The Year I Stopped Being His novel Chapter 33

"I'm sorry, Sloane. It's not that I don't want to take you back, but I officially retired from the swim team last year. However... I'm currently heading up a new project. I wonder if you'd be interested in joining?"

"A new project?"

Sloane couldn't help but feel a wave of disappointment, but she politely asked, "What kind of project?"

"Project Deep Ice!" Quentin's voice carried unconcealed excitement. "The approval just came down from the bureau yesterday. We're organizing an Antarctic Expedition Team to travel to specific subglacial lakes and collect a rare microbial specimen called the White Microbe. It requires elite under-ice divers. I remember your cold tolerance and underwater technique; no one on the team could touch you. What do you say? Interested? This is far more meaningful than swimming laps in a pool!"

Antarctica? The White Microbe?

Sloane felt like she had heard that name before, but she couldn't quite place it.

"Coach, what exactly is this White Microbe used for?" Sloane frowned.

"It's for medical experiments, from what I'm told," Quentin explained with utmost seriousness. "Right now, only a few developed Western countries have successfully harvested it; our country has never managed to collect a viable sample. Don't worry about the scientific research side of things—Northgate Institute of Technology is handling all of that. Our job at the sports bureau is simply to organize the best divers to conduct targeted underwater searches. Sloane, I know you have what it takes."

"Coach, I think I need to... think about it. I haven't dived in years..." Sloane hesitated.

An Antarctic expedition was no joke. Moreover, with her current physical condition...

To put it bluntly, she didn't even know if she would live long enough to see the departure date.

"Of course, of course!" Quentin nodded understandingly. "There's no rush. Go home, think it over, and call me whenever you've made up your mind."

He stood up, giving Sloane's shoulder an affectionate, slightly sympathetic pat.

"Sloane, whatever you decide, I support you. Don't forget, you're my proudest student. I just want you to be happy!"

"Yeah. Thank you, Coach."

"You two know each other?" Quentin's eyes widened in surprise.

"We... we grew up together."

Because their families were neighbors, they had attended the same schools from kindergarten all the way through high school. Josh had practically been her shadow.

"Hahaha, that's fantastic!" Quentin stomped his foot in excitement. He stepped behind Josh and threw an arm around his neck. "Our boy Josh here is the student liaison for Northgate Institute of Technology, and he's also on the expedition team! Sloane, it looks like you and this project are meant to be!"

Sloane was speechless.

She hadn't even agreed to the project yet.

"Coach, I just came to... drop off these files," Josh said, looking slightly exasperated as he gently pried Quentin's arm off his neck. He pulled a stack of documents from his backpack and handed them over respectfully.