◎Who do you think will win?◎
The leader hung up the phone quickly.
Xu Chi silently touched a cigarette and smoked it. He had originally intended to quit smoking, but as more and more things came up, it became increasingly difficult for him to quit smoking.
"Old Xu, let's go to the National Championships." Ji Tiantian heard a voice behind her.
She turned her head and found that Tang Yi was standing behind her. He had obviously heard the call.
"You don't know the people above you yet?" Xu Chi smiled. "This time you go to the National Championships with injuries. If you get good results, they will think that the injuries in the sub-races are really no big deal. Ice dancing is just a casual skate, how serious can the injury be. If you don't get good results, they will say, oh, the amateurs are really not as good as the local regular troops and can't take on the big responsibility. Haha, forget it, just take good care of your injuries and listen to me."
After a few puffs of cigarette, Xu Chi's face returned to its usual calm expression, as if nothing could affect his decision.
Ji Tiantian couldn't help but frown. Tang Yi was indeed not liked by the leader as always.
I don't know what kind of results will change the leader's mind. Sometimes changing people's prejudices is more difficult than moving mountains.
Xu Chi turned around and saw Ji Tiantian's expression revealing a hint of worry. He couldn't help but smile: "Life is like this. You can't force everyone to understand you and the things you love. Even if those people control our fate. But it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. Keep your own pace, don't be impetuous, don't be discouraged, concentrate on moving forward, step by step, and finally one day, you won't need to look at those people's faces anymore."
Xu Chi didn't smoke much in front of the athletes, and quickly put out his cigarette on the trash can, while speaking slowly: "It's not a big deal, the worst case scenario is that I leave you. In the past, before you formed a team... I always went to the figure skating team and the leaders of the Sports Bureau to argue, blaming them for not giving the four events the same resources... Haha, they've been unhappy with me for a long time."
"Coach Xu, we will play well." Ji Tiantian couldn't help but take a step closer and said seriously, "We won't let you leave. We can't live without you."
Xu Chi smiled.
Normally, a man of his age should have been accustomed to the storms of reality and his heart should have been as hard as iron. However, when he heard Ji Tiantian's soft but powerful words, he still felt a warm current flowing in his chest. The words of this little girl really warmed him.
There was nothing he could do, so he just reached out and gently touched Ji Tiantian's head: "Fight well in the sub-station, and leave the rest to me."
Soon after, the National Figure Skating Championships began.
The local team's figure skaters will fight for the opportunity to join the national team through this competition. The national team's skaters need to prove their strength through this competition and fight for a place in the international arena. They will be reviewed together in front of ice fans across the country.
The other three youth groups will be present, and the adult ice dance group that recently trained in Russia will also return to China to compete. For domestic figure skaters, a competition is as festive as the Chinese New Year.
Because of Tang Yi's injury, Ji Tang's team could not play. But Ji Tiantian would go to the National Championships to observe and learn accompanied by Jiang Lin. During this time, Tang Yi and Xu Chi stayed in the capital to practice and recuperate.
Tiantian is still looking forward to this national championship season, because the competition will determine the number two in the national youth group.
Ji Tang performed well in the World Youth Championship last season and won the bronze medal, so the country has two places to participate in the World Youth Championship this season. The best youth group player in this national championship will have this second place and be trained in the national team.
As a rare medal winner, Ji Tang reserved a spot for himself.
On the day of the ice dance short dance competition, the venue's preparation area was crowded with contestants preparing to compete.
Ji Tiantian looked at the registration form. There were about 20 pairs of ice dancers coming from all over the country to participate in the competition, more than ever before.
Many of the players are very young and look full of confidence, just waiting to step onto the ice and compete for a spot in the World Junior Championship.
"Wow, this year's dance is much better than the ice dance. What's going on?"
"Don't you know? Last year, our country's Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi won the bronze medal in the World Youth Championship, so there is an extra spot. Everyone is here to compete for the spot."
"Holy crap, bronze medal in ice dancing? Did I hear that correctly?"
"Hey, pay more attention to ice dancing, brother!"
Looking at the busy players and listening to the discussions of the ice fans around her, Ji Tiantian couldn't help but curl her lips.
This is the heyday of ice dancing.
"You and Tang Yi have made great contributions to this scene." Jiang Lin hugged Ji Tiantian's shoulders, with a tone of pride from the bottom of her heart, "It's great that Chinese ice dance has you. It will definitely get better and better in the future."
"Look, it's Ji Tiantian!" An ice dance athlete accidentally glanced at Ji Tiantian standing not far away and couldn't help but exclaimed in a low voice.
"I haven't seen you for a year. You're no longer a little girl!"
"You already have the aura of an international athlete..."
"I'm a little nervous. If I go to her to sign, will she agree?"
Ji Tiantian listened to the contestants' discussion, turned her head and blinked at Jiang Lin: "Am I scary?"
"Everyone is admiring you." Jiang Lin smiled at Ji Tiantian, "Although many people don't understand you and don't know about ice dancing, you and Tang Yi's status in this circle is already very high. Many people regard you as guiding lights."
As they were talking, several young contestants had already mustered up the courage to ask Ji Tiantian for autographs and photos.
"Are you going to the next stop?" a contestant asked.
"I'm going." Ji Tiantian smiled sweetly, "Just waiting for that day."
"Wow, then you guys better keep up the good work! I really like your little prince!"
"You must perform well in the next race and let those foreigners see your strength!" everyone said in unison.
Although the overall level of domestic competitions is not as good as that of international competitions, domestic competitions can make Ji Tiantian feel the warmth that she cannot feel abroad.
Although everyone came from different places and had never met each other before, when they gathered together, it was like old friends who had not seen each other for many years. They cared about each other, told each other interesting stories during practice, and had a great time.
"Ji Tiantian." Just then, Ji Tiantian heard someone calling her.
She turned around and saw Lin Aili.
Mixed-race girl Lin Aili and her partner Xia Qiu were ranked third in ice dancing in the last National Championships. Tiantian always remembers her Black Swan Ji.
Nearly a year passed in a flash, and the two met again on the field.
"Let me introduce you, this is my new dance partner, Brother Braid." Lin Aili smiled and pulled her new dance partner to introduce to Ji Tiantian. This time, Lin Aili also put on a very imposing makeup, and her eyebrows and eyes flew when she smiled.
Ji Tiantian turned to look at Lin Aili's dance partner. The boy had slightly long hair and a small braid on the back of his head. No wonder he was nicknamed "Brother Braid". But Brother Braid was very honest and always had an awkward smile on his face. He looked more reliable than Lin Aili's original dance partner.
"We will work hard and strive to join the national team. We hope to have the honor... to become your junior." Lin Aili smiled and spoke to Ji Tiantian.
"Well, I believe you." Ji Tiantian nodded silently.
A year later, their identities are very different, but that doesn't mean they won't run on the same track in the future.
The black and white swans may reunite again in the near future.
"How is your family situation now?" Ji Tiantian thought about it and asked.
In her previous life, Lin Aili was Tang Yi's third dance partner, but a few years later she gave up her ice dance career in China and went to the UK because of her family. In this life, after the last National Championships, Ji Tiantian added Lin Aili's social account.
She would occasionally see Lin Aili complaining about her parents’ conflicts in her personal space.
"Well, not very good. But I didn't take ice dancing seriously before, and I never thought about continuing to skate." Lin Aili paused, looked at Ji Tiantian and smiled, "But since you won the second place, my goal has become clear. I feel that our country's ice dancing still has great hope, and I have to work harder. If I am lucky enough to be selected into the national team this time, I will skate firmly and not let any external force stop me from moving forward... Of course, these are later stories."
"Come on." Ji Tiantian shook Lin Aili's hand. It seemed that she and Tang Yi had also inadvertently changed Lin Aili's life.
"Thank you." Lin Aili looked at Ji Tiantian and smiled gently, "Thank you and Tang Yi for letting us see the dawn that we have never seen before."
After that, Ji Tiantian and Jiang Lin sat in the audience to watch the game.
Qian Xiyue, the former women's singles player, happened to be skiing nearby and came to watch the competition. She sat next to Ji Tiantian. Ji Tiantian also knew that Qian Xiyue was coming because they had contacted her in advance.
They had been messaging each other for nearly a year, but they had never met because of their busy lives. They were both very happy to meet each other this time.
Qian Xiyue is still the same as Ji Tiantian remembered, a queen with an icy aura.
"I saw in your space that you are going to have training outside during the New Year?" Ji Tiantian asked Qian Xiyue.
After a year of training, Qian Xiyue has participated in two or three international skiing competitions. Although she has not yet achieved any results, she is already a downhill skier recognized by domestic coaches.
The tough physique and mind developed through women's singles training still remain in her.
"There are not many resources in China, so we still have to go abroad for training. I will go to Canada soon. My parents will pay for it, and I hope I can get good results." When talking about this topic, Qian Xiyue couldn't help but sigh, "I knew that there were few people practicing figure skating before, and now I know that there are even fewer people practicing skiing. Although there are so many skiing events, there are only a few athletes qualified to participate in the Winter Olympics."
"Then you have to work harder." Ji Tiantian smiled and curved her eyes.
"Yes, of course." Qian Xiyue paused, "By the way, you said before that you have a foreign friend who particularly likes skiing?"
"Well, I just wanted to tell you about him. He is a mutual friend of Tang Yi and me, a Canadian ice dancer who particularly likes skiing." Ji Tiantian thought while speaking, "He is addicted to skiing and likes to go skiing in unattended snowy mountains."
"It's quite interesting." Qian Xiyue commented.
"I just want to ask... if you are free when you go to Canada... can you help keep an eye on him?" Ji Tiantian asked sincerely, "Especially in March next year... he plans to go skiing at that time. Tang Yi and I both think something might happen to him..."
Qian Xiyue thought for a while and nodded: "Okay. I haven't seen such a wild one. Can you give me the contact information?"
So Ji Tiantian gave Lucas's foreign social networking platform account to Qian Xiyue. People like them who often go out to compete usually have foreign social software.
Qian Xiyue sent a friend request to Lucas and soon received a notification that the request was approved.
"I said it was your friend, he passed very quickly." Qian Xiyue was a little surprised, then looked at Ji Tiantian and smiled meaningfully, "Is there something wrong with you guys?"
"What could be going on?" Ji Tiantian blinked her round eyes, looking somewhat innocent. "Maybe there are not many Asians skating and dancing, so he was quite curious, and then he replied to my message...he is quite diligent."
"Maybe you're the only one who thinks so." Qian Xiyue smiled, "Okay, I'll meet him when I get to Canada. I'll tell you when I have something to say."
"Okay." Ji Tiantian nodded, and a huge stone in her heart fell.
Let’s ignore Lucas and wait until 2012 to see what happens.
Ji Tiantian watched the National Championships attentively. In the end, as expected, the adult group Xiaokou Changkai won the championship again, while Lin Aili and Bianzige won the second place and successfully won the second place in the World Youth Championship.
Lin Aili was very happy, hugged her relatives and friends, and cried and laughed. For her, this national championship means a new chapter in her life.
Seeing that Lin Aili was busy talking to relatives and friends, Ji Tiantian did not disturb her and went to congratulate the adult group.
"Oh, if Tang Yi didn't come, I would feel uneasy winning this championship." Chang Yu, the male partner of the adult group, looked at Ji Tiantian with emotion in his eyes, "It's been a long time since we last met, Tiantian. Your Latin music in the sub-station competition was very tasteful, but it's a pity that I couldn't see you compete here... Tell Tang Yi later that you must compete with him next year!"
"Yes," said the female companion Wei Xiao, "We will compete again next year. You must come."
"Okay, it's settled." Ji Tiantian nodded vigorously.
Just like that, the National Championships that ice fans across the country had been looking forward to came to an end in a blink of an eye.
Qian Xiyue, who is about to leave for Canada, and Wei Changzu and Ji Tiantian, who are about to return to Russia for training, said goodbye at the entrance of the competition venue. After today, they will return to their respective tracks and run forward.
Although Ji Tiantian did not participate in the competition, she still felt nostalgic for the warm atmosphere on the field. She couldn't help but think, it would be great if there was a competition in this world that would never end.
In this way, everyone will always be immersed in the cheerful atmosphere, without separation, day after day of practice and pain.
Of course, it's just thought.
Just as she was about to leave with Jiang Lin, she felt someone tugging at the corner of her clothes. She looked down and saw that it was the little ice boy she had seen at the last National Championships, Qiao Menghan.
Nearly a year has passed, and Qiao Menghan has grown up a little, but is still a child, and will be a ice child in this National Championships.
"Sister Tiantian, I'm sorry. Brother Tang Yi asked me to give you the Melody doll last time." Qiao Menghan almost mustered up the courage to speak to Ji Tiantian, "But I really like you..."
"Yeah, I knew it long ago. It's okay." Ji Tiantian smiled and touched Qiao Menghan's head.
Qiao Menghan showed a relieved expression, then took out a small pendant from her pocket and handed it to Ji Tiantian: "I made this by myself. Although it doesn't look good...but, I made it really seriously..."
Ji Tiantian took the pendant. This was a Melody cotton doll pendant that Qiao Menghan had sewn herself. The stitching was crooked, and the eyes were one big and one small, which looked a little funny. But Ji Tiantian could tell from the stitches that the little girl had put in the effort.
"Thank you, it's so cute, I like it very much." Ji Tiantian pinned the pendant on her bag without saying a word.
"The training is so hard, why do you have to distract yourself from making dolls?" Ji Tiantian asked with some heartache.
If she remembered correctly, Qiao Menghan should be the young female figure skating student that the local figure skating team is currently training as the focus.
"I like Sister Tiantian very much." Qiao Menghan looked at Ji Tiantian with a pair of twinkling eyes, "I really hope that you and Brother Tang Yi can achieve good results in the sub-station competition. Your show is really good."
After hearing this, Ji Tiantian couldn't help but want to tease Qiao Menghan: "Then tell me, what's so good about it?"
"Sister Tiantian's movements and skating are very beautiful. And your relationship with brother Tang Yi is very different." Qiao Menghan tilted her head and thought seriously, "When I was an ice dance girl, I often saw male and female ice dance partners quarreling off the court. And some people only wanted to show themselves on the court and ignored their partners. But you are different. You have never been like this. You...well, you are very harmonious both on and off the court, and it feels to me like...you are helping each other."
"Are you making each other better?" Jiang Lin couldn't help but interrupt with a smile.
"Yes, that's right!" Qiao Menghan nodded vigorously.
Ji Tiantian looked at Qiao Menghan quietly, her mind slightly moved. "Thank you, Xiao Qiao, you gave me some inspiration." She touched Qiao Menghan's head, "See you at the next National Championships."
"Yeah, I'll wait for you, Sister Tiantian!"
After watching the entire championship, Ji Tiantian and Jiang Lin quickly returned to the capital and started practicing again.
Soon, amid the falling leaves, the golden autumn of October arrived.
October is a turning point in the figure skating season. In this month, the Junior Grand Prix will come to an end, and the adult Grand Prix will begin.
Tang Yi's injury has fully recovered, and the training intensity has also increased to normal levels. He and Ji Tiantian began the final sprint of the race.
During a break from training, Ji Tiantian logged into the figure skating forum to read posts. One post quickly caught her attention.
Post subject: Johnson and Nancy's free dance steps look so familiar!
Post content: Woohoo sisters, I just realized that the dance steps used by Johnson and Nancy in this season are somewhat similar to those used by Sweet Tang in Viva Viva! I went to the Internet to find people to argue with me, but they didn't believe me. Woohoo.
1L: Really? Ah, I feel a little familiar with you when you put it that way...
2L: It’s just a few steps, not a critical move, so no one will care…
3L: Oh, that’s true… never mind it for now.
4L: No, how can you bully me, Da Tiantang! What kind of website are you on, sister? I want to find someone to argue with!
LZ then sent out a string of forum URLs.
5L: I think everyone should focus on the competition first. The second stop is coming soon, and this kind of thing will happen less often once we have the results.
Sure enough, there were still people with sharp eyes who discovered the plagiarism.
Ji Tiantian took a deep breath and agreed with the words of the fifth-floor ice fan in the post. She also didn't want the ice fans to waste their enthusiasm for such a bad thing.
Then, she clicked on the URL sent by the poster, and was immediately redirected to a local American figure skating forum filled with English.
As the Estonian competition is about to begin, the forum is very popular. The Estonian ice dance discussion thread has more than 300 replies.
Ji Tian dessert opened the post and took a look.
310L: There don't seem to be many strong teams in Estonia. The strongest team may be the Chinese team that suddenly emerged at the end of last season. Who do you think will win if they compete with us NJ (the abbreviation of Nancy Johnson's name)?
311L: The male partner of the Chinese team was seriously injured in the last race and he probably hasn’t recovered yet.
312L: I heard that their male partner never received formal training when he was young, so he won't be able to go far. And he played with an injury, so he can't win.
313L: Their female partners are also dancers who switched to ice skating. How can they compare to NJ, who we have been working with since childhood~
314L: I really like NJ's choreography, it's creative and smart. In comparison, the Chinese group's dance steps are really bad. I can't stand watching it.
315L: Yes, the performance of the Chinese team is not outstanding, relying on technical movements. But their joint lift in the free dance at the last station was really unbearable to watch. It looked very strenuous. The technique was not that strong.
316L: They want results too much. That kind of intensity is too much for them. Compared with NJ who has been skating and dancing since childhood, they are just amateurs.
317L: Haha, if NJ takes first place this time, they will definitely make it to the finals, just keep a normal mind!
318L: But, I just saw some Chinese fans saying that NJ copied the dance steps of the Chinese team. Is that true?
319L: They must be throwing mud! Our NJ is so good at skating, how could he possibly copy them? They haven't even had a few days of proper training!
320L: Exactly! Their players can’t win, so they can only throw mud like this, haha!
Ji Tiantian subconsciously covered her forehead. Although she repeatedly told herself not to be swayed by online public opinion, she still couldn't help but feel her blood pressure rise after reading some of the comments.
There seem to be quite a few blind people in this forum.
She took a deep breath, forced herself to get rid of the negative emotions, and continued to sprint before the race.
No matter what, strength and achievements are the hard truth. This is a familiar and extremely useful saying.
The Estonian leg of the competition officially kicked off in mid-October, and Ji Tang, his coach, and Ni Chuan arrived at the venue together.
Unlike the previous stop, this time only Ji Tang went to participate, and other national team triathlon athletes had already finished the competition in other stations.
After the draw, there was a short dance competition.
Ji Tiantian, wearing a light yellow Latin-style Costume, checked her clothes before the competition began. Then she helped Tang Yi check, helping him to straighten his V-neck and straighten his sleeves.
The competition started soon, with groups taking turns according to the order of the draw.
Soon, it will be Ji Tang's group's turn.
Tang Yi suddenly raised his head and looked in one direction. Ji Tiantian felt it and couldn't help but look up and follow his gaze. Johnson and Nancy from the American disco group were walking towards this side.
This time for the short dance, they and the American disco group were still divided into two groups to warm up and compete one after the other.
Ji Tiantian didn't want to pay attention to these two people, but when they got closer, Tang Yi suddenly said, "Have you ever embarrassed my dance partner before?"
Tang Yi's English pronunciation is the same as his Chinese, with a cool and aura.
Ji Tiantian was stunned.
"What's the problem? We just want to make friends." Johnson was stunned for a moment, then smiled in surprise, "If you don't want to, forget it. It's not a big deal. Is it worth remembering for so long?"
"That's right. If you have this time, you might as well use it to improve your grades." Nancy continued, glancing at Ji Tang at the same time.
She and many other players still remember vividly the scene where their Chinese male partner couldn't walk after getting off the ice.
It's so serious that it's impossible to recover in a short time.
Besides, the combined lift they wanted to do last time was very difficult. Even if they didn't get injured, they might not be able to complete it this time.
Maybe change it to simpler movements? Then the score won't be competitive.
After all, in terms of program content, the Chinese group has never had a chance of winning.
Nancy thought about it and couldn't help but smile.
She is determined to win the first place in this race.
"Didn't you tell me to calm down?" Ji Tiantian pulled Tang Yi aside and whispered to him, "Why are you so dissatisfied with the plagiarism again?"
"The situation is different now." Tang Yi looked at Ji Tiantian with dark eyes.
If it was just a simple plagiarism, he didn't want to pay attention to it. But he heard from Jiang Lin that the group of contestants came to see Ji Tiantian.
He suddenly didn't want to end it so easily.
"Then what do you want?" Ji Tiantian looked at Tang Yi in confusion.
Tang Yi curled the corners of his mouth and was about to answer when the broadcast sounded at the right time, notifying them as a group to go warm up.
Ji Tiantian took a deep breath and stopped thinking about things that were not related to the game. She pulled Tang Yi onto the ice to warm up.
Soon, the five-minute warm-up time was over.
"Next, the Chinese players, Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi, will take the stage." A cold English voice came from the radio.
Amidst applause, Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi slid to the center of the ice one after another.
-over-
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