Chapter 7

China’s National Figure Skating Championships are typically held between January and February each year, though it’s also common for the event to take place in September, October, November, or December.  

This is the most prestigious figure skating competition in the country.  

As a grand celebration for domestic ice skating fans, the event attracts all the top male and female skaters to showcase their skills.  

The National Championships don’t separate junior and senior divisions—all skaters compete together, and the strongest one will dominate the rest to claim the title.  

However, senior men’s singles skaters far surpass others in both explosive power and technique, so even when juniors and seniors compete together, it’s rare for a junior to defeat a senior and win the championship.  

In contrast, women’s singles occasionally see upsets. The “growth barrier” is brutal for female skaters—even after overcoming it, weight gain and shifting body proportions can severely impact their jumps. Pre-pubescent female skaters don’t face these issues; in fact, their lighter, smaller frames sometimes allow them to dethrone senior skaters and claim the title.  

This year, the Chinese Skating Federation allocated one men’s and one women’s singles spot per provincial team for the National Championships.  

The women’s spot was unquestionably given to a 15-year-old girl who had mastered all five triple jumps except the 3A.  

But the men’s spot remained undecided.  

In the past, it would have gone to Lin Feng without hesitation. But now, there was Jiu Sheng.  

Though Jiu Sheng still lacked two of the five triple jumps, he had mastered the 3A—the most difficult triple jump—and even the 3A+3T, an ultra-high-level combination jump that even some senior men couldn’t land.  

The provincial team leaned toward giving the spot to Jiu Sheng. However, he had never competed in a figure skating event before.  

Figure skating isn’t just about technique and artistry—it also tests a skater’s mental resilience. A competitor who thrives under pressure can dominate the ice, while one who cracks easily will struggle.  

After endless debate, the majority ultimately agreed to give the spot to Lin Feng.  

But then, misfortune struck—Lin Feng injured his foot while attempting a quadruple jump due to incorrect blade work. He needed about a week to recover.  

Injuries are an athlete’s worst enemy. After final discussions, the spot was given to Jiu Sheng.  

From then on, Jiu Sheng began preparing for the National Championships.  

With only about a month left, he had to juggle final exams while also choreographing his Short Program and Free Skate routines. It was an incredibly hectic time.  

As for his costume, work had begun as soon as he joined the provincial team. After relentless effort, it was finally completed.  

Costumes are a crucial part of figure skating—an elegant sport where a stunning outfit can win over the judges.  

Jiu Sheng’s costume was his own design.  

It was fiery red—bold, dazzling, and aggressive, much like his personality: fierce, passionate, and unyielding. One glance from him felt like being pierced through.

When the costume was ready, Xu Zhou had Jiu Sheng try it on first to see if it fit.

Jiu Sheng took the costume adorned with embroidered red crystals into the dressing room. When he emerged, his aura had instantly transformed.

His originally gentle demeanor turned sharp and fierce, exuding the overwhelming presence of a world-class figure skater.

The costume was a dazzling red, with intricate details that were utterly captivating. The back was cut out, revealing a small patch of fair, flawless skin.

As he moved, Jiu Sheng’s delicate shoulder blades peeked through, mesmerizing to the point of making one’s legs go weak. It was easy to forget that the boy before them was only 13 years old.

Figure skaters rarely chose such a striking red, especially male athletes. Without a refined appearance and exceptional charisma, the color would overpower the wearer. Yet on Jiu Sheng, the red became mere background, serving only to highlight the child wearing it.

Normally, the costumes for the Short Program and Free Skate were different. However, since Jiu Sheng’s Short Program and Free Skate had similar styles—and making another red costume would be redundant—Xu Zhou simply had him wear the same one for both.

Jiu Sheng’s hair fell forward again, and as usual, he tucked it back. Then, adorned in that striking red, he stepped onto the ice.

His secondhand ice skates had also been replaced after joining the provincial team, now a pair that fit perfectly.

During this time, Jiu Sheng had been practicing triple jumps and had already mastered the 3F on ice, with a success rate of 20%.

While the rate seemed low, with more practice, it would undoubtedly reach 50%.

The crisp sound of ice blades meeting the rink echoed as Jiu Sheng glided, leaped lightly, and spun three times in the air—a flawless 3F.

Unfortunately, he failed to control the inside edge on takeoff and fell upon landing.

Lately, Jiu Sheng had fallen more times than he’d eaten meals. But with so much practice, he’d learned how to minimize the pain. Though the falls looked brutal, he rarely suffered serious injuries.

Outside the rink, Xu Zhou’s lips twitched slightly at the sight.

No matter how many times he watched, he couldn’t quite get used to this reckless, almost frenzied training style—yet it never failed to stir his blood.

After getting up, Jiu Sheng pushed off on one foot, preparing for the next jump.

His light frame soared through the air, the flash of red the brightest spot on the ice.

Xu Zhou couldn’t help but marvel inwardly—no other figure skater in the world could make a red costume shine so brilliantly.

With the performance costume finalized, Jiu Sheng had also chosen his music for the Short Program and Free Skate.

The Short Program couldn’t exceed two minutes and forty seconds, while the Free Skate had a limit of four minutes and forty seconds. Both pieces shared one rule: no vocals.

Jiu Sheng had selected the tracks himself.

For the Short Program, he chose *Brilliance*, and for the Free Skate, *Red Sun*.

When Xu Zhou first saw the selections, he nearly wanted to strangle Jiu Sheng on the spot.

Both pieces were *insanely* difficult!

“Radiance” is a very famous piece in the world of figure skating, known for its fast tempo that tests an athlete’s stamina.

However, what shocked Xu Zhou even more was that Jiu Sheng had chosen “Red Sun” for his Free Skate?

“Red Sun” is an incredibly expressive piece, embodying a resilient, upward-striving hope and an indomitable spirit.

“Red Sun” is a classic, but it’s also notoriously difficult to perform. It requires the skater to convey not just vitality, but something more—because as the red sun rises, decay falls, and darkness gradually engulfs the earth.

Few can fully capture this complex interplay of hope and deep despair. Moreover, figure skaters traditionally prioritize technical skill over artistry, so “Red Sun” is rarely attempted by junior division skaters—even seniors seldom choose it.

Additionally, it’s a renowned ballet piece that demands strong ballet foundations. Without solid ballet training, attempting this piece would result in a clumsy, unconvincing performance.

After learning Jiu Sheng had chosen “Red Sun” for his Free Skate, Xu Zhou felt uneasy. But just moments ago, watching Jiu Sheng leap and glide across the ice in his red costume, Xu Zhou sensed the true essence of “Red Sun.”

Xu Zhou pursed his lips slightly.

Perhaps Jiu Sheng could truly create a miracle with “Red Sun.”

After finalizing the music, Jiu Sheng continued practicing his last triple jump while also refining his program.

During this period, Xu Zhou took him to numerous amateur figure skating competitions.

Amateur competitions lack the depth of professional ones, and with Jiu Sheng’s mastery of four triple jumps, his appearances were practically unbeatable.

Occasionally, he did lose, but every time, Xu Zhou could see an unbelievable drive burning within Jiu Sheng.

Xu Zhou was startled.

Jiu Sheng was, without a doubt, a born competitor.

There are countless figure skaters with exceptional technical skills, but sometimes, an athlete’s mindset is what truly tips the scales in competition. A timid athlete, no matter how skilled, might lose to a lesser opponent, while a mentally strong one can outperform others by leaps and bounds.

Watching Jiu Sheng dominate the amateur circuit, Xu Zhou felt a tremor in his heart, an irrepressible excitement surging through his veins.

He couldn’t wait to see Jiu Sheng step onto the National Championship stage—that day, he would undoubtedly stun the entire figure skating world!

Jiang Xu Guang had been seething lately. As the top Men’s Singles junior skater in the provincial team, he had been poised to represent them at the National Championship—until Jiu Sheng suddenly appeared and snatched the opportunity away.

Deep down, Jiang Xu Guang knew Jiu Sheng was far more skilled—even the elusive 3A, which he had struggled to conquer, had been effortlessly mastered by Jiu Sheng.

Yet, resentment still churned within him. This was the National Championship—the dream of every figure skater in the country!

It was already 10:30 p.m. when Jiang Xu Guang carried his ice skates toward the training rink.

At this time, most of the figure skaters had already left, but Jiang Xu Guang was fueled by sheer determination.

As long as he trained longer and later, how could he possibly fail to surpass Jiu Sheng?

Figure skating, like other competitive sports, was a discipline that heavily relied on talent. However, it also demanded immense effort from the athletes. Sometimes, hard work could indeed overcome natural talent.

And now, Jiang Xu Guang clung to that faint hope—he wanted to defeat Jiu Sheng through sheer effort!

But just as Jiang Xu Guang reached the entrance, he suddenly noticed light still shining from inside the training rink. That meant someone was still there!

Jiang Xu Guang was startled.

Who else would be here at this hour besides him?

Sneaking in quietly, he saw only one person on the ice—gliding alone, relentlessly attempting Triple Flips. After each jump, he would pause to correct his blade work.

Jiang Xu Guang watched as sweat dripped from the boy’s youthful face, his training clothes soaked and clinging tightly to his body. Yet, he refused to rest, gritting his teeth as he continued to skate and jump.

Jiang Xu Guang wasn’t sure what he was feeling, but he silently withdrew his head.

He had thought he was diligent enough, but he never expected Jiu Sheng to already be here—and from the looks of it, he had been training for a long time.

Jiang Xu Guang believed he could catch up to those with talent, but surpassing someone who was both talented *and* hardworking? That was another matter entirely.

Especially since Jiu Sheng wasn’t just talented and hardworking.

Not daring to disturb him, Jiang Xu Guang turned to leave quietly.

But when he glanced back, he found Jiu Sheng standing right in front of him.

Wiping the sweat from his face, Jiu Sheng asked, “What are you doing here?”

Jiang Xu Guang: “!!!!”

He stumbled backward, stammering, “I—I—I’m here to practice, of course! What about you? What are *you* doing here?”

Jiu Sheng looked at him as if he were an idiot.

Feeling insulted, Jiang Xu Guang quickly changed the subject. “Do you often train this late?”

Jiu Sheng continued wiping his sweat. The dampness made his slender frame appear even frailer, but Jiang Xu Guang knew exactly what kind of strength and determination lay beneath.

“Not often,” Jiu Sheng replied indifferently. “Maybe once or twice a week, unless I have to go back early to finish homework.”

He sighed.

Being a student was exhausting—especially with exams.

Tired, Jiu Sheng sat down beside Jiang Xu Guang, who flinched and scrambled away.

*Don’t think just because you’re good at figure skating I’ll let you use me as a cushion! Dream on!*

But out of the corner of his eye, Jiang Xu Guang caught sight of Jiu Sheng’s trembling lashes.

Only then did he realize—Jiu Sheng’s eyelashes were incredibly long and thick.

His chest tightened, an inexplicable restlessness making his heart itch.

Once Jiu Sheng had rested enough, he stood up to remove his ice skates and leave. But the moment he rose, Jiang Xu Guang suddenly bolted away like a startled rabbit.

Jiu Sheng sighed.

*Guess I still don’t understand the minds of teenage boys.*

The National Championship was scheduled after the final exams. Jiu Sheng set aside figure skating for a week to focus on his exams. Once they were over, he boarded a plane with his provincial teammates and coaches to the competition venue.

Their destination—City H.

During the flight, Xia Xiaoxiao, the 15-year-old Ladies’ Singles skater traveling with them, suddenly asked, “Xiao Sheng, are you nervous?”

This was Xia Xiaoxiao’s first time competing at a national-level event—her previous experience had been limited to provincial and municipal competitions.

But compared to her, Jiu Sheng should be even more anxious, shouldn’t he? After all, he was only thirteen.

Xia Xiaoxiao found it strange. Despite being a year younger, Jiu Sheng somehow gave off the aura of an older brother.

Jiang Xu Guang chimed in, “Of course he’s nervous. Everyone gets nervous. How could Jiu Sheng not be?”

Though Jiang Xu Guang hadn’t qualified for the National Championship, he had bought a plane ticket with his own money to accompany the team.

Jiu Sheng replied, “Why should I be nervous?”

He turned to gaze out the window. “This is just the beginning of our victory.”

His words inexplicably swept away the fear and restlessness that had been weighing on Xia Xiaoxiao’s heart.

Jiu Sheng’s confidence gave her strength—as if this truly was the start of their triumph.

The plane soon arrived in City H, which was further north than City B. The moment they stepped off the plane, they were hit by a biting cold wind.

As a winter sports hub, City H had a formidable figure skating scene. The current national champion, Qin Bai, hailed from here.

Given its strong skating culture, City H took the National Championship seriously. The moment they landed, they saw crowds of fans waiting to greet the country’s top skaters, along with numerous reporters stationed nearby.

Just ten minutes before Jiu Sheng’s team disembarked, Jiu Li had arrived and was already giving interviews.

As the future hope of Chinese figure skating, Jiu Li enjoyed immense popularity nationwide and was a favorite among journalists.

Around them, ice skating fans screamed excitedly.

“Ahhhh! Jiu Li is even more handsome in person than on TV!”

“I think he might make it onto the Men’s Singles podium this time.”

“No doubt about it! Jiu Li is the top skater in the junior division right now. Aside from the top two in the senior division, no one else in the country can challenge him.”

A reporter asked, “Jiu Li, are you feeling confident about this competition?”

Jiu Li answered casually, clearly in good spirits.

And for good reason—after months of struggle, he had finally mastered the 3A jump, filling him with excitement.

But the memory of Jiu Sheng’s taunts still infuriated him.

After their argument, Jiu Sheng had practically vanished—rarely seen at home, skipping meals, and returning late every night.

Yet beneath his anger, Jiu Li couldn’t help but feel a smug satisfaction.

Here he was, holding his ticket to the National Championship, ready to claim his first medal. Meanwhile, where was Jiu Sheng, who had boasted about winning gold? He didn’t even qualify to compete!

What a joke.

Jiu Li and other renowned domestic figure skating athletes captured the attention of all ice skating fans, so no one noticed a masked person slowly passing by them.

Of course, no one could have imagined that when this teenager, standing less than 1.6 meters tall, appeared in City H, the biggest dark horse of this National Championship was about to emerge.