Volume One, Chapter 32: Take the Long View

It was not until she stepped into the shower that Susan finally began to calm down amidst the sound of running water. After she finished, she cautiously opened the door, reached her hand through the crack, and felt for the clothes hanging on the doorknob before quickly pulling them inside.

Fortunately, Jiang Ming had provided not only an oversized T-shirt but also a pair of athletic shorts. Susan let out a long sigh of relief. As she held the clothes up to herself in front of the mirror, a flush crept across her face. She thought that if it had only been the top, which barely reached her thighs, it would have been far too provocative. She would rather endure the discomfort of wet clothes than suffer such embarrassment.

After the shower, Susan was visibly much calmer. With a steady mind, her thoughts became more objective and comprehensive. Wrapped in a bath towel, she blew dry her undergarments while reviewing the earlier events and carefully analyzing Jiang Ming’s words. Gradually, more of the key points began to click into place.

She believed everything Jiang Ming had said, yet she also felt he hadn’t told the whole truth.

And it was those unsaid words that felt the warmest.

At this thought, the Susan in the mirror wore a sweet smile. Since the cards were already on the table, there was no need to hide anything. It was time for her to shift from a passive position to an active one.

...

Jiang Ming had finished his own quick shower in the master bedroom and returned to the living room before Susan was done. Hearing the faint sound of sneezing from the bathroom, his brow furrowed slightly, and he headed toward the kitchen.

Jiang Ming’s home featured an open-concept kitchen. Having trained with the team year-round, he rarely spent time at home and cooked even less, but the kitchen was fully equipped.

Thus, when Susan finished getting ready and emerged, she saw Jiang Ming busy at the kitchen island.

He was wearing a casual white T-shirt identical to hers, paired with linen trousers. His hair was slightly damp, and his tall, athletic frame—broad shoulders and a narrow waist—made for a striking sight, even just from behind. His movements as he worked at the counter were measured and graceful. Far from the fierce image of an athlete, now that he had shed his sportswear for casual attire, Jiang Ming looked more like a man who enjoyed a quiet domestic life.

Susan walked quietly to his side, tilted her head, and asked unexpectedly, "The reason you didn't want me to break the story—wasn't it because you were worried about me? Even just a little bit?"

Hearing this, Jiang Ming looked up at Susan. Dressed in his oversized clothes, she still couldn't hide her elegant figure, and she carried the same faint, fresh scent as he did—an indescribable sense of compatibility. Worried about her? Had she recovered her ability to focus on the point so quickly?

Jiang Ming’s hand, holding the kettle, paused for three seconds before he answered calmly, "I already told you, I was worried you’d become a paparazzi everyone hates."

With that, Jiang Ming turned slightly away, no longer looking at Susan, and focused on pouring the tea.

Susan moved around to face him, continuing to stare at him with narrowed, thoughtful eyes. She pressed on, "Only that? Weren't you afraid he would use his connections to retaliate against me?"

Jiang Ming’s hand paused once more. He gave Susan a complicated look.

"To strike rashly without fully understanding your opponent's background is both reckless and poor strategy. Since you know that, you should learn to hold back."

Having said this, Jiang Ming handed the tea to Susan.

It was ginger-jujube black tea, perfect for someone who had fallen into the water and caught a chill. It had to be said, even though Jiang Ming’s face was cold, his actions were quite warm. Any lingering fear or preconceived notions she had about his aloofness vanished completely.

Susan took the tea with one hand and grabbed Jiang Ming’s wrist with the other, pulling him toward the living room. "Thank you! Since you've been so kind, help me sort this out. Don't worry, it's just analysis, not a report! I’ll find another breakthrough point and plan this carefully."

Watching Susan’s enthusiastic back, Jiang Ming couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile. Her hand was very cold, yet he felt his skin burning where she touched him. More importantly, he found himself craving that warmth.

...

On the coffee table lay Jiang Ming’s laptop, which he had lent to Susan. Jiang Ming sat on the carpet with his long legs tucked, listening as she laid out all the information she had gathered. Most of the time, he listened quietly, occasionally refilling the tea for Susan when she mentioned being thirsty, and only offering his opinions when specifically asked.

As she organized her thoughts, Susan drew a new mind map, placing a large question mark in the box labeled "The Real Girlfriend."

"Who is she, really? Is it a genuine relationship between them, or is there a conflict of interests? Does she know about Lin Tingyuan’s true character?"

Susan tapped her head rhythmically with her pen, focused and adorable.

"Keep tapping, and you'll make yourself silly."

Jiang Ming took the pen from her hand and tossed it onto the table, a glint of amusement in his eyes.

In his casual clothes, Jiang Ming seemed less cold and tense than usual, appearing more approachable and relaxed.

Susan shrugged. Looking at Jiang Ming, who had a much more distinguished air but avoided the media, and thinking of Lin Tingyuan, who used the media to craft his personal brand and do as he pleased, she couldn't help but sigh. "Honestly, I don't get it. How can someone like him have so many fans? If you were just a little more cooperative with the media, you’d be much more popular than him."

"Someone like him? He’s the top butterfly swimmer, a world champion."

"So what? You’re the top individual medley swimmer! And as for being a world champion, you’ll get there too!"

"You... believe in me?"

"Of course, believe in me. I’ve been studying swimming lately, and I’ve realized that your times are world-class. It’s just that Jackson from the U.S. performed better in the last few major competitions. In short, you have the talent and the grit to keep improving. Everything else is just a matter of opportunity and luck. People can’t be unlucky forever, especially not a good person like you. What you’re looking for is in the near future—the next race, or the one after that!"

Susan said this with conviction, flashing a sweet smile, as if she had traveled back from the future and was absolutely certain of it.

Her optimism and trust filled Jiang Ming’s heart and encouraged him to open up.

"I... don't usually pay much attention to my teammates' private lives, but I’ve heard a few bits of gossip from Yining and Gu Lai. Lin Tingyuan likely has a girlfriend he keeps well-hidden. People speculate that he’s doing it for his idol image, to keep his fanbase stable. But these are personal matters and personal choices; as long as it doesn't affect training and competition, I haven't paid it much mind."

"You’ve already helped me a lot. I’ll keep investigating the rest."

"The Su Group might be a good lead."

"Great minds think alike! I’m already having someone look into the senior management at the Su Group."

"In that case, good luck."

...

Jiang Ming made it back to the gym just before the evening training session. After he left, Susan stayed a little longer, citing safety, though in truth, she simply wanted to indulge in the private pleasure of admiring the moon from the floor-to-ceiling windows before leaving his home.

Jiang Ming had seen through her excuse at a glance but hadn't called her out on it, choosing instead to keep her company. He even felt a secret joy that she, too, loved sitting on the floor by the window to watch the moon—the very thing he loved doing most whenever he returned home from the team.

What Susan knew and was grateful for was that to keep Lin Tingyuan from getting suspicious, Jiang Ming had played his part perfectly, staying away from the communal dormitory all night and only appearing at roll call the next day. He had acted out the romance novel trope of a hero saving a beauty, followed by a night of uncontrollable passion.

What Susan didn't know was that Jiang Ming’s extreme self-discipline would never allow him to skip a day of training. Shortly after she left, he had returned to the old Jiang family estate and, to the surprise of Uncle Chen, headed straight for the pool to complete the extra training he had missed that afternoon. After all that exertion, his iron-clad body felt a trace of fatigue, though at the time, Jiang Ming didn't pay it much mind.