Chapter 88: Wang Jingyao
The grand finale of the event featured Ren Yun Shen and Teng Hao.
From the moment she learned about this promotional activity, Ren Yun Shen had expressed her desire to contribute. Soon after, she roped in Teng Hao, and the two spent hours huddled over their phones, whispering secretively as if planning some extraordinary surprise.
Today, that surprise was finally unveiled.
It turned out that Yun Shen intended to perform a live piano accompaniment for Teng Hao’s dance.
The bold fusion of piano music and street dance was already eye-catching on paper, and when paired with the striking visuals of the handsome boy and beautiful girl, the appeal was undeniable.
For this performance, Ren Yun Shen had specially arranged for a piano to be transported from a nearby music store.
The moment the two appeared, the noisy crowd fell silent as if struck by a chemical reaction.
Beside the murmuring fountain, the girl in a white knit dress took her seat at the black piano, then turned to glance at the boy beside her. They exchanged a smile.
The piano notes pierced through the sound of flowing water, slowly weaving into the air.
It was a piece by Richard Clayderman.
The softness beneath the girl’s fingertips intertwined with the strength in the boy’s movements… The scene was so beautiful it was intoxicating to behold.
“Who is that?” Sam pointed at Teng Hao, looking astonished. “Your little brother?”
Teng Yi smiled and nodded.
That was indeed his little brother.
“Amazing!” Sam marveled.
In Sam’s memory, Teng Hao had always been that little kid trailing behind Teng Yi, whining to learn dance with his brother, then complaining about how tough it was. Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, the kid had grown up—not just grown up, but become a dancer capable of holding his own.
Though Teng Yi didn’t say it aloud, he too was quietly impressed. Teng Hao had made remarkable progress recently, and today’s performance was particularly outstanding. Perhaps it was because of Ren Yun Shen’s presence beside him, but Teng Hao’s entire aura radiated gentleness. Yet this gentleness didn’t diminish the power of his breaking; instead, it softened the edges of his strength, allowing his technique and footwork to blend seamlessly with the piano melody.
Other dancers in the street dance circle also praised Teng Hao enthusiastically.
While the boys were busy analyzing Teng Hao’s dance skills, the girls’ gazes lingered on Ren Yun Shen.
Beneath the warm sunlight, Yun Shen’s fair face glowed, her eyes sparkling like pearls. Her slightly curled long hair brushed against her white sweater, swaying with the breeze. Though usually somewhat shy, the moment she sat before the piano, she became poised and confident, as if illuminated from within.
Her gaze shifted between the black-and-white keys and Teng Hao…
“That girl is just too beautiful,” Chen Manbai murmured, staring at Yun Shen. “Even I, a woman, want to pursue her.”
“Right? Me too, me too. I feel like I’ve been turned,” Xia Qiaofeng chimed in. “Not only is she gorgeous, but she also looks like she comes from a distinguished family—so elegant.”
“Ruan Ruan, is it true she can’t speak?” Jian Xiangxiang whispered.
Ruan Yu nodded.
“What a shame. God really loves playing jokes.”
Ruan Yu stayed silent.
She believed Yun Shen could speak—at least in this moment. There was no barrier between her and Teng Hao. Everything she wanted to say, her admiration and secret affection, were all conveyed through her music.
She could only hope Teng Hao understood.
--?--A passerby captured a video of Teng Hao and Yun Shen performing together, and this clip brimming with youthful energy gained some popularity online for a while.
Teng Hao instantly became a celebrity at his school, receiving love letters from girls every day until his hands were sore. Of course, many boys also approached him to ask about Yun Shen or request her contact information, but he turned them all away.
He claimed it was to protect Yun Shen, but how much of that protection was driven by personal motives—only he knew.
After the "Bring Street Dance Back to the Streets" event, more and more people wanted to learn street dance, and the West Journey Dance Studio bustled with activity daily. Among the new sign-ups, most were boys, with girls making up only a small fraction—and even among those few, many had ulterior motives.
On Saturday, as soon as Ruan Yu entered West Journey, she saw Teng Yi surrounded by a group of female students.
"Boss, can you teach me personally?" one of them, a girl with blue hair, teased him playfully.
Teng Yi remained unfazed. "Sorry, the boss only teaches the boss's wife."
"Where's the boss's wife then?"
His gaze landed on Ruan Yu.
"The one who just walked in."
Instantly, all eyes turned toward Ruan Yu.
"The boss's wife is so pretty! I’m so jealous!" the same girl who had joked earlier exclaimed loudly.
Ruan Yu felt a little embarrassed. She smiled and nodded at everyone before quickly heading upstairs. Once there, she entered Teng Yi’s practice room, reading a book while waiting for him.
About half an hour later, Teng Yi came up as well.
"All settled?" Ruan Yu asked.
"Yeah."
"Who’s teaching the girls’ class?"
"Han Zuo."
Ruan Yu chuckled.
"What’s so funny?" Teng Yi sat down beside her, both of them leaning against the mirror.
"Having to hand over such a ‘desirable’ task to someone else—does it bother you?" she asked.
"Who’s ‘Bother’?" He wrapped an arm around her. "There’s only you in my heart."
First, he fed her a cheesy pickup line, then leaned in, covering her with kisses.
Ruan Yu covered his mouth.
"Really only me?"
"Mhm."
"What about street dance?"
Teng Yi’s eyes curved into a smile. Bracing one hand on the floor, he used the other to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, looking down at her.
"What? Are you jealous of street dance now?"
"What if I am? Who do you like more—me or street dance?"
Teng Yi thought carefully.
This question was practically on par with "If your mom and I were both drowning, who would you save first?" He genuinely didn’t know how to answer. Saying he liked her would sound too perfunctory, while saying he liked street dance was obviously not an option.
"That hard?" Ruan Yu pouted.
"Do you know why I like you?" Teng Yi suddenly shifted the question.
"Why?"
Ruan Yu was curious too. She had always wanted to ask but never got the chance. Now that he brought it up himself, it was the perfect opportunity to clear her doubts.
"The rooftop."
"Again with the rooftop?"
Teng Yi nodded.
He wasn’t sure if it counted as love at first sight, but ever since that first encounter on the rooftop, he couldn’t forget her. It wasn’t her face he remembered, but her unyielding spirit. To him, that version of Ruan Yu was just like himself—exhausted yet rising again and again in the practice room.
Because of that similarity, he felt an extra layer of curiosity and attention toward her.This thread of curiosity and attention gradually led him to discover a more complete and beautiful Ruan Yu—intelligent, kind, persistent, and hardworking.
Teng Yi often felt that if he didn’t have his own passions and wasn’t striving for his dreams with the same dedication, he wouldn’t be worthy of someone like her.
And his persistence and effort stemmed from his love for street dance.
So, his affection for her and his passion for street dance were intertwined.
If one day he lost his enthusiasm for street dance, it would mean the fire in his heart had gone out, his soul extinguished. And that version of him would no longer have the right to love her.
"You and street dance—neither is above the other. I will love street dance for a lifetime, and I will love you for a lifetime."
Ruan Yu really did start learning street dance from Teng Yi.
At first, she just thought the girls in Han Zuo’s class looked especially cool when they danced, so she secretly asked Han Zuo how difficult it was to learn. Somehow, those words found their way to Teng Yi’s ears.
That very evening, Ruan Yu was dragged into the practice room by Teng Yi.
“The boss’s wife wants to learn street dance?”
“I was just asking.”
“Why didn’t you ask me?” Teng Yi’s expression was sour.
“You’re so busy.”
After the base officially opened for classes, Teng Yi actually had less time to stay there. He was constantly running around outside—the business bureau, tax office, bank, job fairs… too busy to catch his breath. After all, leading a company was different from leading a club.
“Are you complaining that I’m too busy?” He pinched Ruan Yu’s cheeks. “It’ll get better after this busy period.”
“Mm, I know. The beginning is always the hardest. You focus on your work—I won’t disturb you. I can just sit in on Han Zuo’s classes.”
“No. The boss’s wife can only be taught by the boss. I’ll make time.”
Teng Yi kept his word. From then on, he set aside time every day to teach Ruan Yu how to dance.
Ruan Yu had always thought of herself as someone with a sharp mind but clumsy limbs. To her surprise, she had decent coordination and a natural talent for dance.
The only problem was that Teng Yi wasn’t the most reliable teacher. He often got handsy mid-lesson—hugging, kissing, or pinning her down became a mandatory part of the curriculum.
Despite his questionable “teaching ethics,” he had his own impressive skills. Under his guidance, Ruan Yu quickly learned a full routine.
It was a dance Teng Yi choreographed for her, with movements leaning toward a cool, stylish vibe. Ruan Yu, who usually carried herself with delicate grace, dancing in this style was like a lady who always wore flowing dresses suddenly donning a sharp suit—a stark contrast, but one that carried a striking, unexpected charm.
In the days right after learning it, Ruan Yu would drag Teng Yi to dance with her multiple times a day. At first, her movements weren’t that polished, so Teng Yi would follow her rhythm from behind. Every time the music started, she’d stare seriously at her reflection in the mirror, while he’d gaze at her with nothing but adoration… like a parent, a knight, or a prince.
Gradually, Ruan Yu grew familiar with the music and the moves, no longer needing him to accommodate her. The two could dance in perfect sync, like seasoned partners, creating both harmony and beauty.
After every session, Ruan Yu would grin foolishly at the mirror for a long time.
“What are you grinning about?” Teng Yi asked.
“I feel like I could go busk on the overpass now,” Ruan Yu said.
“Didn’t you want to be a host? Changed your career path?”“What I mean is, if I can’t become a host in the future, at least I can still perform for money—you know, like…” She gestured with her fingers to mimic holding a bowl, “Putting out a bowl to collect coins. No need to worry about starving.”
“You think one dance can take you everywhere?”
“Yeah. After all, I was trained by the best.”
Teng Yi chuckled and pulled her into his embrace.
“How could I bear to let you perform for money?” He kissed the top of her head, his voice tender. “After graduation, just focus on doing what you want. If all else fails, come back and be my boss lady.”
Winter in Liaocheng grew colder by the day.
As finals approached, Teng Hao had to pause his practice sessions to focus on exams, shifting his tutoring location from West Journey back home. Ruan Yu went straight to Huafu Mansion after class each day, which meant she saw Teng Yi even less.
Teng Hao realized he’d become the Milky Way separating his brother and sister-in-law, and he felt genuinely guilty about it.
Ruan Yu didn’t mind, though. Her relationship with Teng Yi was stable now—they didn’t need to cling to each other every day. She believed even couples should give each other space to pursue their own paths.
With Teng Hao’s relocation, Yun Shen found it much easier to see him. No more detours to the music shop on Dongyun Road just to play the piano. She poured all her saved time into experimenting with desserts—cakes, cranberry cookies, crème brûlée, soy milk cake boxes, double-layer milk custard… Each day brought a new creation. Of course, all these treats ended up in Ruan Yu and Teng Hao’s stomachs.
Both feared they’d grow fat from Yun Shen’s cooking, but her skills were irresistible.
This harmonious blend of “eating and learning” tutoring lasted ten days—until an unexpected visitor arrived. The uninvited guest was none other than Wang Jingyao, the girl Teng Hao had always liked.
When the doorbell rang, Ruan Yu assumed it was Yun Shen.
She went downstairs to answer, only to find a stranger at the door.
The girl wore a bright yellow padded coat. Though the oversized jacket swallowed her frame, she still looked tall and slender. Her hair barely reached her shoulders, framing a small face flushed red from the cold wind.
“Hello, is Teng Hao home?” The girl smiled at Ruan Yu.
She had monolids, but when her eyes curved, they sparkled with a delicate charm—more captivating than double eyelids.
“Yes, he is. And you are…?”
“I’m Wang Jingyao, Teng Hao’s classmate. You must be his tutor, right? He talks about you all the time at school.”
“Hello, I’m Ruan Yu.”
“Miss Ruan, you’re even prettier than Teng Hao described!” Wang Jingyao’s words dripped with honey, sweet from start to finish.
Before Ruan Yu could respond, footsteps pounded down from the second floor.
“What did Yun Shen make today—” Teng Hao’s voice and gaze froze at the sight of the doorway. It took him a moment to recover. “Jingyao? What are you doing here?”
“I was doing homework at home, but there was this math problem I just couldn’t solve. It drove me crazy, so I went out for a walk. And somehow… I ended up here.”
Teng Hao scratched the back of his head.
“Did you… think of me?”"Mm, after coming out, I suddenly remembered you always saying how amazing your tutor is, so I took the liberty of coming over, hoping Sister Ruan could help me sort out my thoughts." Those bright eyes looked at Ruan Yu with a hint of playful pleading, "I wonder if Sister Ruan would be willing?"
"Of course she is!" Teng Hao answered first. "Come in quickly, it's too cold standing at the door."
Wang Jingyao stomped her feet and exhaled a little puff of white mist.
"Yeah, it's freezing today. Sister Ruan, may I come in?"
Only then did Ruan Yu realize she was rudely blocking the doorway. She quickly stepped aside to make room.
"Sorry, please come in!"
"Thank you."
Ruan Yu smiled.
Just as she was about to close the door, she noticed Yun Shen from next door walking into the courtyard.
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