Chapter 103 Early Spring in Rotterdam, the Air...
In early spring in Rotterdam, the air still carried the crisp dampness of the North Sea. The wind swept through the crisscrossing canals and modern buildings, stopping at the short track speed skating arena, where the heat and noise almost blew the roof off. This was for their host team. The Dutch short track speed skating team had been increasingly dominant on the international stage in recent years, with Ander, who had transitioned from long track, and the young Saar (born in 1998) showing growing strength in the short-distance events. The atmosphere at the home stadium was incredibly powerful.
Kwon Ji-yong, blending into the crowd, felt like a ghost in an inconspicuous corner of the massive stadium. Simply dressed in a baseball cap and sunglasses, he went unnoticed. He felt completely at ease here.
Without notifying anyone, without bringing anyone along, he felt his heart was in turmoil, a mixture of joy for his brother, uncertainty about his own future, and longing for that figure gliding across the ice rink in a foreign land. He needed an outlet, so almost impulsively, he bought the plane ticket. He wanted to see her with his own eyes, to see her speeding across the ice, to see her once again stand on that highest podium.
Ren Xiyao arrived at the perfect time, just in time for the 1000m semi-finals. It was clear she was in excellent form; her control over the situation and the race was outstanding, absolutely top-tier. Her opponents were almost entirely under her thumb. Racing at her pace was a truly terrifying display of control. So, unsurprisingly, she won the 1000m gold medal. With this victory, her points were now far ahead, practically guaranteeing her the title of all-around champion.
However, there's another major competition: the Super 3000. The closest competitor on the leaderboard is her old rival, Kim Suk-yeon. Ren Xiyao currently has 81 points, while Kim Suk-yeon has 50. Unless it's the last event, Ren Xiyao will be ranked outside the top 5, while Kim Suk-yeon will win gold.
The atmosphere in the stadium reached its peak. Eight athletes who had qualified for the Super 3000m final stood on the starting line, including Ren Xiyao and her Chinese teammate Xu Qinghe.
The starting gun fires!
At the beginning of the competition, the situation was relatively stable. The skaters formed a large group, restraining each other, and no one accelerated rashly. Ren Xiyao skated in the middle of the group, slightly towards the front, with a relaxed yet focused posture.
Kwon Ji-yong sat in the stands, anxiously biting his nails. He knew that beneath this seemingly calm start, undercurrents were surging.
After about ten laps, the rhythm began to subtly change. Ren Xiyao and her teammate Xu Qinghe exchanged a glance, understanding each other perfectly. Xu Qinghe began to move forward gradually, slowly increasing his speed, attempting to disrupt the rhythm of the main group.
Just then, Ren Xiyao made a move! Instead of following the leading small group, she moved slightly to the outside, maintaining a relatively stable speed, seemingly accumulating strength.
"Ren Xiyao didn't follow!" The commentator's voice carried a hint of surprise; the home commentator was speaking Dutch, which was difficult for others to understand. But the general meaning could be guessed: "She coordinated well with her teammates! Xu Qinghe led the way, drawing attention, while Ren Xiyao chose to stay in the second group to observe the situation!"
For the next few laps, Xu Qinghe continued to lead. The top skaters constantly overtook each other, a process that took a heavy toll on their stamina. Ren Xiyao, meanwhile, remained calmly in the back, controlling her pace and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.
Ten laps to go!
Ren Xiyao began to accelerate! Her skating remained smooth and powerful, with a sharp edge! She easily overtook several skaters who were already showing signs of fatigue and quickly caught up with the leading group!
"Ren Xiyao is up! She has plenty of energy!"
Entering the final five laps! Ren Xiyao accelerated again! This time, her acceleration was even more rapid and undeniable! Her powerful push-off quickly widened the gap between her and the skaters behind her!
"Outside lane overtake! Another outside lane overtake!" The commentator's voice rose excitedly: "Ren Xiyao is too fast! She's starting to lap!"
Yes, lapping! In a long race like the 3000 meters, when the leading athlete catches up with and overtakes the lagging athlete, it is called "lapping," which is a manifestation of absolute overwhelming strength!
She first overtook the seventh and eighth place competitors, then moved to sixth! Lap after lap, she left the others behind! This lap-taking tactic was rarely seen in international competitions before. It was only in recent years, with South Korea pioneering this tactic, that it gradually gained popularity. With multiple competitors advancing, securing the victory for one person has become an option when the overall strength is insufficient.
In the final two laps, she even caught up with her teammate Xu Qinghe, whom she had previously overtaken but who was still in the leading group! The two skated one after the other, with Xu Qinghe giving way to the inside lane. For the first few laps, Xu Qinghe had been controlling the race and trying to overtake Jin Shuyan. Having Ren Xiyao skate alone in the Super 3000, and using a lapping tactic, was indeed a bit of a challenge for her. While her stamina is good, recklessly using this lapping tactic without a teammate's help is essentially a "sacrifice," and she doesn't have that kind of ability. Therefore, she is very grateful to Xu Qinghe, with whom she entered the Super 3000 competition in both World Championships. As a top skater, Xu Qinghe's superior tactical awareness and execution are what made this partnership work.
The last bend! Ren Xiyao, far ahead, crossed the finish line first with an indisputable lead!
First place in the Super 3000 meters!
A total score of 115 points! An absolutely dominant score! This level of dominance hasn't been seen in the women's division in nearly 10 years!
Ren Xiyao successfully defended her title as the women's all-around champion at the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships! The coaches in the audience were overjoyed and high-fived each other in celebration.
Ren Xiyao glided slowly, her hair and racing suit soaked with sweat, her chest heaving, but her eyes were bright and full of the glow of victory.
Kwon Ji-yong sat in the corner, watching the dazzling figure in the center of the ice rink, his heart filled with immense joy and pride. Unconsciously, his vision even blurred slightly. He was so glad he had come; he was so glad he had witnessed the peak of Ren Xiyao's career. He thought that if he had missed it, he would probably have regretted it for a long time.
His girl. She's really outstanding.
After the post-match interviews and debriefing, it was almost 9 p.m. by the time she got back to the hotel. All she wanted to do was collapse onto the bed and sleep soundly. She had just swiped her card to open the door and hadn't even turned on the light when her phone suddenly vibrated in her pocket.
She frowned as she took out her phone, and paused for a moment when she saw the unfamiliar Dutch number on the screen. After hesitating for a few seconds, she pressed the answer button.
"Hello?" Her voice was hoarse and tired from the game.
There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, then a familiar voice that made her heart stop sounded in a deep tone, with a hint of barely perceptible laughter: "All-rounder, would you mind coming downstairs... for an autograph?"
Ren Xiyao froze instantly, her fingers gripping the phone tightening involuntarily. She almost thought she was hallucinating; her voice was hoarse: "...Kwon Ji-yong?!"
"Hmm." The voice on the other end of the phone was languid and magnetic: "I'm waiting for you in the emergency exit downstairs at your hotel."
When Ren Xiyao pushed open the iron door of the emergency exit, Quan Zhilong was leaning against the stair railing, smoking, the embers flickering in the darkness. He was wearing a black turtleneck sweater, his hair was a little messy, and a layer of light blue stubble had sprouted on his chin, as if he hadn't even had time to shave in his haste.
She closed the door behind her, her voice very soft: "Why are you here?"
Kwon Ji-yong stubbed out his cigarette and stood up straight: "I'm here to see you win the All-Round King."
"You watched it?"
"Hmm." He took a step forward and stroked the white jade safety buckle on her neck: "115 points, very impressive."
Ren Xiyao looked up at him, her breath still carrying the fatigue of the competition and the lingering adrenaline: "When did you arrive?"
"This morning."
Where to stay?
"I don't have time to stay." Kwon Ji-yong chuckled softly, his fingers sliding down the red string to the back of her neck.
The emergency exit light suddenly went out, and in the darkness, his kiss landed, carrying the bitterness of tobacco and the astringency of coffee. Ren Xiyao grabbed his sweater collar, and the moment her teeth were pried open, she tasted the lingering, cool mint flavor on his tongue. He pried open her teeth, conquering and plundering, extremely aggressive, yet carrying an almost ecstatic thirst.
"Ugh..." She was pinned against the wall, her back pressed against the cold fire door. Kwon Ji-yong's hand was behind her head, and his other hand was gripping her waist with such force that it almost left finger marks.
A whole month's worth of longing burned brightly in that kiss.
“It’s normal during the preparation period.” She calmed her breathing: “You’ve been smoking more than last time.”
"Thinking of you."
Ren Xiyao kicked him, but Quan Zhilong dodged it with a laugh.
"Where's the ring?"
He seemed surprised that she noticed, and after a moment's hesitation, he replied, "It's in my bag. There are a lot of pickpockets, and I didn't bring any bodyguards."
Ren Xiyao said "Oh," but Quan Zhilong suddenly grabbed her hand and pressed it against his chest. Through the sweater, she could feel his rapid heartbeat.
"Ren Xiyao".
"Um?"
“I was in the stands today,” he said in a low voice, “and when you crossed the finish line, your hands were shaking so badly you couldn’t even get the camera right.”
She recalled the 1000-meter semi-final, when Park Hye-yeon deliberately changed lanes on the last bend, nearly causing her to fall off the track.
"Afraid I'll lose?"
"I'm afraid of seeing you carried out on a stretcher again."
A sliver of moonlight streamed through the emergency exit window, illuminating Kwon Ji-yong's tense profile. Yes, she had forgotten. The time he was injured in Mok-dong, this arrogant man on stage knelt before the bed, too afraid to even touch her. That image overlapped with the one now trembling with fear for her. Ren Xiyao vaguely remembered that they had been together for so long.
She cupped his face and kissed his slightly reddened eyes: "I'm fine."
Quan Zhilong's Adam's apple bobbed as he suddenly pulled her into his arms, his grip so tight it felt like he wanted to crush her into his bones.
The silence was broken by the vibration of his phone. Kwon Ji-yong reluctantly released her: "Your coach."
Kwon Ji-yong was straightening the t-shirt she had crumpled when he suddenly heard her say, "Wait."
"Um?"
Ren Xiyao turned her phone screen towards him: "You mentioned Las Vegas a year ago, do you want to go together now?"
The email body contains only two lines:
[In accordance with the athlete's annual rest plan, Ren Xiyao's application for leave from April 1st to April 10th has been approved.]
Kwon Ji-yong stared at the screen for a full five seconds. He couldn't read the words, but he understood the date. He grabbed the phone to confirm the date: "You submitted it?"
"Um."
"when?"
"Didn't you say it was in Jeju Island? Don't tell me you forgot."
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