Chapter Thirty-Two: As Long As Nothing Changes

Even back when Shu Ran’s grades were poor, she had never stayed in D City for such a long time. For a whole week, Shu Ran trained daily at the rink where she had received her childhood training.

The rink was indeed as Fu Yiqing had described—almost deserted.

That day, as Shu Ran was practicing her jumps, a voice echoed across the empty rink. In the vast, hollow space, even the slightest sound became an echo.

Suddenly, Shu Ran recognized the owner of that voice. She immediately stopped her movement and looked toward the newcomer.

Before she could see clearly, the voice continued with sternness, “Don’t stop. Everything else can wait until after your performance. Even if there are mistakes, don’t worry. Treat every training session as a competition. There are always mistakes in competitions, so how much more in daily practice?”

Obediently, Shu Ran completed her routine before gliding off the ice.

The visitor sat in a wheelchair. Only when Shu Ran stepped off the ice did the sternness melt from her face, revealing the kind and gentle Coach Zhu Xinhui.

Shu Ran’s nose tingled with emotion. “Coach Zhu!”

Zhu Xinhui smiled and opened her arms. The two embraced tightly.

Fu Yiqing also approached and nodded politely to Zhu Xinhui.

Zhu Xinhui gently patted Shu Ran’s back. “Enough now. Aren’t you a grown-up? I’m still here, so what’s there to cry about?”

Xu Jingyu grumbled, “Mom, there you go again, talking nonsense!”

Zhu Xinhui laughed heartily, “Isn’t it just a joke?”

“It’s been a long time,” Zhu Xinhui said to Shu Ran. “You’re doing well now. I watched several of your competition broadcasts. Excellent. That’s the student I trained.”

Shu Ran nodded vigorously.

Suddenly, Zhu Xinhui’s expression turned serious. “But remember this: your current results are not outstanding. If your goal is the Winter Olympics, you must never become complacent. Every athlete’s greatest enemy is themselves. Never forget that.”

“I understand.”

Only then did Zhu Xinhui smile in relief, her gaze shifting to Fu Yiqing. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

Shu Ran belatedly realized, “Coach Zhu, this is my current coach, Fu Yiqing.”

“Coach Fu, this is Coach Zhu.”

Zhu Xinhui extended her hand, her expression calm. “Hello.”

Fu Yiqing shook her hand. “Hello.”

They released hands at the same moment. Zhu Xinhui said, “Thank you for guiding Shu Ran.”

“It’s my duty. She is my student, after all.”

Zhu Xinhui hadn’t come to the rink to exchange pleasantries. She was there to observe Shu Ran’s training. After watching all morning, the group went for lunch, and only then did Zhu Xinhui leave, satisfied.

Before leaving, Zhu Xinhui pulled Shu Ran aside for a long conversation.

Her gaze frequently drifted toward Fu Yiqing.

Qin Liubei twirled his keys around his finger. “What do you suppose your mom is telling Shu Ran? Why do I feel like they’re talking about Old Fu?”

Xu Jingyu shrugged. “Sorry, my mother’s thoughts have always been hard to guess.”

Qin Liubei grinned. “Even harder than yours?”

“That depends on how you look at it.”

Fu Yiqing glanced at them, then spoke quietly, “Are you two still in the ambiguous stage?”

The question silenced them both. Xu Jingyu blushed, bowing her head and glancing away.

Qin Liubei shot Fu Yiqing a look, mouthing, “Bro, what are you doing?”

Fu Yiqing looked genuinely puzzled.

Now that the flirtation had ceased, Fu Yiqing found the atmosphere much fresher—finally free from the cloying air of romance.

Before leaving, Qin Liubei whispered to Shu Ran, “What’s wrong with your Coach Fu today? Is he trying to make me die alone?”

Shu Ran replied, “What are you talking about?”

“It’s a long story.” Qin Liubei sighed. “Just keep him in line and teach him a little more about human relationships.”

That day was New Year’s Eve, so only a morning training session had been scheduled.

After seeing Xu Jingyu and the others off, Shu Ran and Fu Yiqing headed home.

Shu Ran carried her skates, but noticing her absent-mindedness, Fu Yiqing took them from her. “Let me help you.”

Shu Ran asked, “What did you say to him? Why did Qin Liubei suggest I should teach you more about social etiquette?”

“From that sentence alone, it’s clear that the one in need of a lesson in social etiquette is not me, but him.”

Shu Ran wanted to say that he looked more like the one who needed coaching, but she dared not, and besides, she could never win a debate with Fu Yiqing.

“Oh, right. It’s my birthday today. What gift have you prepared for me?”

Now that Shu Ran’s relationship with Fu Yiqing had improved, she could ask such questions openly.

Fu Yiqing glanced at her, his expression practically saying, “Are you serious?”

His answer matched his look. “The plane ticket to D City is your present.”

“…?”

He explained patiently, “I mean, this year your gift is the chance to spend New Year’s with your family and then get ready to face the Four Continents.”

…

Fu Yiqing’s gift was truly one of a kind.

Shu Ran wanted to roll her eyes but instead sighed, gazing at the scenery.

In the previous days, she’d always rushed home after training, so she hadn’t noticed the changes in the area. Now, with time to spare, she realized how much her hometown had transformed.

It had only been two years, yet it felt almost like a different city.

Seeing her astonished expression, Fu Yiqing asked, “What’s wrong?”

She pointed to a tall building. “That building wasn’t there two years ago. And over there—there used to be a great snack street, but now it’s a plaza. I miss it so much. If my family didn’t still live here, I’d think this was a different city altogether.”

Fu Yiqing followed her gaze. “People always long for what they’ve lost and forget to cherish what they have. So they keep reminiscing and keep losing.”

For the first time, Shu Ran saw an air of melancholy on Fu Yiqing’s face, and she was momentarily stunned.

She asked, “What are you thinking about?”

He glanced at her. “I’m thinking about how to hold on to what I have now.”

“That’s simple. As long as your heart doesn’t change, how could you lose anything?”

Fu Yiqing seemed enlightened by her words. He looked at Shu Ran and suddenly smiled. “You’re absolutely right.”

He started forward. “Come on, let’s head home early for the New Year.”

“Okay!” Shu Ran hurried to catch up.

Shu Ran’s family was from the south, and although people in the north always made dumplings for New Year’s, her family didn’t have that tradition. Still, afraid that Fu Yiqing might expect it, Shao Anhong asked Shu Ran to find out.

Fu Yiqing sat on the sofa as Shu Ran sidled up to him.

“If you have something to say, just say it,” he said, eyes on the TV but words directed at Shu Ran.

Awkwardly, Shu Ran brought up the topic. “Coach Fu, you used to live in B City—do you eat dumplings for New Year’s?”

Only after asking did she realize how silly the question sounded. Since he’d lived in B City, of course he’d eaten dumplings.

“No.”

“Huh?” Shu Ran hadn’t expected that. “You’re not from B City?”

Fu Yiqing shook his head. “No, I just lived there for a while.”

“Oh.” Having gotten her answer, Shu Ran dashed to the kitchen to report.

Shao Anhong watched her daughter scurry off and sighed helplessly. Anyone could see that she’d put her daughter up to it. Shao Anhong shook her head, suddenly worried about her daughter’s future. After retirement, with her intelligence, she feared Shu Ran would be taken advantage of.

Fu Yiqing, of course, was embarrassed to do nothing, but Shu Ran’s parents wouldn’t let him help. To consider his feelings, they finally had him and Shu Ran put up the Spring Festival couplets together.

They started with the pair at the front door.

Shu Ran wasn’t tall enough and had to use a ladder.

Seeing her ready to climb, Fu Yiqing took the couplet from her. “I’ll do it.”

“Okay.”

Shu Ran held the horizontal scroll and the lower couplet, handing him the upper one.

But she saw him about to stick the upper couplet on the left side and quickly stopped him. “Wait! Hold on.”

Fu Yiqing looked at her, puzzled.

“The upper couplet goes on the right.”

“Oh.”

Fu Yiqing moved to the right and put up the upper couplet, then climbed the ladder.

In truth, with his height, Fu Yiqing could place the horizontal scroll without the ladder, but it would be crooked, so he climbed up.

The ladder’s left foot was unsteady. Shu Ran gripped both sides tightly.

Fu Yiqing was tall to begin with, and standing on the ladder made him seem gigantic.

Shu Ran, looking up, was momentarily dazed. “Coach, you’re really tall.”

Fu Yiqing replied, “Hmm. You look even shorter from here.”

Only now did Shu Ran understand what Qin Liubei meant about someone needing lessons in social etiquette.

Fu Yiqing aligned the horizontal scroll with the center. “Is this good?”

Shu Ran, holding the ladder, stepped back and checked from side to side. “It’s good.”

Fu Yiqing reached out. “Glue.”

Shu Ran handed him the glue.

He spread it on the back of the scroll and stuck it up.

Shu Ran, struggling, released her left hand to flex her wrist, not realizing the ladder would suddenly tip left.

Seeing the ladder about to fall on Shu Ran, Fu Yiqing leapt down and pulled her into his arms, shielding her.

It all happened so fast that Shu Ran had no idea what was happening—only that Fu Yiqing’s embrace was warm and reassuring, his presence calming.

Then there was a dull “thud” and a stifled groan from Fu Yiqing.

The ladder crashed to the ground.

The injury that should have befallen Shu Ran, Fu Yiqing had taken in her place.

Shu Ran’s eyes widened in alarm. “Coach Fu?!”

He did his best to keep the pain from showing. “I’m fine.”

Shao Anhong and her husband hurried in at the commotion, finding the two in an embrace. Shao Anhong screamed, “What happened?”

Shu Ran blushed, unable to explain.

Shu Yutian snapped, “That ladder’s broken. Why did you use it? Coach Fu, are you all right?”

Shao Anhong fretted, “Come on, let’s go to the hospital and get you checked.”

Fu Yiqing’s brows were deeply furrowed, but he shook his head. “It’s nothing—just a bump. No need for the hospital, a patch will do.”

“Are you sure?” Shu Ran was still worried.

Seeing the whole family so anxious, Fu Yiqing couldn’t help but laugh. “Really, I’m fine. If I were hurt, I wouldn’t be able to hide it. I can’t miss Shu Ran’s competitions.”

Hearing this, the family finally gave up on the hospital visit.

Shu Yutian applied a hot towel for a long time before putting on a patch. When they came out, mother and daughter still looked worried.

Shu Yutian smiled. “I checked. It’s nothing serious.”

They both relaxed. Shao Anhong looked at Shu Ran. “You almost got your Coach Fu hurt.”

Fu Yiqing reassured them. “Really, it’s fine. If Shu Ran had been injured, it would have affected her competitions, maybe even her career. For me, it’s not such a big deal.”

The couple were moved by his words.

Shu Yutian patted Shu Ran on the head. “Ranran, did you hear that? Don’t let your coach’s kindness go to waste.”

Shu Ran met Fu Yiqing’s eyes, her expression complex. “I won’t.”