42.Coordinate

The night had fallen, and Chen Xin was driving Xiao Wan through the congested roads. Despite driving a world-class supercar that drew envious gazes from pedestrians, the evening rush hour rendered even a Koenigsegg helpless, forcing it to inch forward like a snail alongside other cars.

Xiao Wan sat in the passenger seat, restless and anxious, checking the time every three seconds. "What should we do? The competition starts in half an hour, and we're definitely not going to make it!" she exclaimed.

Chen Xin tried to comfort her. "We'll make it. The venue isn't far from here. Once we get past this traffic jam, we'll be there in no time. Don't worry."

Leaning against him, Xiao Wan bit his shoulder in frustration. "It's all my fault. I forgot today was Katherine's competition. How could I be so careless?"

"You've been taking care of me so much lately that it slipped your mind. It's my fault for making you so tired," Chen Xin said, taking the blame to ease her guilt. "Don't worry. If we really can't drive through, we'll take the subway."

Xiao Wan sniffled. "But what if they tow your car?"

"So what? A car's nothing compared to my girlfriend's happiness." Chen Xin kissed her forehead.

Xiao Wan finally felt a little better, and just then, the traffic ahead began to move. She excitedly exclaimed, "It's moving! Let's go!"

"Got it." Chen Xin quickly followed the moving cars. Though the road was still congested, the arrival of traffic police to manage the flow made the situation much better. Twenty minutes later, Chen Xin finally drove into the street dance competition venue.

Before the car had even stopped, Xiao Wan eagerly jumped out, scanning the area anxiously. Soon, a short-haired girl spotted her, waved enthusiastically, and ran over, calling out, "Xiao Wan! You're finally here!"

"I'm so sorry! I forgot the citywide competition was today. Have you been waiting long?" Xiao Wan apologized sincerely.

"Not at all, don't worry about it! Here's your ticket." The short-haired girl handed her a ticket. "Katherine got you the best seat. Hurry and go in! I need to get ready for the competition."

"Okay! Good luck! I hope you guys win the championship today!" Xiao Wan cheered.

"Definitely!"

As the girl disappeared into the staff entrance, Xiao Wan pulled Chen Xin, who had just parked the car, into the venue. Being a citywide competition, it was highly entertaining and drew a large audience, making the atmosphere lively and energetic.

Sitting in the second row, Chen Xin finally asked, "Why didn't you tell me you could dance, besides playing the harp?"

Xiao Wan smugly shook her head. "There's a lot about me you don't know."

Chen Xin put his arm around her and said, "Oh really? Then tell me everything now. Big or small, I want to know it all."

"No way." Xiao Wan pouted. "You men need novelty. If I let you understand me inside and out all at once, you'll quickly lose interest in me. So I'll keep the best parts of me like carrots dangling in front of you, tempting you to keep chasing."

Chen Xin chuckled and nibbled on her earlobe, whispering, "You little minx."

Xiao Wan laughed and asked, "So, do you like this little minx?"

Chen Xin sighed dramatically. "I'm crazy about you. You have no idea."

"Yeah, right. Stop exaggerating. I don't believe you'd actually die for me," Xiao Wan teased, pushing him away. "Alright, enough. They're about to draw lots for the performance order!"

"Alright." Chen Xin's gaze softened as he held her close.

There were ten teams in the competition. One by one, their captains pressed buttons on tablets to decide their order of performance. When it was Katherine's turn, the screen behind her displayed the number 10.

"Ah, last again! So unlucky." Xiao Wan sighed to Chen Xin. "You don't know, but last year when I competed with Katherine and the others, we also drew the last spot."

"It doesn't matter. If they're good, the order doesn't matter," Chen Xin reassured her. "And didn't you say you choreographed their routine? Don't you trust your own work?"

"Of course, I do!" Xiao Wan said quickly. "But… I can't help feeling a little nervous."

Seeing his beloved girl act so adorably, Chen Xin felt his heart melt. He leaned down and kissed her on the lips.

"Hmm… What are you doing? The competition's about to start," Xiao Wan mumbled against his lips.

Chen Xin didn't let go. Holding her chin gently, he murmured between kisses, "Didn't you say your friends are the last to go? That means we have nine performances' worth of time to kiss."

Xiao Wan tried to resist, but soon, Chen Xin's increasingly skilled kisses left her dazed. It wasn't until the third team's performance had started on stage that he finally let her go.

Xiao Wan punched him lightly and whispered, "Chen Xiao-Guai! I've noticed that ever since I… helped you earlier today, you've been acting differently!"

"Does this count as different?" Chen Xin's fingers lightly caressed her slender waist as he leaned in and whispered, "Then tonight, when we're home, I want you to perform last year's competition dance for me—wearing that black lace lingerie. Wouldn't that be even more 'different'?"

"You big perv!" Xiao Wan glared at him playfully.

Chen Xin smirked. "So, will you dance for me?"

Xiao Wan's eyes sparkled with mischief. "I could, but only if you agree to do something equally exciting for me in return."

Chen Xin sighed. "What kind of crazy idea have you come up with now?"

"I'm not telling you! You'll find out after I finish the dance. So, what do you say? Dare to make the trade?" Xiao Wan tilted her head and looked at him teasingly.

"How could I say no to my girlfriend?" Chen Xin replied softly, ruffling her hair.

Xiao Wan immediately burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Silly, you actually agreed! Once you find out what I have in mind, you're definitely going to regret this decision."

"I won't regret it." Chen Xin held her firmly. "No matter what you ask me to do, I won't regret it."

The two continued their playful banter until the performances of the first nine teams finally came to an end. It was now Katherine's team's turn.

After introducing their team name to the judges, one of the female judges smiled and said, "I remember you! Last year, when I hosted the district competition, your team participated and left a deep impression on me."

Katherine smiled back. "Yes, I'm honored that you remember us."

"You were all so confident last year; I admired that. But where's the young lady who came up to ask me for first place back then?" the judge asked, scanning the stage.

A hint of regret crossed Katherine's face. "She couldn't compete this year due to certain reasons, but she's still a part of our team. This dance carries her emotions, and I believe you'll feel that in a moment."

The judge nodded approvingly. "Alright, then. Best of luck to you all."

On stage, the girls quickly got into position. This year, Xiao Wan had chosen Britney Spears' "Toxic" as their music. Although it was a somewhat older track, its classic appeal struck a chord with the audience, earning them nostalgia points even before the performance began.

The choreography, however, was entirely Xiao Wan's creation. Instead of using the original dance moves from the music video, she infused elements of hip-hop's sharpness and rock's explosiveness, making the performance bold and commanding.

When the dance ended, the venue fell into a stunned silence—just like last year. Everyone was still processing the awe-inspiring performance, their minds replaying the dance. For a moment, they even forgot to cheer.

Seeing this reaction, Xiao Wan finally felt the weight lift off her shoulders. She knew Katherine's team had won.

Sure enough, after a brief discussion, the judges announced the final rankings. Katherine's "Dream Sunshine Team" secured first place.

When the ranking was displayed on the big screen, Xiao Wan and the girls on stage jumped up in excitement, shouting, "First place! Haha, amazing!"

Katherine and her teammates hugged each other with tears in their eyes before she took the microphone from the host. With reddened eyes, she said emotionally, "I have to thank my friend, Lin Xiao Wan. Even though she couldn't compete this year, she helped choreograph this dance behind the scenes. This championship is as much hers as it is ours. Xiao Wan, thank you so much."

Katherine's gaze met Xiao Wan's in the audience, and the two shared a joyful smile.

After the competition, the girls found Xiao Wan and invited her to celebrate over dinner. Xiao Wan wanted to bring Chen Xin along, but the others protested, "Are you trying to torture us single ladies? And your boyfriend is so handsome and rich! You're not allowed to bring him along and rub it in!"

Left with no choice, Xiao Wan asked Chen Xin to go home first. Before leaving, he handed her his wallet. "Use my card to settle the bill. Consider it my treat."

"Okay." Xiao Wan nodded, leaning in to kiss him. "I'll come home early and bring you a late-night snack. How does that sound?"

"Sounds perfect."

After the two parted ways, Xiaowan returned to the group of girls from her dance team, and they decided to have dinner at a Spanish restaurant. Nearly a year had passed since they last saw each other. While the girls seemed more mature than before, their pure and ambitious hearts remained unchanged.

However, what struck Xiaowan as different was Catherine. Her sweet and charming appearance remained the same, but her expression carried traces of fatigue and melancholy. Xiaowan initially thought it was due to Catherine's frustration over not winning the national championship last year. Wanting to talk to her, she saw an opportunity when Catherine stepped outside to get some fresh air after dinner. Xiaowan quickly followed her out.

To her surprise, as soon as she caught up, Xiaowan saw Catherine take out a cigarette, light it, and take a long drag, exhaling a plume of smoke with a melancholic look on her face.

Startled, Xiaowan widened her eyes and asked, "Catherine, when did you learn to smoke?"

To her knowledge, Catherine's parents were very strict with her. She had always been a "good girl," barely even touching alcohol. But now she was smoking with such familiarity—what had happened in the past year to change her so much?

Catherine turned her head to glance at her, offering a faint smile. "I'll tell you, but promise me you won't mock me or look down on me."

"Of course not," Xiaowan hurriedly reassured her. "I just want to know why you started smoking. Is it because of the pressure of leading the team?"

"No." Catherine gazed at the city lights with a forlorn expression. "It's because I confessed my feelings to Lance, and he rejected me."

Xiaowan's scalp tingled. "…What?"

Catherine lowered her head in guilt. "Yes, you heard right. Not long after you and Lance broke up, I… I couldn't control my feelings for him anymore, so I confessed. Naturally, he turned me down. I'm sorry, Xiaowan. We're friends, and I still did something like this. I really, truly am sorry…"

Xiaowan was shocked, but even more so, she was taken aback by something else. "You mean… you've liked Lance all along?"

Catherine nodded lightly. "But he's so outstanding and perfect. How could I dare to show it? I thought keeping it to myself was enough. Then you and he got together, and I was genuinely happy for you because you seemed like such a perfect match…

Xiaowan, you know, I've always envied you. You're always the center of attention, the undeniable focus of every man's gaze. If you wanted, there's nothing you couldn't have. I've often thought that if I could be even half as good as you, I'd be satisfied."

Listening to her, Xiaowan smiled bitterly and shook her head. "That's just your illusion. I'm not as amazing as you think—I'm just taking advantage of my looks, nothing more."

"You always downplay yourself, but we all know you're not as terrible as you make yourself sound." Catherine looked at her seriously. "You're kind, righteous, and full of playful charm. Coupled with your beautiful face, you're like a fairy in a garden—of course, the best men would fall for you."

Xiaowan lowered her head and was silent for a moment before speaking. "I'm sorry. I… I never realized you liked Lance."

Catherine smiled. "See? You're doing it again—taking responsibility for something that isn't your fault. Why are you apologizing to me?"

"If I had known you had a crush on him, maybe I wouldn't have dated him," Xiaowan said with a complicated expression. "After all, you're my friend…"

"Even so, Lance's heart would always belong to you. He would never have chosen me." Catherine sighed. "And love isn't something we can control. I knew you genuinely cared for him, and I truly wished you two the best."

Xiaowan sighed, taking the cigarette from her hand and placing it in her own mouth. "Don't smoke anymore. This kind of self-destructive behavior suits someone like me better."

Catherine looked at her with sympathy and sadness. "You're always like this, Xiaowan—covered in scars yourself, yet always trying to save others. Tell me honestly, why did you and Lance break up back then?"

Xiaowan's expression darkened. "Didn't everyone already know? His mother didn't approve of me and wouldn't let us be together."

"But I feel like there's more to it than that," Catherine said. "You're such a strong-willed person—I don't believe you'd end things just because of his mother. All I know is that not long after your breakup, Lance was reported to be hospitalized due to an injury. Please… can you tell me what really happened?"

Xiaowan's hand holding the cigarette trembled slightly, and her thoughts drifted back to that time—

After both their teams advanced in the competition, the organizers arranged some fun activities for the participants, planning to record them for local television. The activities were partly to promote the upcoming city-level competition and partly to scout potential talent for Hollywood. The organizers had connections with the film industry and hoped to recommend some promising participants for minor roles in movies.

When this news was announced, everyone was thrilled. Several girls in Catherine's team had dreams of acting in Hollywood and eagerly participated. Xiaowan didn't care much but simply followed along with the group.

One day, the organizers informed them of an outdoor activity involving fun physical games. Everyone dressed up beautifully for the occasion. But when Xiaowan arrived at the recording site, she was shocked to see that Lance's team was also there!

It turned out that the organizers had deliberately chosen two popular teams to participate, hoping to boost viewership. They divided everyone into eight mixed-gender pairs, hoping to capture moments of chemistry or flirtation to attract more attention.

Unfortunately, Xiaowan was paired with Lance, and their first game was the cliché "three-legged race."

Recalling the last time Lance had inexplicably kissed her, Xiaowan was fuming. She didn't want to be tied to him and immediately raised her hand to protest to the host. "Excuse me! Can I switch partners? I don't like him!"

The host laughed and replied, "Are you sure? Lance is very popular online right now."

Who cares how high his popularity is! Just as Xiao Wan was about to say that she was sure she wanted to switch partners, Lansi's annoying voice sounded in her ear: "Didn't expect you to be so afraid of me?"

Xiao Wan immediately retorted reflexively: "Who's afraid of you?"

"Then why won't you be with me in the same group? Are you afraid of what I'll do to you?" Lansi said innocently.

"Ugh, you still have the nerve to say that, you—" Xiao Wan began, but suddenly remembered they were recording a show, so she had to choke back the rest of her words, glaring at him with sharp eyes instead.

"Alright, since you think you can't keep up with me in the same group, then let's switch," Lansi said lightly. "I don't want to be dragged down."

"You—" Xiao Wan was so angry that her teeth itched, and she yanked Lansi, who was heading toward the host, back. "It's actually me who doesn't want to be dragged down by you! I'm fine with being in the same group! Who's afraid of who?!"

Lansi shrugged and handed her the rope they were given. "Then hurry up and tie our legs together, the other groups are already ready."

Xiao Wan glared at him, squatted down, and tied their legs together. When she looked up, she vaguely saw a faint smile on Lansi's lips, but when she looked again, he had returned to his pretentious, elegant self.

She didn't think much of it and just wanted to get this damn game over with. The host, seeing everyone was ready, began to explain the game rules: Each group was given a small basin, and they had to fill it with water from a bucket at one end, then carry the basin in a three-legged race style to the opposite side and pour it into a beer bottle. The first group to fill their bottle wins.

This game tested the coordination between the two people. The better they coordinated, the less water would spill, increasing their chances of filling the bottle first.

As soon as the game started, Xiao Wan immediately realized that this game was a disaster for her and Lansi. The other groups, one man and one woman, worked together cheerfully, occasionally sparking some flirtatious energy, making it fun to watch. As for Xiao Wan's group? The moment the host blew the whistle, Lansi charged forward, dragging Xiao Wan along. She nearly tripped and fell flat, then angrily got up and punched him. "Are you crazy?"

Lansi turned to look at her and reproached, "This isn't the time for a tantrum, Miss Lin. Can you please hurry up and walk forward?"

"Then you should let me walk! Can't you see I'm almost splitting in half because of you?" Xiao Wan snapped.

"Why can't you just keep up with my pace?"

"Why should I? Why don't you follow my pace?"

They bickered back and forth. While the other groups had already completed two or three rounds, they had only managed to fill the basin with water. However, on their way back, their coordination was still off, and a lot of water spilled. In the end, there was only a little bit of water in their beer bottle. Meanwhile, other groups had filled theirs to about one-fifth.

"This won't do," Lansi suddenly turned to the host and asked, "Excuse me, as long as we don't untie our legs, is it allowed for us to walk however we want?"

The host thought for a moment and said, "Yes, that's fine."

"Good," Lansi's eyes flashed with a glint, and he turned to Xiao Wan. "Hold onto me."

"Huh? Dream on, I'm not—hey! What are you doing?!"

Lansi didn't waste any time, grabbing her waist and lifting her up! He held the basin in one hand and swiftly walked to the opposite side.

With one of her legs dangling in the air and the other uselessly wrapped around his, Xiao Wan was carried to the other side, while Lansi, after filling the basin with water, continued to carry her back toward the bottle. Despite the extra weight, he walked steadily without spilling a drop of water, and in just one round, they caught up with the other teams.

Without realizing it, Xiao Wan also instinctively wrapped her arms around his shoulder. She didn't think much of it—her competitive spirit overcame her dislike of Lansi, and now she just wanted to win first place.

She didn't notice that as she held onto the man beside her, his body stiffened slightly.

Seeing Lansi's method, other groups tried to mimic him, but Lansi had already gained a big lead, and in the end, he and Xiao Wan won the championship.

After the host announced their victory, Xiao Wan happily jumped up. "Yay! We won first place—ah!"

She forgot their legs were still tied together, and with the jump, she fell backward. At the last moment, Lansi suddenly reached out and caught her in his arms. Her soft chest pressed against his, and Xiao Wan felt his rapid and disordered heartbeat. Lansi immediately stepped back slightly, helplessly saying, "Miss Lin, can you calm down for a moment and stop secretly flirting with me?"

Author's Note:

CEO: Mr. Movie King, the readers think you're the type of ex-boyfriend who is reserved and mysterious. What do you think about that?

Lansi: I'm not reserved at all. I always say what's on my mind.

CEO: Oh, really? Then what do you think of our dear Miao Ge?

Lansi: I don't like her at all. She's the one who's always flirting with me.

Xiao Wan: …You should go to outer space!

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