Chapter 1
The late summer air still clung to a hint of dry heat. Feng Ling stood downstairs at the Xihe Dance Club, gazing up at the strikingly designed black sign, her heart beating like a drum.
"Feng Ling! Over here!" Lian Jiajia's voice came from behind, followed by an unceremonious exclamation, "Oh my God, why are you here dressed like this?"
Feng Ling looked down at herself: she was wearing a light blue cotton dress that reached her knees, her makeup bare, and the only adornment on her body was a small, bell-shaped pendant on the zipper of her backpack. Standing next to Lian Jiajia, who was wearing a cropped T-shirt and overalls, she really did look like the girl next door who had wandered onto the wrong set.
"I brought some clothes!" Feng Ling's face flushed. He patted his bulging backpack and quietly defended himself, "Haven't you seen pigs run before you've eaten pork? For street dance, you always need to be a little loose."
Lian Jiajia chuckled and took her arm affectionately, "Fortunately, you are smarter than a pig! Hurry up, there will definitely be a lot of people today. If you go too late, you won't get a good seat."
Feng Ling, a freshman at Yuesen University majoring in Journalism and Communication, had a spotless resume, making her the epitome of "obedient and sensible" in the eyes of her parents and teachers. She had studied various dance styles since childhood, but was never allowed to pursue a professional career. Her mediocre college entrance exam scores allowed her to secure admission to a second-tier university, a perfect fulfillment of her family's expectations. Yet, she knew only she knew that beneath her disciplined obedience, a belated, perhaps long-suppressed, rebellion was quietly welling up. She longed to break free, to breathe freely. So, when she saw Lian Jiajia, under the spotlight, sweating to the rhythm of a pulsating beat at the freshman party, that image was like a spark, instantly igniting a long-suppressed desire within her.
As the elevator doors opened, a wave of sound and heat washed over her. Feng Ling instantly understood the meaning of "Grandma Liu Entering the Grand View Garden." This place was completely different from the bright, clean, white-carpeted dance studios she was familiar with. Exposed black metal pipes crisscrossed the space, and the walls were covered in uninhibited graffiti. Dim spotlights focused their light on a large central logo. Thick black curtains were drawn around the perimeter, creating a mysterious atmosphere like the dark night. Deafening music radiated through the professional speakers, and the bass hammered at her heart, the true, throbbing pulse of the place.
A girl with delicate makeup sat at the front desk, her pink hair draped across her cheeks. She was fiddling with her rhinestone-encrusted phone, her long nails rapidly tapping away at the screen. She barely even bothered to raise her eyelids at the incoming customer.
"Sister May!" Lian Jiajia called out familiarly.
"Coming~" the girl called Sister May responded lazily, still without looking up.
The dance club was already bustling with activity. Each student had a distinct style. Most of the boys wore earrings, headscarves, or backward-facing caps. The girls, with their delicate makeup and vibrant hair, wore short, tight-fitting tank tops or off-the-shoulder tops, confidently showcasing their healthy skin. Some practiced a rhythm in front of the mirror in a corner, while others gathered at the door, chatting and laughing, cigarettes tucked between their fingers. Feng Ling's "good student" attire drew a few curious glances, making her feel uneasy.
"I have to change my clothes quickly." She whispered to Lian Jiajia, feeling like a deer that had strayed into a herd of animals and just wanted to find protective coloration as soon as possible.
In the dressing room, she quickly pulled on a loose white T-shirt and gray wide-leg sweatpants, tying her hair into a neat ponytail. Looking in the mirror at her instantly relaxed, gender-blurring self, she breathed a sigh of relief. While still looking a bit too plain among the crowd of trendy people, at least it didn't stand out so much.
"Today is Mr. Qiqi's basic hip-hop class!" Lian Jiajia excitedly pulled her towards the classroom. "You have no idea how popular he is! He's tall and handsome, and he's incredibly sexy when he dances! Don't faint from watching him later. Come on, find a place to stand."
The classroom was enormous, but also incredibly crowded, like dumplings being dumped into a pile. The best seats in the front and center were already occupied by various water bottles and towels. Lian Jiajia squeezed into the front row with ease. Feng Ling had to find a corner at the back edge, just enough to stretch out and watch the teacher's movements in the mirror.
Just as she was looking around nervously, getting familiar with the unfamiliar environment, her eyes were fixed on a figure at the innermost side of the classroom.
He was a seemingly young boy, practicing alone in front of a mirror. A black vest outlined his lean yet defined upper body, and his wide-leg jeans swayed with his movements, making his legs look particularly slender. He wore a black baseball cap, the brim pulled low, covering most of his face, leaving only a smooth, straight nose, tightly pursed thin lips, and a clearly defined, sculpted jaw. His skin was a cool, pale white, a stark contrast to his black clothing. Even without a full view, his aloof, somber aura and striking proportions were impossible to ignore.
"He seems to be very powerful, and feels different from others..." Feng Ling was thinking to herself, trying to see his eyes clearly under the brim of his hat, when a commotion interrupted her.
"Qiqi is here!" a girl couldn't help but whisper.
The air in the classroom seemed to be ignited in an instant, and everyone's eyes were cast towards the door.
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