◎Play the national anthem of the champion country◎
Before graduation in her previous life, Ji Tiantian had been paying attention to the country's ice dance career. She knew that ice dance, as a niche project, had always been very difficult to survive.
And she never had a lot of money when she grew up.
To her, it really means a lot to win such a big prize in ice dance competition.
It was like a bonfire lit in the snow. At this moment, she felt her life was ignited.
She would be rewarded with real money for her hard work. From now on, there would be many such rewards. A beautiful world like a dream was waiting for her.
"That's great, we have money!" Ji Tiantian was so excited that she hugged her partner tightly.
Tang Yi was stunned for a moment.
He still remembered that Ji Tiantian had set a rule when she agreed to work with him, that they couldn't touch each other when they left the ice. When she was injured, he had to carry her on his back, and he also set special terms.
At this moment, she came close to him unexpectedly. It took him a while to react and he hugged her quietly.
Ji Tiantian felt Tang Yi's action and suddenly realized what she had done. She immediately thought of their business relationship and the three rules. Her face immediately became hot.
She hurriedly let go of Tang Yi and left the waiting area.
Afterwards, Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi stood at the edge of the ice, waiting for the award ceremony. Ji Tiantian deliberately kept a distance from Tang Yi, acting as if she was unfamiliar with him. Tang Yi looked at her from time to time, and she pretended not to notice his gaze.
Jiang Lin and Xu Chi stood by and watched the contestants they were responsible for silently.
"I've been teaching ice dancing for so many years, but this is the first time I've seen them like this." Jiang Lin looked confused. "It's not that they have a bad relationship, but they have never quarreled. But it's not that they are close, and they seldom interact with each other off the ice. Do you think they have a good relationship or a bad one?"
"I don't know either." Xu Chi shook his head. "But I believe in Clara's intuition. What they express on the ice reflects their true selves to a certain extent. In two seasons and two sets of free dances, the relationship they have shown... is at least more harmonious than most ice dance partners."
"That's right." Jiang Lin nodded. "I think they are pretty good. They have never given us any worries when it comes to cooperation."
"They are worry-free and capable. They are our hope for the future." Xu Chi smiled and looked into the distance.
Soon it was time for the awards ceremony. A red carpet and a podium were laid out in the middle of the ice. Little ice children surrounded the podium, holding medals and flowers that were about to be handed over to the winners.
"The next performers are the gold medalists in ice dance from China, Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi." A cold broadcast voice sounded.
Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi came to the podium amid cheers. Tang Yi reached out and carried Ji Tiantian to the highest podium, and then stood on it himself.
Ji Tiantian didn't want Tang Yi to help her get up to the podium, so she turned around and pushed him. However, seeing that Tang Yi was shaking a little and was afraid that he would fall, she quickly reached out and pulled him up.
There was immediate laughter from the audience.
"They have such a good relationship." In the audience, the international student held her face with both hands and showed a gratified smile.
"It's not that good." Ni Chuan spoke hesitantly.
"Oh, do you know any exclusive news?" the international student asked immediately.
"It feels like... they aren't particularly close."
"That's called room for improvement." The international student lady looked expectant, "I'm looking forward to seeing them grow up."
Other winners also stood on the podium one after another. The silver medal went to an American team, and the bronze medal went to a new pair from France.
Ji Tang hugged the French player gently, and then smiled at the American player symbolically. The American player also smiled at them, but the smile was uglier than crying.
After they stood in position, the chief judge of the International Skating Union awarded them medals one by one.
Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi bowed and let the chief referee put the golden championship medals on them.
Ji Tiantian subconsciously reached out to hold the medal. The gold medal for first place in the race was not as important as the World Youth Championship, and she thought she wouldn't feel much.
But as the cool metal pressed against her chest, her tears blurred her vision.
A huge sense of achievement washed over her mind, and she couldn't help but think of the competitions she had participated in in the past. The National Championships, the World Youth Championships, the first leg of the sub-race...
Every seemingly beautiful match was actually not easy. Their opponents were always very strong. If they wanted to get good results, they could not afford any mistakes.
She sniffed and turned to look at her partner with tearful eyes.
After the first stop, Tang Yi spent a lot of time recovering and also had to face harsh criticism from his leaders for not being able to go to the National Championships.
If it were an ordinary person, he would have been extremely anxious, but he looked so calm. He gradually recovered to his best condition, and then practiced with her until he won the gold medal in the event.
He was always very calm. And she finally realized that this seemingly ordinary calmness actually required a very strong spiritual force to maintain.
She learned a lot from ice dancing.
"Tang Yi." She curved her lips and smiled with tears in her eyes, "Thank you for your hard work."
"You too." Tang Yi stared at Ji Tiantian deeply. They looked at each other and smiled.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please stand up and play the national anthem of the champion country." The broadcast sounded.
All the audience members stood up, including Ni Chuan and the international student lady.
Ji Tiantian slowly raised her head, and then saw the bright red five-star red flag slowly rising to the sound of the majestic national anthem.
The tears that had gathered in her eyes fell in an instant.
Hearing the national anthem played at the ice dance competition has been her dream for two lifetimes, and now this dream has come true.
It is just a small branch now.
But in the future, she will definitely be able to hear the national anthem in a bigger stadium. She took a deep breath, looked at the national flag, and sang the national anthem in her heart.
In the audience, the international student lady couldn't help but shed tears.
Just today, the athlete from her country won first place in the ice dance youth group.
This may seem like a minor event in the history of world sports.
But for the Chinese ice dance program, which has never had a single champion, this is a very grand achievement. For the Chinese ice and snow program, this is also a moment worth remembering forever.
She believed she would remember this scene forever.
"Leave me your contact information. We can arrange a date if we want to watch a game together in the future." After the national anthem, Ni Chuan spoke to the international student lady next to him, "What's your name?"
"Oh, just call me Feifei." Feifei, the international student, wiped the tears from her face and smiled at Ni Chuan.
After Feifei left her contact information for Ni Chuan, she immediately opened the figure skating forum she often visited and typed a message as quickly as possible.
"Fei Fei studying abroad" posted a post with the subject line: "Ahhh Tian Tang won the championship! Won the championship! I'm dead!"
Post content: Woohoo, sorry I'm too excited, it's the ice dance champion woohoo, the title isn't clear. So touching ahhhh the little prince is absolutely beautiful woohoo.
1L: Woohoo! I was watching the live broadcast and I couldn’t stop crying when I heard the national anthem. Tiantang is so awesome!
2L: Our ice dancing has really improved, the combined lift is so beautiful!
3L: I saw someone say that we won the bronze medal at the World Youth Championship last season because of luck, and I didn’t know how to refute it. Now I want to say it’s not luck, not luck, not luck! Tiantang has the ability! And he is always improving!
4L: Yes, I, who never watches ice dancing, was really moved by their performance.
5L: Sweet Sugar is the best ice rose and the best ice prince!
After Ji Tiantian got off the podium, she asked the staff at the information desk for the score sheet for the free dance.
In their free dance, one set of connecting steps was rated at level 3 and the other at level 2, and the other technical movements were all rated at the highest level 4.
Their total score for the free dance was similar to that of the free dance at the previous World Junior Championships. The difference was that their free dance technical score was higher in the previous season, with both sets of step sequences reaching level 3, but their program content score was still higher this time.
There is always a bit of reluctance.
It would be great if both the technical score and program content score could be improved in this season's World Youth Championship.
"There is still room for improvement." Ji Tiantian pointed to the step sequence on the scoreboard and said to Tang Yi, "I feel that there is nothing wrong with our footwork. It may be that the ice surface coverage is not enough to reach level 3."
"Then skate faster?" Tang Yi said. Ice coverage mainly refers to the track left by a series of steps on the ice. The longer or wider the track, the greater the ice coverage.
"If we go any faster, we might not be able to keep up with the rhythm of the music, which will result in loss of program content." Ji Tiantian sighed silently. Sometimes it is really difficult to have both.
"Then add some more steps to the step sequence and discuss it with Clara later." Tang Yi said to Ji Tiantian.
"You are really excellent." The staff at the information desk couldn't help but smile as they looked at Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi who were discussing seriously.
Ji Tang was communicating in Chinese, and the staff couldn't understand her. But she could tell from their expressions that this was a pair of players who were not arrogant when they won, nor discouraged when they lost, and who were moving forward steadily.
"Keep going in the finals, I like you guys very much." said the staff.
"Thank you." Ji Tiantian nodded, and the smile on her face suddenly froze, "Wait... the finals?"
She was confused for a moment, and after a while she looked at Tang Yi: "Are we in the finals?"
"Yeah." Tang Yi nodded, his dark eyes were extremely deep, "I always thought I could get in."
There will be a final after the Grand Prix, and the qualification for the competition will be based on the ranking of the players in the two sub-stations, and the top six will qualify for the final.
After finishing fourth in the first stop, Ji Tiantian stopped paying attention to qualifying for the finals, thinking that her hope was slim and it would be better for her to concentrate on training and think about how to defeat the American team.
Only now did she realize that the fourth place and the first place in the sub-station combined seemed... quite competitive.
"Tiantian, we're in the finals." Jiang Lin and Xu Chi came over and smiled at Ji Tiantian, "I just thought of that too, haha, I was just about to tell you."
Ji Tiantian immediately picked up her mobile phone and went to the official website of the International Skating Union to browse relevant information.
Their second stop was also the last stop of the Grand Prix for the youth group. After their race, the rankings of all the players in the two stops were also announced.
The corresponding points of the players' rankings in the two stages are displayed on the official website. The first place has 15 points, the second place has 13 points, the third place has 11 points, the fourth place has 9 points, and so on. The top six will enter the finals.
At this time, the official website has shown the six pairs of ice dancers who have qualified for the finals.
First place: Katerin Ilyich of Russia, first in two stages, 30 points.
Second place: Canadian Mia Lucas, first in two races, 30 points.
Third place: Spain's Leroana, one first place, one second place, 28 points.
Fourth place: Lillian Michael of Britain, one first place, one second place, 28 points.
Fifth place: China’s Ji Tiantian Tang Yi, first in one stop, fourth in another stop, 24 points.
Sixth place: Nancy Johnson of the United States, second in one stop, third in one stop, 24 points.
According to relevant regulations, when the points are the same, the contestant with the higher total score in the two short dances and free dances will be ranked first. This is why the Russian team is ahead of the Canadian team.
The reason why the Ji Tang group was ahead of the American group was that when the points were the same, the one with the higher highest ranking was ahead. So Ji Tang surpassed the American group by one first place in a sub-station and ranked fifth.
"This ranking basically confirms the top echelon of the world's youth ice dance group!" Jiang Lin also looked at his phone and couldn't help but waved his fist, "In the new season, we have also made it!"
"Just a year ago, I couldn't imagine that our country's athletes could make it to the Grand Prix Finals!" Xu Chi also expressed his emotion.
"It's great to see our contestants moving forward step by step." Jiang Lin had a sincere smile on her face. She thought that being with Ji Tang, she was already accustomed to breaking records, but after she finished speaking, she still choked up a little. Xu Chi gently patted her shoulder to comfort her, and at the same time took a deep breath.
They never thought that before they retired, they would witness their dreams come true and miracles happen one after another.
Seeing Ji Tiantian staring at her phone quietly, Tang Yi couldn't help but ask, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I was just wondering...will there be prize money for entering the finals?" Ji Tiantian paused and looked at Tang Yi with her bright eyes.
"Yeah." Tang Yi nodded, "The sixth place will get fifteen thousand dollars."
In other words, you will get money if you go to the finals.
"This is a dream, right? I can get two sums of money in a row..." Ji Tiantian's pair of bright black eyes were once again shrouded in mist, "Wow, I really have money..."
Tang Yi: “…”
"Yes, Tiantian, we ice dancers really have money!" Jiang Lin said happily, hugging the two contestants tightly. Xu Chi also came over and hugged them together.
The free dance competition was over and many spectators had left, but the international students Feifei and Ni Chuan stayed in the audience and were reluctant to leave.
The shock brought by the national anthem and the flag-raising still lingers in their minds.
Feifei heard people around her vaguely talking about the finals in English. She suddenly remembered something and quickly logged into the official website of the International Skating Union.
Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi's names were listed among the top six pairs entering the finals.
"Oh my God... we're in the finals! I didn't notice it before!" Feifei exclaimed loudly.
Although Ji Tang is quite talented, Chinese ice dance fans have long been accustomed to the fact that the Grand Prix Finals have nothing to do with them. So Feifei didn't pay much attention to the relevant information before.
"What?" Ni Chuan looked confused.
"That's right, Tiantang made it to the ice dance finals, which no one from our country had entered before." Feifei smiled happily, and then tears started to flow as she smiled.
“It’s really not easy for them…” Feifei wiped away her tears and smiled again, “Although there were many problems this season…but they made it to the finals!”
Hard work will always be rewarded, just like a rose blooming, someone will eventually see it.
"Sisters, I just found out that Tiantang has entered the Grand Prix finals!" Feifei immediately posted on the forum.
1L: Ahhh, are the tickets for the finals on sale? I want to go grab them!
2L: Damn it, I have to go even if I have to take leave!
3L: Grab it!
4L: No one can stop me from going to the finals to watch Tiantang!
Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi received the score sheets and went to the mixed interview area under the guidance of relevant staff.
This is a place dedicated to interviewing figure skaters. It is usually not big, and reporters who want to interview skaters will wait here for them.
Last season, Ji Tang was unknown until he won the bronze medal in the World Youth Championship. But even so, few international media paid attention to them after the World Youth Championship.
But this time, Ji Tiantian clearly felt something was different.
In the past, there were almost no reporters surrounding them, but this time, when they appeared in the interview area, a group of foreign media reporters gathered around them.
Perhaps due to stereotype, foreign reporters rarely paid attention to a pair of ice dancers from Asia, even though they won the bronze medal at the World Junior Championships.
But this time, they won first place in the race. The glory accumulated together finally made their glory seen by more people.
"Ji, Tang, this is your first time to win first place in a race, and also your first time to win first place in a world competition. How does it feel?" A Western reporter enthusiastically handed over the microphone.
Ji Tiantian looked at Tang Yi, and Tang Yi also looked at her, signaling with his eyes that she should be the spokesperson for their group.
"Well, I'm really happy to get first place. I'm still digesting this good news and hope to get better results in the future." Ji Tiantian faced the microphone and camera, responding calmly in fluent English with a sweet smile on her face.
In her previous life, she had experience communicating with foreign dancers, so when faced with reporters' questions, she was able to answer them fluently.
"It is said that ice dance players have a star-like temperament, and it is indeed true." A reporter exclaimed as he looked at the Asian player in front of him who had a slightly immature face but spoke in a reserved and appropriate manner.
"Strange, why haven't I noticed this Asian duo before?"
"Yeah... they don't look like they'll have bad grades..."
"Is your training very hard?" a reporter asked Ji Tiantian.
"It is hard, but it's nothing. When I think about my partner fighting with me and that I am not fighting alone, I feel full of strength." Ji Tiantian smiled and replied, "I am ready to set off at any time to tackle the next difficulty."
"Great speech." The reporter praised sincerely, and then handed the microphone to Tang Yi, "Excuse me, does your male companion feel the same way?"
"Yes." Tang Yi nodded, "No matter what happens, we are not fighting alone."
After he finished speaking, he couldn't help but look at Ji Tiantian beside him. The two of them looked at each other with the same determination and calmness.
Although it is very difficult, fortunately, they are not fighting alone. I am your spear and you are my shield.
"What a great atmosphere between these two Asian players..." A reporter couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
"I wish you good results." The reporter who asked the question smiled broadly at Ji Tang, "See you in the finals!"
"See you in the finals!"
The competition was successfully completed, and Ji Tang, his coach, and Ni Chuan set off on their return journey. Once again, Ji Tiantian returned to the Capital Airport with her luggage, and met Zhang Lilian who had been waiting for her at the airport.
"Tiantian is really amazing. When I was as young as her, I only knew how to spend money, but she can already earn bonuses!" Jiang Lin was still exchanging routine greetings with Zhang Lilian.
"Tiantian, have you figured out how to spend your bonus?" Xu Chi came over and asked.
According to the rules, Ji Tang needs to hand over half of the bonus to the team and keep the other half, which will then be divided equally. Ji Tiantian received 750 US dollars, about 5,000 RMB.
Ji Tiantian originally wanted to answer that she hadn't thought about it yet, but when she saw a passerby holding a lottery ticket walking by, she suddenly had an idea.
"Do you remember the winning numbers of the lottery in your previous life?" Ji Tiantian pulled Tang Yi aside and asked in a low voice, "I remember your mother seemed to always buy lottery tickets?"
"It's been too long, I can't remember." Tang Yi frowned.
"Think about it carefully." Ji Tiantian was a little unwilling, "What if I win?"
"Hmm..." Tang Yi fell into deep thought, "In the previous life, it seems that the winning number was 19..."
"Then I'll try. If I win, I'll split it with you!" Ji Tiantian cheered up, walked over and held Zhang Lilian's hand, "Mom, please help me go to the welfare lottery shop and buy 10 lottery tickets. They just have to contain 19, and you can randomly choose the other numbers." Minors are not allowed to buy lottery tickets, so they can only ask their elders for help.
"Kid, why are you playing lottery...don't you want to buy new shoes and a new dress?" Zhang Lilian looked shocked.
"No, mom, help me buy a lottery ticket!"
Xu Chi watched the conversation between Ji Tiantian and Zhang Lilian silently from the side, then turned his head and whispered to Jiang Lin: "Why didn't I know before that Tiantian was actually a little money-grubber?"
"This... there's nothing wrong with this. This way I'll be more motivated to go to the finals." Jiang Lin said.
"The motivation to make money..." Xu Chi covered his forehead, and nodded heavily after a while, "Well, it's better to have motivation than not."
The group disbanded at the airport.
The sub-station competition is over, and there is still a month and a half before the finals in December. During this period, training does not need to be too intense, and Ji Tang can relax a little.
At the national team ice rink, Ji Tiantian met Lin Aili, No. 2 in the youth group, who had officially joined the national team, and her dance partner, Brother Bianzi.
In the past, Ji Tiantian didn’t think there was anything wrong, but when she met Lin Aili on the ice rink again, Ji Tiantian felt from the bottom of her heart that it would be better to have a pair to practice with.
Their ice dance team has become larger and more confident internationally.
During this period, Ji Tiantian temporarily focused on school. Soon, the midterm exam of the dance school would begin.
One Saturday, Ji Tiantian slept in as she had longed for, and checked her phone for a while before doing her homework.
She was still a little depressed because none of the lottery tickets Zhang Lilian bought won. But she couldn't blame Tang Yi, because normal people wouldn't remember the numbers so clearly.
As for most of the remaining bonus, Ji Tiantian asked Zhang Lilian to save it all.
As usual, Ji Tiantian went to the figure skating forum to browse, and saw many people discussing going to the finals to watch the competition.
Post title: If you are planning to go to the finals, please report in this post!
1L: This year, the young athletes in all four events are very strong and have all made it to the finals, so there will definitely be a lot of people going.
2L: It’s just like Chinese New Year!
3L: I am very happy with these four items!
4L: By the way, what kind of doll does Tiantang like? I want to go and throw it there!
5L: My Melody, my friends!
The ice fan on the 5th floor was afraid that his words were not clear enough, so he very considerately posted a GIF of Ji Tiantian hitting Tang Yi with a Melody doll at the National Championships.
Ji Tiantian quietly closed the post. Some things seemed to be unacceptable.
She originally wanted to close the forum, but when she glanced around, she saw a new post suddenly pop up and received a lot of replies in a short period of time.
The subject of the post is also eye-catching - "The American group apologized for plagiarizing dance steps!"
Ji Tiantian quickly opened the post and looked up relevant information, and finally understood what was going on.
Just three days ago, a video was uploaded to major international video websites. It was a comparison between their dance steps for last season's Viva Viva and this season's American Free Dance, with an emphasis on the similar parts.
The comparison video is very professional and detailed, and even for netizens who don’t know anything about ice dancing, there is no threshold to learn it.
Led by some righteous ice fans and netizens who are sensitive to plagiarism, the comparison video has received considerable attention and gradually formed a heated discussion.
"Oh my god! This is a complete replica, right?"
"Some people say it's a reference and a tribute, but I think it's pure plagiarism, right?"
"What did I see? NJ (the abbreviation of Nancy Johnson's name), who defeated Ji Tang in the first round, actually plagiarized Ji Tang?"
"I've visited NJ's social media page before, and they even implied that Chinese players don't know how to behave, and it's not pleasant to communicate with them...Oh my god, who are these people who don't know how to behave?"
"NJ fans were shouting in their own forums that those who claimed to have copied the game were just throwing mud without any evidence. Come and see the evidence. It's real!"
"Now that I think about it, China's Ji Tang is a bit pitiful. In the first stop, he was left behind by the people who copied them."
"Fortunately, we overtook NJ in the second race and are ahead of him in the finals. It's great!"
…
Netizens from various countries left comments under the comparison video.
Most netizens are still enthusiastic. Although they may not pay much attention to the Chinese players, they are still willing to stand on the side of justice after something happens.
Under the continued rising public pressure, the American duo Nancy and Johnson posted an apology video on their social media homepages and promised to replace the corresponding steps in the finals.
At present, people in domestic figure skating forums are applauding and celebrating.
Ji Tiantian watched the comparison video repeatedly.
She was busy with her studies and didn't notice this small anti-plagiarism incident. Xu Chi and Jiang Lin were not sensitive to the Internet and didn't notice it immediately.
By the time she noticed, the storm had almost subsided.
It is true that the plagiarist's apology is gratifying. But what she is more concerned about at this moment is who made this perfect comparison video?
What skilled editor would pay attention to ice dancing and be on their side?
Ji Tiantian thought about it for a while and came up with the answer.
Tang Yi once mentioned that he was learning editing.
Now thinking about it, the reason for learning editing seems a bit outrageous. He said that he could be her fan in this life, edit videos, and make support items.
With Tang Yi's intelligence, it is not difficult for him to learn editing to this level.
Ji Tiantian felt her scalp tingling.
She immediately called Tang Yi, and Tang Yi's call was quickly connected.
"You made that anti-plagiarism video, didn't you?" Ji Tiantian calmed down and spoke in a firm voice, "You've been quite free these past two days, right?"
"In fact, it was done during the days when I was injured. If they had a better attitude, I would not let them go." Tang Yi's deep and distant voice came from the other end of the phone, "It's a pity that they didn't cherish the opportunity."
Ji Tiantian: “…”
Ji Tiantian felt an inexplicable chill on her back. For the first time, she realized that she didn't seem to know Tang Yi very well.
She was silent for a long time before she spoke softly: "Tang Yi, I haven't offended you before, right?"
"Huh?" Tang Yi was a little confused.
"No, nothing." Ji Tiantian took a deep breath, "Well... let's just let this matter pass. Don't worry about it anymore."
"Well." Tang Yi paused, "You have time to pay attention to this matter. It seems that you are quite free. Do you want to come over and do the test paper?"
"...Okay, I'll come." Ji Tiantian said softly. She didn't seem to dare to refuse Tang Yi.
A few days later, it was time for the midterm exam at the School of Dance. The dance school generally teaches liberal arts and does not test complicated science questions.
Ji Tiantian won first place in the midterm exam with a perfect score in math. After all, the papers Tang Yi usually gave her were much more difficult than the exam questions.
When the results were announced, the teachers and classmates were very surprised. No one knew how Ji Tiantian, who was absent from school and busy with training, could get such a score.
But if you think about it carefully, this doesn't seem so incredible for the ice dancing girl who has performed miracles time and time again.
Everyone quickly accepted that the little swan, who was good at ice dancing, was also a good student.
There is still one month until the finals. Xu Chi called Ji Tiantian and Tang Yi to him.
"The head coach of the team just came to me and said that the Sports Bureau has given us the news." Xu Chi looked at the two players in front of him and said in a deep voice, "The leaders above took my request for many days and your outstanding performance into consideration and agreed to pay for you to go out for training."
"Outside training?" Ji Tiantian couldn't help but widen her eyes.
"But there are conditions." Xu Chi continued, "If you can't get the top three in the finals and the World Youth Championship, the overseas training will be terminated, and I will leave and get a new coach to lead you."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
