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Chu Yuening squatted down to meet Yin Yao's gaze at eye level.

She blinked.

"Then do you still want to dance?"

Yin Yao was taken aback.

Dance?

That word hadn't graced her life in a long time.

Once, she had been the brightest star on stage.

Now... it seemed impossible, didn't it?

Seeing the longing in Chu Yuening's eyes, Yin Yao didn't have the heart to shatter her dreams. Everyone wished for her to stand up, and the Master must have felt the same, right?

After a moment of thought, she replied, "In my dreams, I do want to dance."

Countless rotations in her dreams left her staring at the pitch-black bedroom upon waking up.

An overwhelming sense of loss and helplessness made her weep into the night, staring at her lifeless legs.

She...

yearned to stand up in her dreams.

"Alright then."

Yin Yao was surprised, noticing the girl's clear smile sparkling in her eyes.

"I'd appreciate it if you could give me a ticket next time. I love watching live performances."

When Yin Yao returned home, she was still somewhat dazed. Upon seeing the young miss return, Auntie He wheeled her to the bathroom. When they came out, Auntie He noticed that the young miss seemed lost in thought and grew worried.

"Young Miss... what... are you thinking about?"

Yin Yao regained her composure, not wanting to worry Aunt He, who had been by her side for years. She shook her head. "It's nothing."

However...

Master Chu's words left her puzzled.

Could the dance from her dream be watched live?

"Aunt He, I'm glad you're alright," Aunt He said, her smile returning. She wiped her hands on her apron before heading to the kitchen to adjust the gas stove. "Miss, I'm simmering a soup in the kitchen. We've run out of salt, so I'll go downstairs to buy some."

"By the way, Mr. and Mrs. will be back tomorrow. What do they like to eat? I can get it in advance and store it in the fridge."

Yin Yao pondered for a moment. "Buy a roasted chicken, Mom likes chicken soup."

"Alright." Aunt He removed her apron, gathered the trash from the living room, and left the house.

After a while.

Yin Yao caught a faint scent of burning. She heard the sound of the gas stove still lit in the kitchen. Pushing her wheelchair, she headed in that direction.

As soon as the wheelchair entered the kitchen, Yin Yao spotted a rag ablaze next to the gas stove.

The flames spread rapidly, engulfing the paper towels and various fabrics on the counter, creeping further through the blinds.

"Catastrophe!"

Yin Yao instinctively headed for the sink to fetch water. Struggling to reach, she held a bowl in one hand and stretched to turn on the tap, but it was too high for her. She couldn't manage the faucet.

She swiftly wheeled herself to the bathroom instead.

With intermittent puddles of water on the floor, Yin Yao, holding a bowl of water in one hand, maneuvered her wheelchair back into the kitchen to douse the flames. However, the fire had spread too quickly, and a single bowl of water proved insufficient.

She turned to leave.

Just then, a burning piece of fabric fell onto the rug.

With a loud boom, the dry rug caught fire. In a strange twist, just as the flames threatened to consume everything, they mysteriously subsided.

Yin Yao watched, wide-eyed, as the flames on the blanket vanished, leaving only the ashes of the talisman she had clenched in her hand.

When she turned back, the scorching tongues of fire from the kitchen were already lashing out at her. She didn't have time to roll away; she jumped up and ran out of the house.

By the time she realized what was happening, her legs, numb with a bitter helplessness, had carried her down the corridor.

"I... I can walk?"

A jumble of surprise, panic, and other emotions swirled in her mind. Amidst the chaos, Yin Yao saw the girl's clear smile again.

"Next time, give me a ticket. I love watching live performances."

Yin Yao covered her mouth, her legs collapsing weakly onto the corridor. Through the wide-open door, she could vaguely see the raging fire in the kitchen.

Tears trickled down her cheeks, one by one.

If not for that talisman, she would've perished just now, wouldn't she?

When Aunt He returned and saw the raging flames, she rushed over, scooping up Yin Yao in her arms. "Miss! Miss!"

"Is Miss unharmed? Let me check if you've been injured."

Yin Yao buried her face into Aunt He's shoulder, crying and laughing. "Thank you, thank you..."

There had been a moment.

Her life had been utterly ruined.

Then, in another moment, someone reached out and pulled her out of the abyss.

Thank you so much.

Chapter 73

The crimson hues of the sunset painted the entire sea, shimmering waves occasionally disrupted by a leaping fish belly-up. The golden sand, soft and fine, contrasted beautifully against the setting sun.

What should have been a tranquil beach was bustling with a throng of students on an outing.

Amidst laughter and chatter, golden sands were imprinted with footprints. Some laid out picnic mats, while others took out fishing rods to cast from rocky ledges. A group had even started a game of beach volleyball.

In a quiet corner,

a delicate girl was setting up a tent. She wore a sun-blocking beach hat with twin braids, a blue-checked sundress, and a milky white shirt layered over it. This attire was a stark contrast to her usual school uniform.

Chu Yi's outfit caught the attention of many male classmates, who couldn't help but steal glances.

"Hey, A Yi, are we done yet?" came a cheerful voice.

Chu Yi didn't look up, instead focusing on securing the stakes into the fine sand and compacting it around them. "Almost there."

Chen Mixin offered a bottle of mineral water. "Do you want to drink first?"

"Wait a moment." Chu Yi made sure all the stakes were securely in place, then walked around the tent's four support points, giving it a gentle push to confirm its stability.

"Mmm... It's very steady!" Chu Yi beamed with delight, clapping her hands. She put her hands on her hips proudly. "Everything is taken care of!"

It was her first day away from her older sister.

Without her sister's assistance, she had managed to set up the tent all by herself.

Absolutely fantastic!