I Really Am Just a Substitute – CH30

Chapter 30

After the friendly match, the remaining training players were fully convinced by Coach Luo’s picks.

Song Hanrun, who used to crumble under pressure, had become the “clutch player,” scoring the highest points in the match.

As for Ning Zhou — though his height was lacking, everything else was exceptional: technique, game IQ, even his composure. He turned the game around with calm precision…

Soon, the coaching team officially adjusted the national team roster: The second-string setter and opposite, who underperformed in the Asian Championship, were demoted to Team B. Ning Zhou and Song Hanrun were promoted to train with the first team.

Substitute setter. Ning Zhou stared blankly at those four words, feeling a surreal sense of déjà vu.

Back in his previous life, the script for a substitute setter had always been clear — eyes locked only on the starting setter position.

But he had pushed too hard, lost control, and — like “an egg smashing into a rock” — injured his fingers badly.

The phantom pain of broken bones seemed to return. Ning Zhou lowered his phone, gently rubbing his past injury…

Foolish. As long as his body stayed intact, there was nothing wrong with being a lifelong backup setter.

With that optimistic thought, he continued checking the notifications.

This new roster was drastically different from his previous life —

Nie Feiang, who once fell apart after a team reshuffle; Xu Zichang, previously unremarkable; and Song Hanrun, who had always failed to seize opportunities — all three had broken past their limits and now joined the first team.

A brand-new national lineup… just how far could they go on the international stage?

Ning Zhou smiled and kept scrolling through the updates.

The coaches had issued their punishment for the friendly match fight:

Both the blocker and Yu Bai were at fault. Each had to write a 5,000-word self-reflection and apologize publicly to each other.

Ning Zhou: worried to death.jpg

Yu Bai, however, didn’t think he had done anything wrong. How could he possibly apologize sincerely?

The next day, after training, Coach Luo gathered all the players for the official apology session.

Ning Zhou was on edge the whole time, ready to jump in at any second to stop another fight from breaking out…

“In the friendly match, certain players violated team rules, leading to verbal and physical conflict, which created a negative impact! Now, they will give their reflections and apologies!”

Yu Bai immediately stepped forward — and casually dragged the trembling blocker out with him.

Ning Zhou: !!!

Luckily, Yu Bai seemed to be in a good mood.

With his hands casually behind his back and no trace of aggression, he said calmly, “I shouldn’t have hit you.”

The blocker forced a nervous laugh. “No, no, it was my fault. I made the first inappropriate move…”

“That’s it?” Coach Luo frowned in dissatisfaction. “At the very least, an apology should include the words I’m sorry, right?”

Yu Bai raised his eyebrows slightly, but before he could say anything, the blocker frantically waved his hands. “No need! I can feel the sincerity!”

From beside him, Ning Yang whispered with a chuckle, “A wise man knows when to back down.”

Ning Zhou: …

It was hard to tell who this apology session was really meant for.

“You can return to your places now. Hand in your written reflections when you’re done!”

Once the group settled down, Coach Luo made an announcement, “Everyone should have received the notification. Congratulations to those who have been selected for the national first and second teams.

For those who didn’t make the cut, don’t be discouraged. The national team roster is always being adjusted. Keep improving and wait for your opportunity. Remember — just being here already means you’re among the top men’s volleyball players in China!”

With just a few words, Coach Luo had the players’ fighting spirits burning bright.

The soul of volleyball never dies…

“Today is our last training session for the week. Rest tomorrow. On Monday, report to your respective teams. Dismissed!”

Naturally, Ning Zhou and his friends gathered together to discuss what extra training to do that day.

“I have to record a show tomorrow, so I’m heading back to rest—”

“No way!” Nie Feiang, using his towering two-meter frame, blocked the exit of the court. “Your recording’s in the afternoon. Can’t you spare a little time to train with us?”

“There are other setters…” Ning Zhou glanced around the court, then paused.

“Where’s Shao Qiu?”

“If you’re looking for Shao Qiu…” Ning Yang explained, “Coach Kong called the captain and vice-captain of Team One — that’s Du Jun and Shao Qiu — to the office.”

Nie Feiang wailed dramatically, “Zhou Zhou! You’re the only setter left who can sync with us. Without you, how am I supposed to survive?!”

Ning Zhou’s eyelid twitched. “…Fine. One hour. No more.”

“Yesss!”

Nie Feiang, Xu Zichang, Song Hanrun, Chen Wenyao, and the other attackers quickly lined up, ready for spiking drills with him.

Ning Zhou felt something was off — wasn’t there someone missing?

“Here.”

As Ning Zhou passed one ball, another was handed to him from the side.

“Yu Bai?” Ning Zhou blinked in confusion. “Why aren’t you in line for spiking practice?”

Yu Bai had already grabbed the next ball from the rack. “I’m fine here.”

“…Alright then.”

While tossing and setting, Ning Zhou casually struck up a conversation. “Did you finish writing your reflection?”

“Yeah.”

“Coach Kong didn’t give you a hard time, did he?”

Yu Bai paused for a moment, as if carefully considering the definition of “hard time.” “…No.”

Ning Zhou’s sharp ears twitched. He glanced sideways at him. “You… seem to be in a good mood today?”

“…” Yu Bai didn’t deny it. “Yu Corporation approved my proposal.”

Ning Zhou’s eyes lit up. “Congratulations! Your sister’s been hoping you’d help take on some responsibilities with the company. And since your proposal went through smoothly, that shows you’re really capable!”

At the mention of Yu Tong hoping he’d join the family business, Yu Bai’s expression turned cold and distant. “I’m not quitting the volleyball team.”

“Ah, I didn’t mean it like that,” Ning Zhou quickly clarified. “You’re so good at volleyball — I’d never want to lose a teammate like you!”

“…”

Feeling a bit flustered, Ning Zhou quickly changed the subject. “It must be tough for you. Balancing the Asian Championship, the friendly matches, and your work with Yu Corporation…”

“It’s fine,” Yu Bai replied in an even tone. “It was an important proposal. It’s better to get it done quickly.”

Ning Zhou, focused mainly on his passing, responded absently, “Really? An urgent proposal?”

Yu Bai tossed the ball up, caught it with one hand, and only when Ning Zhou turned to him for the next ball did Yu Bai smile slightly.

“No. You’ll find out soon enough.”

“?”

Ning Zhou didn’t think much of it.

It wasn’t until that evening, when he checked his phone, that he understood — Yu Bai’s proposal was about him.

The official Yu Corporation account had launched a poll:

Yu Sports Brand: Hello, everyone! The long-awaited new line of athletic shoes is finally here!

Yu Sports has never had a brand ambassador before, but this time, we’ve decided to find someone to promote our new shoes.

Please share your ideal candidate in the comments — the number of likes will count as votes.

The final decision will be made by us, but we’ll definitely take everyone’s opinions into account! /bow/

Netizens flooded the comments section, posting photos of fresh, youthful celebrities.

But the candidate with likes far surpassing everyone else wasn’t even from the entertainment industry, “It has to be these two! Perfect for the men’s and women’s versions of the shoes! [Image]”

The picture showed Ning Zhou during his accidental encounter with Yu Tong at a Yu Sports store — the two of them side by side in the full-length mirror.

“This one wins. I’m powerless against sharp jawlines and lean muscle… /nosebleed/”

“One is from the Yu family, the other is already wearing the new model… and both of them are so good-looking it’s unfair. How can anyone else in the comments compete? /ascend/”

“Wait, what’s going on? Is this some promo from that variety show? There’s another episode airing tomorrow, but the buzz today is insane…”

“That guy, Ning Zhou, seems to have trended several times already. The marketing for Sport Forward! is seriously top-notch. I’m definitely tuning in tomorrow to see what the show is like…”

Ning Zhou scrolled through the comments section, his expression turning blank.

No broadcast for the U21 matches, yet he still trended.

No cameras during the friendly match, yet someone managed to film it.

He’d even taken a two-week break from the variety show, but now people were digging up old photos…

Was it that Salted-Fish Zhou just wasn’t low-profile enough?

“Bzzz—Bzzz—”

His phone buzzed, interrupting his daze. It was a message from his manager:

Manager, “Ning Zhou! Your timing to boost exposure is perfect! Tons of netizens are saying they’re curious about you and Sister Yu Tong and are tuning in for tomorrow’s live broadcast!”

Ning Zhou, “…What boost in exposure?”

Manager, “The voting for Yu Sports’ new brand ambassador, of course! The variety show team didn’t coordinate this with Yu Sports at all.”

Ning Zhou, “They didn’t coordinate with me either.”

Manager, “You’re too humble, Ning Zhou!”

(sends a laughing emoji) “Which brand doesn’t talk to their shortlisted candidates beforehand?”

Maybe brands would.

But Yu Bai definitely wouldn’t!

Ning Zhou didn’t even know how to explain that, typed a message, then deleted it, trying to find the right words.

But his manager, impatient as ever, switched topics before he could reply:

Manager, “Anyway, tomorrow I’ll pick you up at the usual time!

I’ve missed you so much, Ning Zhou. The last two episodes without you were so bland — too proper, no fun at all. Everyone’s waiting for you to come back and bring the energy!”

Suddenly handed such a heavy responsibility, Ning Zhou felt the pressure mounting.

Ning Zhou, “What do I need to prepare?”

Manager, “Nothing. Just you being there is enough to make the show interesting!”

Ning Zhou, “…” (Was that a compliment or an insult?)

Manager, “Oh, and tomorrow’s shoot is at an indoor ice rink — don’t wear a short-sleeve shirt!”

Ning Zhou, “Got it.”

“Good afternoon, everyone in the livestream! Welcome to this week’s episode of Sports Forward! The live broadcast will begin shortly!”

[Here! Loyal fan checking in — never missed an episode!]

[+1. Once you fall into the sports circle, there’s no escape.]

[I saw Yu Sports’ post last night about picking a brand ambassador. Is this the show where Yu Tong and Ning Zhou are on?]

[The show only hits the right vibe with Ning Zhou — it upgrades from a plain sports variety show to a mix of comedy, skill, suspense, and good looks…]

“Viewer numbers are climbing,” Director Zhang said backstage as he switched between the live metrics and the scrolling comments. “Many viewers are here because of the Yu Sports brand ambassador buzz. Save Yu Tong and Ning Zhou for the final introductions.”

PD, cameramen, and live editors, “Copy that.”

The live broadcast began, with the camera first panning across the ice rink.

“Each episode, we explore a different sport. This week, we’re diving into ice sports! Speed skating, short track, figure skating, ice hockey, curling… Every Winter Olympics, these thrilling, visually stunning sports captivate fans around the world.”

[Whoa! First time tuning in, and it’s already looking exciting. Are they about to film a Fast & Furious on ice?]

[Short track is amazing! Figure skating, too. Those are my favorites.]

[Isn’t there a figure skater in the cast?]

[Tong Rong — she used to compete in women’s singles. She placed fourth at the Winter Olympics at just sixteen and carried the national team that entire Olympic cycle.]

[She’s my favorite domestic skater, but it’s such a pity she retired so early… only one Olympic appearance.]

Seeing the comments focus on Tong Rong, the director signaled the camera to zoom in on her as the PD introduced her, “This week’s ‘home field’ guest is Tong Rong. After moving up to the senior division, she dominated the domestic women’s singles scene, winning championship after championship.

Here at the rink, we’re in Tong Rong’s territory. Let’s look forward to her outstanding performance!”

Tong Rong waved at the camera.

With light makeup, she looked bright and charming, but her expression lacked real enthusiasm.

The guests had already laced up their skates and stood in a row at the rink’s edge, each taking their turn for a close-up.

Zeng Yunsheng, Fu Binhong, and Yu Tong, clearly uneasy on the ice, clung desperately to the railings. They couldn’t even free their hands to wave, their legs trembling as they forced awkward smiles:

“Hello, everyone.”

[Ah… so even athletes are like fish out of water when it’s not their sport.]

[When the camera focused on Tong Rong earlier, I wondered why she wasn’t standing at center ice. Now I see — the others can barely stand without clinging to the railings…]

[Fast & Furious on ice? Yeah, that’s dead.]

The camera then slowly panned to the last guest.

First came a flash of bright-colored fabric, then a drift of pure white fur trim…

Ning Zhou stood there in a long down jacket with a fluffy hood, gloves, and a scarf — completely bundled up.

Compared to the slightly plump Fu Binhong, he looked even rounder. The cameraman, realizing the close-up was too tight, had to zoom out for a wide shot.

[Uh… who’s this ball? Where’s Ning Zhou?]

[I thought I clicked into Sports Forward! not Roll Forward!]

[Wait, no way — is this the same guy from the U21 men’s volleyball team that won bronze the other day? ]

[Only a few minutes into the stream and I’m already opening my shopping app to find that exact coat for my boyfriend.]

[Girl, calm down! Look closely — it’s Ning Zhou’s face making that coat look good.]

[No, but seriously… dude, you’re a public figure. Even if you’re cold, at least try to look sharp… How the hell do you still look this good bundled up like that!?]

The other guests all turned to stare at Ning Zhou.

They’d each chosen fitted thermal gear for the cameras, with maybe a thin vest over it if they were worried about the cold.

Yu Tong mouthed silently at him: “Where’s your image management, Mr. Variety Show Star?”

Ning Zhou, who had dug deep in his closet to find his thickest winter clothes: …

He forced an awkward laugh at the camera. “Long time no see, everyone…”

Behind the lens, Director Zhang called over Ning Zhou’s manager, gritting his teeth, “What exactly did you tell him?”

The manager, pale with panic and on the verge of tears, stammered, “I told him we’d be at an indoor ice rink and reminded him not to wear short sleeves…”

Director Zhang covered his forehead. “Are you sure you didn’t make a typo? Did you accidentally write ‘Arctic’ instead of ‘indoor ice rink’…?”

The PD turned back nervously. “Director Zhang, should we… maybe get him a change of clothes?”

“No need.” Director Zhang’s expression was complicated. “For some reason, the number of live comments doubled. The audience seems to like the down jacket…”

The PD wiped off a cold sweat. “Haha… Netizens’ tastes are as unpredictable as ever!”

“Stop complaining and move on with the segment!”

The PD quickly switched the mic to the live stream, “As you can see, many of our team members are stepping on the ice for the first time today, so we’ve invited a professional coach to teach them the basics of skating. Please welcome our coach!”

The skating coach glided over gracefully. “I’ll first check everyone’s basic level. Let’s start with this student. Try skating a bit.”

Caught off guard, Tong Rong, still a bit absent-minded, made a lap around the rink. She finished with a light spin and braked to a perfect stop right in front of the coach.

Coach: !

[Coach in deep thought: What on earth can I teach Tong Rong…]
[First student’s ready to graduate before the lesson even starts. Zero sense of achievement. /doge/]
[It’s fine, the next few students will help him rediscover his self-worth. /noob/]
[The guests are all athletes; with their physical fitness, they’ll probably pick this up faster than normal people.]

As the comments predicted, within just a few minutes, Zeng Yunsheng and the others went from barely standing to slowly skating along the edge of the rink.

“Good, that’s the feel! Keep practicing on your own; I’ll go teach the last student.”

The coach let the first four continue practicing and turned toward Ning Zhou.

Ning Zhou had his chin tucked into his down jacket collar, motionless like a plush doll, blinking his watery eyes.

“Hello, coach! This is my first time skating, please take care of me!”

“…Hello.”

The coach gave the PD a sidelong glance, cautiously asking, “Does this student… have some special need to keep warm?”

“No, no!” Ning Zhou unzipped his collar a little, revealing his chin. “I just happened to dress a bit too warmly today…”

The coach was silent for a few seconds, then smiled.

[I knew it, the coach couldn’t help laughing after seeing Ning Zhou’s outfit. Guess he thought Ning Zhou had some health condition… /sweat/]
[Ning Zhou is 20, a top-level college athlete. Of course college athletes are a bit fragile! (totally convinced)]

The coach moved closer, ready to explain the basic posture—but suddenly froze.

“Student, can you even… move your legs?”

Ning Zhou took a few tentative steps. “Yes, coach, don’t worry!”

…Wait. He just walked a few steps!?

The coach’s eyes widened as he double-checked Ning Zhou’s skates. “You… you’re an ice athlete too, like the first girl?”

“No, I play volleyball.”

“A natural talent! Your balance and coordination are excellent. With some training, you could absolutely transition into a Winter Olympics athlete!”

Ning Zhou was baffled. “I’ve… never thought about switching sports…”

“No, no, just listen to me first!”

Excited, the coach launched into an impassioned speech, starting from the history of ice sports and sharing stories of his own struggles learning to skate as a child.

By the time he finally remembered to actually teach skating, the PD shouted, “Alright, lesson time is over! It’s time for the first challenge—everyone, back to the starting area for the rules!”

“Alright then, I won’t keep you from filming. Good luck with the challenge!” The coach skated away…

Zeng Yunsheng and Fu Binhong, clinging to each other for support, slid past Ning Zhou.

“Man, after skating ten laps, I’m so bored!”

“Yeah, we’ve got the basics down already. Let’s start the challenge!”

Wrapped in the thickest jacket on the rink, Ning Zhou’s heart was ice cold…

[The most talented beginner… somehow turned into the only zero-level skater. /thumbs up/]
[Why didn’t the coach just start from the dawn of time? That lecture almost put me to sleep…]
[@YuOfficial, come see your future brand ambassador—still walking on ice skates like it’s solid ground!]
[Ning Zhou: Do you really not get why I’m walking? Do you think I just hate sliding? /bye/]
[LOL! Nothing wrong with Ning Zhou, except that he comes with a permanent “targeted” debuff…]

Taking tiny, awkward steps, Ning Zhou struggled back to the starting point. “I’m doomed…”

“Cheer up!” Yu Tong comforted him. “I believe the production team won’t be heartless. They know you haven’t learned yet—they wouldn’t set a skating-based task…”

“First task: a short-distance skating race!” the PD announced enthusiastically, proving themselves utterly heartless.

Yu Tong froze, her face darkening. “Ning Zhou… good luck!”

[Ning Zhou: Sis Yu, that’s not what you said just now!]
[While everyone else skates, Ning Zhou will be using the most primitive method—walking!]
[Genius! Absolute genius!]
[Popcorn and peanuts for sale! Get ready for the upcoming comedy show—Ning Zhou’s spectacular defeat!]

The PD gathered them at the starting line, pointing to a mark twenty meters away.

“That’s the finish line. Whoever crosses it first wins. Show us your fastest speed!”

Tong Rong was stunned. “That close? It’s basically a full sprint from the start!”

“Exactly. In a regular race, Tong Rong, you’d definitely win, but in a short sprint, luck plays a bigger role.”

After the explanation, the PD hyped up the audience: “Everyone, don’t blink—this race will be over in seconds. You don’t want to miss it!”

Zeng Yunsheng grumbled, “Twenty meters? We don’t stand a chance against a figure-skating prodigy… Right, Ning Zhou?”

Ning Zhou muttered weakly, “If this were a ‘who’s the slowest’ race, maybe I’d have a shot.”

Tong Rong stifled a laugh and said sympathetically, “How about this—I’ll give you guys a five-meter head start. I won’t move until you’ve started.”

[Five meters. Better than nothing, I guess.]
[Wow, what suspense. /sarcasm/]
[I don’t get it—what’s the point of having a pro figure skater race against a bunch of beginners in a sports variety show?]
[Thinking deeply… During the previous live shows, I often thought the same way, but the show always turned out like the Monkey King — popping up with surprises from the most unexpected places. (Mainly thanks to Ning Zhou.)]

“Ready—”

All the athletes tensed up at the word, nerves instantly on edge…

The PD dragged out the syllables, then swung his arm down, “Start!”

Tong Rong stayed in place, while the other four shot forward like arrows loosed from a bow — or more accurately, like arrows that had snapped mid-flight, each displaying an awkward skating posture.

Ning Zhou’s reaction speed was fast, but it was useless.

He looked like someone trying high heels for the first time, his feet and body moving separately, every bit of energy spent just trying to stay upright.

Except for Tong Rong, who hadn’t moved yet, the guests beside him all overtook him…

Ning Zhou lifted his skates high with every step, “jogging” forward while carefully observing the skating techniques of the people in front of him —

Shift your weight between both feet; the non-weight-bearing foot pushes for momentum.

Copying what he saw, Ning Zhou clumsily managed to slide forward a short distance.

[Finally, it’s starting to look like skating…]

[Technically speaking, Ning Zhou’s earlier mix of running and walking on ice was harder than proper skating. /speechless/]

[Slow but steady — he’s giving no respect to the ice blades at all. /doge/]

[Run, everyone! The Ice Demon King is coming for you!]

Tong Rong finally set off, gliding as casually as if the rink were her backyard…

It turned into a one-sided chase. In a blink, the lead of the people ahead vanished.

Fu Binhong had been in the lead, skating more than ten meters, halfway through the course.

Just as victory seemed certain, a smooth, sharp sound of skating approached from behind, bringing with it a subtle but undeniable sense of pressure…

His heart sank. He turned slightly, catching sight of Tong Rong closing in fast in his peripheral vision.

He was about to be overtaken!

Panic set in, and Fu Binhong tried to speed up.

But his basic skills couldn’t keep up with his ambition. Sprinting was too difficult for a beginner. His skate caught on the ice, and his body lurched violently—

“!”

Yu Tong and Zeng Yunsheng, closest to him, instinctively reached out to steady him.

Three unsteady beginners trying to balance each other… inevitably led to all three crashing down in a tangle of limbs.

Luckily, their speed wasn’t high, so no one was hurt — but the race was delayed.

For those unfamiliar with skates, standing up after falling takes time. With three contenders out of the running, only two remained in contention for the win:

Tong Rong, who had just caught up, and Ning Zhou, who had been lagging behind from the start…

[Thank goodness no one’s hurt. But wow, the three of them fell and got tangled like a human knot. /facepalm/]

[Ning Zhou somehow avoided disaster. Guess being slow has its perks!]

[LMAO. Falling behind turned out to be an advantage. What luck…]

[Five people started the race, now it’s just Tong Rong and Ning Zhou. Only a few meters left!]

[Yeah, but there’s zero suspense. No way anyone can beat a figure-skating prodigy one-on-one!]

[Still… Ning Zhou is the only one left who can challenge her. Come on, don’t lose too badly!]

Ning Zhou was startled by the “accident” ahead.

After confirming they weren’t injured, he awkwardly skated around them and pushed toward the finish line…

The last few meters required total concentration and multiple careful steps for Ning Zhou — while for Tong Rong, it was just a single effortless glide.

Ning Zhou had fully prepared himself to lose, when suddenly, the hem of his down jacket was yanked—

“!?”

“Ah! Sorry!”

Zeng Yunsheng, trying to stand, instinctively grabbed the nearest thing for support.

When he realized it was Ning Zhou’s jacket, he immediately let go — but it was too late.

Ning Zhou lost his balance, about to crash into the pile of fallen contestants—

As his view spun wildly, his body reacted on instinct before his brain could catch up. Just before hitting the ground, both feet kicked hard against the ice. The blades bit in and propelled him forward.

Face-first, Ning Zhou “smacked” onto the ice, arms sweeping instinctively to stabilize, and his whole body shot forward, sliding rapidly over the rink…

He held his head up to keep his chin from scraping.

Cold wind whipped across his cheeks as his brain blanked out: Why the hell did I just dolphin dive!?

[Huh?]

[???]

[OMG! A minute ago, I was laughing at Ning Zhou for wearing a thick down jacket on the show. Turns out, it’s not just for warmth — it’s anti-fall gear too! /the clown is me/]

[HAHA! He’s bouncing like a jelly ball on ice — duang duang~]

[Once again, calm and steady Ning Zhou proves his point: where you fall, you stay.]

[Wait—look closely! That’s not just “lying down”…!]

The direction of Ning Zhou’s “dolphin dive” was straight toward the finish line.

With the smooth fabric of his down jacket reducing friction, he slid like a seal, belly down, gliding across the ice.

To be honest, this was much faster than his actual skating…

Now, it was Tong Rong’s turn to feel the pressure.

She was leisurely skating toward the finish when, in her peripheral vision, a streak of down jacket zipped past like lightning — perfectly smooth.

Tong Rong sucked in a sharp breath, “Seriously!?”

She quickly switched gears, blades scraping up sharp sprays of ice as she pushed into a full-power sprint to defend her title as the queen of the rink…

One competitor upright on skates; the other flat on his stomach in a glide-off.

It was impossible to tell who had the advantage — the showdown was unexpectedly intense.

Even at the finish line, the difference between them was so slim it was impossible to judge by the naked eye…

[Guys, we just witnessed Fast & Furious — but with a down jacket “racing car”… /brain meltdown/]

[To everyone who said Sports Forward! lacked drama, or that this race was predictable — did your palms sweat watching this or not!?]

[Ning Zhou, please show some respect for that down jacket! I tolerated you using it as padding, but as a sled? It’s meant for warmth, not this nonsense!]

[I’m speechless. I thought Ning Zhou was just here to make up the numbers, but turns out he’s a top contender… So, has anyone found the link to that jacket yet? /hand out/]

[Who crossed the finish line first?!]

[Sharingan, activate! I swear it looked simultaneous…]

The directors huddled together, replaying the footage over and over, debating who crossed first.

Tong Rong helped Ning Zhou up. “Are you okay?”

Ning Zhou wiped himself off. His down jacket was soaked. “I’m fine. Good thing the jacket’s thick.”

Tong Rong handed him some tissues. “It’s just a variety show… Why are you trying so hard?”

Ning Zhou smiled sheepishly. “Actually, that move is kind of similar to one in volleyball. It just… came out naturally.”

“!” Tong Rong looked at him with awe. “I’ve heard rumors about your volleyball team’s god-level training methods. I believe it now!”

Ning Zhou: …

The director cut together a replay of Ning Zhou “riding” his jacket to slide across the finish line, looping it nonstop in the livestream — the original, at 0.8x speed, at 0.5x speed… finally freezing on the moment he crossed the line.

The PD finally announced, “After reviewing the slow-motion footage, the one who touched the line first is — Ning Zhou! Congratulations to Ning Zhou for winning the first event of today’s competition!”

[The only one who can beat an ice-skating prodigy girl is… a sliding seal.]

[Watch the replay carefully — Ning Zhou’s fall was an accident, but he turned the crisis into an opportunity. In that weightless moment, he twisted his body midair to control the landing! Genius reflexes.]

[Professional athletes’ physical abilities are terrifying…]

[That core strength is insane. Ning Zhou 10,000% has abs.]

[Rumor has it Yu Corp’s looking for a new spokesperson. Is this variety-show-seal their top pick?]

[@YuCorpOfficial, come take a look — what species is your candidate, exactly?]

Zeng Yunsheng brushed the ice off his jacket and walked over to Ning Zhou.

“Xiao Ning, my bad. I didn’t realize I yanked your jacket. You’re not hurt, right?”

“I’m fine.” Ning Zhou smiled at him. “Honestly, if you hadn’t grabbed me, I wouldn’t have won.”

Zeng Yunsheng laughed. “When you went down and started sliding like that, I was stunned!”

Yu Tong clapped. “Amazing! Ning Zhou, now that you’re back, this show is officially back to peak comedy and technical brilliance!”

“…Peak comedy?”

Fu Binhong cut through the banter, asking, “So, what does first place get you, Ning Zhou?”

The PD explained, “The reward for winning the first event is… +10 points in the final round!”

In other words, before the last competition even began, Ning Zhou already had a 10-point lead.

Ten points was a huge advantage in volleyball. Ning Zhou’s eyes lit up instantly.

“That’s great! What’s the final event?”

The PD replied with a hint of sympathy, “Figure skating.”

Tong Rong: Woohoo~

Ning Zhou: 🙂

The light in Ning Zhou’s eyes dimmed. He slowly closed them, hiding his despair.

[He looks like he’s about to break. The production team is evil, and I can’t stop laughing!]

[Ning Zhou, no matter how hard you try to hide it, that murderous intent seeps through. /tilted-smile/]

[They gave you ten points to skate. Just skate away, buddy. The more you skate, the more confused you’ll be.]

Once they learned the next event was figure skating, everyone calmed down.

They knew they’d lose, so the pressure was gone. They could just practice skating and call it learning a new skill.

Tong Rong, the most professional skater there, was the only one who grew agitated. While choreographing her routine, her thoughts were scattered, and she had to retreat to the edge of the rink to collect herself.

A staffer handed her a cup of warm water. She drank it quickly, staring blankly before realizing that the rest of the sports crew had gathered around her.

They offered comfort one by one, “Don’t be nervous. Even if you only use ten percent of your ability, you’ll blow us away. We’re just here for support.”

“You guys are all beginners. It’s unfair to expect you to handle figure skating,” Tong Rong said softly. “I’m sorry… It’s actually my fault. When I found out we were filming at a rink, I begged the production team to add a skating event.”

Everyone froze, exchanging glances.

Tong Rong pressed her hand to her forehead, guilt written across her face. “I didn’t think about how it’d affect you guys. I just… really wanted to skate in front of an audience again…”

Yu Tong frowned. “But with your record, you should still be getting lots of offers for shows or exhibition programs. How come…”

“I turned them all down.” Tong Rong absently twisted her paper cup. “Everyone in China knows I left the figure skating world in disgrace. If this weren’t a lighthearted variety show, I wouldn’t have the courage to perform in front of cameras.”

Left the figure skating world in disgrace?

Ning Zhou tried to keep a neutral face but couldn’t quite hide his confusion. The others jumped in to explain, “After the Winter Olympics, Tong Rong’s form declined. Before the next international competition, she retired. Some haters labeled her a coward.”

“You must’ve seen those clickbait headlines: ‘Figure Skating Genius Falls, Modern Tragedy of a Prodigy’ — they were everywhere.”

“Come on, Ning Zhou. You must remember. Athletes all know about this. Don’t tell me your brain is nothing but volleyball.”

“…,” Ning Zhou swallowed his instinct to say, I really don’t remember.

As long as he didn’t admit it, no one could stick the label of “volleyball idiot” on him.

“Honestly, those articles weren’t wrong…” Tong Rong half-covered her face, her voice trembling. “I failed to overcome the puberty hurdle.”

The puberty hurdle is every female figure skater’s nightmare.

With estrogen restricting muscle growth, those once-light little girls found it harder to control their weight, harder to jump, and harder to see results despite endless training…

Tong Rong crushed the paper cup in her hand, eyes filled with frustration.

“I was a coward. When my performance started declining, I was so afraid of losing the ‘prodigy’ title that I rushed into retirement. It’s laughable now. I quit, stopped training for years, and now… my body isn’t even that of an athlete anymore…”

For athletes, being called a “genius” is like having a head start at the starting line — a powerful advantage — but it can also turn into a cage. If you shine too brightly in the beginning, no amount of effort later may be enough to sustain you.

When Ning Zhou and Ning Yang were kids, their adoptive father, Ning Xu, often taught them, “Geniuses are the easiest to fall. Don’t think of yourselves as geniuses — start from zero like everyone else!”

Ning Zhou thought for a moment and spoke up, “The Tong Rong I know is someone breaking her own limits, not the so-called ‘genius girl’ others talk about.”

“You’re right!” Zeng Yunsheng said with a cheerful laugh. “Now that Xiao Tong stands on the ice rink again, she’s torn off that label others put on her.”

Yu Tong hugged Tong Rong and patted her back. “Do what you love. Since you’ve figured it out, there’s no need to care about anyone else’s opinion…”

“Mhm!” Tong Rong’s eyes were misty. “Thank you, everyone…”

She returned to the rink, her skates gliding across the ice, doubts shed, as if she and the blades had become one.

Ning Zhou stared at her back and, for a fleeting moment, saw a familiar young man —His fingers taped tightly, swollen red and numb, unable to tell if it was pain or just the loss of feeling.

He’d pushed his hands to the point of injury, just for the chance to wait on the bench, hoping the coach would make a substitution so he could finally touch the ball…

“Ning Yang is definitely a genius, but Ning Zhou? Why you?”

“Even if you practice ten hours more than everyone else every day, you’ll never match someone ten centimeters taller than you!”

“It’s dangerous! Don’t save him!”

“Your fingers can’t handle the strain anymore. Are you still trying to be an athlete? Take my advice — change careers now…”

“Mr. Ning Zhou, we regret to inform you that your name is not on the new national men’s volleyball roster. Please complete your withdrawal procedures and settle your accounts today…”

Fragments of memory flashed chaotically — humiliation, unwillingness, the dark, unspoken thoughts buried deep…

Ning Zhou clenched his fists, his gaze firm, resolve solid as stone.

How similar was his story to Tong Rong’s?

After being forced to retire, she had the courage to return to figure skating, and now, Ning Zhou would stand on the court again, fighting once more for those parts of himself left in the shadows.