Blade of Glory [Figure Skating]

A strange country, streets full of snow.The north wind is constantly attacking all the things that exist in this piece of heaven and earth.This is the host country of the World Championships.The colorful neon lights can't tell the city's youth and fashion.There are all kinds of novelty shops everywhere, which make people stop and linger.

And this... is also the street where Qing Yue is at this time.

In his hand was a piece of paper with the address of a high-end cafe written on it.Last night, Sauron, who just got off the plane, called him and asked him if he wanted a cup of coffee together?And after getting an affirmative answer, he reported an address and made an appointment to meet.

This is three days before the men's figure skating event at the World Youth Championships.After completing the day's routine training and successfully rehearsing the two sets of programs he used to prepare for the competition, Qing Yue asked Na Xiu for a two-hour leave, and at Na Xiu's request, he put on a thick apron scarf and go out.

Walking on the noisy and unfamiliar street, Qing became more and more puzzled.He didn't know what Sauron's intention was to find him before the match.Yes, Sauron has been his coach for nearly four months, and he is someone he respects very much.Perhaps Sauron wanted to tell himself something before the match.But seven days before the senior men's figure skating competition, he should have more important things to do.

So, what is it...?

Qing Yue subconsciously remembered the agreement between him and Sauron - if he could go to the World Championships, Sauron would tell him the reason why Naxiu retired so early.That... a secret that only Sauron knows.It was also the question that Qing Yue would think of every time he made an amazing jump on the ice, and it had troubled him for a long time.

Yes, he wants to know.

He wanted to know what it was... that caused Naxiu, who loved skating so much, to give up skating so early.If it was Qingyue, he couldn't imagine his life in a world without figure skating at all.He doesn't even know what he can do if he stops skating, and what is the meaning of his existence.

It is precisely because he is sure that Naxiu has the same emotions about skating as he does, so he is even more confused.And... this doubt will haunt him until the day the mystery is solved.

But... I didn't do it.

Thinking of this, Qing Yue showed a bitter smile.

He won himself, but lost to the Ice Association.

The moment the cafe was pushed away, the crisp wind chimes "ding dong" and "ding dong" caught the attention of the man sitting in the inconspicuous corner.He beckoned to Qing Yue, and his gestures revealed the charm of a mature man without a doubt.

"How are you preparing for the game?"

"It's not bad, I feel that my body is in good shape now."

Hearing what Qing Yue said, Sauron laughed.

"Yes, you will win, I have no doubts about it. So... I asked you over this time, not to tell you something before the game. I believe that Xiu will do a good job. I will ask you this time Come, I want to redeem that promise. Let me tell you why that cultivation base will retire so early."

"I'm sorry, but, but I did not fulfill the agreed conditions. I... I was not selected for the Xishu lineup of this World Championship."

"But you were selected for the World Youth Championship, the World Youth Championship."

"But the World Youth Championship is not the World Championship!"

"Oh? What's the difference?"

"That's...that's for kids who aren't old enough to participate in the World Championships and second-rate players from every country who aren't transferred to the senior division..."

Qingyue's words made Sauron couldn't help laughing, and he put the coffee cup on the white saucer, "But aren't you also the 16-year-old who was only allowed to participate in the World Championships this year? Listen, you still have many times to participate in the World Championships." The chance of the World Championships, there are many chances to win the World Championships medals, and even...you still have the chance to win the Olympic medals. But the World Youth Championship is probably this time. If you miss this time, you will never win it in your life To the World Youth Championship medals.

Don't you think there will be regrets?Me, Naxiu, Alek, and even Chu Xuan, who has recently risen from Xishu, we were all champions of the World Youth Championship.Don't you want to get a World Youth Championship medal? "

Naxiu was suddenly stunned by Sauron's words.He looked at the person in front of him in surprise, but the smile on his face disappeared at this moment.

"So... now I will tell you why Naxiu retired at the age of 17, when a figure skater's sports life has just begun."

It was an emotion Sauron had been brewing for years.For so many years, he has been careful, guarding that secret carefully.That was his sin, his injury, a sin he could never forget in his whole life.He was so afraid of letting others know the secret buried deep in his heart. He thought he could keep this secret until he became withered, until the world forgot them all.

But in the end, when he saw the boy who was so similar to Naxiu, he could no longer suppress the complicated emotions.He wanted to let the boy know, as if... this was the best confession he could make... to the boy he once cherished.

"That's because...the senior brother he relies on the most, the person he thinks treats him the best in the world, told him...

'If it weren't for you, I'd be the one to get the gold medal, right?As long as you are here, I can only win silver medals in my life, and everyone will only pay attention to you.As for me, I was only mentioned as your senior brother, and I don't even have the right to be remembered. '"

Yes, because of that sentence, Naxiu left.Hiding where no one can find him, and... stubbornly hiding for 19 years.If not, Xiuben could become the first person in the world to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals in men's figure skating.It was the demons and obsessions in Sauron's heart that broke through the shackles and destroyed the rare genius who could have created more miracles for Jia and made the world of figure skating progress for decades.

At this time, the space was filled with suffocating silence, only the voice from the TV in the coffee shop... the report on the World Championships.

This suffocating silence lasted for a long time.Qing Yue didn't make a sound, the impact on him was too strong, so strong that he lost the ability to think at this moment.He was so overwhelmed and helpless, as if he was soaked in many emotions that did not belong to him.

Sauron's, Naxiu's, or others...

When the person he relied on the most said these words... Naxiu's heart seemed to be crushed, leaving only blood-like pain.Sauron, who should have been young and frivolous, forbears it, and the conflicted Sauron feels like poisonous jealousy...

No one knew what was going on in the heart of that dazzling young man who had been wearing the expectations of thousands of people since he was a child when he made this decision.

Is it consecration?No, never such a ridiculous emotion.That might... be a cruel punishment.The exile of the self is the eternal punishment for the person who said that sentence.

If so, then Xiu undoubtedly succeeded.

Because of this, Sauron had no chance of surpassing him.No matter how hard he tried, no matter how many gold medals he won, he would never be able to surpass Na Xiu.The boy who grew up watching him grow up, and was once held in his heart like a treasure by his taciturn self.

Not only that, every time he won the gold medal and watched their national flag rise to the highest position, what flowed through his heart was not the ecstasy after winning the medal, but the lingering guilt.Every time he thinks about it, he feels a pain in his chest.Maybe he had regrets, but that doesn't matter now.He didn't know what kind of mood he was in at the time to say such ridiculous words.But now the time has passed, and he can no longer tell what is hurting his heart...

He just felt... If that young man could not leave, even if it gave him a lifetime silver medal, he would be willing.

So, is there such emotion because he is really willing, willing?Or was it just because what he lost was Naxiu, not the gold medal and glory?Answer……?Even Sauron himself couldn't tell the difference.He only knows that that very important existence to him was lost by him a long, long time ago, and...he will never get it back in this life...

When returning to the hotel in a daze, Qing Yue knocked on Naxiu's door, and in Naxiu's astonishment, he wrapped his arms around his neck tightly, leaning against his body, breathing in the gentleness and warmth of the other person. Tolerance related to the breath.However, under his gentle smile, who can see his stubbornness of stabbing others and even stabbing himself?The sadness as if empathetic and the dull pain hitting the heart made Qingyue's closed eyes overflow hot tears uncontrollably...

"No matter what, no matter what happens... I will slide down well..."

Qing Yue whispered softly.At this moment, he felt that his previous decision not to go to the youth competition because of anger was unwise, even downright stupid.He wants to keep skating, be better than anyone else, and not let go of any chance...

"Naxiu, I...decided to join the competition three days later. Whether I succeed or fail in the competition, I will not regret it. Because this is...my own war. Not only It's for this game, and it's more... for myself."

The man with dazzling blond hair heard the voice of the young man in his arms who was almost choked but extremely firm, and his gentle smile gradually deepened, "Ah, I knew that you would make up your mind. Even, I can assert that even if you don't join that , you can also win the World Youth Championship."

……

On that night, Qingyue, who was alone in the room thinking, suddenly wanted to call Le Sheng, who had come to the same city with him for the same purpose, and whom he hadn't seen for almost two years. The childhood playmate who said "I will wait for you at the World Championships" in the interview said: "How are you doing?"

However, he still didn't dial the number in the end, just like Le Sheng at that time.Maybe they will get together again sooner or later, but not now, before they have proved whether the decision they made was correct.