Chapter 117: Sudden Attack

Ever since Shu Ran began her grueling period of intensive training, she had practically become oblivious to the world outside. Every day, her concerns revolved solely around training; even eating and sleeping were treated as mere tasks to be completed.

Tonight, however, was an exception. Fu Yiqing was only halfway through his meal when Shu Ran vanished from the table. All that remained was the sight of her retreating figure.

"What are you two actually thinking?"

Because Xu Jingyu was returning home the day after tomorrow to register her marriage with Qin Liubei, Shu Ran seized the small window of time to press for details.

What were they really thinking?

Xu Jingyu pondered it carefully. She realized she hadn't given it much thought at all. Her gaze wandered aimlessly. "I haven't really thought about it. We're at the right age; we've known each other for six years and have been together for over four." Her voice was soft, yet it carried a hint of sweetness. "I'm already twenty-eight. Actually, they started urging us two years ago, but I originally wanted to wait until winter..."

Realizing she had touched upon a sore spot for Shu Ran, Xu Jingyu felt a jolt of alarm and instantly stifled her smile. The pause was abrupt. Shu Ran understood what she was thinking and laughed. "I’ve already moved past that shadow. Why are you all more sensitive about it than I am?"

Shu Ran was telling the truth. Since she had chosen to return, she was prepared to face all sorts of difficulties. If she could handle the vitriol of netizens, what did one sensitive topic matter?

Xu Jingyu met her smiling eyes, understood, and returned to her story, though her brow soon furrowed. "Shu Ran, there’s something I’ve kept to myself for a long time. I haven't dared to tell anyone."

Shu Ran was startled. "Hmm? What is it?"

"Actually, the last time I went to Sweden to meet his parents, it was..." Xu Jingyu looked down, her gaze sinking lower. "I felt quite inferior."

"Huh?"

Shu Ran’s exclamation of surprise made Xu Jingyu laugh, though she quickly regained her previous expression. "Because his family didn't seem very satisfied with me."

Shu Ran pursed her lips. "But I remember his parents liked you, didn't they? Didn't you say before that they were planning to visit your family with Qin Liubei?"

"In any case," she frowned, "his family relationships are quite complicated. They belong to a family that has been wealthy for three generations. His parents are nice enough to me, but his uncle, his grandparents... anyway, it's a very complex family dynamic. But Qin Liubei told me not to worry about it. Wait, I just remembered something."

Xu Jingyu’s tone shifted, as if she had just realized something important. She tugged at Shu Ran. "Qin Liubei accidentally let something slip."

Seeing Xu Jingyu looking as excited as if she had obtained a piece of vital intelligence, Shu Ran’s heart skipped a beat. She couldn't help but worry: did this have to do with her?

"Fu Yiqing..."

The first three words made the word "as expected" echo in Shu Ran's mind.

Xu Jingyu wore the expression of a seasoned gossipmonger, completely unlike her dejected self from a moment ago. "His family seems even more complicated than Qin Liubei’s."

Shu Ran blinked. "How so?"

"Why don't you seem very surprised?"

Shu Ran said languidly, "I can tell. If you told me he was a royal prince, I’d believe you."

Everything about Fu Yiqing, from his mannerisms to his temperament, felt like that of a royal aristocrat. Most importantly, during the first two years of her international competitions, when Shu Ran’s results were poor and she couldn't earn prize money, the travel and living expenses for their trips around the world were almost always fronted by Fu Yiqing. Her parents would reimburse him after they returned, and if Shu Ran forgot to mention it, it would sometimes drag on for a month or two. Fu Yiqing never once brought it up, nor did he seem to care.

All these signs pointed to the fact that Fu Yiqing was very wealthy. Initially, Shu Ran thought it was just Fu Yiqing’s own money. Later, considering he never reunited with his family and never mentioned their existence, she formed a rough profile of him in her mind: he was likely a wealthy second-generation heir who had a strained relationship with his family.

Xu Jingyu replied, "A prince might be a bit of a stretch."

The two chatted for a long time, until Fu Yiqing knocked on the door to remind Shu Ran it was time to rest. Only then did she reluctantly climb out of bed.

Shu Ran and Fu Yiqing’s rooms were just diagonally across from each other, making it a convenient path. Fu Yiqing walked in front, Shu Ran behind. The corridor was silent.

"Are you a prince?"

Fu Yiqing stopped, a look of puzzled amusement on his face. "What?"

Shu Ran tilted her head, observing his face carefully and earnestly, then scanned his hair and hands as if using a searchlight. "It probably isn't that complicated."

She silently dismissed the answer, and just before Fu Yiqing turned around, she asked, "What is Qin Liubei’s family environment like? I heard the relationships are very complex?"

This time, Fu Yiqing genuinely smiled. "Did you hear that from Xu Jingyu?"

She nodded.

He raised an eyebrow. "Why the sudden interest in gossip?"

Shu Ran replied, "Didn't you say two years ago that I didn't look like a teenager at all? That I was too mature? So, I’m trying hard to act like a child now."

Fu Yiqing watched her for a moment and said, "It’s alright. It’s not too complex; it just looks that way because his family members don't get along. Generally speaking, his grandfather owns a company. Since Qin Liubei’s parents have no interest in managing it, his uncle has always handled the affairs. But Qin Liubei has never been serious about anything; he hasn't said he wants it, nor has he said he doesn't. His uncle is worried that Qin Liubei will return to snatch the company, and he's specifically worried that if Qin Liubei settles down, he'll return to claim his share."

Shu Ran hadn't expected the waters to run so deep. As she lamented that money was truly a corrupting force, she began to re-examine Fu Yiqing. If Qin Liubei’s family was this complicated, what must the family of Fu Yiqing—whom he described as even more extraordinary—be like?

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

Fu Yiqing’s voice interrupted her train of thought. Her wild imagination came to a sudden halt, and her face flushed red. Why was she worrying about these things? It was as if she were the one getting...

Shu Ran dared not continue that line of thought. She formatted her brain, muttered a "nothing," and hurried past him into her room, leaving Fu Yiqing standing there, still looking baffled.

*

After Xu Jingyu left, Shu Ran spent a few days without a dance instructor. To her, the absence of an instructor just meant she couldn't practice new dance routines to popular music during her land training. In her view, dancing served no purpose other than improving physical stamina, rhythm, and flexibility—goals she could achieve just as easily with her previous routines.

However, Fu Yiqing was not entirely reassured, and a few days later, he hired a new dance instructor for her. It was an old acquaintance: Lin Jiahui.

Lin Jiahui remained the same; once she entered work mode, she let her second persona take over to teach Shu Ran. A month passed, and Shu Ran had learned all her programs. The subsequent tasks of consolidation and reinforcement, however, were not easy—they were, if anything, even more grueling.

The difficult and monotonous training life flew by. After finishing her morning session, Shu Ran changed and prepared to go eat with Fu Yiqing and the others. Belus had returned to his university to teach students as soon as Shu Ran mastered all her programs. Although Lin Jiahui was still around, she usually didn't eat with them, but today was an exception. As they walked, Shu Ran was still discussing the movements they had just worked on.

They arrived at their usual restaurant and sat down to order. Shu Ran, never the one tasked with ordering, let her gaze wander aimlessly until it caught a figure passing by outside the window. She suspected she had misseen, rubbed her eyes, and shifted toward the window, leaning against it.

Fu Yiqing caught her movement out of the corner of his eye and said calmly, "Yes, you didn't see wrong. It’s him."

Shu Ran turned, her eyes wide as saucers as she stared at Fu Yiqing, her thoughts racing. "You knew he was coming? Did you arrange this?"

Before she could finish, a cool, calm voice spoke up, "Apologies, I am late."

Shu Ran looked up and met the tranquil eyes of Genkura Go.

"Hello everyone, it’s been a long time." He gave a faint smile—very light, but far friendlier than the aloofness that usually kept people at a distance.

Lin Jiahui shifted to make room for him. He sat down, took off his baseball cap, and signaled the waiter. "Excuse me, please bring me a glass of water."

Shu Ran looked at him, then at the other two, suddenly feeling as if she were the only one being kept in the dark. Faced with her silent interrogation, Fu Yiqing spoke up: "He is here for training."

"Oh."

"So..."

Shu Ran, just regaining her composure, heard this and guessed the implication. "So?"

Fu Yiqing: "For the training before returning home, you two will be together."

Shu Ran felt cold sweat trickle down her back. She felt a mix of excitement and nerves. Training with a world champion for three days—it was thrilling, and she hoped to make the most of this rare opportunity.

There were rumors that Genkura Go would retire before the next Nagashima Winter Olympics, but with only two years left, no reliable information had emerged. Furthermore, among their country’s new generation of men’s singles skaters, no one besides Genkura Go had the confidence to bring the Olympic gold medal home. Thus, whether he would retire remained a mystery.

To Shu Ran, it seemed likely that Genkura Go might participate in one more Winter Olympics; he still appeared to be in good shape. However, women’s and men’s singles were different, so the standards for assessment naturally differed.

Shu Ran refocused her mind on her individual training. When the dance studio session ended, she was nearly exhausted, sprawling on the floor with her head tilted back and her hands supporting her weight. Genkura Go was in slightly better condition.

As Shu Ran gasped for air, letting the sweat drip from her face, she heard her name. Opening her eyes, she saw Genkura Go standing over her, holding out a towel.

She took it, once again marveling at his incredibly refined features. He sat down on the floor in a relaxed manner. "Is your right foot injury healed?"

It had been so long since they last met, and their statuses had diverged significantly. Genkura Go already held the title of world champion, and since they last parted, he had added another consecutive world championship to his name, while she had been mired in scandal. From the perspective of a peer, Shu Ran couldn't help but feel a sense of distance, but this simple expression of concern shattered those unnecessary thoughts.

Her heart warmed, and she instinctively touched her right ankle. "It's fine for now. I don't know if it will cause trouble in the future."

"I heard that if God is too cruel to someone, then once that person stands up again, she will surely achieve victories many times greater than before."

Before Shu Ran could process the meaning behind his words, she saw him stand up and head for the door. "Then, I will see you at the World Championships."