Chapter Twenty-One: Let's Talk

Shu Ran felt that it was finally time to wake up from her dream.

After the events of last night, her relationship with Fu Yiqing had probably hit rock bottom.

As Shu Ran fretted over how she should interact with Fu Yiqing from now on, she heard a knock at the door.

She had just swung her legs out of bed and stepped onto the carpet when a wave of dizziness washed over her.

It was the aftereffect of being caught in the rain the previous day.

Pressing her fingers to her temples, Shu Ran walked to the door. Peering through the peephole and recognizing her visitor, she paused before opening it.

“I’ve retrieved your skates,” Fu Yiqing said, handing her a paper bag. He also passed her the breakfast in his other hand. “Eat quickly and take your medicine. We’ll head back home afterward.”

Shu Ran was a little stunned but eventually took the items and turned back into the room.

Since Fu Yiqing was offering her a way out, she wouldn’t wallow in what had already passed.

Without Fu Yiqing, she still had figure skating.

But then Fu Yiqing followed her in. Choosing to ignore his presence, Shu Ran sat at the table and began to eat.

Fu Yiqing looked like he had something to say. Without much hesitation, he spoke: “Shu Ran, let’s talk.”

Shu Ran’s hand holding the chopsticks stiffened slightly, but she replied calmly.

Fu Yiqing continued, “A figure skater’s career is short—especially for women’s singles. Many ladies compete in two Olympics, but few achieve great results both times. Most shine only at their first Games, forced back by injuries.”

Staring at her rigid back, he added, “You know all this. I’m not here to lecture you. I just want to ask: are you really willing to give up the figure skating you’ve worked so hard for, just for some personal feelings?”

Shu Ran was eighteen—less than three years left. At twenty-one, if she didn’t achieve good results at the next Winter Olympics, she’d be twenty-five at her next chance. Most ladies’ singles skaters at the Olympics were younger; even twenty-one was on the older side. Could a twenty-five-year-old Shu Ran possibly beat younger athletes with superior physical abilities?

The odds were slim.

Staring at her breakfast, Shu Ran fell into a daze.

He was right. She no longer had time to be distracted. While other athletes were thinking only about how to improve and surpass themselves, she was lost in trivial emotions.

Even from behind, Fu Yiqing could see her inner turmoil. “Didn’t you say you love figure skating? Is it really worth it?”

“I understand, Coach Fu.”

“Good,” Fu Yiqing said. “Forget everything that happened yesterday. I’ll stay by your side… until you win a medal.”

Shu Ran didn’t dare ask, And after I win a medal?

It wasn’t her place—not now, at least.

Every figure skater bets everything for a medal. To truly excel, one must be utterly focused.

She’d always thought discussing this openly would be embarrassing, but it wasn’t. Once everything was said, Shu Ran realized what truly mattered right now.

She tried on her repaired skates and took a lap at the nearest rink. Holding her breath, she executed three jumps. Her success rate had returned; so had her confidence.

The moment her blades touched the ice, she couldn’t hide her joy at landing the jumps.

Off the ice, Fu Yiqing felt Shu Ran had matured overnight. He hid the depths of his emotions, but a genuine smile tugged at his lips.

*

On the plane, Fu Yiqing suggested she move back into the team dormitory; she agreed without hesitation.

Before they landed, Qin Liubei had already arrived at the airport to pick them up. They stopped at Fu Yiqing’s home to collect luggage before returning to the team for check-in.

Fu Yiqing had told Shu Ran that apart from those directly involved, only the national team’s head coach and the Russian head coach knew about the wager.

After all, the wager was proposed by the International Skating Union. If word got out, wouldn’t people suspect the ISU of giving special privileges to the two skaters participating in the experiment—letting them compete in the Olympics regardless of qualification?

Ultimately, participation depended on Shu Ran’s and Kristina’s abilities. But if neither made it, would the ISU grant them special entries to uphold the wager?

Too many people couldn’t know.

The team’s internal test was approaching; everyone was training at the rink.

Only then did Shu Ran realize two younger teammates had been promoted to the senior ladies’ singles group.

The renewal in ladies’ figure skating was always so cruel. Each year, new, younger skaters appeared. Experience counted for something, but they were younger, with better physical qualities.

As the saying goes: in figure skating, you feel old just as your life is beginning.

The first to spot Shu Ran was Jiang Wanru. She skated over to the barrier and greeted her, “You’re finally back! It’s been a while. How are you?”

Shu Ran was about to nod when Liang Yue slid over too. “So, the champion returns.”

Jiang Wanru frowned slightly. “Don’t say that.”

Liang Yue replied, “What did I say? I was just asking when she’d actually win a championship.”

Jiang Wanru was momentarily speechless. Spotting Huo Guang entering with Fu Yiqing, she quickly reminded Liang Yue, who then turned her attention to practice.

Shu Ran was still unwell and exhausted from travel, so she skipped group training that day.

Huo Guang came over. “Why don’t you rest in the dorm? There’s another session tomorrow morning.”

As Shu Ran left, her eyes drifted to Fu Yiqing. She nodded to him before departing.

Huo Guang watched her go. “That girl hasn’t changed—still so quiet. Why didn’t she even greet Coach Fu?”

He said this for Fu Yiqing’s benefit. In Huo Guang’s eyes, Fu Yiqing was still the ISU vice president, and Shu Ran, a member of the national team, should be polite to outsiders.

He added, “But she’s a good kid.” Just not a great athlete—no standout results yet.

There was a trace of regret in his tone.

Fu Yiqing glanced at him calmly. “Yes, she’s a very good kid.”

Shu Ran was indeed exhausted. She fell asleep soon after returning to the dorm, only to be woken by Jiang Wanru coming in.

“Shu Ran, have you had dinner?”

She instinctively touched her stomach and shook her head. If she said no, Jiang Wanru would fetch food for her again. So, Shu Ran climbed out of bed. “I’m just hungry. I’ll go to the cafeteria myself.”

Jiang Wanru, tired from a day of practice, went to shower.

After eating, Shu Ran was on her way back, chatting with Xu Jingyu on the phone, when she ran into Fu Yiqing.

They stood five meters apart, gazing at each other.

After a slight pause, Shu Ran broke the silence. “Coach Fu.”

Fu Yiqing approached. “How’s it going with your teammates?”

“It’s fine. Same as always.”

“…”

A moment of silence. The wind brushed their faces. Fu Yiqing said, “I’ll head back then. Contact me if you need anything.”

“Okay.”

On the other end, Xu Jingyu hissed thoughtfully. “Was that Fu Yiqing just now? There’s something odd between you two, isn’t there?”

She’d overheard a brief conversation and already sensed the tension.

Shu Ran wasn’t sure whether to admire Xu Jingyu’s insight or blame her own inability to hide her feelings.

She hadn’t planned to tell anyone about this, but since Xu Jingyu had asked, she didn’t intend to keep it secret.

Finding a quiet spot, Shu Ran recounted everything.

After a long pause, Xu Jingyu asked, “Are you angry?”

“Angry about what?” Shu Ran shook her head with a smile. “I think he did the right thing. Whether he was being tactful or honest, the outcome is that he made me realize what figure skating means to me.”

Her goal was to achieve excellent results in ladies’ singles, while Fu Yiqing’s ambition was to change the rules of international competition.

They both had their own dreams to pursue.

“That’s true. It would be a shame to give up after coming this far…”

They chatted a while longer before Shu Ran headed to her dorm.

Having missed training the previous day, Shu Ran felt a little guilty. She got up early and went to the rink.

She’d just sat down to change her skates when footsteps echoed through the empty arena.

The newcomer finally appeared. Both were momentarily surprised; the visitor made no effort to hide her disdain.

Liang Yue sat on a bench across from Shu Ran and began changing her skates. “I thought I’d seen a ghost in broad daylight, but it’s just our ‘champion.’”

Shu Ran ignored her, which only fueled Liang Yue’s irritation. She went on the offensive. “You moved out after all that bravado. Turns out, you had to come crawling back. What, did your handsome coach dump you?”

Shu Ran’s hands paused briefly as she tied her skates, then she got up and shot Liang Yue a look so cold it made the other girl uneasy.

Without a word, Shu Ran walked to the rink entrance and removed her skate guards.

“Tch—” Liang Yue sneered, “I’d like to see how the ‘champion’ ranks in the team this year.”

Last year, Shu Ran had ranked fifth in the internal test—the bottom. How could she dream of being an Olympic champion?

Liang Yue’s sharp eyes followed Shu Ran’s graceful figure with undisguised resentment.

If even Liang Yue couldn’t do it, how could a perennial bottom-ranker? She was just waiting for Shu Ran to embarrass herself that afternoon.

Still not fully recovered, Shu Ran struggled physically throughout the day’s training, which only made Liang Yue secretly pleased.

Finally, it was time for the internal test. As usual, height and weight were measured first—these figures counted toward their results, not heavily, but sometimes critically.

Shu Ran’s stats were perfect; she silently thanked Fu Yiqing’s strict guidance.

This year, the senior and junior groups were tested separately, and with two new juniors promoted, five women would compete in the senior ladies’ singles test.

There were no ISU international judges invited this year, but the scoring panel was still composed of professional international judges.

Shu Ran’s eyes flickered briefly toward the judges’ section—wait, Qin Liubei was judging, too?

“Qin Liubei is the high-tech expert,” said a familiar voice from behind. Shu Ran turned and found—sure enough—it was Fu Yiqing.

The other athletes glanced over as well.

Liang Yue’s eyes were full of contempt.

The test order was based on last year’s results. Shu Ran, being last, was the first to skate.

She’d always trained alone. Now, suddenly, she had to skate in front of her rival, Liang Yue. Anxiety crept in—if she couldn’t redeem herself, if she couldn’t even beat Liang Yue, how could she compete internationally?

Suddenly, a warm weight settled on her shoulder. Heat radiated through her, calming her restless, uneasy heart.

“Our goal has always been the Olympics. Nothing else matters.”

The test began. The announcer called, “Skater number one: Shu Ran.”

Without looking back, Shu Ran pushed off into the center of the rink, glancing briefly at Fu Yiqing, who appeared indifferent, as though the result didn’t matter.

Only then did she understand his words.

The nervousness melted from her face. She smiled softly, struck a pose, and her eyes shone with confidence.

Seeing Shu Ran at her best, Fu Yiqing finally relaxed. Only when he unclenched his fist did he notice his palm was slick with sweat.