C16

Lin Lang held the doorknob and turned his back to Yu Tong. Although the situation in front of him sounded a bit complicated, in reality, just a slight association was needed to recall the things that Yao Qing had done.

 

 

It wasn’t difficult to guess what was going on in front of him now.

 

In his last life, Lin Lang had dealt with him for quite a while and had already figured out his routines clearly.

 

 

Not to mention that ever since they were young, he had always been a white lotus who beat up others yet had to go in front of the adults to cry and pretend to be pitiful.

 

“I bullied him? Yao Qing has been telling you that for so many years?”

 

Lin Lang turned his back to Yu Tong, his head lowered as he stroked the doorknob in his hand, and even though he had done his best to cover his mouth, he couldn’t help but laugh with a “pu chi” sound.

 

“If that’s the case, then I think you should have a clear answer for yourself. Regardless of whether black and white are distinguished for now, it’s definitely not enough to decide.”

 

Lin Lang said while turning around and walking slowly back from the doorway, crouching down in front of the cabinet Yu Tong was curled up in. With a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, he tilted his head and stretched out his fingers to point at his head one time after another.

 

“Cherish this time. When you get old, you’ll probably be the group of people who buy health supplements that are advertised on TV, pile up jade mattresses at home, and constantly flood your social media with’shocked’ comments.”

 

At this point, Lin Lang pursed his lips and sniffed twice with utmost seriousness. His already unserious and unburdened expression even showed a hint of genuine pity.

 

His eyes softly looked at Yu Tong in the cabinet, as if he truly cared for this mentally unsound child.

 

 

Yu Tong, who was already agitated, became even more furious, and when he lifted his face, which was buried in his knees, he immediately stared with wide eyes.

 

 

Even though he couldn’t control his tears, he wanted to rush out of the cupboard, wanting to punch Lin Lang’s face right here.

 

But as a result, he just drilled out of the cupboard, and before he stood up, he saw a scar of nearly fifteen centimeters.

 

Lin Lang, who had just been extremely unorthodox, cursing him in a roundabout way for being mentally unsound, was now sitting on a stool, his entire person reverting back to the serious look he had when he had just pushed the door in.

 

He didn’t know why, but even if he didn’t say a word, he made Yu Tong feel a little scared of him.

 

Not to mention that now he was pulling up a trouser leg. Sitting in front of him, he very frankly let Yu Tong look at his calf; the scar was really long.

 

They were both skaters; just looking at the location of that scar was enough to make Yu Tong freeze in place and suck in a breath of cold air.

 

“I started learning figure skating officially at the age of ten, but I was always trapped in the club by various factors and couldn’t get a spot to register for the competition. It wasn’t until the age of fourteen that I was given a spot to participate in international competitions by the national team coaches because of a secretly filmed training video.

 

But in the end, the spot was still given to Yao Qing because I had some ‘accidents’ and couldn’t make it. After that, I directly withdrew from the club and rested for a whole year without being able to skate again.”

 

 

Lin Lang said, raising his eyes to Yu Tong, who was standing in front of him at this moment, looking up and obviously somewhat confused.

 

“This scar was cut by Yao Qing with one of his ice skates back when he caused that so-called accident, if it had been an inch deeper, I would have never been able to skate again in my entire life, and you wouldn’t have seen me here at all.”

 

“If for so many years I was really the one bullying him, then why did nothing happen to him, but on the contrary, I, the bully, didn’t get any honor, got a scar in vain, missed out on such an important year, and almost said goodbye to skating?”

 

Lin Lang said, while looking very seriously at Yu Tong in front of him, with eyes that seemed to be able to see through everything directly into his heart.

 

Subconsciously, Yu Tong’s palms were slightly sweaty, as if he couldn’t answer a question even after being called by the teacher.

 

 

“I, I…”

 

Yu Tong somewhat evasively shifted his eyes elsewhere, his hands cupping the corners of his coat, his head lowered as he didn’t know what he should say to make it better.

 

Before, he had always thought that Yao Qing, no matter if he changed his name or traveled far away from the US, had to get rid of the shadow and influence left by Lin Lang’s bullying.

 

But now that he suddenly saw this scar on Lin Lang’s leg, a scar that had never been mentioned by Yao Qing, Yu Tong suddenly reacted.

 

Maybe this series of reactions was not to get rid of the shadow from the beginning, but he simply felt that Lin Lang’s leg was really ruined by him. Things had indeed gone too far, so that was why he had changed his name and even changed his nationality—to go to a place where no one would recognize him at all to hide from the backlash.

 

In this way, everything he had done for Lin Lang for so many years could be completely dissipated into the memories of the past with a name that gradually became unknown.

 

On the day he became famous, there would simply be no one in this world who could associate him with that bully in the small northern town many years ago; he even had a completely different name.

 

He would still be able to stand on the ice rink and become the fairy king of the crowd, receiving flowers and applause from his fans with a clean slate.

 

On the other hand, Lin Lang, who was originally extremely talented, would never be able to compete again because of this and would have to completely disappear from the skating circle and never be found again.

 

Even at some point, during his conversation with others, Yao Qing bit him again and labeled him as a bully.

 

 

It was just like a year ago when he said those things to himself.

 

Yu Tong looked at the scar that Lin Lang had placed in front of him, and all the contradictions, uncertainties, and doubts that he had previously felt in his heart were finally completely straightened out, and all of them had reasonable explanations.

 

But this fact made it difficult for him to accept for a while.

 

Even when he had just reached this conclusion, he directly fell to the ground with weak legs and looked up at Lin Lang with wide eyes.

 

After a line of tears overflowed from his eyes, it slid down his tender face before dripping to the ground.

 

He fell in love with figure skating because of Yao Qing and took him as his idol for so many years that every time he felt he couldn’t hold on during the training, he went to watch his competitions and then told himself that only by persevering could he gradually narrow the gap between him and him and one day stand on the same podium with him.

 

 

He kept working hard because of Yao Qing, and because of Yao Qing, he treated Lin Lang as an imaginary enemy that he needed to avenge.

 

 

But he never showed his true feelings, and now looking back, there wasn’t a single bit that could be called completely real.

 

He was like a clown being played around, and even to this day, he was able to imagine the situation when he was genuinely busting his balls and fighting on behalf of someone, and Yao Qing smiled on the surface but mockingly cursed him for being a b*******d in the bottom of his heart.

 

“Vomit ……”

 

For some reason, thinking of this, Yu Tong couldn’t help but feel a little sick to his stomach.

 

 

Lying on the ground, crying and frowning, he retched a few times, but in the end, he didn’t vomit anything.

 

In the mobile phone that fell on the ground beside him, he received a phone call from the head coach, and after the screen lit up, the lock screen revealed a photo of him and Yao Qing, and that expression was like a sarcastic comment that mocked him for being deceived for so many years in a row.

 

 

Yu Tong sat on the ground, tightly squeezing the phone next to him. In a moment of anger, his eyes turned red, and he tried his best to control himself, but he smashed the phone at the moment when the lock screen lit up.

 

“I must find a chance to ask him in person next season.”

 

 

Yao Qing had a year off because of his change of citizenship. This August’s Grand Prix was the beginning of the next season, and he had just passed his off-season. He would definitely go as well.

 

Except that he had just been promoted to the adult division this year, and in the Grand Prix divisions, the youth and adult divisions had always been staggered, and the adult division wouldn’t be played until after all the youth division Grand Prix had been played.

 

So theoretically, it was almost impossible for them to meet Yao Qing in the Grand Prix.

 

However, in the Grand Finals, the adult and youth divisions were held at the same time.

 

So if Lin Lang wanted to meet him after that, he would have to get a world top six result in the Grand Prix in August and enter the Grand Final before he could have the possibility to question him face-to-face.

 

Now, there were still seven months to go before the Grand Prix, so he had to get into the top six, qualify for the Grand Prix, and go there to question Yao Qing.

 

He’d ask him if what Lin Lang said today was true or not.

 

The idol that he had been considering as his goal for so many years, was he really disgusting to the extent that even hearing his name made him want to vomit?

 

When Yu Tong was brought out of the room by Lin Lang in a state of confusion, his eyes were red from crying, and he didn’t even know how he got out of the arena.

 

Originally, the head coach, who was furious and angry, was ready to punish him properly after finding him.

 

But in the end, when he really saw that miserable look when he was helped out by Lin Lang, he was hopelessly mute.

 

He just let out a long sigh, frowned, and waved his hand impatiently at the others, signaling for them to quickly assist him to the car and take him away.

 

 

He was so heartbroken that he couldn’t even curse to relieve his anger, but in the end, he couldn’t bear it.

 

That night, as soon as he returned to the team, Yu Tong developed a high fever and cried and talked nonsense all night long. Along with that, he had been suffering from a low-grade fever for about a week, which could be described as a serious illness.

 

Everyone else thought that Yu Tong was too sick for so long because he wasn’t happy with Lin Lang and was still upset after losing to him.

 

After all, that day when Lin Lang brought him back, Yu Tong’s eyes were almost swollen to the size of a walnut, and even in the middle of the night when he was talking nonsense with high fever, he was still chanting Lin Lang’s name.

 

So in order to avoid a fight between the two after they met, these senior brothers in the team simply secretly set up an alliance, and every day they tried their best to delay the two of them so as not to let the two of them have a chance to meet each other.

 

Even after Lin Lang learned that Yu Tong was sick, he brought fruits over and wanted to visit, but he was politely rejected by Guan Hao at the door with an apologetic face.

 

“Xiao Lang, Yu Tong is a delicate child, and over the years, he has been spoilt even more by the few of us in the team. He’s sick right now, and it was hard for him to fall asleep after the team doctor gave him fluids, so if you go in there now, he’s definitely going to make a scene again.”

 

“You should go back first today; his matter will be handed over to me and a few senior brothers to deal with; we promise to educate him properly; wait until he passes this hurdle in his heart; I will definitely let him go to make amends with you, and he’ll personally say sorry to you.”

 

“But now, can you please let him go first, don’t be too calculating with him, and also let us senior brothers handle it?” In fact, this kid’s nature is still good; it’s just that sometimes his temper is a bit too stubborn, and as long as he recognizes something, he’s stubborn.”

 

Guan Hao stood in the doorway with a difficult face, explaining to Lin Lang, who was carrying fruits.

 

But as a result, Lin Lang was confused, not knowing what he was talking about at all, and even in the end, he couldn’t help but be amused by Guan Hao.

 

“No, wait a minute, why do you seem to be saying that as long as I go in today, the two of us will have to fight to the death here?”

 

Lin Lang stood at the doorway, and while speaking with a smile, he spread his hands at Guan Hao, who was guarding the doorway.

 

“I admit, I did come here today with an impure purpose; apart from visiting the sick, I also wanted to mock him properly for fun.”

 

“But the misunderstanding between me and him was really resolved long ago on the day of the All Championships, and it really wasn’t because of me that he became like this today.”

 

Lin Lang stopped there; after tilting his head and letting out a long sigh, he brought the fruits that he brought and handed them to Guan Hao, somewhat helplessly pursing his lips.

 

“Forget it, anyway; no matter what I say, you guys can’t understand Yu Tong’s love and hate, and lingering feelings for me. And you definitely won’t believe me when I say we’ve made up.”

 

 

“Then bring the fruit in for me first; he’ll explain the rest to you guys when he wakes up.”

 

Lin Lang said so, shrugging with a smug expression, then his face twisted into a childish expression.

 

Even Guan Hao couldn’t help but feel a lump in his throat when he looked at him and he couldn’t help but want to hit him.

 

It was completely unimaginable that a child could have such a bad mouth, hold grudges, and be so snarky that he couldn’t stand it.

 

In the end, how did he endure such heartbreaking pain on the ice and pull out a perfect Bellman that was almost a candleholder?

 

The Lin Lang who was on the ice, who was unobtrusive, who exuded all his charisma, who controlled all the emotions of the audience, who did his best to complete every jump, who teased the living and the dead, and the person he was now after getting off the ice, it was almost as if he wasn’t the same person.

 

Thinking so, Guan Hao couldn’t help but feel a little amused as he looked at Lin Lang’s back as he swaggered out of the gate, holding the fruits in his hand.

 

 

Since proving his strength in the national championship, Lin Lang had not only been accepted by his teammates but also became the top of the food chain within the entire team, treated as a team favorite by everyone.

 

The quota for the Youth Group Grand Prix was finally set at two stops each for Lin Lang and Yu Tong.

 

There were only seven months left before the Grand Prix, and with the competition just around the corner, everyone on the team was working overtime on their training.

 

Ji Cangshu also made an exclusive special training plan for Lin Lang based on his current situation.

 

At the same time, Lin Lang also wanted to rearrange a new program for this competition, a brand new program that he hadn’t performed in his previous life.

 

It was just that, for the time being, he couldn’t find any inspiration.

 

But he wasn’t in a hurry; after all, seven months wasn’t too long, but it wasn’t too short either, and for him, it was completely in time.

 

—

 

“What! He really said that!”

 

“I… I… I just said I admire his strength, and losing the game to him made me completely convinced. But what’s going on? Why do I love and hate him, and even have lingering feelings?”

 

“How can he say that? He’s making it seem like I’m a weird and clingy per-vert!”

 

It was only after Yu Tong had recovered from his illness that Guan Hao relayed to him exactly what Lin Lang had said when he came to see him that day.

 

After Yu Tong heard this, he unexpectedly blew up, directly jumped up from the hospital bed, and yelled that he had to go to the school to find him to settle the score.

 

Guan Hao persuaded him all the way but couldn’t stop him, and in the end, he could only let him go, and after sending him to the school gate, he sent a message to Lin Lang in advance.

 

“The little monster blew up and is on his way to settle the score with you; I really can’t stop him.”

 

Guan Hao spoke as usual, nagging like an old mom.

 

Lin Lang took advantage of the class’s break period to pick up his mobile phone, but before he could finish reading the long-winded speech he sent over, the little monster in the text message had already reached his class, and with a big wave of his hand, he slapped down a bottle of expensive sugar-free yogurt in front of him.

 

With a twisted expression and red ears, he muttered under his breath.

“I didn’t do well in my final English exam last time; my allowance was cut in half; even if I were to be more frugal, this is the only thing I can afford to buy for you.”

 

“I was the one who misunderstood you before; I already know it’s wrong; I’m sorry; please forgive me.”

 

“By the way, can you teach me how to learn English? Looking at the imminent monthly exam, if I fail English again this time, my pocket money is going to be completely zero, not a cent left.”

 

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