Chapter 118: Chapter 105: Collegiate Championship! National Games! Flying Man
He was a big shot in the sports bureau, for crying out loud! He wasn’t some naive fool—
’So why did I let myself get completely played by Chu Bamboo, who hasn’t even graduated from college yet!’
"Alright, let’s drop it!" Realizing Chu Bamboo was probably about to say he didn’t care about track and field championships again, Coach Yuan forcibly suppressed his agitation and quickly changed the subject.
"You mentioned a performance review every six months... I have a proposal."
Chu Bamboo narrowed his eyes. "Just say it."
"Forget the review! It’s not that meaningful anyway... The Red County Divine Continent is holding the National Collegiate Track and Field Championships in August! Just sign up and compete. It might not get a lot of attention, but it’s still a nationally recognized event!"
"If you can set a national record—or even a higher-level one—at this competition, I’ll give it a little push from my end, and you’ll easily become a rising star in track and field!"
Coach Yuan spoke with practiced ease. This was the conclusion he had reached after thinking it over... ’With Chu Bamboo, you can’t talk about honor; you have to entice him with benefits. The kid really won’t lift a finger without seeing a Rabbit!’
Coach Yuan actually had a suspicion. ’Could Chu Bamboo be acting this way because he’s seen all those retired athletes online... and that’s why... But if you become a track and field champion, what’s there to be afraid of? I just don’t get it!’
He said, "Although the level of attention is much lower compared to winning an Olympic gold, it’s nothing to scoff at. Especially with our sports bureau backing you!"
"Anyway, with a bit of promotion... getting you a few hundred thousand fans across the internet shouldn’t be a problem, right?"
"Alright." Chu Bamboo didn’t hesitate this time, nodding in agreement. His bad attitude toward Coach Yuan was mainly because he hated being bothered. Being told to compete in a race was part of the job on the path to becoming a champion; he wouldn’t refuse that.
"Also," Coach Yuan hesitated for a moment before adding cautiously, "this November, there’s also the National Games!"
"...Hmm?"
"It’s not quite like the Olympics. The National Games is our country’s highest-level sporting event!" Coach Yuan spoke quickly and very deliberately. "So, its prestige is unquestionable! To put it bluntly, even a lot of high-level officials will be watching."
"Honestly, it would be best if you could participate in both events... but if you only want to do one, I personally recommend the National Games!"
Chu Bamboo’s fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop. Noncommittally, he said, "It couldn’t have been easy for you to come up with such a roundabout way to test me, huh?"
’The gap between these two events isn’t six months!’
’Just how scared is he that I’ll get lazy and waste away if I have too much free time?’
’But...’
"I agree!" Chu Bamboo said casually. "Anything else?"
Coach Yuan: "!!!"
Shock!
Coach Yuan had thought of countless persuasive arguments, but he never, ever expected it to be... this easy?
Coach Yuan wasn’t even sure how he ended the call. He just stood there, stunned, for a long time. After pacing a few circles, he couldn’t help but clench his fists, an excited expression spreading across his face as he let out a "Yes!"
’It wasn’t easy! It really wasn’t.’
「In the distance.」
"..." A group of track athletes who had just finished training all had strange expressions on their faces after seeing Coach Yuan’s antics.
Soon enough, they started putting their heads together and whispering.
"What’s up with the coach?"
"If I didn’t know he was already married and getting on in years... I’d suspect he’s in love..."
"Whoa, now that you mention it, maybe he’s having a second spring... You know what they say, ’the forbidden fruit is sweetest’... I was wrong!" Realizing he was getting weird looks from his teammates, the athlete threw his hands up in surrender. He shrank his neck, looking nervous. "I was just talking! You guys better not tell the coach."
"What do you think?"
’We finally have some dirt on you. You think we’re just going to let you get away?’
’You’re dead meat!!’
"I’ll treat everyone! How about that? I’ll treat!" He pressed his palms together, bowed ninety degrees, and apologized profusely.
Suddenly...
"I actually heard a rumor!" a man who was on the shorter side but extremely well-built spoke up in a low voice.
He wasn’t standing in line with the group of athletes but was off to the side by himself!
It wasn’t that he was ostracized; it was more like the other athletes subconsciously didn’t dare to get too close to him.
As he interjected, all the athletes on the field fell silent, their gazes turning to him, filled with a mixture of shock and uncertainty.
This man was the current Flyer, who enjoyed immense prestige both at home and abroad... Coach Yuan was also his coach.
"Bro, tell us about it, won’t you?" an athlete who looked to be about seventeen or eighteen, and was quite forward, sidled up to the man to ask.
"Apparently, over in Jiangnan! There’s a new prospect... who’s even better than me?" The Flyer scratched his head.
In that instant, the field fell deathly silent.
Looks of astonishment appeared on all the athletes’ faces. Some wondered if they’d heard him wrong, while others subconsciously wanted to question or deny it...
’Better than the Flyer? How is that possible!’
The Flyer was basically considered the number one sprinter of the yellow race. There was even talk that he was the second Liu Fei Ren, still in his active career!
However, the questions got stuck in their throats. Considering the Flyer’s status, the doubters ultimately kept their mouths shut—it was obvious from his expression that he must have heard the news from Coach Yuan...
