When Yi Ming said that he did not intend to report the incident to the Competition Committee, Gray Tiger's heart was shocked beyond measure.
He knew full well that his actions were despicable. Although he had panicked, feared, and even... regretted when he sent Yi Ming to the hospital after injuring him, he had kept these emotions bottled up inside.
After the competition ended, he had not left, and had an unspoken desire to remain here until the news of Yi Ming's discharge came.
When Yi Ming's contact was tracked down and Gray Tiger received the call, he stood there, his gaze unfocused: "Okay, I'll wait for you."
He knew that Yi Ming was perceptive, and had surely guessed that the accident was caused by him.
At that moment, his emotions were complex - there was a touch of trepidation, but also a sense of relief that he no longer had to live in fear... It had come, it had arrived.
"Before I tell you how you should take responsibility, I have a question for you to answer first."
Yi Ming's eyes flickered, and he steadily gazed at him.
"What question?"
"Was it you who came to the hospital the evening before I was discharged?"
"What are you talking about... I... I don't know..."
Gray Tiger faltered at the words, then his gaze quickly darted, unable to look directly at Yi Ming. "I never went to the hospital, what are you saying?"
"Look at me."
The temperature of Yi Ming's words dropped, exuding a sense of pressure.
Gray Tiger turned his face awkwardly to look at him.
"The nurse told me that one of my teammates came to see me and brought me some ointment for the abrasions. That person... was you, wasn't it?"
Yi Ming's calm tone sounded serene, "The only teammates I had here were two, and they had already contacted me in the afternoon, so it couldn't have been them. The other players and I were not close enough to visit me in the hospital... Besides... no one could have seen me come out and run away."
What Yi Ming said was the truth.
That evening, Jiang Wei went to the hospital cafeteria to buy food. Feeling bored in the ward, Yi Ming decided to take a walk in the corridor.
As soon as he pushed the door open, a burly figure in front of the nurse's station suddenly turned and ran towards the stairwell. Yi Ming was taken aback, thinking it might be a thief he was about to chase, but the young nurse approached him with a smile: "Oh, handsome, you're just in time. Your teammate just brought you something."
"My teammate?"
Yi Ming furrowed his brows.
"Yes, the one who just ran off saying he had a sudden stomachache..."
Yi Ming took the ointment, pondering for a moment, and the answer to many of his questions began to become clear.
"Gray Tiger, I know it was you."
Yi Ming's words shook Gray Tiger's heart, and Gray Tiger knew he could no longer keep up the pretense. He lowered his head and said, "Yes, it was me."
Yi Ming looked at him. "Why were you afraid to see me?"
"How could I face you, after I caused you to end up like that."
Gray Tiger sighed one after another.
"That's not wrong," Yi Ming smiled lightly, casually reaching up to touch his own cheek. "Look at my little face, you almost left me scarred. But seeing that you brought me the ointment, I forgive you."
"What did you say?"
"I said... I forgive you."
Yi Ming sighed helplessly, repeating himself.
"But I caused you to..."
"Stop - no more drama." Yi Ming raised his hand, making a "stop" gesture. He smiled calmly, "You should be grateful, it's all thanks to my friend Jiang Wei, who once told me that human nature has no absolute good or evil. If possible, giving someone a chance to redeem themselves is also a good deed. So... Gray Tiger, this is the first and last time. Next time, I'll make you disappear from the cycling world."
"But what you said about me taking responsibility..."
"That's easy," Yi Ming waved casually, then turned and walked out, waving back at him, "Just lose to me openly in the next competition, and let me win the championship proudly to bring back to my dear Jiang Wei. When she smiles, I'll forgive you."
Gray Tiger was stunned.
No wonder Yi Ming liked that girl so much.
She had softened Yi Ming's heart, made his eyes shine with a fiery light, and transformed him into this refined and gracious young man with a broad mind...