Liu Yong's phone buzzed, indicating an incoming call from Chen Hu. He swiftly picked it up, eager to hear what his protégé had to say. [ " Boss, we will leave for RB tomorrow to participate in the IAAF Diamond League, " ] Chen Hu enthusiastically announced.
A smile spread across Liu Yong's face as he realized the significance of this opportunity. [ " This is a good thing! " ] he exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement. [ " It's been more than a month of training, and it's time to test it. Participating in the Diamond League is a small trial, but the focus must remain on the Olympic Games next year. " ]
Overwhelmed by joy, Liu Yong additionally said, [ " I will personally come to RB to watch your game in two days. " ]
Chen Hu's voice trembled with delight. [ " Boss, are you really coming to watch the game, " ] he said, his words filled with genuine surprise.
[ " Yes, I will be there, " ] Liu Yong confirmed. [ " As my driver and bodyguard, I want to witness firsthand how you overcome your opponents and bring glory to our country. " ]
The conversation between the two continued for at least ten minutes as they discussed their plans and exchanged words of encouragement. After ending the call, Liu Yong wasted no time. He immediately reached for his phone and ordered his subordinates to book plane tickets and purchase game tickets, ensuring everything was in place for their journey.
In the meantime, Chen Hu had been preparing diligently for the upcoming competition. Although he would only participate in three events – the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 400 meters – he had also trained extensively in other disciplines, such as the long jump, javelin throw, and high jump, displaying exceptional proficiency in each one. His talent was such that he could effortlessly break world records in these additional events.
Accompanying Liu Yong to RB was Kang Zhenggang and He Qiang. Their interest was piqued when they learned about Chen Hu's participation in the Diamond League, and they eagerly decided to join the journey.
Liu Yong had also intended to invite Li Changle, but securing leave became challenging due to her responsibilities as a head teacher, so they reluctantly abandoned the idea.
Two days later, the trio of Liu Yong, Kang Zhenggang, and He Qiang arrived in Osaka, where they were lodged in one of the finest five-star hotels in the area. The competition was scheduled to commence the next day, and anticipation coursed through their veins as they settled in for the night.
The following day, the atmosphere was electrifying as the 100-meter preliminaries began. Liu Yong, Kang Zhenggang, and He Qiang took their seats in the auditorium, eagerly scanning the arena for Chen Hu's presence. It took a little while for Kang Zhenggang to spot Chen Hu donning his Yanguo sportswear. [ " See, that's Chen Hu. Looks like he's about to compete, " ] he remarked, excited in his voice.
The men's 100 meters was the most captivating event, drawing a massive crowd and overshadowing the other competitions. The stadium excitedly buzzed, making way for this singular event on the sprawling track and field. While other events, like the long jump and high jump, had to wait for the 100-meter preliminaries to conclude, some took place simultaneously.
A high jump competition might unfold on one side while a long jump event occurs on the other.
Kang Zhenggang couldn't contain his enthusiasm and spoke with exuberance. His voice resounded through the air, capturing the attention of those nearby. Both Liu Yong and He Qiang followed Kang Zhenggang's gaze, their eyes fixed on Chen Hu, their hearts brimming with anticipation. He Qiang chimed in, remarking, [ " The level of the Diamond League this time is incredibly high. Many renowned sprinters have joined, such as the famous Jamaican athlete Brandt and the esteemed Coleman from the M country. " ]
Confident in Chen Hu's abilities, Kang Zhenggang expressed his unwavering belief. [ " I have faith in Chen Hu; the gold medal in the 100-meter event will surely be yours " ] he proclaimed with conviction.
Before Liu Yong could respond, a dissatisfied voice interrupted their conversation. [ " You Yan people are delusional about winning gold medals, " ] the interjector scoffed. [ " You should be content with merely qualifying in the preliminaries. " ]
Liu Yong turned his gaze towards the source of the voice, a local RB resident seated in front of them. He was fluent in Mandarin and understood their conversation. Liu Yong met his remarks with a smile and questioned, [ " Why do you think Yan people can't win gold medals? " ]
-Haha!
The RB man chuckled and retorted, [ " Do you have any idea of your own level in the men's 100-meter event? " ]
-HUH!
Maintaining his composure, Liu Yong smiled knowingly. [ " That may have been the case in the past, but from now on, we have every reason to be proud. " ]
Infuriated by the condescending remarks, Kang Zhenggang impulsively challenged the RB man. [ " Let's make a wager. If our player qualifies in this group of preliminaries, you will owe me $1,000 and offer an apology. " ]
The RB man accepted the bet. [ " Agreed, but if your player fails to qualify, you will owe me $1,000 and apologize to me. " ]
[ " Deal, " ] Kang Zhenggang confirmed firmly, sealing the agreement.
Moments later, the loudspeaker announced the start of the 100-meter preliminaries, featuring Chen Hu and seven other athletes. Among them, Chen Hu stood out as the only representative of the yellow race, surrounded by competitors of black and white descent. His lane was number six.
Several spectators noticed Chen Hu's presence on the track, his distinct appearance drawing their attention. Reporters seized the opportunity to capture close-up shots of him with their cameras, and the sports world began to take notice of this rising star.
-DUNG!
A gunshot reverberated through the arena as the eight athletes positioned themselves for the race, signalling the event's commencement. Chen Hu sprang forward, displaying a remarkable burst of speed right from the start. The agility he demonstrated left onlookers astounded.
Even seasoned professionals, like the coach from country M, couldn't help but express their surprise at Chen Hu's lightning-fast acceleration.
As their eyes wandered across the roster of participants, their focus inevitably gravitated towards Chen Hu's name. However, the coach's attention was abruptly diverted from the list as he redirected his gaze towards the field.
What he saw left him utterly astonished.
Chen Hu had already established a commanding lead, leaving his competitors behind by at least two positions. In the stands, Kang Zhenggang and He Qiang erupted in boisterous cheers, their excitement echoing throughout the arena. Observing Chen Hu's significant advantage, their jubilation intensified, resulting in even louder cheers.
However, the RB man who had placed the bet earlier had his face contorted with frustration, struggling to comprehend how the people from Yan Kingdom could possess such immense prowess. The results were promptly announced as Chen Hu crossed the finish line, clinching first place. He had completed the race in an astounding 9.76 seconds, securing the top spot in the preliminary round.
This achievement left many in awe.
With such a remarkable performance, Chen Hu had a genuine chance of winning the championship. Even Bolt, the world record holder, couldn't consistently achieve a time of 9.58 seconds; more often, his times hovered around 9.60 seconds or higher.
Aware that Chen Hu had yet to exert his full potential, Liu Yong understood the extent of his capabilities and admired his disciplined approach. Kang Zhenggang couldn't contain his joy, turning towards the RB man and remarking triumphantly, [ " Bring us the money and remember, apologies to us. " ]
The RB man, his face darkening, reluctantly reached into his pocket and produced a stack of yen bills, amounting to approximately $1,000 according to the exchange rate. Reluctantly, he handed the money to Kang Zhenggang, uttering a soft apology. Without further ado, he hurriedly left, unwilling to witness any more of the competition.
Chen Hu's time of 9.76 seconds in the preliminaries sent shockwaves through China and quickly became a topic of spirited discussion.
Within an hour, numerous domestic news outlets and websites had reported on the event, accompanied by a ten-second video clip. The incident swiftly became a trending topic, capturing people's attention nationwide.
After watching the race, Liu Yong and the others sought a reputable restaurant and indulged in a lavish feast. Kang Zhenggang, who had won the bet, gleefully declared, [ " I'm treating you both today and no one will try to snatch it away. I'll spend the entire $1,000 I won on this meal, leaving not a single cent. " ]
-HaHa!
Liu Yong and He Qiang laughed heartily, thoroughly enjoying the celebration. In a way, this meal served as restitution from the RB man. With $1,000, they spared no expense and relished the opportunity to savour various delectable dishes.
The following day, the schedule included the men's 100-meter semifinals and the men's 200 meters and 400 preliminaries.
In the afternoon, the men's 100-meter finals would take place.
Once again, Liu Yong, Kang Zhenggang, and He Qiang occupied their seats in the arena, eagerly awaiting Chen Hu's appearance in the 100-meter semifinals.
(to be continued...)
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