Chapter Thirty-Three: I’m Counting on You

Although Shu Yutian had seen Fu Yiqing’s back with his own eyes, he was not a doctor, and the couple still felt uneasy. In the end, they called up Grandpa Zhang from upstairs to their home.

“I’m really fine,” Fu Yiqing said.

The couple explained, “Grandpa Zhang is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine doctor in our neighborhood. Coach Fu, please let him take a look so we can be at ease.”

Fu Yiqing wasn’t used to being so close to strangers, especially when it came to his own body. But when he glanced over and saw the deep worry knitted between Shu Ran’s brows, he had no choice but to give in.

“Alright,” he conceded.

As Grandpa Zhang examined Fu Yiqing’s injury, he smiled and said, “I watched Shu Ran grow up. When she was little, she loved nothing more than putting on her skates and running off to the ice rink. Now she’s made it onto the national team—her dream has come true.”

“All done. The injury isn’t serious. You can put your shirt down,” the old man continued with a smile, before suddenly changing the topic. “So, when are you two planning to get married?”

Fu Yiqing was slightly taken aback. He quietly let his shirt fall back into place, then offered a faint smile. “You misunderstand. I’m not Shu Ran’s boyfriend, I’m her coach.”

Grandpa Zhang was stunned for a moment before laughing again. “I see, so that’s how it is.”

Reaching for the door, the old man turned his back to Fu Yiqing and said, “Hold on tight. I’ve lived a long life, and I’ve never been wrong about people.”

Fu Yiqing replied, “Alright.”

With Grandpa Zhang’s professional assessment, the Shu family could finally set their minds at ease.

Because of Fu Yiqing’s willingness, he once again earned the gratitude and respect of Shu Yutian and his wife.

Shu Yutian even brought out his long-cherished, hard-to-find ‘Daughter’s Red’ wine from another province.

After a hearty meal and ample drinks, Shu Yutian raised his glass. “Coach Fu, I toast you. If it weren’t for you, our Ranran wouldn’t have achieved what she has today. It’s all thanks to you.”

Fu Yiqing shook his head. “She couldn’t have reached this point without her own hard work.”

A little drunk, Shu Yutian kept toasting Fu Yiqing, and in the end, blurted out, “I’m entrusting my daughter to you. Please take care of her from now on.”

Both Shao Anhong and Shu Ran were stunned. Shao Anhong pinched her husband’s thigh under the table and hissed through gritted teeth, “What are you talking about?”

Fu Yiqing replied with an easy smile, “She’s my student. Of course I’ll take good care of her.”

Shao Anhong felt slightly embarrassed by his words. How did she end up misconstruing his simple statement so wildly?

Once drunk, Shu Yutian started rambling, pouring out all the longing for his daughter he usually kept to himself. Fearing that Shu Ran would be upset by what she overheard, Shao Anhong dragged her husband to their room, leaving the table messy and the dishes untouched.

The steam from the hot pot lingered around the two of them, swirling between their faces.

Shu Ran had caught some of her father’s words, and her heart ached as if pricked by needles. Not wanting Fu Yiqing to notice, she quickly changed the subject. “Coach Fu, don’t take my dad’s words to heart. He’s always like that when he’s drunk. But it’s rare for him to drink so much—he only does it when he’s truly, truly happy.”

Fu Yiqing answered softly, “I understand.”

Shu Ran looked at the table, her gaze drifting. “Coach Fu, I forgot to mention something earlier.”

Turning to him, her warm smile blossomed as she raised her glass. “Thank you for saving me. Thank you for helping me achieve what I have today. So… this glass is for you.”

For a long moment, Fu Yiqing did not drink, only regarded her with an unreadable expression.

Shu Ran’s arm grew tired from holding up her glass, and just as she was about to repeat herself, he finally spoke. “This is a glass I really ought to drink.”

She smiled and prepared to drink as well, but to her surprise, Fu Yiqing took her glass away and gently patted her head. “What’s a child doing drinking?”

With that, he finished the drink in one motion.

Seeing Fu Yiqing begin to tidy up the tableware, Shu Ran hurried to stop him. “Coach, please leave it. Let me handle this.”

“It’s alright.”

“Coach, if my mom finds out I made you do chores, she’ll scold me.”

“Your parents love you so much. How could they scold you?”

Since he insisted on helping, Shu Ran relented, “Fine, as long as you just bring the dishes into the kitchen. Don’t do anything else! Otherwise they really will say something to me.”

Fu Yiqing chuckled and helped her carry the dishes to the kitchen.

When he saw Shu Ran about to wash the dishes with bare hands, he frowned again. “Let me do it.”

Shu Ran spread her arms and blocked his way. “Wait, that’s not what we agreed on just now.”

“Detergent is harsh on your hands. Your hands are meant for dancing—they need to stay soft and beautiful, or it will affect the grace of your movements.”

Shu Ran quickly glanced at the kitchen counter and spotted the gloves. “I’ll put the gloves on, so it’ll be fine, right?”

But Fu Yiqing stared at her for a long while, making Shu Ran feel a bit guilty. “Coach, why are you looking at me like that?”

“Don’t be so polite all the time—as if… I’m just a stranger.” He sighed, averted his gaze, and walked out of the kitchen.

Shu Ran stood there in a daze for a while. Just as she was about to start washing the dishes, Shao Anhong came in, stopped her, and said a cleaning lady would come tomorrow to take care of everything. She urged Shu Ran to go watch the fireworks at the newly built Glimmer Tower and to take Fu Yiqing with her.

Standing outside Fu Yiqing’s room, Shu Ran hesitated about whether to knock. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Fu Yiqing was a little different tonight.

“If you want to knock, just do it.” The voice came from behind her. She turned to see Fu Yiqing smiling at her. “Why have you suddenly become as timid as you used to be?”

His smile inexplicably set Shu Ran at ease.

So it seemed she was just overthinking. The man before her was still the considerate Coach Fu she knew.

Before leaving, Shu Ran asked Shao Anhong which building was Glimmer Tower. Shao Anhong pointed from the balcony, and Shu Ran realized it was the tall building she’d seen at noon.

It was cold outside. Shu Ran bundled up, and Shao Anhong fussed over Fu Yiqing, making sure he wore a matching scarf before letting him go.

Fu Yiqing always wore his jacket open, but facing Shao Anhong’s motherly gaze, he obediently zipped it up.

Catching each other’s eyes, Shu Ran and Fu Yiqing both laughed.

She said, “My mom probably hasn’t seen me for so long she’s forgotten I’m used to working on the ice. I’m the one person least bothered by the cold.”

“And yet, someone I know still spends a few days every month bundled up like a ball.”

Shu Ran blushed a little. “Fine, you win. Since you’re so impressive, Coach Fu, can you help me find the way? Do you know how to get to Glimmer Tower—left, right, left, and straight on—after leaving the house?”

She expected that calling him by name would annoy him, but he didn’t seem to notice.

Fu Yiqing pulled out his phone. “Now’s the time to use Baidu Maps.”

Along the way, strings of colored lights hung from the trees, twinkling. The little red lanterns added to the festive atmosphere.

Many people were headed in the same direction. It really was, as her mother said, the best spot in town for watching fireworks.

With Baidu Maps to guide them, they reached Glimmer Tower in just ten minutes.

The elevator rose floor by floor. Thanks to the transparent glass, they could see the city’s miniature replica beneath and behind them, growing smaller and smaller.

Being the best viewing spot, it was crowded. The elevator was packed, and when they reached the top, Shu Ran nearly lost her footing in the press of bodies. Fortunately, Fu Yiqing reacted swiftly, grabbing her hand and wrapping his other arm protectively around her waist.

Shu Ran’s heart thudded wildly.

Once out of the elevator, the crowd dispersed, and they separated.

She looked around with curiosity. “Let’s go over there—I have a feeling the first burst of fireworks will go off in that direction.”

“Are you so sure?”

They walked towards the spot Shu Ran pointed out.

She grinned playfully. “You know how people say if you see the first falling star and make a wish, it’ll come true? I’m making up my own tradition.”

Fu Yiqing caught her happiness. “Oh?”

“If I guess right about where the first fireworks will appear, I’ll become world champion next season.”

“And if you don’t, the blame falls on the fireworks?”

Shu Ran was a little surprised that Fu Yiqing was joking too, but she rather liked the mood. She winked mischievously. “Exactly. Neither you nor I have to take the blame—leave it all to luck.”

A message alert interrupted them.

It was a video call from Qin Liubei. Shu Ran answered and saw Qin Liubei and Xu Jingyu at a familiar location, heads leaning together. Xu Jingyu’s expression was one of shy discomfort.

Shu Ran asked instinctively, “Are you two together now?”

Qin Liubei froze mid-sentence. “Damn! How’d you know? Even Xu Jingyu’s mom doesn’t know yet!”

Fu Yiqing leaned over and said with disdain, “Only a blind man couldn’t tell.”

Qin Liubei laughed awkwardly and let Xu Jingyu take over. “Shu Ran, guess where we are?”

Shu Ran peered at the screen. “It looks familiar.” It seemed like they were in this tower.

But glancing around, she didn’t spot them. “We’re at Glimmer Tower.”

“That’s such a coincidence,” Qin Liubei’s voice cut in, “We’re at the Illusion Tower, eight hundred meters from Glimmer Tower.”

Shu Ran’s lips twitched. “What a… coincidence.”

“Happy New Year, Shu Ran!” Xu Jingyu called, then forced Qin Liubei to say it too, before they hung up and rushed off to secure a spot for the fireworks.

“Those two are a perfect match,” Shu Ran said.

“Mm,” Fu Yiqing replied blandly. “Both are noisy.”

Shu Ran: “…”

She checked her messages on WeChat. Many people had sent her New Year’s wishes, which she replied to one by one. Just as she was about to put her phone away, Zhu Hongzhe started a video call.

Fu Yiqing, about to ask why Shu Ran was glued to her phone, heard a young man’s voice over the speaker. He frowned, leaned in, and saw Zhu Hongzhe’s smiling face on the screen.