Unbearable - Chapter 49

Chapter 49: “Stop Tempting Me”

 

The pre-competition training wasn’t open to the public, and media weren’t allowed in either. So besides the athletes, the only people present were a few coaches and staff members.

 

It was a standard rink, surrounded by four sides of spectator stands. Only a few scattered people were sitting in the seats, making the place feel vast and lonely.

 

Following the signs, Yu Wei didn’t head toward the rink barriers or climb up to the stands. She just stood at the base of the wall beneath the stands, pulled her scarf up to the edge of her glasses, and looked through the lenses at the skaters on the ice—watching as Yu Wei landed from a jump, pushed off the ice with a twist, and skated toward the edge.

 

A girl nearby naturally picked up a water bottle from the boards and handed it to her. Yu Wei took it, took a sip, and casually glanced around.

 

Yu Wei instantly held her breath.

 

“Want me to record a video for you?”

 

“No need.”

 

Yu Wei hesitated for a moment, then glanced around again. She turned her head casually as if it meant nothing, then leaned back against the rink barrier, exposing only her back and the back of her head to where Yu Wei stood.

 

She probably didn’t see her.

 

Yu Wei let out a soft exhale. The warm breath dampened her mask and scarf.

 

She tugged at her scarf gently and leaned back against the deep blue wall, flipping her badge around so the side with her name and photo was hidden, leaving only a blank white surface visible.

 

They weren’t speaking loudly, but the rink was so quiet that even a whisper seemed to echo. The only sound was the long, crisp glide of blades slicing across the ice.

 

And Yu Wei was standing close—just a few meters away—so whether she wanted to or not, she could hear them clearly.

 

The skaters on the ice now were the ones scheduled to compete tomorrow. The driver had said two domestic women’s singles competitors were here, so these must be the two.

 

Yu Wei had never followed this kind of competition before. She shouldn’t recognize the girl at all, and yet… there was a strange sense of familiarity.

 

“That 3A jump just now was beautiful!”

 

Yu Wei’s head snapped up—that voice!

 

She remembered it. In the video of Yu Wei skating she watched recently, the person filming had said something just like that. Sweet voice, filled with admiration and awe.

 

Yu Wei didn’t respond. Leaning back against the barrier, she stretched out her arm and casually set the bottle on the board.

 

“What’s wrong?” Fang Yi turned to glance at her slightly, “Nervous?”

 

Yu Wei turned her face slightly and looked down.

 

From that glance, Fang Yi realized she’d overthought and chuckled awkwardly before skating back onto the rink.

 

She hadn’t expected Yu Wei to be in such great shape after two years off the ice.

 

She had to give it her all too—they were competitors, after all.

 

Yu Wei leaned against the wall, watching Yu Wei’s profile. That girl smiled faintly as she looked down, then skated away. Yu Wei turned back, still facing away, so from this angle, she was just a silhouette.

 

Her gaze probably followed that girl, who was both her teammate and her rival. What a perfect combination.

 

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Yu Wei quickly pressed down through her coat, but the vibration had already stopped.

 

She exhaled in relief, wondering why she was so flustered. Then she pulled her phone out.

 

It was a message from Cheng Miao, asking if she could get inside the venue. As the only one with connections, she wanted her to sneak in and get some photos of Yu Wei’s training—videos would be even better.

 

There was even a missed two-second voice message.

 

Yu Wei looked up just in time to see the person leaning on the barrier skating onto the rink, hair swept behind her ears, the ends fluttering as she moved. The coat puffed out slightly, catching the wind behind her.

 

Yu Wei hesitated, then raised her phone, zooming in to track the fluttering ends of her hair.

 

The background blurred into streaks as she skated, but the figure at the center of the frame remained sharp and clear.

 

Suddenly, Yu Wei turned and unzipped her jacket in one motion, taking it off with one hand. She held it at her side as she skated back to the board, folded it neatly, and placed it down.

 

She was only a few meters away, head slightly lowered, fingers in black gloves carefully adjusting her white uniform—smoothing it out again and again.

 

With the white team jacket removed, she revealed a black, full-length tight athletic suit that clung to her neck with not a single extra color.

 

Maybe it was the stark contrast or the ice rink lighting, but her jaw and neck seemed porcelain white, shrouded in cold mist from the ice—a living ink painting in vibrant tones.

 

Then she suddenly looked up.

 

Yu Wei’s fingers tightened around her phone. She accidentally hit the capture button and frantically stopped the recording.

 

Flustered and guilty, she fumbled with the phone. By the time she looked up again, Yu Wei had already skated away.

 

She probably didn’t notice.

 

Yu Wei breathed a sigh of relief, shoved her phone into her pocket, and hurried away from the rink. She didn’t know why, but after taking that video and those photos, she felt deeply guilty.

 

Being a “paparazzi”… didn’t feel so great.

 

Back outside the venue, Yu Wei pulled down her mask and exhaled. A puff of white fog escaped into the cold air. She opened her phone and checked WeChat.

 

Cheng Miao had messaged her several more times, first asking if she got the footage, then saying it was fine—she’d come herself tomorrow.

 

Maybe she had class—there were no more messages afterward.

 

Yu Wei opened her gallery and selected a photo.

 

The girl in the photo was looking directly at the camera. Her eyes were sharp yet gentle. The screenshot froze her expression just right, as if Yu Wei had been staring at her through the screen for a long time.

 

She hesitated, then canceled sending it.

 

She opened the video again. Maybe it was because she’d just looked at the photo, but the video made it seem like Yu Wei was intentionally cooperating with her camera.

 

Before she knew it, she’d watched it twice.

 

Eventually, she sent it.

 

Cheng Miao instantly replied: Thank the heavens, thank the earth, thank the universe for letting me have a sister like you!!

 

Then a flood of kissy and flower emojis followed.

 

Yu Wei stared at the screen, sighing. If Cheng Miao ever found out about her and Yu Wei’s relationship, would she still be smiling?

 

Sister and daughter—that’s one messy ethical dilemma.

 

Outside the venue, posters and banners of all the competitors were displayed. Fans gathered to take photos with them. Yu Wei searched for a bit before finding Yu Wei’s banner, surrounded by people. It was nearly life-size, and the photo used was from her competition two years ago.

 

Yu Wei stood on the outside edge of the crowd, tiptoed, and took a photo to send to Cheng Miao.

 

Cheng Miao squealed in response, then asked why she was still outside.

 

Good question.

 

Yu Wei: “Got caught sneaking photos.”

 

Cheng Miao: “??”

 

Cheng Miao: “Girl.”

 

Cheng Miao: “She must be loving it! Why’d you run??”

 

What?!

 

Even Cheng Miao could tell?!

 

Yu Wei’s face flushed red, heat rushing to her head. She looked down and saw another message from Cheng Miao: “She’s a star athlete now! A comeback is right around the corner!”

 

Yu Wei: “Oh.”

 

The competition atmosphere was thick. Even those who couldn’t get into the venue carried small banners printed with their favorite athlete’s name and image. Many held bags and gathered to exchange merch, chat about their favorites, and passionately hope for a win.

 

More and more people arrived. Yu Wei tucked her badge away, retreated from the crowd, pulled her hat down, wore her mask, and tightened her scarf, silently watching the excited fans find others to share their enthusiasm.

 

She didn’t fit in.

 

If she went back in now, she’d stand out too much.

 

When practice ended, the skaters slowly trickled off the ice. Fang Yi skated to Yu Wei’s side to help remove her blade guards and followed her gaze toward the exit tunnel.

 

“What are you looking at?”

 

Only a few people were walking through the tunnel—no one standing where Yu Wei was looking.

 

“Nothing.”

 

Yu Wei pulled on the coat she had taken off earlier, picked up her blade guards, and skated to the exit. Her phone was calm and still in her palm.

 

She came.

 

But she avoided her.

 

Back at the hotel, Yu Wei sat alone in her room, looking down at her phone while people passed by outside the door.

 

The floor was mostly athletes and their families, along with team staff. Since the hotel wasn’t far from the venue, there were also international competitors and fans staying there.

 

At this time of night…

 

The door across the hallway clicked open gently.

 

It felt just like when she was in her bedroom doing homework and Yu Wei came home late from training. Soft footsteps, careful movements to avoid noise, and a brief sound of running water from the bathroom a few minutes later.

 

She always tried to be quiet.

 

But what she didn’t know was that someone in the house had been waiting in silence, hoping for any sound besides their own.

 

Lately, that house had gone quiet again. It was eerily still.

 

Even though Ding Qing was just downstairs.

 

Eventually, the sounds outside faded. Her phone screen had long gone dark.

 

Then there were footsteps again. They stopped outside her door. A knock.

 

Yu Wei nearly jumped out of her chair.

 

She rushed to the door, paused to catch her breath, and pulled it open.

 

“Have you eaten?”

 

Ding Qing stood at the door, looking at her.

 

“I have.”

 

Her stomach was empty, but she wasn’t in the mood.

 

Ding Qing nodded and turned to knock on the door across the hall.

 

Standing in just her pajamas, Yu Wei realized it was actually a bit cold.

 

She looked over Ding Qing’s shoulder at the reddish-brown door.

 

It opened from the inside.

 

“Want to get dinner?”

 

Yu Wei: “Already ate.”

 

She glanced quickly from behind Ding Qing, accidentally locking eyes with Yu Wei. Neither of them looked away. A slight nod—an acknowledgment.

 

Then the door shut again.

 

Ding Qing didn’t go inside. She turned to tell Yu Wei that she had things to handle tonight but would return tomorrow before the match to take her to the venue.

 

Maybe there was a branch of the Yu family’s company here—she was busy again.

 

Yu Wei nodded, stepped out of her room, and watched Ding Qing disappear into the elevator.

 

Things between her and Yu Wei seemed strange again.

 

Like falling in zero gravity—unable to touch the ground, endlessly sinking.

 

After a gloomy day, it finally started snowing. Outside the window, it was pitch-black. Only up close could you see the clumps of snow drifting down. A cold wind whistled through the small crack in the window.

 

Yu Wei shivered and quickly shut it.

 

With the cold sealed out, the room felt warm—almost like summer. It was her first time experiencing such a hot winter.

 

Then another knock on the door.

 

Yu Wei, still in her slippers, hesitated, put on her glasses, and opened the door.

 

The cold scent of snow mingled with the warmth of food.

 

Yu Wei’s hair was damp, her lashes moistened by melting snow. She looked down at her and handed over a bag of food. “Hungry?”

 

Yu Wei opened the door fully and leaned against the wall beside it.

 

“It’s snowing outside.”

 

She tried to make small talk.

 

“Mm.” Yu Wei stepped in, set the bag on the table by the window, and looked up. “It wasn’t snowing when I went out. Didn’t expect it to get this heavy.”

 

The night outside was dark, the window reflecting their overlapping silhouettes.

 

Yu Wei closed the door and approached. Yu Wei opened the bag and pulled out the food inside.

 

Grilled meat wrapped in foil, snow pear soup in a thermos, and a box of desserts she’d waited half an hour to buy.

 

“Just grabbed a few things on the way. Not sure if they’re good—try them.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

Yu Wei glanced at her damp hair. “Sit down.”

 

Yu Wei paused while unscrewing the thermos, then leaned against the sofa arm and looked at her. The light reflected a gentle shimmer in her eyes.

 

“I went to watch your practice today. Sis, good luck tomorrow,” Yu Wei said with a forced, awkward smile.

 

Yu Wei’s eyes dimmed. “Thanks.”

 

The smell of food lingered.

 

Silence fell again.

 

They’d had quiet moments before, but never like this.

 

Yu Wei looked down at the table full of food and picked up the warm, fruity soup. “Want a sip to warm up?”

 

Yu Wei still stared at her.

 

At the hazy emotion in her pink-tinted eyes. At her clumsy, awkward attempt to please.

 

Her eyes darkened, expression softening into helplessness. Yu Wei sighed. “Stop tempting me.”

 

Yu Wei felt a hot wave of shame rise in her chest.

 

“Snow pear with white fungus—seems light, but it’s got a lot of calories. I can’t drink it.” Yu Wei turned to leave and added, “Don’t lie down right after eating. If you want to watch the snow, wait until tomorrow.”

 

Yu Wei called her “Sis,” and she really had become one.

 

Just like Yu Wei wanted.

 

Yu Wei stood there, frozen.