Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: Uniqueness

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“Someone’s here. No talking about training during meals.”

Upon hearing this, Tang Lin twitched the corner of her mouth slightly. But after all, as the top breaststroke swimmer of the Jiangzhou women's swimming team, her emotions adjusted quickly. She let out a reluctant “hmm” and then returned to her usual demeanor.

“Lin, that’s just Ming Ge for you. Don’t you know him by now? Why don’t you come sit with me?” Wang Yining stood up, offering a wry smile.

Unlike Wang Gulai and Jiang Ming, who were both national team members like Tang Lin and treated as equals, Wang Yining was a bit lower in status. Tang Lin still held a higher position.

“No need, I won’t disturb you.”

Tang Lin said this, lifted her head, and walked away.

At that moment, Lin Tingyuan and Yan Lai approached, carrying their trays. They quickly understood the situation at a glance and simply sat down at Gao Lu and Tian Yang’s table.

“Who said the beauties aren’t happy? After training, mealtime is the most relaxing time. Why the frowns?” Lin Tingyuan asked gently. He was known for his warmth, kindness, and generosity, a stark contrast to Jiang Ming.

“It’s nothing, Brother Yuan. The morning session was a bit intense,” Gao Lu forced a smile and glanced at Jiang Ming; she wouldn’t complain openly when he was nearby.

Yan Lai then reached over and pinched Tian Yang’s slender waist, smirking suggestively:

“Hit another wall?”

She glanced at Lin Tingyuan with a half-smile, as if to say, “See? Jiang Ming’s still the same—no reaction to beauties.”

Jiang Ming ignored it and quietly ate his meal as if nothing concerned him.

But just when things had settled for half a minute, Susan suddenly rushed over in a whirlwind.

With a tray in her left hand and a bowl piled high with beef in her right, she took the empty seat next to Jiang Ming amidst surprised stares, confidently proclaiming:

“Meat’s here, this one’s on me!”

“Uh...” Jiang Ming looked up, his usual instinct to refuse on the tip of his tongue, but instead asked:

“Is it two pounds?”

“Of course! I keep my word! No wonder you asked for meat as compensation. I never expected the athletes’ cafeteria to have purchase limits! This particular cut is special acid-aged beef from the Su Group, supply limited because it’s shared among several teams.”

“Looks like you’re good for more than just causing trouble,” Jiang Ming curved his lips with some satisfaction, then pushed the beef to the center of the table, inviting everyone to share.

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“Luckily, I’m pretty smooth-talking. In the end, the master agreed because I also share the Su surname, it’s my first time eating in the cafeteria, and importantly, I took some nice photos of him working,” Susan explained.

Wang Yining, who hadn’t swallowed his food in time, dropped it from his mouth. He raised his fingers one by one and exclaimed:

“Tsk tsk tsk, today the sun not only rises from the west but stays there without setting. One, Ming Ge voluntarily accepted an interview; two, there’s a woman sitting next to Ming Ge; three, beef purchase limit lifted! Unbelievable! Strange things don’t happen often, but today there are so many! Reporter Su, it’s all because of you, absolutely amazing!”

After speaking, Wang Yining raised his right hand. Susan, carefree by nature and sensing no malice from him, raised her hand to give a casual high-five.

“There’s nothing miraculous about it. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. That’s a universal truth, applying not only to your grueling training but also to my livelihood.”

Beautiful, lively, genuine, and delivering such a generous portion of beef—Susan’s positive image was firmly established. Even Wang Gulai couldn’t help but admire:

“Yining talks nonsense all the time, but today’s summary was spot-on. Reporter Su, you’re really interesting. How about you stop interviewing us for now and let us interview you? Your age, zodiac sign, hobbies—I want to know everything!”

Before Susan could respond, Wang Yining followed up on Wang Gulai’s words:

“Do you have a boyfriend? What kind of person do you like?”

“I...” Susan was used to interviewing others but felt awkward being put on the spot and didn’t know how to answer.

At that moment, Jiang Ming, who had been quietly eating, suddenly spoke up.

“Got too much free time! The afternoon’s strength training—hurry up and finish the meat, then get some rest.”

Wang Yining and Wang Gulai puckered their lips but didn’t dare to argue—they knew Jiang Ming’s lack of social grace too well.

At the neighboring table, Gao Lu and Tian Yang had earlier thought Jiang Ming might treat Susan differently. Seeing that he didn’t object to her sitting there but remained aloof, they felt somewhat relieved. Yet, seeing a woman beside him still provoked their passive-aggressive attitudes.

“Yining, who’s that beauty opposite you? I don’t recognize her!” Gao Lu smiled brightly, but Susan saw through the pretense.

“Yeah, just sitting there like that—it’s a bit rude,” Tian Yang added with a provocative tone, yet sounding almost innocent.

Susan looked puzzled and glanced at Jiang Ming, Wang Gulai, and finally fixed her gaze on Wang Yining, softly asking:

“Is this seat cursed?”

Her voice was low, but the three at the table all heard it.

Wang Yining and Wang Gulai froze for a moment, then grinned widely, almost laughing out loud, but Jiang Ming’s icy glare forced them into tactical coughs.

That seat was a coveted prize desired by many women.

Wang Yining couldn’t answer Susan directly; instead, he pointed at her and solemnly introduced her to Gao Lu and Tian Yang:

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“She’s Susan, reporter from Jiangzhou TV, here for an exclusive interview with our swimming team. Ming Ge... was assigned by Director Zong to receive her.”

“Oh, a reporter... Reporter Su, my apologies. I’m Gao Lu from the gymnastics team.”

“I’m Tian Yang from the synchronized swimming team.”

“Nice to meet you both. Please take care of me.”

After exchanging a few more glances with Gao Lu and Tian Yang, Susan recalled seeing Jiang Ming surrounded by these two women during her undercover investigation. She immediately understood the ill intentions behind their earlier remarks.

“Reporter Su, are you staying here long?”

It seemed these women, although unable to win Jiang Ming, were tense about the sudden intrusion. They hoped she would leave soon. But that wouldn’t happen.

“With the team, probably for another month or so.”

Hearing this, the two pretty faces twitched slightly.

Susan quickly laughed it off, changing the subject.

“You’re all so skinny. Next time, I’ll help you buy some meat too.”

“Yeah, yeah, eat meat, eat meat!” Wang Yining knew how to read the room and quickly split the beef, sending half to the neighboring table.

As everyone returned to enjoying the beef, Susan took a bite, nodded slightly, and sighed softly, “Not bad at all.”

“Just 'not bad'?” Wang Yining’s eyes widened. Suddenly, he understood why Jiang Ming treated Susan differently—both shared a powerful aura.

“Is that so?”

“This meat’s special.”

“Of course! Special supply! But the Su Group—what a shame. Even as strategic partners, why resort to hunger marketing like others?”

Susan snorted coldly and shook her head with a smile.

Lin Tingyuan’s meal was filled with mixed emotions. He kept an eye on the table’s dynamics and marveled at Susan’s strong social skills. Apart from Wang Yining’s usual exaggerations, even Wang Gulai showed keen interest. As for the still indifferent Jiang Ming, not objecting to Susan sitting there was unusual.

However, when Susan mentioned the Su Group, Lin Tingyuan’s heart skipped a beat. He suddenly lost some of his usual “big brother” composure and interrupted abruptly.