Chapter 25: Provincial Team Bronze Medalist

The crowd was stunned, shuffling and swarming around the octagon, craning their necks in anticipation. Everyone had heard that Jin Lu practiced sanda, but no one was quite sure how skilled she actually was. Even Zheng Qian had assumed she was merely trying to intimidate him; he never expected her to actually pull Duan Qiran into the octagon.

A dense crowd had gathered around the cage, several layers deep. Even the gym owner, Hou Jianye, caught wind of the commotion and rushed over.

"Shuangshuang, that’s not what I meant. There’s no need to be angry."

"I told you, don’t call me Shuangshuang!" Jin Lu delivered a clean, standard, and lightning-fast roundhouse kick.

The sudden strike left Duan Qiran no time to react, and he took a heavy blow to the back of his thigh. The onlookers let out a gasp. The kick was textbook perfect; it was clear Jin Lu really knew her stuff. However, Duan Qiran was a former member of the provincial boxing team who had placed as a runner-up multiple times. Regardless of her training, surely she couldn't beat him.

Duan Qiran clearly shared this sentiment, so he spent the first few moments dodging her attacks. "I really didn't mean it like that, Jin Lu. You misunderstood me."

A misunderstanding? How could it be a misunderstanding? Jin Lu knew him well; his comments were clearly intended to slight Zheng Qian and goad him into a fight. She felt it was her duty to restore Zheng Qian’s dignity. She followed up with another roundhouse kick.

"Jin Lu, stop it. If you keep going, I’m going to fight back." Duan Qiran figured that if he actually retaliated, he would break her bones in an instant. But then again, wasn't this a perfect opportunity for some physical contact?

"Shuangshuang, take it easy. If you break him, we’ll have to pay his medical bills," Zheng Qian chimed in helpfully from the sidelines.

The crowd was floored. As the saying goes, spectators love a good show, but you’re her boyfriend—how can you say that? Predictably, Duan Qiran took Zheng Qian’s words as a provocation. He had many reasons not to strike, but he only needed one reason to start.

Duan Qiran raised his arms into a standard boxing guard. His plan was simple: the next time Jin Lu threw a kick, he would use his superior strength to grab her leg, trip her, mount her, and subdue her. Not only would he defeat her, but he’d also get to touch the goddess and perhaps avoid hurting her too badly.

It was a win-win-win situation. Duan Qiran decided that was the plan.

Seeing his stance, the crowd knew he was getting serious. "Brother Ran, take it easy! Don't hurt Sister Jin!"

"Yeah, go easy on her!"

"Hmph, who needs him to go easy?" Jin Lu scoffed.

She launched another roundhouse kick. The purpose of the roundhouse is to use the reach and power of the leg to dictate the distance between you and your opponent. If you stay far away, their fists can’t reach you. If they try to close the distance, you kick them to push them back. If they persist, you seize the initiative. It was a common sight in professional matches to see one fighter using constant roundhouse kicks to keep their opponent outside their striking range. One champion had even won a world championship using nothing but roundhouse kicks, breaking his opponent’s leg and ending their career.

Anticipating the move, Duan Qiran reached out, ready to catch her leg. But unexpectedly, the kick was only a feint. Jin Lu retracted her leg mid-motion, spun, and landed a high, left-sided roundhouse kick directly against Duan Qiran’s face.

No one had seen it coming. Duan Qiran was sturdy and didn't fall, but his head was spinning, and he stood swaying, arms raised in a daze. Jin Lu seized the moment, throwing a right elbow into his left cheek, and as she retracted, she followed through with a back-elbow to his right cheek.

Duan Qiran began to bleed, collapsed heavily to the floor, and lost consciousness. The entire room went silent, sharp intakes of breath echoing through the gym. Jin Lu had actually knocked out Duan Qiran? He was a provincial sanda medalist! Just how terrifying was Jin Lu’s skill?

Zheng Qian was dumbfounded. She really knew sanda? And she was this good? No wonder all the male trainers acted like her lackeys when they first met.

Jin Lu looked down at the crowd, then stepped out of the octagon. "You... you really know sanda?" Zheng Qian asked in surprise. Jin Lu nodded repeatedly.

"Lulu, why are you so fired up today?" Hou Jianye walked over.

"It’s nothing. That guy just needed a beating," Jin Lu said, glancing at Duan Qiran, who was being carried out of the cage by two men. "Let me introduce you. This is my boyfriend, Zheng Qian. And this is the owner of the gym, Boss Hou."

Hou Jianye looked surprised but shook hands with Zheng Qian. He knew Duan Qiran had only transferred to his gym to pursue Jin Lu. With Jin Lu resigning yesterday and bringing her boyfriend today, he could easily piece together why they had ended up in the octagon.

Hou Jianye didn't run the gym for profit; he did it for fun and to meet people. Located near various government offices, his clientele consisted mostly of civil servants and wealthy individuals who had become his friends. The gym was breaking even, which exceeded his expectations. He had never heard of a "Zheng Qian," but any man who could win over the gym’s ultimate goddess clearly possessed an extraordinary background, status, or identity.

"So you’re Mr. Zheng. Feel free to come by whenever you like. You’re always welcome here—just call me if you need anything," Hou Jianye said, appearing very polite and enthusiastic.

"Thanks, Boss Hou. I’ve had enough of a workout for today. Why don't you go take a shower?" Jin Lu said on Zheng Qian’s behalf.

Zheng Qian nodded and went to rinse off.

"So fast? Your hair is still wet. Let me dry it for you." Jin Lu was the picture of a devoted, virtuous partner.

Watching this, everyone felt a pang of envy. If only Jin Lu were their girlfriend! To have her dry your hair and carefully blow-dry it—what bliss! They would gladly die for such treatment.

"Alright, alright, there are so many people watching. I’ll do it myself."

"Why are you shy? I even washed the underwear you changed out of yesterday."

...What? She was already washing his underwear? That meant they were definitely spending the night together, living together—how else would she have his laundry? The goddess of their dreams had been snatched up by Zheng Qian in a single day. How miserable!