Chapter Eighty-Nine: Juno’s Resolve

Indoor sixty-meter races have never attracted much attention.

They are not even on the list of Olympic events.

The reason, perhaps, is that the hundred-meter dash demands a far more complete range of athletic ability from an athlete. It calls for explosive power, strength, speed, reaction, and more.

The start, the transition to upright running, acceleration, the middle phase, the final drive—within those brief hundred meters, all of it unfolds before the eye, full of visual appeal.

By comparison, the sixty-meter dash is basically only the start, the upright transition, and acceleration. Once that sequence is done, the finish line is already there. As a sporting event, it leaves very little room to display an athlete’s overall ability.

Compared with the hundred meters, the sixty meters really does seem like a kind of leftover.

But even leftovers have their advantages.

At present, Rousseau’s start and acceleration still had room to improve, even with the enhancement of the Glass Crown.

The Glass Crown was formidable, but Rousseau had by no means brought that divine artifact to its limits. He still needed a stronger physique and more technique.

If he could gain a “technique” skill in the sixty-meter event, it would fill in one of Rousseau’s weaknesses.

So over the next week, Rousseau began training specifically for the sixty meters; in truth, it was training for the start and acceleration.

As for the indoor two hundred meters, although it adds a curve compared to the outdoor version, the track is narrower because of the venue, the bends are sharper, and in order to resist centrifugal force, the curves are banked. Still, in general, the style of running does not differ much from the outdoor race.

Rousseau possessed a body type of one point eight two meters, a height often called ideal for sprinters, which gave him extraordinary adaptability on both indoor and outdoor tracks.

During those few days, Lu Wang learned that Rousseau was going to compete in the capital.

They promptly hurried to produce a version of the Rusuo Two Point Zero running shoes for him, designed specifically for indoor tracks. The cushioning was less springy than the outdoor model, the grip was stronger, and the fit was excellent.

Rousseau received the shoes on October 25 and was very pleased with them.

After running a few laps inside the venue in the Rusuo Two Point Zero, Rousseau stopped in front of Ruan Mei.

“Excellent,” Rousseau said, giving a thumbs-up.

“I’m glad you like them,” Ruan Mei said with a smile. By now she and Rousseau were quite familiar with each other. “There’s something else. May I go with you to the competition? I’d like to take some photos of you during the meet. The Feilu series is about to launch, and we’ll need more promotional material. Also, I can observe up close how the Rusuo performs while you’re racing.”

Rusuo was the model made exclusively for Rousseau himself.

Feilu was the official public brand name of the series.

“The contract already says you can,” Rousseau replied. “We leave on the twenty-ninth. I’ll ask the coach for the itinerary and send it to you. You’re coming with us, right?”

“Yes, yes,” Ruan Mei nodded.

That, too, had been stipulated in the contract: when Rousseau competed, Lu Wang would film material for promotional use. In addition, observing Rousseau’s performance up close would help Lu Wang provide him with more suitable designs.

“By the way, do you offer custom private orders?” Rousseau asked again. “One of my teammates also wants to order a pair of running shoes from you.”

The Unrivaled God of Evil

“Sorry, Lu Wang does not currently offer that service. At the moment, our technical resources are only enough to provide you with comprehensive support,” Ruan Mei said apologetically. The “technical resources” she referred to were her father, a craftsman who loved shoes more than life itself.

“Oh... then how about dinner together tonight?” Rousseau asked again.

“Huh...” Ruan Mei blinked slightly.

“I have a teammate who wants to get to know you,” Rousseau said.

“The teammate who wants to order shoes and the teammate who wants to have dinner...” Ruan Mei asked.

“They’re the same person,” Rousseau admitted.

“I’m truly sorry, but I have no plans to date anytime soon. Before Lu Wang truly opens up the market, I need to focus on the family business,” Ruan Mei said, refusing him cleanly and decisively.

...

“I did my best,” Rousseau told Tian Shiwei.

“It’s fine. Anyway, she’s coming with us, so there’ll be plenty of chances,” Tian Shiwei said without losing heart.

...

That evening.

“Rousseau is going to the capital to compete in the indoor athletics invitational,” Zheng Ni said to Zhu Nuo.

“The coach mentioned it to me. I wasn’t planning to go. The competition isn’t very strong, and it’s not all that interesting,” Zhu Nuo said. She was currently one of the top athletes in the country, and her mistake at the East Youth Games made her feel she should train harder, hoping to achieve truly good results at the National Games.

Too many competitions are not a good thing for athletes; they consume a great deal of physical and mental energy. Of course, Rousseau was different, since he needed to earn attribute points through competition in order to break through the limits of the body.

“And Ruan Mei from Lu Wang is going with him too,” Zheng Ni added.

“Huh?” Zhu Nuo looked at her. “How do you know?”

“Tian Shiwei told me,” Zheng Ni said. “But he said you can rest assured. He looked into it, and Ruan Mei is busy with the family business and has no intention of dating. Heh, how naive. As for intentions, for a girl, they can appear whenever she wants.”

“Don’t speculate like that. Rousseau isn’t Xuanzang; it’s not like every girl would want to snatch him away for herself,” Zhu Nuo said. “But I really am rather troubled right now...”

“What’s bothering you?” Zheng Ni asked. “You’re not worried about Ruan Mei.”

“I’m worried about myself. My dad is going to set me up on another blind date. This time it’s a three-call barrage. I told him I had no time, and he said I could go to the sports institute instead. Honestly, if those men really lined up at the institute, I’d be laughed to death,” Zhu Nuo said with a troubled sigh.

“Then tell your dad you’re dating someone,” Zheng Ni said.

“That’s exactly the problem. What’s troubling me right now is... well, let me tell you my decision first. After we discussed my relationship with Rousseau last time, I’ve already made up my mind,” Zhu Nuo said.

“Mm-hmm, go on,” Zheng Ni said, settling herself to listen.

“I have feelings for Rousseau. Quite a lot, enough that I feel if I don’t date him, I’ll definitely regret it in the future. Life is short, and my days at the sports school will be even shorter. I don’t want to regret it, so I’ve decided to pursue him...” Zhu Nuo said.

Ha—Zheng Ni nearly fell out of bed. Her jaw almost dropped to the floor.

“Who’s pursuing whom?!”

“What’s wrong with me pursuing him? I think love will never fail anyone who is sincere. Why must a girl wait for someone else to pursue her? I can pursue someone too.” There was a gleam in Zhu Nuo’s eyes.

“You’re amazing! My idol!” Zheng Ni had to say it. Truly, she admired her. It’s true that girls should be reserved, but who wouldn’t want to boldly pursue happiness? It’s only the body and mind being bound by worldly prejudice.

“But in my situation, if Rousseau and I became a couple, it would be like placing him into... well, I can’t say it’s exactly a hail of bullets, but at least a storm of wind and rain, wouldn’t it? His life would be miserable. My father’s hurdle won’t be easy to pass, and then there’s that damn condition about marrying into the family,” Zhu Nuo said.

“I’m worried about causing trouble for Rousseau,” she concluded.

“Having a precious young lady like you as the prize, any trouble would still be worth it,” Zheng Ni said. “No man would think otherwise.”

“Rousseau wouldn’t,” Zhu Nuo said. “So I have to sort out these troubles first. I can’t use Rousseau to solve them. That would make me feel far too inadequate.”