âAfter the warm-up, the first thing you have to learn is archery,â Chen Zhanxiao told them.
âUnderstood.â
They were all excited. After three weeks, they had gotten used to and even started to enjoy their current fruitful routine.
Under the blaring sun, the men and women were completing a tough set of push-ups on the training ground.
The sky was bright and clear, and spunky white clouds could be seen floating across the pristine blue sky.
âStraighten your legs and tuck in your belly. How come you havenât yet learned the basics after so many days?â Along with the other coaches, the head coach paced up and down as he lashed out at the row of participants on the ground.
Everyone was looking down and engaging in small talk as they were completing their push-ups. While ignoring the scoldings, they were having fun gossiping.
âYao Tiao and Ye Erruo, what are you chatting about?â
âCoach, we arenât talking!â Ye Erruo barked in response.
âYao Tiao and Ye Erruo, add 50 more push-ups!â
âAhh! Coach Chen, weâve done nothing wrong!â Yao Tiao cried out.
âThe rest can have a break now. The two of you will compete to see who can get to rest first.â
âWah! Ha ha ha...â
âIâm so tired!â
Everyone slumped to the ground. Some people were even munching on grass blades as they watched the two of them.
âRuoruo, Iâm so sorry.â Yao Tiao looked forlornly at Ye Erruo. She was the one who had approached her in the first place, but they had been caught before the other girl could reply.
Ye Erruo glared at her friend. âSee what you have done?â
The other girl could hardly keep to herself. She loved to chat her up every time they went running or were doing exercises like sit-ups and push-ups.
She sobbed. âWell, thereâs a lot to chat between us, thatâs why.â
â...â
âAre you still chatting? Add 20 more push-ups.â Coach Lee intercepted out of the blue.
âBloodsucker Lee.â Yao Tiao cursed under her breath.
âCoach, Yao Tiao cursed you behind your back.â Wu Mengran snitched on her.
âYao Tiao, you do another twenty.â
âWahh!â The girl moaned in agony inwardly as she shot a hateful glare at Wu Mengran.
âGet ready and start! Everyone will help count for you,â Coach Sun instructed them leisurely.
âOne.â
Ye Erruo forced her body to go up and down for the push-ups. Her elbows would not survive 50 push-ups, let alone 70.
âTwo.â
âThree!â
By the time they counted to 40, her arms had started to shake and Yao Tiaoâs arms were practically wobbling.
âCoach!â Sun You stood up, looking solemn.
âSpeak.â
âIâm willing to do the remaining 30 for Ye Erruo.â
âWOW!â
âOhhh...â
Catcalls could be heard amidst a wave of naughty sniggers and teasing.
Coach Chen glanced at Ye Erruo. âShe can continue on her own.â
â...â
âWhoâs going to help me?â Yao Tiao turned her head to the back and looked at the rest.
Nobody humored her.
Yao Tiao whined angrily.
âYou are all heartless.â
âContinue!â A cold, stern voice boomed above their heads.
Yao Tiao! This little imp is really a lot of trouble. Ye Erruo could only cry inwardly.
The noise around them suddenly quietened down for no reason. Tiny squeals of delight could be heard intermittently.
The protagonist was puzzled over the change in expressions around them as she continued sinking her chest up and down to the ground, when a pair of black leather boots appeared before her eyes.
Her gaze followed the pair of boots, moved up the broad, long legs, and finally landed on a dark instructor suit. A man stood in front of her. His button-down was black and smart and tight on each cuff, and his collar revealed his sexy throat audaciously. He was wearing a pair of dark shades and a cap in a matching color.
The glaring sun rays shone brightly upon his head. She could not help being stunned by the god-like figure towering above her. This person was one she undoubtedly recognized even with those shades: Mo Jiangye!