Chapter 107: A Melodramatic Unfolding

It is only March, and given Shu Ran's current recovery progress, any attempt to compete this season would be an incredibly rushed endeavor. Fu Yiqing simply decided against having her compete at all.

For this season, Shu Ran’s primary task was training.

A year of closed-off, intensive training is, for most athletes, a lonely and monotonous affair. Shu Ran could not draw the motivation to continue training from the success of competition. Yet, she understood that loneliness was a phase every athlete had to endure; she was merely experiencing it all over again.

Since her return, Shu Ran’s life had been dull. Her routine was a simple two-point line between sleeping and training.

From the cold early spring to the sweltering summer, then as the autumn winds began to blow, pedestrians donned their autumn wear, gradually adding layers, and eventually switching to down jackets.

The end of the year had arrived just like that.

Shu Ran was the first to arrive at the ice rink for physical training. Just as she finished jumping rope, she heard footsteps. Fu Yiqing had arrived, closely followed by Qin Liubei and Xu Jingyu.

The two were discussing plans for the Chinese New Year.

Qin Liubei, feeling a bit desperate, asked Fu Yiqing, "What do you think I should buy for Little Goldfish’s family this year?"

Fu Yiqing glanced at him calmly, offering no answer.

Qin Liubei had no choice but to accept his fate and turn to Xu Jingyu. "What is your mother lacking these days?"

Xu Jingyu replied, "She lacks a son-in-law."

Qin Liubei retorted, "Are you that desperate to get married?"

Xu Jingyu’s face stiffened. "Fine, it’s not like I have to be with you..."

Before she could finish the word, Qin Liubei laughed and covered her mouth. "I wasn't finished. These things should be said by us men, don't you think? It makes you look better if it comes from me, right?"

Xu Jingyu pondered this for a moment and nodded. "That's fair enough."

The two continued to discuss what gifts to buy for their trip back to D City.

Shu Ran was changing into her skates when she felt the light above her blocked. Looking up, she saw Fu Yiqing.

Fu Yiqing sat down beside her. "Your parents already know you’ve resumed training."

Shu Ran’s eyes flickered, and she quietly murmured, "Mm."

Fu Yiqing asked, "Still don't want to go back for the New Year?"

Shu Ran fell silent. Last year, she had used her injury as an excuse to avoid returning to D City. She missed her parents dearly, having not seen them for so long, but she did not want to return to that city.

"Is it because you don't want to see familiar faces?" Fu Yiqing’s voice pulled her back to reality.

Shu Ran paused, then shook her head. "It’s because I don't want to see people I dislike."

Fu Yiqing frowned, waiting for her explanation.

After a few seconds of hesitation, Shu Ran sighed and spoke up. "The first time I went from the provincial team to the national team, many neighbors came to my house to pry. They offered 'comfort,' and at the time, I thought they were kind. But once I returned to the provincial team, I realized they were laughing behind my back about me being at the bottom of the rankings. Some even told me to my face to give up skating. That’s why I did everything I could to get back to the national team..."

There are always people who cannot stand to see others doing better than themselves, finding joy in the pain of others. When she was still a bottom-tier skater on the national team, there were always those who used it to hurt her—offering superficial concern while actually mocking her for being delusional.

Now that Shu Ran had finally steeled her resolve to return to the rink and had undergone nine months of secluded training, she really did not want to have her mood affected by those people at this stage.

She didn't need to say more; Fu Yiqing understood. Because of her withdrawal from the Winter Olympics, Shu Ran’s reputation online was poor, and it was easy to imagine how those people would mock her.

Fu Yiqing immediately changed the subject. "It’s alright. No matter what decision you make, your parents will understand."

Shu Ran kept her head down, saying nothing.

Once Xu Jingyu and the others learned that Shu Ran would not be returning to D City, they started their holiday early and headed back. For Shu Ran, life remained the same: training, eating, and sleeping.

Regardless of whether one celebrates, New Year's Eve arrives all the same.

Auntie Zhang had gone home a week prior. Shu Ran still refused to go out, so the shopping fell entirely on Fu Yiqing.

Not long after Fu Yiqing left, Shu Ran went to the ice rink to train. She practiced for three hours before returning to the villa. She had expected Fu Yiqing to be home, but the house was cold and empty, and even the sound of the door closing felt exceptionally lonely.

Shu Ran intended to head to her room, but thinking that Fu Yiqing might return at any moment, she decided she could at least help him with the bags if she were there. So, she curled up on the sofa downstairs.

No one likes waiting, especially when there is no end in sight. She opened the chat window with Fu Yiqing and typed, "Not back yet?"

Fu Yiqing did not respond instantly as he usually did.

After holding her phone for a long time without a notification, her heart slowly grew cold. A bit discouraged, she set the phone on the coffee table.

A moment later, a notification sound chimed. She quickly snatched it up, only to find it was a promotional ad for a family vacation package. Her gaze lingered on the words "whole family," unable to look away for a long time.

Almost in a trance, she unlocked the screen. Before she realized it, she had already navigated to an airline booking app.

The conversation she had with her parents yesterday echoed in her ears.

Shu Yutian: "Ranran, I heard from Coach Fu that you’ve resumed training? Are you not coming back because you’re afraid your mother and I will oppose you continuing to skate?"

Shao Anhong grabbed the phone, her voice soft. "That’s not it at all. Mom figured it out a long time ago. If you like it, keep skating. If your dad disagrees, I’ll give him a piece of my mind."

Shu Yutian sounded bewildered. "Haven't I always supported her?"

So, the fact that she didn't come home had caused such a misunderstanding? Shu Ran felt a wave of guilt. "No, there are other reasons I’m not coming back."

Shao Anhong: "What reasons?"

Shu Ran hesitated for a moment before saying, "I haven't trained for a year, so I have to repeat many movements. I need to recover my former strength before May, and in June, I have to go to Canada to choreograph programs for the new season."

Shao Anhong: "Oh, I see. Well... keep up the hard work. Dad and Mom will always support you. Also, make sure you take care of your health..."

Her parents' words of concern were still ringing in her ears, but Shu Ran was overwhelmed by a sense of loneliness. Looking down at the destination and departure fields on her screen, her longing for her family reached an unbearable peak.

Impulses flared. Driven by emotion, Shu Ran quickly entered the destination, checked the times, and booked a 1:00 PM flight to D City.

After receiving the booking confirmation, she went upstairs to pack. Once finished, she dragged her suitcase downstairs and sent a message to Fu Yiqing, telling him the news and suggesting they meet at the airport in two hours.

However, there was still no reply from Fu Yiqing.

Shu Ran decided to head to the airport and figure it out from there. She pulled up her scarf and lowered her cap, feeling incredibly lucky that it was winter, as no one would recognize her in this "disguise."

Throughout the journey, her heart was racing.

*

Due to a flight delay, Fu Yiqing had waited at the airport for a long time before finally seeing a glimmer of hope. He looked toward a figure in the crowd and raised his arm.

The person recognized him quickly and hurried over with a suitcase.

"Coach Fu, thank you so much for your hard work. Why did you come to pick us up?"

The people arriving were none other than Shu Ran’s parents.

Fu Yiqing reached for their bags, but was stopped. "It's alright, let me take them."

Shu Yutian insisted, "That wouldn't be right. Really, let me handle it."

Seeing his persistence, Fu Yiqing didn't press the matter.

Shao Anhong got straight to the point, asking about Shu Ran’s recent condition. Fu Yiqing answered truthfully.

Shao Anhong: "You didn't tell her that her father and I came to B City, did you?"

Fu Yiqing shook his head. "You asked me to keep it a secret, so I only said I was coming for some shopping."

Shao Anhong nodded in satisfaction.

After that, the three had little to talk about, and the situation became somewhat awkward. Shao Anhong took the initiative to chat with Fu Yiqing about the shopping list.

Once in the car, Fu Yiqing discovered his phone had automatically shut down. He charged and turned it on, only to find a string of messages from Shu Ran.

The latest one read: Coach Fu, I bought a ticket to D City. If you don't reply, I'm getting on the plane, and you'll have to buy your own ticket to my house.

The time was 12:30. She was about to board.

As Shu Yutian was still talking about what he saw at the airport, Fu Yiqing realized he hadn't gotten through to her. He muttered, "I have to find Shu Ran," unbuckled his seatbelt, and bolted from the car.

Shao Anhong: "Did you... hear what Fu Yiqing said?"

Shu Yutian: "I heard it clearly. It sounded like he was going to find Ranran."

Fu Yiqing rushed to the service desk and explained the situation to the staff.

An elegant female voice soon rang out over the airport intercom: "Ms. Shu Ran, please come to the information desk. A Mr. Fu has an urgent matter to discuss with you."

Fu Yiqing urged the staff member impatiently, "If she comes, tell her to call me. I'm going inside to look—"

Damn it! His phone was dead, and he hadn't even brought it with him.

Fu Yiqing calmed himself and turned to the young woman at the desk. "Could I borrow your phone?"

The girl stared at Fu Yiqing blankly, unsure if she was stunned by his good looks or shocked by his bizarre request. She hesitated, then pulled her phone from her pocket. "Oh."

Fu Yiqing: "If Shu Ran comes, tell her to call your number and let me know."

Before he even finished speaking, Fu Yiqing ran off.

Three minutes later, the girl finally snapped out of her daze. Her expression went blank, and her heart skipped a beat. "Could this... be a new kind of scam?"

A minute, then two passed. Seeing that Fu Yiqing hadn't returned, the girl finally realized she had been duped.

When Shu Ran heard the broadcast, she hurried back as fast as she could, but then remembered her suitcase was in the restroom and ran back to retrieve it. When she arrived at the service desk, she found three police officers gathered there. The young woman in uniform was crying, muttering something about a "con artist."

The police were comforting the girl. "As long as he is still in the airport, we will find him. You said, what was his surname? What did he look like?"

The girl said regretfully, "He looked quite decent, honestly. He said he was looking for Shu Ran. When I heard the name, I thought of the athlete Shu Ran—her coach is surnamed Fu, but I wasn't sure if it was him..."

"Excuse me... I am Shu Ran. May I ask where the Mr. Fu who was looking for me is?"

Shu Ran’s voice interrupted their conversation abruptly.

They glanced at her briefly, and then four pairs of eyes locked onto her simultaneously.

Shu Ran pursed her lips. "Uh, may I ask where Mr. Fu is?"

The girl rubbed her eyes. "You're really Shu Ran?"

Shu Ran realized the situation was bad. She hadn't left the house precisely because she didn't want to be recognized, but the broadcast had revealed her name.

Before Shu Ran could even nod, the girl looked ecstatic. "My phone might be saved!"

The police wore expressions that said "case closed," leaving only Shu Ran completely bewildered.