The Self-Cultivation of a Reborn Massage Therapist

Chapter 24 Arena
Zhao Xiaochui noticed that the chubby girl was nervous.

Her coaching team also became nervous.

Putting myself in their shoes, I would also feel nervous when I met a fellow expert. In the five years before my rebirth, I had only memorized a few professional books and read them thoroughly.
True experts have that knowledge ingrained in their very being; they've put in the hard work. So, capable people, regardless of their character, deserve respect.

Chen Yanqing is like that. She just stands there quietly and unassumingly, and her test results are just average, but no one can ignore her presence.

Li Ying wasn't very lucky, but she still managed to lift it up steadily.

106 kg.

"These results..." Zhao Xiaochui frowned as he looked at the chubby girl. "What are you so nervous about?"

If it were him, and you're an expert, and I'm an expert too, why would I be nervous?
However, as the saying goes, "every profession has its own secrets," so Zhao Xiaochui couldn't say much. After all, not only the athletes but even the experienced coaches were nervous, which said something.

"Wait a little longer, let me take another look, let me take another look."

One of the team's young coaches was already sweating. There were just too many geniuses at this level. Not to mention Chen Yanqing, the next contestant would also leave the coaches and teammates completely clueless.

Liao Yunxian, Sichuan Provincial Team.

A veteran athlete, her registration score was slightly higher than Li Ying's.

Professional analytical coaches can glean a lot from athletes' expressions, including their mental state, demeanor, and level of confidence.

But look at this so-called master. His gaze was unfocused from the moment he appeared, and he huddled in a ball. The first impression he gave was one of stage fright and insecurity, and then…

A change in perspective, and it's like being possessed by a god!

108 kg!

Its main purpose is to amuse you.

Now, not to mention the coach, even Zhao Xiaochui was dumbfounded as he stared at the TV screen.

Since the elimination rounds hadn't started yet, the live stream couldn't cut to the warm-up area, but the on-site director noticed Zhao Xiaochui's interesting expression and gave him a close-up shot.

"Haha~"

The maniacal laughter echoed throughout the KTV, the massage parlor, and of course, the neighborhood committee office.

Just then, Li Ying sat back down, panting heavily. Zhao Xiaochui glanced at the camera with a dark expression, then quickly lowered his head and got back to work.

Zhao Xiaochui stopped as soon as he started.

He looked up and suddenly felt a burning gaze on him from the team of health care workers. He glanced at him and saw a handsome middle-aged man he had never seen before and did not recognize.

He didn't know most of the people in the team, so he didn't pay attention.

“Li Ying,”

At this moment, the health care worker, Dong, was relaxing the chubby girl's other leg. Zhao Xiaochui showed no emotion; he placed his hand on Li Ying's knee and said earnestly, "Keep your composure, don't let your emotions fluctuate too much, this..."

"Shut up!"

Dong's low shout interrupted Zhao Xiaochui's instructions.

"..."

This time, Li Ying didn't speak. She put on her headset and closed her eyes to rest.

Doctor Dong looked sternly at Zhao Xiaochui: "Do your job properly. What are you doing with such a big team?"

“But,” Zhao Xiaochui said seriously, “from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, emotions…”

"We have experts in traditional Chinese medicine!"

Doctor Dong interrupted him once again.

"More professional than you, apprenticed under a renowned master, and has 20 years of medical experience."

"Zhao Xiaochui, I admit you have some talent, but this is a top-level arena where each team member has their own role. You don't think you can control everything, do you?"

"So, do your job well!"

Zhao Xiaochui opened his mouth, glanced at Chen Yanqing's pitiful two-person team opposite him, and then remained silent.

He's 19, somewhat talented, and nobody knows he has a cheat code, so this is normal, he understands.

He only hoped that Li Ying could…

Forget it, the girl has already given herself to him, why should I still hesitate?
Let's do it.

The heat flows through the valve, gently resting on the acupoints around the knee via the warm right thumb.

Sweat beaded on his forehead, trickled down his cheeks, and slicked over his neck. Under a serious, observing gaze, Zhao Xiaochui stopped and wiped away the sweat.

Now, as long as Li Ying's emotions don't fluctuate too much, this heat should be enough to get through the snatch.

He glanced at his left leg but made no move.

Seemingly feeling the warmth of her knee, Li Ying opened her eyes, took off her headset, nodded to Zhao Xiaochui, and walked towards the practice area.

He remained expressionless throughout, like a cold, emotionless competition machine.

Zhao Xiaochui did not respond. Only after Li Ying had walked away did he frown and look at the handsome middle-aged man who had been observing him.

"What are you looking at?" The handsome middle-aged man smiled but didn't say anything.

Zhao Xiaochui didn't cause any more trouble, because the situation was already very tense.

"The second move is to make Xiao Liu take more force, putting some pressure on Chen Yanqing!"

"The second report is serious, the second report is serious."

"Let's just give a rough estimate for now and get ready to start timing."

"108 kilograms, Li Ying reported a weight of 108 kilograms."

"Chen Yanqing reported it: 106 kilograms."

"20 seconds left on the countdown, hurry up, are you going to change it or not?"

"Correction! Li Ying reported her weight as 109 kilograms!"

"Sichuan Province followed suit, and she had no challenge, preparing to play it safe."

"Chen Yanqing's weight has been adjusted to 107 kilograms, 107 kilograms."

"Ignore her, she's reached her limit."

"..."

"It was a bit shaky. Two white lights. Chen Yanqing passed. 107 kilograms. That's where she is."

"Ha~"

A loud shout, coupled with the chubby girl's expression, made her look both cute and fierce.

In this atmosphere of flashing swords and shadows, somewhat like a command post on a brutal battlefield, Zhao Xiaochui remained silent, only able to amuse himself in his heart.

"Ha~"

This is Li Ying's signature shout, similar to Maria Sharapova in the tennis world; it sounds quite evocative.

However, Zhao Xiaochui didn't have time to think about it. Taking advantage of Li Ying's return to the rest area, he reminded the chubby coach:

"Watch out for her knees."

109 kg, Li Ying's best snatch result.

Yes, she did lift it, but that was the second time. Zhao Xiaochui didn't know how the coaches would arrange the third lift, but he had a responsibility to remind them that Li Ying didn't have a pair of healthy knees.

"Shut up."

Another scolding.

Zhao Xiaochui shrugged, and as soon as Li Ying sat down next to him again, he immediately started working.

The wait was a bit long this time because some athletes who couldn't keep up with the weight started trying their third lift.

Only when these top players are eliminated will it be time for them to step up.

Therefore, Li Ying did not wear a headset to listen to music the entire time.

“Your strength lies in the clean and jerk,” Zhao Xiaochui said softly. “At that time, I… I promise…”

"Little hammer, you must start doing your best from now on."

Cold words are devoid of any emotion.

"..."

Zhao Xiaochui looked up, but Li Ying closed her eyes. He glanced at her straight left leg, said nothing more, and began to apply heat to Li Ying's knee.

Sweat instantly soaked through my underwear, and my sports jacket also began to feel slightly damp.

Soon, Zhao Xiaochui let go, panting heavily.

Li Ying checked her knees, a satisfied look on her face, and walked back to the practice area.

At this moment, the handsome middle-aged man approached, looked at Zhao Xiaochui wiping his sweat, and asked with a frown:
Do you know the consequences of repeatedly exhausting your strength?

Zhao Xiaochui understood what he meant and followed up, saying, "Can you never feel that state again?"

"Then you still dare to do this?"

Zhao Xiaochui remained silent.

The handsome middle-aged man glanced at the distant camera, then at Zhao Xiaochui, and gave him a mocking look:

"You think you can get someone to like you just by performing on a live stream?"

Zhao Xiaochui lowered his head.

"There are many talented people, and even more talented people with money and connections. Why should it be your turn first?"

"Just stick to the formal training route!"

(End of this chapter)