{"id":7035,"date":"2025-06-06T08:42:57","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T06:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/?p=7035"},"modified":"2025-06-06T08:42:57","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T06:42:57","slug":"figure-skating-im-more-suited-for-the-olympics-chapter-207-surprise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/2025\/06\/06\/figure-skating-im-more-suited-for-the-olympics-chapter-207-surprise\/","title":{"rendered":"Figure Skating: I’m More Suited for the Olympics – Chapter 207 Surprise"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

From April to August 2017, Zhang Jue was almost worked to death\u2014after all, he was already in the second semester of his junior year.<\/p>\r\n

If he had been the type of person who had a good relationship with professors and strong skills, he would have already found an internship through a teacher\u2019s recommendation by now. But Zhang Jue didn\u2019t need to look for an internship. He had already been part of the national team for a few years, with allowances, insurance, and household registration all taken care of.<\/p>\r\n

At the same time, his academic performance was also quite good. Despite frequently going abroad for competitions, he never failed a final exam and consistently ranked among the top 20 in the department. Teachers and classmates alike thought Zhang Jue was very sharp.<\/p>\r\n

So, the professor added Zhang Jue\u2019s name to the development team for Sweet Zizi 2 and asked him to write a paper. If the paper turned out well, he\u2019d be included in the development of version 3 too\u2014and his graduate school recommendation would be guaranteed.<\/p>\r\n

Everyone knew how exhausting writing a paper was, and on top of that, Zhang Jue had to organize commercial performances and attend business events. He truly had no rest.<\/p>\r\n

The good news was that after a few days of recuperating upon returning to China, he recovered. Because of this, the coaching staff was secretly relieved that the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Olympics would be held in Asia. Zhang Jue wouldn\u2019t suffer from climate adjustment issues there.<\/p>\r\n

Though he had a stable mindset, his body was very particular. He didn\u2019t adjust well to locations with significant time zone differences. It seemed even Finland didn\u2019t suit him, and as for the event in France\u2014well, even local French skaters might have struggled to adapt.<\/p>\r\n

Now, everyone was just praying that the ice in PyeongChang wouldn\u2019t be as slippery as Sochi\u2019s, so their top skater could complete his Grand Slam achievement smoothly.<\/p>\r\n

Because Zhang Jue had established many connections during the previous off-season, many people this year began turning their eyes toward the figure skating commercial performance market.<\/p>\r\n

Everyone knew that in terms of earning power, ball sports had always been king\u2014basketball, football, tennis, volleyball, ping-pong\u2014each one more profitable than ice and snow sports. In past years, the top ten earners among Chinese athletes were always ball players.<\/p>\r\n

But ever since Zhang Jue appeared out of nowhere, he had remained at the number one spot for two years in a row.<\/p>\r\n

Rationally, everyone knew Zhang Jue\u2019s income and popularity were tied to his face. Emotionally, they were envious of the figure skating market.<\/p>\r\n

A few commercial shows later, ticket sales alone brought in over eight figures\u2014and that didn\u2019t even include sponsorships.<\/p>\r\n

Naturally, Zhang Jue had to move. If he stayed in his old neighborhood, just the reporters alone would drive him crazy. He didn\u2019t mind the hassle, but if it disturbed Qin Xuejun, he would be truly angry.<\/p>\r\n

So, he sold that house, tidied up his cash, and bought a spacious six-bedroom, three-living-room penthouse in a highly secure community. There was even a swimming pool on the top floor.<\/p>\r\n

With a chicken cage in hand, Xuejun followed his boyfriend Zhang Jue into their new home, utterly confused.<\/p>\r\n

Zhang Jue gave him a shy smile, spread his arms wide, and said: “Surprise, darling! This is our new love nest!\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Qin Xuejun asked: “Isn\u2019t this house really expensive?\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Zhang Jue replied: “But aside from being expensive, there\u2019s nothing wrong with it.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

He snuggled into his boyfriend\u2019s arms, kissed him on the chin, and said: “It\u2019s fine\u2014I paid in full, so there\u2019s no financial burden.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

At that moment, even though they were technically just in a pre-dating phase, Qin Xuejun couldn\u2019t help but feel like he had bagged a sugar daddy.<\/p>\r\n

Then the next day, that sugar daddy squatted on the balcony, used something from school to mix up a batch of compost, and poured it into the larger vegetable garden on the balcony.<\/p>\r\n

He didn\u2019t even wear a mask and didn\u2019t flinch, which filled Qin Xuejun with admiration\u2014until ten minutes later when he learned Zhang Jue had seasonal allergic rhinitis and couldn\u2019t smell anything at the moment.<\/p>\r\n

While Zhang Jue was juggling school and making money, he also casually finalized this year\u2019s choreographer, even helping arrange choreography for others on the team. But then, another issue came up.<\/p>\r\n

This time, the problem lay in the music selections made by the top male and female skaters on the national team.<\/p>\r\n

The leadership tapped on the table and asked: “How come, with so many athletes, not a single one picked a Chinese-style piece?\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Zhang Jue sipped from his thermos and replied slowly: “Didn\u2019t several of the exhibition programs already use Chinese-style music? Min Shan\u2019s exhibition program uses water sleeves, Huang Ying and Guan Lin use folding fans, and Cha Hanbuhua\u2019s short program is a Mongolian dance. Isn\u2019t that Chinese-style too?\u201d<\/p>\r\n

As the saying goes, all 56 ethnic groups are one family\u2014Mongolian dance is part of Chinese style. No problem.<\/p>\r\n

The leaders were speechless.<\/p>\r\n

Given that Zhang Jue was the team captain and their biggest cash cow, he was always included in such meetings and even had significant say. Others rarely argued with him.<\/p>\r\n

Now balding, the leader could only say earnestly: “But this is the Winter Olympics. You athletes represent the face of our nation. On the Olympic stage, you should perform something from home. Don\u2019t tell me the judges can\u2019t appreciate Chinese style. Back when Jin Meng and Yao Lan performed Turandot, didn\u2019t that become a classic? Huang Ying and Guan Lin can skate to it too\u2014it\u2019d be a tribute to their predecessors and score some sentiment points.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Zhang Jue lifted his eyelids and said: “Huang Ying and Guan Lin lean more toward modern styles. Turandot is an opera\u2014it doesn\u2019t suit them.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Huang Ying was barely over 150 cm tall. Trying to carry the grand momentum of Turandot with such a petite frame would be pushing it with sheer presence alone. This was the Olympics. If athletes weren\u2019t allowed to choose pieces that suited their style and were forced into inappropriate ones, they could forget about the gold medal.<\/p>\r\n

If Turandot truly fit them, Zhang Jue would\u2019ve arranged it without hesitation. But it didn\u2019t.<\/p>\r\n

Zhang Jue added: “And one more thing\u2014if it were up to me, I\u2019d only pay tribute to the dead. Jin and Yao are still alive, so it\u2019s a bit early to honor them.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

The leader: \u201c\u2026\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Eventually, Sun Qian stepped in to smooth things over: \u201cAlright, let\u2019s let Huang Ying and Guan Lin choose their own music. That\u2019s better than us interfering. Zhang Jue has been selecting his own pieces since junior competition level, and his performance scores are now the highest among Chinese athletes. Last year, the pieces he picked for Min Shan, Sai Peng, and Sai Qiong all fit them really well.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

So instead of banking on nostalgia, it was better to trust Zhang Jue\u2019s professional judgment\u2014he could genuinely raise athletes’ performance scores, unlike amateurs barking orders.<\/p>\r\n

After the meeting, the leaders were physically and mentally drained. Zhang Jue, on the other hand, strolled off with his thermos like nothing had happened.<\/p>\r\n

Sun Qian saluted the leader and said: “That\u2019s just Zhang\u2019s temper. Good thing you didn\u2019t take offense.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

The leader put on a hat to carefully hide his receding hairline and sighed: “I actually don\u2019t want to interfere either. It\u2019s just that the higher-ups care about this stuff. But Zhang Jue made a good point\u2014Cha Hanbuhua\u2019s Mongolian dance is Chinese style. I\u2019ll use that line to counter my own superiors.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

\u201cBut Captain Zhang\u2019s temper\u2026 He\u2019s a lot like that Coach Wang in speed skating\u2014both are blunt and hard to manage. They need someone to protect them.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Sun Qian chuckled bitterly: \u201cMaybe it\u2019s something about people named Zhang\u2014they\u2019re always bold. Look at the two in the ping-pong team\u2014they\u2019re both louder than anyone. Zhang Jue is actually pretty good; Coach Lu keeps him in check. He doesn\u2019t usually cause trouble, just likes to annoy people. Still, he does think about the team. When everyone was picking exhibition music this time, he was the one who suggested leaning into Chinese style.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

For competitive programs, athletes had to pick styles they excelled at, and style was innate\u2014there wasn\u2019t much to choose from. But exhibition programs could be more flexible.<\/p>\r\n

Leader: \u201cAthletes with strong personalities are hard to manage, right? Zhang Jue must be tough to handle.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

The leader was just balding, but Sun Qian had gone fully shaved.<\/p>\r\n

Zhang Jue really had a way about him. His previous head coach had shaved his head, and now Sun Qian hadn\u2019t escaped either.<\/p>\r\n

Facing the leader\u2019s sympathetic gaze, Sun Qian was momentarily speechless. He thought: “Zhang Jue isn\u2019t just hard to manage\u2014nobody can manage him except Coach Lu\u2019s cane.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

After the leader left, Sun Qian returned to the rink and found Guan Lin and Huang Ying thanking Zhang Jue.<\/p>\r\n

Enraged, Sun Qian smacked the back of Zhang Jue\u2019s head: \u201cDidn\u2019t I tell you\u2014if the higher-ups ask about music selections, just shut up and let me handle it? Would it kill you not to argue?\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Before Zhang Jue could respond, Guan Lin bowed deeply to Sun Qian and said with a flattering smile: “Coach Sun, we\u2019re really grateful. If it weren\u2019t for your help, we wouldn\u2019t have been able to perform Spanish Romance and The Bridge Over Troubled Waters.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Zhang Jue interjected: \u201cI helped too. I spoke up for you, and I was the one who booked Francis.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Huang Ying bowed with her hands pressed together: \u201cThank you, Captain Zhang. We\u2019ll never forget what you did for us.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Sun Qian scolded the three of them before sending them off to train.<\/p>\r\n

In an Olympic year, putting together a high-scoring program was the top priority. Huang Ying and Guan Lin suited modern and lyrical styles, and their music choices brought out their best expression.<\/p>\r\n

Apart from the top pair skaters, the top women’s singles skater, Min Shan, chose her new programs from her favorite animated films. Her short program came from Brave, and her free skate was set to music from Finding Nemo.<\/p>\r\n

Most of the skaters\u2019 music choices had been announced early on. Once choreography was complete, they took the programs to commercial performances to get comfortable with them, refining and perfecting their routines from the upcoming B-level competitions all the way through the season, until finally shining their brightest at the Winter Olympics.<\/p>\r\n

This time, the national team had done pre-selection for music ahead of a formal meeting. Zhang Jue hosted that meeting and gave plenty of solid suggestions. As a result, when the season started, the Chinese team\u2019s new programs were widely praised.<\/p>\r\n

Only Zhang Jue\u2019s program hadn\u2019t been seen by the public yet. Since the choreography had been completed, fans thought they would finally get a look at it during the B-level event. But unexpectedly, Zhang Jue dropped out due to a fever.<\/p>\r\n

For a while, everyone was left itching with curiosity, wondering what surprise he had in store this year.<\/p>\r\n

Only the insiders wiped cold sweat from their brows, thinking the short program is fine, but that free skate choice is downright bold. When Zhang Jue submitted the track name, everyone familiar with the song\u2019s history felt a headache coming on.<\/p>\r\n

Better for him to debut it later\u2014give everyone the shock a bit further down the line.<\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Support translation:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\"This<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From April to August 2017, Zhang Jue was almost worked to death\u2014after all, he was already in the second semester of his junior year. If he had been the type of person who had a good relationship with professors and strong skills, he would have already found an internship through a teacher\u2019s recommendation by now. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6017,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[106],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7035","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-figure-skating-im-more-suited-for-the-olympics","entry","has-media"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ontimestory.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/fg.png?fit=200%2C281&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7035","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7035"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7035\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7039,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7035\/revisions\/7039"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6017"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7035"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7035"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7035"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}