Falling Dreams, Rising Hopes: Saving Mr. Boyfriend

Feng Yue's and Mei Qingyang's matches were in the same gym building while the other two had their matches in different buildings. Feng Yue decided to accompany Mei Qingyang. Yu Tian did give him a glare but then he also knew with Yu Rong's present on the scene, this was the best choice for now. They wished each other all the best and headed to their respective arenas.

It was still awkward for the two people to be alone, so they walked half way without saying anything.

"Mei Qingyang," Feng Yue broke the silence first.

Mei Qingyang could see his effort. He had dropped from adoring 'Qing Qing' to her full name. That meant he was trying to make her comfortable. Although she had labeled the guy as a jerk for doing all that in her past, she could still give him a chance at being a friend, right?

She knew he wasn't inherently bad, it was just the environment he had grown up in. Having seen all the schemes in his house and having no real connection with family members, except perhaps his siblings, he did not know how to behave with outside people.

She could make hundreds of excuses for him. But she also knew that the guy was hurting as well. She would try and then see if this guy had really changed or not.

"I just want to acknowledge the fact that I haven't really been… kind to you in the past. I will try my best to be better," he continued. Mei Qingyang had lifted her head to look at the tall and handsome face which was much too familiar to her now. Most of her past memories she had gotten a peek into were full of him. Her mind back then was just filled with him, from nothing to love to resentment to nothing again.

But it still felt like she was seeing a stranger. Her heart bubbled up with emotions. All along, was she just looking for an apology? Was this enough to quell her anger of so many years? She felt like breaking down then and there. A single tear rolled out of her eye, taking her and him, both by surprise.

"I… I am sorry, I did not mean to," Mei Qingyang wiped her face hurriedly which had turned red in embarrassment. Her doe like eyes wrenched Feng Yue's heart. How much he would have hurt her for her to be in such a mess?

"No, I should be the one apologizing. I really was such a bad person," Feng Yue lowered his head. If he kept looking at her, he would end up just embracing her. He had lost the right to do so, so he needed to hold back.

Mei Qingyang steeled her heart. She could not get into the self-pitying loop again; she had a match to fight in couple of minutes. If she went in with such a mindset, she would definitely lose. But she also knew that Yu Tian had sent her with Feng Yue for protection purposes, so she could not just go somewhere on her own to calm down.

"I will try my best to put it all behind senior Feng, but know that that many ears of abuse will be hard to erase. Not to mention I was a kid back then. The effects of this kind of trauma are more profound at that age."

"Yes, I am sorry. I know I cannot bring your childhood back and I cannot make any amends. But please give me a chance. I will…"

"Please senior Feng, do keep in mind that anything more than friendship is impossible between us. I did never admit before you that I was Li Sibao. But know that she feels liberated somewhat, thanks to our conversation just now."

Feng Yue heaved a sigh of relief. At least this was a start. He was too ashamed to look at her face anymore. He could not see her in pain yet he was the reason for that very thing for her. His heart dropped further.

"Senior Feng, we have our matches to fight. You can't go into the gym with this mindset. We can take our time to figure this out. Please do not ruin your mindset for now, your friends will be sad," Mei Qingyang was done for now, too much emotional drama early in the morning.

She was Mei Qingyang now, she had to leave the whole persona of Li Sibao behind. There were people who loved her and respected her for who she was. Most importantly, she had come to love herself, thanks to her family. She did not need validation from anyone, her past lover or ex-fiancé or whatever.

Sensing the sudden change in air around him, Feng Yue looked at the girl once again. Her pace had quickened and she was two steps ahead of him. Her petite frame was still the same. But her back was much straighter and she looked more independent. He was happy that she was blossoming into a great young lady. Unfortunately, he was not part of her life anymore.

Moreover, he was competing with a charming guy like Yu Tian. Did he even stand a chance then? He traced her silhouette through his hands as he longed for her. His mind was going through such a duality. He still wanted her but he knew he had to let her go and move on. The heart he had 'devoted' to one girl for so many years felt empty, even more so now that she had finally admitted that she was indeed his Sibao.

Feng Yue clenched his fists. They had time to figure this out. She was right, he had to focus at his present.

Both the people entered the gym. There was not a lot of people in the audience, perhaps because people were not aware that Feng Yue was suddenly participating in the match. Otherwise he drew as many girls as Su Lang and Yu Tian.

"Okay, I will see you after our matches. Please do not get distracted senior Feng. Good luck," Mei Qingyang waved a goodbye to him. She had gone back to her zone. She needed to win for the two people she held most important here now.

"Mei Qingyang reporting here for the match," she announced to the referee. It seemed that everyone else was already present there. People gave her all kind of looks seeing the big logo of her school at her back. Few were curios about her skills but mostly people were looking at her weirdly.

"It's that girl the one who was with Yu Tian and Su Lang the other day."

"It seems she was here to participate after all."

"Did you not see her match yesterday? Her movements are so smooth."

"I did not pay attention to her."

"Courtesy matches are all fixed anyway, her school must have bribed the other party for sure."

Her referee took her and her opponent on the mats. He explained the rules to both of them. This was cursory. But she had to go through the rules when she was recovering at Yu Tian's place and her head ached with all the things she had to keep in mind. Her matches with the vice-captains were not the normal matches at all, they were just freestyle. But when it came to actual rules for matches in Jiu-Jitsu, she was not confident at all.

Anyway, even before they could start, she heard a loud thump from the other side where men's matches were taking place, and then people's 'Ouch'. Feng Yue must have won already. She felt proud inside. She would be doing the same in a few minutes or so. But wasn't this too early for him to win?

She saw people rushing towards the that side of the building. What happened?

Suddenly, a bad feeling washed all over herself. Since everything had become haphazard, her match was postponed for the time being. She ran towards the crowd and found a Feng Yue lying down on the ground with his head bleeding profusely. She rushed towards him but people held her back.

"Who are you?"

"I am his friend, let me go."

"Yeah, right," the authorities did not let her enter at all.

"We belong to the same school! See the logo here. Let me go and check," Mei Qingyang pleaded.

On the radio transmission of one of the people holding her back, she heard another news.

"Critical injury to one of the contestants, Su Lang. Head injury, profuse bleeding."

Her heart throbbed once again. What was happening? Even cousin? Was this a coincidence that both of them got injured in the same way? Yu Rong's face and her warning flashed before her eyes. Oh God! She dared attack the young masters of Feng and Su family? She needed to pay for it.