Volume One, Chapter 13: An Awkward Misunderstanding

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In a silent sigh, Susan opened the cabinet door. In an instant, Jiang Ming shuddered all over and immediately rushed forward to block the door with his body. On the inner door hung a photo he had cherished for ten years—a blurry shot of a girl’s back. Although Susan was somewhat special to him, she was far from someone he could share secrets with.

“Just take pictures over there,” Jiang Ming said nervously, showing an awkwardness before Susan for the first time.

“It’s very neat. What’s there to be embarrassed about? Cabinets? Most athletes like to put photos on their locker doors. Could it be...” Susan peeked in, pretending to investigate.

“You said you’re a proper journalist, not a paparazzo,” Jiang Ming pressed the door tightly, hands behind his back, quietly removing the photo.

“What’s the rush? Could it be something that can’t be exposed? Some risqué photo?” Susan teased with a mischievous grin.

“Believe it or not, I’m going to change the password later,” Jiang Ming’s face darkened, his authority unspoken yet undeniable.

“Just kidding, don’t be mad! I’m not interested in your private life. And I’m not here to investigate you!” Susan shrugged, half admitting defeat, but she was genuinely pleased. The location Jiang Ming had provided was perfect.

There was a gap at the top of the compartment, allowing them to hear sounds from the next cubicle. Few could enter, and since he didn’t keep much in his locker, it was an excellent hiding spot.

The cabinet was divided in two. The left side had three compartments neatly arranged with sports bags, swimsuits, swim caps, goggles, and so forth. The right side was a tall cabinet with just a few sports jackets hanging, enough space to hide a person. Since she already owed him a life debt, she wasn’t afraid of owing more—when she learned of his needs, she would repay them all someday!

With these thoughts, Susan smiled in satisfaction. She put away her camera and strode out happily.

“Thanks, Jiang... the most handsome man in Jiangzhou! The password is lucky—don’t change it, okay?”

Looking at Susan’s smile, Jiang Ming was momentarily dazed. After she left, he took out the photo and gazed dreamily at the girl’s back, his eyes gentle as water, then shook his head in helplessness. Too much time had passed; though the silhouette was etched deep in his heart, he had actually forgotten her face and smile.

“Your smile now must be just as radiant as it was then, right?”

Jiang Ming thought silently, putting the photo back into his bag, no longer daring to stick it inside the locker door. He knew that from now on, this place would no longer be his secret base alone.

...

Soon, Jiang Ming caught up with Susan and led her through an inconspicuous security door, climbing the stairs in the dark to the stands.

They stood in the last row of the stands, overlooking the pool. Susan raised her camera and took some wide-angle shots of the training before sinking into a seat.

“So you mean if last night I had come up through that secret passage, I could have hidden among these rows of seats? And all that jumping into the water was for nothing! Why didn’t you tell me earlier!” Susan clenched her fists, full of regret. The last words came out from deep in her throat, light yet bitter.

Jiang Ming smiled wryly. Pointing to the LED clock in the distance, he said softly:

“Reporter Su, Miss Zoe, twelve hours ago, I didn’t even know you.”

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Susan clicked her tongue. She couldn’t really blame Jiang Ming. Honestly, it was already a stroke of luck that he had helped her this much.

“Thank you, Jiang Ming. It’s really a pleasure to meet you, sincerely.” Susan extended her hand with genuine warmth.

The first time they met, Zoe was fierce and persistent; the second time, decisive and shrewd; as Reporter Su, intellectual and professional. Yet now, stripped of all her identities, she was simply Susan—and this authentic Susan was somehow heart-wrenching.

Jiang Ming frowned slightly. Helping her had been spontaneous, no thanks needed. He replied:

“You... don’t have to thank me. I was just... passing by.”

After a polite handshake, their relationship seemed to have moved forward a step.

At least, Susan felt more at ease and sighed:

“I originally thought that if I had completed the mission last night, I would have refused any permanent assignment at the swimming pool from the TV station, even if it meant dying.”

The real Susan inexplicably stirred feelings of sympathy, softening Jiang Ming’s expression.

“Do you hate swimming that much?”

Susan didn’t actually hate swimming. Because of her lifesaver from years ago, she liked the sport. She was simply... afraid of water. But she didn’t answer directly; instead, she asked:

“Have you ever desperately wanted to do something, but no matter how hard you try, you just can’t?”

“Of course.” Jiang Ming answered without hesitation.

“Swimming is that for me.”

Watching Susan honestly expose her pain point, Jiang Ming chuckled.

That laugh, charming as a dazzling firework, was brief but beautiful, tinged with loneliness.

He glanced around the hall, noticing the huge national wall decorations, slogans like “Higher, Faster, Stronger, More United,” “Glory for the Nation,” and “I Strive” in bold red characters glaringly prominent.

“Sorry, I’m not making fun of you. I just want to say, even if you can swim, things aren’t always smooth in the pool.”

“You...”

Susan seemed to realize something, her heart turning sour.

Jiang Ming’s disappointment probably stemmed only from the pain of missing the world championship.

Susan hesitated, wanting to comfort her lifesaver, but Jiang Ming had already stood up and was heading downstairs, saying softly:

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“Life is full of disappointments, eight or nine out of ten—it’s no big deal. I’m going to train now. If you want close-up shots, you can follow me.”

Jiang Ming’s demeanor grew cold again, no longer lonely, only proud.

Susan smiled wryly. An athlete with such strong psychological resilience was definitely not someone she needed to worry about.

Watching Jiang Ming’s departing figure, Susan suddenly realized there was a shortcut from the stands directly to the pool area! Reflecting carefully on the route Jiang Ming had shown her, it was clearly a brilliant escape map.

Delighted, Susan quickened her pace to follow, ready to shoot more footage of her benefactor’s training. Even if it couldn’t be used for her report, it would be nice to have something pleasing to the eye.

...

Jiang Ming arrived poolside, shifting into training mode.

He took off his shirt, revealing a bare upper body, scooped up pool water to splash his face, and shook his head.

The entire motion was fluid and natural, as if he had done it thousands of times.

At the same time, Jiang Ming didn’t neglect his hosting duties, explaining:

“Our team’s hardware conditions are average, but the water quality is excellent. We use the most advanced circulation and disinfection technology to ensure the water meets the highest international standards...”

Susan stood not far behind, barely hearing, her mind starting to freeze.

Hearing the sound of circulating water triggered a conditioned fear, yet faced with this handsome man, her eyes couldn’t look away.

Water droplets slowly slid down Jiang Ming’s muscular torso, gathering at the V-line that traced a sensual, flowing curve of muscle.

Even Susan, accustomed to seeing athletes with great physiques, couldn’t help swallowing hard.

Last night, amidst the urgency, she had admired Jiang Ming’s looks several times but had no time to appreciate them properly. Now, so close, to say she was unmoved would be a lie. As a beauty lover, she felt it was a natural reaction.

But in the next second, Jiang Ming unexpectedly took off his mid-thigh swim shorts. Susan suddenly covered her eyes with both hands and exclaimed:

“Pervert!”

Hearing this, Jiang Ming tensed up. Nearby swimmers stopped and whistled, jeering. Hands on his hips, he twitched the corner of his mouth, looking at the trembling woman covering her face and silently cursing that she was indeed a thorn in his side.

“I have... swim... shorts!”

He bit the words out one by one through gritted teeth.