"Oh, okay."
The jiu-jitsu coach was momentarily stunned before quickly following Gu Zhaoping inside.
After setting down his belongings, he glanced around in disbelief. Why was this young mistress's training room so professionally equipped?
Was she actually serious about learning jiu-jitsu?
Coach Gao wasn’t unfamiliar with wealthy young women who took up jiu-jitsu seriously. However, most did it for fitness, body sculpting, or to cultivate a respectable hobby.
But Gu Zhaoping was clearly different.
Her past image didn’t exactly scream "disciplined," either.
As he followed her further into the room, a sudden realization struck Coach Gao.
Could it be… she was learning jiu-jitsu to fight someone?!
With her upcoming variety show appearance, was she worried about getting pelted with eggs by angry onlookers and wanted to learn self-defense?!
The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. A chill ran down his spine.
He stared at Gu Zhaoping’s tall, slender figure and suddenly felt the weight of pressure.
…Well, whatever. Think about the money!
Coach Gao might not excel in everything, but when it came to money, he was nothing if not professional.
After setting down his bag, he cleared his throat. "Alright, let’s first discuss your training goals."
There was an art to this kind of conversation. Every client had hidden meanings behind their stated goals. For example, "fitness and body sculpting" usually meant "I want toned abs and a firm butt."
And with female clients, you had to be especially careful about their preferences—like whether they wanted to train their leg muscles.
But Gu Zhaoping’s response caught him completely off guard.
"I need rehabilitation."
Coach Gao blinked.
Huh? Rehabilitation?
The esteemed client continued calmly, "I trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu for a long time, but it’s been a while since I last practiced. Now I need to pick it back up."
A bead of sweat trickled down Coach Gao’s forehead and clung to his eyelashes.
Oh no.
Wait, that didn’t make sense. He’d researched her background before taking the job—even watched the viral clip of Gu Zhaoping grabbing Ruan Nian. She hadn’t looked like someone who knew how to fight at all.
In fact, she’d been easily pushed away by Gu Zhaoye. To put it bluntly, her combat skills were about as effective as any ordinary person caught in a messy confrontation.
So, he concluded: this young mistress was learning jiu-jitsu to throw hands.
Coach Gao fell into deep thought for half a minute. If she ended up trending for beating someone up, would he be dragged into the scandal as an accomplice?
But then he remembered the paycheck.
…Honestly, even if he had to spend a few days in detention for this, it might be worth it. Besides, he was only teaching her—not actually fighting anyone himself.
His expression hardened with resolve. "Let’s do this, young mistress."
Gu Zhaoping had no idea about the storm of thoughts raging in Coach Gao’s mind. She simply appreciated his quick, decisive attitude—no unnecessary delays.
She nodded. "Let’s spar first to gauge each other’s level."
Coach Gao froze again.
Spar with the client? Assess their levels? How was he supposed to handle this?
A hundred warnings echoed in his head: hold back, don’t hurt the client, but don’t make it obvious you’re going easy; showcase enough skill to justify the paycheck, but don’t crush her confidence.
With a solemn expression, he steeled himself. "Bring it on!"
But Gu Zhaoping didn’t rush in. She held up a hand. "Warm up first. Don’t want you getting hurt."
Coach Gao was baffled. Wouldn’t this be over in two moves? Why warm up?
Wait, no—the client was being considerate. Of course he should warm up.
Coach Gao: Stay sharp.
As he warmed up, his nerves were on edge. His eyes remained locked on the floor-to-ceiling mirror, mentally rehearsing the techniques he’d demonstrate to impress the client.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a pair of boxing gloves hanging nearby.
Huh? So she was into combat sports in general? Was she also learning boxing?
Coach Gao relaxed slightly. At least she wasn’t a complete beginner. He dreaded clients who’d taken multiple classes but still had zero skill—especially when previous coaches had half-assed their training, leaving them with delusions of competence.
Navigating that kind of situation required serious finesse.
The two faced each other, ready.
Coach Gao took a deep breath. "Client, I’ll demonstrate—"
The next second, his vision spun. Before he could react, the world flipped upside down. He felt like stir-fry in a wok—tossed, flipped, and slammed onto the mat.
Kneeling throw!
Dazed, Coach Gao lay on the ground, staring at the ceiling. It took him a full minute to process that the client had just thrown him like it was nothing.
His face twisted in confusion. How could a beginner toss him around so easily?!
"Young mis—" Before he could finish, he was airborne again. Gu Zhaoping hooked his legs and hurled him the other way. In his panic, his hands pressed against her back—and he felt the defined muscles beneath.
Leg sweep!
What the hell?! What just happened?!
Before he could even speak, another thud sent him crashing down.
"Client, client—"
Thud!
"Young—"
Thud!
"We—"
Thud!
Finally, it clicked. Coach Gao’s eyes widened in shock. Holy shit! The client was a beast! She could easily earn a black belt!!
She had trained before!
As he scrambled up, her arms locked around him in a chokehold.
Feeling her grip tighten, his eyes shot open. "No no no no, stop stop stop! Client, we’re good! I get your level now!"
Only then did Gu Zhaoping ease up, the tension in her toned arms fading.
"Really?" She finally released him.
For some reason, Coach Gao swore she sounded… disappointed?!
Gu Zhaoping’s physique was deceptively lean. Her arms looked smooth and slender, lulling people into a false sense of security.
He didn’t look like someone who had trained at all—this was the mark of a true master, the kind who hides their skill in plain sight!
Coach Gao was overthinking it. It wasn’t that Gu Zhaoping lacked visible muscle definition; it was simply that this body had never undergone formal training.
She was relying purely on technique and instinct.
Coach Gao scrambled to his feet, no longer daring to stay on the ground. The repeated throws had nearly given him psychological trauma.
The force was just right—enough to daze but not damage.
Gu Zhaoping even praised him: "Coach, you’re a great partner."
She had thoroughly enjoyed herself. It had been a while since she’d trained like this. Throwing Gu Zhaoye around a couple of days ago hadn’t taken much effort, but this session had been satisfying.
Coach Gao was on the verge of a breakdown. Was he really a good partner? He hadn’t even had time to think about how to cooperate!
Wiping sweat from his forehead, he forced a laugh. "Well, haha, Ms. Gu, given your skill level, there’s not much I can teach you. I might be better suited as your sparring partner."
Gu Zhaoping considered this. She wasn’t training for competitions or flashy techniques—she just wanted to maintain her skills, release enough endorphins to stay calm, and enjoy the process.
Coach Gao seemed perfect for being thrown around. His reactions were genuine, unlike typical sparring partners who overacted, which ruined the satisfaction for her.
She agreed readily. "No problem."
Coach Gao sighed in relief—until Gu Zhaoping added, "Then let’s do this more often. You’re the best partner I’ve ever had."
Coach Gao: "…"
Was that even his choice?
Truly, no job in this world was easy!
After a full session with Gu Zhaoping, Coach Gao had a deeper understanding of her abilities. To him, she wasn’t just someone who had casually trained—she had natural talent and had clearly put in serious effort.
The fluidity of her techniques and her adaptability in different scenarios weren’t things one could achieve without dedication.
For Gu Zhaoping, learning martial arts wasn’t just a hobby. She treated it with utmost seriousness, excelled at it, and had invested heavily in it.
Drenched in sweat, Coach Gao didn’t dare let his focus waver during their matches.
Only in rare moments could he spare a thought to reflect. Though he knew nothing about the young mistress’s past, he couldn’t help but feel deep respect.
Someone of her status didn’t need martial arts to make a living, nor would she face much danger in daily life. Yet she had thrown herself into it wholeheartedly.
She was a person of extraordinary determination.
To achieve her goals, she was willing to put in the hardest work and sweat, as long as it yielded results.
By the end, Coach Gao felt like every inch of his body was aching. Clutching his neck, he checked the time and said, "Alright, client, that’s it for today. As for lessons… I wouldn’t call them that. Let’s schedule three sparring sessions a week."
Gu Zhaoping nodded. The frequency suited her.
When she stood up, she realized her leg hurt—the adrenaline had masked the pain earlier.
Looking down, she saw her calf muscle was slightly strained.
Noticing her unsteady steps, Coach Gao tensed. "Oh no, you’re injured."
The variety show was about to start filming—what if this affected her?
But Gu Zhaoping seemed unfazed. Injuries were part of the training.
After a quick glance, she said, "Just a minor gastrocnemius strain."
Coach Gao was speechless.
Minor?
Wait—how was she so clinical about it?
Noticing his stare, Gu Zhaoping explained calmly, "I minored in sports rehabilitation. It’s nothing serious."
"……???"
Seeing his shock, she even joked, "My younger siblings used to fake injuries to skip training. No one could fool me."
She could spot most injuries at a glance.
Coach Gao had no words left. His capacity for surprise had been exhausted today. At this point, nothing about Gu Zhaoping could shock him further.
…Wait.
He suddenly remembered—before coming here, he’d seen trending news about Ruan Nian being injured by Gu Zhaoping and hospitalized?
When he left, the story was just gaining traction. He had no idea how it had developed since.
Now, something felt off.
Gu Zhaoping’s skill level was this high—why would she attack Ruan Nian in such a crude way?
From what he could tell, she hadn’t even caused any real damage. Even if she had, it wouldn’t be in such an obvious spot.
Gu Zhaoping was an expert in sports rehabilitation…
