The next day.
At a brand-new estate villa belonging to Secretariat's family.
The young black-haired doctor wasn't wearing his familiar white coat, but was in casual clothes, carrying a bag with a complex expression, looking around with a hint of surprise.
In Lin Anran's memory, Secretariat's family circumstances hadn't been good originally; in fact, they could be considered quite poor.
The Big Red family had once been on the brink of bankruptcy, saddled with debt. Even breeding two or three ordinary Uma Musume who could win graded stakes might not have been enough to turn things around quickly.
If an Uma Musume family truly had the capacity to mass-produce several Uma Musume capable of winning graded stakes, they wouldn't be in decline in the first place. So, usually, the only hope was to get lucky, like drawing a lottery card, and produce one top-tier Uma Musume who could not only win graded races but also capture G1 titles!
The Big Red family's luck had taken an incredible turn for the best. Before Secretariat became famous...
She had a sister from the same family, named Gamely, who had already won G1 races even earlier than Secretariat. This sister possessed the ability to win multiple G1s—the caliber of a true champion, already considered worthy of a place in the history books and a future Hall of Fame inductee.
And Secretariat, coming after Gamely, needless to say, wasn't just "entering" the Hall of Fame; it was more like the Hall of Fame would be honored to have Secretariat.
A family that should have declined or gone bankrupt instead produced two future Hall of Fame Uma Musume. What an unbelievable miracle.
When Lin Anran had first met Secretariat, she wasn't famous yet, and her family's situation wasn't good at all.
The scheming young doctor, planning to 'nurture a big fish over the long term', had often looked after her back then. It was the experience gained from caring for Secretariat that he later used when looking after Sunday Silence...
And now, just two short years later, Secretariat was already acknowledged as the strongest on dirt. Together with her sister Gamely, she had saved the family from ruin...
But now, why was this inspirational, strongest dirt racer starting to imitate her defeated rival, Sham?
Even Lin Anran had to sigh in amazement. 'This version of Big Red is just too overpowered. How did the Three Goddesses even set her stats?'
'Crushing Sham on the track, and now copying her off the track!'
It's worth mentioning that the last time Lin Anran went to Sham's house, he was dragging a suitcase.
After all, back then, the scheming young doctor was still naive, genuinely thinking seriously about Sham's physical condition and subsequent training plan, worried that returning to training after a long break might have some impact on Sham's body.
Plus, it was for a long seven days, so Lin Anran had packed several changes of clothes and the necessary tools for his work as a doctor.
But now it was different. Having been taught a lesson or two by a certain 'thieving cat', and knowing he was only coming for a short three-day stay, Lin Anran's preparations for this trip—both the luggage and the [mental preparation]—were completely different.
"Dr. Lin, you're finally here."
At the end of the corridor stood that tall, beautiful red-haired woman with a curvaceous figure, an air of mystery, and even danger. She looked like a hunter seeing her prey walk right into her trap, a pleased smile playing on her lips.
Lin Anran's expression remained calm and composed as he greeted Secretariat.
"Dr. Lin, your room is here. I've already got it ready."
Then, Secretariat led the way, pointing to a room with its door wide open.
After Lin Anran walked in, what greeted his eyes was...
A bed.
A conspicuously large bed, more than enough for one or even two people, with room to spare for a couple of small children.
Moreover, the bed looked incredibly new, without a speck of dust, as if... it had just been delivered today, freshly unwrapped from its plastic covering.
Even the comforter wasn't on it yet.
Lin Anran's expression immediately turned complex. He seemed to want to say something but stopped himself.
'Seriously? Couldn't you even bother to put on a pretense, to cover it up a little?'
But Secretariat remained straight-faced, even more composed than he was.
"Alright, put your bag down. Come keep me company during my training first."
The beautiful red-haired woman stretched, tilting her graceful neck, her lovely figure clearly outlined.
Secretariat wasn't impatient enough to start [sampling] anything right away.
This was prey she had been looking forward to for a long time, and it had come to her willingly, without any deception!
Why worry about it running away or something going wrong? There was no need to worry at all!
Secretariat's mood was extremely pleased at this moment, even more wonderful than when she had clinched the Triple Crown and achieved legendary status.
So... before enjoying the prey, she needed to warm up a bit, right?
Not to mention—
Secretariat had prepared a new bed, but she hadn't had time to buy pillows or comforters yet.
Therefore, she also needed to get those ready for Lin Anran, who would be staying for the next three days.
And one set wouldn't be enough!
Even before Lin Anran arrived, Secretariat had called her good sister from the same family, [Gamely], and asked her to buy a few comforters and bring them over.
'Gamely should be arriving soon.'
'After training today, I can finally start the tasting!'
The Big Red girl snapped her fingers. As she led the way to the training ground within the estate, her cheerful mood suddenly sparked an association in her mind.
Why did Sham's originally planned seven days get shortened to a mere three?
Secretariat refused to believe that shameless thieving cat Sham had actually been training. She doubted there was any training done at all during those three days.
Most likely, those three days... had left Dr. Lin quite exhausted.
And Dr. Lin, being a doctor by profession, was very aware of his own physical condition. He knew that if things continued like that, his body wouldn't hold up, and his pelvis might get injured.
So, that's why the seven days ended early? Because that thieving cat, wanting to 'make the supply last', had temporarily let him go?
This was... the most likely possibility, according to Secretariat's wise deduction!
It couldn't possibly be that she was fully satisfied after just three days, exercising self-control to return to training, right?
And besides—
Even if training was to start, wasn't Lin Anran's presence actually a good thing?
Enjoying Dr. Lin and training with Dr. Lin weren't mutually exclusive choices; shouldn't it be [I'll take both]?
So, presumably, Dr. Lin, being an ordinary human, was physically far inferior to an Uma Musume. After three days, he just couldn't take it anymore.
That's why Secretariat also set the duration at [three days], instead of being greedy and asking for the initial [seven days] like Sham had.
The Big Red girl, after all, didn't want Dr. Lin to get hurt!
Before long, they arrived together at the training ground.
"Well then, Dr. Lin, I'm going to start warming up."
"Huh?"
"Isn't training just a form of warming up?"
--+--
Several hours later.
Evening. Training time was over, and after having dinner with Lin Anran...
Secretariat, wrapped in a towel, stepped out of the bathroom.
"Phew..."
"Alright, it's time to get to the main event!"
In the eyes of this stunning red-haired beauty, today's training was merely a warm-up before savoring her prey.
It's worth noting that on Secretariat's desk lay a brand-new diary.
'Who keeps a diary if they're a proper person?...'
But Secretariat was not a proper person!
Starting from when Lin Anran agreed to come over yesterday, she had already named the diary and written its opening entry.
The diary was titled – The Horseplay Diary!!
Next to the diary lay the key to the room next door, where Lin Anran was staying.
As for waiting until midnight, for Lin Anran to fall asleep before launching a night assault... that was too troublesome and took too long. Secretariat couldn't wait that long.
"This first time, I definitely need to be restrained, to protect Dr. Lin's body."
As for the G1 race, the Woodward Stakes, on the fourth day, Secretariat wasn't too worried.
It was just savoring Dr. Lin, an ordinary human, right? It couldn't possibly be more tiring than her usual ultra-high-intensity training, could it?
At worst, she could just reduce her training load a little bit. One plus and one minus would basically cancel each other out.
So, no surprises there.
"Alright then... after changing into this, let's go!"
The proud and supremely confident strongest Uma Musume took a step forward.
--+--
In the next room.
Lin Anran was actually working, head bowed, thinking about the performance of Secretariat's formidable body during training, a pen in his hand as he jotted things down.
He was considering Secretariat's training load for the next three days, and even the regular training load that would resume after the upcoming Woodward Stakes.
Lin Anran was well aware that an Uma Musume as exceptionally terrifyingly good as Secretariat didn't really need a trainer; she could probably teach trainers a thing or two instead.
There were plenty of examples of retired Uma Musume becoming trainee trainers, just like athletes becoming coaches after retirement—the two roles shared significant common ground.
The only area where they truly needed help was in real-time monitoring of physical condition and potential injuries, something that Uma Musume, who engaged in long-term high-intensity running, found difficult to do on their own.
Lin Anran felt that if he really came here and did nothing, the money wouldn't feel right in his pocket.
"The Woodward Stakes is a G1 race after all. Can't afford to be careless."
"Secretariat's body is that of an ultimate monster, but we still need to show some respect to the race and her opponents. We should briefly reduce the training load before..."
Before the bowed Lin Anran could finish his planning, he heard the sound of the door opening.
When the scheming young doctor turned his head, what met his eyes was the familiar red-haired beauty, walking in dressed in very light, casual wear.
The tall, graceful huntress Secretariat smiled slightly as she closed the door, her gaze firmly fixed on the prey she had long awaited.
"Dr. Lin, don't worry, I'll be gentle."
"Please don't beg for mercy~"
--+--
The next day.
Early morning. Secretariat, having returned to her own room, was currently feeling extremely complicated, stunned, and bewildered.
Secretariat held her chest, her hair disheveled, her breathing slightly rapid.
The level of fatigue her body felt right now was actually about the same as when she maintained her nightmare-level training load?
But the sense of satisfaction was equally unforgettable for Secretariat.
And besides that, what left Secretariat utterly dumbfounded was that Dr. Lin... hadn't really begged for mercy at all that night?
Although, judging by his expression towards the end, Dr. Lin did seem a bit tired too, but this was just too strange, wasn't it?
How could she, an Uma Musume, be practically evenly matched with Dr. Lin in [horseplay]?
Disgraceful! This was simply a disgrace for an Uma Musume!
"N-no, that's not it..."
Secretariat suddenly remembered that her condition yesterday had been exceptionally good.
Even she, the strongest Uma Musume, hadn't been able to make Lin Anran cry uncle during the horseplay...
What about other Uma Musume, and Sham, who was physically far inferior to her?
Was her initial guess completely wrong?
The sharp-witted and quick-thinking Secretariat immediately pivoted, arriving at a new, bold conjecture.
Could it be that it wasn't that Sham almost jumped Dr. Lin to the point of pelvic injury and kidney failure, but rather that Sham herself was the one who couldn't take it anymore??
This extremely bold conjecture even left Secretariat herself speechless for a moment.
"Th-this..."
"Well, I suppose that's a good thing? At least I don't have to worry too much about Dr. Lin's body."
Secretariat then gritted her teeth, feeling a little unwilling.
"But I can't be a loser like Sham."
"As an Uma Musume, I should absolutely dominate. I must make Dr. Lin beg for mercy properly!"
Last night was definitely a fluke. It must have been because her training load was too heavy, affecting her physical condition.
So today, maybe she should just skip training.
What was training compared to tonight's horseplay?
Thinking this, Secretariat turned to the computer desk, picked up the Horseplay Diary, and started writing, her head bowed.
Yesterday was definitely just a fluke!
Tonight, the night assault continues.
--+--
Early morning of the second day.
Dumbfounded and incredulous, Secretariat returned to her room, her face flushed.
"Th-this..."
"How is this possible?"
The results of the night had replicated those of the previous evening.
But the unimaginable satisfaction also left Secretariat's heart feeling full, aside from the astonishment.
However, what the proud Big Red Monster found disgraceful was that she, the one launching the night assault, still couldn't defeat the human, Dr. Lin?
Secretariat couldn't help but start to wonder: who was the Uma Musume here, her or Dr. Lin?
—Launched a night assault, encountered Dr. Lin, exerted all my strength, but could not achieve victory!
Although she hated to admit it, that was the fact.
"Tomorrow, the third day, the last chance..."
"I will win!"
--+--
The third day, late at night.
The silent red-haired beauty, her hair still disheveled, was this time leaning against the wall as she made her way back to her room.
This time, she hadn't lasted until morning.
Not only had Secretariat failed to make that increasingly alluring young doctor beg for mercy...
On the contrary, it was she who had been forced, blushing with shame, to beg for mercy first, ending the [battle] early so she could extricate herself.
In Secretariat's view, this was the biggest black mark on her record since her debut loss.
The strongest dirt racer, a potential GOAT rivaling Eclipse, had actually been the first to beg for mercy when facing a human doctor.
Originally, Secretariat could have held on longer; she wasn't some "small fry" who would easily yield to Lin Anran.
But tomorrow was the [GII · Woodward Stakes]... so, weighing her options, she had chosen to beg for mercy.
"Guh..."
"It seems, from now on, instead of worrying about Dr. Lin's pelvis getting injured or anything like that..."
"I need to worry more about the physical well-being of those [overestimating] thieving cats themselves."
And suddenly...
Back in her room, writing the final entry in the Horseplay Diary, Secretariat, aside from feeling deeply ashamed, couldn't stop thinking about one thing!
What about the [GII·Woodward Stakes]?
After a moment of silence, Secretariat finally gritted her teeth.
"The only opponent worth mentioning is Prove Out."
"And Prove Out's career record really isn't that great; she's only occasionally beaten one or two heavyweights."
Thinking this, Secretariat wrote the final conclusion for these past few days' diary entries.
"It's nothing. I'll still win!"
I will win tomorrow's Woodward Stakes!
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
There should be... around 70+ advanced chapters?
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.