—he just thought the dancer looked amazing. But what left an even deeper impression was the dancer’s fearless freedom from societal judgment and his genuine, warm kindness.
That was when Han Zuo first felt the desire to learn street dance.
When he truly stepped into that world, he realized how vast and extraordinary it was—far beyond anything he’d imagined.
His parents often said that after he started dancing, he became a different person. The boy who once struggled to focus on anything became obsessed, dedicated, confident, and brave.
At its core, street dance is about release, expression, and finding oneself."Because I love it, that's why I can keep going. I often think I could dance for a lifetime," Han Zuo said with emotion.
Teng Yi was drawn into his reminiscence, deeply moved, and remained silent for a moment.
The two lay quietly on the ground.
After a while, Teng Yi suddenly sat up.
"Do you have a girlfriend?" he asked, looking at Han Zuo.
"Well... is there a reason for asking?" Han Zuo was puzzled.
"No reason, just curious. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to."
"It’s not a big deal, just a bit embarrassing to talk about," Han Zuo chuckled. "Lately, I’ve taken a liking to a girl, but she won’t even let me pursue her."
"Won’t let you?"
"Yeah."
Teng Yi froze, processing the words for a few seconds before suddenly leaping to his feet and sprinting out.
As he ran, he tossed back a remark.
"Han Zuo, welcome aboard."
OpenNovel