These chapters are especially dedicated to the Top Three Golden Ticket Contributors: Valentines Go, Ngo_Meline, and Selina Wang50. Thank you.

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The atmosphere in the practice hall was electric with energy, Shi Min and Lily moving in synchronized precision, their rhythmic steps a steady drumbeat against the polished wooden floor.

Shun and Ren stood momentarily transfixed, their gazes locked on Shi Min and Lily's movements, admiration flickering in their eyes.

But their time was fleeting. The creak of the doors opening snapped them from their daze, and in strode their respective tutors — Old Tutor Ma and Old Tutor Chen — figures of imposing authority. The mere presence of these seasoned mentors was enough to command swift obedience, and Shun and Ren exchanged a knowing glance before quickly making their exit like two scared bunnies.

Ling Li, seated at the far end of the hall with Four Eyes, was watching just as intently. Her sharp gaze flickered between Lily's fluid grace and Shi Min's performance — an assessment not just of technical skill but of endurance. Lily's current pace was relentless, yet Shi Min, despite minor hesitations, was keeping up. It was a make-or-break moment for him, a test of his ability to withstand the ever-demanding tempo. Ling Li's lips curved in the slightest smile — there was hope.

She exhaled quietly, shifting her focus to Four Eyes, a decision weighing heavily on her mind. "Hon, I'm going to Otako's place. I've already informed Butler Oda that I will be arriving," she said, her voice calm and controlled. Yet Four Eyes detected something beneath the surface, something unreadable.

The warmth of her hand in his grounded him, but as he listened, a strange sensation coursed through him — nothing. Normally, he could sense her thoughts, faint echoes of emotions that seeped into the pauses between words. But now, as she spoke of Otako, there was an unsettling void. It was as if she were speaking into an abyss, and he could not reach her. His fingers instinctively tightened around hers, a silent acknowledgment of the eerie disconnection.

'How deep was Otako's identity? Four Eyes wondered.

Still, Four Eyes masked his intrigue behind a composed nod, unwilling to press the matter — for now.

Ling Li noticed his hesitation but chose to let it pass. Instead, she steered the conversation elsewhere, her tone adopting a casual ease. "You can take your time to spend the rest of the morning with your parents. The twins are taking a nap, and they'll have their lessons later. Otherwise, you can hang out with Quan Ye."

She paused, then added with a smirk, "Pharsa will be taking Murphy to the race track. I'm afraid Coach Sam will kick him out of the training room if Pharsa doesn't intervene. You can join them, try driving the race car. What do you think?"

Four Eyes' brows lifted slightly, the faintest glint of intrigue lighting his eyes. "Race track?"

Ling Li chuckled, eyes gleaming with amusement. "Yeah. Bring Quan Ye with you. Look how jealous he is — despite Lily only dancing with Shi Min. Can't he be more serious? Shi Min and Lily are siblings, and yet his face is as dark as a pot."

Her teasing remark was laced with sympathy. Quan Ye's turbulent emotions were obvious — the clenched jaw, the deep-set furrow in his brow, the way his fingers twitched slightly against his knee as he watched Lily move. A storm was brewing inside him, though he remained silent.

Four Eyes let out a rare laugh, shaking his head as his gaze landed on Fatty, who stifled a grin of his own while observing Fatty's predicament. "I'll take him with me to the race track," Four Eyes finally agreed.

Ling Li nodded, satisfied. "Alright, I'll inform Pharsa to make arrangements for the three of you. Hon, Pharsa will teach you how to maneuver the race car. Our race cars are hybrids, are fully customized for extreme racing, and it only takes a second to accelerate to 400 kilometers per hour. So please be careful; safety first. The track is in the middle of the forest near Camp Blaze. The terrain isn't for beginners… though there's also a small circuit— "

Before she could finish, Four Eyes cut in, a smirk playing at the edge of his lips. "Don't be too nervous. I won't risk my life. At most, I'll watch Murphy train."

Something in his tone softened her. He understood — he truly did. His response wasn't careless bravado but rather a reassurance that he valued her concern. He wasn't reckless. He knew she cared, and that alone made him tread carefully.

Ling Li sighed, releasing the tension in her shoulders. "Alright, go sit with Quan Ye first. I'll talk to Pharsa on my way out."

With that, she rose to her feet, moving toward Pharsa. She gave a final set of instructions before disappearing through the doors, but Four Eyes remained still, his thoughts lingering.

'The silence surrounding Otako's name had been deafening. Why?'

Four Eyes moved silently from his seat and took the spot beside Fatty, his eyes flickering with amusement. Fatty, lost in Lily's movements, was utterly oblivious to the new presence beside him. His focus was unwavering, entranced by each calculated step, each precise motion.

Four Eyes reached out, placing a firm hand on Fatty's shoulder.

Chaos erupted.

Fatty shot up from his seat as if jolted by lightning, his body nearly launching into the air like a startled cat. His yelp sliced through the room, shattering the concentration of those practicing. Shi Min stumbled mid-step, Lily faltered, and the flow of the routine unraveled in an instant. The disruption was complete.

Coach Sam lost it.

"All of you! OUT!" his voice thundered through the hall, sharp and unforgiving. He had tolerated earlier interruptions, had swallowed his frustration from Chatty's antics — but this? This was the final straw.

Coach Sam's fury was palpable, his voice slicing through the tension like a blade. His sharp glare was enough to make the air around them feel suffocating, demanding immediate accountability.

"I let you stay, thinking you'd boost their courage! Not so you could turn this practice into a circus!" The sheer force behind his words was enough to make Fatty shrink ever so slightly, though his pride wouldn't allow him to crumble fully.

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