Figure Skating: Waltz on Ice

The room was dark and silent. Outside the window, lights twinkled, but the darkness only added to the oppressive atmosphere.

Du Liangchen slumped in his chair, his eyes vacant as he stared out the window at the dim night sky, which seemed like an invisible net hanging over him, binding his senses. He hugged himself tightly, trying to draw some warmth from the darkness.

"Xiao Chen, have you been having trouble sleeping lately?! Why didn't you tell us? You'll ruin your health like this. No wonder you seem to have lost so much weight lately, no matter how much I try to eat, I can't gain any weight. What should I do?"

“Ever since you came of age, your grandfather and I haven’t lived with you. We knew you were growing up and wanted to live on your own, but you’re sick now, so we came to take care of you. If I hadn’t accidentally discovered these past two days that you were faking sleep, I really… You don’t tell us anything, which makes us very worried.”

Grandma Du looked worried, with tears welling up in her eyes.

Seeing her sobbing uncontrollably, Tian Zhixi relented with worry and helplessness:

“Son, ever since the accident when you were seven, you’ve learned to control your emotions, and it’s become difficult for us to open up to you. Although you don’t say it, I know you actually resent your father and me. If you really like Mei Jing, we won’t object.”

"You want Mei Jing to move out, right? I just hope you can let yourself off the hook. The suspension is really nothing. Even if you leave the national team, you'll still be the most resilient and hardworking child in the family. Besides, sports are all about youth; this day will come sooner or later."

"With your ambition, I think you'll succeed at whatever you do. I just hope you make careful choices so you won't regret them or leave any regrets. So don't put too much pressure on yourself, okay?"

......

Recalling what his mother and grandmother had just said to him, and his grandfather sitting silently to the side with a gloomy face, he was now in a state of great turmoil.

He didn't understand why they would suddenly ask him and Mei Jing to move out; it was too strange.

However, he was still happy that they didn't stop Mei Jing from being with him. As for moving out, he hadn't thought about it.

"Thump!"

The phone, which I had casually tossed on the bed, beeped. The lit screen was the only light source besides the light coming in from the window.

Du Liangchen stiffly turned his head, wanting to see who sent the message, but his body was screaming that he was too tired to move.

He didn't go over until the screen went out, and soon his phone rang, but Du Liangchen still ignored it.

But the person on the other end of the phone showed no sign of giving up. After the third ring, Du Liangchen finally couldn't take it anymore and slowly lowered his legs. It wasn't that he didn't want to hurry; it was just that maintaining the same position for too long had made his legs go numb.

He limped to the bedside, then plopped down on it. He saw a contact name on his phone labeled "Plum Blossom," swiped to open it, and made a video call.

An urgent shout came from the other end, "Where have you been? Why haven't you answered the phone for so long!"

Du Liangchen was startled by his angry voice.

Mei Jing realized her tone was not good after she finished speaking. "I'm sorry, baby. I was too anxious. You said you hadn't heard from me since you got home. I sent you so many messages but you didn't reply. How could I not be anxious?"

Du Liangchen: [I didn't see it.]

Mei Jing frowned as she looked at Du Liangchen's extremely pale face on the screen. According to his daily routine, he should be working on his thesis at this time. He would have heard the phone by his side, so something must have happened.

"I knew it! What happened? Did something go wrong?"

My mom came back today. They were acting strangely, saying a lot of nonsensical things to me.

A flicker of anticipation and restrained joy flashed in Mei Jing's eyes. "What did they say?"

Du Liangchen paused for a moment, organized his thoughts, and used brief sign language to express their meaning.

[It's something like, "Don't put too much pressure on me. It doesn't matter if I can continue being an athlete, as long as you're happy." And...]

Du Liangchen gestured and then suddenly stopped, his ears turning red. He bit his lower lip lightly, and his large, grape-like eyes shyly began to dart away, not daring to look at Mei Jing in the camera.

His sudden shyness caught Mei Jing off guard, who was intently watching his gestures. Under the light, he was strangely attractive, making Mei Jing almost forget what they were talking about.

"Did you say anything else?"

He couldn't help but soften his voice, as if coaxing a shy child to speak bravely.

They...they actually told me to...move out with you, that's absolutely outrageous! I felt like they were under a spell, their attitude changed so quickly.

Mei Jing's eyes widened instantly, her mouth opened in surprise into an "O" shape, and then her face broke into a wide smile.

It's you!?

Du Liangchen, who was initially puzzled, immediately guessed what was going on after seeing Mei Jing's reaction.

Is this related to you?!