Chapter 85
Yun Duo laid back on the bed and looked at the bruises on her wrist . She said weakly, "Tang Yi-Bai, you're too violent!"
Tang Yi-Bai hugged her from behind — they were stuck together, skin to skin without any space at all between them . He said guiltily, "I'm sorry . Does it hurt?"
She rolled her eyes softly, "What do you think?"
The bruise was from Tang Yi-Bai's grip . When he had been so worked up that he couldn't control his strength, his hands had clenched too heavily, leaving traces on her hands .
Of course, that wasn't the place which hurts the most . . .
Yun Duo was a little indignant . It was both their first times, so why did the experience differ so much between men and women?!
The discomfort of her body led to her bad mood, so her expression was grumpy .
Tang Yi-Bai was very sympathetic . He kissed her and then got out of bed to find some ointment for her . After getting her the ointment, Yun Duo wanted a shower . So he carried her to the restroom, and just as he was preparing to have a cosy bath together with her, he was thrown out of the restroom .
Tang Yi-Bai went to tidy up the room instead . He threw away the trash and changed the sheets, tossing the dirty sheets into the washing machine to wash, before rushing off to the master bedroom for a quick shower .
When Yun Duo was done with her shower, he wrapped her in a towel and carried her back to the bed . Under her less than friendly gaze, he carefully and painstakingly helped her apply the medicinal ointment .
Waiting on her hand and foot .
Yun Duo did not only have bruises on her wrists; there were some on her chest, and on her legs as well . . . she was rather speechless . "I feel like I've been mauled . "
"Duoduo, I was wrong . I'll make sure to be gentler next time . "
"Hmph . "
He kept his head bowed as he concentrated on applying the medicine on her, only glancing up at her every so often . His gaze was like water, so tender that it would drown any female creature within it . Yun Duo was encompassed in this gentle gaze, and inexplicably could not feel angry anymore .
Boo hoo hoo, she was just too weak . . .
After the medicine was applied, they both put on their clothes . As Yun Duo wasn't feeling well, they could not go out for a date, so the two of them just settled onto the sofa to watch a movie . Yun Duo was somewhat worried about Er-Bai . "Why don't you let Er-Bai out?"
Tang Yi-Bai said, "You've just showered and Er-Bai has germs on him, so you shouldn't touch him . "
Yun Duo sweatdropped . What kind of reasoning was that?!
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However, Tang Yi-Bai found his conscience in the end, and he brought some food to appease Er-Bai . But Er-Bai had an unexpected bout of intelligence — he was hiding right behind the door, so as soon as Tang Yi-Bai opened it, he zoomed out of the room like a fat bolt of lightning .
After escaping, Er-Bai leapt into Yun Duo's arms, and rubbed up against her, acting cute and barking . There was a hint of complaint in his barking cries .
Thus was a husky-shaped light bulb added in between Tang Yi-Bai and Yun Duo .
When Er-Bai had vented all his emotions, he slumped on the sofa with his head pillowed on Yun Duo's legs as Yun Duo stroked his head rhythmically . She turned to say to Tang Yi-Bai, "Shouldn't you be going soon?"
"There's no hurry . " He didn't feel like leaving her just yet . Even if they just sat together without saying anything, he wanted to spend a little more time with her .
Yun Duo was rather worried, "You better go now, otherwise Coach Wu will scold you again . "
Tang Yi-Bai shook his head and said, "It's fine . Coach Wu has taken the first-string regulars up to the highlands . "
Oh, she had actually forgotten about this . Only then did Yun Duo realise that her previous focus on the swimming team was purely centred around Tang Yi-Bai . Wherever Tang Yi-Bai went, her focus would follow . Back then, when Tang Yi-Bai had gone to the highlands, she had followed him to the highlands . Now that Tang Yi-Bai was not at the highlands, she did not even notice the other swimmers had gone .
But he was not the only athlete on his team . Coach Wu was in charge of several other athletes — he could not afford to neglect the others just for Tang Yi-Bai, even if Tang Yi-Bai may be the most outstanding among them .
Yet no matter what, the others were now at the highlands, leaving Tang Yi-Bai all on his lonesome here . For some reason, she felt vaguely sad about this .
Tang Yi-Bai saw her eyes dim, and he rubbed her hair to comfort her . "Don't worry . Coach Wu left me some assignments to do before he left . And they'll be back in a few days . "
Yun Duo nodded . "Why don't you go back right now?"
"Already chasing me away as soon as we get out of bed . Duoduo, you're so cruel . "
Yun Duo's face turned red and she glared huffily at him . Her gaze was glimmering, tickling his heart . She said, "I'm talking seriously with you right now! You haven't trained in so long . You should hurry back to the pool . "
"I've already been delayed by 20 days, another hour or so won't make much difference . "
"Tang Yi-Bai, did this trip to the rehab centre turn you into a lazy bum?"
Tang Yi-Bai smiled . "Speaking of, I really do miss our life there . I could go to sleep with you in my arms every night . "
Yun Duo didn't want to deal with him anymore . She kept her head low and played with Er-Bai .
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Tang Yi-Bai sighed . "I'll leave when this movie ends . "
Yun Duo felt her heart ache . She was reluctant to part with him too, but he had his career to think about, as well as his dreams . Grandpa Kang and the others had put in so much effort to earn him this extra time for training, he should not let any minute, any second, go to waste . The World Championship were too important for him . Even though he might not be able to win a medal, he should at least experience it at his best possible condition .
After saying this, Tang Yi-Bai felt the time slip by rapidly, like water breaking through a levee . The movie soon ended . By the end of it, he could not even recall what the movie was about — he only knew he had to say goodbye to Duoduo again soon .
Yun Duo walked him to the door, where she then kissed him on her own .
Tang Yi-Bai said, "Duoduo, remember to think of me, and come visit me when you're free . "
"Okay . "
The next day, Duoduo reported back to her office to work . Although she had not appeared in the office for over half a month, her legend continued to spread while she had been away — her articles would appear every so often in the papers, and almost every single one of them would be headliners . Because those articles were on the recovery progress of Tang Yi-Bai, which also happened to be exclusive reports . Many of the other media had more clout than Sports Weekly, but they still ended up meekly citing and reusing the articles in Sports Weekly .
Thanks to Tang Yi-Bai, Yun Duo's current position in the agency was rather special . There were those who speculated over her relationship with Tang Yi-Bai behind the scenes, but regardless of how far their speculations went, even if it was something as bombastic as 'Yun Duo sold her body to Tang Yi-Bai for the sake of news', they did not look down on Yun Duo for it . Instead, they were deeply envious .
Who wouldn't be envious at being able to net such an extreme hunk as Tang Yi-Bai? Leaving aside using him, even if she was the one being used by him, there were plenty who would be willing!
In the afternoon of the day she returned to the office, Cheng Mei, who had already resigned, came looking for Yun Duo . The two of them went for tea together, where Cheng Mei then said to Yun Duo, "Yun Duo, I went to see Lin Zi yesterday . "
"Oh . " Yun Duo did not feel like talking about him .
"He told me to tell you that he's sorry . "
"Okay . "
Cheng Mei looked at Yun Duo who was stirring her coffee with her head bowed . She suddenly felt sorry for Lin Zi . "Yun Duo, Lin Zi was really quite good to you . That was sincere . "
Yun Duo said, "Cheng Mei, in your eyes, he is good in so many ways, but in my eyes, he's someone who betrayed me . It's precisely because he was good to me that I am unable to accept his betrayal now . Let's not talk about him anymore . "
Tang Yi-Bai immediately swam a few laps in the pool upon returning to the team base .
As many of the members were at the highlands, there were very few people at the training hall . He monopolised a large area of the pool and swam without care for distance or speed . He merely closed his eyes and immersed himself fully in the feel of being in the water . The cool water slid across the surface of his skin . His motions sent little whirlpools rippling through the water, and he moved with the ebb and flow of the swirling water . His flexible legs kicked alternately, like the oars of a little boat .
He swam through the water as leisurely as a fish, completely forgetting the time, forgetting his fatigue . He was about to melt into the vast embrace of the water .
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After coming out of the water, he wiped his face and saw someone standing by the pool .
It was Team Lead Xu .
Team Lead Xu did not pull rank, humbly bending down to look at him and asked, "How do you feel?"
Tang Yi-Bai smiled and said, "Not bad . Just a little strange . "
Water sense was partly due to innate factors and partly due to external factors, both essential . Competitive sports challenged the extreme limits — it was the accumulation of months and years of polishing, an engraving of every minute and second of effort . Tang Yi-Bai had not swum for 20 days . Now, re-entering the water, although he was still swimming excellently from the perspective of the average person, he could sense the subtle changes in himself within the water .
Team Lead Xu could understand the situation very well . He wasn't particularly sad, primarily because he had already thought things through . He would not expect much from Tang Yi-Bai for the World Championships this time . Let it be a training experience for Yi-Bai — it would be best if he could at least make the finals .
Some people on the team had even proposed substituting Tang Yi-Bai with some other team member . This suggestion received very little support, for the majority still felt that a starving camel was still bigger than a horse . Tang Yi-Bai would be participating in the 100-metre free, and he had a chance of entering the finals . As for anyone else on the team, even making it to the finals would be an extraordinary feat .
What Team Lead Xu really regretted were the two group events: the men's 4x100-metre medley relay and the mixed 4x100-metre medley relay . Without Tang Yi-Bai, China would be completely handicapped in these two events . At that time, they could only let Qi Rui-Feng take part in his place, but Qi Rui-Feng was already swimming in too many events, so there would be a loss one way or another . Not to mention that Qi Rui-Feng's time in the 100-metre free wasn't particularly noteworthy by world standards .
Sigh, Tang Yi-Bai was actually involved in the results of three events . . . it was truly such a shame .
As Team Lead Xu thought about the situation, he still ended up feeling rather depressed . After giving Tang Yi-Bai some encouragement, he left to seek out someone to confide in .
Tang Yi-Bai did not think too much about it, turning to dive into the water again, continuing his aimless swimming .
A few days later, Yun Duo was sent by the agency to report on Tang Yi-Bai's training progress after his recovery . Director Liu had already decided to only assign Yun Duo to chase Tang Yi-Bai for reports; reporting on the side of the highlands was left to Qian Xu-Dong and Teacher Sun . Yun Duo first contacted Team Lead Xu and Coach Wu, and after receiving approval from them, she arrived at the training base .
There were only a few swimmers in the large swimming pool; Tang Yi-Bai had a large area to himself . Yun Duo took pictures as she observed his training . Perhaps beauty was in the eye of the beholder — Yun Duo felt that Tang Yi-Bai had the most beautiful swimming form, even more lovely than a mermaid .
She knew he was working very hard recently, giving himself extra training tasks every day . Before this, Tang Yi-Bai hardly ever added to his usual training menu . He was satisfied as long as he completed his daily training menu, because he believed that the coaches were professionals and should be trusted . As long as one listened to their coach, they should be fine . But now, faced with the water which felt both strange yet familiar all at once, he would spend a little longer swimming every day . If the coaches told him to swim 10,000 metres, he would swim 12,000 metres .
Wu Yong was aware of this, but he made no move to stop this . He only reminded Tang Yi-Bai to see the team doctor every day to prevent a relapse of his injury due to overwork .
Yun Duo’s heart ached seeing him this way, but she did not know how to spoil him .
After Tang Yi-Bai was done with his training in the water, he got out of the pool for a short break . After that, he stood by the poolside and struck several poses for Yun Duo to snap some photos . His great figure made people fall in love with it every time they saw it — Yun Duo's heart was pounding as she took the photos . After she was done, Yun Duo raised her voice recorder to interview him, but he laughed and said, "No need for questions . Just write whatever you want . "
Yun Duo didn't know whether to laugh or cry . "Who does things that way? Can you be a little considerate of my professional ethics?"
Thus, Tang Yi-Bai answered her questions formally with a straight face, but after the Q&A went on for a while, something tickled his funny bone and he burst out laughing . When he was done laughing, he reeled her in for a kiss without any care that this was supposed to be an interview .
Yun Duo: " . . . " Were there any other athletes more wilful than him?!
Tang Yi-Bai went to take a shower . Pool water was quite corrosive, so a shower was necessary every time after coming out of the pool . After that, he led Yun Duo to the training room where he would continue with his dryland training .
Yun Duo had watched Tang Yi-Bai during dryland training before, but today was the first time she had seen him do dryland training topless . He was shirtless, only wearing a pair of workout shorts . His muscles moved as he trained, rising and falling like a melodious symphony . Sunlight shone in through a window to illuminate his sweaty chest . The beads of sweat were like sparkling crystals, dazzling to the eye .
Yun Duo took several photographs, swallowing as she did so .
Tang Yi-Bai grinned at her . "What are you thinking of?"
She blushed and ignored him .
In the end, she decided not to send the photos taken in the training room to the news agency . My man is so sexy and charming, what if someone becomes obsessed and does something crazy? I'm doing this to save humanity . . .
After taking the photos, they entered the same dating mode as before . He trained seriously while she watched silently, occasionally fooling around on her own with the other equipment in the room .
After he was done with dryland training, he took a shower, and then the two of them were free to go for dinner together . After dinner, they sat by the training field and watched children play soccer .
Because they were with the one they loved, no matter how plain the activity, they felt exceptionally happy and satisfied .
Yun Duo leaned back into Tang Yi-Bai's arms and said what she had wanted to say all day . "Tang Yi-Bai, don't overwork yourself . "
Tang Yi-Bai stroked her hair absentmindedly as he answered, "It's fine . I'm not tired . "
"What if you tire yourself out with the additional training?" Yun Duo actually wanted to say — what if you injure the hand that just healed again? — but that would be such an unlucky thing to say, so she resolutely kept her mouth shut .
He smiled and said, "Duoduo, are you worried about me?"
"Tang Yi-Bai, I'm being serious here! Don't push too hard . It's okay even if you don't get a medal . " Even if you don't get a medal, my love for you won't reduce one bit . . . She definitely would not say such cringey words — they would just stay in her heart .
"Duoduo, everyone has already given up hope, even you . But I will never give up . Never . "
Yun Duo stilled, startled .
He was forever confident and strong, forever steadfast and calm . Even if the whole world doubted him, he would never ever doubt himself . That was just how he was, this man she loved .