Chapter Text
The ice is like a vast playground : you just have to master your balance and keep your goal in sight. That’s why Wei Ying carefully observes Wen Yuan’s movements. He's his first student, but also his first hope in this competition. If A-Yuan passes the selections, he will be able to participate in the Junior National Championships. It's every coach’s dream to take their student to the most prestigious championships, all the way to the World Championships and the Grand Prix. However, Wei Ying isn’t a proper coach. He has no experience in this field, but A-Yuan was determined to compete nationally, and given his talent, it would have been a shame not to make the most of it.
It’s disappointing, because Wei Ying never wanted to reach a point where he couldn’t even set foot on his country’s national ice rink. But sometimes, that’s what happens when you break the rules or surround yourself with the wrong people. That doesn’t stop him from supporting A-Yuan from the sidelines. For now, he still prefers to stay up in the stands. As an official coach, he should be by his student’s side, advising him and reviewing the best combinations to use against his opponents. But A-Yuan and he had agreed on this : if Wei Ying wasn’t ready to get too close to the ice just yet, it wasn’t a big deal. A-Yuan was already grateful for his help so far. Wei Wuxian wasn’t ready to return to the rink yet, but Mo Xuanyu would be soon.
"The rink is open for Group 2 juniors. You have six minutes to warm up." announced one of the presenters.
It would soon be A-Yuan’s turn. First, they would announce the order of the five group members, then the juniors would begin showing their jumps to the audience. It's during this training phase that rival coaches evaluate potential programs of competitors in order to revise their own strategies and aim for maximum points with their students. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t get to take advantage of this opportunity, because A-Yuan would handle it alone. Wen Qing had agreed to represent A-Yuan as the club director, but she couldn’t provide guidance, having only occasionally attended their training sessions. It wasn’t a problem ; they had long anticipated this gap and found a way to turn it into an advantage. A-Yuan would only perform Level 2 jumps during warm-ups so as not to draw immediate attention.
"No. 6, Lan Zheng¹, courtesy name Lan Jingyi, from Gusu Lan Club."
"No. 7, Jin Ling, courtesy name Jin Rulan, from Lanling Jin Club."
"No. 8, Ouyang Shan, courtesy name Ouyang Zizhen, from Bailing Ouyang Club."
"No. 9, Shen Rui, courtesy name Shen Yixuan, from Jinghai Shen Club."
"No. 10, Wen Yuan, courtesy name Wen Sizhui, from Yilling Mo Club."
A-Yuan would go last. This wouldn’t be a problem and would even cause a phenomenal surprise. No one in the rink knew A-Yuan since this was his first official competition, nor the Yilling Mo Club, which would certainly draw attention, as the participating clubs are generally well-known. There are small clubs that make a name for themselves through championships, but they often prefer to strengthen their image before competition, hoping to secure sponsors to support their students during it. Wei Ying could already hear the murmurs of the regulars beside him.
"Yilling Mo Club, is that a new club? I’ve never heard of it."
"Also, this participant, No. 10, his name is Wen, right? He must surely be from the Wen family, yet he isn’t part of Qishan Wen Club."
"How strange. Given the state of Qishan Wen, maybe he wanted more opportunities by switching clubs. But then, why join a barely known club?"
"Well, his performance will speak for itself. He doesn’t seem to attempt triples in warm-up, which says a lot about his potential level."
"Yet, he has never competed here before, but he already has a courtesy name. So he can’t be that unknown. Maybe it’s his first competition in the area?"
Courtesy names are given by coaches to their students at age 15. It usually signals that they are old enough to compete in the senior category, provided they demonstrate the necessary talent. Wei Ying gave A-Yuan the courtesy name Sizhui, meaning “pursuing memories.” For A-Yuan, it symbolizes his desire to follow in his family’s footsteps, to devote himself to skating, and to prove he deserves his place; for Wei Wuxian, it's the desire to keep skating, which he passes on through Wen Sizhui. He still remembers the first time A-Yuan wanted to skate.
---
> 11 years ago.
Wei Ying had just served two sweet-and-sour pork dishes to a lovely couple seated at the table near the south window, letting in the midday sun. It was a good day; the weather was pleasant, and the restaurant had been doing well recently. This delighted Wen Popo, who could finally start saving for her retirement, a task she should have tackled long ago, but she refused to let the family restaurant decline since her family had no interest in taking it back. That’s why she happily welcomed Wei Ying, the only one who cared about her old inheritance.
Wen Qing and Wen Ning occasionally helped out, but Wen Qing was currently working on her medical doctorate, and Wen Ning had discovered a passion for gardening in the restaurant’s backyard over the past years. This benefited the restaurant’s vegetable supply, and the Wen family was thrilled to see him finally take an interest in something since he could no longer skate. Wei Ying was happy for him, of course, but he wouldn’t have minded some extra help consistently. Rush hours were sometimes hard to manage, especially with many lunchtime customers, some of whom were particularly unpleasant; he often felt like throwing their dishes at their faces.
He made his way between the tables back to the kitchen when he ran into Wen Yuan. The child had just turned six and was entering that stage where kids question everything and explore everything. It was the age of discovery, as Wei Ying would say. He hadn’t been the most obedient or composed child himself at that age. Yet, the idea of having Wen Yuan underfoot during rush hours didn’t amuse him. So he called Wen Ning to help find a spot for Wen Yuan other than the restaurant’s hallway.
At the same time, the small TV in the corner started broadcasting the midday news, which covered the upcoming Junior Grand Prix final, taking place in China that year. Wei Ying felt a wave of emotions, from anger to sadness, then nostalgia. It wasn’t easy to start over when his whole life had revolved around figure skating. It was his vocation and reason for being ; asking him to change was like asking a carpenter to become an acrobat. He held no grudge toward anyone who didn’t know what to do with him ; that’s why he remained devoted to his role at Wen Popo and Fourth Uncle’s restaurant. It was his only motivation : helping those who had welcomed him and given him support. He would always be grateful to the Wens.
He cleared tables as he passed the couple he had served earlier. They seemed to be watching TV and discussing the Junior Grand Prix. Wei Ying caught snippets of their conversation.
"I heard the Junior Grand Prix final will be in China this year. Do we already know the main Chinese participants?"
"There will be one student from each of the five largest Chinese clubs: Lanling Jin, Gusu Lan, Yunmeng Jiang, Qinghe Nie, and Qishan Wen. Apparently, Qishan Wen is still trying to assert authority, but since the Sunshot Campaign, they’ve lost most of their reputation. Their athletes are no longer what they used to be, and the club struggles to keep afloat after Wen Chao’s arrest and Wen Ruohan’s decline."
"The club that has stood out recently is Yunmeng Jiang. I thought they’d suffer huge losses after the death of their former leaders, but their son, Jiang Wanyin, has led the club for a few years, and they seem to be making notable progress. They’ve become formidable participants in national championships."
"Right? Wei Wuxian’s departure didn’t have such a huge impact on their results. The media had made such a fuss over it, but it was quickly forgotten over the past two years."
It hurt. Wei Ying didn’t particularly want to be reminded of that time, but he also couldn’t walk up to their table and ask them to change the subject or lower their voices. He didn’t want to be recognized either, especially since these people seemed to know or at least have heard of him. Anyone following figure skating would. The media had seized the story and dramatized it for a wider audience, much to his dismay. The world wasn’t out to get him ; it simply hadn’t spared him. Misfortune still followed him, even in this restaurant, far from the ice.
He pretended not to hear and returned to his trays. He focused on the mess in the plates and the sink, to avoid thinking about the chaos occupying his hyperactive mind. He almost tripped over Wen Yuan again; he hadn’t seen him coming, too lost in thought. This child would give him a heart attack sooner or later. He set his things on the counter and watched Wen Yuan play with his hands, as if he wanted to ask something.
"What’s bothering you, my little radish? I may grumble sometimes, but you can always confide in your Xian-Gege, you know?"
"Xian-Gege… Qing-Jie said you used to skate, like Ning-Ge and her, but that was a long time ago."
"Oh, A-Yuan, I don’t know why Qing-Jie mentioned that. It was a long time ago, yes, I don’t skate anymore, okay? Why did you want to talk about it?"
"Qing-Jie showed us videos of you skating. It was really pretty, I loved it. Everyone in the family can skate, except me. Ning-Ge says we come from a family of skaters, even if they stopped."
Wei Ying could already anticipate the next sentence from his favorite child. He would obviously ask the question, they had expected it, not immediately, but they had prepared for it with the Wens.
"Xian-Gege, I want you to teach me to skate!"
---
Wei Ying snapped back to reality thanks to the presenter’s voice.
"Warm-up over! Athletes, please leave the ice."
"No. 6, Lan Jingyi. Please take your place on the rink."
The first Group 2 candidate stepped onto the ice and took their starting pose. Ah, a student from Gusu Lan, Wei Ying noticed, the club of Lan Zhan. He wondered if Lan Qiren still coached there or if Lan Xichen had taken over. The skater danced to a calm yet gripping piece of music, true to their club’s style. They executed a triple Flip as the first jump, followed by a triple Lutz and a double Axel. A strong level, likely enough for a good ranking or at least a chance to be selected for nationals.
"Lan Jingyi scores 74.95, taking the provisional lead!"
A good score, undoubtedly, but it could be dethroned by the remaining 39 candidates. These selections usually take all day. Wei Ying hoped that once A-Yuan skated, they could rest in one of the building’s free rooms. He didn’t want to linger too long; you never know who he might encounter or who might recognize him. Fortunately, since it was just a selection, they hadn’t bothered with the kiss and cry² ; otherwise, Wei Ying would have had to go down to accompany A-Yuan and wait for results, ruining his discretion.
"No. 7, Jin Rulan. Please prepare to enter the ice."
The second candidate took their place, looking confident, a good quality in a skater. They performed beautiful Level 4 spins and a triple Axel, being the only skater to land a triple Axel so far. They seemed the youngest, probably around 15. Their style strangely reminded Wei Ying of someone ; it seemed as if they were preparing to dominate the stage with spectacular jumps. Yet, Wei Ying didn’t know the Jin family well, so he wasn’t familiar with their artistic style.
"Jin Rulan scores 78.45, taking provisional first place!"
A-Yuan had drawn a strong group. Only two skaters remained before him, and Wei Ying began to drift mentally. He preferred thinking about what he would buy with Wen Ning tonight. He wasn’t really interested in the other participants anyway.
The other performances were unremarkable ; Wei Ying even thought he heard lower scores than the previous two. Now it was the turn of his little radish, now quite a big radish.
"No. 10, Wen Sizhui. Please step onto the ice."
Wen Yuan took a deep breath and stepped forward, his skates softly scraping the polished ice. He cast a discreet glance toward the stands, knowing Wei Ying was watching, invisible to others. His heart beat faster, but a strange calm settled in his chest, blending excitement and focus, sensations only his coach could instill.
This was A-Yuan’s first real competition, excluding skill tests and local mini-competitions. It was also broadcast live. He wore a magnificent custom-made costume by Wen Popo and Fourth Uncle, who had gone all out. It was bright red, sparkly, fading to black at the bottom with a triangular cutout in the back. Some would say it revealed too much for a man. Wei Wuxian would respond that it was his signature : shock to impress. He had never paid attention to gendered costume expectations, earning him criticism for being irresponsible and a distraction. Others said he was trying to imitate a woman. A-Yuan insisted on wearing such a costume to embody his unique identity as Wei Wuxian’s only student, reflecting every piece of his personality on the ice.
The first score for 疾如猛火 (Rapid As Wildfires)³ echoed in the rink, traditional Chinese instruments seeming to dance with him. He had always loved the musicality of such music. Wen Yuan began with a smooth Level 3 spin, arms flowing gracefully, every gesture exuding the elegance his coach had taught him. The music crescendoed, light percussion and rapid strings supporting his carefully choreographed steps. He then executed a Level 4 step sequence, striking the ice rhythmically, followed by a perfectly controlled double Axel. Each movement seemed to breathe with the melody, as if one with it.
The second part came : a rhythmic, strong, energetic explosion. Wen Yuan and Wei Ying had agreed to conserve energy in the first half to compensate for less perfect jumps and to capitalize on second-half bonuses. He executed a triple Lutz, then a triple Flip combined with a double Toeloop. The music seemed to ignite the ice beneath his skates, vibrating with every push. He finished with a Level 4 spin, whirling with intensity and control, body and music merging in a perfect final crescendo. The last notes resounded as A-Yuan froze center-ice, breathless but smiling. He sought Xian-Gege in the stands ; a subtle nod confirmed : it had gone well.
"Well, he’s quite skilled after all. Which coach did he have to reach that level, especially with his movements and speed? I could barely follow with my eyes."
"I think I saw Wen Qing waiting below. Maybe he comes from the branch of the Wen family that relocated and left skating?"
The crowd applauded, but for A-Yuan, accomplishment lay elsewhere : in precision, grace, and the little spark Wei Ying had told him to infuse into every move. In the gaze of Xian-Gege and Qing-Jie waiting off-ice, and tonight, in his family’s eyes : Ning-Ge, Wen Popo, and Fourth Uncle, gathered for a meal. For once, Wen Sizhui could be proud of being himself on that rink, carrying his family’s hopes, perpetuating his coach’s talent despite difficult circumstances.
"Wen Sizhui scores 76.80, placing second provisionally!"
Wen Yuan quickly left the ice for Group 3. He reattached his skate guards and went to Wen Qing.
"So, how was it?"
"Very good, Wen Yuan, very good. Those who knew Wei Wuxian before will recognize him through you. For a moment, I thought I saw him before the Sunshot Campaign, before he developed his triple Axel. He could rival anyone with grace and musicality, blending completely with the music. Your music choice was excellent for the short program."
"Thanks, Qing-Jie. Xian-Gege helped me choose it!"
"Speaking of him, he must be waiting outside. Let’s get some air, then find a quiet spot until the final results."
They headed outside, finding Wei Ying near the emergency exit. He smoked a cigarette, which Wen Qing promptly grabbed and tossed aside.
"Hey, Qing-Jie, I paid for that pack, you know. At least reimburse me if you want to throw them on the ground."
"Cut it out. I told you to stop smoking that crap, it’ll ruin your body." She stomped it out with her foot.
Wen Yuan tried to change the subject quickly. "How long until the final results?"
"I don’t know, maybe an hour or two. We can go back inside now ; I’m a bit cold." Wei Ying replied.
"I told you to wear a jacket, but you never listen." Wen Qing added with a teasing smirk.
They reentered through the emergency door to reach less crowded hallways. Wei Ying preferred all safety measures, knowing the previous candidates might include members of Yunmeng Jiang, or worse, Gusu Lan. Running into Lan Zhan or Jiang Cheng would be very troublesome. They entered a lounge, only to find the two other podium skaters : Jin Ling and Lan Jingyi. They paused upon seeing them.
"Oh, you’re Wen Sizhui, right? You’re second on the provisional podium. Congrats! Your performance was amazing! But I’ve never seen you or heard of your club. You must come from far away. Your coach must be really cool to teach you like that!" Lan Jingyi bombarded Wen Yuan with questions, stopped by Jin Rulan.
"Jingyi, stop. You talk too much."
"Haha, it’s fine, I’m glad someone likes my performance. I trained outside the club before joining recently. It’s not very well-known either ; that’s why you haven’t heard of it, I guess."
Wei Ying shot a glance at Wen Qing, then whispered in her ear that they should leave to let A-Yuan finally make friends who shared his passion. Wei Ying didn't want to befriend the other coaches, but he wouldn't stop his little radish from doing so if he wished. He would send a message to A-Yuan later if they didn't meet before the results. He opened the door, followed by Wen Qing, when he bumped into a solid figure right in the face.
“Ouch, ouch, ouch, why is no one looking ahead before walking?”
“Wei Wuxian?”
There was a pause. Wei Ying, holding his nose like an idiot, looked up and found himself face to face with Jiang Cheng. His former didi, his former training partner, the one who could recognize him from miles away and the last person he wanted to run into today. Fortunately, Wei Ying had pretty good control over his emotions and physical reactions. After tilting his head in a daze, he simply replied that he didn't know anyone by that name. He was about to pass by to leave when Jiang Cheng suddenly grabbed his wrist and squeezed it tightly.
“Jiang-Gonzi, please refrain from bothering my colleague. I understand you may want to vent your hatred toward your former shidi, Wei Wuxian, on someone, but Mo Xuanyu isn't the person you're looking for.” Fortunately, Qing-Jie could always be counted on to get him out of slightly tricky situations.
“Ha! Wen-Guniang, I know I can recognize people I grew up with, but thanks for trying to resolve some supposed misunderstanding that you should not even be involved in. Who's this supposed Mo Xuanyu that you're defending so much against this accusation?”
“In front of you stands my colleague Mo Xuanyu, as I previously mentioned. If you had paid attention to the earlier passages, you would know that one of the candidates, Wen Sizhui, comes from our newly opened club, Yilling Mo. As you guessed, and because I know you're perceptive, Mo Xuanyu is his coach. He may look like someone we knew but he's much younger, only 28, and apart from their physical resemblance, they have nothing else in common.”
While she negotiated with Jiang Cheng, Wei Ying quietly slipped behind her to take on Mo Xuanyu’s role. It might seem a bit confusing when explained this way, but the subject had given permission. Wei Ying and Mo Xuanyu had met a few years prior, when the latter had just arrived in town and did not know where to stay. Miraculously, he ran into Wei Ying taking out the trash, and they chatted a bit before Mo Xuanyu agreed to stay at his place for a while. They quickly became best friends, sharing a lot in common, especially their love for music, and Wei Ying suggested that Mo Xuanyu work with them. Since he played multiple instruments, they agreed he would play a bit at the restaurant and collect the tips from customers as well as part of the end-of-day earnings.
This solution worked for everyone. Mo Xuanyu, a truly kind soul, quickly made a place for himself in the Wen family. It was agreed he would continue living with them as long as he paid his share of the rent. He worked freelance creating soundtracks for his clients and helped at the restaurant from time to time when Wei Ying was sick. When the question of Wei Wuxian’s identity and the creation of the club came up, Mo Xuanyu did not hesitate to lend his name publicly to help his best friend. Due to their physical resemblance, it was fairly easy to confuse them. It was thus agreed that if Wei Ying had to appear publicly, he would do so under Mo Xuanyu’s name. But even Wei Ying had not expected to have to use it so soon, not even before the national championship.
“You think I would not recognize his tics, the way he holds himself and tilts his head when he lies? I don't know why my dear brother decided to mysteriously come back to life after 13 years of absence, but he can go screw himself for abandoning A-Jie and me.”
“Jiang-Gonzi, mind your words, that is deeply inappropriate.”
“Very well. Mo Xuanyu, then. Excuse me, but I will go fetch my nephew. Now, please step aside so I can get through.”
Wei Ying, lost in thought, took a moment to process : a nephew? Jiang Cheng had a nephew? And the only person who could have a nephew was Jiang Yanli, his shijie. Shijie had a child, and he did not know. He took a deep breath. That is what happens when you leave the lives of your loved ones, you lose track of them and the right to care about their lives. Wei Ying only realized he was trembling as Jiang Cheng disappeared behind the door, which slammed shut without looking back. He inhaled slowly, hoping that Wen Yuan’s social interactions would go more smoothly than his own.