[Cheerful puppy-like sunshine girl x steady, jaded stray-dog male lead]
[Four-year age gap + mutual pursuit + secret love comes true]
In 2020, twenty-one-year-old Wei Jiayi draped herself in the Chinese flag.
Her coach ushered her in front of the media. One reporter after another held out a microphone, their eyes alight with anticipation:
"Jiayi, you've been in the sport for exactly ten years, and now you've won a gold medal. What do you think was the most important thing that got you this far?"
Wei Jiayi was socially anxious, and her little face flushed bright red.
She thought of her parents, who had hoped she would become a success, her iron-fisted coach, the perpetually broken air conditioner at the training center, and her first love, which had ended without closure
She grabbed the nearest microphone and said, trembling,
"It's because a long, long time ago, someone told me, 'If you're so capable, then go to the Olympics!'"
The whole room burst into laughter. A reporter, eager for gossip, asked, "Who said that to you? Was it a rival?"
"No." Wei Jiayi shook her head in righteous indignation. "It was my boyfriend. My current one."
After thinking it over, she added, "He's next door reporting on rhythmic gymnastics. D-do you want to interview him too?"
In 2016, twenty-one-year-old Fu Yu retired due to an injury.
He returned to his alma mater. Young faces filled with regret and nervousness looked at him. He felt like a gloomy, hopeless vine that could never see the sun, and seeing those people cautiously approaching him only irritated him.
Then a young girl grabbed him by the wrist and stammered out her confession: "Athlete F-Fu Yu! You're amazing. You're my favorite a-archer. Please don't have any regrets. From now on, I'll carry on for you and keep g-going forward!"
Fu Yu had heard plenty of words of encouragement, but never anything so shameless.
He looked up coldly, smiled mockingly, and drawled, "If you're so capable, then go to the Olympics."
#Energetic straightforward girl x gloomy awkward guy
##Stammering sunshine-sportsperson x world-weary, retired champion turned commentator
Author's notes:
1. Both leads have had no prior partners. The story begins in 2016.
2. They're a genuine puppy couple: a cheerful little puppy x a big doggo who's been hurt before.
3. In response to the Olympic spirit, let's be proud of our country and cheer for our athletes. This story is entirely fictional, with no real-life inspirations.
4. When nervous, the heroine stammers. When she speaks normally, she's as clear and logical as a machine gun.
[A call from far away / It is inviting us to go there / Facing the dazzling sunlight / I would hold your hand tight], "Blue Bird"
Theme: When you break through the clouds, you will know where your dream lies.