Chapter Ninety-Three: An Unexpected Encounter with a Hater

Five days had passed since Christina returned home, and Shan lay in bed, often staring blankly out the window.

Fu Yiqing thought she was bored. Though he said nothing, he worried for her in silence.

That morning, he suddenly said, “I’ve asked Madam Zhang to pack your luggage.”

Shan turned to him in confusion. “Pack for what? Are we going back to D City?”

Fu Yiqing said, “We’re going to Italy.”

Shan blinked. “What, a vacation at a time like this?”

“To meet someone.”

“Who?”

Fu Yiqing only smiled and said nothing.

Ever since Shan was injured, Fu Yiqing had treated her with an almost extreme devotion to keeping her in bed whenever possible.

But this time, for the sake of meeting someone, he had gone so far as to take her all the way to Italy.

A fierce curiosity surged and roiled in Shan’s heart.

On the way to the airport, she made her first guess. “Is it Caroline?”

It had to be Caroline. She couldn’t be wrong.

After all, the two of them had experienced similar things; perhaps Fu Yiqing knew her condition was bad and had brought her to see Caroline so Caroline could persuade her to give up? Or perhaps so Caroline could pass on to her the secrets and experience of performing after an injury?

Fu Yiqing chuckled and shook his head.

Shan stared in bewilderment for a moment. “Not her either? Then who is it?”

The only Italian person Shan knew who had anything to do with figure skating was Caroline. If not Caroline, then who else could it be?

Seeing that she was about to press him further, Fu Yiqing spoke before she could. “You’ll know when we get there.”

But Shan had no patience for that. “Stop keeping me in suspense. Just tell me.”

“I’d like to tell you directly too, but the problem is… I don’t know who we’re going to meet either.”

“Ah?”

The four words her tongue had nearly formed were swallowed back down.

She only felt that Fu Yiqing was especially strange today.

Shan’s name had trended online more times than she could count, at least five or six times in all, so in any case she could be considered a minor internet celebrity. Worried she might be recognized, she wrapped a thick scarf around her neck and half her face as well, and with no makeup on, she was quite confident no one would know her.

Fu Yiqing was taking her wheelchair from the trunk when he heard her say, “How do I look? Is my disguise decent today?”

He looked at how thoroughly she had covered herself and, after a moment, said quietly, “Mm, you’re very well hidden. But there’s one more important part you forgot.”

Shan’s smile faded. “Which part?”

Fu Yiqing answered with a smile, “Me.”

For a moment, Shan was taken aback. When she finally understood, a blush had already risen to her cheeks. Trying to sound composed, she blurted out, “You—oh, right! Everyone knows you’re my coach. Why aren’t you disguising yourself properly?”

She began to worry, rambling to herself, then thought of something and crooked a finger at him. “Bend down!”

Though Fu Yiqing did not understand, he still did as she asked.

She promptly unwound the large dark green scarf from her neck and quickly wrapped it around his several times. The scarf still carried her body heat, and the warmth at his throat was trapped beneath the fabric.

Today, Fu Yiqing wore only a black T-shirt beneath a long black down coat, and with Shan’s dark green scarf, he somehow looked unexpectedly well matched.

Shan stroked her chin, admiring his dazzling good looks with great satisfaction for a long while. “Mm, not bad. Seems I have a real gift for styling.”

Yet Fu Yiqing merely stared at her, his gaze devoid of any hint of flirtation, more like observation.

“You…” Shan asked, “why do you keep looking at me like that?”

Fu Yiqing said, “If you gave me your disguise, how are you supposed to disguise yourself?”

Shan’s expression turned playful. Very pleased with herself, she pulled up the hood attached to her down jacket. There was a ring of fluffy fur around the brim, and her little face was tucked inside it. Aside from the redness at the tip of her nose from the cold, the rest of her skin was fair and luminous, comparable to a child carved from white jade and pink stone.

The softest part of Fu Yiqing’s heart stirred faintly, and his gaze grew uncontrollably gentler. He quickly looked away, tugged down her hood with a firm hand, and took the initiative to push her wheelchair. “Let’s go.”

But Shan’s careful calculations still missed one thing.

“Wow, look over there. That guy is so handsome. Even from behind he looks incredible.”

Fu Yiqing was in line to get boarding passes, while Shan waited to one side. She heard every word clearly.

Several girls behind them had been discussing Fu Yiqing’s back for quite some time.

Shan immediately sensed trouble.

She hurriedly took out her phone and sent him a message with her head lowered: “Don’t turn around after you get the boarding pass.”

Anxiously waiting for Fu Yiqing to check his phone, she saw him take it out and glance down at the screen.

“Why?”

“There are a few girls behind us eyeing you. You can’t let them see your face.”

The corner of Fu Yiqing’s mouth lifted almost imperceptibly. His eyes briefly swept over Shan before returning forward. “If I don’t turn around, how am I supposed to find you?”

Yes—if he didn’t turn, how would they meet up?

Then Shan’s mind raced furiously.

What if he walked sideways like a crab?

She imagined Fu Yiqing crab-walking and found it even funnier and more conspicuous, so she came up with a second plan. “You just go ahead to the right. I’ll turn the wheels myself and meet you at security.”

Fu Yiqing let out a soft laugh, and before he could reply, Shan had already put the plan into action on her own.

Fu Yiqing looked at her, his brows knitting more and more tightly. He had originally not been in a rush to get his boarding pass, but now he kept glancing ahead to see whether the people in front had moved.

Finally unable to bear watching Shan struggle to turn her wheels by herself, he went up to the elderly man in front and asked whether he could cut in line. He even pointed toward Shan inching forward over there to stir sympathy.

Fu Yiqing was in luck. The old man and the old ladies, seeing his upright, honest face, agreed.

After her injury, Shan often sat in a wheelchair, but this was the first time she had tried to propel herself forward by turning the wheels alone.

At first, she managed quite smoothly, but gradually her arms lost strength, and her movements grew labored.

Her back looked stubborn, yet there was a touch of bitterness in it as well.

“I’ll help you.”

A bright young girl’s voice sounded behind her, and the wheels began to turn.

The two remained silent. When they reached security, Shan lowered her head in thanks, only to hear the girl gasp.

Shan’s heart lurched.

No way. Had she been recognized?

Yes, that had to be it.

After a few seconds of hesitation, Shan finally raised her head, only to see the girl staring toward their back-left side and exclaiming excitedly, “It’s Fu Yiqing!”

“…”

By rights, Shan was the athlete—so why was her coach more famous than she was?

Should she run now?

At the girl’s cry, passersby finally turned to look their way, though most of the older people did not know Fu Yiqing. Seeing the handsome face half-hidden by a scarf, they assumed he must be some celebrity.

Occasionally, a few young people crowded over as well, shouting, “It’s Fu Yiqing!”

Most of them were simply onlookers joining the excitement. One asked another, “Which celebrity is this?”

The person ahead was filming excitedly on his phone and turned around to say to those behind him, “No idea. Probably a celebrity, though.”

And so Shan could only watch helplessly as Fu Yiqing was swallowed by the crowd.

Outside the circle of commotion, Shan felt a little lost and did not know what to do next.

Airport security soon arrived. After learning what had happened, they began explaining with exasperated laughter, “He’s not a celebrity!”

With their help, Fu Yiqing was finally freed.

Though the crowd dispersed, everyone’s eyes still lingered on Fu Yiqing. Some people had not even had time to turn off their videos and were still asking, “He really isn’t a celebrity? But I think that aura isn’t far off.”

The girl who had realized what she had done no longer shouted either. She fell silent and waited to one side until the crowd gradually dispersed before walking up to Fu Yiqing.

The three stood together, and the girl took out a small notebook and a pen from her bag, nervously handing them to Fu Yiqing. “Could you help me…”

Shan’s expression was icy.

She had finally understood. Her own presence as an athlete was truly negligible. Fu Yiqing was standing right beside her, and the girl still did not recognize her, which meant she really did not know who Shan was.

This world was all about faces…

After the earlier fiasco, Fu Yiqing was somewhat annoyed and was about to refuse when he heard the girl continue bashfully, “Could you get me an autograph from Shan? I can pay the postage! The address is… I’m her fan, and I really like her.”

Shan was even more desolate.

Fu Yiqing’s impatience vanished instantly. He glanced at Shan with a trace of amusement. “You really like her?”

The girl nodded hard. “Yes! I became her fan after watching her perform in Ice Witch two years ago!”

Fu Yiqing nodded slightly, a smile at his lips.

“Is that okay?” the girl asked earnestly.

Shan said weakly, “I’m afraid that might be a little difficult.”

Only then did the girl remember Shan was there. “Huh? You’re still here? Do you want me to push you through security? But can you wait a moment? I’m asking my idol for an autograph.”

Shan swallowed. “Maybe you should take a closer look at me.”

The girl gave her an uncomprehending look, one that all but said Shan must be out of her mind.

Shan did not know whether to laugh or cry. She wanted Fu Yiqing to take over the girl’s request while she continued concealing her identity so the atmosphere would not become any more awkward.

But then, in the girl’s suspicious eyes, fear finally surfaced. “Shan…”

Shan pulled the corners of her mouth into a difficult smile. “That’s right. It’s me.”

For a moment, the girl did not know whether she should be happy she had finally met her idol or whether she should regret everything.

Silently, Shan took the paper and pen from the stunned girl, signed her name, and handed them back. “I saved you some postage. No need to thank me.”

Clutching Shan’s autograph, the girl’s eyes finally shone with wild joy. “Shan! Thank you!”

Then the girl’s gaze dropped to Shan’s wheelchair, and her expression abruptly turned solemn. “Are you all right? Everyone’s been worried about you.”

Shan shrugged. “My meals have been pretty good lately. I’m fine. Tell everyone not to worry about me.”

The girl lifted her brows in delight and smiled. “Mm!”

Fu Yiqing urged Shan toward security, and she did not forget to call out to the girl, “Next time, don’t fail to recognize me. I’ll be heartbroken. Are my fans only fans of me because my coach is handsome?”

The girl scratched awkwardly at her temple.

Shan waved goodbye to her. After passing through security and heading toward the boarding gate, she suddenly heard a resounding shout.

“Shan!”

The entire airport seemed to tremble, and Shan’s heart gave a jolt as well.

Just as she was silently mourning the death of her exquisite plan, she saw the girl look at her with an extremely complicated expression and say, “Keep it up!”

Reason told Shan she should run at once.

But feeling overruled reason, and driven by emotion, her nose stung with sudden tears. She turned back and smiled faintly at the girl.

“I will.”