Chapter 72 After returning from Japan, the team...
After returning from Japan, the team took a short break before plunging back into busy training to prepare for the European competitions starting in February. Ren Xiyao also gradually resumed her relay training, and her form improved steadily. Amidst the hectic training, 2015 quietly came to an end. Just a few days after returning from Japan, Kwon Ji-yong told Ren Xiyao that he would be coming to Beijing for a New Year's Eve concert and asked if she could spend New Year's Eve with him.
The requirements for each training team are different. There's usually a half-day break for New Year's Day. Sometimes there's no holiday, but the training volume can be reduced. If there's an important large-scale competition, then there's no holiday and the training volume won't be reduced. In short, it varies. By the time the New Year's Day break notice came down, it was already the last day of December. This year, they gave a half-day break. Upon receiving the notice, Ren Xiyao immediately submitted a report. When she's in good form, the coach won't hold her back on these things; he just tells her to return to the team on time. Only after meticulously completing the last training session of the last day of 2015 did Ren Xiyao head to the hotel where Quan Zhilong and the others were staying.
Ren Xiyao had just swiped her card to open the door when her phone rang. She pulled off her scarf with one hand and glanced at the caller ID: Kwon Ji-yong.
"Arrived?" A noisy background sound came from the other end of the phone, and the hurried footsteps of the staff and the electrical noise of the stage being adjusted could be faintly heard.
"Yes, I just got in." She inserted the room card into the power outlet, and the room instantly lit up: "Shouldn't you be getting ready to go on stage?"
"There's been a slight mishap." Kwon Ji-yong lowered his voice: "The organizers changed the order at the last minute, and we've moved our performance to after midnight."
Ren Xiyao frowned: "What about the countdown?"
"So I'm calling you now." He chuckled softly. "To countdown with me?"
Outside the window, the lights of Beijing stretched to the horizon, and the outline of the Workers' Stadium in the distance stood out prominently in the night. Ren Xiyao walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, her fingers unconsciously tracing the condensation on the glass: "Where are you hiding to make this call right now?"
"Fire escape." He paused. "Speak loudly at the door to keep watch for me."
She could almost picture the scene: Kwon Ji-ryong huddled in the stairwell, peeking furtively through the crack in the door.
“Fifteen minutes left,” she said.
"Hmm." A soft click came from the other end of the phone as he lit a cigarette. "Do you remember this time last year?"
Ren Xiyao was stunned for a moment.
On this day last year: December 31, 2014, Ren Xiyao unconsciously focused on a certain scene outside the window, suddenly feeling a little dazed. At this time last year, she was lying in a hospital bed, having just undergone knee surgery, and unable to sleep due to the pain. Quan Zhilong said hoarsely on the other end of the phone, "Wait for me a little longer, I'll be able to come see you soon."
They even said, "We'll definitely spend New Year's Eve together next year." But all of that seems so far away now. This year has been very fulfilling for the two of them.
His voice suddenly seemed to fade into the distance, as if someone was calling him: "Wait, my manager is calling me."
The phone rang with muffled conversation. Ren Xiyao heard a loud, exaggerated shout of "Brother! Hurry up!" followed by Kwon Ji-yong's hurried reply: "Coming right away!"
"Are you going on stage?" she asked.
"Can we chat for another two minutes?" He was breathing a little rapidly, as if he had just run a few steps: "We can finally spend New Year's Eve together this year."
Ren Xiyao looked out the window and suddenly cheers erupted from the direction of the Workers' Stadium. She could vaguely hear the host's enthusiastic countdown.
“It’s 11:57,” she said.
"Wait for me a moment," Kwon Ji-yong suddenly said. "I'll go back as soon as the performance is over."
"Any other social engagements planned?"
"I don't care, I'm not interested." The sound of clothes rustling came from the other end of the phone, and he seemed to stand up: "I couldn't be with you last year, I have to make up for it this year."
Ren Xiyao opened her mouth, but before she could speak, she heard a loud shout in the background: "Brother! The director said to get ready in five minutes!"
"Okay!" Kwon Ji-yong replied irritably, then said into the phone, "Wait for me."
Before the call ended, Ren Xiyao heard him quickly add, "I love you."
Ren Xiyao sat cross-legged in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the New Year's Eve gala being broadcast live on television. The hosts were shouting the countdown at the top of their lungs, and the audience was waving glow sticks, each person wearing a bright smile.
My phone vibrated; it was a video call invitation from Kwon Ji-yong.
She answered the call, but the screen was shaky. She could vaguely see him wearing an in-ear monitor, hiding in the shadows on the side of the stage.
"Can you see it?" he asked in a low voice.
Ren Xiyao nodded: "Aren't you going on stage for the countdown?"
In the background, the shouts of the entire audience were deafening.
Kwon Ji-yong suddenly raised his phone high, pointing the camera at the night sky. At that moment, fireworks burst forth in the winter night of Beijing, golden sparks falling like rain.
"one!"
The moment the cheers erupted, Ren Xiyao heard him shout amidst the noise, "Happy New Year!"
Ren Xiyao looked into his eyes and suddenly felt her throat tighten: "...Happy New Year."
Someone backstage shouted, "BigBang, get ready to go on stage!" Kwon Ji-yong quickly kissed the camera and said, "Wait for me."
The video call ended, and the rhythm of "Fantastic Baby" started playing on the TV, with the host providing background information.
Kwon Jiyong shoved his phone into his manager's hand, grabbed the microphone, and ran towards the stage aisle. Taeyang caught up from behind and bumped into him on the shoulder: "Going to make a phone call."
"Um."
She's here.
"At the hotel."
The sun whistled: "No wonder you've been looking at your watch all day."
Kwon Ji-yong didn't deny it, and adjusted his in-ear monitor: "I'll leave first when it's over."
"I know, I know." Sun waved his hand: "Anyway, these aren't big deals, so it's up to you."
The stage lights suddenly blazed on, and screams erupted like a tidal wave. Kwon Ji-yong stood on the rising platform, his gaze sweeping across the audience. Although he knew she wasn't there, he still instinctively looked for her.
As the music started, he smiled and raised the microphone.
At 0:40 a.m., the "beep" sound of the door being opened woke Ren Xiyao, who was dozing on the sofa.
Kwon Ji-yong stormed in, radiating cold air. He hadn't even changed out of his stage costume, only removing his in-ear monitor and microphone. He was breathing heavily, his bangs were damp with sweat, and he still had stage makeup on.
Before she could finish speaking, he pulled her into a tight embrace. The cool scent of perfume mixed with a faint fragrance of cosmetics wafted over her, and Ren Xiyao's feet left the ground as he held her, her back pressed against the wall.
"Did you run back?" she asked.
"The car." Kwon Ji-yong buried his head in her neck and nuzzled her: "But he ran after getting out of the car."
His lips brushed against the back of her ear, his breath hot. Ren Xiyao pushed him away: "Your makeup got on my clothes."
"I don't care." Kwon Ji-yong looked up, his fingers tracing the faint dark circles under her eyes: "How late will you finish training?"
Nine o'clock.
"And then you just came straight here?"
"Um."
He suddenly smiled: "Missed me?"
Ren Xiyao turned her face away: "When will you stop being so narcissistic?"
Kwon Ji-yong pinched her chin and turned her back, kissing her lips before vaguely saying, "You're not giving me a straight answer."
The kiss tasted of mints, with a faint hint of smoke. Reason seemed to still be present, but the body sensed the longing before anything else.
“Wait,” she struggled for a moment, “you haven’t taken off your makeup yet.”
"We'll shower together later." Kwon Ji-yong tossed her onto the bed and unbuttoned his collar with one hand: "Let's do something important first."
His kiss was urgent yet restrained. Ren Xiyao smelled the familiar scent of his perfume, mixed with the aroma of fireworks and firecrackers from the stage. His lips were a little dry, but his tongue was burning hot, and his fingers slid down the back of her neck, sending a shiver down her spine.
Kwon Ji-ryong's kiss landed behind her ear, his voice hoarse: "At this time last year, I heard you say you were fine over the phone. You wouldn't admit it, but I know you still cried."
Ren Xiyao's breath hitched. Behind this desperate restraint lay heartache and guilt, emotions that Ren Xiyao had once thought should never have been present in Quan Zhilong.
"Now I can finally wipe away your tears myself." He gently bit her earlobe: "Even though you're not crying now."
Kwon Ji-yong went to unbutton her shirt. She had just taken a shower and was wearing his shirt, which was two sizes too big for her, with the collar hanging loosely.
The New Year's Eve gala was still being replayed on TV, and the cheers of the hosts could be faintly heard. Suddenly, a firework exploded outside the window, illuminating half of the curtains.
Kwon Ji-yong looked up and asked, "Should we go to the window?"
"...Can you please stop going crazy?"
"The higher-ups, nobody can see us." He had already picked her up, and Ren Xiyao hurriedly wrapped her arms around his neck: "Kwon Ji-yong!"
"New Year's wish." He pinned her against the floor-to-ceiling window, with fireworks exploding in the sky behind them: "It needs to have a sense of ceremony."
Ren Xiyao wanted to say something, but he kissed her. The cool glass pressed against her back, while his burning chest pressed against her. Fireworks in the distance lit up the night sky one after another, casting ever-changing light and shadow on the glass.
“Next year,” Kwon Ji-yong breathed in her ear, “the year after that, and every year after that…”
Ren Xiyao bit his shoulder, preventing him from finishing speaking.
Around 4 a.m., the sound of water in the bathroom stopped, and Ren Xiyao placed the warmed milk on the bedside table. Quan Zhilong came out, drying his hair, the ends dripping wet, and his collarbone still smudged with stage makeup glitter.
"Why isn't the heater on?" He frowned and touched her hand. "Your hands are so cold."
Ren Xiyao let him hold her hand: "I just stood by the window and watched the light show for a while."
Kwon Ji-yong suddenly pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head: "Like a fairy tale."
Ren Xiyao paused, then remained silent. The New Year's festivities seemed far from over. The distant, unnamed light show appeared to be proof of this.
“I did it,” Kwon Ji-yong suddenly said.
"What?" Ren Xiyao asked instinctively before she could react.
Quan Zhilong released her, took Ren Xiyao's hand and led her to the bedside to sit down. He then took a velvet box from the bedside table and handed it to her, saying, "This is to make up for last year's gift." Only then did Ren Xiyao realize that he meant "we'll definitely spend New Year's Eve together next year."
Inside the box was a pair of earrings shaped like ice skates, which seemed to be a matching set with the necklace around her neck.
Ren Xiyao picked one up and held it up to the light: "When did you prepare this?"
"From the day you said, 'I'll definitely win the gold medal next year.'"
The light show outside the window seemed to have come to a temporary end. A burst of fireworks exploded in the sky above Beijing at around 4 a.m. Kwon Ji-yong suddenly knelt on the bed, cupping her face in his hands: "Happy New Year. Safe icefall."
"Kwon Ji-ryong".
"Um?"
"You always seem to give me gifts, every time we meet."
Don't you like it?
Ren Xiyao gently shook her head: "No, I wanted to say thank you." She paused for a moment before slowly saying, "I love you."
The reflection in the glass showed a pair of figures embracing tightly.
"I love you" always seemed to be the phrase Kwon Ji-yong said. But even in the one year and three months they were together, measured down to the second, Ren Xiyao never forgot. She truly loved him, just as he loved her. Fortunately, their passionate hearts were connected.
The essence of love is seeing, and Kwon Ji-yong saw her. So even if Ren Xiyao didn't express her overflowing love, Kwon Ji-yong could see and feel it.
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