Figure Skating: Waltz on Ice

Mei Jing's eyes grew increasingly vacant as his thoughts were caught in a contradictory tug-of-war. He faced a choice between his career and love. His tense body and sweaty hands gripped the hem of his clothes, his white fingertips revealing the force he was exerting.

Sitting next to him, Du Liangchen immediately noticed his change. He looked at the face of the person next to him with a complicated expression. Looking back now, his excitement seemed so ridiculous.

His eyes, filled with disappointment and sadness, drooped as if he knew this was the outcome. He said nothing, quietly awaiting Mei Jing's final judgment.

Compared to Mei Jing, who is only nineteen years old, Du Liangchen, having lived longer, is much more mature. When he falls in love with someone, he cherishes them and restrains himself from saying hurtful things, just to avoid hurting the other person.

Having passed the age of first love, Du Liangchen fully understands that love is a matter of mutual consent between two people. There is no such thing as coercion. Forced love may quench thirst, but the second bite will reveal its bitter taste, and it will be discarded like worn-out shoes.

Mei Jing needs time to think things through; he won't pressure him. The final outcome will likely be one of two things, and he understands either way. If the final result firmly chooses him, then they'll be together; if the result is the opposite, then they'll accept it naturally.

Having been an orphan since childhood, struggling to make ends meet, he rose to fame and experienced the harsh realities of society. The excessive disappointment between people and the betrayal by his peers caused him to lose faith in friendship and love.

Even though I have parents in this life, I haven't felt their love and companionship. I feel indifferent to family ties. My only thought has always been to live my own life well. I've lost that initial, heart-wrenching feeling towards any relationship.

No one knew that Du Liangchen had been waiting for Mei Jing's betrayal. Deep down, he didn't believe that there was such a thing as love where someone would give everything for another. Even if there were, how could he be so lucky as to fall for her?

It's just an irrational behavior driven by hormones. After two years, when the feelings fade, they'll come to their senses and regret liking someone like that.

An adult's pride and sense of self-respect will not allow them to lose their temper and become a hysterical "madman," even if they like someone.

Busy footsteps came from outside the private room. The four people inside were silent. The air was so quiet that you could hear the heavy breathing of the person next to you. The oppressive atmosphere made people unconsciously breathe much lighter.

Seeing that this stalemate was not going to work, Du Langxing handed the menu to Jiang Weijun and asked him what he wanted to eat.

Jiang Weijun had no appetite, so he replied "whatever".

Du Langxing gave Du Liangchen a look, signaling him to call the waiter over to order.

The waiter came in and keenly sensed the strange atmosphere among the four people. He quickly finished taking the order and left immediately.

The room fell silent again until the food was served, which eased the atmosphere somewhat.

Du Langxing coughed lightly, "Let's eat first, I'm starving. I didn't eat breakfast, so let's talk about anything else after we've eaten."

Mei Jing had no appetite. He was torn about how to handle the situation. He thought about giving up on the relationship because he was still a model athlete. But then a sharp pain shot through his heart, and a wave of bitterness threatened to overwhelm him. He couldn't bear it and wanted to tear his restless heart out.

Mei Jing's gaze unconsciously shifted to Du Liangchen beside her. Seeing him lower his head and silently resist without saying a word, Mei Jing suddenly felt inexplicably guilty.

He was the one who couldn't control himself and confessed first, and he was the one who jumped first, but the result implicated Du Liangchen.

Suspension, who knows what will happen in three months, so live in the moment! A fire suddenly ignited in Mei Jing's heart, and an impulse surged up and spread around her, her originally cold limbs were now full of power.

At this moment, he didn't want to be a coward, didn't want to disappoint Du Liangchen, and even less did he want to be looked down upon by Du Langxing. He stood up abruptly, startling the three people present.

Du Langxing sighed and put down his chopsticks.

Well, this meal won't be finished in peace. He sighed regretfully.

Jiang Weijun frowned and looked at him. "What are you doing?"

Mei Jing hesitated for a moment, then seemed to have made up her mind. She clenched her fists, and the pain of her nails digging into her palms gave her some courage. "I...I want to ask if there's anything between Xiao Chen and me, will the national team expel us?"

At that moment, his love for you overcame his reason, and he felt much lighter when he finally spoke the words that had been bottled up inside for so long.

"What did you say?" Jiang Weijun stared wide-eyed at Du Langxing beside him in disbelief, then her astonished gaze fell on him again.

Mei Jing boldly admitted, "You guessed right, I like Xiao Chen."

Du Liangchen suddenly raised his drooping head, looking at the brave Mei Jing beside him with surprise and joy. His bitter heart felt like it was soaking in sugar water, pounding uncontrollably.

Du Langxing's tightly pursed lips involuntarily parted. He hadn't expected this kid to be so bold, and his impression of him couldn't help but change.

Jiang Weijun pointed at the two of them with trembling hands, "What's wrong with you two? It can't be that what the netizens said is true..." He couldn't finish his sentence.

What promising young talents! They've only recently come of age, right in the prime of their athletic careers, and the foundation for their future success. In a short time, Jiang Weijun quickly went through the list of players who could replace or rival Mei Jing, but he was disheartened to find that there was none. The only player on the team who could match Mei Jing's skill level was Du Liangchen, and there was a significant gap in their technical abilities within the team.

Those young skaters couldn't even get into the free skate for the Grand Prix Final, and some weren't even qualified to participate in the Final.

Jiang Weijun felt a tightness in his chest, his breathing became rapid, and his vision blurred. He slammed his fist on the table in anger, "Are you crazy?! Do you know what you're saying? Do you know how much this will affect the two of you?!"

Mei Jing: "I know..."

Seeing that he was still stubborn, Jiang Weijun instantly lost her temper, "What do you know! I think you're being... Do your parents know about this?"

Mei nodded and said in a low voice, "I know."

"Your parents know?!"

Jiang Weijun opened his mouth wide in surprise, and even Du Langxing, who was watching the commotion from the side, was shocked.

Du Liangchen was very happy that Mei Jing had made a firm choice to be with him under such circumstances. He stood up, took Mei Jing's hand, and looked at Jiang Weijun, "Director Jiang, we haven't kept our relationship a secret from our families. They all know that we've been together for almost half a year."

Jiang Weijun's pupils trembled slightly. "So what's being said online is true, you two are really together! And your families just let you... didn't they stop you? You're young now and think love is everything, you don't care about your future, but when you get to your uncle's and my age, you'll know that love is nothing compared to your future!"

Mei Jing looked at Du Liangchen's stiff smile as a gesture of comfort.

Du Liangchen held Mei Jing's hand tightly, offering silent support.

Despite all that talk, Du Liangchen and Mei Jing remained unmoved. Jiang Weijun's nostrils flared, his breathing quickened with rage, and he felt that the two were beyond saving.