Chapter 60 The tail end of July was quietly grasped...

As July drew to a close, the height of summer on the plateau was quietly captured. The intense crispness of the air at the ice rink seemed to have settled, and the atmosphere at the training base had also subtly changed. The nearly two-month-long high-intensity training was about to come to an end, and the team members' faces showed a mixture of fatigue from completing arduous tasks and satisfaction from the visible improvement in their physical fitness.

These past two months have felt like a long and profound journey of self-cultivation. Altitude sickness, a rigorous training schedule, and physical training sessions that constantly pushed our limits... all these elements that once caused so much suffering have now become part of our physical memory and willpower. Everyone has undoubtedly drawn something from this period.

Ren Xiyao looked out the conference room window at the still verdant, rolling mountains and the clear, pristine sky, and felt a complex mix of emotions.

"Everyone! Quiet down!" After training that day, the coach gathered them in the conference room to summarize the training and also gave some other instructions: "To thank the local government and people for their strong support of our training over the past two months, and also to allow everyone to relax and showcase the style of our short track speed skating program, tomorrow morning we will be holding a 'Short Track Speed ​​Skating Experience Camp' for local teenagers at the city's ice sports center. Everyone should participate, show the spirit of our national team athletes, and have a good interaction with the children!"

As soon as the news came out, the team immediately became active.

"Wow! Teaching kids to ice skate? That sounds really interesting!" Lin Shan exclaimed excitedly.

"Quiet down!" The coach silenced the noise, but a slight smile crept onto his lips. "This is a mission, but also a rare opportunity to relax and give back to the community. Everyone, stay focused, or you'll be stumped by the kids' questions!"

Most of the team members were young people in their teens and twenties. Although they trained rigorously on weekdays, they still showed relaxed and expectant expressions when they heard they could interact with children. Ren Xiyao was also quite happy.

The next morning, the base's bus carried the spirited team members, dressed in their uniforms, to the ice sports center in the city. Although the ice rink here couldn't compare to the national team's professional training venue, it was still well-equipped and the ice surface was smooth and clean.

Even before the event officially started, the ice rink was already crowded with excited children and parents. Most of the children were between seven or eight and twelve or thirteen years old, dressed in brightly colored clothes, their faces beaming with curiosity and anticipation. When they saw the older members of the national team walk in, they let out a small cheer.

After a simple opening ceremony, the team members were divided into several groups, each responsible for a specific area, to lead the children in basic ice skating experiences.

Lin Shan was in her element and was quickly surrounded by a group of chattering little girls. Her exaggerated movements and humorous explanations made the children giggle, creating a lively scene. The other team members also showed off their skills, some patiently explaining the key points of the movements, while others went straight onto the ice, eliciting gasps of amazement with their smooth and graceful gliding.

Ren Xiyao was in charge of a group of slightly older, somewhat shy children. Unlike Lin Shan, she didn't try to liven up the atmosphere. Instead, she first gave a brief self-introduction and then began to meticulously explain how to wear ice skates and protective gear, how to stand and take steps on the ice, and how to get up properly after falling.

Her voice was clear and calm, and her speech was slow, but every word was clear and precise. Her demonstrations were textbook perfect, concise, neat, and without a single superfluous movement.

At first, the children were a little reserved because of her "aloofness" and dared not ask questions easily. But soon, they discovered that this seemingly "cool" older sister was actually very patient. One little boy had a poor sense of balance and kept falling. After falling a few times, he pouted and looked like he was about to cry.

Ren Xiyao didn't blame him or offer much comfort. She simply slid to his side, reached out her hand, and calmly said, "Get up. Lower your center of gravity a little, bend your knees. Look straight ahead, don't look at your feet."

She held the little boy's arm, guiding him slowly across the ice, repeating the movements over and over. Her hands were steady and strong, her voice calm and soothing. The little boy gradually stopped crying and began to focus on the feeling under his feet. Although he still fell occasionally, he got up faster and faster, his eyes growing brighter.

Watching that small figure go from stumbling and falling to gradually being able to glide unsteadily on the ice, Ren Xiyao smiled too. This sense of accomplishment from sharing what she has learned and her strengths, and seeing the other person improve as a result, is different from the feeling of winning a medal on the ice, but equally delightful.

Midway through the activity, there was a short break. The team members could drink water and catch their breath. Lin Shan ran over, covered in sweat and holding several snacks the children had given her: "I'm exhausted! These kids have so much energy! How's it going on your end?"

"It's alright." Ren Xiyao handed her a bottle of water.

"Look at that little girl over there, she skates so well! What a promising talent!" Lin Shan pointed to a little girl in a pink skating suit in the distance, her eyes shining: "I chatted with her, and she said she really loves short track speed skating and her dream is to join the national team!"

Ren Xiyao looked in the direction she was pointing, and the little girl was indeed skating quite well, her eyes focused and determined. She nodded: "Yes, she's talented and hardworking."

"Right, right!" Lin Shan said excitedly, "After the event, shall we go straight back to the base? Or can we wander around the city a bit?"

"I... have something to do, I need to pick something up." She tried to make her tone sound natural: "I might be back a little late."

"Get something? What is it?" Lin Shan asked curiously, "Do you want me to come with you?"

"No need, it's very close, I'll be done soon." Ren Xiyao avoided her gaze, picked up her water bottle and took a sip: "You go back with the main group first."

"Oh... I remember now, go ahead, go ahead." Lin Shan teased Ren Xiyao with a 'I knew it' look on her face, but was quickly pulled away by the children.

Ren Xiyao watched Lin Shan's retreating figure and gently pinched her slightly reddened ear.

The event concluded amidst the children's laughter and reluctance to part. The team members took photos with the children and said their goodbyes. Ren Xiyao politely declined several parents' and children's requests for autographs, simply smiling and waving to them.

Watching the base bus carry her teammates away, Ren Xiyao stood alone at the ice rink entrance, hailing a taxi by the roadside. The agreed-upon deadline had arrived. She was eager to see the finished product.

Upon arriving at the location, Ren Xiyao pushed open the door and went inside. The light was somewhat dim, and the air was filled with the distinctive smell of heated metal and polishing agents. The old man was sitting at his workbench, carefully hammering a piece of gold jewelry with a small tool in his hand.

Hearing the noise, the old man looked up and examined her through his glasses: "You've come?"

"Yes, Master." Ren Xiyao bowed slightly.

"Okay, it's done." The old man put down his work, stood up, took out a small dark blue velvet box from a locked cabinet next to him, and handed it to her: "Take a look and see if it suits your taste."

Ren Xiyao's heart inexplicably quickened. She reached out her slightly trembling hand and took the small box. The box felt slightly heavy in her hand, carrying a sense of solemn weight.

She opened the box.

A ring lay quietly inside the soft lining.

The ring's design was almost exactly as she had envisioned, even surpassing it. The matte-brushed platinum setting possessed a subtle yet sophisticated silver-gray luster, with clean, strong lines that exuded a modern geometric aesthetic. The setting firmly held the dark jade saddle facet, the perfect setting craftsmanship ensuring the metal and jade fit together seamlessly, as if they were destined to be together.

Under the soft indoor lighting, the jadeite itself displays its signature deep, night-sky-like black color, with a smooth, lustrous surface that reflects a subtle sheen. The side of the ring setting is adorned with several simple, flowing lines, like the traces of wind or the flow of musical notes, adding a touch of dynamism and design to the ring without compromising its overall stability and understated elegance.

This ring perfectly balances tradition and modernity, East and West, understated elegance and power. It's not the kind of ostentatious luxury that's immediately apparent, but rather a quiet sophistication that requires careful appreciation and grows more appealing with each look.

Ren Xiyao carefully took the ring out of the box and held it in her palm. The cool metal and the warm jade intertwined, creating a wonderful sensation. She could feel the weight of the ring, not just the weight of the platinum and jade, but also the weight of her feelings, her expectations, and all the memories of the past two months on the Yunnan plateau.

“It’s…it’s so beautiful.” She exclaimed sincerely, her voice tinged with barely perceptible excitement: “Thank you, Master.”

"Hehe, it's because your piece of jadeite is of good quality." The old man waved his hand, a satisfied smile on his face: "Good jade deserves good craftsmanship, otherwise it's a waste. Young lady, your sweetheart will like this ring." The old man said confidently: "This jadeite looks black, but it hides the deepest green inside, just like some people's feelings, which are not obvious, but are very deep inside. A good omen."

Ren Xiyao's heart was gently touched by the old man's words. She thanked him again, paid the balance, and carefully placed the box containing the ring back into the deepest part of her backpack, close to her heartbeat.

Stepping out of the studio, the sun was still shining brightly. Ren Xiyao's mood, however, felt cleansed, clear and joyful. Instead of immediately returning to the base, she strolled slowly along the nearby old street.

There were stalls selling Erkuai (a type of rice cake) on the street, old ladies weaving straw, and locals leisurely chatting and drinking tea... It was full of a slow and authentic atmosphere of life. She bought a skewer of candied hawthorn, and the sweet and sour taste spread in her mouth, as if sweetening her heart as well.

My birthday is coming soon. The high-altitude training is over, and I'm back on the plains. Perhaps... we'll see each other soon?

As the sun set, she returned to the base. Most of her teammates were busy packing, and the air was thick with the scent of parting. Lin Shan saw her return and immediately rushed over: "You got it back! How are you planning to send it off?"

“Looking at his tour schedule, he has no events on the 18th.”

Lin Shan sat up with a start: "You're flying to South Korea?!"

"Um."

"Just to give a birthday present? We only have two days off, is that enough time?"

Ren Xiyao looked up at her: "That's enough, he used to do it all the time."

Lin Shan precisely tossed the apple core into the trash can: "Ren Xiyao, you're finished, you've completely fallen for her."

Ren Xiyao didn't reply. She lowered her head and wrote tomorrow's training plan in her notebook. The pen tip lingered on the date "August 18th" for a second longer, leaving a small black dot.

The Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake remain unchanged. This red land, which has witnessed their sweat and growth, will soon become a beautiful scene in the memories of 2015.