Chapter 565: Gossip
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
That evening, Helen Pepe stood on the tennis court and practiced for an hour with the tennis ball machine.
For professional tennis players, training with the ball machine was low-intensity training. This kind of training was mainly to maintain their familiarity with the ball. Not playing with the ball for a long time would make them rusty.
In Pepe’s current condition, even this kind of low-intensity training carried a certain risk. Once a problem arose it could just be muscle soreness, but if it were more severe it might disrupt some core functions of the muscles.
In the past, after Pepe’s training, her wounds would make her somewhat uncomfortable. However, after one hour of training, Pepe did not feel any discomfort.
“In the past, after relatively high-intensity training, there would be a continuous pain in the hip area. If the intensity were light, I would feel sore. Now, I don’t feel sore at all,” Pepe said to herself.
The soreness was a very direct effect of her strain. Pepe’s hip injury had been going on for many years so she had long been accustomed to sore muscles. Now that it wasn’t there she was relaxed.
Pepe subconsciously reached out to press her hips, specifically on the area where the pain was usually stronger. She didn’t expect that when she pushed down she wouldn’t feel any pain.
Experiencing pain when pressing down on parts of the hip area was also one of the symptoms of muscle strain and this symptom had tortured Pepe for many years. At its most serious, Pepe couldn’t even lay down because it brought her a lot of pain.
It doesn’t hurt at all! Pepe couldn’t believe it. She pressed down a few more times and only then did it hurt.
Is this the effect of today’s ma.s.sage? This is amazing! Pepe took a breath of cold air. She never could’ve dreamed of achieving such results.
Suddenly, Pepe realized that she was wrong about Dai Li. The reason Dai Li arranged a lot of ma.s.sages in the rehabilitation program was really for her to recover quickly.
I’ve misunderstood him. He must think that I think of him as a pervert. I’ve really done something wrong this time!
…
James, the editor-in-chief of a well-known media company in Los Angeles, looked through some photos that were in his hands and he shook his head.
After a while, he finished looking through all the photos and threw them to a young man opposite of him. Then he said, “Peter, these photos are all rubbish. They are not worth a single penny. I don’t want a single one.”
“Garbage? How come? These are all photos of Helen Pepe. She has so many fans. Her photos have always been the most popular. I followed her for a long time to get these photos,” said the young man named Peter.
“Helen Pepe’s photos are really popular, but there are no highlights in these photos. Look at the garbage you took. This is Pepe going to the parking lot and getting in her car. It is so regular. Do you think our audience will pay attention to pictures this bland?”
As James spoke, he picked up a few other photos. “These photos. Pepe walking out of a hotel. She is not an American. She has no real estate in Los Angeles. Of course, she would stay in a hotel. Where else would she sleep? On the streets? What is the point of these photos? Do you think this can be published in the newspaper? This is Los Angeles. Anyone can see a star if they sit outside a five-star hotel. Why is it strange for Pepe to stay at a hotel?
“What I want are not photos of her daily life. What I need are photos that have a point. It should be what the readers want to see.” James pointed at the photo, and then went on to say, “Even a few photos of Pepe at a nightclub would be better than this rubbis.h.!.+”
“But the photos I took are very clear, the choice of angle, the choice of light, and…”
As Peter was explaining, he was interrupted by James before he could finish speaking.
“Okay, Peter. Do you really think that you are some artsy photographer? Angle and light choice? Hehehe…” James laughed mockingly and said, “Okay, to put it kindly, you are a freelance photographer. To put it bluntly, you’re paparazzi! Paparazzi need to do what paparazzi need to do. You should take paparazzi photos instead of worrying about angles and lighting!”
When James finished speaking, he pointed his finger at the door and said, “Well, Peter, I don’t have time to talk about ideals and life here. I still have a lot of work to do. If you keep bringing me this kind of garbage, I won’t see you again.”
…
Peter was walking down the road, frustrated. He had been humiliated by James.
He also knew that what James said was true. He was not a photographer. He could only be regarded as paparazzi.
Being a photographer was Peter’s dream, but his dreams weren’t able to feed him. The photos that he took were worthless in the eyes of others.
James is right, I am just paparazzi. I should do what the paparazzi do.
Peter took a deep breath and he recalled Helen Pepe’s recent activities.
Helen Pepe has been going to a physical training center. If I can take some pictures of her while she’s training, I should be able to sell it for some money.
That is a very upscale training center. If I am not a member, I won’t be able to get in. I can’t become a member with my income. If I want to get into that training center, I have to think of another way.
…
Peter pushed a cleaning trolly and secretly looked around the room.
He had disguised himself as cleaning staff to sneak into Dai Li’s physical training center.
Labor cost a lot in America. To hire a regular employee, a company would need to pay for the employee’s various insurances in addition to paying their salary. Therefore, Dai Li did not hire a cleaning staff but instead paid a cleaning company to take care of the cleaning and sanitation of the training center. He saved a lot of money doing this.
It was for this reason that Peter was able to disguise himself as cleaning staff and sneak into the training center. The cleaning company did not send the same person every day. Even if he was unfamiliar, no one would suspect him.
This training center is really big. I wonder where Helen Pepe is, Peter pondered as he looked around him.
From time to time, there were one or two familiar faces that Peter saw. They were well-known athletes.
Peter had a strong urge to take out his camera that was hidden in the cleaning trolly and take a few photos of these famous athletes, but the rational part of Peter told him that he should not do that. The purpose of his trip was Helen Pepe. Helen Pepe’s photos were much more valuable than those athletes.
Peter was finally nearby the ma.s.sage room.
A ma.s.sage room? The door is closed. There should be no one inside. Peter walked straight into the ma.s.sage room with his cleaning trolly.
At that very moment, he heard a woman moaning.
“Hmm…ah…”
When he heard this sound, Peter immediately stopped walking.
…
Helen Pepe moaned again in the ma.s.sage room.
Dai Li felt awkward and he couldn’t help but stop the ma.s.sage.
Pepe was enjoying the comfort brought by the rehabilitation ma.s.sage. When Dai Li stopped, Pepe subconsciously said, “Coach Li, don’t stop.”
Dai Li was helpless. He then said, “Miss Pepe, can you not make such sounds? It may be heard by others.”
Once Dai Li said this, Pepe realized that the moans that she made were indeed indecent.
“Sorry. It was just that the touch was just right and it was just too comfortable. I couldn’t hold back.,” Pepe looked back at Dai Li with an unsatisfied look in her eyes. She then said, “Coach Li, can we continue?”
“Okay.” Dai Li went back work.
After only twenty seconds, Pepe couldn’t help but moan out in comfort again.
…
Outside the door, Peter heard the strange sound from the room and immediately stopped walking.
Why is there a female moaning? Is someone doing something dirty inside?
Peter’s curiosity suddenly grew. He wanted to push the door open to see who was inside, but he also knew that he was here in secret. He had entered without permission. If he was discovered, he would be in trouble with the law. He could not be discovered by others.
Peter suppressed his curiosity and waited quietly outside the door to eavesdrop. Although he couldn’t take pictures, he made sure that he hit his phone’s record b.u.t.ton.
The woman’s voice could be heard again.
“Coach Li. Don’t stop.”
Peter suddenly realized what was going on. Just what I thought. A dirty smile crept across his face.
The people inside are doing something that can’t be described. They are quite brave to do such things in a place like this in broad daylight. This woman said ‘Coach Li,’ who I remember is the owner of the training center.
She must be with the owner of the center. Only the boss would dare do such unscrupulous things here. I wonder who that woman is. Is it a female secretary? It is normal for the boss to do such things with a secretary. An affair between the Best Coach Award winner and his secretary. If this kind of news spreads, I wonder if anyone would pay attention.
At this moment, several ideas popped into Peter’s head.
Another sound came from the room.
“Miss Pepe, can you not make such sounds? Others might hear.”
Miss Pepe. Peter was shocked.
The man just said ‘Pepe.’ Is it possible that the woman inside is Helen Pepe? My G.o.d! Helen Pepe and that Coach Li are doing something shameful!
Peter also felt sadness and jealousy. It was as if the G.o.ddess he admired had been tarnished.
“Sorry. It was just that the touch was just right and it was just too comfortable. I couldn’t hold back.”
“Coach Li, can we continue?”
Pepe made a moaning sound again.
The touch was just right? Comfortable? Continue?” Peter, who was outside the door, heard these words. After a while, Pepe’s moan could be heard coming from the room again.
Big news, super big news! Gossip about Helen Pepe. I have the recordings too. This is worth more than a few photos of her training! I am going to make a fortune!” Peter smiled excitedly. At this moment his dream of being a photographer had been completely forgotten.
…
A few days later, Peter appeared again in James’s office.
“Peter, what kind of photos have you brought this time. Don’t tell me they are the same as last time. This is not a garbage disposal center, we do not take in garbage.” James did not raise his head when he was speaking to Peter. He didn’t show the slightest respect.
Seeing how James acted made Peter very angry. He became even more determined to knock James down a peg or two.
“I didn’t bring any photos this time,” Peter said.
“No photos?” James lifted up his head when he heard this answer. He looked at Peter and asked, “If you don’t have any photos, why are you here?”
“I brought a recording.” Peter had a very smug look on his face. It told James that the recording was something very valuable.
However, James grinned disdainfully. “I don’t sell audiobooks here. Why would I want a recording!”
“This is a recording of Helen Pepe,” Peter said.
“So what? Helen Pepe does hundreds of interviews every year. There are various kinds of interviews. She also records short videos from time to time to post on Twitter. Why would I want your recording? Unless you recorded the sounds Helen Pepe makes in bed, which I could sell it to those who like her. That way they can get more excited when they m.a.s.t.u.r.b.a.t.e!” James raged. His last sentence was certainly not true. He didn’t actually want to sell recordings. He was ridiculing Peter’s incompetence.
Peter then said, “Mr. James, you guessed right this time. I’ve really recorded the sounds of Helen Pepe in bed!”
“What did you say? Have you gone crazy!” James exclaimed.
Peter calmly and steadily took out his phone. He found a piece of audio and began to play it.
“Hmm…ah…”
“Coach Li, don’t stop.”
“The touch was just right and it was just too comfortable. I couldn’t hold back.”
“Hmm…ah…”
Peter had edited the original audio recording. He intentionally made it so that it was vague. He only left in the critical parts for James to hear.
“Oh my G.o.d! This…this…” After James finished listening to it he did not know what to say.
Peter was very satisfied with the expression on James’ face. He said, “Mr. James, this is just a part of the recording if you want the full recording…”
“I want this recording. Name a price!” James interrupted Peter before he could finish talking. Peter was somewhat unprepared to go straight to talking about money.
…
The next day, the media published a piece of news with this headline.
“Special training? Helen Pepe and the “Best Coach” involved in a large scale drama.”