Chapter 96
Chapter 96 – Roses (Translated and edited by Xing)
Ice hockey was an event with an extremely fast competition pace . The possibilities of what could happen in an instant were endless . Sometimes, spectators could lose sight of the puck despite fixing their attention on it . On whether his reaction had indeed slowed, even Li Yubing himself was not sure, not to mention Tang Xue when she only sat in the stands without a first-person view . Like the rest, she merely felt that Li Yubing’s condition was poor and his tempo was off .
Of course, what differed her from everyone else was that others only cared whether he was playing well while she was worried about his health .
“You might be facing too much stress,” Tang Xue said .
To be honest, Tang Xue could understand Li Yubing’s pressure . The world was holding too much expectation for him . From the media to ice hockey fans, everyone praised him to the skies . There were some who even claimed that he was the “saviour of China’s ice hockey” . It was obviously an overblown praise that could cause trouble and yet many had followed along blindly to praise the same .
“Mm, I’m don’t know . ” Li Yubing was distracted as he replied . With how Tang Xue was mounted on his waist and her firm butt was pressing against his lower abdomen, it was hard for him to focus .
Tang Xue said, “How about, you take a rest?”
“Hug me . ”
“I’m not talking about now…” Tang Xue was a little embarrassed . But she still got down from his body, snuggled into his embrace and pillowed her head on his arm while wrapping her arm around him . She continued, “I’m talking about taking a break from the club to adjust your state . The way you’re playing in competitions without stopping is too taxing . ”
“I can’t take a break . ”
“Why?”
Why? The answer to this question was a bit complicated .
There was too much attention on him now . Many audience had bought competition tickets because of him . Some sponsors required that he appear on the rink for a certain amount of time before they decided to provide sponsorship . His each and every single action was now tied up with the interest of too many parties, making him unable to simply do as he wished .
Of course, there were pros to this as well . It was difficult for competitive sports to be purely focused on the competition spirit . Competitive sports needed to go through certain steps and involve financing before it could have enough strength to thrive . For instance, the speed skating team lacked funding and Coach Chu was always poring over their performance and the prizes they could win . Head teacher Xie was also constantly thinking of ways that the prizes they won could be used for them to climb even higher . Needless to say, even more needed to be done when it came to carving a share of the large pie that ice hockey was .
A purely competition-driven match that did not involve any commercial value could probably only be held by the elderly uncles and aunties playing table tennis in the park . Of course, for people participating in such matches, the chances were high that they might be defeated into tears by some hidden experts as well .
Li Yubing briefly explained it to her . He played down the issue but Tang Xue’s heart still ached when she heard . She tightened her arms around him and asked, “How about we return the sponsors’ money? We didn’t spend much of it anyway . Once we return the money, you can rest for a few competitions and take a breather . ”
“It doesn’t work this way . ” Li Yubing did not know whether to laugh or cry . He rubbed her head . “I’m fine . ”
——
However, not everyone could accept Li Yubing’s frequent appearances on the rink . Many ice hockey fans felt that if a person was going up, they should be doing their best . It was not only a matter of Li Yubing not playing well . It was the fact that he was monopolizing a spot while playing poorly, the fact that he was hogging the team and dragging them down legitimately .
Some people speculated the people he had backing him . Others imagined how he threw his weight around in the team and bullied the rest with his power . Rumours flew and opinions were diverse as people weighted in on this . Casual netizens’ impression of Li Yubing deteriorated greatly . Even Li Yubing’s own fans had many doubts and numerous people stopped fanning over him . The remaining fans had faith in Li Yubing and all scrambled to help him quell the rumours .
But it was useless .
Slowly, as Li Yubing’s poor condition sustained in subsequent competitions, there were more and more voices condemning him . The media that once praised him to the skies and said that he was a “rare genius”, a “master at controlling the competition tempo” and the “saviour of China’s ice hockey” now changed their tune . They said that he was a “flash in the pan”, the “scourge of the team” and the “one bad apple that spoils the entire barrel” .
Li Yubing changed his ID back from “Tang Xue’s Global Fan Group” quietly .
Tang Xue was furious . Once, she tried reasoning with those scolding Li Yubing over the internet .
Netizen: Can Li Yubing get lost from the ice hockey community?
Tang Xue: It’s normal for an athlete’s condition to fluctuate . Give him some time to adjust . It’s up to the coach to decide whether to let him go up . Do you think you know more than the coach?
Netizen: In poor condition? His condition was great when I saw him participating in some events . He should be an actor .
Tang Xue: The commercial activities are all arranged by the club .
Netizen: He’s so enthusiastic when earning money but playing like sh*t in competitions .
Tang Xue: Can you mind your language?
Netizen: Oh ho ho, I see someone is being anxious?
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Netizen: The reason why your boyfriend is playing like a weakling must be because you tired him out in bed?
Netizen: Stop troubling him . Come find me, I’ll satisfy you .
……
Tang Xue’s face was drawn as she blocked a bunch of people . Then, she ranted to Xia Menghuan .
Xia Menghuan was puzzled . “My king, I thought you usually don’t care about those ridiculous internet criticism?”
Tang Xue did not care about those but she cared about Li Yubing . Her heart felt terrible at how badly Li Yubing was being scolded .
“My king, don’t be angry . Let me tell you, there are way too many haters on the internet these days and their mouths are awfully filthy . It’s impossible for you to get mad at all of them . Over the internet, you can’t even be sure that they’re humans and not dogs . ”
“Don’t say that, dogs are so cute . ”
That night, Tang Xue bought roses at the school florist . As the shop was closing, the roses were on discount . She decisively bought a huge bouquet and held the roses as she stood under Li Yubing’s dormitory building and waited for him . When the boys entering and exiting the building saw her, their eyes brightened . However, when they recalled whose girlfriend this was, they wiped their drool off surreptitiously . This chapter is a labour of love that should not be found outside of teafragrance[dot]wordpress[dot]com .
Li Yubing returned only when it was almost 11 pm . He was overseas for a competition and was travel-worn as he hauled an enormous luggage .
When he came back, the first thing he found was his girlfriend waiting for him with flowers . He could not imagine a more heart-warming scene .
The exhaustion in his body vanished into thin air . He walked towards her with a smile in his eyes, his steps light and brisk .
The light reflecting off the roses made Tang Xue’s cheeks seemed rosy and flushed . She looked both adorable and delicious .
Li Yubing really felt like hugging her . But there was the huge bouquet of roses between them .
She held out the roses to him . “Here, for you . ”
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Li Yubing used one hand to take the bouquet and the other hand to pull her into his embrace .
Tang Xue felt that this was too conspicuous and wanted to resist . He tightened his arm . “Don’t move . ”
Thus, she stopped squirming and returned his hug .
Li Yubing lowered his head and buried it into the side of her neck . He inhaled deeply .
Tang Xue leaned her face on his chest . She asked him, “Tired?”
“Not after seeing you . ”
Tang Xue’s lips quirked . “Li Yubing . ”
“Mm?”
“If anyone scolds you, don’t take it to heart . They’re all monsters . ”
Li Yubing gave a light chuckle . “All right . ”
“Also, I will be heading over to support you for your competition in Beijing next Tuesday . ”
“Skipping lessons?”
“Skipping lessons . ”
Li Yubing’s heart warmed . He nipped her ear . “I wish I could put you in my pocket and take you out for a look whenever I miss you . ”
……
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Carrying the roses back to his dorm, Li Yubing sensed his roommates’ avid attention . He explained, “From my girlfriend . ”
“We know!” His roommates all expressed their disdain to know more .
Li Yubing displayed the roses carefully . Old Deng spun several rounds around the glorious and still dewy blooms . He closed his eyes and took a deep whiff, luxuriating in the strong fragrance . He let out an exaggerated sigh . “Mm… I feel like a fairy right now . ”
“Are you sure you’re not the fairy’s pig?” Their dorm leader looked at Old Deng’s body and scoffed .
“Nonsense, why would a fairy raise a pig?”
“Can’t the fairy be fond of pig trotters?”
“Fuck…”
As his roommates continued bickering noisily, Li Yubing tidied his luggage quietly at the side . After a while, Old Deng scooted over and said, “Hey, Li Yubing, do you know that your wife got into a fight?”
The two words “your wife” made Li Yubing‘s lips quirked . But when he heard about a fight, he frowned . He lifted his eyes and looked at Old Deng, “What happened?”
“She flew into a rage and fought with some people on Weibo for you . You’re way too lucky to have a wife like this . ” As Old Deng spoke, he patted Li Yubing’s shoulder . “Introduce Tang Xue’s friends to me next time . ”
Li Yubing looked at Old Deng’s pudgy body . Mm, he was definitely not going to push Tang Xue’s friends into a fire pit .
He picked up his phone and went online . After clicking into Tang Xue’s Weibo profile, he browsed her conversation history with netizens .
The more he read, the darker his face became .
After he finished reading, Li Yubing exited Weibo with a grave expression . He thought for a moment with narrowed eyes . Then, he called his dearest mother .
“Mom, your daughter-in-law has been bullied . ”