Ice skates forward, regardless of east or west.

1

"Sizzle—sizzle—!"

The piercing electrical noise, like countless rats, frantically gnawed at the nerves in the empty ruins.

The screen of that old-fashioned television was shaking violently.

Black and white static, like an out-of-control blizzard, tumbles wildly across the screen.

Ling Wuwen knelt in front of the television, his hands gripping the makeshift antenna tightly.

Her fingers turned white from the force, and her knuckles cracked.

She is fighting back.

Fighting against this machine that is about to be scrapped.

Combating this heavily oxidized tape.

It was also a confrontation with Gu Xidong, who had just issued the "burn the city" order from outside the door.

She has to see this!

We must see what's recorded on this tape!

She suddenly pulled the antenna up and slammed it hard against the metal frame of the television!

"Snapped!"

A crisp sound.

The snow and blizzard on the screen suddenly froze.

2

The image appeared.

It's black and white.

Vague.

The edges continued to twist and twitch.

Like the final vision of a dying person.

But Ling Wuwen recognized him at a glance.

That's an interior view of the National Sports Center Figure Skating Oval.

The camera was positioned very high.

Hidden in the most secluded corner of the audience.

The camera is tilted slightly downwards, pointing precisely at the starting line in the center of the ice rink.

Although the image was blurry, the bright red finish line on the ice rink was glaringly clear.

That was the end of glory.

It is also the starting point of the nightmare.

Ling Wuwen's breath caught in his throat.

She heard it.

Accompanied by a piercing electrical noise, a sound that had been sealed away for three years began to emanate intermittently from the television's dilapidated speakers.

That was—a deafening roar of cheers from the audience.

That was—the commentator's excited shouts that distorted his voice.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Ladies and gentlemen! Let's turn our attention to the ice rink! This is the ultimate showdown in men's singles figure skating! Defending champion Gu Xidong versus rising star Lin Wufeng!"

"The competition has entered its final sprint! The two are about to complete a high-difficulty combination jump!"

"My God! Gu Xidong's jump was perfect! He's like an albatross soaring across the ice!"

Cheers and shouts mingled together.

Like a huge, scorching torrent, it instantly engulfed Ling Wuwen.

She felt as if she had returned to that night three years ago.

That night was filled with dazzling lights and glory, yet also with bloodshed.

3

Ling Wuwen stared intently at the screen.

Her eyes remained fixed, unblinking.

Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of her chest.

Boom!Boom!Boom!

It was as if countless war drums were beating wildly in her mind.

She was waiting.

She was rehearsing.

The scene that has been replaying in her countless nightmares for the past three years is about to appear.

It's just around the next bend.

At that very moment when everyone was celebrating their victory.

Gu Xidong would reveal his ferocious fangs.

In order to monopolize the gold medal and eliminate his only competitor, he would use that "secret signal" known only to the two of them, pretending to make a mistake and striking Ling Wufeng's back hard with his elbow.

Then, Ling Wufeng will fall from the ice like a bird with a broken wing.

Then, the blood will stain the pure white ice red.

Then, Gu Xidong will lift that blood-stained trophy.

This is the truth.

This is the only belief that has sustained her for the past three years, allowing her to live and seek revenge!

come on!

Let me see your sins!

Let me see your true colors from back then!

4

on the screen.

On the ice.

Two figures in tight-fitting racing suits are gliding at high speed.

The one in front has a lithe figure and graceful movements.

That's Gu Xidong.

His gliding posture was absolutely perfect.

Every movement was executed with such precision, as if measured with a ruler.

He is creating distance.

He has already secured the victory.

And the figure behind.

It's a little blurry.

That was Ling Wufeng.

He followed closely behind, seemingly making a final sprint.

The commentator's voice rose and fell amidst the electrical noise.

"...Ling Wufeng is still chasing! He doesn't want to give up! His eyes are filled with longing!"

"...One lap left! This is our last chance!"

"...Look! Gu Xidong is entering the bend! Can Ling Wufeng overtake him on this bend?"

Ling Wuwen's pupils suddenly contracted.

coming!

This is the bend!

That bend that changed everything!

Her hands dug deep into the carpet.

Her fingernails dug deeply into her palms.

She stared intently at the lagging figure on the screen.

She was waiting for him to speed up.

We're waiting for him to accelerate relentlessly in his pursuit of surpassing others and winning the gold medal.

however.

Something strange happened.

on the screen.

The lagging figure did not accelerate.

in contrast.

He is slowing down.

At the final bend of the race, when everyone was fighting tooth and nail for the finish line.

He, Ling Wufeng, was a rising star on whom everyone placed high hopes.

His legs seemed to pause slightly, but definitely, on the ice.

He did not choose to surpass it.

He didn't even choose to sprint.

He was like a puppet that had suddenly lost its power, letting inertia carry him as he glided across the ice.

His movements became sluggish.

His center of gravity began to sink.

His gaze was not fixed on the finish line.

He didn't even look at Gu Xidong in front of him.

Instead, he looked down at his ice skates.

What is he looking at?

What is he looking for?

The commentator's voice, sharpened with excitement, drowned out the electrical noise.

"...Unbelievable! Ling Wufeng's speed has slowed down! He actually chose to decelerate at the last moment!"

"...What is he going to do? Is he giving up?"

"...No! He fell! He lost his balance on the bend!"

"...Oh my god! He fell down!"

"...Wait! Gu Xidong in front seems to have noticed something! He stopped! He turned around!"

Ling Wuwen's mind went blank for a moment.

Blasted.

She saw it on the screen.

The figure in front of me, that perfect, arrogant Gu Xidong.

Hearing the sound behind him, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He turned around abruptly.

He did not celebrate the victory.

He didn't look at the scoreboard.

His face no longer held its former pride and indifference.

Instead, there was an extreme, unmasked terror.

He slid backward like a madman.

He slid over to Ling Wufeng, who had fallen on the ice and was struggling in pain.

He was going to save him.

He went to help him up.

He's going to...

"Sizzle—!"

A strong electrical interference.

The image on the screen suddenly distorted.

Gu Xidong's terrified face was stretched and distorted on the screen, resembling a hideous ghost face.

Followed by.

In the video, a group of medical staff in white coats suddenly rushed in.

They blocked the camera.

They blocked Gu Xidong.

It also blocked Ling Wufeng, who was lying on the ground.

The scene was filled with a chaotic array of white figures.

The commentator's voice became indistinct and distant.

"...An unexpected surprise! This is the biggest surprise of this competition!"

"...Rising star Ling Wufeng unexpectedly fell at the last bend!"

"...Defending champion Gu Xidong forwent his final celebration! He stayed by his teammates' side!"

"...Let us pray for this great athlete..."

The image was completely swallowed up by snowflakes.

The noise of electricity filled the room again.

Ling Wuwen knelt in front of the television.

Not moving at all.

Her face was expressionless.

Her mind was blank.

That scene of "malicious elbowing" that she had rehearsed countless times.

did not appear.

The Gu Xidong she believed to be someone who would "do anything for a gold medal".

did not appear.

What appeared was Ling Wufeng, who slowed down before the finish line.

And Gu Xidong, who turned and ran toward him in terror after hearing the noise.

What... is going on?

Why?

Why did Ling Wufeng slow down?

Why doesn't he sprint?

Why doesn't he surpass him?

He clearly had a chance!

He could have...

The static on the television screen flickered wildly.

Like countless eyes, silently mocking her foolishness.

All her perseverance over the past three years.

All hatred.

All the pain.

At this moment.

Suddenly it became...meaningless.

5

"boom--!!!"

A loud bang.

The entire ruins trembled from the shock.

The screen of that old-fashioned television suddenly burst into a burst of sparks.

With a "sizzle," it went out completely.

Ling Wuwen suddenly turned around.

She saw it.

The gate to the abandoned ice rink.

The heavy iron door that Gu Xidong leaned against when she came in.

It is shaking violently at this moment.

outside.

A muffled roar of an engine followed.

It was like a heavy truck, constantly ramming against the gate.

"boom!"

"boom!"

Every impact.

The iron chains on the gate would emit a piercing metallic scraping sound.

Dust and gravel fell from the door frame.

Someone is banging on the door.

Someone wants to completely seal this place off.

Take her and this cassette tape.

Together, we were buried in these ruins.

Ling Wuwen got up from the ground.

She looked at the dilapidated door.

He looked back at the broken television set.

she knows.

The "Burning the City" plan.

it has started.

She didn't move.

She simply stood there quietly.

He was still clutching the antenna tightly in his hand.

Outside.

The sound of the impact suddenly stopped.

The world fell into a deathly silence.

Followed by.

There was a pungent, kerosene-like smell.

It seeped in through the crack in the door.

A cold smile slowly curved the corners of Ling Wuwen's lips.

She looked up at the small window above the door, the one used for ventilation.

she knows.

Gu Xidong was outside.

He didn't leave.

He was watching.

He was carrying out his "burning of the city".

They were also watching her, wondering how she would manage to climb out of that hellhole.

She slowly released her grip.

The antenna fell to the ground with a clatter.

She took something out of her pocket.

She kept it in the tin box, together with the cassette tape.

A small, inconspicuous one.

lighter.

She looked at the door.

There was no fear in his eyes.

There is only one kind of resolute determination, even more frantic than the kerosene outside the door.

"Gu Xidong..."

She whispered his name.

"You want to burn the past..."

"But I..."

"I'll show you..."

"Hellfire..."

"What color is it?"

She pressed the lighter.

"Smack."

A cluster of orange flames flickered in the dim ruins.