The convention center was big. Really big. The main hallway was grand, as wide as a full stage, and sunlight streamed in from the massive floor length windows. Ye Xiu had informed him that this convention center was set up with three floors. The first floor had three different competition rooms, each with a stage set up, a judges table in the front, and audience seating. The second floor had many large ballrooms where all the workshops would take place, while the third floor would be mostly used as dressing rooms.

Staffers near the entrance were selling merch for the convention: t-shirts, sweats, hats, stickers, and promotional posters all with the words All-Stars! Regional Dance Convention emblazoned across the front. It looked like several of the posters were for famous dancers who would be guest teachers and performers during the three day event. Yifan vaguely wondered if he would find a poster of his father among them.

Everywhere he could see, there were dancers. Many who were taller and older, but also many who seemed to be even younger than he was. Some were already stretching in the middle of the hallway, some were sitting by the walls eating a light breakfast, and some were decked out in full makeup and sparkly costumes, practicing their routines for competition. As he wandered in at the back of the group of students from Happy, he could feel the buzz of excitement and nerves coming from all around him.

Tang Rou was similarly marveling at all the dancers in the hallway. "So many..." he overheard her murmur. With the pace of her quick learning, it was easy to forget that she didn't know just how huge the dance world was.

"Hey, don't get lost, you two."

Ye Xiu had come up behind them, nudging them to pay attention to where they were headed. Oops, it seemed that the rest of the kids from Happy had moved on further ahead while they were busy taking in the sights.

He gave Ye Xiu a sheepish smile and tugged at Tang Rou so they could catch up.

Chen Guo led the group to their assigned dressing room. As everyone claimed their spots, throwing down their dance bags and stripping off their outwear to reveal their dance clothes, she clapped her hands together to address the group.

"Alright, I know you kids all probably want to go off to your different warm-ups and workshops, but first, some announcements. Don't leave the convention center, and try to stick with at least one other person you know. Meet back up here for lunch, we'll all eat together. Be on your best behavior, because when you're here, you're representing our studio. Finally," she broke out with a wide grin, "go out there and enjoy yourselves! All-Stars is only once a year, after all. We're all here to learn and have fun, yeah?"

Everyone cheered.

"Okay, keep all that in mind. Don't forget, meet back here for lunch!" She called out after the students who were already rushing out the door wanting to explore and attend the morning warm-ups.

Yifan set down his duffel bag in the corner. He had packed all of his dance shoes, including the tap and jazz shoes that Ye Xiu had gifted him during his first week at Happy. They were heavy, but not as heavy as the guilt weighing leaden in his stomach. He tried pushing it out of his mind for now. He still had to attend two morning workshops after all.

Tang Rou waited for him to pull on his ballet slippers before offering out her hand to help him up from the ground. "Yifan, since we're in different categories, will tell me about your workshops during lunch?"

Tang Rou was older, so she was listed in the Teen category along with a few of the other girls from Happy. The majority of the group were high schoolers, in the Senior category. He was the only boy, and the only one in the Juniors section.

He took her hand and pulled himself off the ground. "I will if you will."

Ye Xiu ambled up to them, shaking his head. "So serious, even this early in the morning," he tutted. "Yifan, you said your dad and brother are meeting you here?"

Yifan nodded.

"Alright, then I'm going to go ahead with Xiao Tang to observe her warm-up and workshops. I'll meet you here after the first afternoon workshop, sound good?"

"Yes, coach," he responded quietly.

Ye Xiu steadied his shoulder. His hold was warm and comforting, a silent encouragement. "Yifan, don't be nervous. Remember, have faith."

With that last reminder, Ye Xiu and Tang Rou left to go attend the Teen warm-ups.

He took a breath. Have faith. He had practiced hours on end in preparation for today.

Ye Xiu, Can you... not tell my dad that I'm performing in the competition?

He had confessed during breakfast one morning not long after he started learning his solo.

Ye Xiu had stopped chewing for a second. He swallowed before speaking again.

Is there a reason?

I'm just... not comfortable, I guess. I haven't told my brother or dad yet. That I'm learning contemporary.

Oh, Yifan, the dancer had sighed. They're your family.

He shrunk a bit in his seat. As expected, Ye Xiu was disappointed in him.

Alright.

He had straightened up in surprise. Ye Xiu had said 'Alright'?

You should be the one to tell them. And you can tell them when you're ready. I can help you, if you like. But... it must have been hard, keeping this locked up in your heart. Thank you for telling me, Yifan.

"Yifan!" He was snapped out of his reflections by a painfully familiar voice.

"Yingjie!" He rushed to the door to greet his brother and father. Wrapped up in their fierce bear-hugs, he could almost forget the guilt.

I'll tell you soon, so forgive me for lying.


Tang Rou felt the high of anticipation since her first workshop was a contemporary workshop. How much had she improved since starting dancing? What kinds of new steps would she learn? Her rival was still one step ahead of her, judged by Ye Xiu as having the technical skill to enter the competition. She wanted to be in that position soon too.

The convention had heavily advertized the workshop with this first guest teacher. He was the choreographer from a youth dance company that had gained renown through being featured in a reality TV show. The show featured teens and pre-teens competing in dance competitions all around the country, winning the hearts of judges and audiences alike.

"Look, look, look! It's Du Ming and Zhou Zekai! That's the Elite Team from Dance Samsara!" The other girls from Happy were squealing and pointing at two young dancers in the front of the room near the low stage where the guest teacher would be teaching.

Tang Rou wasn't too impressed. They were kind of good looking, she supposed, but she didn't see why the other girls were so ecstatic. She had never been one to watch much television, much preferring doing to sitting and watching. Besides, she didn't need to idolize these teen dancers, not when her goal was right in front of her.

The kids began to quiet down as the man dressed in a gray sleeveless tank and black athletic shorts appeared on the stage. He tapped on his microphone before speaking into it. "Hello, dancers! I'm Jiang Botao, the choreographer behind the Elite Team routines on the show Born to Dance. If you're not here for the Teen Contemporary workshop, you're in the wrong place! I'll be teaching you guys a short combo today, so spread out and we'll get right to it!"

Tang Rou easily found a place by the side of the room. It seemed that many of the dancers had hesitated by the front center wanting to stand next to the kids from the Elite Team and had missed their chance to claim a good spot in the other areas.

"Don't crowd too much!" said one of the boys at the front. He grinned and ran a hand through his short dark hair. "We'll be around all weekend competing and attending workshops. We're happy to sign autographs after the workshop!"

"Du Ming, you're amazing! Zhou Zekai, we love you!" A girl in the back squealed loudly from across the room.

The boy, Du Ming apparently, winked in her direction and lifted a finger to his lips. "Please respect our teacher right now and keep from shouting. I promise he's amazing. You'll want to listen to his every word."

He returned his attention to the front where student next to him- Zhou Zekai, from the whispers- merely elbowed him with a quiet, "Show-off."

Jiang Botao looked amused at his students' antics. "Alright, settle down. Since everyone's already warm, let's get to work."

Ye Xiu watched the workshop passively from the observer seating in the back of the room. He had always known that Jiang Botao was a good choreographer from seeing his numbers in the competition room, but this was his first time seeing how the other man taught. He seemed to be a laid-back, eternally patient kind of teacher, especially in these kinds of workshops in which there could be a wide range of experience and skill, but he knew that Jiang Botao had high expectations of his students.

Even when Jiang Botao called out some general corrections addressing the crowd as a whole, the two students from his studio still would pay attention.

"Hold your core, and don't forget that supporting leg."

They were but minor corrections, but Zhou Zekai and Du Ming both carefully adjusted their positions in accordance to their choreographer's words.

It's a reciprocal relationship. The amount he invests in them is the amount he receives in their dancing.

Announcing that he had finished teaching the choreography, Jiang Botao broke the students into four roughly equal groups to take turns performing with more space. The students who performed exceptionally well would be tapped to perform on the stage with him.

Du Ming lingered at the edge of the group as he watched the first and then the second group go. Normally, his gaze would skip right over the amateur dancers. After years of dancing in high-level competitions around the country, Du Ming could tell who was a born-and-bred comp kid, and who was a recreational dancer from just a few glances. Recreational dancers, with their sloppy technique and inability to handle the commitment and realities of being a competition dancer just weren't worth his attention.

But unusually, his gaze kept falling on the same girl. She clearly was not a competition-level dancer. She probably even would have been suited to dropping a level and taking a Junior's level workshop. But there was something about her, a fire in her eyes and in her movements, that made him keep noticing her. Of course, the fact that she was also kind of cute might be a factor in that.

He weaved his way through the crowd and found the girl coming off the floor as she finished her turn to watch the other groups.

He tapped her shoulder. "Hey, you. How long have you been dancing for?"

She turned to glare at him. Her short ponytail bounced on top of her head.

The world froze for a moment. Oh no. Her face was way cuter up close than at a distance.

"A few months now," she answered curtly.

This sister was pretty good for a beginner, huh? Perhaps she was so motivated because she was a fan of Born to Dance. Since he had started on the show, young fans had constantly been tripping over themselves trying to tell him how they had started dance because of him and his teammates.

Well, this award-winning future star wouldn't mind giving a few tips to a cute girl like her.

"You should try adjusting the routine to fit your skill level. Instead of going for a double pirouette, a clean single would be much better for you."

Her eyes narrowed. "Are you saying that I can't do it?"

"Look," he said, starting to become a bit irritated because of her tone, "you were falling out of your turns. Don't try it here if you don't have the capacity."

"I can do it," she insisted.

The girl's stubbornness detracted a bit from her appearance. Geez, you can fake it 'til you make it all you want in your own studio, but in a place like this where you were judged on your performance, there was merit in knowing your own limits. She would never be asked to perform on the stage at this rate.

"Okay, fine, you can do it if you believe hard enough. It's my turn to go now, watch me," he waved away her insistence dismissively and took his place on the floor.

With the heat of that girl's eyes on him, he felt his focus rise. His movements became sharper. He held his positions longer. His transitions were smoother. He couldn't mess up with her watching. At the part with the double turn, he spotted her face before fluidly moving into the next step.

Do you see now? This is the level of an elite.

Coming off the floor after the combo, he directly headed over to her.

"Do you get it now?"

Stubborn as a mule, she refused to look at him, instead staring straight ahead watching the last group take their places and begin the combo.

Du Ming was frustrated. He had the distinct feeling that he was talking at her instead of to her.

"Hey, listen to me." He grabbed her wrist. "The rest of your dance would be much better if you just-"

"Why should I listen to you? Let go." The girl struggled to snatch her wrist back, elbowing another student in the process and knocking them to the floor.

"Hey, what was that for?!" The girl on the ground snapped.

Another student chimed in. "Don't cause trouble for Du Ming! He's way better than you. Who do you think you are?"

Tang Rou stood firm. "He grabbed me."

The commotion was quickly drawing attention to the two of them.

Chen Guo looked up from where she was looking at the convention schedule on her phone. "Eh? Isn't that our Xiao Tang?"

Ye Xiu broke from watching Jiang Botao lead the last group from the stage. "Huh?" He quickly saw that something was happening on the sidelines. He squinted. "It does look like her."

"How has that girl caused trouble already? It's only the first workshop! You have to go get her!"

Ye Xiu looked at her with an incredulous expression. "You want me to get her?"

"Of course, you!" Chen Guo almost smacked him with a rolled up flyer. "You're her teacher! She actually listens to you!"

His eyes darted at the sea of young adolescents. "I- there's so many... I can't get up there!"

Chen Guo pleaded with him. "You're fine if you don't have to dance, right? They're just kids. No one will even know it's you. Please," she begged, "If she gets kicked out now, she won't be able to attend any of workshops. We'll be known as the worst studio at the convention."

It was certainly a dire situation. Tang Rou would probably hate herself if she soured Happy's reputation at the convention, and she would certainly be kicking herself if she missed out on the rest of the workshops.

"...I'll try," he reluctantly pulled himself out of his chair.

"Hurry up," Chen Guo urged. "Before convention staff is called over."

By the time Ye Xiu made it to the front of the room, Jiang Botao had just about finished dancing with the last group of students. Noticing that it was one of his students embroiled in the conflict, he hopped off the stage.

They met up where the two at the center of attention were still bickering. Jiang Botao blinked upon seeing the other man and the brightly colored observer's bracelet around his wrist. Fellow male dance teachers were fairly rare to come by at conventions, and most preferred to participate in the teacher workshops rather than watch the kids. He looked kind of familiar somehow... was he a rival studio owner?

"You must be...?"

"Her teacher," he answered tilting his head toward Tang Rou.

"Ah. Let's go sort this out, Mr. ...?"

Ye Xiu didn't answer further, instead calling out, "Xiao Tang."

Jiang Botao followed suit. "Du Ming."

The crowd of students parted, providing a clear view of the guilty couple.

Realizing that their respective teachers were there, they stalked over, neither breaking eye contact, lightning flashing between them.

"He started it," snapped Tang Rou.

"She's really rude," Du Ming snapped back.

Ye Xiu blinked slowly at the mass of students who were eagerly hoping to see some tears shed. He casually shoved his hands into his pockets. "Xiao Tang, can you please calmly explain what happened?"

The girl crossed her arms. "First he insulted me and told me that I wasn't good enough to be here, and then he grabbed my wrist without permission. And everyone else believes he didn't do anything wrong, just because he's on TV."

Du Ming butted in. "Look, I was just trying to say that doing a clean single turn instead of a double would be way better for her. It doesn't matter whether she can get around twice or not if there's not a clean execution and transition. There's so many people here. If she keeps falling all over the place, her stubbornness could get someone hurt."

Ye Xiu closed his eyes and let out a soft breath. "Xiao Tang, he was just trying to help."

She scowled, side-eyeing the other teen. "I don't need his help," she sniffed.

Jiang Botao helplessly sighed. He didn't doubt that his student had well-meaning intentions, but in a conflict with no resolution, he had no choice but to expel both parties from participating in the rest of the workshops. He had just opened his mouth to release the verdict when Ye Xiu cut him off.

"He could have said it better, but he has a valid point. If you concentrate solely on doing the tricks, then can you really say that you were engaging with everything that this workshop has to offer?" Ye Xiu paused, making a pointed glance at the other teacher, who passively nodded in agreement.

"One of the things you will have to learn as a dancer is how to take criticism from others and use it to improve yourself," he continued. "That's why coming to a dance convention and participating in these workshops is so valuable. You get to experience different styles of choreography and teaching, get different kinds of critiques, and see other dancers of all levels. There are many things you can learn from watching someone else, regardless of their skill. Remember what the boss said, right? We're all here to learn and have fun."

"I guess that's true..." Tang Rou seemed a little more remorseful now. "He still grabbed me though," she muttered.

"Apologize to the choreographer and the rest of the class, then we'll return to our seats for a while."

Her eyes widened in realization that their little conflict had caused a big interruption in the workshop. She immediately bowed her head in shame. "Teacher Jiang, everyone, my apologies for interrupting the workshop." She turned to the other teen, who still had his arms crossed. "Sorry, classmate Du, I guess I might have possibly acted rude."

Jiang Botao was internally breathing a sign of relief that the other teacher saved the situation, but he still raised an eyebrow at his young student. "You apologize too."

"But I didn't do anything wrong!" the teen protested.

"Do I ever grab you without permission when I'm giving corrections?"

"...No." he mumbled. Du Ming implicitly trusted his teacher with his body and soul, but Jiang Botao was still always careful to murmur a "May I?" before gently taking ahold of his body and nudging it into the correct position.

"Sorry for grabbing you," Du Ming turned to Tang Rou and grumbled out an sullen apology. "And sorry for causing a fuss."

Ye Xiu turned quickly, apparently satisfied with this resolution. "Then we'll take our leave first. Thank you for apologizing, you two." He took two steps away from the crowd before suddenly stopping, almost as if an afterthought. "And Xiao Du, I'm glad you've internalized that comment from two years ago. Keep working hard."

He continued on his way back to the observers section with Tang Rou, leaving behind the rest of the workshop.

"Okay, enough disruptions. Let's get back to it, starting from group one. This time I'll be watching to invite some of you to the stage," Jiang Botao retook control of the class, switching his microphone back on as he hopped back onto the stage.

Tang Rou peered regretfully over her shoulder as they resumed the workshop. She had really done this to herself, hadn't she? She returned her gaze to Ye Xiu's back and bit her lip, wondering if Ye Xiu was really, really disappointed in her.

Ye Xiu stayed silent as he pulled out a tightly clenched fist from his pocket. His long fingers trembled slightly as he slowly pulled them apart from his palm.

Her bottom lip slipped from her teeth. Oh.

Ye Xiu, you've worked hard too, haven't you?

She suddenly surged ahead to face him, stopping him in his tracks. "Sorry again, Coach. I won't cause trouble from now on," she made it a silent vow in her heart.

Ye Xiu swallowed and the hint of a tired smile formed on his lips. "You better not, else you'll really be kicked out next time. Continue working hard and reflect on your actions. If you keep doing so just like that, in a year or two, you'll be one of the ones invited onto that stage."

Tang Rou accompanied him back to the observer seating, to Chen Guo's nervous welcome back. She sat primly on the edge of her chair while she watched the rest of the students dance.

Next year, I'll definitely be one of the ones on that stage.


Yifan and Yingjie were lucky enough that their first workshop of the day was their own father's workshop. Wang Jiexi was teaching several workshops over the first two days, with at least one for each of the four age groups. They were quick enough hurrying to the ballroom after warm-ups to grab spots next to each other near the front. Yingjie beamed at him as they stood side by side in first position waiting for their father's instruction.

Wang Jiexi's heart warmed with fatherly pride seeing them up and ready for class. It had been not too long ago when his sister had first signed them up for dance classes at the local studio, and he had watched them grow up from tiny toddlers who could barely point their feet into eager young dancers just beginning to realize their full potential. A heavy burden lifted from his shoulders knowing that Yifan had overcome his trauma to be able to dance again. Dancing was his joy, and it had broken his heart when he realized that the same dance that he loved had also hurt this precious child. This change in him, it could only have been because of Ye Xiu.

Taking class with his brother again, Yifan felt almost like he had regained a limb that he didn't know he lost. It wasn't at all unfamiliar or unwelcome, but there was this strange sense that the relationship between them had changed.

Watching his brother développé in à la seconde , he didn't feel quite so hopeless anymore. It didn't feel as though his skills had improved, no. But somehow Yifan felt more in control of himself, as if his whole body were lighter, more limber, easier to manipulate. Why was that? Almost contradictorily, he found himself more able to appreciate the preciseness and artistry of his brother's technique.

If only it could be like this all the time. Maybe then I would be brave enough...

He squeezed his eyes shut momentarily as the butterflies in his stomach remembered his upcoming performance. The one he was hiding from his family.

Don't think about it right now. This is ballet. You love ballet. Focus.

He breathed out and pushed his shoulders down, relaxing into his position.

Yingjie was the happiest he'd been in months. In this room, though there were many more dancers than he had ever danced with before, the only one that mattered was there right there beside him. Things just weren't the same at Tiny Herb without his twin. Though his brother was quiet in the classroom, it knocked him off-kilter every time he looked behind him and realized that his older brother was not there. It had felt even more lonely than the time Yifan had stopped coming to class. At least during that time, he had been able to see his brother at home.

I've missed this so much... Yifan, I need you! Please come home soon!

The morning workshops passed quickly and soon it was time for lunch. Wang Jiexi had to attend a mandatory workshop leaders networking lunch, so Yingjie came back with Yifan to Happy's dressing room where they met Tang Rou. Yingjie was a bit reserved toward her at first- he always had been a bit shy with strangers- but he opened up a bit when they had started talking dance, trading what they had learned that morning.

Yifan was happy that they were getting along, but he couldn't seem to find his appetite. He took a few more bites, hiding his nerves from his brother, before packing it up to finish later.

By the end of the first afternoon workshop, Yifan was losing focus. Each minute that passed was simultaneously too long and not long enough. As the workshop leader, a musical theater teacher, finally wrapped up and dismissed the students, Yifan awkwardly hung by his brother's side. He needed to go meet up with Ye Xiu to head to the competition room.

"Um, Yingjie... I... forgot I promised some of the other kids at Happy that I would watch them practice routines and scout out the competition. Umm.. but!," he stammered, "you must want to go to the next workshop, right? So is it okay if I leave you for a bit?"

Yingjie wiped some sweat off his brow and slicked back an errant curl from his forehead. "Maybe I'll just watch for a bit then. I don't feel like participating if you're not gonna be there."

"Okay, can I meet you back at the dressing room after the last workshop then?"

They agreed to meet up later, and Yifan ran up the stairs, his nerves squeezing tighter around his throat with every step.

After changing into his costume, a pair of stretchy brown suspender shorts over a white button up T-shirt, Ye Xiu and Tang Rou escorted him to the backstage area of Competition Room C.

"I'll be watching from the audience," Ye Xiu reassured him before leaving to go find a seat. "You're brave, Yifan. I know you are."

Tang Rou decided to stay and watch from the wings. "I want to be the first to congratulate my rival," she insisted. "Yifan, jiayou!" she whispered watching him climb up the stairs to the elevated stage.

Now alone with his thoughts, Yifan could feel his chest shaking with each breath, feeling more and more nervous as his turn got closer and closer. What he really wanted right now was for his twin to be here squeezing his hand. He swallowed hard, but could not dislodge the knot in his throat.

The soloist on the stage was bowing. The announcer was calling his name. It was his turn to go on.

He took a shaky step into the light. And with one step, he took another. And another.

Have a bit of courage.

There were no spotlights or backlights on the competition stage. And yet, the light was still blinding. He was already sweating. He blinked and suddenly he had already reached the center. The audience was hushed and dark, but he could see the low-lit judges table from where he set himself in position on the floor.

He felt his heart pound in his chest. Ye Xiu was in the audience. Ye Xiu believed in him, even when he didn't believe in himself. He would get first place for Ye Xiu.

He used the opening notes to take one last deep breath. Perfection. He needed perfection.

There was a time, when I was alone

Nowhere to go and no place to call home

My only friend was the man in the moon

And even sometimes he would go away, too

Breathe and, contract and, shoulder roll and, up and. He had gone over this opening count of eight in his head a hundred times, and in the studio, a hundred times more. It had been a month of practicing until he was so exhausted that he could barely stand.

But now this was the moment he'd been working toward. He was here, on this stage, in front of the judges, in front of Ye Xiu. All the corrections he had gotten thus far echoed in his head.

Really stretch your whole body here, Xiao Yifan. Listen, use your whole music.

Then one night, as I closed my eyes

I saw a shadow flying high

He came to me with the sweetest smile

Told me he wanted to talk for awhile

He said, "Peter Pan, that's what they call me

I promise that you'll never be lonely,"

and ever since that day

Let your elbows lead you through, and hit!, two, three, four.

He controlled his arms to hit the next accent. Perfect timing. Perfect technique. He wanted to do his best for this person who had told him that he had potential. That he was worth teaching.

Ye Xiu, I will repay you for the faith you've invested in me.

I am a lost boy from Neverland

Usually hanging out with Peter Pan

And when we're bored we play in the woods

Always on the run from Captain Hook

"Run, run, lost boy, " they say to me

Away from all of reality

Neverland is home to lost boys like me

And lost boys like me are free

He brushed out a flexed foot in parallel with a bent supporting leg. This movement had felt so wrong at first. Since contemporary didn't even have proper positions, let alone proper names, it had been incredibly hard to get used to. His ballet-trained body had screamed at him to Straighten! Turn out! Point! He had spent hours studying his videos and adjusting himself in front of the mirror to figure out precisely how to place his body in the right position.

He was so focused that he didn't even realize how the song was coming to an end until the last chorus was being played.

And for always I will say...

How can it be almost over already?

Just a little longer. I want to be on stage just a little longer.

He threw himself into the choreography trying to soak up his last few seconds in the light.

I am a lost boy from Neverland

Usually hanging out with Peter Pan

And when we're bored we play in the woods

Always on the run from Captain Hook

"Run, run, lost boy, " they say to me

Away from all of reality

Releasing his head, he felt its weight give him momentum as he circled around himself, ending up back on the floor mirroring his starting position.

Neverland is home to lost boys like me

And lost boys like me are free

Neverland is home to lost boys like me

And lost boys like me are free

With a final head roll, he lifted his chin as if gazing toward the stars.

And that was it. It was done. The audience was clapping. The judges were scoring his routine. He stood and bowed his head curtly before exiting through the wings in a daze.

Two and a half minutes.

Two and a half minutes of choreography. Two and a half minutes of being on the stage.

It had gone by too fast.

Ye Xiu, will this be enough?


/AN: Wow this has been up for almost a month oops. Song this time is Lost Boy by Ruth B. I love the idea of Yifan as a lost boy and finding Happy as his home.