Chapter 141, December 2025...
Winter arrives early in northern Xinjiang in December 2025. The cold wind is biting. Further afield, the snow is already knee-deep. There are only 40 days left until the Winter Olympics. All events have entered the final countdown of preparation.
The impending bombshell news has added a touch of tension to this winter.
At 1:23 AM, while many are still asleep, a significant portion of the population is still enjoying their nightlife.
Kiko's Instagram post (now deleted)
Caption:
We were never together. Someone else is happy.
Image included:
1. Sneak shot angle: Kwon Ji-yong hides behind a palm tree, the camera is focused on Ren Xiyao's back as she bends down to pick up seashells on the beach;
2. Backstage kiss: On the night of her victory at the 2015 World Championships in Japan, Ren Xiyao lowered her head to kiss the gold medal, and Kwon Ji-yong hugged her and kissed her forehead;
3. Dressing room interaction: Backstage at the 2015 concert, Ren Xiyao used a makeup remover wipe to remove Kwon Ji-yong's stage makeup, and he looked up with his eyes closed and grinned foolishly;
4. Family photo: In early summer of 2025, Ren Xiyao was holding and playing with a child who was about one year old. Quan Zhilong leaned against the sofa and stared at her profile with an incredibly soft look in his eyes.
Survival time: 1 minute and 17 seconds, but screenshots have already gone viral across the internet.
It caused a huge stir, and by 1:30 a.m., it had already gone viral on Twitter.
1. GD secret lover
2. Kiko refutes rumors
3. Ren Xiyao
Netizen A: Holy crap! What's with all this crazy stuff in the middle of the night?! Deleted it in a second! Did you girls see it?! I was too slow to capture it!
Netizen B: Here it comes! I got a screenshot! Help! Is this melon ripe?! Was it provoked or has it completely let loose?!
Netizen C: No! It's not true! Haven't GD and her been together for many years?! How could it be fake?!
Netizen D: Can someone analyze these four pictures? The first one looks like a candid shot from GD's perspective; you can't see who the woman is at all.
Netizen E: This is too outrageous!!
Netizen F: So, GD has been hiding a real girlfriend all along?! Who is that woman?! Is she in the entertainment industry or the sports industry? The second picture looks like an athlete?
Netizen G: Can someone analyze the woman kissing the medal in the second picture? What competition is it from? What event? What's the pose? What's the shape of the medal?
The information ignited not only the external internet, but also created a huge wave on domestic social media platforms.
Marketing Account 1: Sisters! I found the second picture! It's from the 2014 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Japan! The women's 1500m final! The one kissing her medal was Ren Xiyao from the Chinese team! That face shape! That hairstyle! That medal! Exactly the same!
Hot discussion in the comments section:
Netizen A: Help! Am I seeing things?! Ren! Xi! Yao?! The top skater in short track speed skating?!
Netizen Bt: Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap! I jumped right out of bed! Ren Xiyao?! Oh my god! I thought it was some idol! It's actually our short track speed skating goddess?!
Netizen C: Who is Ren Xiyao? I don't know her. How come GD is with someone from the sports world? Is this picture photoshopped?
Netizen D: Upstairs. Ren Xiyao, an absolute mainstay of the women's short track speed skating team, a world champion, and a Winter Olympics gold medalist! A shining star of Asia! She can truly be considered a national treasure in the sports world!
Netizen E: I'm speechless! GD and Ren Xiyao?! How do these two know each other?! The dimensional barrier has been broken! One is a top K-pop star, the other is an ice queen!
Netizen F: Ren Xiyao? I searched it up, and wow, is it true? Didn't she have absolutely no connection with GD?
A marketing account commented: But... if it really is Ren Xiyao, then whose child is in the fourth picture?! Could it be that GD and Ren Xiyao have a child?! I heard they broke up. In early 2017, GD proposed, and Xiyao accepted. But later, GD's company ran into trouble, and he needed to shift the focus of public opinion. At the same time, Ren Xiyao was also suspended for violating regulations, which caused a lot of controversy. The pressure on both of them was too great, and they had to break up.
Netizen A: Is the information above true or false?! If they really broke up in 2017, then where did the child in the fourth picture come from?!
Netizen B: We broke up in early 2017... Oh my god! I suddenly remembered that Ren Xiyao was almost criticized to death in 2017, and she didn't have any competitions for a whole year. Everyone said she was unworthy of her position and wasting resources.
Netizen C: Yes, yes, yes! I remember! She didn't participate in any competitions that entire season, going straight to the Winter Olympics. Was she seriously injured during that elite league? She even had over ten injections to numb the pain, yet she still managed to win the gold medal in Pingcheng! I felt so sorry for her during that time!
Netizen D: Holy crap! The timeline matches up! They broke up in early 2017, and both sides were having a hard time! This is such a tragic love story! Did Ren Xiyao do this because she was emotionally distressed after the breakup?!
Netizen E: This move is an attempt to shed the label of "GD's girlfriend," but it also reopens old wounds between GD and Ren Xiyao!
Sports event marketing accounts:
With only 40 days left until the 2026 Winter Olympics, Ren Xiyao's secret relationship with G-Dragon has been exposed at this crucial moment, revealing a multitude of inside stories and dramatic twists. This is undoubtedly a huge psychological blow to Ren Xiyao, who is currently preparing for the Games!
Netizen A: Right now, I'm only concerned about this issue. The timing of this revelation—is someone trying to mess with Xiyao's mentality?! The sports world is a murky place! This is practically an underhanded tactic!
Netizen B: I also feel something's not right! She's been marginalized so much throughout this Olympic cycle. She was only recalled for this Winter Olympics. She even submitted her retirement application before; are they trying to ruin her reputation in her later years? She endured pain and humiliation for Pingcheng and for the national interest, and now this?!
Netizen C: All I want to do right now is protect my Xiyao! She's not an entertainment star, she's an athlete who brings glory to our country! What she needs is quiet preparation, not this kind of gossip!
Netizen D: This timing is too sensitive! If Ren Xiyao doesn't perform well at the Winter Olympics, who will take responsibility?!
Netizen E: I hope Ren Xiyao can withstand the pressure! She's a player with a strong heart! She's overcome so many injuries and hardships, she'll definitely do it this time too!
...
The news that went viral online reached Kwon Ji-yong almost immediately. Ren Xiyao was already resting at this time. Preparations for the Winter Olympics had entered their most intense phase. Kwon Ji-yong called Kiko at 3:27 AM, and the call finally went through.
"Do you know what time it is?" Kiko's voice was hoarse from just waking up, but there was no surprise in her tone, as if she had been waiting for this call.
"What exactly do you want? Where did you get these photos?" Kwon Ji-yong didn't waste any words, his voice low and filled with suppressed anger.
The soft click of a lighter came from the other end of the phone. Kiko took a drag of her cigarette before slowly saying, "What you should be asking is, why send it now?"
"The Winter Olympics are coming soon."
"So?" Kiko smiled.
Outside the window, Seoul's night view was still brightly lit, but Kwon Ji-yong found it dazzling. He took a deep breath, trying his best to control his temper. He pinched the bridge of his nose: "We made it very clear before, we can talk about anything. Let's not do these things."
“That was before,” Kiko’s voice turned cold. “Things have changed now.”
Kiko shifted her position, tucking her phone between her shoulder and ear, and casually poured herself a glass of whiskey: "You know I recently signed with a new company, right?"
"I've heard about it."
“My former employer still has a collaboration with YG, and YG has a lot of ‘information’ on them.”
Upon hearing this, Kwon Ji-yong instantly understood the whole story.
Quan Zhi's breath hitched.
"How about it, exciting?" Kiko chuckled. "What will the media write then? 'Was Ren Xiyao's loss to South Korea in recent years due to a lack of skill or intentional?' 'Is there any controversy over the allocation of Olympic spots?'"
"Shut up!"
Kwon Ji-yong walked to the sofa and sat down, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest: "Why are you interfering?"
“It’s just a win-win situation.” Kiko put down her glass. “You’ve come back so strongly this time, and your performance has been so good even in such a sluggish market. I believe we will have a good working relationship again, and besides…”
"I'm more than willing to do anything to upset my former employer. The thought of all their hard work going down the drain makes me incredibly happy this past month! Of course, I'll also do you a favor. After working together for so long, I think I know you pretty well. You don't really want her to retire quietly with that unfair punishment, do you? I don't think she cares, but you're probably looking for an opportunity. But you're worried about not handling it right, since she's on the Chinese national team and always puts the national interest first. Now, if I step in, wouldn't that solve your problem? Although 'online judges' can't change anything, public opinion is powerful. At least now we've cleared her name, so she can leave cleanly."
"Hiss... So by that logic, you should owe me more than one favor."
Kwon Ji-yong remained silent.
A brief silence fell over both ends of the phone call.
After a long pause, Kwon Ji-yong finally spoke: "She doesn't need this method."
"And what about you?" Kiko retorted, "You've been holding back for seven years. Didn't you really look for an opportunity during that time?"
Kwon Ji-yong gripped his phone tightly.
"The initiative is in our hands now. You can easily use some resources to guide the narrative. Before they can react, seize the high ground in public opinion." Kiko's voice was calm yet sharp: "If we wait for YG to break the news, how do you think the media will write it? Will anyone care how much she has suffered in her career?"
"Although I've never met your girlfriend, a top athlete shouldn't have such a bad mentality!"
“That’s not what I meant,” he said softly, but his voice was firm.
He knew very well that her resolve would never waver because of these voices. She always knew where her goal lay.
"Then what are you worried about?"
Kwon Ji-yong closed his eyes: "I'm just... worried that she'll get tired."
Kiko paused for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing: "Are you alright? Is this still the Kwon Ji-yong I know? Opportunities are fleeting, where's your decisiveness? You've gotten used to the peaceful life with your girlfriend and forgotten about the ruthless public opinion tactics in the entertainment industry, haven't you?"
“Apart from the photo in Japan, the rest were all leaked from within YG. I got them with almost no effort. And this is something an outsider like me could easily obtain, not to mention how many photos YG has that can influence public opinion. I just gave it a push.” Kiko concluded, “People in the comments section have already started criticizing the Korean Ice Hockey Association and Lanhai Club. Isn’t this exactly what you wanted? If you two announced your relationship under normal circumstances, it would definitely cause a huge uproar, but now, with the Winter Olympics, the attention from various countries is quite high. Use the Winter Olympics as a shield. If handled well, your relationship won’t be an obstacle at all. This is already a good time to announce it.”
Kwon Ji-yong did not deny it.
Before hanging up, she said, "It's a pleasure working with you. I wish you all the best in winning the championship in Milan."
Kwon Ji-yong put down his phone and went to the study.
He turned on his computer and searched for "Ren Xiyao 2017". The first result was a timeline compiled by netizens:
Early July 2017: On the day Ren Xiyao was suspended, all of her cards were taken off the table.
July-September 2017: Ren Xiyao trained at commercial ice cream shops and gyms at her own expense, during which time the number of unannounced inspections reached a new high.
October 2017: She ranked second in the first leg of the Elite League, but suddenly a supplementary clause was added, citing the athletes' concerns, to refuse her participation in the second leg, using a medical examination report to keep her out of the national team.
November 2017: Between the second and third stops, the retrieval of Ren Xiyao's medical records was repeatedly delayed, and she could not continue her rehabilitation. She received no rehabilitation or physical therapy and trained with the second team while injured, which aggravated her injury. Knowing that Ren Xiyao's knee injury had worsened, she was forced to participate in the third stop. The two stops were only a month and a half apart, but she made a decision that contradicted her own thinking.
November 2017: During the third race, she fell off the track, fracturing her left shoulder and lumbar vertebrae. Around the same time, her coach, Li, in an interview with the second team, made sarcastic remarks, saying she couldn't endure hardship and was too impatient. (See attached image below.) Furthermore, this coach was nearly 60 years old at the time, and his training methods were extremely outdated and unscientific. Ren Xiyao's worsening injuries are definitely related to the coach's training methods.
January 2018: Just two months after her injury, Ren Xiyao once again stood fourth in the Winter Olympics qualifiers, earning a spot on the national team. Despite clearly being at a level sufficient to be a mainstay on the national team, her selection was delayed until just before the event registration deadline. Based on comments made by leaders of the General Administration of Sport in an interview (attached), Ren Xiyao was very determined and daring, even telling me directly, "Short track speed skating isn't about who's always in good form, it's about who dares to go all out on the ice. These are my realities now, but not my excuses, and certainly not my limits." One can imagine how many fierce battles she had endured to warrant such a commitment.
Latest comments in the comment section:
Netizen A: Looking back now, when she pointed to the stands after winning the 1500m championship, wasn't she basically pointing at the Korean Ice Hockey Association and the Lanhai Club? So cool!
Netizen B: So GD was kept in the dark back then.
Netizen C: Look, Xiyao, we don't know about your grievances and pain, and even many who did know have forgotten... They seem to only talk about your love life, forgetting the hardships of your professional career, how painful your rehabilitation training was, and how much mental struggle and physical torment you endured on your journey to return... In truth, not many people truly understand your pure dedication and passion... But I sincerely pray that you will safely return to the ice in every training session and every competition! Whether you win or not, you will always be worthy of my admiration, because your professional career itself is dazzling, and your strength and honors deserve to be remembered in history. May your purest love and sincerity for ice and snow be forever remembered by ice and snow, and never be let down...
Netizen D: Only those who have truly loved competitive sports understand the immense courage required to "do what is known to be impossible." The infighting is real, the grievances are real, the pain is real, but so is the passion. Four years ago, during the Beijing Sports Cycle, I interviewed Ren Xiyao. At just two years old, barely able to walk, she was already climbing on the ice. I think what she was so persistent about wasn't her grades, but all the pain, tears, laughter, passion, emotions, wishes, and even her few friends from the first half of her life… all were connected to this ice surface. These had become firmly ingrained in Ren Xiyao's very being. She returned not because she wasn't wronged or didn't care, but because what she initially loved was this ice surface. Her choices were only related to the ice surface, not to those people.
Netizen E: Ren Xiyao's life can almost be condensed into the most poignant struggles and passions in competitive sports, but some people only focus on the judgment of "Ren Xiyao dating a top South Korean star", which is also ridiculous.
...
Kwon Ji-yong shut down his computer and picked up his car keys.
It was almost dawn; he needed to go to the studio.
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