Volume One, Chapter One: Backstage Message

“The men’s 4x100-meter medley relay final is about to begin. In lane four, we have the host team from Jiangzhou! This is the gold medal they most desire in this meet. Last year, they suffered a heartbreaking 0.01-second loss to the Shanghai team at the National Games—a memory that still stings. This time, Jiangzhou is fielding its strongest lineup. Except for the breaststroke leg, the other three swimmers are all national team mainstays, determined to reclaim their honor. First up is backstroke: Wang Gulai, whose personal best meets the World Championships A standard. Second, breaststroke: Dong Zhi, a rising young star with a meteoric rise over the past year. Third, butterfly: Lin Tingyuan, world champion and captain of the men’s swimming team. Anchoring with freestyle is Jiang Ming, a national champion. Just days ago, Jiang Ming won gold in both the 200m and 400m individual medleys. His freestyle is formidable, especially his ability to surge in the final stretch...”

From the television, the commentator’s voice set the atmosphere ablaze. Susan and Xiao Rui nestled together on the sofa, each busy with her own task.

As a reporter for Jiangzhou TV’s Sports Channel, Susan had been swamped lately. Most of her colleagues were out covering the National Spring Swimming (Short Course) Championships, so the rest of the work fell to her. With her main job overwhelming her, her side gig naturally got delayed.

Susan’s side gig was Xiao Rui’s full-time job. The two of them, college roommates and inseparable friends, had started a public account called “Underwater Sleuth Sauce” before even graduating. They investigated, analyzed, dug up scandals, and exposed truths about trending social issues. Susan, under the pseudonym Zoe, contributed as a part-time writer, while Xiao Rui ran the operation full-time. Their division of labor was clear.

With a lollipop in her mouth, Susan adjusted her blue-light glasses and slowly scrolled through pages of messages left on their account’s backend.

She hadn’t checked in three days, and there were already more than 100 pages of unread messages. Susan felt a thrill rising within her—she loved mining information from the comments.

“Susan, don’t get lost in work! Watch the race!” Xiao Rui, eyes glued to the handsome athletes on the screen, nudged Susan with her elbow, clutching a bag of chips and stuffing them into her mouth as she mumbled, “Swimmers have the best bodies—those confident strides could rival any model!”

“Look at those V-shaped torsos! Eight-pack abs! That Adonis belt! That smooth, fair skin! Honestly, come watch—good for your health and longevity!”

“You could admire them up close, but you’re afraid of water and won’t do interviews. What a missed fortune!”

Xiao Rui was radiant, her mouth never idle, but she received no response. Only when the athletes dove into the water did she finally tear her gaze from the screen and notice Susan’s grave expression.

“What’s wrong, Susan?”

“Rui, look at this—something’s up.”

Susan pushed the laptop over, her slender fingers swiping to display several consecutive days’ messages from the same account.

“Zoe, I’m your loyal reader. You even exposed the soccer scandals—please dig into a Jiangzhou athlete. Is there a ‘real girlfriend’?” (March 13)

“Could it be he’s forced by circumstances, and that’s why he won’t admit our relationship? I’ve given him money too, and we’re always so happy together in bed!” (March 14)

“I really want to confront him! But he has a race today, and I’m afraid of distracting him. I’m torn—please investigate!” (March 15, 18:50)

Though the messages were anonymous, they could see the sender’s WeChat name and avatar in the backend. This one called herself “Miss D,” and her profile made it clear she was a shapely beauty, true to her name.

As media professionals, Susan and Xiao Rui instantly smelled a scandal.

“A classic case of a kept woman, pity play, and sleeping with a fan! These obsessed fans aren’t afraid of losing both love and money! So now athletes are playing the same tricks as celebrities? We have to dig—who is it?” Xiao Rui slapped her thigh, jumping up from the sofa and pointing at the laptop, excitement causing her to spray chip crumbs everywhere.

Susan brushed off the crumbs, pulled Xiao Rui back to her seat, took off her glasses, and rubbed her eyes. “With fan culture invading, who can stay untouched? I just hope sports isn’t the next disaster zone! If what Miss D says is true...”

Susan frowned, finishing her thought, then opened her eyes and fixed them on the TV, deep in contemplation.

For a moment, only the commentator’s voice filled the room.

“Third leg, Lin Tingyuan, is closing the gap left by the breaststroker. In the last ten meters, he overtakes Shanghai! The anchor, Jiang Ming, takes a perfect handoff. As long as he holds the lead, gold is assured... He turns—the final 25 meters! Jiang Ming is surging, his kick intensifies, and the lead stretches to half a body length! Last ten meters—he’s still accelerating—final five—touch! They’ve won! 3:27.48, the best national time this year in the men’s 4x100 medley relay!”

On TV, Jiang Ming slapped the water in exaltation, then high-fived his three teammates. He removed his cap and goggles, tossed his hair, revealing a chiseled face as if sculpted by the gods: thick brows, large eyes, a striking nose, sensual lips—a face so handsome, it was beyond question, mesmerizing.

In front of the TV, Susan’s eyes lit up. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard.

“This is Zoe. Who do you want me to investigate? Why should I trust you?”

After hitting send, Susan closed her laptop and grabbed Xiao Rui, dragging her toward the bedroom.

“Rui, help me with my makeup—we’re going to the swimming center right now!”

“What?!”

Miss D’s last message had come two hours ago. There was only a swim meet in Jiangzhou today—otherwise, Susan wouldn’t have had the day off. If Miss D was telling the truth, the man at the heart of this was still at the venue—likely one of those four celebrating on TV.

Susan analyzed as Xiao Rui worked on her makeup.

Xiao Rui was a makeup master. She could transform a glamorous forty-eight-year-old into a fresh-faced eighteen-year-old, and turn the sweet, innocent Susan into a wild, sultry siren. Even colleagues wouldn’t recognize her—a true magician.

“There’s a reply!” The phone screen lit up, making Susan jump.

“Zoe, you’re willing to investigate! Here’s a photo—you’ll know it’s genuine, not photoshopped.”

It was a photo of a man’s back.

In a dimly lit room, the air was thick with sensuality. The man wore only a towel around his waist, stood about six-foot-one, with tousled hair still dripping, and a taut, V-shaped torso—just as Susan had suspected.

“A swimmer?”

“The most handsome one! He’ll be on stage for the awards soon! My man is extraordinary!”

Even through the screen, Miss D’s excitement was palpable.

“You’re at the venue? We need to meet—wait for me!”

“S2 section, Row 1-2.”

Susan’s place was close to the Jiangzhou Sports Center. Xiao Rui drove her, speeding all the way.

Susan had always been the one on the front lines, with Xiao Rui providing backup. But Susan had nearly drowned as a child and, scarred by the memory, had never learned to swim. Water made her anxious, so chasing a lead at the pool was nerve-wracking.

“Are you sure you want to do this? Should I go instead?” Xiao Rui gripped the wheel, worried.

“I’ll try to keep it inside, away from the pool,” Susan said, clutching her bag, doing her best to stay calm.

Xiao Rui knew that once Susan was on the job, nothing could stop her, so she swallowed her objections.

“Who’s the target? Lin Tingyuan? The butterfly king, walking testosterone—his Weibo followers are over eight million.”

“But Miss D said... the most handsome? I think it might be Jiang Ming, the anchor. The moment he appeared on TV, I was stunned.”

“So it’s between those two. One cold, one fiery—but neither really looks the type...”

“You never know—remember that seemingly honest, now disgraced coach caught in a corruption scandal?”

...