Chapter Sixteen
Yuzuru's world was like a flat, gray expanse. She chewed food numbly, finding it tasteless; she mechanically moved between classrooms and office buildings, her eyes vacant; in the chaos of exam week, she was like a precisely operating machine, overcoming all obstacles, yet feeling no joy whatsoever, until she walked out of the last exam hall, when the breath she had held for so long finally turned into a very soft sigh.
The air conditioning in the coffee shop carried the rich aroma of coffee beans. Li Zhi's gaze fell on her noticeably thin profile, and his tone concealed a barely perceptible heartache.
Yuzuru's fingertips traced the warm rim of the cup, his voice low as a whisper: "I'm sorry, I didn't know your feelings before."
She looked up, her eyes filled with apology. "I was too oblivious. I should have noticed sooner and made things clear earlier."
Before Li Zhi could respond, he heard those words that made his heart sink: "I'm already married, to Yukimura Seiichi. I love him very much."
“No wonder…no wonder your surname is Yukimura.” Li Zhi forced a bitter smile, and all the unspoken emotions settled in this sigh.
Yuzuru stood up and bowed deeply: "Thank you for your appreciation. You will meet the right person for you."
Her refusal was gentle yet firm, and even her departing figure exuded a perfectly measured elegance.
Li Zhi watched the figure disappear through the doorway, smiled self-deprecatingly, and sat alone for a long time until the coffee was completely cold.
High above, the night was as dark as ink, and the city lights below formed a galaxy.
Yuzuru Hanyu leaned against the airplane window, his gaze distant. On the runway at Sydney Airport, the plane slowly landed, and Lyon's figure stood out prominently at the exit.
He took her suitcase and put it in the trunk. During the drive, Yuzuru's voice was filled with genuine gratitude: "Thank you, Leon."
“Your visit is a comfort to Seiichi.” Leon glanced at the haggard Yuzuru in the rearview mirror, his tone tinged with concern. “He’s been fighting too hard lately, it’s gotten a bit too much.”
"Is he alright?" Yuzuru's voice trembled slightly.
"You haven't been sleeping well; you have dark circles under your eyes." Leon's words made Yuzuru's heart tighten. Silence fell over the carriage, broken only by the steady sound of tires rolling over the road.
The cheers at Wimbledon were deafening. Yuzuru sat in a corner of the stands, his eyes fixed on that familiar figure on the court.
Yukimura's playing style was already extremely aggressive, but now it was even more sharp and decisive. His iris-purple hair danced lightly with the swing of the ball, the muscles in his arms were clearly defined in the sunlight, and he even had a light stubble on his chin.
For some reason, there was a hint of heartbreakingly courage hidden within that fierce determination.
Yuzuru's tears fell without warning, neither abrupt nor noticed in the bustling arena. His opponent was a formidable opponent, no ordinary player who had made it to the round of 16. The score remained close, with each player chasing the other, every point a nail-biter.
After an hour of intense battle, the decisive game began. Both players were drenched in sweat, and the competition had long since transcended skill, becoming a contest of physical strength and perseverance.
Another hour passed, and when the last ball landed in the opponent's court and they were too far away to catch it, the stadium fell into a brief silence, which was then followed by thunderous applause and cheers.
"Congratulations to Yukimura Seiichi on advancing to the quarterfinals!" The commentator's voice was filled with excitement. "This young player has been the focus of attention since he stepped onto the field. We look forward to even more brilliant performances from him in the future!"
Yuzuru didn't linger; he quietly left the arena amidst the cheers of the crowd.
After the backstage debriefing was over, Yukimura returned to his hotel room. The moment he opened the door, he saw the figure that haunted his dreams.
"Have you eaten?" His expression remained calm, but there was a subtle warmth hidden in his eyes.
"Not yet, but I wanted to see you, so I came here first." Yuzuru stood there, his tone tinged with trepidation.
Yukimura picked up the phone: "Order me a meal, plus a bowl of porridge, two bowls, for room 2108, thank you."
After hanging up the phone, he turned around, poured a cup of hot water, and placed it on the coffee table next to Yuzuru. Just as he was about to say something more, a pair of fair hands tightly hugged his waist, the force so strong that the knuckles turned white.
Yukimura's heart softened, and he was about to reach out to let her loosen her grip, afraid of hurting her, when the person behind him suddenly burst into tears: "Don't let go of me... Waaah... Oichi, I'm sorry, I was wrong..." The crying was heart-wrenching, exhausting all her strength, and Yuzuru's body went limp, collapsing onto the carpet. Yukimura sat down next to her, and when he turned around, his eyes were already red, and he hurriedly wiped away the tears that kept rolling down her face.
After crying for a long time, Yuzuru's emotions finally calmed down a little, but tears still flowed uncontrollably. She choked back sobs and spoke each word with crystal clarity: "I've thought through the questions you asked me. You asked why I married you, it's not just because of my parents' arrangement, but also because I was captivated by you the moment I saw you. I love you, that's why I'm willing to marry you. You asked why I've stayed with you all this time, it's not just because of marriage, but also because you're beautiful, outstanding, and so good to me. After so long, even a block of wood would have warmed up. Even without marriage, I'm willing to stay with you forever, because I don't just like you, I love you too."
“You ask me why I’m willing to do this with you? It’s because I love you, Yukimura Seiichi.” She looked up at him with teary eyes, “Because I love you, I’m willing to accept everything about you; because I love you, I want to be completely with you.”
Unable to suppress the feelings that had been building up in his heart any longer, Yukimura suddenly reached out and cupped Yuzuru's chin, then lowered his head and kissed him.
The kiss came on strong and hot, carrying longing and desire that had been suppressed for too long. The tongue pried open the teeth with irresistible force, and the kiss was filled with burning heat, as if trying to devour each other's breath, heartbeats, and even the deep-seated longing in their bones.
Yuzuru had whispered "I love you" countless times, those words gentle yet somewhat reserved. But now, through his teary eyes, he said "I love you," and the closeness of their bodies carried a do-or-die, straightforwardness. The love surging in Yukimura's chest had long surpassed mere liking, deeply rooted in his very being. He had waited far too long for this moment.
The two of them collapsed onto the carpet, embracing each other. The soft carpet brushed against their burning skin, and his hand slid down her back, his calloused fingertips brushing against the edge of her clothes, sending a shiver down their spines.
She unconsciously clung to his neck, pressing her body even closer, and could clearly feel the violent pounding of his heart in his chest, and her own heart pounding like a drum.
Clothes were peeled off piece by piece in the struggle, the soft rustling of fabric rubbing against each other, mixed with their rapid breathing, was especially clear in the quiet room.
When their warm skin touched without any barrier, the heat of his palm made her tremble slightly. She could feel every inch of his taut lines, and he could feel the pulse beating beneath her delicate skin. All hesitation, probing, and barriers vanished in this extreme closeness, leaving only their burning body temperature and an unconcealable tenderness and surrender.
From heart to body, from inside to outside, they were tightly entwined, their hearts completely in sync, with no gaps left between them.
After a long while, the two, having calmed down from their intense passion, nestled together at the head of the bed. Yukimura had one arm around Yuzuru's waist, while the other hand caressed her soft, white hand, finding its delicate touch irresistible. "How is Li Zhi?" Yukimura suddenly asked.
"Didn't Liu Jun tell you?" Yu Sheng looked up with some curiosity.
"It was my fault in this matter." Yukimura's tone was apologetic. "I shouldn't have asked Renji to pay more attention to you because I was worried about you, but I didn't ask for your consent beforehand, which caused you trouble."
"It's okay." Yuzuru snuggled against his chest, looking aggrieved. "Don't be so fierce next time. Just tell me what you're thinking, okay? You really scared me."
"There will be a next time?" Yukimura curled his lips, his eyes filled with a dangerous smile.
"No, no!" Yuzuru quickly shook his head and took the initiative to kiss his lips.
“I had too little experience before and didn’t realize Li Zhi’s feelings at all. If I had noticed earlier, I would have made it clear to him long ago.” She sighed from the bottom of her heart.
"Few?" Yukimura caught the key word, his eyes instantly sharpening. "Besides me, who else?"
"No, no, it's just you!" Yuzuru's cheeks flushed, and she quickly buried her face in his neck, letting out a muffled giggle.
Amidst their tender moments, Yukimura ordered another meal, and the two ate a little before falling into a deep sleep.
Having completely resolved his inner conflicts, Yukimura was like a war god on the Wimbledon court, advancing fearlessly and invincible.
From the quarterfinals to the semifinals, and then smoothly entered the championship race, he played every game to his heart's content, and his market value soared accordingly, with endorsement offers pouring in like a tidal wave.
On the day of the final, Yukimura, wearing a custom-made jersey from his sponsor and a green headband, had a focused and determined look in his eyes. His opponent was a blond, blue-eyed American player, a formidable opponent and a favorite to win the championship.
This thrilling duel lasted nearly four hours, with every point gripping. When the final point was scored and the referee announced Yukimura Seiichi as the winner, the arena erupted once again.
Yukimura raised his racket high, his iris-purple eyes gazing in a certain direction from the stands, where Yuzuru stood in the crowd, smiling through his tears, his eyes filled with pride and love.
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