Chapter 20: Everyone Was Shocked—How Did the Defiant You Turn into a Sycophant?

“What are you doing here?”

Originally, seeing that night was falling and the team training was about to end, Wang Mu had intended to find Ye Cai for a proper talk.

He was even about to give up his spot on the team to Wang Xiaoming.

After all, Wang Xiaoming’s true identity was far too formidable.

Although Wang Mu had no clue what it was exactly,

he was certain that Wang Xiaoming was not just some big leader’s son trying to polish his resume.

With Wang Xiaoming’s strength, he definitely possessed real skill.

But the current situation was...

Wang Xiaoming looked somewhat awkward encountering Wang Mu halfway.

However, he quickly composed himself.

“Coach Wang Mu, what a coincidence.”

“Yeah, I actually came to find Ye Cai for a chat, but I see this is...”

Wang Xiaoming straightened Ye Cai up and said, “Haha, just happened to run into him on the road. We hadn’t spoken yet when he suddenly fainted.”

Anyway, Ye Cai hadn’t seen him, so he wouldn’t remember how he fainted.

Whatever story Wang Xiaoming made up would just become the truth!

“Oh, I see. Is he alright?” Wang Mu hurried over to support Ye Cai.

Wang Xiaoming waved his hand, “Should be nothing serious, probably just heatstroke.”

Coincidentally, the swimming team was also returning from training, and as soon as they reached the entrance, they spotted Wang Xiaoming and the others.

“Coach, Ming Ge, what are you guys doing here?”

Coach Wang Mu explained, “Looks like Ye Cai got heatstroke. Wang Xiaoming ran into him on the way and is helping him back to the dorm.”

“Heatstroke?” Pan Zhanle glanced at the night sky.

Heatstroke might make sense in broad daylight, but at this temperature...

Then he noticed the item Wang Xiaoming was carrying on his back.

“Ming Ge, are you carrying a shovel?”

Wang Xiaoming looked back at the shovel, then laughed, “Haha, just bored, thought I’d dig up some worms for fishing.”

That explanation earned no trust whatsoever.

Seriously, why would you bring a shovel to the Olympic Village?

And how did you get it through security?

Seeing the shovel on Wang Xiaoming’s back and Ye Cai fainted on the ground,

everyone couldn’t help but wonder,

“Is Ye Cai really suffering from heatstroke?”

Just as the group’s doubts were about to spill out, Wang Xiaoming grabbed an unopened bottle of mineral water from Pan Zhanle,

took a big gulp, and then suddenly sprayed water onto Ye Cai’s face with a “pfft” sound.

“What? What’s going on?” Ye Cai, who had been as limp as a rag doll moments before, suddenly sat up.

He looked around, bewildered by the crowd surrounding him.

“How is he? Okay now? See, I told you it was heatstroke!” Wang Xiaoming handed the bottle back to Pan Zhanle.

But no one noticed the shock in their eyes as they stared at him.

What kind of trick was that?

Why was he so skilled at spraying water into someone’s face?

It all looked eerily familiar...

Everyone’s minds involuntarily flashed to scenes from TV dramas.

The kidnapper knocks out the target, then at the destination sprays a mouthful of “magic saliva” to wake them up.

Combine that with the shovel on Wang Xiaoming’s back...

But what happened next left everyone stunned.

Ye Cai rubbed the aching back of his head, looked at Wang Xiaoming and the others with a blurred memory,

then accepted the heatstroke explanation.

“Oh, so I really had heatstroke?”

“Yeah!” the coach asked with concern, “How do you feel now? Wang Xiaoming found you on the way and helped you back!”

“Oh, thanks Ming Ge!” Ye Cai mumbled drowsily.

At that moment, everyone present was completely shocked.

Wang Xiaoming chuckled as he looked at Ye Cai.

“You, what did you just call him?” Pan Zhanle asked incredulously.

Ye Cai replied matter-of-factly, “Ming Ge, what’s wrong?”

“Seriously, you didn’t fry your brain from heatstroke, did you?” Pan Zhanle reached out to touch Ye Cai’s forehead.

His behavior was utterly baffling.

Just earlier at the training hall, Ye Cai had been adamant, “I’ll die here, jump out there, but I won’t give my spot to Wang Xiaoming.”

And now he turned around and started calling him “Ming Ge”!

What secret were they missing?

Ye Cai pushed Pan Zhanle’s hand away, “Heatstroke doesn’t fry your brain.”

Then he looked at Wang Xiaoming, “Ming Ge, I’ve thought it through. I think it’s better if you take the spot in the competition.”

“After all, this isn’t just about my personal honor, but the honor of the entire Chinese team!”

“With you competing instead, the chances of winning are much higher!”

Silence.

Utter, dead silence.

The Ye Cai before them seemed to have transformed into someone unrecognizable.

Was this really the same Ye Cai who had been so passive in training and disobedient before?

Everyone roughly knew Ye Cai’s background, and that only made their shock at his sudden change in attitude even greater!

And just moments ago, he had refused to give up his spot at all costs.

Now he was speaking with such righteousness.

By comparison, the rest of the team looked immature and selfish.

Good or bad words, all reserved for him alone!

Coach Wang Mu was utterly confused.

How had Ye Cai’s attitude shifted so drastically in such a short time?

What had really happened?

And was Ye Cai truly fainting from heatstroke...

Looking at the iron shovel on Wang Xiaoming’s back, doubts stirred in his heart.

Who exactly was this Wang Xiaoming?

Someone who could make Ye Cai instantly bow his head...

But he remembered the shooting team coach’s advice: don’t ask what shouldn’t be asked, just cooperate with Wang Xiaoming.

So he tried to smooth things over, “Alright, Ye Cai, your spirit of sacrifice is truly admirable. I believe Wang Xiaoming won’t disappoint us and will achieve great results!”

Wang Xiaoming patted Ye Cai on the shoulder, not knowing exactly what was going on.

But since this young man was so sensible, he decided not to pry.

“Don’t worry, I’ll bring home several gold medals for China!”

“Go for it, Ming Ge! I believe in you!” Ye Cai clenched his fist and cheered for Wang Xiaoming.

Seeing Ye Cai’s sudden transformation into a sycophant, everyone couldn’t stand it any longer.

They all prepared to return to their dorms to rest.

Wang Xiaoming greeted everyone and was about to leave.

Only then did Ye Cai notice the small iron shovel on his back.

He rubbed his aching head as memories from before fainting slowly returned.

Was it really heatstroke that made him collapse?

A reckless thought surfaced:

Did Ming Ge hit him with that shovel?

Once this thought emerged, it flooded his mind uncontrollably.

For a moment, he didn’t know whether to feel scared or relieved...

Who exactly was this Wang Xiaoming?

Time flew by swiftly, and soon it was time for the swimming competition.