Chapter 37 — The Heir — Shao Ping

[Third question: Please name three outstanding short track speed skaters from our country.]
Fu Jiaojiao hurried up onto the small round platform. “Li Feng, Xue Miao, Lin Xiaoyi.”
[Correct answer.]
[Fourth question: Please explain the difference between short track speed skating and long track speed skating.]
The guests looked at each other, none quite sure of the differences between the two. They weren’t familiar with ice sports and so no one rushed to answer.
Mu Ran, after a moment’s thought, was about to respond, but Gu Beicheng beat her to it.
“The track, the number of participants, the athletes’ outfits, the size and width of the blades—all of these differ…”
Gu Beicheng calmly explained the distinctions between the two disciplines in detail.
“Mr. Cheng really deserves his title as a snow sports expert—so knowledgeable.” Song Xiao watched the unruffled man with open admiration.
[Mr. Cheng answered correctly.]
[Fifth question: How many medals did our country win at last year’s Sofia World Games?]
Song Xiao, a sports enthusiast herself, stepped forward to answer while everyone else was still thinking. “A total of two hundred and one medals—one hundred and fifty gold, fifty silver, and no bronze.”
[Correct, Ms. Song!]
[Now for the final question, submitted by a viewer: Mr. Cheng, who do you think has the better skiing technique, you or Shao Ping?]
[Live chat: Not us! We’re not taking the blame!]
Gu Beicheng cast a glance at Shao Ping, who was flirting with Mu Ran, his tone low and icy as he lifted his chin slightly, his indifferent expression tinged with displeasure. “Him.”
Gao Minglang announced, “Our quick-answer round is over. Of course, the production team won’t make you all trek on foot to the ski resort. We’ve prepared snowmobiles for everyone—you’ll have to drive yourselves there. You may also pair up as couples and share a ride.”
The nine guests eyed the snowmobiles before them—some with excitement, others with trepidation.
“Everyone, do as you please. I’ll go on ahead.” Qi Jun straddled a snowmobile, waved to the others with a flourish, hit the throttle, twisted the handlebars, and in the next second, snow flew up behind him and he was gone.
Fu Jiaojiao hadn’t realized who had left. She looked around for Qi Jun by her side, but he was nowhere to be seen. Instantly flustered, she stomped her foot. “Qi Jun! You haven’t taken me with you! Hmph! You really have no manners at all. Director! I don’t want to go on a date with Qi Jun anymore!”
“Jiaojiao, don’t worry. No one’s left yet. You can drive yourself or ask another guest if they’d like to share a snowmobile,” Gao Minglang reassured her patiently.

Fu Jiaojiao’s resentment was still simmering, her temper ready to flare at the slightest provocation—a trait that made her unpopular among the others.
“Mu Ran, can you take me?” she asked. Then, without waiting for a reply, she waved dismissively. “Forget it. It’s no use anyway. You can’t even drive a snowmobile.”
Fu Jiaojiao looked down on Mu Ran, thinking she was just a lucky nobody with no real ability or opinions—only acting mysterious and intimidating in these past few episodes.
“Mr. Bai can drive. Ask him instead.” Mu Ran replied without expression, her eyes cold and indifferent, paying no attention to Fu Jiaojiao’s shameless outbursts.
Mu Ran would never let Fu Jiaojiao have an easy time, but the moment wasn’t right. She still needed Fu Jiaojiao to boost her popularity—the woman’s misery was just beginning.
She gave Gu Beicheng a look, and the two of them set off on their snowmobiles, kicking up clouds of powder.
Fu Jiaojiao, left with a face full of snow, was stunned. How could Mu Ran possibly know how to drive one of those things? She frowned, clenching her fists. “Hmph! So what if you can ride a lousy snowmobile!”
The few remaining guests heard a brash, confident voice, “There’s plenty I can do.”
They all watched Mu Ran’s figure receding into the distance.
Bai Zehan felt uneasy, watching Mu Ran’s form grow smaller and smaller. He couldn’t comprehend when the woman who used to orbit around him all day had become so capable—fluent in multiple languages, skilled in skydiving, jet skiing, snowmobiles… What else didn’t he know about her?
Had she been pretending all these years? Did she approach him with an ulterior motive?
“Mr. Bai, can you drive a snowmobile?” Yun Fu asked playfully, breaking into his thoughts.
Bai Zehan nodded. “I learned during filming once. I’ll take you. Hop on.”
Gao Tiange watched, frustrated, as Yun Fu wound her arms around Bai Zehan’s waist. She stamped her foot in irritation. All day Bai Zehan had ignored her, claiming it was to avoid suspicion, yet here he was chatting and laughing with Yun Fu!
“Ms. Gao, come on. Let’s go together.” Song Xiao stopped her snowmobile in front of Gao Tiange, her tone calm.
Fu Jiaojiao watched as all the other guests departed. She glanced back at Shao Ping, but had no interest in such a young man. If she had to, she’d walk—let them all wait for her if she didn’t arrive.
“Jiaojiao, hop on. It’ll take an hour on foot,” Shao Ping said cheerfully, flashing a bright smile and white teeth, his lips tinged pink, making Fu Jiaojiao a little shy.
But she had her principles; she never dated younger men.
After a moment’s hesitation, Fu Jiaojiao climbed onto the snowmobile, wrapping her arms tightly around the boy’s waist.

“Wow, this ski resort is huge!” The two of them were the last to arrive at the snow country.
Fu Jiaojiao gazed at the vast expanse before her in genuine awe. She disliked sports, especially snow sports, as the outfits made her look bulky.
What astonished her was that such a luxurious, well-equipped ski resort could exist in a tiny village like this!
“Jiaojiao, whether it’s ice sports or all kinds of skiing, you’ll find them here. I used to train here,” Shao Ping said, stopping the snowmobile and introducing the facilities.
Fu Jiaojiao nodded without speaking, rolling her eyes at him in silence.
Did she need him to play tour guide? As if this were his family’s place and she was some bumpkin.
The nine guests donned their ski suits and carried their boards into the resort.
“Welcome to Pingyang Ski Resort, and a special thanks to Shao Ping for opening the resort to our show,” Chief Director Gao Minglang announced, introducing the importance of the venue.
“You heard right—this large ski resort and all the surrounding facilities are owned by Shao Ping’s family, open only to national athletes, not the public. We had originally planned to use a small local resort, but thanks to Shao Ping, we have access to the national team’s exclusive venue!”
“Since our show is about romance, all snow sports challenges from here on will be done in pairs. Shao Ping will act as coach and judge, scoring your performances.”
Yun Fu suddenly pouted, raising her hand, “Director, isn’t that a bit unfair? Mr. Cheng is a professional ski coach—he’s bound to be the best. Even if Mu Ran can’t do anything, their couple will still win.”
Gao Minglang, who was far too experienced to be fooled, simply said, “Yun Fu, we must all be magnanimous. We didn’t choose this location because of Mr. Cheng’s skills—it’s just a coincidence that he’s good at snow sports.”
Yun Fu’s face turned embarrassed and she had no retort.
“Rest assured, everyone, the competition will be fair and just. For your first task, you must complete a round trip in the half-pipe. Coach Shao Ping will score you, and the highest-scoring couple will win the chance to stay in a luxury villa.”
“Director, didn’t you say earlier that the farmhouse inn was the most luxurious place in the snow country?” Qi Jun complained, clearly exasperated with Gao Minglang’s unreliable words.
“Brother Qi, that villa belongs to my family,” Shao Ping replied, surprising everyone.
No one expected the ski athlete to be a rich heir.
Seeing their shocked faces, Shao Ping scratched his head. “Don’t misunderstand—I’m not a rich kid. I trained here for years, so I had someone build it.”
“Classic nonsense,” Qi Jun muttered. “Who builds a villa just for training? And says he’s not a rich kid?”