During the 2014-2015 season, Zhang Jue occasionally had the illusion of “am I the center of the world?”

Because from that season onward, he gained much more popularity and national recognition than his previous rival, Jiang Xiuling . It seemed that everywhere he went, people knew him. In his circle, everyone looked at him with eyes that were as hot as fire, burning with admiration.

Although when he was 12, Zhang Jue thought the most suitable place for him was the grand stage that everyone was watching, by now, he had already attracted far more attention than he had initially imagined. The love he received even made him feel uneasy.

“Uneasy?”

After receiving his medal, Zhang Jue ran to sit next to Jiang Xiuling, talking about things Jiang couldn’t understand.

Jiang looked confused at his childhood friend and said: “Isn’t being liked a good thing? This is the kind of treatment that only the top talent in figure skating gets. In the past, the most popular skaters in the four disciplines were all from women’s singles. You’re the first male skater whose popularity has surpassed that of women’s singles to this extent. Isn’t that good?”

Popularity meant profit. Zhang Jue’s popularity now clearly exceeded that of his predecessors, the Grand Slam gold medalists, and it would only grow higher in the future, bringing more profit. That was a good thing. Being liked was a good thing. Just look at the admiration of all the people in the audience for Zhang Jue—others couldn’t even get it.

The most important thing was that Zhang Jue had earned his popularity honestly. He had broken world records repeatedly, kept winning gold medals, and touched the hearts of countless ice skating fans with his classic routines. That’s how he earned his current status.

Such solid popularity needed no faking.

Zhang Jue shook his head: “I’m not faking, but they like me, and I have to give them something back. That’s why it puts pressure on me.”

Fans, of course, wanted to see more exciting routines and an athlete strong enough to meet their expectations.

“Alright, enough talk, Jiang. Congratulations on your silver medal. When you got your medal, my competition hadn’t even started. The coach kept telling me to adjust myself, so I didn’t have time to congratulate you properly.”

Zhang Jue hugged Jiang and said: “I love your jazz.”

Keiko sat obediently to the side, not hearing clearly what the two were murmuring about, but she knew that Zhang Jue was very good to them. Because soon, Zhang Jue said he hoped they could make their performances even better, practice the 3S and 2A throws more steadily, and come to participate in his commercial events during the next offseason.

After Zhang Jue left, Jiang Xiuling looked at his back in silence.

In many people’s eyes, Zhang Jue was the kind of godlike young man who grew up immersed in love, with a strong ability to love in return. He had the natural wildness of a fearless young calf, creating beautiful flowers on the ice without any restraints. But beneath that exterior, Zhang Jue was actually a person with many thoughts. His mind was much more mature than his age, always thinking more than others, with ideas Jiang Xiuling couldn’t understand.

Jiang thought, if Zhang Jue were really that straightforward person, it would be hard to explain why his performances could be so delicate.

The artist personality hidden beneath the little sun exterior…

The heavy rain that nearly drenched them and made them run for cover came quickly and left quickly. By the time Zhang Jue received his gold medal, the rain had already stopped.

When they were leaving the venue, the silver medalist, Teraoka Hayato, wanted to find Zhang Jue to say a few words but found him stepping in the puddles like a child, looking ridiculously childish.

The shallow puddles made a splashing sound as Zhang Jue crouched down and said something in a coquettish tone in Chinese. Teraoka Hayato processed it and figured out that Zhang Jue was saying he didn’t want to walk.

Zhang Jue was definitely the most pampered athlete Teraoka Hayato knew. Probably because his coach was his maternal uncle, Zhang Jue was very close to him. Even the youth team had to carry their coach, and no other athlete was as spoiled as he was. Only those from ice dance or pairs skating, where their partners were in a relationship, would act like this.

But now, Zhang Jue was already grown up. When he crouched like this as a child, he was incredibly cute. Coaches would jokingly complain, but when it came to letting the little crocodile climb on their backs, they did it without hesitation. Now, when he crouched, his size was still considerable, but the coaches no longer indulged him.

Coach Zhang held a bouquet of sunflowers, a gift from Maquen who had come to watch the competition. He handed one of the flowers to Zhang Jue.

“Get up. If you want to be lazy, do it when we get back to the hotel.”

Zhang Jue opened his mouth, let out an “ah,” and slowly stood up, taking the flower in his mouth, while the coach led him to the bus.

How should I say it? Although they couldn’t carry him anymore, the coaches still spoiled him as much as they could.

After the men’s singles official competition at the Grand Prix, Zhang Jue entered a lazy state, looking like someone whose energy had been drained after a big competition. It wasn’t exactly slacking off, but he felt mentally drained, like his battery had run out.

Athletes who have been through big competitions understand this feeling. After giving their all during the competition, they need some rest to recharge.

Coach Lu, too lazy to scold Zhang Jue, allowed him to wander around in the relaxed manner that the old coaches usually disapproved of.

Zhang Jue sat on the side in thick clothes, as the seats were ones where athletes could sit, so no enthusiastic fans disturbed them.

The third day featured ice dance and women’s singles free dances and free skating. In ice dance, the favorites were Yin Meijing and Liu Mengcheng. Their bodies were healthier than the veteran pair Zhu Lin/Stephanie, and like Zhang Jue, they were in a rising period. Their skills were excellent, and their performances conveyed deep emotion that even fake couple dynamics couldn’t mimic.

As Asia’s top ice dance pair, they were advancing further in the ice dance discipline, which was once dominated by European and American athletes.

As for women’s singles, it was the well-known battle between Russia, Japan, and the U.S. Serena had good stability, Katerina performed a 3F+3Lo combo, Keiko had the strongest glide and executed a 3Lz+3Lo combo, and the rising North American star, Oliver, was a jumps expert. As long as she landed one jump, the judges would surely award +2 GOE.

Well, those who understand, understand.

Luckily, the Russian judges were well-known, and when North American judges met them, it was like a battle of equals. Zhang Jue noticed when Oliver competed that her score increases were slower than others.

It seemed that the Russian and American judges were pressing their calculators hard.

After a while, one judge stood up and threw a shoe at another judge, causing chaos. The one who threw the shoe was quite powerful, and it took several people to stop him. It was likely a big, burly man.

The event committee had to call in judge Lu Jin from the technical team to help with scoring, which led to Oliver getting the lowest free skate score of the season. The whole scene was more chaotic than a comedy.

Zhang Jue laughed heartily, thinking the people around him put on a great show, wondering if the village reporters managed to capture this iconic moment.

Afterward, the big goose duo went up against Keiko.

Teraoka Hayato, who had finished his competition, wore a red ribbon on his head and held up a “Keiko for the win!” banner, looking like a supportive teammate. Meanwhile, Ilya, not to be outdone, sat on the other side draped in the Russian flag, his posture like a grand old man.

Zhang Jue yawned and said: “You guys really are good teammates.”

The two losers stared at him: “Those who don’t have a teammate in the women’s singles finals should shut up!”

Zhang Jue was taken aback: “You guys suddenly got in sync at this moment?”

Teraoka Hayato rolled his eyes.

Anyway, the women’s singles competition became the most fair one in the finals, thanks to judge Lu Jin’s appearance. Keiko won her first-ever level 4 step sequence, with GOE fully filled, and with her strong jumps, she beat Serena by 21 points to win the Grand Prix final title, setting a new world record, improving her score by 3 points.

Serena still had a chance to win, but she couldn’t withstand the keen-eyed Lu Jin, who was unrelenting. Serena’s two jumps had poor landing quality and got low GOE.

At the end of the competition, Zhang Jue quietly remarked to his two friends.

“Lu Jin’s scoring method is the best. I hope he scores all future competitions.”

Teraoka Hayato’s mouth twitched: “He’s too strict. Except for the China competition, no other big event will want to invite him.”

Ilya: “Yeah, we don’t want him in domestic competitions.”

Otherwise, most kids whose techniques aren’t quite up to standard would lose their confidence in life because of him.

“Anyway, the first half of the season is over, and now we just have the exhibition skating left.”

Zhang Jue stretched, and a line of his waist appeared from the gap in his jacket, faintly revealing his abdominal muscles. David glanced at him and couldn’t help but remind him to fix his clothes.

Teraoka Hayato and Ilya understood David’s expression.

The next day, at 3 p.m. Barcelona time, the arena was filled with people. The spotlight focused on the only person standing on the ice. The young man, dressed in a pure sky-blue “Celestial Maiden’s Feathers” costume, tilted his head and looked around at the audience. He smiled confidently.

The delicate fabric wrapped around his slender yet powerful body, and the young man raised his hand, pointing his index finger in the air.

 

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