Volume One, Chapter 14: Mutual Concern

Susan’s face flushed crimson in an instant. She slowly spread her fingers, then suddenly dropped her hand.

Silently cursing, she thought: It must be the proximity to the water that made me lose my mind. Isn’t this the kind of misunderstanding only an idiot would have? In broad daylight, with her upper body bare, how could she possibly not be wearing swim trunks on the lower half?

Susan gave an awkward smile and gestured politely to Jiang Ming.

“Sorry, um… please, feel free. I won’t interrupt your training!”

With that, she clutched her camera and hurried away.

Jiang Ming shook his head in helpless amusement, donned his swim cap and goggles, and gracefully dove into the pool. He truly wondered how a woman like her could have grown up in Jiangzhou, a city crisscrossed by rivers. Anyone near a swimming pool should be a little more alert. Yet, despite her quirks, the dull routine of training seemed somehow more lively with her around.

Later, Susan casually snapped some footage before retreating to the stands, keeping a safe distance from the water. She pulled out her laptop from her backpack, quickly jotting down notes from her recent interview. After a long while, she stared blankly at the blur of splashing figures in the pool.

Every man in the water boasted a top-tier physique, radiating strength; fully equipped in the water, they all looked somewhat similar. But the most eye-catching remained the man in the purple swim cap, exuding an unparalleled aura and instantly recognizable.

Coach Li Yan had set Jiang Ming’s training schedule to include technical breakdowns of freestyle and breaststroke on Monday mornings. The methods were well ingrained, but the focus was on refining technique and updating muscle memory through practice.

Breaststroke was Jiang Ming’s weakest of the four strokes, so to improve his individual medley and edge closer to becoming a world champion, enhancing his breaststroke, especially the 100-meter breaststroke, was crucial.

Though breaststroke wasn’t Jiang Ming’s specialty, his form was impeccable—even Susan, a complete novice in swimming, recalled her personal instructor’s teachings upon watching him.

Pulling legs in, turning feet, kicking, squeezing legs...

When pulling legs in, the calves should move slowly toward the thighs to avoid excessive resistance; feet should rotate outward to increase the water-pushing surface; kicking requires a strong, rapid backward thrust; squeezing legs together pushes water backward and downward...

Susan had always wondered, “Why make it so complicated?” As long as she didn’t sink, she felt fortunate.

Now, watching Jiang Ming continually perfect his movements in the pool, she suddenly felt it could be an art form—at least, possessing an artistic beauty.

During training breaks, Jiang Ming swam to the poolside to talk with the coach, always focused and humble, his cool face complementing his fiery eyes.

Like how a scholar’s aura adds to their looks, the surge of hormones during sports enhanced his handsome features. If Jiang Ming on land was aloof and reserved, then in the water he was passionate, embodying strength, endurance, and coordination—a seductive force.

Both motion and stillness captivated the heart.

***

Susan felt a restless itch inside and murmured again to herself:

“Jiang Ming, what kind of man are you really?”

Realizing she was paying too much attention to Jiang Ming, she shook her head sharply and turned to focus on her true target: Lin Tingyuan.

After observing half a training session, Susan had to admit that, setting aside Lin Tingyuan’s sleazy traits, his status as the “Butterfly Stroke King” and foothold in the swimming world was well-earned.

In the pool, Lin Tingyuan moved fluidly, powerfully, and at astonishing speed. More importantly, his training demeanor seemed much more relaxed than Jiang Ming’s. During conversations with the coach in charge, he often dominated the discussion, appearing in control. As the first to finish training and leave, the coaching staff showed no displeasure; instead, Susan overheard their caring reminders:

“Go take a shower and relax properly.”

Sensing Susan’s gaze, Lin Tingyuan glanced toward the stands as he exited, his eyes sharp like a hawk targeting prey. Susan stood calmly to meet his stare, wearing a professional smile. She raised her camera to signal for a photo.

A flicker of confusion passed over Lin Tingyuan’s face before he struck a model-like pose, waved charmingly, and curled the corners of his lips with confidence.

Susan snapped the shot, gave a thumbs-up, and thanked him with a smile.

After Lin Tingyuan left, Susan’s smile froze, and she quietly slipped away from the stands.

Unbeknownst to her, every move was observed by Jiang Ming, who was stretching and relaxing poolside.

...

Thanks to Jiang Ming’s earlier introduction, Susan exited the stands through a small passage leading to the indoor facilities. From a distance, she saw Lin Tingyuan enter the locker room. She hesitated at the corner, eyes fixed on the entrance, when Yan Lai also walked in.

Seeing no sign of others returning, Susan steeled herself and stepped forward, only to have someone grab her collar from behind, pulling her back and into a firm, broad, and slightly damp embrace.

Susan guessed who it was, turned around, and indeed found that striking yet cold face before her.

“What are you doing?” she whispered, trying to sound annoyed but keeping her voice low.

“That’s what I should ask. What are you trying to do?” Jiang Ming, taller by a head, looked past her toward the locker room.

“The timing is too coincidental. Lin Tingyuan must be suspicious of me.”

“Knowing that and still going in to give them a chance to strike?”

“No risk, no reward. Now it’s them who are nervous and unsettled. This is a rare opportunity.”

Jiang Ming looked Susan up and down, impressed by her greater intelligence and boldness than he had imagined. But with someone like her, the outcome was either success or utter ruin. Clearly, she was the type willing to risk everything to get what she wanted.

His protective instincts flared again. Jiang Ming leaned down, eyes fixed on the locker room door, lips close to Susan’s ear as he whispered:

“Brave and cunning—good. But Lin Tingyuan is far more calculating than you think. You…”

Before he could finish, Jiang Ming pressed his hands on Susan’s shoulders, and with her startled eyes upon him, spun her around sharply, pinning her against the wall. His gaze darkened as he raised his voice:

“Reporter Su, how do you explain this?”

Susan’s eyes widened in disbelief, staring at Jiang Ming as her mind raced to piece together the situation.

Though she hadn’t known Jiang Ming long, Susan knew he was a steady person; something unusual had to be going on. Hearing footsteps approaching, she suddenly understood.

“Jiang Ming, if you have something to say, just say it. Why drag me here?”

“Yeah, Jiang Ming, you’ve always kept your distance from women. What’s going on?”

Lin Tingyuan narrowed his eyes, playing the spectator, with Yan Lai trailing behind.

“Hello, Ming.”

Jiang Ming ignored Yan Lai and frowned slightly at Lin Tingyuan.

“Didn’t you hear my new nickname?” he said, then looked back at Susan with a faint smile.

“Reporter Su, this is all thanks to you.”