'Shi Min is truly remarkable in anything he sets his mind to,' Ling Li mused, an affectionate smile ghosting her lips. Her maternal instincts kicked in, softening her expression as she watched the two before her — her two children. There was something profound in the way they danced, a silent harmony they created despite the tension that still lingered between them.

Four Eyes adjusted his glasses, silently observing Ling Li's expression as he listened to her thoughts. The way her eyes shimmered with unspoken pride stirred something within him — something unexpected. He'd always known she had that maternal presence, that unwavering support, but seeing it so clearly, so openly, made him realize just how deeply she cared.

'I guess I should practice my dance a bit more,' he thought begrudgingly, suppressing the urge to sigh aloud.

Four Eyes hadn't taken dance seriously when he was younger. Back then, it had felt like a chore, something his mother had insisted upon — something he thought he'd never truly need. Unlike Fatty, Four Eyes was very kind and obedient to his mother. But now, watching Shi Min move effortlessly across the floor, seeing how Lily responded to his steps with trust and precision, it struck Four Eyes differently.

For the first time, Four Eyes appreciated the effort his mother had put into sending him to those dance lessons. His mother had seen value in it, even when he had dismissed it as pointless. Maybe, just maybe, he'd been wrong about that.

Four Eyes fingers tapped against his knee absentmindedly, a slight rhythm forming. He stole a glance at Ling Li again, watching the warmth in her gaze. A fleeting thought crossed his mind — perhaps it wouldn't be so bad to step onto the dance floor himself with Ling Li, just once. Maybe not now, maybe not soon, but... eventually.

For now, though, Four Eyes simply leaned back, settling into the moment, watching as Shi Min and Lily continued their silent harmony, the atmosphere thick with purpose and unspoken determination.

Then, one after the other, Ren and Shun entered the hall. They were so excited to come after Butler Peng told them that Shi Min was dancing. They came rushing, their footsteps light, not wanting to disrupt the practice. Not long after, Chatty burst in, Pharsa trailing behind him, her usual composed demeanor momentarily shattered by sheer surprise.

The moment Chatty laid eyes on the dance floor, his mouth fell open, and before anyone could stop him, he bellowed, "Holy Camollie! Is that Shi Min?!"

His voice echoed loudly, bouncing off the walls, making everyone turn.

Shi Min faltered mid-step, barely recovering in time. His face darkened even more, his annoyance visible in the sharp twitch of his jaw. Lily bit her lip, suppressing a laugh, while Coach Sam simply grinned in amusement.

Ren, her eyes wide with delight, took a step forward, folding her arms as she watched intently. A slow smirk formed on her lips as she tilted her head. "Ah, my brother still has a kick for dancing," she mused, eyes shining with a mix of nostalgia and pride. "He's as slick as ever."

Shi Min exhaled sharply through his nose. "Shut it," he muttered under his breath, still maintaining his steps with Lily, though his composure was visibly strained.

Chatty just couldn't hold back his excitement, his entire body practically vibrating with admiration as he watched Shi Min execute yet another flawless turn. His hands flailed slightly as he leaned closer to Pharsa, voice hushed but still loud enough to carry across the hall.

"Did you see that spin just now? That was professional level!" he whispered in awe, eyes wide as saucers.

Pharsa barely spared him a glance, unimpressed by his theatrics. "Are you really this amazed?" she asked dryly, arching a perfectly sculpted brow.

Chatty, however, was immune to her sarcasm. His jaw hung open, his fingers twitching as if grasping at invisible strings of disbelief. "You don't get it, Hon! I'm an expert in watching people dance — but when it comes to actually doing it? Ha! I have two left feet. No — worse! I have no feet when it comes to dancing!"

Pharsa sighed, crossing her arms as she observed Shi Min and Lily moving in perfect synchronization. "Well, at least you're self-aware," she muttered, shaking her head.

Meanwhile, Ren couldn't suppress a smirk as she caught Chatty's exaggerated reaction. "If you'd taken lessons when you were younger, maybe you'd be half as slick as my brother," she teased, nudging him slightly.

Chatty scoffed, crossing his arms stubbornly. "Oh, please. If talent were contagious, I'd have caught it just by standing near Shi Min."

At this, Shi Min let out a long, suffering sigh, not stopping his movements but clearly growing more irritable with every loud remark. "If you guys don't shut up soon, I swear I will—"

Coach Sam clapped his hands loudly, cutting him off. "Focus, Shi Min! No losing tempo! Lily, stay in sync! And Chatty, if you're not going to dance, at least learn to appreciate it in silence!"

Chatty raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine! I'll just be over here admiring greatness quietly. No promises on the quiet part, though."

Laughter rippled through the group. Even Shi Min couldn't hold back a small twitch of his lips — though he quickly masked it with another sharp turn.

But as the practice continued, the weight of the moment settled again. Beneath the teasing, beneath the distractions, one thing was clear — Shi Min was in this now, fully committed. The preparation for the competition had begun, and with it, the silent promise that Solaris would soon face a reckoning.

Pharsa, raising a delicate brow, replied dryly, "Knowing Shi Min, I'm more surprised he hasn't stormed off yet."

Shi Min snorted.

Ling Li chuckled softly, watching the scene unfold. Her gaze flickered to Shi Min and then back to Lily, a knowing glint in her eyes. The air had shifted. The tension was still there, lingering like a storm waiting to break — but there was also something else now.

A force.

A determination.

A promise.

This wasn't just about dance anymore.

It was about proving something.

To themselves.

To each other.

And most of all — to Solaris.

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