Chapter 85: You Are Very Clever

No one opposed Shu Ran’s return to skating any longer.

With everyone on their side unified in their response, the national team, of course, chose to respect Shu Ran’s decision.

The official account promptly retweeted Shu Ran’s post, wishing her a swift return to her former dazzling form.

The comment section on Shu Ran’s bold, head-on response soared to a new high, reaching the peak of activity since she first opened her account.

“My goodness, I’m crying so hard! No matter what place you get this time, I’ll support you. I’ll be watching the Winter Olympics live for you a year from now! [Heart]”

“The official account didn’t give a definite answer saying Shu Ran will compete for sure, yet here she is, posting on her third day after surgery. Maybe even she doesn’t know if she’ll be able to participate in the Olympic qualifiers half a year later, but she still says this. It’s honestly heartbreaking.”

“Ranran, I don’t know what kind of injury you have, but my grandmother’s village has a barefoot doctor with incredible skills. He doesn’t have a medical license, but he’s an absolute expert with feet—many patients who limped left nearly cured. If you need, just contact me, and I’ll get in touch with him for you.”

“Sobbing like a storm here. It really feels like she’s made a very difficult decision.”

Fu Yiqing wasn’t satisfied with the experts they’d consulted. They’d done all they could for Shu Ran, and their opinions were unanimous.

None of them agreed with Shu Ran competing in six months.

Shu Ran frowned. “Should we put out a post asking for a miracle doctor?”

But before this suggestion could be acted upon, Fu Yiqing vetoed it. “Absolutely not.”

Xu Jingyu, however, thought it was a good idea. “Why not? There’s strength in numbers. Maybe we really could find a patient with a similar case and a highly skilled doctor!”

Fu Yiqing shook his head. “Shu Ran’s injury cannot be made public, and we can’t openly ask for help.”

Xu Jingyu and Shu Ran both looked at him in puzzlement.

“Let me explain why,” said Qin Liubei, who had been quietly listening.

For once, he didn’t seize the opportunity to lavish praise on his girlfriend. Folding his arms, his expression turned grave. “There’s only one truth.” He pointed to Shu Ran. “There are people who do not want Shu Ran to truly recover, much less return to her former prowess.”

Xu Jingyu asked, “Who?”

“Little Goldfish, have you gotten slow?” Qin Liubei shook his head. “Though the Olympics are about sportsmanship, politics have long since become entwined with them. It’s a matter of national honor now. Even if Shu Ran’s opponents wish her well, the politicians, media, and patriots of other countries certainly do not want to see her at her best again. If we openly ask for medical help, what do you think is the most direct way they could make their wishes reality?”

They’d send a spy doctor—on the surface treating Shu Ran, but in reality making her injury worse.

Xu Jingyu and Shu Ran fell silent.

Fu Yiqing continued, “As for not publicizing the injury, it’s because we don’t want fans to know just how serious it is. We want to give you confidence.”

Shu Ran looked surprised. “Give me confidence?”

He nodded. “If they knew how bad it was, they’d believe you had no hope at all. Then, when you read their sympathetic messages, your own confidence would slowly erode.”

Qin Liubei let out a whistle, clapped Fu Yiqing on the shoulder, his eyes sparkling with mirth. “So considerate, aren’t you?”

Fu Yiqing didn’t spare him a glance. Instead, he turned to Xu Jingyu. “On April 21st, Qin Liubei is going to propose to you on your birthday.”

In an instant, two pairs of astonished and inquisitive eyes swept toward Qin Liubei.

One belonged to Shu Ran, the clear onlooker relishing the drama.

The other, Xu Jingyu, was the bewildered protagonist.

A beat too slow, Qin Liubei rushed to cover Fu Yiqing’s mouth, but it was too late.

His eyes rounded; not a trace of a smile remained. “Brother, I was just teasing you, and you do this to me? Now that you’ve spilled the plan, how will there be any surprise left?”

Fu Yiqing’s lips curled up slightly.

Qin Liubei felt like dying.

The ingenious proposal idea he’d painstakingly crafted hadn’t even had a chance to be put to use before an internal betrayal ruined it.

Regret gnawed at him. He suddenly took on the air of a tragic heroine, lamenting, “I never should’ve bragged in front of you. Even so, I definitely shouldn’t have teased you and Shu Ran just now…”

“Wait, can someone tell me what’s going on?” Xu Jingyu finally couldn’t help but ask.

Qin Liubei sighed, full of grievance. “Don’t you see? Your boyfriend’s proposal plan is ruined. Now, will you marry me or will you marry me?”

Xu Jingyu replied, “It’s not ruined at all.”

Now it was Qin Liubei’s turn to be surprised. “You didn’t hear what Fu Yiqing said?”

Xu Jingyu answered, “I did, but my birthday isn’t April 21st.”

Qin Liubei gave her a mysterious smile, then said, “I think you’ve been hanging around Shu Ran too much lately. Otherwise, how could you have caught her level of intelligence?”

Shu Ran: “?”

Before Fu Yiqing could avenge Shu Ran, Qin Liubei had already whisked Xu Jingyu out to explain everything.

Shu Ran turned her puzzled gaze toward Fu Yiqing. “Am I really that slow? My math teacher used to say I was actually very smart!”

Fu Yiqing paused while peeling an apple; the peel snapped. He continued along a new strip of peel, and asked casually, “Did your math teacher always say that when you went to her alone with a question?”

Shu Ran nodded with great conviction. “Yes! Every time she explained a wrong problem and I understood, I’d do it again and get it right, and she’d always say very seriously and kindly, ‘See, you’re actually very smart.’”

Fu Yiqing didn’t reply.

The room fell into sudden silence.

Shu Ran asked, “You seem to know all about this. Did your math teacher say that to you too?”

Fu Yiqing shook his head. “My music teacher used to say that.”

“You had music tests? What did you score?”

“Less than 100.”

Shu Ran looked up in surprise. “You sing that well?”

“Don’t listen to him—he’s terrible at singing.” Qin Liubei’s voice appeared out of nowhere, as if he was determined to have his revenge, “Shu Ran, you’re too naive. One point is also less than 100.”

Fu Yiqing shot him a glare, but Qin Liubei, acting as if he’d given up all hope, grabbed two apples, not even offering one to Xu Jingyu, and sat down to munch away.

Xu Jingyu shot him several dissatisfied looks, but he smirked, “How could I let you eat one with the peel? I’m waiting for Old Fu to finish peeling, then I’ll get one for you.”

Only then did Xu Jingyu withdraw her gaze, satisfied.

Watching the two of them, Shu Ran couldn’t help but want to laugh.

She asked, “So, have you two gotten your marriage certificate yet?”

Xu Jingyu spread her hands. “Not yet.”

Qin Liubei swallowed his mouthful of apple before replying, “In our relationship, everything comes after you. Isn’t that strange?”

Xu Jingyu glared at him, and he finally quieted down.

Shu Ran was thoroughly amused.

*

Shu Ran didn’t waste a single moment of her time in the hospital.

She kept to her old training routine.

She trained her artistic expression.

She started by watching and listening, then reflecting, and finally, she conducted simulation training in her mind.

Given her current circumstances, she had no other options.

Her greatest worry was whether, when she healed, she could actually perform on the ice at the level she could in her mind.

If not, she would have to lower the difficulty of her program.

Then, she’d have to pour all her hopes into her artistic expression.

The world truly was mysterious. The bet between Fu Yiqing and Quentin had been a contest between artistry and technique, and now, artistry was her only weapon.

She suddenly felt grateful that over the past three years, she had built a solid foundation in artistic study.

A month later, Shu Ran was formally discharged.

Because her grandfather had encountered some health issues, her parents hurried back to City D.

Shu Ran was moved to Fu Yiqing’s home.

Her cast, however, still couldn’t be removed.

Shu Ran thought her calf was thinner than before.

The cast had not gotten any thinner, but what had once fit snugly was now loose enough for a finger to slip in between her leg and the plaster.

She couldn’t help but worry.

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

Shu Ran replied, “I think my calf is thinner. Is it… muscle atrophy?”

Fu Yiqing examined the gap and smiled. “You haven’t trained properly for a while, so your muscles have relaxed. Plus, you haven’t been eating enough, so you’ve gotten skinny.”

“But I have been eating enough!”

Fu Yiqing stroked the top of her head, his hand sliding down to gently pinch her cheek, “Patients need to get more nutrients.”

The explanation seemed reasonable, and Shu Ran gradually put her worries aside.

She didn’t notice the fleeting darkness in Fu Yiqing’s eyes as he turned away.

Soon after, a doctor specializing in legs and feet was brought in—someone who had treated many athletes. Everyone hoped he would bring good news.

But after half a month, Shu Ran’s condition remained worrisome.

The doctor left without success, advising Shu Ran to massage her leg often and practice lifting it whenever possible to prevent muscle atrophy.

So for the next week, Shu Ran practiced “air cycling” on the sofa, bed, and carpet.

At first, she felt embarrassed whenever Fu Yiqing saw her, but as time went on, she grew numb to it.

Whether because the exercises were working or simply her mind’s wishful thinking, when her cast was finally removed, her leg was noticeably thinner.

Fu Yiqing emerged from his study and, standing on the second-floor landing, saw Shu Ran doing air cycling on the sofa below.

She looked both comical and adorable.

A smile played at his lips.

In Shu Ran’s upside-down view, she saw Fu Yiqing and greeted him, “Coach, good morning.”

“It’s not early. I made your breakfast.”

Shu Ran exclaimed in surprise, “Ah, no wonder breakfast tasted especially delicious today.”

Catching sight of Aunt Zhang out of the corner of her eye, she quickly corrected herself, “Wait, that’s not right—no wonder breakfast tasted especially bland today!”

Aunt Zhang paused and smiled at her, “Mr. Fu rarely cooks, you know.” Then she continued to the kitchen.

Shu Ran put her leg down, raised an eyebrow, and sat up straight to look at him. “Is that so? In my mind, Coach, you seem to enjoy cooking quite a lot.”