Point to Point: The Fencer’s Heart | Chapter 28 | Shadows of the Past | Novela.app

I had both arms outstretched, ready for a hug, only to collide with Ling Xiao’s cold, sweat-beaded face. I had to pull them back instantly, ending up in a pose that looked like I was surrendering. It couldn't have been more awkward. Ling Xiao remained silent, so I naturally had to explain myself. "I... I just fell asleep in the locker room." "Ever heard of 'protesting too much'?" At this point, there was no hiding it from him. I had to admit defeat. "...Why are you back?" "Forgot something," Ling Xiao said. He brushed past me into the locker room, grabbed something from his locker and shoved it into his pocket, then walked back out with a grim expression. "Let’s go." The moment I stepped out, Ling Xiao slammed the door behind us with a heavy *thud*. The gust of cold air sent a sharp chill down my spine. His ink-dark eyes swept over me. After a moment of deliberation, he asked, "Are you alright?" *If only you could be a little gentler...* I nodded, not quite understanding why he was asking. Ling Xiao glanced at me, seeming as if he wanted to say more, but he simply turned and walked away. I scrambled to patch things up. "I actually wanted to say hi when I saw you come in, but I don't know... seeing you apply medicine made me feel too awkward to speak up." I walked behind him while he led the way without looking back. "I borrowed your mirror. I hope you don't mind." "I don't mind at all! You can use whatever of mine you want! I’m happy to let you use it, it’s just..." I weighed my words carefully. "Those injuries on your body... did you get them during a match?" Ling Xiao didn't speak. I couldn't see his face from this angle, but the line of his jaw was tight. I figured that was the "iceberg's" version of a weather vane for his mood. I continued, "I’ve heard about it. I didn't realize the underground—" Ling Xiao shot me a warning look. We were downstairs now, and with so many people around, this wasn't something to be discussed openly. I lowered my voice. "I didn't realize the 'dungeons' you were clearing were so high-level. You're going back this weekend, and as your teammate and... friend, I’m a little worried." "I promised you I’d stop after this round. I won't break my word." "Then can you take me with you?" Ling Xiao frowned and glanced at me. "What would you do there?" "Nothing, I just want to watch. Just so I know what's going on," I said. Ling Xiao stopped and turned to face me. "If I encounter a strong opponent, you can't step onto the strip to help me. If someone cuts me, there’s nothing you can do. Even if I’m beaten down on that stage, you can only watch. What’s the point of you going? What exactly do you need to 'know'?" "..." What could I say? I couldn't squeeze out a single word! My brain just didn't move as fast as his; I was destined to be rendered speechless. The coldness in Ling Xiao’s eyes softened slightly. "Don't worry. I’ll protect myself. After all, my face is tied to your physical and mental health—your lifelong happiness." It took me a long moment to remember where that line came from. He certainly had a long memory for a joke I’d made ages ago! If that was an attempt at a joke, it was a total failure. I watched his back as he walked away, feeling utterly crushed. I wished there was an empty soda can by my feet so I could kick it into orbit. Honestly, if he had just paused for a second or looked back once, I wouldn't have felt so dejected. But he just kept walking until he was out of sight, not even bothering to check if I was still behind him... *** The moment I got back to the dorm, I went straight to Lao Qi to demand an explanation. He cried foul, claiming he’d run into Ling Xiao at the cafeteria entrance and decided to be cautious by asking if the training hall was locked. "I was worried you were pranking me again; it wouldn't be the first time," Lao Qi said. "How was I supposed to know that the second I told Ling Xiao you had claustrophobia, he’d rush back to open the door? I even told him there was no rush and that you were probably just messing with us, but he said, 'What if it’s real?' I’m telling you, Ling Xiao is a stand-up captain!" He clicked his tongue and then asked, "So, what does claustrophobia actually feel like? Tell me about it. Your brother Qi has always been curious..." Curious my ass! You’re usually as sharp as a tack, and now you’re telling me you actually believed a lie I made up on the fly?! No wonder Ling Xiao asked if I was okay. He really thought I had claustrophobia. Sigh. The man is cold on the outside but warm on the inside; why didn't I think to act a little frail? How am I supposed to chase a guy if I don't even have that much cunning? That night, I was aimlessly browsing Tieba. The day had been such a disaster that I didn't even have the heart to take a selfie. I figured I’d go offer some guidance to the newbies on the forums to salvage some sense of accomplishment. By chance, I noticed a thread that was being bumped quite high on the front page. I clicked in, and of course, it was more gossip about Ling Xiao! Dammit! Just because he’s handsome and good at fencing, what did he ever do to you people to deserve this endless digging? Originally, it wasn't a gossip thread. The title was: "Experts, come identify this. Is this Ling Xiao?" The original poster had shared a video of a match. It looked like an old clip from a domestic youth sabre competition. It was quite dated; you could see the long electrical cords trailing behind the conductive jackets. Judging by the scale of the venue, it wasn't a national-level event—more like a local one. The video was clearly a private recording. There were no names on the screen, and it didn't capture the fencers' faces before or after the match—just a brilliant exchange in the middle. However, one of the fencers had a style that was strikingly similar to Ling Xiao’s. After watching it, I was eighty percent sure it was him; after all, I was very familiar with his style. Some people in the comments guessed it was me, and I thought to myself, *Talk about having no eye for talent.* My style is flamboyant, okay? This "clinical" style is obviously Ling Xiao. However, two things were strange. First, the layout and equipment of the venue looked far too old. When I was competing in middle school, we used wired scoring machines too, but the venues looked much more professional than this. Then again, it could be a regional factor; fencing isn't equally popular across the country. If it was a first-time event, the facilities might have been a bit crude. The second strange thing was that in the video, after completing an attack, the "Ling Xiao" figure pumped his fist several times but didn't get the point. Since I’d started watching his matches, he’d never made that kind of mistake. I always thought his reaction time was instantaneous—was it not always that way? I couldn't see his face, so I couldn't tell how old he was or if this was before I first saw him on TV, but based on his build, he couldn't have been that young. Maybe thirteen or fourteen. Initially, the thread was normal, with everyone guessing if it was Ling Xiao and asking where the video came from. But as the discussion went on, the direction shifted. First, a post laid out a logical argument for why it couldn't be him: —First, looking at the two athletes, it’s definitely a youth match. No disagreement there. Second, looking at the scale and facilities, it’s not a national youth final. No disagreement there either. That means it can only be a local youth match or a regional qualifier. I listened closely and can faintly hear the spectators; they have an S-City accent. Ling Xiao is from S-City, so it’s possible he’d compete there, but he’s twenty-two now. The person in the video looks about fourteen or fifteen, which would make this at least seven years ago. I checked, and in the last ten years, S-City and its surrounding areas only hosted one "S-City Youth Cup" four years ago. The timing doesn't match. Before that, there was a national youth qualifier fifteen years ago, but Ling Xiao would have been a toddler then. Therefore, it can't be him. I’m curious who this is; if they’re still competing, they must be a top-tier pro now. Keep guessing, everyone! This was almost ironclad evidence. Even I had to admit that, aside from the style, every other reason was hard to refute. Consequently, Ling Xiao’s haters swarmed out of the woodwork, mocking the users who had been so certain. Whether their arguments were logical or not, they were all labeled as "brainless face-stans." Then, someone else jumped in with a completely unrelated comment: —It can't be Ling Xiao. He was ostracized at school in middle school and eventually dropped out to transfer. I heard he didn't even go to school in S-City anymore. If he were to compete, it wouldn't be there. The previous post had already "proven" it wasn't him; this person’s unnecessary addition clearly had malicious intent. And it didn't stop there. The same ID that had started a gossip thread about Ling Xiao before suddenly reappeared, steering the conversation toward pure malice. —I’m the OP of the thread that got deleted before. Finally, someone has proof. I told you he was ostracized at school and you didn't believe me. My senior was in the class next to his; how could it be fake? —Hard to say. Who knows if your senior was lying to you! —I believe he was ostracized. He was probably too handsome and arrogant, so the other ugly guys ganged up on him. —Too handsome, haha! It was obviously because of his brother! —What does his brother have to do with it? —Ling Xiao’s brother is gay. He was kicked out of the house after coming out. The scandal spread everywhere, and Ling Xiao couldn't stay at that school anymore. —For real?! That’s explosive! Does that mean Ling Xiao is gay too? —Don't say that; his fans' hearts will break~ Emotionally, I didn't want to believe it was true. But seeing how confident the two whistleblowers sounded, it seemed like it might be real. Ostracizing someone over their sexual orientation... adults wouldn't be that immature, but middle schoolers were a different story. It was true that Ling Xiao was from S-City, and I remembered that in the national youth match I saw on TV years ago, he indeed hadn't been representing S-City. I desperately wanted to press the whistleblowers for more, but I held back. If I truly liked someone, I shouldn't find out these things through these means. He should tell me himself. As someone attempting to climb this "iceberg," I still had that much ambition. However, I was destined to lose sleep tonight. *** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation --- | --- | --- 此地无银三百两 | Protesting too much / A dead giveaway | A Chinese idiom referring to someone who gives themselves away by trying too hard to hide something. 刷副本 | Running dungeons / Clearing instances | Gaming slang used here as a metaphor for participating in underground matches. 脑残颜粉 | Brainless face-stans | Derogatory term for fans who only care about an idol's looks and lack critical thinking. 出柜 | Coming out | Referring to revealing one's sexual orientation. 贴吧 | Tieba | A popular Chinese communication platform/forum. 性冷淡风 | Clinical style / Minimalist style | Literally "sexual apathy style." In this context, it refers to a cold, precise, and emotionless fencing style.