Figure Skating: Waltz on Ice

"This kid is so old and still gets airsick. Every time he goes out to compete, he gets completely irritated. When will this ever end?"

Du Liangchen rubbed his head against his grandmother's chest. "Grandma, it's been so many years, I'm almost used to it, but you're still not used to it?"

"Get used to it? You'll never get used to it. It breaks our hearts to see you like this. You're so young and already covered in injuries. We shouldn't have agreed to let you continue skating back then." Grandma Du sighed and continued, "You're not stupid, and your grades were always among the best. If only you were like your two older brothers, you could have spent your student years peacefully, and after graduation you could have gone to work in the military industry assigned by the school, doing scientific research. Wouldn't that have been better? Why did you have to seek thrills?"

Grandpa Du couldn't listen anymore. "Alright, old woman, stop talking. He's already in so much pain, so don't lecture him anymore."

Grandma Du glared at him, "You talk too much!" Then she angrily turned to look out the window.

Seeing that the two old men were silent, Du Langyue, who was driving, dared to ask Du Langxing, "Brother, what did the doctor say about your and Xiaochen's hands? He couldn't explain it clearly over the phone, and we don't know how badly you were injured. Have you had a full body check-up?"

Du Langxing: "Don't worry, after the match I took Xiao Chen to the hospital for a full check-up. All the indicators were normal. It's just that his body suffered a lot of impact. He should use his hands less for now and rest for a few days. He'll be fine."

Grandma Du's expression softened a bit. "That's good. You didn't even tell the family about the accident. We only found out about it when we saw it on the news on TV. Your dad, your sister, and I were terrified."

"Mom and Dad, we know we were wrong, really," Du Langxing quickly begged for forgiveness, trying to divert attention from his mother's anger, seeing that it was about to reach him. "Do my brother and sister-in-law know about Xiao Chen?"

Grandpa Du: "Your older brother called and said he couldn't get away. As for your sister-in-law, she heard that Xiao Chen is coming back today and said she'll rush back tonight too."

Back home, Du Liangchen crawled into bed and drifted off to sleep. When he woke up again, it was already past midnight. He went to the bathroom and his mind cleared up. Unable to fall back asleep, he picked up his phone and sent a voice message to Mei Jing, telling her that he would be going back the next afternoon.

Tian Zhixi returned with Du Langyue in the morning. This house only has two bedrooms, one for Du Liangchen and the other for Du's grandparents. Since she had to stay in a hotel, she had to do the same as Du Langyue.

When Du Liangchen came out after washing up, he saw Tian Zhixi and Du Langyue sitting in the living room. He went up to them and said, "Mom, Aunt, you're back."

Tian Zhixi waited for Du Liangchen to come out. It wasn't that she couldn't go into Du Liangchen's room, but she was afraid of disturbing his rest.

Upon seeing him come out, she rushed to him anxiously, gently touched his hand, and tears welled up in her eyes. "How are you? Where are you hurt?"

Du Liangchen smiled and reassured her, "Mom, don't worry, I'm fine all over, just my hand is injured. It looks scary, but it's not as bad as the last time I got a cut from the ice! It didn't affect my competition at all."

"Really?" Tian Zhixi looked at him suspiciously.

Du Liangchen nodded, "It's true, you can ask my uncle if you don't believe me. We were all wearing seat belts at the time, and our hands would have been cut by the shattered car window."

Tian Zhixi patted his head and said with lingering fear, "It's good that you're alright, it's good that you're alright!"

"Mom, wait a minute!"

Tian Zhixi asked in confusion, "Where are you going?"

Du Liangchen returned to his room and came out a while later, hanging the medal around Tian Zhixi's neck and looking at her expectantly, "Mom, do you like it?"

“I like it…” Tian Zhixi touched the cold medal, tears streaming down her face.

Du Langyue, who was standing to the side, also had tears in her eyes and patted Tian Zhixi on the back.

Du Liangchen took a tissue and wiped her face, saying, "I'm fine, don't cry, Mom."

Looking at the haggard Du Liangchen, Tian Zhixi couldn't help but say what she had kept in her heart for many years, "You almost died four times before you were even an adult, all because of figure skating, and you even developed asthma. I know this is your dream, but you've already achieved a Super Grand Slam, you can say you have all the medals, you don't need to push yourself like this anymore. How about we... retire?"

"Mom!" Du Liangchen frowned as he looked at her.

"I know you resent me for not caring about you enough because I've been busy with work all these years, but I'm your mother. I don't ask you to achieve great things; I just hope you can live, live peacefully and safely. Do you understand?"

"Compared to your two older brothers, you are the one who is most like me."

“I know you like music and dance. I have never objected to you entering the entertainment industry. If you really like performing and the stage, I can convince your father, and you won’t have to hide the fact that you are a singer who has drifted from place to place.”

To this day, apart from a few people in the entertainment industry, no one knows that Du Liangchen is an Olympic champion because his father did not agree to him entering the entertainment industry.

Afterwards, Du Langyue and Tian Zhixi helped persuade Du Liangchen to sign with Du Langyue's company. Under the guise of Du Liangchen's identity, he adopted a stage name before the song was released. All those who knew about it signed a confidentiality agreement.

Du Liangchen listened quietly, his eyes growing redder and redder. He didn't know if it was because of the pain from his wound or because of his relationship with Mei Jing. His originally firm heart began to waver, but he was also reluctant to leave the competition. This internal conflict caused him to suffer mentally.

Seeing her nephew's pained expression, Du Langyue couldn't help but advise Tian Zhixi, "Sister-in-law, don't pressure Xiaochen. Let him think it through himself. He's hovered on the brink of death so many times without ever giving up. Don't you understand what he's really thinking?"

Just then, the grandparents who had gone out to buy groceries returned. Sensing that something was amiss in the house, they exchanged a glance and then, in perfect unison, took the groceries to the kitchen.

It's obvious that Tian Zhixi is lecturing Xiaochen again. As grandparents, it's best for them not to get involved, otherwise things will only get worse.

He was aware of his parents' worries, a feeling that was both warm and suffocating, yet also oppressive and suffocating.

Du Liangchen is just as stubborn as Tian Zhixi; once she makes a decision, she won't change it easily, otherwise she wouldn't have been so dedicated to figure skating for so many years.

after lunch.

Du Liangchen told everyone, "I'm going back to the team this afternoon..."

Grandma Du asked in surprise, "Going back to the team? Don't you have a week's vacation? Why are you going back so early?"