Chapter Forty-Four: A Midnight Conversation

That night.

By the time Rousseau and Juno returned to the Pengcheng Sports Academy, it was already midnight. After some deliberation, they decided not to disturb the coaches’ rest and instead climbed over the back wall of the academy. At this moment, Juno hesitated a little. Midnight, the winding path on the back hill, the crooked-neck tree, and the hanging ghost—these associations brought back memories of her own ‘terrifying’ experiences.

Rousseau sensed it was finally time to come clean. Continuing to keep the truth from her would be rather lacking in integrity. He confessed to Juno that on that fateful day, he had actually been practicing frog jumps on the path. What she saw was him, not a ghost.

“Ah?” Juno tilted her head to look at Rousseau, dazed for quite a while, before a murderous expression slowly appeared on her face, as if she wanted to strangle him.

Of course, in the end, Juno didn’t lay a finger on him; instead, she grumbled the whole way back, clearly infuriated. Rousseau apologized the entire walk, but Juno never said whether she forgave him or not—before entering her dormitory, she just waved him off, signaling him to hurry back.

The athletes’ dorms had no curfew, so after seeing Juno safely inside, Rousseau headed to his own room. It was nearly dawn.

Rousseau assumed Tian Shiwei was already asleep. But as soon as he opened the door, the glow of a game console illuminated Tian Shiwei’s face, making him look like a vengeful spirit in the night.

“Not asleep?” Rousseau asked.

“How could I sleep? My roommate eloped with my buddy, leaving me all alone to guard the empty dorm. How could I possibly fall asleep?” Tian Shiwei’s tone was dripping with sarcasm.

Your roommate eloped with your buddy... Why does that sound so suspiciously gay?

Rousseau couldn’t be bothered to respond to Tian Shiwei’s snark. He washed up and prepared for bed.

“Hey, Old Lu, how was your date today?” Tian Shiwei’s anger lasted only a few minutes before he struck up a conversation. “I never thought you and Old Zhu would actually have a bit of potential.”

In the darkness, Rousseau replied, “It was just coincidence. We went to the provincial games closing ceremony rehearsal, got bored waiting, so we slipped out and spent the day wandering Guangcheng. It doesn’t count as a date.”

“Just the two of you, and it doesn’t count?” Tian Shiwei said. “I’m so close with Juno, but we’ve never gone out alone together.”

“...It doesn’t count.” Rousseau shook his head.

“Stubborn as ever. But Old Lu, dating Old Zhu is bound to be tough for you.” Tian Shiwei continued, “Even that female reporter who left you her number would suit you better.”

Rousseau fell silent.

But a vague, unspeakable irritation began to stir in the air.

After a while, Rousseau spoke, his tone full of mockery. “So it’s all about matching backgrounds, huh?”

There was no doubt—Rousseau was proud, even arrogant. This was the core of the spirit that drove him to pursue victory with all his might. The repeated comments about his incompatibility with Juno had pricked at that pride and arrogance.

“Old Lu, that’s not what I meant. Do you know what Juno’s father’s basic requirement is for her future marriage?” Tian Shiwei asked.

Rousseau remained silent.

“It’s marrying into her family,” Tian Shiwei explained. “Uncle Zhu’s basic requirement for Juno’s husband is that he marry into their family. Can you accept that? Or are you just planning to date Juno and then break up under pressure from reality? Juno is wonderful, but if you’re not ready to accept all that comes with her, you shouldn’t lead her on. Otherwise, you’ll both end up hurt. I’m friends with both of you, so I had to say it.”

Tian Shiwei wanted to say more, but Rousseau’s gentle, steady snoring had already begun. This was Rousseau’s way of refusing further conversation.

Previously, Tian Shiwei thought Rousseau was pretending to sleep, but later realized the guy could truly fall asleep in a single second—something to be envied.

But Old Lu, I worry about you... Tian Shiwei turned back, picked up his NDS, and decided to sneak in a game before bed.

...

“Where did you go off to?”

A voice whispered in the darkness.

Juno, who had just finished washing up and was about to climb into bed, was so startled she nearly fell over.

“You’re still awake? You scared me to death!” Juno complained.

“Where have you been? With Rousseau?” The curtain on the bed opposite rustled, revealing Zheng Ni’s eyes—sleepy but ablaze with gossip.

“It’s already one o’clock and you’re still awake, just so you can wait for me to come back and tell you gossip?” Juno asked.

“Of course! How else could I sleep? I’d die with regrets if I didn’t!” Zheng Ni replied.

“Yeah, we got tired of waiting for the rehearsal at the provincial games closing ceremony, so Rousseau and I spent the day playing in Guangcheng—just treated it like a holiday.” Juno gave a brief summary.

Oh~ Zheng Ni’s eyes sparkled. She cursed herself for not being there in person; she had so many questions.

Spent the whole day... what did you do?

The coaches searched for you all day... How will you face them tomorrow?

All these questions, Zheng Ni wanted to ask, but the first thing out of her mouth was, “Oh~ You and Rousseau are making progress~”

“Huh?” Juno was taken aback. “What makes you say that?”

“You just called Rousseau by his full name, but referred to Tian Shiwei as ‘Old Tian.’ Among us girls, only special people get unique nicknames,” Zheng Ni explained.

Ha~ Juno couldn’t help but laugh. “Wild speculation, baseless accusations, pure nonsense.”

“But Rousseau is really impressive. He’s only been on the team two months and already surpassed Tian Shiwei, broke the provincial games record. If he wins a few more championships, maybe even at the Asian Games or Olympics, he’ll actually be worthy of you... Oh, I’m getting ahead of myself. If he’s good enough, he should be preparing for the East Asian Youth Games training camp by now.”

Even as she spoke, Zheng Ni felt she was being unrealistic.

Asian Games, Olympics—that’s still far off. Even the East Asian Youth Games—Rousseau didn’t make the team.

“When the East Asian Youth Games were being organized, Rousseau hadn’t even joined the team yet,” Juno said. “But his current results are more than enough to qualify.”

“That’s why it’s a pity~” Zheng Ni said. “If Rousseau had joined sooner and achieved earlier results, he could have gone to the East Asian Youth Games, gotten noticed by the national coaches, and had a better shot at the Asian Games or Olympics. Now, he’s missed a step, and every step after could be harder. Sometimes, missing just a few months means missing the opportunity altogether.”

Juno wanted to retort that athletes rely on their abilities, but she knew luck was part of ability, too.

The national team had better coaches, training plans, and more chances to compete on the world stage... Especially the opportunity to compete against stronger opponents. In that sense, missing a step really did mean missing out.

“If Rousseau doesn’t win at least a medal at the Asian Games, I don’t see how you two...” Zheng Ni sighed. Rousseau and Juno had such different backgrounds.

“Ni, don’t be so materialistic, okay?” Juno felt upset, because this was about her—she wasn’t that shallow, always measuring athletes and friends by medals.

“I’m just worried for you, okay?” Zheng Ni replied. “Of course, I hope Rousseau wins Olympic gold so he can marry you! It’s not impossible for him.”

“Do I need a man to win Olympic gold for me?” Juno said confidently. “When I have my own Olympic gold, even Old Zhu can’t control me anymore!”

That made sense, too.

“All right, Princess Motivation, stop getting sidetracked. Tell me where you two went. What did you do? Did you go anywhere you shouldn’t? Did you bring your ID?” Zheng Ni pressed.

“Do you have a death wish?” Juno hurled a pillow, then crawled over, brimming with energy. “Little girl, what do you want to hear? Want me to give you a demonstration?”

Ah~ Zheng Ni shrieked.