Chapter 4 – Doubling the Effect
What would happen if… Growth Potential reached 100%?
Gao Wen was curious.
The entire winter training would last six weeks, followed by the NCAA spring season. Including the Christmas holiday and the adjustment period before the season began, this meant he had a full two months to figure out how the system worked, improve his skills, and then…
Change the course of his destiny.
Two months—it wasn’t much time. Gao Wen felt the urgency and was already eager to dive into training immediately.
But was this really the entirety of the system?
Focusing his attention again, he scrutinized the clean interface. His gaze fell on a book icon beneath the personal information section on the left side of the screen. The thick book seemed weighty and profound. Initially, he assumed it detailed the various attributes, locked until he levelled up. But… that didn’t seem to be the case.
His vision focused on the icon. A soft white light flashed across it, and clear, wave-like colours rippled outward. Suddenly, a new page opened.
At the top of the page, bold text hung prominently:
“Training Manual—Double Training Effect (Upgradeable)”
Below, rows upon rows of icons were neatly arranged, each representing a different aspect.
Strength Training; Explosive Power Training; Flexibility Training; Reaction Training; Speed Training; Footwork Training;
Serving Training; Receiving Training; Forehand Training; Backhand Training; Baseline Training; Netplay Training;
Drop Shot Training; Volley Training; Smash Training; Slice Training; Movement Training; Tactical Training;
…
The list extended horizontally and vertically like a treasure trove.
Gao Wen was stunned. So this was the true essence of “Tennis Training Master.” The key wasn’t the physical data representation—hence why all detailed stats were hidden and no specific values were displayed. Instead, it lay in the training manual, which broke down each project and detail with precision.
More importantly, “Double Training Effect (Upgradeable)”—
“The host’s foundational training, daily practice, and match performance effects can be doubled.”
In other words, one hour of training would yield the results of two hours in reality?
If Gao Wen’s understanding was correct, this was the ultimate cheat code. Even with the system, progress still depended on his own efforts. The more he trained, the more he would gain. If he slacked off, there would be no free handouts. Ultimately, the height to which the system’s effects could reach depended entirely on his dedication and perseverance.
Gurgle.
Gurgle.
Blood surged through him. Gao Wen could no longer suppress his excitement. He was ready to start training immediately and experience firsthand what the “Double Training Effect” truly felt like.
He turned, pulled open the bathroom door, and saw McDonald waiting at the entrance. The faint furrow between McDonald’s brows betrayed his concern, which warmed Gao Wen’s heart slightly.
McDonald—despite his name—was actually a half-Chinese, half-English mixed-race individual. His maternal grandparents were first-generation immigrants from Guangdong. As a third-generation immigrant, McDonald’s Chinese wasn’t fluent; he had studied some in high school but at a very basic level.
Compared to Gao Wen, McDonald’s résumé was far more impressive. Last year, he reached the semifinals of the Australian Open in the junior category and even won a North American Futures event, showcasing his talent and strength early on.
However, McDonald’s physical condition wasn’t ideal either. At 178 cm and 73 kg, his height limited the effectiveness of his serve, which posed challenges for making a breakthrough on the professional circuit. As a result, he also chose to join the NCAA, balancing his studies while continuing to train.
This September, McDonald and Gao Wen both enrolled as freshmen at UCLA in the Class of 2013, joining the school’s tennis team together.
The moment they met, their familiarity brought them closer. As freshman rookies, McDonald’s past achievements didn’t come across as intimidating. He was down-to-earth, blending seamlessly into the ranks of newcomers. He and Gao Wen became inseparable, helping each other out and partnering well in training sessions.
Today, Gao Wen’s strange behaviour caught McDonald’s attention. After seeing him stay in the bathroom for so long without emerging, McDonald began to worry.
When Gao Wen finally appeared, McDonald awkwardly cleared his throat to mask his concern. “You’ve been hogging the bathroom this whole time—I couldn’t use it even if I wanted to.”
Gao Wen widened his eyes, slowly shifting his gaze to the empty bathroom next door before turning back to McDonald, his expression speaking volumes.
Creak. A gentle breeze passed through, causing the neighbouring bathroom door to sway slightly.
Realizing his lie had been exposed, McDonald scratched his head in embarrassment and offered an honest explanation. “You stayed in there for so long without any movement, I was convinced you left me out here to do all the work by myself.”
What was meant to be a joke fell flat as McDonald realized humour wasn’t his strong suit. His attempt at a joke wasn’t funny at all, and he ultimately gave up.
“Are you worried about making the starting lineup? There’s no need to overthink it. You should have confidence in yourself. The coach has always admired your tactics and creativity on the court. As long as you put in the effort during winter training, securing a spot in the starting lineup won’t be a problem.”
Gao Wen, of course, wasn’t worried about his spot.
In his previous life, he had successfully made the starting lineup, competing alongside the team in the spring season. They eventually secured second place in the Pac-12 Conference and reached the semifinals of the NCAA Championship, falling just short of greater glory.
“Just the starting lineup? Mac, your goal is far too modest. At the very least, you should aim for the number one singles spot,” Gao Wen said with a smile, winking at McDonald.
“Mac” was McKenzie’s nickname, and Gao Wen hadn’t called him that in a long time. The familiar name brought back memories, and his smile widened—it had been ages since he smiled this frequently.
For McDonald, however, it didn’t feel unusual. Although Gao Wen’s smiles today seemed a bit goofy and uncharacteristic, they were still within reason. McDonald stared at him briefly, slightly dazed, before clapping his hands, laughing, and nodding repeatedly in agreement.
“Yes, yes, you’re right. At least the number one singles spot, at least.”
In competitive sports, everything depends on ability. Declaring yourself “world number one” doesn’t make it true, but if you don’t even dare to dream, how could you ever achieve it? A player who aims only for “world number two” might spend a lifetime failing to reach the top.
When you step onto the court, victory must be the sole objective. Constantly surpassing oneself, pushing limits, and striving for greatness—the championship trophy represents not just defeating opponents but also achieving faster, higher, and stronger feats. Only by believing in the ability to create miracles can one truly witness them.
If the Grand Slam title or world number one seems too distant now, setting such a lofty goal might be unrealistic. For now, how about setting a smaller target—becoming the Bruins’ number-one singles player?
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