A cool breeze blew from time to time, stirring up dust.
The stench of chemicals flooded my nose, making my throat itch, but I had to suppress the urge to cough.
After circling most of the studio’s outer perimeter, I noticed that part of the electric fence on the back wall had sagged—it looked like it was no longer working.
I hurried to the empty lot behind the building, dragged over a rock, stepped on it, and tried to climb in.
Luckily, the area was still under construction, so no one noticed me.
I took a deep breath and jumped with all my strength.
Midair, my toes hit something, and I immediately lost my balance.
I’m going to fall—damn it!
I covered my mouth to keep from screaming.
My vision spun upside down once, and then a sharp pain exploded across my back.
“Ugh—!”
My consciousness briefly faded.
I shook my head desperately until I regained clarity, then quickly looked around, relieved that no one had noticed the noise.
Before the numbness faded and the pain fully set in, I got up and moved closer to the back of the studio, where I found a closed back door.
With a gambler’s mindset, I turned the handle.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t locked.
“Creak—” The door slowly opened inward.
Inside, the white-tiled floor was spotless.
Half the ceiling lights were on, illuminating sections of the hallway in alternating light and shadow.
I moved forward carefully and found the elevator lobby at the end.
On the directory board beside it, I spotted the words: “Contract Practice Room.”
If I took the elevator, I could get there… Dance.
My mood had been calm until just now, but at this final step, hesitation crept in.
Just one look.
No matter what, it wouldn’t affect An Zhi’s career…
Just one look—to confirm that she wasn’t unhappy like Xiao Ji said, but practicing seriously and positively.
That’s all I needed to know.
Then I’d leave quietly, and no one would ever know I had been here.
Having made up my mind, I pressed the elevator button.
“Beep—! Ding—dong!!”
The loud chime from the top startled me so badly my heart felt like it stopped.
This sound… the whole building must’ve heard it!!
Sure enough, the silent studio erupted with angry shouts the very next second:
“Damn it! Someone broke in!”
“Uncle, didn’t you see someone sneaking in!?”
“He’s not at the front entrance!”
“Elevator side! Catch him!”
I clung to the elevator door, praying it would arrive faster.
Fortunately, just as the shouting drew closer, the doors opened.
I rushed in and pressed a floor button.
The building only had five floors, and each floor wasn’t very large—which meant I didn’t have much time.
Sooner or later, I’d be found…
That fleeting regret turned into a firm determination to see An Zhi, just once.
Inside the small elevator, the only sound was my heavy breathing.
The display changed numbers, stopping at “3.”
As soon as the doors opened, I bolted out.
Seeing a room with the door ajar on one side of the hallway, I slipped inside, shut it, and hid in the corner.
It seemed to be a small storage room.
Various audio-visual devices were stored inside, and mops and cleaning cloths hung near the door.
I hid among the mops, breathing in the sharp scent of cleaning liquid.
Someone could come out of the elevator at any moment.
Even though I had pressed “4” and “5” beforehand, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t check the third floor first.
For now, I just had to survive the first search.
I kept taking deep breaths, listening closely.
My hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
Footsteps… irregular footsteps, tapping lightly on the floor.
They seemed to be coming from across the hall—or the room next door.
Dance.
The rhythm sounded strangely familiar.
1, 2, 3, 4; 2, 2, 3…
When I realized it was a familiar dance step, I suddenly looked up.
There was no mistake—this rhythm was the same dance An Zhi had performed for me countless times in the activity room.
I knew it.
I knew it clearly!
The flowing skirt, the beautiful face with a faintly detached expression, appeared vividly in my mind.
Next came three spins…
One turn, two turns, three—huh?
The steps faltered.
Strange. A mistake?
An Zhi—the girl who had been professional like a dancer since our student days—was messing up now?
No… but it really was An Zhi dancing.
I was sure of it.
“Hey! Have you seen a guy come in!? Wearing shabby clothes, short hair, skinny!”
The shouting outside interrupted my thoughts.
Only then did I realize the footsteps had already gotten dangerously close.
What should I do?
Run out now?
“Can you keep it down? Our artist is still practicing. Don’t disturb her.”
A sharp female voice rang out—apparently from the room where the dance was coming from.
She must be An Zhi’s staff.
“Sorry, but the intruder could be a threat. We need to search!”
“Damn it! Where’d that little brat go!?”
One of the guards sounded furious—like he’d tear me apart if he found me.
Terrifying…
I absolutely couldn’t get caught.
“The practice room is rented—this is private space. Please search elsewhere. Her condition is already not good…”
The woman insisted, trying to drive them away.
In my panic, the phrase “her condition isn’t good” stuck in my mind.
“Forget it. Let’s check other rooms!”
The guards’ footsteps and curses moved away, stirring fresh fear.
If this continues, I’ll definitely be found…
Their steps were getting closer.
Right at that critical moment, my phone vibrated.
The words on the screen blurred from my trembling hands.
I skipped past a dozen messages from Su Xixia.
The latest one was from Xiao Ji:
“Run in the opposite direction of the elevator. There’s a staircase that leads straight to the front entrance.”
“Run out through the main door!”
Huh?
How did Xiao Ji know I was inside!?
As that thought formed, I heard his voice from the elevator side: “Hey! Grandpa’s right here! You think you can catch me!?”
The guards’ shouting and footsteps rushed toward him instead.
Almost instinctively, I opened the door and sprinted in the opposite direction.
My shoes screeched against the smooth tile.
The half-lit hallway flickered between light and shadow.
Blood rushed to my head, blurring my vision.
But as I passed a door left slightly ajar, I smelled a familiar scent—just like before Sunlight poured into the dance room.
Golden reflections shimmered in the mirrors.
I remembered standing there with a towel, walking toward An Zhi.
Skin.
“…Don’t come closer.”
She was panting heavily.
The collar of her pure white dance outfit was soaked with sweat, revealing a warm flush.
“Wipe your sweat. You danced amazingly again—just like always.”
“Sweat… smells bad…”
But it was fragrant.
Even with a hint of sourness, she was still captivating.
Back then, I didn’t have the courage to hand her the towel—let alone wipe her sweat for her.
She was like an angel dancing in golden light.
Staring too long almost made me imagine white wings on her back.
That faint, sweaty scent made her feel closer, more human—less unreachable.
Encounter.
As I ran past the crack in the door, I couldn’t help glancing inside.
In that single instant, I saw tear marks on her cheek.
How…?
Had she been crying?
The moment vanished.
I couldn’t stop.
I couldn’t even meet her eyes for a second.
I rushed down the stairs, crossed the empty lobby on the first floor, pushed open the glass front door, and ran out through the vacant gate.
What about Xiao Ji? Was he okay?
I turned back and saw him bursting out from the side of the building, several men chasing him.
I waved to show I was safe, then hurried toward the subway.
With Xiao Ji’s athletic ability, shaking them off would be easy.
Not long after, we met at the station.
He was drenched in sweat, flashing me a triumphant peace sign.
“Whew… good thing that construction site had no cameras. They won’t catch us,” he panted.
“Thanks! But how did you know I was inside?”
“Here!”
He lifted a yellow safety helmet.
“Huh?”
“Borrowed it from the site.
Wearing this makes me look like a worker.
Sitting across the street, nobody suspects a thing.
And I knew you’d come after work.
Don’t forget—I’ve watched you and An Zhi all these years.
The things you won’t admit?
I see them clearly.”
He lowered the helmet and pointed at his chest, clearly proud of himself.
His words were clumsy—but yeah, he looked kinda cool.
“Pfft… haha—classic you…”
I smiled bitterly, not sure whether to laugh or cry.
“Thanks. I’ll buy you a drink in a couple days.”
He wisely avoided mentioning An Zhi again.
“I’m counting on it! We’re not leaving sober!”
Radiant.
He smiled so brightly.
Having a friend like him… I’m lucky.
But the very next second, when a familiar female voice sounded behind me, I found that I could no longer smile.