TYMRHBDES Chapter 171

Jiang Luoluo rose from his seat and casually plucked a vibrant pink begonia from a nearby vase.

“Teacher, could you please play the accompaniment for the classical dance ‘Cloud Dream Neon Garment’?”

Fang Yan scoffed under his breath, “He’s biting off more than he can chew. Acting so confident, how dare he attempt such a complex dance? Does he think choosing something difficult will give him an excuse if he messes up?”

Jiang Luoluo stepped to the center of the red carpet, turned his back to the crowd, leaving them with a slender silhouette.

The melodious strains of the guzheng filled the air as the surrounding lights dimmed, leaving only a spotlight illuminating the small space above him.

His white shirt tucked into black trousers accentuated his slender waist, so delicate it seemed a single hand could encircle it. Bathed in the warm yellow light against the boundless, inky sea, he appeared ethereal, like a celestial being.

As the guzheng’s tempo gradually increased, he gracefully extended his arms, his slender fingers descending from above. He turned his head, revealing half his profile.

The delicate bridge of his nose caught the light, his eyes shimmering with a captivating allure, their corners tilting upward, a hint of seduction woven into his purity.

Like the legendary beauty who toppled kingdoms, even this fleeting glimpse of his profile was breathtakingly stunning.

A collective gasp rippled through the staff, and one couldn’t help but exclaim, “Holy shit!”

The sneer on Fang Yan’s face hadn’t yet faded when it was replaced by an expression of shock, making him look utterly ridiculous.

Jiang Wei sat up straight with a *whoosh*, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Zhou Jing made no sudden movements, but his hand on the table unconsciously tightened into a fist.

Pei Yu’s sharply defined profile remained half-hidden in the shadows, his phoenix eyes fixed intently on the figure at center stage.

—”Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck! Who said they’d slap my wife’s face?! Who said my wife couldn’t dance?!”

—”Ahhhhhh, Wife! Wife! Wife!!!”

—”Oh my god! How can my wife be so beautiful?!”

On stage, the dancer was completely immersed in the music.

He lifted his arms, swayed his hips, and spun in perfect sync with the rhythm, as if the melody had been composed specifically for him.

The fiery pink sea of begonias brushed past his eyes as he executed a series of fluid turns. Then, he arched backward, his gaze shimmering as he looked out at the audience.

His supple waist bent into a graceful curve, the white shirt clinging to his torso and slipping down to reveal a patch of snow-white skin at the collar—as pristine as freshly fallen snow, melting at the slightest touch.

His delicate chin, sharply defined collarbones, and even the slender bones of his wrists were exquisite, like works of art.

Long, straight legs spun and leaped under the spotlight, his body as lithe as if boneless.

His movements were light and ethereal, like those of a celestial being.

The audience below watched in rapturous silence.

Pei Yu leaned back in his chair, his handsome features obscured by the shadows cast by the stage lights. Only his eyes remained visible, burning with an intensity that grew brighter, as if he wanted to tear the dancer apart and devour him whole.

How could his darling be so captivating…?

His eyes were so beautiful, a single flutter of his lashes could enthrall the masses. His waist was so supple, as if it could be bent into any shape, posed in any way. His voice was so delicate, and his temperament so docile. He could do anything to him, and he would never get angry. Even if he pushed him too far, he would only cry, then gaze up at him with tear-filled eyes, panting softly…

Pei Yu’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he felt an overwhelming thirst. A thirst that burned his heart like a raging fire, a fire that only his wife’s soft lips could quench. He found the surrounding people unbearably intrusive, and he resented them witnessing this intimate moment.

A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, finally coalescing into a single image: the face of his precious wife, so delicate and beautiful that it made his heart surge with longing…

As the final note of the guzheng faded into the air, the dancer slowly turned his head. He resembled the legendary beauty who had crossed a thousand years only to be hanged at Mawei Slope—his rosy cheeks and sorrowful gaze were heartbreakingly beautiful.

In the dimming light, in the gentle night breeze,

Amidst the pink crabapple blossoms swaying in the sea breeze,

he gradually faded into the thunderous roar of the surging waves…

As the dance concluded, an astonishing silence fell over the entire venue.

No one dared to applaud, not even to breathe loudly.

In those fleeting minutes, the young streamer named Jiang Luoluo had conjured a breathtaking, transcendent dream for them.

They didn’t even want to wake up.

The figure emerged from the shadows onstage, his voice soft and tentative. “Was it… not good?” he asked cautiously, his cheeks flushing with bashfulness. “I haven’t danced in so long…”

“Good!”

“Excellent!!”

The director was the first to snap out of his daze, clapping enthusiastically. “That was amazing, Luo Luo!!!”

For five years, their show *Taste Quest* had been criticized for “hiring whoever’s hot,” relying solely on trending celebrities to ride their coattails.

This time, he had boldly decided to cast a relatively unknown online personality.

And this newcomer was about to completely shatter that narrative.

With just this dance, he would quickly break through the mainstream, emerging as a dark horse to become the breakout star their variety show had been grooming!

And their show would ride this wave of momentum to renewed popularity!

Before the live broadcast, countless viewers were going wild:

“!!! Holy shit!! Jiang Luoluo is a goddamn deity!!”

“That final glance back… I got goosebumps all over! Aaaaaah!!!”

“As a dance major myself, ‘Cloud Dream Neon Garment’ is incredibly difficult. This short performance encapsulates Yang Guifei’s entire life. To dance it to this level… it’s textbook material!”

“Holy shit! How dare Fang Yan even try to compete with him?! This is like a professor ¹ T/N: I cannot help but want to give a way spolers. What should I do? [/Footnote] going up against an elementary schooler! What was he thinking?!”“

“My heart’s racing! How can he be so breathtakingly beautiful?!”

“I’m switching sides! Sorry, Fang Yan, but… Wife! I’m coming for you!!!”

“No wonder the three hosts on the show are all smitten with him! Who wouldn’t fall for such a stunning, humble, and talented beauty?!”

***

The director’s excitement hadn’t subsided as he slapped his thigh repeatedly, exclaiming, “We’ve struck gold! We’ve struck gold!”

“Luo Luo, just wait! After this show airs, your schedule will be booked solid!”

Jiang Luoluo thanked the director with a sweet, crescent-eyed smile before returning to his seat between Pei Yu and Jiang Wei.

Jiang Wei, visibly nervous, handed Jiang Luoluo a bottle of water, his words tumbling over each other in his excitement:

“Luo Luo! How did you… dance so amazingly?!”

“I know nothing about dance! I usually don’t even watch it, and I have zero artistic sense!”

“But watching you dance just now… for the first time, I felt like I was experiencing true art! It was so beautiful!”

“You looked like an angel descending from heaven!”

Jiang Luoluo accepted the water, his lips curving into a sweet, gentle smile that was utterly captivating.

Zhou Jing stared at Jiang Luoluo, his eyes fixed as if he were still lost in a daze:

“He’s right. It was truly beautiful.”

A beauty that was simply breathtaking.

Jiang Luoluo felt even more embarrassed, a faint blush tinting his cheeks. Wisps of hair, stirred by the gentle breeze, clung to his face, where tiny beads of sweat glistened against his dazzlingly pale skin.

He sat amidst a constellation of dazzling beauties, yet he seemed to radiate his own light.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Pei Yu silently took the water bottle from Jiang Luoluo’s hand, his large hand gently grasping Jiang Luoluo’s fingers as he applied a bandage.

The two people beside them finally noticed. “You’re hurt?”

“It’s nothing,” Jiang Luoluo said softly. “Just a scratch from a begonia branch.”

He fluttered his long lashes, glancing at the person applying the bandage—

The dim lighting cast a soft glow across Pei Yu’s sharp, angular profile. His thin lips were pressed into a firm line, his phoenix eyes half-lowered, focused intently on Jiang Luoluo’s finger—

There was only a tiny, skin-deep scratch.

The injury was barely visible in the dim light.

Amidst the bustling, noisy venue, gasps of admiration and praise rose and fell like waves.

Jiang Luoluo sniffled softly, his nose tingling, and gently hooked his pinky around Pei Yu’s finger.

Even though I’m hurt,

Only Pei Yu noticed…

***

The live broadcast viewership surged to its highest peak since the show’s premiere.

The video stream was so congested it began to lag, forcing programmers at major online platforms to work overtime.

Director Chen grinned so wide his cheeks nearly touched his temples, turning to Fang Yan:

“Fang Yan, the outcome of this competition is obvious, isn’t it?”

Fang Yan’s face was deathly pale, but he forced a smile. “Director Chen, what are you saying? Luo Luo is so talented. I accept my defeat wholeheartedly.”

It was already past 9 PM. The judges had retired to their rooms.

The show’s live broadcast operated 24/7, meaning the stream would continue uninterrupted through the night.

After saying goodbye at the elevator, Jiang Luoluo followed Pei Yu, his steps light and brisk as they walked down the corridor.

Their rooms were at the very end of the hallway.

Two VJ Teachers and their assistants trailed behind, preparing to film the final segment of the night.

As they walked, Jiang Luoluo felt a tug. Pei Yu pulled him into a stairwell marked with a “Safety Exit” sign and slammed the door shut.

The crew following behind were completely bewildered. They knocked on the door. “Um… Teacher Pei? We haven’t gone in yet?”

The motion sensor light in the stairwell flickered on, illuminating Pei Yu’s handsome face, which was now inches from Jiang Luoluo’s.

Jiang Luoluo tilted his head up, dazed, and pointed to the other side of the door. “They haven’t come in yet.”

In the next instant, Pei Yu pressed Jiang Luoluo’s slender white hand against the cold metal door. He lowered his head, his face drawing closer to Jiang Luoluo’s.

Jiang Luoluo opened his mouth to speak, but Pei Yu quickly covered it with his hand.

Lowering his head further, Pei Yu leaned down toward Jiang Luoluo’s chest and opened his mouth.

Jiang Luoluo’s face flushed crimson.

In a mere second, Pei Yu tugged at Jiang Luoluo’s collar, followed by a *snap*. He bit down on the black clip-on microphone, yanked it off, and tossed it aside.

The stairwell light flickered off again, plunging the surroundings into darkness.

Just inches away, Pei Yu’s face loomed, blurred in the dimness.

Jiang Luoluo tugged at the corner of Pei Yu’s shirt, his voice soft and gentle. “What are you doing, Pei Yu?”

His voice was thin and light. “They’re still outside.”

Pei Yu murmured a low “Mmm.”

He leaned in closer, tilted his head slightly, and bit down on Jiang Luoluo’s lips.

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