Chapter 6

Katie's POV

Since the first day I joined the tennis team, this was the first time I'd seen Garcia this angry. There was also a hint of helplessness as he closed his eyes, rubbed his temples, and let out a deep sigh.

"Coach Garcia, what exactly is going on with this data analysis report?" George wore an insistent expression. "I'm also a member of the team—I have the right to know what's happening."

The other players chimed in as well.

My vague words had sparked their curiosity. When the mistake first occurred, Garcia had chosen to conceal the truth, and now he was even less willing to let it come to light.

I had deleted that false data report in time, so it hadn't caused serious consequences. But the action itself, the fact of it, the mistake—it followed him like a shadow.

Garcia's gaze turned unfriendly. "George, I said that matter ends here. Do you want to leave the team?"

George shrugged and said nothing more, and the rest of the players gradually left the conference room.

I frowned. This was getting troublesome. The league was coming up, but trust among the team members was declining.

But for now, there was no better solution.

I prepared to leave as well, but Terry called out to me. His voice was no longer as manic as before.

"Don't be afraid. I'm right here beside you."

The voice was right by my ear. Percy lowered his head, his voice not loud but full of strength, his warm breath falling on my earlobe.

I suddenly realized I was still in Percy's arms.

"I'm not afraid." I stepped out of Percy's embrace. "Thank you."

The word "thank you" couldn't even begin to express my gratitude. If he hadn't shown up today, my reputation, my internship position, my dignity—all of it would have been destroyed.

"Katie, after everything that's happened, I don't believe you won't bring personal emotions into the team." Terry didn't trust me.

Of course I would. I wasn't that magnanimous. But as long as Lily and Terry stopped provoking me, I could manage it. After all, for the sake of an excellent resume, I could endure it.

I didn't voice these thoughts. I could never wake someone pretending to sleep, nor could I make someone trust me unconditionally through words alone.

My silence made Lily and Terry think they were right.

Terry raised another objection to Garcia. If he'd bothered to look at Garcia properly, he would have known this wasn't a good time to approach him.

"Lily is also outstanding in statistics—she's no slouch at data analysis either. For the sake of fairness and justice, every data analysis report Katie writes should be reviewed by Lily and bear her name as well."

"That's a good idea." Lily crossed her arms. "Co-authorship will help us avoid previous misunderstandings."

How could such shameless people exist in this world! I swear, this was the first time I'd witnessed it. I didn't even know how to describe this absurdity—appropriating someone else's labor and making it sound so righteous.

"No!"

I was angry, but all I could manage was a dry refusal of their demand.

Terry and Lily kept pressing Garcia for a decision. Garcia looked particularly pained. Clearly, he didn't want to agree to such a troublesome decision that would undoubtedly create endless conflicts in practice.

But she was Lily Wilson. Everyone in the Wilson family was extraordinary. Her father, Mr. Wilson, was on the school's board of trustees and one of the West Coast's most influential sports venue operators and high-end real estate developers. Her mother, brother, and sister all held sway in various fields, all related to the sports industry.

Lily was trouble for Garcia.

She was trouble for anyone wanting to work in the sports industry.

I took a deep breath. Perhaps I could compromise, let her enjoy the fruits of my labor with her name attached, as long as she stopped causing me trouble.

I admitted this decision was pathetic, and it was really hard to voice out loud.

Just as I was struggling with this, Percy laughed—a laugh that felt completely out of place. We all turned to look at him.

Percy's smile didn't reach his eyes and carried mockery. "Miss Wilson, do you know how to analyze serve quality indicators, serve efficiency indicators, serve tactical distribution, and second-serve return win rates?"

This data represented basic tennis statistics. As team manager, it shouldn't be difficult for Lily.

Lily raised her head with an arrogant smile and easily answered Percy's question. "What's so hard about that? I could be the tennis team's data analyst too. I'm just taking pity on certain people and leaving them a position."

If tennis only analyzed this basic data, it wouldn't have such great appeal.

Tennis is solitary—one person's battle. On the court, there's no coach, no teammates, only opponents competing against you. Every point seems crucial—break points, game points, set points. Every time it looks like you're about to win, one mistake and the court advantage instantly becomes a disadvantage.

In modern tennis, data analysis isn't just basic statistics—it encompasses physical attributes, tactical intent, physiological consumption, and psychological warfare.

Percy raised an eyebrow. "Miss Wilson has studied statistics quite well."

I didn't know what Percy was getting at, but his perfunctory praise was barely concealed.

"In that fake data analysis report of Terry's, you changed all the unforced errors to forced errors, but the analysis of the degree of force didn't change at all. Do you really understand the difference between them? Or can you only count error numbers without even looking at weight shift during shots or contact point positions?"

Percy's interrogation had become quite professional. Apart from Terry, who analyzed his own match data on court, the rest of the team members didn't understand at all.

So how did Terry manage to present that fake data without any shame?

Lily tried to argue, but she had nothing to say. During team matches, whenever a player lost a point, she would always curse them for wasting her sponsorship, never looking at why the point was lost.

Terry's ability to analyze data on court was something I had taught him bit by bit—not letting a single mistake affect emotions or disrupt rhythm.

But he seemed to have never acknowledged my role, as if those things were trivial matters, completely unimportant.

Percy went on to discuss many professional data analysis points—it was an affirmation of me.

Such a young man who loved tennis—when he was forced to retire, how devastated he must have been.

The entire internet attacked him. People who defended him like I did were extremely rare, and every netizen who stood up for Percy suffered cyberbullying. I was no exception.

But I didn't back down. Online, I continued to defend Percy—his technique, his consistency, his composure were enough to prove he was a champion.

I even went to the tennis center in Florida. I wanted to encourage Percy in person, but he had already left the tennis center, and no one knew where he'd gone. When his suspension period ended, he never appeared on the professional circuit again.

That talented young man had completely fallen.

I was heartbroken over it for a long time.

But now, Percy stood beside me, repeatedly questioning Lily until she broke down and admitted she couldn't handle the position at the tennis team's data center.

She ran crying from the conference center, and Terry chased after her.

Garcia's face turned cold. "Percy, do you think you're helping Katie? No—you're bringing disaster upon her."