Chapter 2

Jiu Sheng stumbled onto the ice rink wearing his ice skates, his posture initially unsteady but quickly corrected.

The crisp “scritch” of ice blades cutting into the surface echoed from beneath Jiu Sheng’s feet—delicate yet melodious.

Squinting slightly, Jiu Sheng spread his arms, quietly savoring this unprecedented experience.

Jiang Xu Guang and the others’ pupils constricted sharply.

When had Jiu Sheng become so fluent in skating?!

The claim that Jiu Sheng was a figure skating failure wasn’t unfounded. As his classmate, Jiang Xu Guang knew this all too well.

If Jiu Li was a figure skating prodigy, then Jiu Sheng was its antithesis—a lifelong practitioner who couldn’t even master basic gliding, let alone jumps.

Yet now, the Jiu Sheng on the ice exuded something unsettling. Though his movements remained somewhat raw, the intensity radiating from him was overwhelming, like a seasoned sprinter dominating the track with unstoppable momentum.

Another “scritch” sounded as Jiu Sheng pushed off lightly, gliding effortlessly across half the rink in moments.

His slightly long hair fluttered briefly before being tucked behind his ear by slender, pale fingers.

The blades met the ice again with a sharp “scritch,” sending up tiny shavings.

With a solid “thud,” Jiu Sheng recalled the original owner’s muscle memory and executed a flawless double Toe loop—a textbook-perfect 2T that any figure skating enthusiast would recognize.

Figure skating features six jump types, ranked by difficulty: Toe loop (T), Salchow jump (S), Loop jump (Lo), Flip jump (F), Lutz jump (Lz), and Axel jump (A).

The Toe loop is the most fundamental jump, achievable by any dedicated amateur with practice.

Jumps are categorized by rotations: single, double, triple, and quadruple, with increasing difficulty. The double Toe loop (2T) Jiu Sheng performed is only marginally harder than its single rotation counterpart.

What stunned Jiang Xu Guang wasn’t the jump’s complexity—but that it came from Jiu Sheng, the supposed skating disaster.

Stranger still, that 2T appeared more technically precise and aesthetically refined than even Jiu Li’s attempts.

Impossible. This was the same Jiu Sheng who’d previously struggled with single rotations!

Spectators erupted in applause, gathering rinkside after witnessing the elegant jump.

A flush of excitement colored Jiu Sheng’s cheeks as he landed his first successful jump. For the original owner’s body, such movements were elementary—only hindered by paralyzing anxiety that had concealed his latent talent.

But this Jiu Sheng knew no fear.

Not just fearless—he was positively electrified.

Just moments ago, during the 2T jump, Jiu Sheng felt his mind go completely blank. It wasn’t until his ice blades touched the ice again after the jump that his consciousness gradually returned. That exhilarating sensation followed immediately, exploding in his mind like strong liquor, leaving him with an endless aftertaste.

But it wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough. He needed something even more thrilling.

Jiu Sheng’s gaze gradually grew determined.

Jiu Sheng was a genius—a prodigy in the ballet world. Whether in jumps or flexibility, he could be considered the pinnacle among male ballet dancers, capable of competing with female dancers in flexibility without necessarily losing.

Geniuses are often not just geniuses; they’re also madmen—madmen who would risk everything for that one exhilarating thrill.

Jiu Sheng began his approach, wanting to jump higher and farther, wanting to attempt more difficult jumps, craving even greater stimulation.

A gleam of excitement shone in his eyes, setting the entire rink ablaze.

Outside the rink, aside from Jiang Xu Guang and the others, two more people had arrived unnoticed at some point.

Song Yang marveled at Jiu Sheng on the ice, exclaiming, “Xu Zhou, did you see that? That 2T was textbook-perfect!”

Xu Zhou nodded lightly, responding half-heartedly, “Mhm.”

A 2T? A jump that anyone with basic figure skating knowledge could perform didn’t deserve his attention.

Hearing their conversation, Jiang Xu Guang glanced at them.

Holy crap—weren’t those the provincial team coaches?

As a provincial-level figure skater, Jiang Xu Guang was so startled by the sight of the two coaches that he nearly forgot to breathe.

Ignoring Xu Zhou’s indifference, Song Yang turned his gaze back to Jiu Sheng on the ice. This time, the sight shocked him: “Holy shit, holy shit! Isn’t that… isn’t that Jiu Li? Isn’t he supposed to be abroad? Why is he here??”

At Song Yang’s words, Xu Zhou finally took a proper look at Jiu Sheng on the ice—and his eyes widened.

That guy looked almost identical to Jiu Li!!

Song Yang was dumbfounded: “This is bizarre. Why would Jiu Li suddenly come back?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Xu Zhou replied, “That probably isn’t Jiu Li.”

Xu Zhou had once interacted with Jiu Li—a proud, talented young man with striking looks. But compared to the boy on the ice, he fell far short.

The boy on the ice carried an air of wild abandon and a mad ambition for success, etched into his very gaze and movements, making him seem like a conqueror ruling his domain.

Song Yang soon realized it too: “You’re right. He’s nothing like Jiu Li. But with such a strong resemblance, do you think he might be related to Jiu Li?”

Their conversation continued as if no one else was around, until Jiang Xu Guang—ignored for far too long—couldn’t help but interject: “That’s Jiu Li’s younger brother, Jiu Sheng. A complete waste in figure skating.”

Song Yang was surprised: “Jiu Li’s brother? I think I’ve heard Jiu Li has a brother. So it’s him.”

Rubbing his chin, Song Yang mused, “But a waste? I wouldn’t say so. Such fluid skating and a flawless 2T are rare in our country.”

By the end, Song Yang couldn’t help but feel a twinge of bitterness.

The 2T is the simplest of jumps, yet in their country, executing it well—perfectly—was no easy feat.

Figure skating is an incredibly graceful ice sport with a broad and diverse audience. However, in the country, it has become an almost abandoned competitive event. For over twenty years, no one has won a gold medal—let alone even stood on the podium.  

In both men’s and women’s singles, the top athletes sometimes can’t even break into the world’s top ten rankings, much less make it to the podium. It’s downright laughable.  

Jiu Sheng’s older brother, Jiu Li, is highly renowned domestically. Since he was eight years old, he has been well-known among figure skating fans. As a result, he is hailed as the most promising Chinese men’s singles figure skater in nearly two decades, capable of reaching the world podium. The nation and fans have placed high hopes on him. The moment he turned thirteen, he was crowned the top skater in the junior division.  

But who would have thought they’d run into that little prodigy’s younger brother, Jiu Sheng, here?  

On the ice, Jiu Sheng was gliding into his setup.  

In figure skating, jumps rely on the momentum from the glide. The longer the setup and the more prolonged the glide, the stronger the jump.  

Song Yang remarked, “That setup is really long. Is he going for a 3T?”  

If he was attempting a triple toe loop, that would be quite challenging.  

While the three of them were discussing Jiu Sheng’s setup, he was already preparing for takeoff.  

But to everyone’s surprise, Jiu Sheng’s takeoff this time was from the forward edge!  

Song Yang was stunned, and even the usually composed Xu Guang’s expression shifted in an instant.  

Jiu Sheng was attempting the legendary, dreamlike Axel jump!  

The Axel, or A-jump, is the most difficult of the six standard jumps. It is the only one that takes off from the forward edge, and because the takeoff and landing directions are completely opposite, it requires an extra half-rotation in the air compared to other jumps.  

Countless figure skating enthusiasts and fans have successfully landed the other five jumps but have stumbled over the Axel.  

Jiang Xu Guang’s face paled slightly. “Is Jiu Sheng insane? He’s daring to attempt an A-jump just like that?”  

But it was too late to stop him now. Jiu Sheng had already pushed off the ice into his takeoff, spinning fiercely through the first rotation in the air.  

His rotation speed was astonishingly fast, his movements in the air as elegant as a dying swan. The corners of his lips curled slightly, as though he was pouring every ounce of strength into completing this jump.  

When the others saw Jiu Sheng successfully complete the first rotation, they held their breath.  

He had actually pulled off the first rotation—now, as long as he landed cleanly, the jump would be perfect.  

But contrary to their expectations, after finishing the first rotation, Jiu Sheng didn’t land immediately. Instead, he spun another full rotation in the air.  

The Axel is known as the dream jump, an incredibly difficult feat.  

Yet here, right before their eyes, a so-called “figure skating failure” was attempting a Double Axel—and succeeding in the rotations.  

Jiang Xu Guang was frozen in shock, his expression turning peculiar.  

He had trained in figure skating since childhood and was now thirteen. Though not as skilled as Jiu Li, his level was still among the top of his peers. He had already learned the 2A, but his success rate was only about 50%.

Jiang Xu Guang wanted to see Jiu Sheng’s landing. Only by observing whether Jiu Sheng landed successfully could he determine the completion level of this 2A.  

But after waiting for a while, Jiang Xu Guang didn’t see Jiu Sheng come down—he was still spinning in the air.  

Jiang Xu Guang’s expression shifted from calm confidence to outright horror.  

Jiu Sheng was actually attempting—attempting a Triple Axel!!  

The Axel jump is the most difficult among the six types of jumps in figure skating. While the other five jumps have already entered the era of quadruple jumps, the Axel remains stuck in the triple jump era.  

So far, the only ones in the country capable of performing a Triple Axel are the top two senior men’s singles skaters. Even the top senior women’s singles skater and the highly anticipated youth men’s singles leader, Jiu Li, couldn’t land this jump.  

Yet, Jiu Sheng was trying it?!  

Was he insane?!  

Song Yang’s demeanor had completely changed as well. The mocking amusement in his eyes was now replaced with solemnity.  

At this moment, Jiu Sheng’s rotation in the air gradually slowed, and as his height decreased, he began descending.  

Even so, Jiu Sheng didn’t stop spinning.  

But with a loud *thud*, his ice blade struck the ice heavily, and Jiu Sheng crashed onto the surface, sliding a considerable distance.  

Jiu Sheng’s first attempt at a Triple Axel ended in a brutal failure.  

Seeing Jiu Sheng fail, Jiang Xu Guang’s heart, which had been suspended in midair, slowly settled.  

Of course! How could a loser like Jiu Sheng possibly master the Triple Axel?!  

His lackeys jeered beside him.  

“Hahaha, what a joke! He actually dared to attempt a 3A—does he really think he’s his brother Jiu Li?”  

“Scared me to death! I actually thought Jiu Sheng would land it.”  

“No way! If someone like Jiu Sheng could pull it off, that’d be a miracle!”  

Then, Xu Zhou, who had been mostly silent, spoke up: “Jiu Sheng’s third rotation on that 3A was about 190 degrees.”  

Jiang Xu Guang: “190 degrees?”  

His lackey: “190 degrees? What does that mean?”  

After repeating it a few times, Jiang Xu Guang’s face gradually turned ashen, and his heart, which had just calmed down, began pounding violently again.  

According to the rules, if the final rotation of a jump exceeds 180 degrees, it wouldn’t be marked as under-rotated! In other words, in a competition, Jiu Sheng’s 3A would have been fully credited!  

Unlike Jiang Xu Guang, who was still in shock, Xu Zhou’s gaze at Jiu Sheng burned with excitement.  

Who would’ve thought—who would’ve thought that Jiu Sheng would land a 3A before his prodigious brother Jiu Li?!  

He might very well be a figure skating genius—one even more formidable than his brother!!  

Author’s Note:  

1* and 2* The distinctions between the six figure skating jumps and the Axel jump are sourced from online references.