On December 5, the Grand Prix Final, known as the prelude to the Winter Olympics, was held in Fukuoka, Japan.

This year’s six male singles finalists were: Vasily (Russia), Sergey (Russia), Hayato Teraoka (Japan), Maquen (Italy), David (Belgium), and Ilya (Russia).

The six female singles finalists were: Keiko Shiratsuka (Japan), Daria (Russia), Helena (Italy), Clara (USA), Serena (Russia), and Amina (Kazakhstan).

Xu Chuo knew that if it weren’t for her stress fracture and development-related issues, she could have joined this grand event.

But now, she was just a female single skater, sent back to the provincial team due to her significant technical decline, barely able to maintain even triple jumps.

Dragging her suitcase out of the train station, her father was already waiting there, extending his hand.

“Give me the suitcase and bag. Have you had lunch?”

Xu Chuo sniffed and shook her head silently. Having been cared for by her mother all her life, she wasn’t close to her father. Especially after her mother sold their house to send her to train in Beijing and transferred her school registration from a top city school to an ordinary private one in Beijing, her parents had a huge fallout and eventually divorced.

She had never expected that when she asked her father for help, he would so readily agree. He took care of everything, from the school transfer to buying her train ticket and handling the pressure from her mother. All she had to do was board the train back to H City.

Her father pulled a box of warm milk from his pocket and handed it to her: “Have a snack. You’re an athlete, so I didn’t dare buy meat from outside, fearing it might contain illegal additives. I’ll take you to the provincial team to check in later, and you can eat lunch at their cafeteria.”

The milk was still warm to the touch.

Xu Chuo recalled how, when she was still with the provincial team, she used to have special meals with senior brother Zhang Jue, prepared by the cafeteria staff. But she knew she wouldn’t enjoy such privileges now. Competitive sports are harsh, only top athletes get approved for special meals, while the rest have to settle for regular fare.

But as long as she could leave that place, Xu Chuo didn’t care anymore. She also knew her decision would lead her mother to yell: “You’ve disappointed me so much!” Going back to her former coach was uncertain, and she didn’t know if the coach would even accept her.

However, she didn’t want to give up figure skating. Even if she were criticized for being shameless, she wasn’t going to quit.

Before starting the car, her father suddenly said: “You finally have that fire in you.”

Xu Chuo, puzzled, looked back: “What fire?”

“The determination an athlete should have. I used to think you lacked it because your mom pushed you around too much. Your senior brother Zhang is different. He has that drive and determination. Even when the coaches were worried about his injuries and didn’t want him to compete, he pushed himself. That kind of self-motivation is what it takes to excel in competitive sports. You were too soft before.”

Xu Chuo forced a smile: “Yeah, my mindset wasn’t right before. Now that I’ve adjusted, my physical potential is exhausted.”

Low bone density is fatal for a figure skater, which is why Coach Zhao gave up on her.

Her father calmly responded: “Didn’t the doctor say bone density can recover? Before your body heals, focus on your studies and aim for a good high school.”

Xu Chuo paused for two seconds: “I probably won’t be able to get into the No. 3 High School.”

Her father replied: “I never expected you to get into the No. 3 High School after being out of the game for so long. Getting into any high school is enough. I just want you to promise me that you’ll at least aim for a university degree. That way, even if you can’t skate anymore, you can support yourself. That’s all I ask.”

Finally, Xu Chuo smiled: “I’m not only going to support myself, I’ll also take care of you in your old age.”

Her father rolled his eyes, unimpressed by her comment: “I have a pension. After I retire, I can live in a retirement home, play chess with my old friends. I don’t need a girl like you to take care of me.”

After checking in at the provincial team, both father and daughter were nervous. When Coach Song filed Xu Chuo’s documents away, her father kept bowing, saying: “Please take care of our little Chuo.”

Coach Song patted her on the shoulder, smiling kindly: “It’s no trouble at all, it’s what we’re here for.”

Neither Xu Chuo nor her father mentioned returning to Zhang Junbao’s coaching. So Coach Song handed her over to Coach Ming Jia. Although Ming was a skating coach, he could train kids in jumps too. More importantly, Xu Chuo still had potential. With proper training, she could at least win a medal at the National Championships. If Ming wanted to take over the position of head coach, training a promising athlete would help him.

As for Zhang Junbao, he would likely stay with the provincial team until Zhang Jue joined the national team. Seeing Xu Chuo in her current state, he probably couldn’t ignore her.

He looked at her and said: “Hmm, you’ve grown a lot taller.”

Feeling a bit nervous, she then heard Coach Song say: “But taller kids can still skate. Nowadays, with good nutrition, kids in the north are generally bigger. As long as you adapt, you’ll be fine. Your senior brother Zhang is back in training too. He’s already 1.79 meters tall.”

Xu Chuo thought to herself. She knew her senior brother had resumed training since his fans at school spread the news on the forum as soon as he took a leave of absence.

After arguing with her mother and receiving a slap, Xu Chuo had woken up. She secretly took back her confiscated phone and started checking figure skating news on forums and social media.

When Zhang Jue started skipping morning and evening study sessions, many fans in China already knew he had resumed training. A fan named “Hazel Tree” even posted a picture of him in class, resting his head on one hand while writing a test paper.

For some reason, under that photo, many social media users speculated that he looked “dominant.” But Xu Chuo wondered how anyone could tell from a profile shot where his face wasn’t even visible.

It wasn’t until Coach Song led her into the rink and she saw a tall figure on the ice that she was completely stunned.

With short, glossy black hair, a perfect profile exuding an air of elegance and divinity, sharp eyebrows, star-like eyes, and refined features set on a smoothly contoured face—it was like a painting, full of classical charm. If you removed the sports headband and the shining obsidian earrings, he could have walked straight out of some ancient fantasy novel as a majestic immortal.

What kind of romantic novel male protagonist was this?! (Leaning back in disbelief)

My petite, lively little fairy-like senior brother has completely become a thing of the past! (Heartbroken)

Such a beauty—no wonder his fans are so enamored, and even I can’t help but admire him! (But I wouldn’t dare to pursue him)

Zhang Junbao noticed her first and waved with a smile, saying casually: “You’re back, huh.”

She quickly ran over, hesitating as she mumbled: “Coach…”

Zhang Junbao exchanged a glance with her father, who bowed again and said: “Little Chuo will be with me now. Her mother won’t have control over her anymore. The child was just misguided before…”

Zhang Junbao waved it off: “That’s all in the past. I’ve already spoken to the cafeteria staff. Tomorrow, send me her medical reports. The cafeteria will prepare a special diet based on her condition. Until her bone density recovers, I’ll prohibit her from doing jumps and focus on improving her performance, skating, and spins.”

With that, he pulled out a half-worn leather notebook with a small sticky note on it, bearing Xu Chuo’s name. He exchanged a glance with Coach Ming Jia, who nodded gratefully.

This was Xu Chuo’s old training notebook. Zhang Junbao had only filled one-third of the pages before she left, but now that she had returned, he continued using it.

Xu Chuo thought, The coach kept my training notebook, and knowing I would return, he even prepared my future training schedule in advance.

She quickly lowered her head, her eyes turning red, and said softly: “Coach, I’m sorry. My mom smeared your name before. I wanted to defend you, but she took my phone away, and I didn’t dare to fight with her.”

“Coach, I still want to skate!”

Zhang Junbao: … It sounds like Zhang Jue also said something similar to Coach Lu.

The girl, full of shame and guilt, began to cry as she spoke. Zhang Jue, having just finished a set of compulsory figures, glanced over in her direction and then quietly looked at Coach Lu.

Coach Lu said: “Go ahead, take a five-minute break.”

Zhang Jue immediately skated over. Shen Liu, who was training jumps with Cha Hanbuhua, Min Shan, and Jiang Yihong, also glanced over, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

“To think Zhang Jue, who fears nothing, could actually be so obedient.”

Shen Liu was genuinely curious about how Coach Lu had disciplined Zhang Jue when he was young.

When Zhang Jue skated to the edge of the rink, he greeted Xu Chuo: “Hey, has your fracture healed?”

Looking at her tall, spirited senior brother, Xu Chuo almost felt her tears shift from her eyes to the corners of her mouth.

She turned her head away: “Yes, it’s healed.”

Zhang Jue gestured: “You’re about 1.68 meters tall now, right? It looks like you’ll need some time to regain your balance. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.”

Xu Chuo glanced over at Coach Zhang again, then quickly looked away: “Okay, okay.”

Even Xu’s father couldn’t bear to watch this, but the others seemed used to it. After all, there was Francis Miller. Since Zhang Jue’s program was choreographed, this top choreographer had stayed with the provincial team, saying he wouldn’t leave until Zhang secured a spot in the Winter Olympics.

But everyone knew the real reason.

Every morning, Francis went out for a stroll, and at noon, he came back to enjoy watching Zhang Jue’s face while he ate, then in the afternoon, he helped refine Zhang Jue’s choreography on the ice.

Xu Chuo saw him in the cafeteria, happily eating across from Zhang Jue, who showed no reaction as he stuffed a large piece of beef into his mouth.

Though he had a delicate, refined appearance, Zhang Jue was still a 16-year-old boy undergoing high-intensity training, and his appetite was enormous. He devoured his food as though he couldn’t wait to swallow it whole.

Francis remarked: “The way you eat is so manly!”

Zhang Jue: “…Thanks.”

Zhang Jue often thought that if his manager from his past life saw his current eating habits, they’d probably pass out in anger.

Shen Liu said in Chinese: “Sometimes I really admire you. Not many people can maintain such a good appetite under Francis watchful gaze.”

Francis said: “I’ve been learning Chinese. I understand what you’re saying. Thank you.”

That was awkward.

It was at this moment that Xu Chuo realized her senior brother probably never dieted. In front of him sat 2 pounds of chicken breast (yes, 2 pounds, not 2 ounces), 3 boiled eggs, 2 mounds of mashed purple sweet potato, and 3 buckwheat buns stuffed with bell peppers, shredded beef, and potatoes. There was also 1 pound of various vegetables, followed by a liter of kiwi juice for him to drink slowly.

Oh, and none of the food was seasoned with much oil or salt, so the taste was bland. But Zhang Jue ate with no sense of enjoyment, just mechanically refueling his body. Meanwhile, Cha Hanbuhua, Min Shan, and Jiang Yihong, who were eating the same nutrient-rich meals but in smaller portions, were grimacing.

This amount of food could last Xu Chuo for three days during her dieting phase.

Coach Zhang said this was a reduced portion because Zhang Jue tended to gain weight easily. For comparison, the ace of the swimming team next door ate 10,000 calories a day.

Coach Lu reminded them: “Zhang Jue is in a muscle-building phase, so it’s fine for him to eat a lot now. Once he’s strong enough, we’ll reduce his weight.”

The cafeteria auntie gave a thumbs-up and said: “Don’t worry, I’ll prepare an all-vegetable diet for him when it’s time.”

Zhang Jue immediately protested: “An all-vegetarian diet? That’s too cruel! If you torture me like that, I might develop an eating disorder!”

Eating disorders were common among figure skaters who were constantly dieting!

But what Zhang Jue didn’t expect was that everyone, including Francis, burst out laughing at his comment.

Zhang Jue, hating food? Hahaha! Who was the one caught sneaking chocolate biscuits before competitions and getting his butt slapped by his coach on camera?

Thud. A portion of nutrient food, half the size of Zhang Jue’s, was placed in front of Xu Chuo.

The cafeteria auntie advised: “Since you were dieting for a while, eating too much at once might be hard on your stomach. We’ll gradually increase the portions. Make sure to finish it!”

Xu Chuo wasn’t smiling anymore.

What’s the secret to increasing bone density and building muscle?

Proper training and eating like there’s no tomorrow!

 

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