Since seeing Zhang Jue’s new height, many people understood why he had missed the entire first half of the season.

It seemed that not only was he recovering from an injury, but the technical decline caused by his growth spurt was also a factor.

Wow, a figure skater at 1.8 meters tall! This must be the first case in China, where the average height for male singles skaters is 1.68 meters. Zhang Jue and Hayato Teraoka have single-handedly raised the average.

The first day of the National Championship began with the junior women’s singles, men’s singles, and pairs short programs in the morning, followed by the senior group in the afternoon. So, before the senior men’s short program began, the senior women’s singles were already competing, and the applause and music could be heard in the warm-up room.

This season, Brother Jin’s performance had been mediocre. While not outstanding, he at least didn’t fall below Shen Liu’s worst record, which kept the China Skating Federation leaders relatively satisfied. However, many fans struggled to adjust their expectations, and Jin Zixuan had been under a lot of pressure.

But for some reason, after learning that Zhang Jue would return, Jin Zixuan’s mental state improved.

When facing challenges alone, he was always anxious, worried that he wasn’t doing well enough. But Zhang Jue had always been so reliable that Jin Zixuan now felt like: “The tallest guy is back, all the ice fans will be focused on him, not on me. I just need to skate my best.”

Ironically, what Jin Zixuan feared most wasn’t skating poorly, but rather the harsh criticism from online trolls after the competition. It seemed that he had really been hit hard by them during the first half of the season.

This kind of mindset didn’t sound very ambitious, and Coach Qiao was exasperated after hearing his student’s inner thoughts. Still, as long as the kid didn’t fall apart during the National Championships, it could slide for now.

There would be time to scold him after he secured a spot for the Winter Olympics.

In any case, Jin Zixuan didn’t have the same mental breakdown as last year, when Zhang Jue’s overwhelming presence during the warm-up had thrown him off.

This time, he just stood there with everyone else, mesmerized by Zhang Jue’s warm-up routine.

Zhang Jue’s short program this year was the Flame Variations from Paris, a high-difficulty routine that showcases both technical prowess and emotional expressiveness, often performed by male ballet dancers. His warm-up? He performed the Flame Variations on the ground.

The power and hang time of his jumps left everyone gaping in awe. Coach Lu watched with satisfaction, towel draped over his shoulder, holding a water bottle. When Zhang Jue finished his warm-up, he went over and offered him water.

Oh, and by the way, Zhang Jue was still only wearing a black tank top during the warm-up.

Zhang Junbao dug out his competition costume and handed it over: “Hurry up and put this on.”

Zhang Jue casually pulled off his tank top in front of everyone and slipped on his costume. After all, he’s a guy, and there were no cameras here, so why not just go shirtless?

A couple of shy guys immediately turned away, silently chanting prayers, while several other male skaters—standing at a mere 1.65 meters with small frames—looked at Zhang Jue with envy.

Logically, everyone knew that a smaller frame was more suitable for jumping, but Zhang Jue’s build fit the public’s aesthetic better. His lean, powerful figure and smooth muscles gave off a true athlete’s vibe.

Sun Qian, seeing Zhang Jue finish the Flame Variations, could hardly contain his excitement and asked: “Zhang Jue, do you want to put some gel in your hair?”

This kid used to have a lengthy pre-competition routine, sometimes matching earrings with his costume, tying up his hair, even applying makeup. Now, Zhang Jue just changed into his outfit, which felt rather unusual.

Zhang Jue ruffled his hair nonchalantly: “Jumping Flame Variations, with its revolutionary theme, doesn’t feel right with too much decoration.”

The Flame Variations costume was simple: a short-sleeved white linen shirt with rolled-up sleeves, exposing his muscular arms. One look at him, and you could tell the program’s style was all about masculinity.

Zhang Jue took off his earrings and headband, put on his jacket, and walked out. The other male skaters in his group exchanged glances and followed him.

This year, the crowd at the National Championships wasn’t as large as last year, but plenty of people still showed up. At least half of them were holding crocodile-themed fans or Welcome Combination support posters. Domestic skating fans were mostly “dual fans,” watching Zhang Jue in men’s singles and Huang Ying/Guan Lin in pairs, with another third there to support the young “crocodile’s” parents fans.

A chubby, cute girl nudged her male friend: “The last men’s singles group is about to start their six-minute warm-up.”

Her friend immediately raised the “Spring God” poster: “Got it.”

He was tall, and the poster made him stand out, which is why, although he was actually Guan Lin’s fan, he got roped into holding a poster for the young crocodile.

Then everyone saw a tall, handsome guy step onto the ice and glide far across the rink in one swift motion.

Behind him came Shi Mosheng, Fan Zhaoying, Jin Zixuan, Liu Yeming, and a local male skater from C Province.

Wait, where was the little crocodile?

All eyes turned to the first skater on the ice. This guy wasn’t just handsome—he had that kind of overwhelming, breathtaking beauty that was obvious even from a distance when you couldn’t see his face clearly.

His presence was strong. He jumped a flawless triple lutz, and although he was the tallest skater in the group, his jump was light and effortless.

Uh…

The handsome guy skated to the barrier, grabbed a sports drink from Zhang Junbao, took a few swigs, and shook his head.

Zhang Jue muttered: “I need to cut my bangs after this competition.”

Then, as he took off his jacket, the crowd erupted into screams, some of which sounded like they came from men. He looked up to see, in the front row, a burly man shyly holding a Spring God poster, staring at him.

Zhang Jue paused for two seconds, curled his lips into a smile, his phoenix eyes slightly narrowing, as if he was both amused and indifferent at the same time.

The chubby girl covered her face, feeling like every camera in the room had just focused on them. She nudged her friend: “Snap out of it, he’s underage!”

Her friend coughed awkwardly: “But he looks so manly. He’s more manly than a lot of adults. I don’t even see guys like this at bars. Athletes are the best.”

That strong aura during the six-minute warm-up was so powerful that none of the other male skaters dared approach him. Yet at the same time, he was impossible to ignore, a dominance unmatched by previous skaters, even the top champions from past generations.

He’s practically every little bottom’s dream guy—no, even a lot of tops would fall for him.

The girl sighed: “You go to the saddest bars… But I have to warn you, even though we’re best friends, if you dare make a move on a minor, I’ll have no hesitation in reporting you to the authorities. It’s a matter of principle!”

Her friend cleared his throat: “But he’s just so charismatic. How do you even call someone like him ‘baby boy’?”

The girl made a complicated expression: “Just now, he officially stopped being my ‘baby boy.’”

Sigh, the little crocodile used to be cute and petite, so a fan club of “mom-fans” formed around him. Even though elementary schoolers would call him “brother” and dream of him as their boyfriend, the mom-fans didn’t really mind.

But since the World Championships, some mom-fans’ love had shifted, and the club had already started to fracture. Now that the little crocodile had grown up, it seemed like the remaining mom-fans wouldn’t last much longer.

After this season ended, it was possible that all the fans in her group would undergo a complete change.

Wan Ze sighed to Lan Run: “Even though your cousin isn’t that tall, he’s even more handsome than you. With that face, he’d definitely be a hit in the entertainment industry.”

Lan Run firmly replied: “Being an athlete suits him more than entering that industry.”

He turned the sleeve of his coat and handed it to Shen Liu.

Madam Mia, the choreographer for Flames of Paris, stepped forward and grabbed one of Zhang Jue’s hands, instructing: “The competition is about to start. Get into the right mindset. Imagine yourself as a flame and showcase your masculinity. Now’s not the time to hold back on your hormones.”

Coach Lu grabbed his other hand and succinctly said: “Skate seriously.”

Zhang Jue nodded seriously: “Okay.”

The young skater glided onto the ice as some curious fans watched the two elders standing by the rink, wondering among themselves.

“What’s up with those two grandpas and grandmas? Are they Zhang Jue’s new coaches?”

“No way, he already has Coach Zhang and Coach Shen. I know the grandma – she’s his ballet teacher and choreographer. But I don’t know the grandpa.”

“The grandpa’s really chubby. Given his age, he must be retired by now, right?”

“His body type and age resemble Coach Anxi, but he looks way fiercer, haha.”

Jiang Xiuling, overhearing the conversations around him, trembled slightly but kept his eyes filled with curiosity, watching the rink. In his mind, Da Pang (the chubby guy) had always been a brave person, and now, to climb out from the bottom, he had even managed to bring out the terrifying Coach Lu. Jiang was curious to see how his childhood friend would perform after his comeback.

The music for the male variation of Flames of Paris began.

Zhang Jue, who had been absent for six months, started off with a large jump. As he landed and spread his arms, the emotion came through.

Flames of Paris is set against the backdrop of the French Revolution in 1792 and is considered a model ballet in the Soviet ballet tradition, known as a red ballet masterpiece. The male lead in the variation is a revolutionary officer, whose dance must be strong and powerful, with the ability to stir emotions.

This was precisely what Zhang Jue excelled at. Despite not having a particularly muscular build, he had long been recognized for his expressive body language and captivating presence.

As his movements unfolded, he brought a heat with him, much like a flame, and this heat was just right—enough to be infectious without feeling overdone.

Madam Mia frowned initially, then slowly relaxed. It was a recently rehearsed ballet-adapted program, and Zhang Jue’s emotional involvement wasn’t quite there yet. But as a dancer, his performance was at least passable. The beauty of his movement and the masculine aura had emerged, and more importantly, his performance, which was well above average, would likely crush the other competitors.

She, along with Francis and Coach Lu, had worked together to perfect every detail of Zhang Jue’s program, from the difficulty of the steps to the arrangement of spins. Zhang Jue’s performance score wouldn’t be low.

When the music reached the point where the male dancer had to perform a jump spin, Zhang Jue took off into the air.

Song Cheng pumped his fist and began to clap: “Beautiful!”

Coach Lu remained silent but clapped along with his colleagues and the audience for the high-flying and long-distance 3A.

Then came the 3F and the 3Lz+3T combination.

Zhang Jue’s strength lay in his calm mentality, so as long as he wasn’t dealing with an injury, his error rate was generally low across the entire figure skating field.

After completing the three jumps, the young skater entered the step sequence, catching the attention of Sun Qian and Jiang Chaosheng.

Jiang adjusted his glasses and said: “Did he change all of his jumping and skating techniques?”

Not only were his jumps higher and farther, but his skating flaws had also diminished. Although he wasn’t skating as fast as before, his use of edges had become more precise and crisp.

Sun nodded approvingly: “Not just that—his spin axis has improved too, with much less displacement. Coach Lu’s still got it.”

He glanced over at the coaching team of the H province team and noticed Coach Lu standing with his hands behind his back, watching Zhang Jue’s footwork with an intensity that made even Da Pang and Er Pang (the chubby ones) break out in cold sweat.

Sun sighed again: “With all these technical improvements Zhang Jue’s made, I wonder how many times he’s been hit with a cane.”

Sure enough, after Zhang Jue received thunderous applause and came off the ice, Shen Liu came over to drape a jacket over him. Coach Lu immediately began critiquing him methodically.

“You rushed your footwork again. You almost tripped yourself. Don’t you know how long your legs are? As a skater in the national championship, if you trip over your own legs and fall, won’t you be ashamed of yourself? Blah blah blah…”

Zhang Jue, who had been feeling a bit proud of himself for cleanly finishing his short program after his comeback, immediately slumped. His metaphorical tail, which had been wagging, drooped down before it could fully rise.

“Sorry, I was wrong. I was just afraid of falling during the jumps, so I thought if I sped up my footwork, I’d have more time to get back up if I fell. The short program is only two minutes and thirty seconds, and time’s tight.”

Madam Mia tapped him on the butt with her handbag: “We already considered that when we choreographed the routine. Didn’t I leave you a section of footwork that you can skip if necessary? Why rush?”

Zhang Jue coughed, forced a smile, and thick-skinnedly helped the elderly coach to the kiss and cry. Coach Lu and Madam Mia sat on either side of him, while Zhang Junbao stood by to hand Coach Lu a cup of tea, and Shen Liu handed Mia her coffee.

Despite the scolding, it was clear that the strictness only came from within the coaching team. Zhang Jue knew that without the high standards and strict demands of these two elders, it would have been uncertain whether he could have even gotten the program ready for competition. So, after being reprimanded, he still smiled cheerfully.

Meanwhile, both the judges and the audience were thrilled by Zhang Jue’s comeback performance.

After a while, the scores were announced.

Technical Score: 48.95

Performance Score: 40.6

Final Score: 89.55

Applause erupted, and Zhang Jue clapped along.

At the national championship, this score secured him the top spot in the short program.

As he was leaving the scoring area, Zhang Jue glanced at the cheering fans holding signs, especially one in the front row with a red flag featuring a cute green cartoon crocodile, and suddenly bowed like a gentleman.

The fans were silent for a moment, then erupted into excited cheers.

“Zhang Jue, welcome back!”

“Little bro, good luck! Your sister’s already got her tickets for the Winter Olympics. See you in Sochi!”

“Brother Jue! We’ll be waiting for you at the Winter Olympics!”

Francis watched the scene, smiled slightly, and posted a video of Zhang Jue practicing the Flames of Paris variation on land to his newly created Weibo account.

That night, countless beautiful pictures of Zhang Jue appeared on the Ice and Snow forum. The fans were overjoyed with his return, and Francis Weibo account gained 800,000 followers, with his video receiving over a million likes and shares.

The figure skating prodigy had returned to the rink, and in the excitement of the fans, he quietly made his way to the bottom of the trending list.

Some curious onlookers clicked on the shared video, puzzled: “A figure skating national championship video from CCTV5… Wait, why did the cameraman start by zooming in on the skater’s face?”

The video opened with a face that made their hearts skip a beat.

In short, thanks to the attention around the Winter Olympics, Zhang Jue finally broke free from being known only to figure skating fans and fans of Ladder Mountain Milk. For the second time after the “South Korean Mop Dance,” he reached a broader audience.

Thanks to the ever-improving looks of the country’s top skater, by the time the men’s free skate competition began on the third day, the staff at CCTV5 were surprised to find that their viewership had increased by 1.5 percentage points.

It’s worth noting that, because figure skating is relatively unpopular in the country, tickets for the national championship were actually free. So, when Zhang Jue entered the rink that day, he was stunned to see that the attendance had risen from 60% to 90%.

 

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