Chapter Fifty-Five: Marginalization

"The coach must really appreciate you~" Tian Shiwei said to Rousseau that night.

During the day, Tian Shiwei and the other four team members had been relentlessly drilled by Li Yan. The intensity of the physical, technical, and combative training was unlike anything Tian Shiwei had ever experienced. By evening, he practically crawled back to the dormitory.

And Rousseau? While the others were being worked like dogs, he practiced on his own, leisurely yet diligently—not slacking off, but the difference between being driven by a whip and training of one’s own accord is huge. The psychological pressure alone was worlds apart.

But Rousseau saw things differently.

"A student being forced by a teacher to recite a text in class versus one being punished standing outside—who does the teacher appreciate more?" Rousseau countered.

"Of course, the one reciting... Wait, huh?" Tian Shiwei caught on. He wasn’t stupid; he realized Rousseau was right. It wasn’t that the coach favored those he left alone—instead, whoever the coach valued more, he would push harder, because results were expected.

"Maybe the coach thinks you’re working hard enough and can manage on your own?" Tian Shiwei suggested.

Rousseau said nothing; he knew that wasn’t the case.

It seemed that Li Yan much preferred Rousseau to use the "Burst" technique for the 100 meters, rather than practicing "Acceleration" for the 200 meters.

Li Yan’s silent disregard and leniency made Rousseau feel as though he were standing at the edge of a cliff.

He would have to work even harder.

...

With the status bar, Rousseau knew exactly what he needed to practice and what results he could achieve. Each monotonous repetition, each exercise, showed incremental progress in the status bar.

Thus, the coach and other team members saw Rousseau in his "training maniac" mode, practicing the same technical movement from dawn till dusk, alternating with strength training in the gym, never hesitating or wavering, as if each session had a perfectly clear goal and sense of direction.

This clarity radiated from every run and every drill Rousseau performed, to the point where it seemed as if no one else existed in his world.

Three days passed like this.

While Tian Shiwei had already bonded with the other four team members—arms slung around shoulders, brotherhood blooming—Rousseau had exchanged fewer than ten sentences with them in total. When introducing Rousseau to others, Tian Shiwei would say:

"My buddy’s got a touch of autism—look out for him, okay?"

...

October 7th.

Dong Zijian tested Rousseau again.

Results: 100 meters in 10.55 seconds.

200 meters in 21.19 seconds.

Both times had improved; Rousseau’s "Agility" had gone up by one point to 40, and he felt his curve-running technique had improved by another five points, now at 65—well above passing.

Li Yan looked at the numbers, glanced at Rousseau, and said nothing; he simply let Rousseau continue training alone.

By now, even the youngest, Zhang Zhen, recognized Li Yan’s dissatisfaction with Rousseau.

He did nothing.

Rousseau was left to train alone—no guidance, no expectations. This wasn’t special treatment; this was marginalization.

Tian Shiwei no longer envied Rousseau’s situation; instead, he began to worry for him, sensing that Rousseau was on the verge of being kicked out of the team.

While Tian Shiwei sighed and fussed, Rousseau remained unmoved, his stubbornness rising. He refused to use "Burst"—he would stick to "Acceleration," determined to reach a point where Li Yan would have nothing to say, would have to beg him to compete!

...

October 10th.

"Agility" at 40, "Strength" up one point to 37.

Endurance: 88 out of 100.

Despite the pressure, Rousseau was resting well.

During today’s practice, Rousseau discovered a strange new sensation.

Previously, he would start from the blocks, seeking the shortest path to the finish, then maintain the balance needed to activate "Acceleration"—the technique would be engaged for the entire race.

But today, perhaps because of the extra point in strength and the resulting balance, after dozens of starts, Rousseau suddenly found his "center of gravity."

It was a wondrous feeling.

The 200 meters had a 114.04-meter curve. Throughout the bend, athletes are in a constant state of imbalance—so Coach Lu Jinrong’s reminders and the status bar’s prompts had always urged Rousseau to maintain and exploit balance.

But this time was different.

Rousseau suddenly felt like a roly-poly toy—his feet, like the weighted base, were steady and quietly storing potential energy. As he completed the long curve and entered the final straight...

Whoosh—

At the instant he straightened out, Rousseau felt as if he’d been "catapulted" forward, his speed obviously surging.

He took a few more strides.

Then he stopped.

Standing there, he recalled that sense of balance he’d just found.

It felt as if he’d stumbled upon a secret technique.

I’m running on wind and fire wheels... he thought.

It was the sudden enlightenment that comes from repeated practice.

That single point of increased strength, bringing it closer to agility, had elevated his physical attributes and allowed Rousseau, for the first time, to experience the indescribable equilibrium of curve running.

Very good.

He had improved.

Rousseau gave a little hop to celebrate.

Then continued training.

Usually, he practiced technique and fitness in the morning, technique and weights in the afternoon, and weights again in the evening. Within two days he’d gotten used to this rhythm, even wishing he could keep training like this forever...

Back in Peng City, there would be academic classes, and he’d have to follow Coach Lu Jinrong’s regimen instead of choosing his own.

According to the status bar, Lu Jinrong’s methods often weren’t efficient or scientific, but Rousseau dared not go against him—for in the team, the coach’s word was law.

Now, although joining the national squad had put him at odds with head coach Chen Yan, it had also granted him a few days of freedom. Rousseau felt that being left alone like this was fantastic.

That was his own perspective.

In the eyes of others...

He seemed especially isolated.

And perhaps a little conspicuous.

...

October 12th.

Another test.

Rousseau clocked 10.52 seconds for 100 meters.

21.10 seconds for 200 meters.

That 200-meter result was now the team’s best, tying with Chen Tianfu.

Surely this was a performance Coach Li Yan couldn’t ignore?

But no.

Li Yan still paid no heed to the result.

He neither included Rousseau in team training nor offered any feedback, treating him as if he were invisible.

Rousseau realized he needed to speak with Chen Yan.

After all, no matter how fast he ran, if Li Yan refused to let him compete, it was all for nothing.

Only eighteen days remained until the Eastern Youth Games—a little over half a month.

The coach was the sky for every athlete. Rousseau needed to know if that sky was about to break out in storm or rain.