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Published at 8th of December 2019 11:27:39 AM
Chapter 42

When Tang Yi-Bai met Coach Brown, the coach told him, "Tang, you can race against Bayard this afternoon . I'll be cheering for you . "

Tang Yi-Bai nodded calmly, "Okay . Thank you . "

Coach Brown had never hidden his fondness for Tang Yi-Bai . Right then, seeing how subdued Tang Yi-Bai was, Coach Brown was a little confused . From his interactions with Tang Yi-Bai these past few days, Coach Brown felt that the young man had a very healthy mindset . Tang Yi-Bai would never become discouraged at his opponent's strength .

Perhaps because there was very little in the way of entertainment for the athletes, Tang Yi-Bai and Bayard's friendly match stirred up the majority of the club . Many people came to spectate . The ladies were split into two groups — one cheering on Bayard, while the other was on Tang Yi-Bai's side . Based solely on personal best times, Bayard had the advantage, but this lead was less than 0 . 1 seconds so it was not indicative of anything . Furthermore, men from the East just had that sense of mystery about them . The ladies liked him, and even Coach Brown liked him . . . Taking all these miscellaneous things that had nothing to do with racing itself into account, Tang Yi-Bai's support rating actually managed to match that of Bayard's .

Qi Rui-Feng was leading a group of people in yelling Tang Yi-Bai's name: "Tang Yi-Bai! Tang Yi-Bai! Tang Yi-Bai!"

Only his bro of many years Tang Yi-Bai could stir his majesty Qi Rui-Feng to personally come and be a cheerleader . The girls around him shouted along with him, very quickly picking up Tang Yi-Bai's full name . Later on, many of them would realise that the first Chinese phrase they learned was not 'hello' or 'thank you', but was instead 'Tang Yi-Bai' .

Tang Yi-Bai stood on the starting block, looking down at the rippling surface of the water . He took in a few deep breaths, gathering up his jumbled thoughts . Well, it's time to race . Even though this was an inconsequential race .

As soon as the starting gun sounded, the two swimmers dove into the water with astonishing alacrity . Upon entering the water, Tang Yi-Bai did not feel the usual tension of competition nor was his heart pounding with excitement . His emotions were rather chaotic — he was unable to focus no matter how he tried .

Coach Brown stood beside Qi Rui-Feng . He shook his head and sighed, saying to Qi Rui-Feng, "Tang's not in good form . His start should have been faster than Bayard's . "

Qi Rui-Feng: "???"

Coach Brown: " . . . "

The two of them stared at each other helplessly for a long moment . In the end, Qi Rui-Feng smiled politely at Coach Brown with a nod, and then he turned back and continued to shout, "Tang Yi-Bai! Tang Yi-Bai! Tang Yi-Bai!"

Coach Brown: = . =

The national team had actually hired a local translator for Qi Rui-Feng and the others, but the translator was not present right then . Coach Brown had been hoping to analyze the situation with the world champion Qi Rui-Feng, but now he had no choice but to nurse his thoughts in solitude .

Coach Brown's premonition was not wrong . Tang Yi-Bai was off his game . In the end, Bayard won the race with a large lead, clocking in a time of 47 . 82 seconds, almost rewriting his own personal best time this year . In contrast, Tang Yi-Bai finished at 48 . 30 seconds, which was a rather large disparity from his usual performance at present .


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Qi Rui-Feng pulled him out of the water .

Back on land, Tang Yi-Bai wiped his face . His expression was rather troubled . Bayard walked over . As the winner, he was gleeful to see Tang Yi-Bai's troubled expression . He was just about to openly taunt the other when Tang Yi-Bai stretched his right hand out at Bayard .

Bayard paused, stunned .

Somewhat impatient, Tang Yi-Bai reached and clasped the other's hand . "Congratulations . You performed well . " After that, he turned to leave without waiting for a response .

This was very basic sporting etiquette — Tang Yi-Bai didn't even have to think to go through the motions — but this simple action earned him a round of applause .

Qi Rui-Feng chased after him and asked worriedly, "Are you okay? Victory and defeat are equally common in warfare . Don't worry too much about it . "

Despite his age, the ancient sayings Qi Rui-Feng could quote could be counted on one hand . "Victory and defeat are equally common in warfare" was one of them . For him to present these words while comforting another could be taken as a sign of the utmost concern from this prodigy .

Tang Yi-Bai shook his head . It wasn't the loss that was bothering him . He was just . . . not in a very good mood .

Coach Brown gave some instructions for training, then he called out to Tang Yi-Bai . "Tang, let's have a chat . "

"Okay . "

Tang Yi-Bai's conversational English level was also lacking . A simple line or two was fine, but anything more than that would require slowing down and perhaps the aid of a dictionary . There was the app installed on his phone anyway, so it was still quite convenient .

Coach Brown said, "Tang, you're a very gifted athlete, but recently, your training performance has not been very stable . Do you know why?"

"Why?"

"You aren't focused enough . "

Tang Yi-Bai was silent .

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Coach Brown continue to say, "You should know better than I do that an athlete needs to put in 100% of their focus . There can't be the slightest bit of slack . Yet you're not focused enough . I want to know why . "

Some things could not be said to friends or parents or even a close coach, but to this coach he knew for only less than a month, Tang Yi-Bai managed to say effortlessly, "I like a girl . "

Coach Brown smiled . "Is it Angelina?"

"No, it's a Chinese girl . We've known each other for 8 months, but," Tang Yi-Bai's face dimmed, "She went to the Aegean Sea with another man to watch the sunset . "

"Are you feeling bad about it?"

Tang Yi-Bai nodded .

Coach Brown shook his head and said, "Child, you still don't know what your true problem is . . . are you planning to date her?"

Tang Yi-Bai pursed his lips . "I don't know if she'll accept . "

"Tang, I heard that your coaches in China do not allow athletes to date . "

"Yes, they're worried it will affect training . Coach, are you going to do the same?"

Coach Brown smiled and shook his head . His brown hair swayed with the action; his eyes were light blue, deep and profound like the sea, and shining with the light of wisdom . He said, "I will not interfere in other's personal affairs . But I do have a bit of advice . If you just want to be an average athlete, then you can go ahead and pursue your love . But if you want to become a great, accomplished athlete, Tang, my opinion is the same as your China coaches . You need to be able to focus without any distractions . Dating will distract you and make you unable to guarantee 100% focus . I know you have grand ambitions . You want to be a world champion . I think that before you become world champion, the right thing to do is to first set the person you like aside for a while . "

Tang Yi-Bai kept his eyes lowered and said nothing .

Coach Brown patted him on the shoulder . "You know, it's like you were born for the water . Although your body proportions are not perfect, you have very good sense for the water . You're like a sprite in the water . Also, you're smart . Compared to them," he pointed at a few athletes in the pool not too far away, "You're smarter than all of them combined . Do you know how rare that is? You also have excellent ability to regulate your mental condition . . . Tang, I've raised two world champions before . I believe that you will become the third . "

Tang Yi-Bai's eyebrows raised slightly . He looked at Coach Brown, and some emotion rippled in his eyes .


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Early August . The majority of China entered furnace mode — the only difference was that some areas were being baked, while others were being steamed . City-B had already been enduring several consecutive sauna days . Many people were hiding in air-conditioned rooms; just going out for a bit would leave one with a whole body of sweat .

Yun Duo took a day off, specially taking the time to go to the airport to welcome Tang Yi-Bai back from foreign training . As for Qi Rui-Feng, it was a buy-1-free-1 deal .

On her end, she was actually already coming with a bundled 1-for-1 deal — her lackey Lin Zi insisted on coming along .

Considering the fact that Tang Yi-Bai also liked being high-profile, Yun Duo brought along two signs this time . One each for the both of them . Lin Zi was holding up the 'Qi Rui-Feng dominates the world forever and ever' sign Yun Duo had made two months ago, while Yun Duo now held a bigger sign which read 'White streak among the waves; No one can compare' . Initially, Lin Zi had suggested writing 'White streak among the waves; World Number 1', but Yun Duo was very skeptical about his language skills and resolutely ignored the suggestion .

Today, she was dressed in a knee-length lake-blue dress . Its fabric was light and airy, complementing her skin, making it look as white as snow and bright and lively . Her hair was tied back loosely, revealing her forehead, giving her a slightly more mature air . . . even Lin Zi said this look looked good, so she was very satisfied with it .

Counting in detail, she hadn't seen Tang Yi-Bai for two months . The internet had narrowed the distance between people — she had chatted with him regularly, but then he had become busier and busier, so they spoke less . Still, in any case, ten thousand typed words on the phone was no substitute for a spoken phrase in person .

Yun Duo and Lin Zi were both good-looking — a handsome man and a beautiful lady standing side by side at the airport, they were extremely eye-catching . Some people even mistook them for superstars and went up to ask them for autographs . Lin Zi did not refuse anyone who approached them; he signed his name without hesitation . Yun Duo was not as thick-faced; she explained with a smile that she was not a superstar .

After waiting for a while at the airport, Yun Duo felt that something was off . "Why are there so few fans today?"

Lin Zi replied, "You're being too conservative . There's only two of us fans here . "

"That's odd . Where's everyone else?"

"I suspect that their itinerary wasn't made public, so the fans don't know about it . "

"Ah . . . "

The two of them stood together foolishly, both holding huge signs in their hands, like a lone island in the middle of the wide sea . It was easier for them to act as hardcore fans among a throng of other fans, but with just the two of them there, the situation was just really awkward . Yun Duo quickly put the sign away and settled down to wait in a low-key manner .

Tang Yi-Bai saw Yun Duo as soon as he stepped out . She was wearing a pretty dress and her hair was tied up . She appeared tall and graceful, like a blue lotus blooming on the surface of a lake . He stared transfixed at her — it was like his gaze was glued to her . Unconsciously, his heartbeat accelerated .

Qi Rui-Feng nudged Tang Yi-Bai on the arm . "Hey, isn't that Yun Duo?"

Tang Yi-Bai said nothing, but strode forwards with large steps towards Yun Duo .

Yun Duo grinned at them and waved, "Hi!"

After so long away, Tang Yi-Bai's skin was indeed tanner, but not to the extent where he could be called Tang Yi-Hei . Right now, his skin was just slightly darker than the colour of wheat . Perhaps due to the darker skin tone, his facial features appeared even more three-dimensional and his eyes were even brighter .

Tang Yi-Bai's lips moved, but in the end all he said was, "Yun Duo . "

Qi Rui-Feng nodded, and cast a rewarding look at Yun Duo . "Looks like you're pretty loyal to me . "

The two athletes ignored Lin Zi . Tang Yi-Bai was ignoring him because he wanted to, while Qi Rui-Feng was ignoring him because he considered Lin Zi to be Yun Duo's lackey . Since Yun Duo was his loyal fan, Lin Zi was an inconsequential character in his eyes .

Tang Yi-Bai stared silently at Yun Duo . She was really beautiful today . The neckline of the dress was not too big and not too small . It clung to her snow-white skin, revealing delicate collarbones . Her bangs were combed back, revealing her clear forehead . Some fine hairs still slipped loose around her hairline, playfully clinging to the edges of her forehead . His gaze swept lightly across her face, a trace of greed within it . However, when she finished speaking with Qi Rui-Feng and turned towards him, he quickly looked down to hide his eyes .

A deep sense of loss suddenly surged up within him, as thick and stubborn as fog .

"Let's go," said Tang Yi-Bai, and he left dragging his suitcase behind him, without even sparing Yun Duo another glance .

Yun Duo was left at a loss . She stood in place, staring dumbly at his back, and muttered to herself, "Is it because I'm not dressed plainly enough . . . ?" She was so stupid — how could she forget this most important point!

Her loyal lackey was standing beside her and heard her mutterings . He said, "No . "

Yun Duo's spirits rallied . She looked at him and waited for his reasonable explanation .

He said, "It's because he doesn't like you . "

Yun Duo: QAQ

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