My Alleged Husband

Chapter 70: Chapter 68 Through Training 1

Time flew by, and a week had passed in the blink of an eye. For Li Jiayuan, this week could be described as neither human nor ghost. The beautiful clothes she had brought with her had become tattered after repeated training exercises. Her hands, which once never touched spring water, had begun to develop calluses. Her feet, which she had always been proud of, were now covered with wounds, a shocking sight to see.

After this week of training, Coach Yang had come to recognize Li Jiayuan’s capabilities. He found that although she appeared delicate on the outside, she was incredibly strong inside. He also noticed that Li Jiayuan lacked the temperamental nature of a spoiled rich girl, was quite kind to others, and most importantly, she could endure hardship.

”All personnel, assemble immediately on the field, assemble immediately on the field...” Coach Yang called out loudly over the loudspeaker on the field.

”Hurry up, the coach is already calling for assembly—if we don’t move quickly we’ll have to run laps again!” someone in the dormitory reminded, and everyone hurriedly rushed downstairs with a clatter.

On the field.

”Everyone, today is your last day in the training camp. Through this week of getting to know each other, I know that all of you are serious, hardworking people. Therefore, I have a gift for you all today and hope you will like it!” Coach Yang said with sly intent.

Everyone was curious, wanting to know what gift a stern-looking coach would have for them. They were all elated upon hearing Coach Yang’s words, but their expressions soon changed when they learned what the ”gift” actually was—a story for later.

”Coach Yang, what is the gift you’re giving us?”

”Right, could it be some beautiful clothes?”

...

Everyone was inquiring one after another, eager to find out what the gift was.

At that moment, Coach Yang smiled mysteriously, ”Of course, it’s something good. I’m just afraid you might not like it!”

”How could that be? We will definitely like it. Coach, please tell us what the gift is!”

”You still can’t give it back to me or say you don’t want it, even if you don’t like it!”

”Okay, we will definitely take it!”

These people really thought it was going to be some great gift, blissfully unaware of Coach Yang’s ploy and still laughing happily.

”Alright, since you all say so, then get ready to receive my gift!” Coach Yang said, smiling at Li Jiayuan and the others.

Everyone looked at Coach Yang, filled with hope.

”I see the expectation in your eyes. I hereby announce the gift I’m giving you all is: today, each one of you just needs to run ten laps, do five laps of frog jumps, and complete a thousand push-ups to pass!”

Upon hearing that this was the gift from their coach, a wave of disbelief swept over them as their mouths fell open. They were all devastated. The training load had been increasing almost every day for the past week, but it had never reached this extent. Someone whispered, ”It seems the coach isn’t going to let us pass easily today!”

”Ah!” Everyone sighed in unison, feeling as though they had been tricked by their coach, experiencing the sensation of being sold out and still counting the money for the other person.

So they began their training for the day. Li Jiayuan thought to herself: Keep it up, Li Jiayuan, today is the last day. Victory is right before your eyes; you must not give up, you must not admit defeat. If you can get through today’s final training session, you can pass and be with your loved one.

Round one, two... ten, frog jumps one, two, three... five.

By the time Li Jiayuan finished the frog jumps, she was completely exhausted. She slowly raised her head to glance at the sky, noticing that the sun was about to set.

Using her own hands to prop up what appeared to be her lifeless body, she needed to do push-ups; just one thousand push-ups and she would pass the test successfully.

One, two... nine hundred ninety-seven, nine hundred ninety-eight, nine hundred ninety-nine, one thousand.

”Finally done!” Li Jiayuan collapsed to the ground. She saw her coach ahead of her. Struggling to rise, she staggered toward Coach Yang.

”Coach, I’ve finished them all. Can I pass now?” Li Jiayuan asked, gasping for breath.

Coach Yang looked at Li Jiayuan, her head covered in sweat, and said, ”Of course, you can. You’ve climbed from last to first, so you may pass!”

”Thank you, Coach!”

No sooner had Li Jiayuan finished speaking than she fell backward, no longer having the strength to support her body. She felt a heavy thud in her head and then closed her eyes and fainted. At that moment, a familiar figure appeared behind her—Xiao Wei!

When Li Jiayuan started her final training session, Coach Yang had called Xiao Wei, asking him to come to the training camp to see what his sweetheart was up to!

Watching Li Jiayuan give her all to finish the training, Xiao Wei’s heart ached unbearably as if it were being cut with a knife. He repeatedly saw Li Jiayuan on the verge of collapse and wanted to carry her away, but if it weren’t for Coach Yang holding him back time and time again, he would have done so long ago.

Xiao Wei scooped up Li Jiayuan and ran to the hospital. Seeing Xiao Wei’s anguished expression, Coach Yang felt a pang of sympathy. Ever since he learned that Li Jiayuan was Xiao Wei’s girlfriend, he wanted to go easy on her so she could pass without much trouble. However, he knew he could not do that; as a coach and particularly as a mercenary’s coach, all he could do was watch Li Jiayuan hurt herself over and over. Even today, he had secretly called for Xiao Wei to come.

”Xiao Wei, oh Xiao Wei, finding such a lover in one’s life is no small feat. Treasure her well!” Coach Yang muttered to himself as he watched Xiao Wei’s retreating figure.

”Jiayuan, why are you so foolish? Who asked you to join the training camp? Don’t you know how hard it is? Didn’t I tell you that we could be together once I cleared my name? Why don’t you listen? You really are beyond help!” Xiao Wei spoke through his tears. Looking at Li Jiayuan’s hands and feet, all cracked and damaged, he knew how much she had suffered for him. He vowed to treat her well for the rest of his life.

”Jiayuan, you have to be alright. As long as you are, we can be together every day. Is that a deal?”

”Sure!” Li Jiayuan, unable to hold back after hearing Xiao Wei’s words, opened her eyes to speak. She had actually woken up when Xiao Wei was saying the first part, but she hadn’t opened her eyes. She wanted to see if Xiao Wei would say more sweet nothings, and she wasn’t disappointed.

”Jiayuan, you’re awake? Does it hurt?” Xiao Wei tenderly grabbed Li Jiayuan’s hand and asked, ”Are you really beyond help? Couldn’t you have waited for me a bit longer? Don’t you trust me?”

”Xiao Wei, it’s not that I don’t trust you. I’m not foolish; I just don’t want to leave the burden to be borne by only one of us when it’s about both of us. Although I have never been a mercenary, I know how hard it is to clear one’s name. If I join the mercenaries, you won’t have to clear your name anymore, and we can be together all the time. Isn’t that worth it? Don’t you agree?”

”Fool, as long as you’re alright, anything is fine. Sorry for making you suffer!”

”It’s okay, as long as you treat me well in the future. Oh, and I have good news—I passed the training!” Li Jiayuan, ecstatic, said to Xiao Wei.

”I know you passed; I was there all along. Otherwise, how could I know about everything you’ve done for me?” Xiao Wei looked at Li Jiayuan with a speechless expression. Li Jiayuan thought about it and realized it was indeed the case!