Li Nan was going for a tryout, and the whole Li family was mobilized. Even his grandparents tagged along, curious to see what a place dedicated to training athletes for the country looked like.

Waiting to receive them were Ding Jianguo and another middle-aged man. The man had a square face, thick black eyebrows, and a stern look that could intimidate even when expressionless—he looked exactly like someone in a leadership role.

Sure enough, this man was Zhang Guanghua, the head coach of the S City figure skating team.

Li Nan was a little surprised that the head coach had come to greet them in person. He was confident in himself, sure—but that didn’t mean he expected the head coach to come all the way out just for him.

After all, Zhang Guanghua didn’t know he was someone reborn—someone who, in his past life, had almost touched the Olympic podium. To Zhang Guanghua, Li Nan was probably just a kid with some talent.

And talent alone didn’t guarantee results. As things stood, Li Nan hadn’t even competed in a single match yet—he hadn’t had a chance to prove himself. It was perfectly normal if the coaches didn’t take him seriously yet.

Shen Xudong and Li Wenqing shook hands with Zhang Guanghua, exchanging a few polite words. Zhang nodded to them before glancing at Li Nan and giving Ding Jianguo a directive: “Since they’re already here, Xiao Ding, take him in for a tryout.”

“Yes, Head Coach.” Ding Jianguo responded promptly, then waved to Li Nan, “Come on, follow me.”

“As for the family…”

His gaze swept over Li Hongguo and Qiao Cuiping, who had followed closely behind. His expression remained calm as he said, “Parents can come in too. Our training facility has a viewing gallery.”

“Great, great!”

In that brief pause before Ding Jianguo finished his sentence, both Li Hongguo and Qiao Cuiping had their hearts in their throats, already prepared for the possibility of being turned away. They were genuinely relieved—not being allowed in would’ve been disappointing after coming all this way.

Luckily, Ding Jianguo didn’t say anything further.

However, places like the figure skating team were indeed strict about letting outsiders in. At the entrance of the training base, there was a card swipe machine; only those with a valid card could enter or exit. Ding Jianguo took out his coach’s ID, swiped it, and the gate opened, allowing everyone to pass through one by one.

“The figure skating team usually doesn’t allow outsiders. If Li Nan decides to stay, we’ll issue him a temporary access card that will work with this system,” Ding Jianguo explained to Li Nan’s parents. “Our team is newly established, so everything is brand new, including the training building. We’ve also received sponsorship from several major companies, so all our facilities are top-notch.”

Ding Jianguo spoke with a bit of pride—after all, not many provincial teams could boast such a setup. Not only did they have new facilities, but they also had financial backing and up-to-date equipment.

“Of course, this training center isn’t only used by our figure skating team. The newly established speed skating team next door also shares the building, but their training space is separate, and only the common areas are shared.”

“We also provide dormitories. For younger athletes who train long hours and live far away, it’s often inconvenient to return home, so they can stay in the dorms. The rooms are generally shared by four people. If Li Nan is interested, after the trial session, we can show him the dorms.”

Ding Jianguo pointed toward the direction of the dormitory building visible outside the training facility. “That’s where the dorms are. All the facilities there are new too. The coaches live in the dorms as well, and each floor has a dormitory supervisor to take care of the kids. After the 10 PM curfew, there’s a roll call, and any kids going home have to report in advance. There’s also 24-hour security patrol.”

The four adults nodded repeatedly, impressed by the well-thought-out system of the newly formed team.

However, upon hearing that there would be accommodation, Li Nan’s grandmother became somewhat conflicted. “Do you have to train this hard every day? You can’t even go home?”

“Yes.” Ding Jianguo wanted to bring Li Nan into the team, but he couldn’t lie about this part. Even if he lied now, it would eventually be exposed later. “To achieve results, athletes have to train. In our team, kids over 15 train for about 6-8 hours a day. The younger ones still train for about 4-5 hours a day. It’s all very tough.”

Qiao Cuiping’s expression turned uneasy as she listened, and she started to regret encouraging her husband to persuade Shen Xudong and his wife to have Li Nan learn figure skating.

It was just too hard!

Li Nan was her precious little one!

But Li Hongguo, with a serious expression, spoke up: “To bring glory to the country, it’s only right to endure hardship. How can we succeed without hard work?!”

Qiao Cuiping glared at him but didn’t say anything further.

Li Nan had no objections to the training schedule. In his past life, his training was far more grueling. Even 12 hours a day wasn’t enough. He spent every moment, aside from sleeping and eating, at the training hall.

It was only when he got older, and his body couldn’t handle the strain anymore, combined with recurring injuries, that his coach strictly regulated his training hours.

Even then, he still spent 6 hours a day training, never allowing himself to slack off.

Li Wenqing, on the other hand, noticed a few very young children in the venue and asked, “Are those kids also little athletes in the team?”

“Yes, those are also kids undergoing trial training. However, their trial period is much longer. Generally, they train for over two years before it’s determined whether they’ll officially join the team,” Ding Jianguo glanced at them. “The best age to start figure skating is actually around 6-7 years old. Many sports schools start accepting students from age 5. This age is ideal for shaping skills. As long as they practice well, they’ll achieve some results.”

Two years for trial training?

Hearing this, Shen Xudong realized that the trial training Ding Jianguo had mentioned earlier was different from what he had initially understood.

It also indirectly confirmed that Li Nan’s talent was indeed remarkable, as the coaches from the provincial team were all hinting that the child would definitely be kept on.

They took the elevator to the fourth floor, and Ding Jianguo pointed to the area. “This is the land training area. After we finish testing here, we’ll go to the ice for testing. I, along with two other coaches from the team, will be the trial trainers responsible for the assessments and recording data.”

“Hey? Won’t Coach Zhang be here?” Qiao Cuiping asked curiously.

“Coach Zhang is our head coach. He doesn’t handle trial training. He’s with me today because of some other business, so he won’t be participating in Li Nan’s trial,” Ding Jianguo glanced at his watch. “It’s about time, so let’s head over. The other two coaches should already be waiting.”

S City truly lived up to its reputation as the wealthiest city in China. Not only did the newly formed figure skating team have its own training facility, but it was also fully equipped. Many of the sports equipment that Li Nan would only see in the future was already available here. It could almost be considered a mini national training base.

They had so much money!

Li Nan immediately felt that he had made the right choice. The resources here were something he could only access after joining the national team in his previous life. Now, at just ten years old, he was already receiving treatment on par with national team members.

Perhaps the facilities at the national team’s base weren’t even as luxurious as this.

Was this some kind of dream?

Li Nan was very satisfied with S City’s figure skating team.

Li Nan’s four parents were directed to a resting area on the sidelines, away from the training area. This space was typically where the head coach liked to stay during inspections. Usually, it was a place where athletes who had temporarily finished training could relax and observe the training of others.

Ding Jianguo led Li Nan over to two other coaches and introduced him. “This is Coach Jiang Ruidan, the head coach of the pair skating team.”

Coach Jiang was tall, standing at over 1.8 meters. His arm muscles were well-defined, and he looked like someone who, like Ding Jianguo, regularly worked out.

This suited his role as a pair skating coach, as male athletes in pair skating were usually 1.8 meters or taller and needed strong arm muscles. Without that, lifting and supporting the female partner would be very difficult.

Coach Jiang nodded at Li Nan without speaking; he was the quiet, reserved type.

“This is Coach Lin Chunya, the head coach of the women’s singles team. She’s here today to assist with the testing.”

Lin Chunya was a very capable woman. Her high ponytail and sporty attire made her look very bright and approachable. She was probably in her thirties, the kind of person who naturally made others feel comfortable and at ease.

“Hello.” Coach Lin Chunya smiled warmly at Li Nan. “Don’t worry, just follow our instructions during the test. There’s nothing to be anxious about. This is just a basic assessment.”

Li Nan nodded. “Okay.”

“As for me,” Ding Jianguo said, “Let me formally introduce myself. I’m the head coach of the men’s singles team. Based on the results of your test, Coach Jiang and I will give you the most suitable suggestions for which discipline you should focus on.”

Yes, Coach Jiang Ruidan and Coach Lin Chunya were there to observe which discipline Li Nan would be most suited for. Generally, the kids recommended by the head coach had great talent, so the tests were mostly just formalities, a way to assess the child’s potential and see which direction they might excel in.

Li Nan wasn’t nervous. He had been through countless tests like this in his previous life, often experiencing them every week. This was just a routine assessment to him.

“Now, let’s begin the test.”

…

Head Coach Zhang Guanghua stood outside the training base for a while, waiting for the person he was expecting.

A refined man with a camera bag hurried over, sweat dripping from his forehead, looking a bit disheveled.

“You’re late,” Zhang Guanghua said coldly. “If everyone in the world were like you, the order of society would fall apart.”

Lin Bowen pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped the sweat from his forehead, saying, “Old Zhang, don’t be so serious. It’s just that there was a traffic jam on the way, that’s why I’m late.”

“When we used to set times to meet, I never dared to be late,” Lin Bowen continued. “Even if I had ten times the courage, I wouldn’t dare to stand you up, Old Zhang!”

Lin Bowen was a reporter and had been friends with Zhang Guanghua, the head coach of the figure skating team, for many years. He knew Zhang Guanghua’s personality well—if he admitted his mistake and explained the situation, the coach wouldn’t take it too seriously.

Zhang Guanghua snorted, not saying much more. It seemed he accepted Lin Bowen’s explanation.

“Alright, alright, let’s go inside,” Lin Bowen said, lightly tapping his camera. “I’m definitely going to promote your figure skating team well. Soon, there will be countless athletes wanting to join.”

The purpose of Lin Bowen’s visit today was to promote the newly established figure skating team in S City.

While S City’s figure skating scene wasn’t completely unknown, most promising talents typically chose major clubs. The official figure skating team didn’t have much reputation yet, and very few people had shown interest in joining.

This was quite normal. After all, S City had only recently established its figure skating team, and those promising young athletes probably hadn’t heard about it yet. Even if they had, they were likely still observing the situation, not ready to act so quickly.

Compared to a newly established team with unknown teaching credentials, long-standing clubs were considered more reliable.

Right now, the figure skating team could only try to recruit young athletes from other sports in the sports school and persuade their parents to let them switch disciplines.

The progress was worrying. No parent was willing to let their child abandon a sport they had been practicing for a long time and start over from scratch.

To be blunt, continuing with their current sport would guarantee at least a secondary-level athlete status, and they could even earn extra points for college entrance exams. What could switching sports offer? Starting over meant uncertain results, and who knew if they would even manage to achieve success?

The most crucial point was that a figure skating certificate didn’t give any extra points for the college entrance exams!

Since the country wasn’t promoting it, why would parents let their children switch to a new sport, potentially jeopardizing their future?

As a result, the figure skating team had more staff than athletes.

To address this, Head Coach Zhang Guanghua suggested to his friend Lin Bowen that they do a special feature to promote the newly established figure skating team.

Zhang Guanghua didn’t respond much to this, turning to head into the training hall. “Let’s go.”

Lin Bowen pulled out his camera. “Alright, let’s go, let me see what kind of charm this new team has that made you bring me in for this.”

Lin Bowen was no ordinary journalist; he worked for the largest entertainment newspaper in S City and had his own popular column, making him quite well-known.

Zhang Guanghua managed to get Lin Bowen on board for this interview by cashing in on an old favor between them. After all, they had been friends for many years.

“By the way, I haven’t asked you yet,” Lin Bowen asked with curiosity, “You’re pulling in sponsorships, building new facilities, and now you’ve got me here for a feature. Does your figure skating team have some hidden, world-class genius? Someone who can win gold at international competitions right off the bat?”

Zhang Guanghua:  “.…”

Zhang Guanghua held back a laugh but couldn’t resist replying, “There are no figure skaters who win major competitions right after debuting, no matter how talented they are. Every athlete has to go through the grind of competition before they can truly achieve results.”

The scores for figure skating aren’t just based on technical skills; there’s also a huge emphasis on artistic expression, which can be quite abstract. In essence, it can be summed up as how familiar the judges are with the skater and the strength of the skater’s country.

Asian figure skaters often start their careers with lower artistic scores, making it almost impossible for them to earn high marks from the get-go—unless they have exceptional technical skills and perform several difficult jumps, relying purely on technique to outshine the competition… but how likely is that?

Most figure skaters are young, and it’s rare to find a young athlete who can handle the pressures of international competitions and deliver high-level performances. They certainly won’t have all the difficult moves mastered right away.

Zhang Guanghua was about to elaborate further when Lin Bowen interrupted.

“Alright, alright, I get it, I get it!” Lin Bowen pushed Zhang Guanghua ahead. “Come on, let’s go see your precious team before I melt out here from the heat!”

The August sun was still scorching, and just standing outside for a while left Lin Bowen feeling lightheaded.

At this rate, he thought he might faint from heatstroke before getting to the main event. Of course, he wasn’t too keen on listening to his old friend’s long-winded speeches either.

As Zhang Guanghua led Lin Bowen into the training facility, a blast of cool air greeted them, banishing the oppressive summer heat. Lin Bowen took a deep breath, feeling a little more refreshed. “Alright, let’s go. Where’s our first stop?”

“Where would you like to start?” Zhang Guanghua asked in return, still unsure about the process of an interview, as this was his first time inviting a journalist for a feature.

“Alright, alright!” Lin Bowen gave in. “Let’s start by checking out the basic facilities at the training base. Things like the athletes’ accommodations, the dining hall, medical facilities, all of that. Parents are bound to be concerned about these things, so it’s important to address them.”

Zhang Guanghua thought for a moment and realized Lin Bowen was right. The reason why established clubs could attract so many students was that they operated on a pay-per-class model, offering generous training conditions and educational resources.

S City was one of the most economically developed cities in China, with average wages several times higher than in other cities. Very few of the families sending their children to learn figure skating were poor, so money wasn’t the main concern for them.

For many, it wasn’t about making their children professional athletes; it was more of a hobby or an interest. On the other hand, the image of official teams like the figure skating team often conveyed an impression of hardship and poor conditions. What parent would willingly send their child to a place where they’d suffer and struggle?

If the figure skating team could promote its good facilities, it might ease some of the parents’ worries.

With that thought in mind, Zhang Guanghua nodded. “Alright, let’s go. I’ll take you to the dining hall first.”

…

The project test for Li Nan was progressing smoothly. During Li Nan’s endurance run test, the three coaches gathered together to discuss.

“Not bad, this time Jianguo really found a good prospect,” Lin Chunya looked at the record sheet in his hand. “A few of the numbers came out a little lower than the kids from the sports school, not by much, just a bit lacking in strength. But you can tell from his thin arms and legs, not a bit of muscle—no surprise there. Once he joins the team, we’ll have the cafeteria increase his protein intake, and with some muscle training, his strength will improve.”

Although Li Nan’s test data was similar to that of children from the sports school, even slightly lower, some might have thought his talent was average. In fact, this just proved how extraordinary his natural ability was.

The kids from the sports school had started training from a very young age, whereas Li Nan had never received any physical training. For him to have these results showed his exceptional talent.

“Didn’t expect Jianguo’s trip to actually yield results,” Lin Chunya said with a smile.

Jiang Ruidan nodded silently.

Ding Jianguo chuckled heartily and said with a sense of pride, “Of course! The moment I saw him at the rink, I knew this kid was something special. I could see the light in his eyes—it’s a love for skating that can’t be severed. That kind of passion can burn through everything and be reborn from the flames!”

Lin Chunya shook his head. “You’re still the same, always saying these cheesy, over-the-top things.”

Ding Jianguo shrugged, clearly feeling that what he said was sincere, not at all cheesy.

The day he met Li Nan, Ding Jianguo had just come from the sports school, once again rejected by a parent. Feeling desperate, he had no choice but to head over to a nearby amateur ice rink to scout for talent.

The figure skating team had just been established, and there were really very few athletes. Among the four disciplines, only the men’s singles and the ice dance categories were empty, while the pairs and women’s singles both had a few young skaters. Lin Chunya and Jiang Ruidan weren’t anxious, but Ding Jianguo was the most worried.

As for ice dance, the main person in charge of the ice dance program in S City hadn’t even been appointed yet, so it was normal for there to be no athletes.

It wasn’t that he was worried about losing his job. Even if there were no skaters now, there would definitely be some in the future. He wasn’t afraid of having no students.

He simply loved figure skating with all his heart, and his passion had nowhere to go. So, he could only hang around and try to find a few athletes to join the team.

…

It was under these circumstances, when he had almost lost hope, that Ding Jianguo met Li Nan.

Compared to sports schools, amateur ice rinks were even more unreliable.

Children from sports schools were still willing to pursue sports as a career, they just didn’t have much faith in figure skating. But the kids from the amateur ice rinks weren’t interested in pursuing sports at all. They didn’t come from poor families, so who would want their child to take the sports route?

Except for a very few athletes who could reach world-class competitions and win medals, most athletes would retire when they reached a certain age. Without achievements, there wasn’t much of a salary, and their entire youth would be wasted on training, causing them to fall behind in their studies. Once they retired, they’d face unemployment—not only could they not find a job, but they’d be left with injuries all over their bodies…

What rich family would let their child become a professional athlete?

None.

It was during his time at the rink that Ding Jianguo, for some unknown reason, noticed Li Nan. He saw the light in the boy’s eyes, a passion for the ice just like his own. When he saw Li Nan, disappointed, walking away because he couldn’t afford the deposit, Ding Jianguo found himself unexpectedly stepping forward to rent two pairs of skates.

Li Nan surprised him even more. Despite not having any professional training, he managed to land a 3F+3T jump, purely through his own exploration. Even though he didn’t complete the rotations properly and almost fell on the landing, it was still a triple jump—a triple jump!

From what Ding Jianguo knew, in today’s China, only one child at the age of ten could land a triple jump. An eight-year-old landing a triple jump, and an eleven-year-old mastering all three types of triple jumps, were the future stars that the national team was cultivating. He had heard that this child was already preparing for the next group and planning to compete in the Winter Olympics in two years.

Li Nan, on the other hand, had already figured out two types of triple jumps on his own. Judging by his future practice, it seemed like he would soon be able to land others as well. His talent was simply terrifying.

If he couldn’t bring this child into the figure skating team, Ding Jianguo felt like he would regret it for the rest of his life.

While the coaches were discussing, Li Nan had already finished his endurance test. Lin Chunya glanced at the form, smiled at him, and spoke, “The testing items are almost done. Let’s take a break now, and this afternoon we’ll get on the ice and see how you do.”

The physical test had been quite exhausting, and beads of sweat had appeared on Li Nan’s forehead, with some of his hair sticking together. But for some reason, he didn’t look disheveled. Instead, there was an indescribable charm about him, an aura that seemed to shine and draw everyone’s attention.

Lin Chunya attributed this effect to Li Nan’s exceptional looks, which made even his sweat-drenched appearance seem captivating.

When it came to Lin Chunya’s suggestion, Li Nan shook his head. “No need, let’s continue. I can get on the ice right now.”

Lin Chunya was surprised. “Right now? You still have the energy for it?”

After so many tests, even an ordinary athlete would need a rest. But Li Nan, a child who hadn’t undergone any training, had gone through so much and still had the energy to get on the ice?

Lin Chunya thought that Li Nan might be forcing himself. She quickly gave a more reassuring smile. “No need to push yourself. Taking a break will help you perform better, right?”

Li Nan thought for a moment. “Okay, then let’s take a break.”

The coaches weren’t in a rush, so why should he be?

Today’s physical exertion had indeed been significant. If it were his past body, which had already gone through extensive training, it wouldn’t have been a problem. But now, Li Nan’s body was young and hadn’t experienced any training. After so many tests, he should have already been exhausted by now.

But for some reason, Li Nan felt that the energy within his body was endless, like he could jump several triple jumps on the ice and still be full of energy.

This was certainly strange. Li Nan was reminded by Lin Chunya to think about what might be wrong with his body.

The only difference should be… that 【Super Sparkling Superstar Aura 24-Hour Experience Coupon】 he got today, right?

Could it really be…?

Li Nan opened the system’s shop and studied it for a long time, but still couldn’t figure it out. Eventually, the system couldn’t hold back and decided to explain it to him.

【How can a superstar ever feel tired? As a superstar, you should always shine bright and be full of energy in front of others.】

Li Nan: “….”

Li Nan was stunned. So this aura could be used this way?!

It seemed he had been thinking too simply. With how extraordinary the other items from the system were, how could there be anything truly useless?

This aura, which seemed so plain, was just supposed to have a skin-smoothing effect on the surface. In reality, it could keep him in a fully energized state!

He was wrong. This wasn’t a useless aura—it was practically a divine tool!

Now, when he trains, if he uses this aura, wouldn’t he be able to train continuously without feeling tired?

【…】

Li Nan felt the system’s hesitation, but he didn’t pay much attention. He was still lost in the excitement of discovering another use for the item in the shop, fantasizing about his bright future.