Figure Skating: Waltz on Ice

"I'm used to it. I sat for too long today, and my whole body aches and my muscles feel tense."

"Brother Du is really disciplined."

Li Peng felt bored and was called to another room by the others.

Du Liangchen, along with the other children, watched all the matches and open training sessions of the youth group for seven consecutive days for free, gaining a great deal from the experience.

They returned to the team to continue training in preparation for moving up to the next group.

On Du Liangchen's 13th birthday, he didn't have a day off. His aunt specially sent a cake, and the team celebrated his birthday together.

Soon the day of promotion arrived. Du Liangchen noticed many familiar faces and greeted each other. Promotion was easy for Du Liangchen and his group; as long as they relaxed, there was no way they wouldn't pass.

In the afternoon, Du Liangchen was no longer a member of the children's group.

After a year of hard training, the new season has begun.

It's both exciting and nerve-wracking for the athletes.

"Sirui, I washed some fruit for you. Meijing, could you put down your book? Your hard work makes me seem lazy!"

In the dormitory, Hao Shuxue sat down next to Du Liangchen with a plate of washed fruit and rolled his eyes at Mei Jing, who looked like a bookworm.

"You have books, why don't you just pick one up and read it yourself?"

Mei Jing's mouth, which was over 30 degrees Celsius, uttered such cold words, which angered Hao Shuxue so much that he wanted to go up and hit him.

"Hey~ You're so boring. Sirui, don't follow his example. You can't push yourself too hard when you're training so hard every day."

Du Liangchen watched the two bickering and smiled helplessly. The three of them had lived in the same dormitory for the past few years and were already very familiar with each other. They would feel uncomfortable if they didn't tease each other a few times every day.

"I'm going to do the laundry. You two can keep arguing." Du Liangchen left with the laundry to be washed.

"What do you need washing? I have a pair of socks here, could you wash them for me while you're at it, Sirius?"

Hao Shuxue's high-pitched, coquettish voice made Du Liangchen roll his eyes.

Mei Jing, who was standing to the side, said, "He's not without hands. If Xiao Chen won't help him, let him wash himself."

"Hey, shut up, Mei Jing. I didn't ask you for help. Are you trying to pick a fight?"

Mei Jing retorted in a tone that was infuriatingly sharp: "Aren't you the one picking a fight?"

Hao Shuxue: "..."

Seeing the two talking non-stop, Du Liangchen, based on past experience, knew that it wouldn't be a clear winner anytime soon, so he simply opened the door and left.

For three years, this kind of scene has been playing out every day. At first, Du Liangchen tried to persuade them to stop, fearing that a fight would damage their relationship. But later, he found that their relationship was still very good after the argument, and Du Liangchen got used to it.

Over time, Du Liangchen learned that Mei Jing and Hao Shuxue grew up in the same compound and were very close. Mei Jing's father and Hao Shuxue's father were comrades-in-arms.

Mei Jing's mother is a busy company owner and often comes home very late. Mei Jing and her brother would eat out or go hungry, and over time they developed a serious stomach ailment.

When Hao Shuxue's mother found out, she invited them to her home for dinner. When Mei Jing's mother returned, she went to pick them up. They got to know each other over time, and sometimes Mei Jing would even stay at Hao Shuxue's house. So no matter how much they argued, they never became estranged.

Du Liangchen washed the clothes and hung them up to dry. He didn't like machine washing his underwear because he felt it was unhygienic.

Back inside, the two had indeed finished arguing and were each engrossed in a book.

Hao Shuxue looked at Du Liangchen as he returned and said in a plaintive tone, "Sirui, why didn't you wait for me to do the laundry myself?"