Figure Skating: Waltz on Ice

"Xiao Chen, wake up, Xiao Chen~ wake up."

Grandpa Du patted Du Liangchen, who was still sleeping, and said in a gentle voice.

Du Liangchen, still half asleep, glanced at Grandpa Du, paused for a few seconds, and said in a muffled voice, "Grandpa~ what time is it?"

Grandpa Du glanced at his watch and said, "It's already six o'clock. You should get up early for your morning exercise."

After hearing this, Du Liangchen rubbed his messy hair and got up to get dressed.

After a quick wash, I went out for a morning exercise with Grandpa Du. We first practiced Tai Chi together to make sure all my joints were relaxed before starting aerobic exercise. An hour later, I returned to my room, panting.

Du Liangchen has no competitions; his free skate is two days from now.

Today is the pairs ice dance competition, and because there are so many people, the competition is scheduled for the whole day. If we don't finish today, the morning of the following day will be reserved for ice dance.

Tian Zhixi arrived at the hotel with a bunch of things.

"Xiao Chen~ Mommy's here! Look what I bought for you! There's a remote-controlled car, an airplane, and clothes."

I saw the luggage your grandma prepared for you. The clothes inside are all old clothes, and some are your brothers' hand-me-downs. Now that you've joined the provincial team and are an athlete, you can't dress too sloppily..."

When Tian Zhixi arrived, she fiddled with the things she had bought for Du Liangchen, without asking a single question about the competition, nor explaining why she hadn't come to watch her son's competition despite being so close, and without noticing Du Liangchen's increasingly impatient expression.

"enough--"

Du Liangchen couldn't help but shout.

Grandpa Du and Grandma Du watched him with concern.

Tian Zhixi also stopped what she was doing and looked at Du Liangchen, at a loss.

She noticed that Du Liangchen was looking at her with a complicated expression, his gaze intense, and a strong sense of disgust hidden in his eyes.

Du Liangchen also realized that he had gone a bit too far with his emotions just now, so he blinked and suppressed his emotions.

He lowered his voice and said, "No need to watch. I'm in the middle of a match right now. Even if you don't care about my match, please don't bother me, okay?"

Seeing the three people with different expressions, Du Liangchen continued, "I still need to watch the match videos. You guys chat, don't worry about me."

After saying that, he picked up the tablet and was about to leave the room.

"Where are you going?" Grandpa Du asked worriedly as he chased after him.

"Let's go to the gym. There shouldn't be anyone there right now," Du Liang said casually.

"I was just about to buy water, let's go together," Grandpa Du said to Tian Zhixi as he put on his coat.

"Xiao Xi, you chat with your mom for a while, we'll be back in a bit."

Grandpa Du and Du Liangchen were strolling aimlessly in the garden behind the hotel.

"Is Xiaochen still angry about what happened just now?" Grandpa Du asked gently.

Du Liangchen shook his head in frustration: "No, I just don't quite understand."

"What don't you understand?" Grandpa Du asked curiously.

Du Liangchen said weakly, "I don't understand what kind of person I am in my mother's heart."

"Why do you think so?"

"I don't know either, maybe I just can't sense her feelings for me..."

"Grandpa, I don't want to talk about this. The next match is about to start, and these things will only affect my performance," Du Liangchen said irritably.

Grandpa Du comforted him, "Alright, alright, let's not talk about this anymore. You need to adjust your mindset now. I'll go buy some water."