The Sweet Rival (Mango Shen and Nathaniel Ye)

Chapter 260

"Rita is going to have the surgery tomorrow?"

This news was simply too shocking for Nathaniel.

Although he knew that Rita's situation wasn’t the best, he never expected it to deteriorate so badly.

Madam Ye sighed and said, "We knew that Rita’s body was ill-suited for long-distance travel, but I'm sure Mango wouldn't have let Rita travel home if she had a choice. Since we have come to this point, we can only make the best of it, right? The doctor said that it would be best to start preparing for the surgery tomorrow, and you need a couple of days to rest since you haven't been doing well either. For both of your sakes, I think it's best that you don’t go anywhere for the next two days.”

Madam Ye did not intend to force Nathaniel to listen to her since he was mature enough to make his own decisions, so she only gave a suggestion.

Nathaniel pondered for a moment and said, "I understand, mom, but I need to go out tonight. I promise that I'll be back tomorrow morning and I'll have a proper rest over the next two days in time for Rita's surgery."

"Are you certain that you'll be able to come back tomorrow morning after you leave tonight?"

Although Madam Ye had no idea what Nathaniel intended to do outside, the whole situation was looking rather grim. Right now, what they lacked was time, and things did not usually go the way they planned it to be.

Nathaniel fell silent all of a sudden.

He only wanted to visit Mango in order to affirm that she was all right and that she was really there at the camp. If Nathaniel didn’t do so, his heart would feel uneasy as if it was missing something.

However, he was unsure whether he would run into anything on the way back or if he could return home in time.

Thus, should he go to see Mango?

After Rita’s operation, Nathaniel would be bedridden for anywhere between ten days and half a month.

If he was unable to see Mango at all for that duration of time, then Nathaniel felt like he couldn't bear it at all.

He would not be relieved if he didn’t personally ensure that Mango was safe and sound.

His desire to see Mango overpowered everything else and Nathaniel could not resist the urge.

Then, Nathaniel pondered this for a moment before he said, "Mom, I'll try my best to return on time."

When she heard that Nathaniel's words were so determined, Madam Ye decided to not persuade him any longer.

"Do be careful, and please come back as quick as you can."

"Thank you, mom."

Nathaniel turned to leave, but then he heard Zion call out to him from the second- floor staircase railing. "Remember to come back by tomorrow Nathaniel smiled as he looked into his son’s glittering eyes before he turned to leave the Ye's Mansion.

In fact, not many people noticed Nathaniel' s departure, not even Thomas.

When he arrived at the base, Mango was nowhere to be found. But he discovered the evidence that Mango had stayed there when he visited her room.

It seemed to Nathaniel that her faint and unique scent still lingered in the air.

After that, Nathaniel went to the security room.

Everyone immediately stood up when they realized that Nathaniel had arrived, but he quickly stopped them.

"I want to see the footage of Mango and Zack entering the mountains."

The training base was equipped with tracking systems, so they were able to see Mango and Zack on the computer.

After that, the staff in the security room quickly pulled up the footage.

Mango's thin body shouldered a huge weight as she walked forward, and Zack seemed to be very strict as he trained Mango.

Mango's forehead and clothes were drenched in sweat, but nevertheless, she kept going.

Nathaniel's heartfelt twinge of pain.

He was distressed, but there was nothing he could do to stop it. Perhaps Mango was right. Everyone thought that they could protect Mango, but was it really possible for someone to protect someone else twenty-four seven?

When one was really in danger, the only person who could protect them the best was themselves.

"What other courses is she taking?"

"Boxing and hand to hand combat."

The words of the security room staff made Nathaniel frown slightly.

"Where is she undergoing training?"

"The training center deep in the mountains."

"Have a car prepared for me, I’ll be in charge of that course."

Nathaniel's words stunned everyone in the room.

Indeed, Nathaniel hadn’t personally trained any students in years.

However, no one dared to comment and they hurriedly prepared a car for him.

After that, Nathaniel wasted no time as he went to the training camp.

Then, he changed into his training gear and he put on his headgear before he called ahead to inform Zack.

Although Zack was rather shocked, he did not show it as he told Mango, "There’s another instructor waiting for you in the boxing ring, good luck."

In fact, Mango was somewhat confused but she didn't pay much heed to it. She had thought that Zack would be her instructor till the end of her training, but Mango figured she was wrong about that. Nevertheless, she had no objections to the arrangements of the training base.

Mango's body was completely exhausted after she completed the long cross-country marathon.

Back when she was in the ocean, Mango strongly felt a sense of fear.

Everyone was afraid of death, and Mango was no exception. Previously, Mango thought that she wouldn't be afraid of death, but she realized that she had too much to lose when she was at death's door.

She couldn't let go of her children, Nathaniel, and her parents.

Mango didn't want to die, and she wished to live well instead. However, everyone out there was a threat to her. Regardless if it was Abyss, Nanny Zhang, or whoever wanted to hurt her, could she really survive if she remained weak?

Did Mango really expect someone else to come to her rescue every time?

Everyone had their own problems to deal with, so could Mango really expect someone else to protect her all the time? Furthermore, she didn't want to be a burden to anyone else.

Mango immediately collapsed onto the floor after she returned to the training center.

Anyway, she had no idea when Zack had left the room.

Mango felt that the training center so eerily quiet that she could hear ringing in her ears and the thudding of her heart in her chest.

She was so weak that she barely had the energy to get up and have some water.

Right then, someone handed Mango a cup of warm water.

Mango was confused and she raised her head without thinking, only to find a masked person was standing in front of her. From the looks of it, it seemed that the masked person was a man.

"Are you my coach?"

Mango asked while panted.

Her face was flushed and she was so exhausted until her sentences were somewhat slurred. Nathaniel was concerned about Mango pushing the limits of her body in training, so would she be able to cope with further practice?

Since Mango had not been trained from the start, it was common for people who started partway like her to be overly eager to succeed. However, would Mango even listen to his advice?

Nathaniel's yearning for Mango was powerful, and it completely overwhelmed his senses.

Then, Nathaniel looked at Mango's exposed skin insatiably, and that almost caused Mango to get goosebumps.

Was this coach a pervert?

Why did he look at her with eyes that were full of lust?

Honestly, it felt like Nathaniel was looking at her. However, that was impossible!

Nathaniel wouldn't be here right now.

Although she had explained her situation to the headquarters and she asked them to inform Nathaniel of her decision, he wouldn't be able to come to the base anytime soon as he was busy with all his problems.

After Mango thought over the situation in her head, she was rather disappointed while it was only a fleeting sensation.

Mango decided not to be dramatic. She stood up as she felt her body become more energetic after she drank the water.

"Coach, please allow me to change my clothes first, so I hope you don't mind waiting."

Mango's words were very polite and Nathaniel was unaccustomed to it, but he had no idea what to reply. Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

What would he even say now?

If Mango knew that Nathaniel was her coach, how could he teach her?

Nevertheless, he wasn't sure why he refused to let anyone else teach Mango the skills of close- quarters combat.

Mango did not say anything when she realized Nathaniel remained silent, as she thought that this coach was a quiet man just like Zack. After that, she made her way to the changing room.

As she walked away, Nathaniel noticed her legs were trembling. What a stubborn woman!

Why couldn't Mango take a break?

However, he managed to rein in his distress and Nathaniel remained silent.

Mango changed her clothes so quickly that Nathaniel hadn’t even finished his cup of water before she came out.

Mango noted that the coach drank water in the same manner as to how Nathaniel did, and it was as if Nathaniel was standing in front of her.

Furthermore, the coach’s figure looked quite similar to Nathaniel's.

Then, she shook her head and smiled wryly.

Perhaps she missed Nathaniel way too much.

She missed him so much that she could mistake just about anyone in the camp as Nathaniel's substitute.

Mango smiled as she walked up to Nathaniel.

"Coach, I'm ready to start."

Nathaniel gazed at her again, which made Mango feel increasingly uncomfortable.

The coach's eyes were striking, and they looked exactly the same as Nathaniel’s, so could it be...

Mango's jaw hung open in surprise as she realized something.

"You, you’re..."

"Are you certain that you’re ready to start?"

Nathaniel finally spoke, but his voice was much hoarser than before. The exhaustion over the past few days made his throat rather uncomfortable, not to mention that Zion had angered him so much until he coughed up blood, so obviously his voice was somewhat damaged.

Mango's eyes grew wider.

In fact, Nathaniel thought that he had given away his identity when he saw Mango's reaction.

In the end, he couldn't conceal his identity any longer and his tone involuntarily softened considerably.

"It's going to be tough, are you sure you’re ready to learn?"

"Yeah, I'm sure of it.”

Mango nodded firmly before she looked at Nathaniel curiously and said, "Could you take off your mask so I can see your face, just for a moment?"

Nathaniel smiled at Mango's request.

Since he'd exposed his identity, there was no way he could conceal it any longer.

Nathaniel removed his headgear and he revealed his slightly gaunt face to Mango.

Mango quickly covered her mouth and she seemed to be very surprised.

Nathaniel smirked while he waited for Mango to embrace him as they were finally reunited. However, Mango covered her mouth in shock and she took two steps backward as she examined him thoroughly. "Oh my god, you look so alike!" "Like what?"

Nathaniel was a little puzzled.

Mango said in a low voice, "You look so similar to my husband, and you two look like carbon copies of one another!"

Nathaniel's face immediately fell and darkened.

"Who do you think I am?"

"I know that you're my brother in law. Nathan told me about you, you're Nick right? Since we’re related to each other, then there's no need for me to be so reserved. Honestly, I never imagined that twins could look so much alike. Your height, face, and voice are all exactly the same, and I would have mistaken you for my husband if your voice wasn’t so deep."

Mango smiled as she said this, but Nathaniel's expression became increasingly dissatisfied.

"Is that so? Are you sure you wouldn't have mistaken your husband for someone else?"

His voice was filled with suppressed annoyance, but Mango didn't realize that and she said eagerly, "Of course not!”

At this moment, Nathaniel suddenly stepped forward before he immediately grabbed her wrist, and his imposing manner stunned Mango.