Volume 1, Chapter 26: Discovering the Clues

Lin Tingyuan was just as suspicious of Susan’s identity as Jiang Ming. He was even more anxious than Jiang Ming, unable to wait until after the competition to resolve his doubts. Leaving a ticking time bomb by his side made it impossible for him to sleep or eat in peace.

Ever since Susan entered Jiang Ming’s room that evening, Lin Tingyuan had kept his own door slightly ajar, specifically to listen to the movements next door. He even used a stopwatch to record how long Susan stayed in Jiang Ming’s room.

When the door next door finally clicked shut, Lin Tingyuan sat up, startled. He glanced at his watch: fifteen minutes.

Did it really take that long to film a small, single dormitory room?

If this were an impromptu exclusive interview, choosing a dormitory at this hour was highly suspicious. Besides, over the past week, they had been together almost constantly except during training; there was no need to wait for such an awkward moment.

Conclusion: There was something strange going on between Jiang Ming and Susan.

After reviewing the events of the past few days, Lin Tingyuan had developed a bold theory regarding the paparazzi incident from a week ago.

Although he had been flustered at the time, he remained certain that his eyes had not deceived him. The female paparazzo had indeed fled toward the pool and then vanished. Thinking back, that one minute of disappearance must have been spent hiding in the water. Since only Jiang Ming was in the pool at the time, he must have known. The next day, Susan appeared—the timing and her identity were too coincidental, and even her physique was similar. It was highly probable that she was that very paparazzo. This would explain Jiang Ming’s recent abnormal behavior and why Susan was the only woman allowed to get close to him.

However, this deduction relied on one premise: Susan could swim.

But Susan had claimed in front of the entire swim team that she could not swim. Was that true, or was it a smokescreen?

To verify his theory, he had to find out for certain if Susan could swim.

For the past few days, because Jiang Ming had taken on the responsibility of hosting the reporter, he had naturally remained by her side, making it impossible for Lin Tingyuan to test her. With tomorrow being a rest day, he felt his opportunity had finally arrived.

Just as the elevator doors were about to close, a hand blocked them, and they slid open again. Susan found herself face-to-face with Lin Tingyuan.

"Captain Lin?" Susan looked surprised for a fleeting moment before putting on her professional smile.

"Reporter Susan, finished filming?" Lin Tingyuan mirrored her expression of surprise as he stepped into the elevator.

"Yes, it’s quite late; I didn't want to overstay my welcome."

"I’ve realized that your profession is quite demanding. You often have to work late."

He spoke with such warmth and a refreshing smile that, if one didn't know his true nature, one would easily mistake him for a thoughtful and kind-hearted man.

"It’s not as hard as being an athlete! But we do often work late. Captain Lin, heading downstairs this late?"

"Yes, with the new waste sorting rules, I have to go down to dispose of the trash. I can walk you out!" Lin Tingyuan gestured with the trash bag in his hand.

"Thank you!" Susan didn't decline. It was a public space; she couldn't avoid him, so she would simply have to play along.

Once the pleasantries ended, conversation stalled. As they neared the ground floor, Susan remained silent with a polite smile. Finally, Lin Tingyuan took the initiative, his voice still gentle.

"Reporter Susan, how is the interview footage coming along? Although Jiang Ming is mainly responsible for hosting, Director Zong has given the word, and we will all cooperate with you!"

As a professional reporter, Susan immediately understood that Lin Tingyuan wanted to be interviewed.

That made sense. If she were just a regular reporter, given Lin Tingyuan’s proactive nature, his love for the spotlight, and his skill in dealing with the media, he would naturally be eager to be interviewed and featured on camera for more exposure. This perfectly explained his subtle hint just now.

"Jiang Ming is very responsible, but... you know, he’s a man of few words. I have enough footage, but I’m still lacking in interview content. If I could interview Captain Lin, that would be wonderful! When would you be free?"

Susan feigned surprise, acting as if she were excited to secure an interview with such an important figure.

She thought she had successfully navigated the logic, not realizing she had fallen right into the trap set by the old fox, Lin Tingyuan.

"No problem. How about tomorrow afternoon at three, by the pool?"

"Tomorrow?"

"Does Reporter Susan have other plans? That’s right, you’ve been following the team; you deserve a rest!"

Lin Tingyuan’s gentleness and thoughtfulness felt incredibly genuine. If Susan were a naive young girl, she would have easily fallen for it. Unfortunately, she had already seen his two-faced nature—one moment sweet-talking, the next cutting deep.

"No, I’m free. I was just surprised! Tomorrow is the only rest day in your weekly schedule, so I hate to bother you."

"I’ll be doing extra training on Sunday, so I’ll be at the training facility anyway. We can meet before I start my session."

"As expected, not just anyone can be a champion. The audience will certainly be interested in the dedication behind the ‘King of Butterfly Stroke’s’ gold medals," Susan said, following his lead with a thoughtful expression. She looked entirely in "work mode," without a hint of suspicion.

"Reporter Susan works hard, too. You’re truly professional. What aspects did you want to ask about?"

"Training progress, insights on coaching, the focus for this year’s World Championships, and... well, Captain Lin, you’re a very famous athlete with a large fan base. If you could briefly discuss the currently trending ‘fan economy,’ that would be even better. Would you like me to send you the interview outline in advance?"

"No need. Reporter Susan, feel free to ask whatever you like. I will tell you everything I know without reservation."

Lin Tingyuan wore a look of confidence, perfectly fitting the image of the "media darling" everyone described. By now, they had reached the trash collection area. He calmly sorted his waste, nodded slightly to bid Susan farewell, and turned to head back.

Not until Lin Tingyuan’s back disappeared into the distance did Susan frown slightly, feeling that something was wrong, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Running into him by chance wasn't strange, as she had been right next door.

Even if he had engineered the encounter, dropped hints, and deliberately invited her, it still made logical sense. Lin Tingyuan had always enjoyed dealing with the media; he even updated his own social media frequently, so he certainly wouldn't want to miss another opportunity to be on camera. Since she hadn't specifically interviewed him in the days since she arrived, he was likely impatient and decided to create an opportunity when he learned she was nearby.

Since the first day she joined the team, she had nearly been caught by him. For the sake of safety, she had indeed been avoiding him over the past few days. However, as the top butterfly swimmer and captain of the Jiangzhou Men’s Swim Team, he couldn't be left out of the special column. If she didn't interview him, it would be impossible to justify.

Therefore, whether it was a coincidence or a calculated encounter, Susan had to go along with the invitation. Besides, if she could probe for information during the formal interview, it might actually advance her investigation. You can’t catch a tiger cub without entering the tiger’s den; since she was already here, she couldn't be afraid to get close to the tiger, even if he were a cunning, vicious one.

Having steeled her resolve, Susan was no longer afraid. Considering this was her professional duty, she didn't mention it to Xiao Rui. In any case, they would be inside the training facility; even if Lin Tingyuan had suspicions, he wouldn't dare do anything to her in broad daylight.

The following afternoon, without further hesitation, Susan packed her equipment and went to the meeting alone.