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Rock Sugar And Pear Stew - Chapter 106

Published at 20th of April 2020 03:11:15 PM


Chapter 106

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Chapter 106 – Finale (Translated and edited by Xing)

At night, Li Yubing sat at the desk and read a book. Jiang Shijia was bored out of his mind and snapped a photo of Li Yubing. He uploaded it onto his Weibo after selecting a filter. Posting Brother Bing’s photo was a quick and easy way of increasing followers; this was something that the entire ice hockey team knew.

Before posting, Jiang Shijia asked Li Yubing very democratically, “Brother Bing, I’ll be posting your photo?”

“Whatever.”

After posting the photo, Jiang Shijia looked at Brother Bing’s bald head and felt his fingers itch. Earlier, the reaction of his sis-in-law was seared into his mind. Just how good does Brother Bing’s head feel?

The curiosity was killing him!

Jiang Shijia was good in all aspects except for one—he was way too curious. Presently, he paced back and forth the room with restless steps. At last, he summoned up the courage and made his way to stand behind Li Yubing. He pressed his hand onto Li Yubing’s bald head and rubbed the spot gently.

Li Yubing was shocked. After being stunned for a second, he turned his head and raised his eyes to stare at Jiang Shijia in silence.

A phrase popped up in Jiang Shijia’s mind out of nowhere. He uttered it without thinking through. “A monk can touch it, so why can’t I?”[1]

Wait, just where did this phrase come from? Brother Bing… Brother Bing’s stare is terrifying!

Jiang Shijia wanted to run but it was too late. Li Yubing caught his wrist and flung him onto the floor mercilessly. Jiang Shijia’s entire body was tossed onto the carpet. Subsequently, Brother Bing’s foot, along with the disposable slipper he wore, landed on his chest.

“Brother Bing, I was wrong, mercy…” Jiang Shijia begged for mercy while lying on the ground.

Li Yubing continued reading with one foot on Jiang Shijia.

Jiang Shijia had discovered the two faces of Brother Bing. In front of his brothers, he was aloof and tyrannical. In front of his wife, he was docile and well-behaved. What a sham.

……

On the final day of the World University Winter Games was an event that Yu Yan was participating in.

Yu Yan did not withdraw from RCU as the rumours said. Previously, he had gone to Beijing without official approval and had missed all his final examinations. Madam Liang decisively helped him to apply for a Leave of Absence. Therefore, he was still an RCU student.

As he was a student-athlete and doing well in his specialized major, the school took a lenient attitude towards him.

Tang Xue went to watch Yu Yan’s competition. However, worried that Li Yubing would overthink, Tang Xue called him along as well.

She did not expect to meet Yu Yan’s mother.

Madam Liang appeared to be in an excellent mood and actually smiled at Tang Xue. It gave Tang Xue a shock.

“Thank you,” Madam Liang said. “Yu Yan is so much better these days.”

“You’re welcome.” Tang Xue’s only thought was that Yu Yan’s acting skills were getting better and better.

Madam Liang sighed. “Sometimes, I really don’t know how to communicate with youngsters like you.”

Tang Xue suddenly felt a trace of sympathy for her. She thought for a moment and said, “It is said that a mother’s love is instinctive. It’s also the same for a child’s love of his or her mother. However, no matter how much love there is, you have no exclusive right over the other person. This is because beyond our love is an individual who needs his or her own freedom as well.”

When Madam Liang heard this, she looked at Tang Xue quietly. This chapter is a labour of love that should not be found outside of teafragrance[dot]wordpress[dot]com.

Being stared at like this, Tang Xue felt a little uncomfortable. “Well, am I wrong?”

“No.” Madam Liang shook her head and smiled. “I suddenly thought that it’s actually pretty good if I manage to have a daughter-in-law like you in the future.”

Li Yubing was originally like air beside Tang Xue. When he heard this, he was greatly dissatisfied. What’s the meaning of this? Are you trying to help your son steal my wife? Don’t you see me standing beside her, alive and kicking? Are you going to notice me only if I take off my cap?

Before he could dispute this, Tang Xue spoke first. She gave a half-embarrassed smile. “I don’t think I want a mother-in-law like you.”

Well done.

The edges of Li Yubing’s lips quirked. He grabbed Tang Xue’s hand and stressed to Madam Liang, “She already has a mother-in-law.”

……

In the afternoon, Yu Yan executed an impeccable performance and clinched the gold in the men’s figure skating event.

That night, Tang Xue and Li Yubing attended the closing ceremony of the World University Winter Games together before heading back and packing their luggage.

The next day, they did not fly back along with the rest of the team. Tang Xue was worried that if the plane turbulence was severe, it would affect Li Yubing’s head.

Li Yubing did not know whether to laugh or cry. “How is it possible?”

Tang Xue’s face was utterly serious. “How is it not possible? If you shake an egg with enough force, the egg yolk will also break.”

“Is my head the same as an egg?”

“It’s not? Oh, yes, it’s not. You have hair.” Tang Xue rubbed his bald head and felt the newly-grown hair scrapped her palm gently. The sensation was way too satisfying. It was so comfortable that she slit her eyes. “I hereby announce, you are now a kiwi.”

Li Yubing made another mark against her onto the little booklet in his heart.

In the end, Li Yubing listened to Tang Xue and chose to take the high-speed rail.

It was a journey of more than six hours. Tang Xue was a little bored and did not feel like using her phone. She leaned on Li Yubing’s shoulder and remarked, “Li Yubing, tell me a story.”

Li Yubing raised his arm and put it over her shoulder. “What do you want to hear?’

“I don’t know. Anything will do.”

“I’ll tell you the story of the stars then.”

There are many legends on stars throughout history. Not wanting to disturb others, Li Yubing kept his voice soft and was patient as he spoke in an unhurried pace. Tang Xue was utterly absorbed as she lay in Li Yubing’s arms. Halfway through, Li Yubing suddenly paused. Tang Xie could not help urging him, “What happened next?”

Li Yubing’s hand was placed languidly over her shoulder. He raised his arm and touched her earlobe. Then, he pinched and massaged it gently with his thumb and index finger.

“I’ll tell you if you express it,” Li Yubing replied.

Tang Xue looked up at him. “How do I express it?”

Li Yubing looked out of the window with curved lips. Under the expanse of the sky was the raised peaks of the mountain range.

He pointed to his face, his intent clear.

Tang Xue said, “Li Yubing, I want to rub your head.”

The curves on Li Yubing’s lips immediately fell. He tugged on his knitted cap and continued the story.

After that, Tang Xue gradually fell asleep as she listened to him. Li Yubing stopped talking. He continued to hold her with one arm while occasionally smoothing her hair and rubbing her ear. He gazed at the view outside the window.

The winter sunlight shone through the glass window and landed on them. After a while, they were gently warmed by the sun. Tang Xue was unable to sleep well with the sunlight on her eyes. Li Yubing tousled her hair and brushed everything to the front to cover her eyes.

She looked like a lunatic. 

He took a photo of her and continued to look at the scenery peacefully.

The train crossed both mountains and rivers. Like youth, everything hurtled past in a flash.

Tang Xue was woken by the ringing of her phone.

Coach Chu was already back at RCU. She was calling to inform Tang Xue that Mentor Liu from the National Team was coming down two days later.

Tang Xue was jolted wide awake. She was unable to fully believe what she had just heard. She asked, “What, what does it mean?”

“What else can it mean? I’ll send you an application form in a bit. There’s a sample form so just fill it in according to that.”

“Is it the application form for the National Team?”

“What do you think?” Coach Chu felt that Tang Xue’s reaction was adorable and laughed. “However, since you’re still schooling, your entry into the National Team will only be nominal for now. You don’t have to train there but they will still send you the allowance. You just have to head over for the team training during the semester breaks. The decision to suspend your studies can be made in the future depending on how everything goes.”

“All right! Thank you, Coach Chu!”

Tang Xue’s feelings now was like a plastic bag caught in a gale. It sailed and sailed, all the way until it had flown up to the sky. She clenched her fist in excitement. “I knew that the National Team has good taste.” She patted Li Yubing’s shoulder solemnly. “My sincere apologies. Your bro, I, will be heading to the National Team first. Ice dog, you need to buck up.”

Coach Chu soon sent two documents to her. The first was a blank form while the second was a sample form. When Tang Xue clicked in, she was awed. It was the application form of the National Short Track Speed Skating Team’s current ace.

“Nice to meet you, Ms Ace, I’m the future ace of the team.” Tang Xue nodded with grave respect to her phone.

Li Yubing recorded her silly behaviour for him to make fun of her in the future.

After greeting Ms Ace, Tang Xue suddenly thought of something.

She asked Chu Xia: Coach Chu, does Zhang Yuewei have this application form as well?

Chu Xia: Yes, only the two of you received it.

Tang Xue felt at ease knowing this.

Chu Xia: Still, I need to remind you. There are a lot of athletes in the National Team. Simply entering the National Team doesn’t mean much. The National Team is split into first-tier and second-tier teams and the athletes are also split into those with focused training and those with normal training. Don’t you dare to get too complacent.

Coach Chu’s words immediately yanked Tang Xue back to reality. She was right. Entering the National Team did not guarantee her a spot in the Olympics. The selection process for the Olympics would be way harsher than getting into the National Team.

After ruminating over it, Tang Xue was suddenly a little disheartened. “The difference between Ms Ace and me is still kind of big.”

Li Yubing rubbed her head. “What are you afraid of? Li Yubing’s woman will not lose.”

Pfffff—

Tang Xue was greatly amused. She looked at him and smiled, somewhat touched.

Li Yubing kept his phone and met her eyes. “Tang Xue’s man will not, either.”

……

Three months later.

Rain City, Dauntless Dragons Ice Hockey Stadium.

It was the day of the opening match of the Silk Road League finals and numerous people were gathered outside the ice hockey stadium. Most of them were there to try their luck and see if there were second-hand tickets for sale.  A minority of them were ticket scalpers there to buy second-hand tickets as well.

No one was selling second-hand tickets.

The reporters captured all these and sent it to the live broadcast as an interesting titbit behind the scenes.

The competition had yet to start. The host of the live broadcast was currently introducing the line-up of the competition. When he got to Li Yubing, he could not help elaborating a bit more.

This was the youth prodigy who started off with a bang in the regular season and ended up with a lacklustre performance in the latter half. He was impeded by an undiagnosed injury for nearly four months and fell severely ill at a point with the chances of his survival unknown. He was now back in the competition rink after his injury healed.

It was a battle to determine the final eight teams. Currently, the Dauntless Dragons Chinese team had already lost three matches. Under the competition format, they must win at least four out of the seven matches to proceed. Their survival hung by a thread and their fate in the quarterfinals was almost a foregone conclusion. Li Yubing started playing from the fourth match. He went up four times and won all four rounds, narrowly changing the Dauntless Dragons’ fate and successfully bringing them into the quarterfinals.

It was impossible for the various Dauntless Dragons fans to forget how they felt following the match. Bit by bit, the stakes for the team were raised. Bit by bit, their hopes were also raised, until the moment when a miracle did happen. When the 7th match ended, the fans in the stadium leapt to their feet with loud cheers. “If ‘miracle’ does have a name, it would be called Li Yubing!” The joyous cheers were like a tsunami that reverberated and swept through the stadium, creating an impressive scene.

After appearing, the miracle did not simply stop there. Following the quarterfinals were the semi-finals. The night that the Dauntless Dragons fought their way into the semi-finals, they made a mark in history—the semi-finals were the furthest that a Chinese team had ever been in the Silk Road League.

After reaching the semi-finals, with ‘luck’, they managed to climb even higher by entering the finals.

Li Yubing was finally able to shut down all doubts against him with the ice hockey stick in his hand.

The once disappointing youth was now so bright that he dazzled everyone’s eyes.

……

The host was Li Yubing’s fan. He rambled on and on until the broadcast director had to remind him hurriedly, “Introduce someone else!”

The host immediately introduced the rest of the team before chatting with the guest. After a while, he continued, “All right, the competition is about to begin. Let us bring the broadcast back to the rink.”

Live at the scene, the stadium was bursting with people. Many raised flags, waved banners and light sticks. There were even some who had brought trumpets.

Tang Xue was seated in the VIP section. It had the best view of the entire stadium.

She held a banner as well. It was red and on it were bold words written in a fluorescent material: Tang Xue’s man will not lose.

Music sounded within the stadium and the cheerleading squad started their performance. The group of pale beauties with long legs immediately drew the entire stadium’s attention.

After the cheerleading squad left, the competition finally began.

The first to appear was the visiting team. One by one, the ice hockey members entered the rink. The host announced their names and the audience applauded courteously.

Then, it was the home team.

When Li Yubing appeared, the crowd’s enthusiasm seemed to magnify a hundredfold. Numerous ice hockey fans blew their trumpets with gusto. When Li Yubing waved to them, their agitation rose. Whoo, Ice God looked at me! Continue blowing!

Li Yubing’s eyes swept through the audience before landing on a certain figure in the VIP section.

He looked at her through his visor and the glass. Tang Xue was looking at him as well.

Both of them gazed at each other and, at almost the same time, smiled.

For you, I’m here.

For you, I’ll fight.





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