Compared to Xi Ming’s disappointing fourth-place finish in the short program, Qi Yu and the Han siblings’ pairs skating results were much better.
This year’s Grand Prix Final not only brought Qi Yu good luck in the draw, but he also appeared to be in excellent competitive form his short program score currently ranked first among senior men’s singles. Their team’s pairs entry also earned a strong second-place result in the short program.
By the time the senior pairs event concluded first on the second day, Han Ling and Han Feng ultimately secured third place, claiming the team’s first medal of the season in figure skating.
“The pressure’s on us now, little junior.”
On the third day of competition, both Xi Ming’s and Qi Yu’s pairs events were scheduled. Although Qi Yu said this as he arrived at the rink, his relaxed demeanor suggested he wasn’t feeling much pressure at all.
However, no sooner had Qi Yu spoken than Yang Wu smacked him on the back and shot him a glare. “Don’t say things like that to a kid. Focus on your own competition.”
After scolding Qi Yu, Yang Wu turned to Xi Ming with a warm expression. “Don’t listen to him, Xiao Xi. Making it to the finals already exceeded everyone’s expectations. Just skate at your normal level no pressure.”
Yang Wu’s slap had clearly been forceful, and Qi Yu, standing behind him, made funny faces at Xi Ming. Xi Ming couldn’t help but curl the corners of his mouth. Just before Yang Wu turned around in confusion, Xi Ming rescued Qi Yu from a potential second smack.
“I will, Coach Yang. Don’t worry.”
When the junior men’s free skate began and Takahashi Shohei took the ice as the first skater, Qi Yu couldn’t find Xi Ming by the boards. He did spot Zhao Zhengchang and Yang Wu, though.
Did he go to warm up again? Qi Yu glanced around curiously, then headed backstage and sure enough, found Xi Ming there.
“Little junior, why aren’t you watching”
Xi Ming appeared to be doing simple warm-up exercises backstage. Qi Yu raised his voice as he walked toward him. But the moment he drew close and caught the expression on Xi Ming’s face, his voice trailed off.
“Hm?” Noticing Qi Yu, Xi Ming turned around, his expression already shifting to one of confusion. “Aren’t you supposed to be chatting with Oleg?”
“Oh, Oleg was talking with Mikhail, so I came back.” Qi Yu answered reflexively, but his gaze lingered on Xi Ming’s face, as if searching for something.
“Is there something on my face?” Unable to ignore Qi Yu’s stare, Xi Ming touched his cheek, puzzled.
“No, I just think you look even better with makeup on, haha.”
In previous competitions, Xi Ming had always gone bare-faced, at most letting Zhao Zhengchang style his hair. Today, he’d yielded to Zhao Zhengchang’s persuasion and agreed to some makeup. Though it was just a light layer of foundation and some definition on his brows and eyes, the already handsome Xi Ming looked even more striking.
Evidence: after arriving at the rink today, many passing skaters couldn’t help but steal extra glances at him.
Though Qi Yu had originally been searching Xi Ming’s face for that fleeting, intense expression that had felt so unfamiliar, once he voiced his improvised excuse, he found it convincing enough and nodded firmly. “You really do look much better.”
Qi Yu’s response made Xi Ming feel a bit foolish for having asked so seriously. He gave his senior a customary look of disdain and stopped paying attention to the seemingly idle Qi Yu.
The senior men’s free skate was scheduled for the evening, so Qi Yu was indeed quite free at the moment.
Just then, the backstage screen displayed Takahashi Shohei’s free skate score: 140.07.
“Hmm, neither good nor bad.” Qi Yu commented. Though it was Takahashi’s season’s best, it would likely be difficult for that score to claim first place in the free skate overall let alone with his sixth-place short program ranking.
“If all of you guys completely fall apart in your programs, maybe he could snag a medal.”
A rather cutting remark, but Xi Ming, who knew that Qi Yu’s personality wasn’t as warm as he appeared, said nothing and actually agreed with him.
Takahashi Shohei was already out of medal contention.
The next skater up was Mikhail, and Xi Ming averted his gaze again.
“Still a bit nervous before the competition, because of the pressure from the score gap?” Qi Yu noticed Xi Ming’s action and asked with concern. After all, this was the first time Xi Ming had trailed after a short program in a Grand Prix event it would be perfectly normal to feel tense.
After all, he wasn’t watching his opponents’ performances like before; instead, he was quietly warming up backstage.
“No.”
“Huh?” Qi Yu had been about to share his own past experiences to help his little junior relax, but Xi Ming’s answer cut him off.
Under Qi Yu’s gaze that seemed to say “it’s okay to admit it,” Xi Ming told Qi Yu the reason. “It’s not because of the pressure Chris and the others bring. It’s me I’m not sure I can skate my free skate well, so I’d rather stay here. Consider it eliminating distractions.”
Uncertain. Qi Yu had almost never heard that word from Xi Ming’s mouth, since his attitude in every competition had always been simply to give it his all. The moment Xi Ming’s words fell, Qi Yu understood.
“You’re going to attempt a quad?”
During their earlier preparation, Qi Yu had heard Coach Zhao and the others discuss whether Xi Ming should add a quad jump to his free skate program, but most were against it.
Because Xi Ming’s 4T success rate was very low, and once he fell on the landing, it was hard to predict the impact on the rest of the program.
Xi Ming had made it all the way to the final this season, and many agreed it was because of his consistency. His 3A and high-level triple-triple combinations, along with high GOE, were enough to let him compete against opponents with quads in the junior division.
Not to mention his performances always won over the judges his program components score would never be the weak point of his final total.
But wasn’t it true that now, with Xi Ming trailing in the short program, his gap with first-place Chris was already close to five points? And Chris’s free skate would include two quads, and besides Takahashi Shohei, everyone else had landed quads in their respective Grand Prix events.
Qi Yu was an athlete himself, so he naturally understood Xi Ming’s heart. No matter how hopeless it looked to others, they always charged toward the gold medal in every competition. And in the pursuit of gold, no one pinned their hopes on their finals opponent holding back.
No wonder the junior disciple’s expression had been so serious just now. Indeed, only a careful consideration of his own condition would make him look more hesitant than usual.
But before Qi Yu could offer Xi Ming a word of encouragement, Xi Ming met Qi Yu’s gaze and gave another reason. “Besides, this is a free skate dedicated to you. I have to bring out my best.”
Dedicated to me…
Qi Yu was a little stunned, and at the same time remembered that night at the rink when Xi Ming had indeed said that if they both made it to the final, he’d let Qi Yu properly watch his free skate. But calling it a free skate dedicated to him was too solemn?
Just as Qi Yu was about to press Xi Ming for more, Zhao Zhengchang’s appearance interrupted them. “Time to get ready.”
Mikhail’s free skate was about to end, and Xi Ming was next.
When Xi Ming and Qi Yu followed Zhao Zhengchang back to the rink, they happened to catch Mikhail’s free skate score.
150.66.
If Takahashi Shohei’s score was one that met expectations neither good nor bad then Mikhail’s free skate was an absolute high score. Even if his short program had left him in fifth place, once his free skate score came out, it was enough to make his opponents nervous.
And Xi Ming, who had already been coiled and ready for this moment, found Mikhail’s score to be the final spark that ignited his fighting spirit.
Though he was smiling, the serious battle intent in his eyes felt unfamiliar even to Zhao Zhengchang and Qi Yu, who knew him well.
“I feel like Xiao Xi is placing a lot of importance on this competition,” Zhao Zhengchang said instinctively, watching Xi Ming on the ice.
Hearing Zhao Zhengchang’s words, Qi Yu moved to the boards and stared intently at Xi Ming. A free skate dedicated to me Qi Yu thought of what Xi Ming had just said, his heart both nervous and expectant.
So, what kind of performance would this be?
Just then, the invitation-to-dance music began, and the rose spirit Xi Ming had become on the ice began to move. In that instant, Qi Yu felt that Xi Ming on the ice met his eyes for a moment, and then Xi Ming spun on the ice, making the gesture of inviting someone into a dream, before officially beginning his program.
At this moment, the rink was completely silent, all eyes on the figure in the center. Since this skater named Xi Ming had burst onto the scene at the start of the season, everyone knew he excelled at performance, and his programs were full of emotional resonance.
Today’s Xi Ming was no different or rather, it was even more pronounced. And what felt different today was this: if the previous two performances of the rose spirit had felt like a free-spirited, lively elf playfully running into a girl’s dream to frolic, today’s Xi Ming seemed to be dancing around a single person, conversing gently.
And that conversation reached its climax when Xi Ming leaped high and successfully landed a 4T.
At the boards, Qi Yu gripped the railing tightly amid the roar of the crowd. He stared intently at Xi Ming on the ice, but his heart gradually rose into his throat, because he was slowly beginning to understand what Xi Ming wanted him to see.
On the ice, Xi Ming felt he could barely register the crowd’s cheers, nor could he see the expression of the person his gaze touched as he skated across most of the ice surface. His mind held only his free skate a free skate he would not allow himself to make a mistake on.
Because he wanted to convey a message to that person the one who had carried Chinese figure skating alone for so long that he was no longer alone.
Amid a series of light, agile footwork, Xi Ming continued to perform the dance between the sprite and the maiden, yet his movements seemed more impassioned this time, as if comforting a lonely soul.
Don’t worry, don’t let yourself be crushed alone I’m right behind you.
Xi Ming leaped high once more, landed, and executed a combination jump: 3A+2T. This was a jump he hadn’t been able to include in his free skate at the start of the season, but in just half a season, this combination had become polished.
In the instant he turned upon landing, he caught sight of Qi Yu at the boards.
Xi Ming changed edges, gliding across most of the rink in an Ina Bauer pose.
At this moment, the sprite no longer seemed so lively and adorable; instead, it exuded a sense of distance, yet drew eyes irresistibly. It seemed to be sacrificing itself for something, and thus became all the more noble and beautiful.
I see it a lonely, sensitive soul. I gaze upon a formidable senior, and I am drawing closer to him. So, in this dream woven of roses, do you see it? Your fellow traveler, and the soul I burn for this ice.
I won’t be defeated by pressure. I’ll rise to the challenge. I will return with honor.
So this is a battle that cannot afford failure this beautiful dream woven by the rose sprite.
The final layback spin, and a one-of-a-kind rose bloomed across the ice.
As Xi Ming’s free skate came to a complete end, the boy making his first appearance at the Grand Prix Final collapsed to his knees on the ice, gasping for breath, and only then did the cheers that nearly shook the arena arrive, delayed.
Xi Ming had also achieved his first clean free skate of the season.
As Xi Ming bowed to the cheering audience on all four sides, Qi Yu at the edge of the rink had lost his earlier composure. Having watched Xi Ming’s entire free skate, he had naturally read from every glance, every movement, and every takeoff what Xi Ming was trying to convey.
He tried to force a smile, but in the end, it yielded to his true emotions at that moment, flattening into stillness.
“How sly, little junior,” Qi Yu murmured to himself, watching the figure gliding toward the exit of the rink. “Like this, all my agonizing seems so childish in comparison.”