Chu Mei and Chu Chuchu attacked everyone.
Mu Qingqing screamed when Luo Xiaoyu pushed her into the water.
Ji Xuan laughed until someone splashed her.
Then...
She joined.
Even Lin Yue.
Shen Tian stared when she threw water.
"You too?"
She smiled.
"Medical recommendation."
"What medical recommendation involves drowning me?"
"Stress reduction."
"Whose stress?"
"Mine."
He laughed.
. . .
Ren stood on the shore.
Dry.
Watching.
Shen Tian noticed.
"Ren."
Ren looked toward him.
"Yes?"
"Come here."
"Why?"
Shen Tian smiled.
Ren immediately became suspicious.
"No."
Everyone froze.
Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.
"You said no?"
"Yes."
Silence.
Then...
Shen Tian smiled wider.
"Good."
Ren stared.
Shen Tian nodded.
"Keep doing that."
Ren didn’t understand.
Then...
Lin Yue approached.
She held out her hand.
"Want to try?"
Ren looked toward the water.
Then...
At everyone.
Noise.
Laughter.
Chaos.
No commands.
No tests.
No observation chamber.
No scientists.
No pain.
Just...
People.
He looked toward Lin Yue’s hand.
Then...
Slowly...
Took it.
"Okay."
She smiled.
They entered the water.
Ren stared down.
Then...
A wave hit him.
He froze.
Chu Chuchu froze too.
She had caused it.
"Sorry."
Ren stared.
Water dripping from his hair.
Silence.
Then...
He splashed her.
Chu Chuchu’s eyes widened.
Everyone froze.
Ren looked at his hand.
Then...
At her.
Chu Chuchu smiled.
"Oh."
She splashed him back.
Ren stared.
Then...
Again.
Soon...
He was fighting.
Poorly.
Not because he lacked combat ability.
Because every instinct told him to hit hard enough to kill.
So he had to learn restraint.
Shen Tian noticed.
Ren would raise his hand.
Pause.
Reduce force.
Splash.
Again.
Learning.
Not combat.
Living.
Shen Tian smiled.
Xu Ning appeared beside him.
[You did something good.]
He stared.
"Don’t ruin my reputation."
[Too late.]
. . .
Evening.
Karaoke building.
Shen Tian immediately regretted everything.
Chu Zijin stood on stage.
Microphone.
Lights.
Professional sound system.
She looked extremely happy.
"This place is amazing."
Shen Tian sat on the couch.
Chi Lingxi beside him.
Rose on his other side.
Again.
He looked toward Xu Ning.
"You designed this?"
[Yes.]
"Why?"
[Future planning.]
He stared.
"Suspicious."
She smiled.
Chu Zijin began singing.
And...
Everyone became quiet.
Because unlike Rose...
She could actually sing.
Rose immediately looked offended.
Shen Tian hadn’t said anything.
She pointed.
"Don’t."
He smiled.
"I didn’t."
"Your face."
Chi Lingxi laughed.
Chu Zijin’s voice filled the room.
Soft.
Clear.
Beautiful.
Li Lian watched.
Then...
After the first song...
Chu Zijin pointed toward her.
"Your turn."
Li Lian froze.
"What?"
"You sing."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
Everyone joined.
"Yes."
Li Lian covered her face.
Then...
Eventually...
She went.
Her voice was different.
Gentler.
Warm.
Shen Tian listened.
She looked toward him once.
Saw him watching.
Nearly missed the next line.
Her cheeks warmed.
But...
She kept singing.
When she finished...
Shen Tian clapped first.
Li Lian smiled.
Small.
Happy.
. . .
Then...
Rose was forced onto stage.
"No."
Chu Zijin handed her the microphone.
"Yes."
"No."
Chi Lingxi smiled.
"Yes."
Rose stared at Shen Tian.
He leaned back.
Very comfortable.
"Do it."
She narrowed her eyes.
"You’ll regret that."
He smiled.
"I already know."
She sang.
Silence.
Ten seconds.
Shen Tian’s expression changed.
Twenty.
Bai Xue covered her mouth.
Thirty.
Ling Shuangxue looked toward the floor.
Qin Ruobing tried being polite.
Chi Lingxi lasted forty two seconds.
Then...
She laughed.
Rose stopped.
"Fuck all of you."
Shen Tian stood.
Rose looked toward him.
"What?"
He walked onto stage.
Took another microphone.
Her eyes widened.
"No."
"Continue."
"Why?"
"Support."
She stared.
Then...
He started singing with her.
Silence.
Everyone froze.
Shen Tian wasn’t incredible.
But...
He could sing.
Well enough.
Rose stared.
Then...
Slowly smiled.
She continued.
Together.
Her terrible pitch.
His steadier voice.
Somehow...
It worked.
Not musically.
Emotionally.
Rose laughed halfway through.
Shen Tian laughed too.
By the end...
Everyone applauded.
Rose’s cheeks were red.
Shen Tian handed the microphone back.
Then...
She grabbed his sleeve.
He looked toward her.
"Thanks."
He smiled.
"Anytime."
Her fingers remained on his sleeve for several seconds longer than necessary.
Then...
She released him.
. . .
Later.
Music continued.
Food.
Drinks.
Laughter.
Yin Suyi even sang once.
Everyone became quiet.
Her voice was surprisingly beautiful.
Shen Tian stared.
"Mother?"
She finished.
Then...
Looked toward him.
"What?"
"You can sing?"
"Obviously."
Silence.
Shen Tian stared.
Then...
Xu Ning whispered...
[That’s where you get it.]
"Apparently."
. . .
Eventually...
The mood softened.
Lights dimmed.
Ocean visible beyond glass.
Chu Zijin chose a slow instrumental song.
No lyrics.
Just music.
Then...
Chi Lingxi stood.
Shen Tian looked toward her.
She held out her hand.
"Dance."
His eyebrow rose.
"Here?"
"Why not?"
He looked around.
Everyone watching.
Then...
Took her hand.
Chi Lingxi smiled.
They moved toward the open space.
No formal ballroom.
No audience beyond people they knew.
She placed one hand on his shoulder.
His hand settled at her waist.
Her cheeks warmed.
Then...
They moved.
Slowly.
Chi Lingxi looked up.
"You’re good."
"Obviously."
She smiled.
"Can’t you just say thank you?"
"No."
She laughed.
Then...
Rested her head against his chest.
Shen Tian’s expression softened.
Around them...
Silence.
Not awkward.
Warm.
When the song ended...
Chi Lingxi kissed his cheek.
Then...
Stepped back.
Rose watched.
Her heart beat faster.
Then...
Chi Lingxi walked toward her.
Rose froze.
Chi Lingxi held out her hand.
Rose stared.
"What?"
"Your turn."
Silence.
Rose’s face became red.
"What?"
Chi Lingxi smiled.
"I said your turn."
Rose looked toward Shen Tian.
Then...
Back.
"You don’t have to do that."
"I know."
Chi Lingxi’s smile softened.
"I want to."
Silence.
Rose stared.
Then...
Slowly...
Took her hand.
Chi Lingxi pulled her up.
Then...
Pushed her gently toward Shen Tian.
Rose nearly stumbled.
Shen Tian caught her hand.
Silence.
Her cheeks became crimson.
"You don’t have to."
He smiled.
"I know."
She stared.
Then...
The next song began.
Rose slowly placed one hand on his shoulder.
Shen Tian’s hand rested at her waist.
She froze.
He noticed.
"Nervous?"
"No."
"Liar."
"Shut up."
He smiled.
They moved.
Rose wasn’t graceful like Chi Lingxi.
She knew combat footwork.
Not dancing.
She stepped on his foot.
Once.
Then twice.
Shen Tian looked down.
She glared.
"Don’t."
"I didn’t say anything."
"Your face."
He laughed.
Then...
Guided her.
"Follow me."
"I don’t follow."
"Rose."
"Fine."
She followed.
Slowly...
Better.
(Author’s Note: IMPORTANT!)
SEND POWESTONES!!!
ALL SUPER GIFTS (Magic Castle, Space Ship, Golden Gachapon) = MORE ChapterS!

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