Chapter 126: Showdown of Hu City’s Twin Stars

Hotel room. On TV.

Five Star Sports channel is airing a special on the National Youth Athletics Championships.

The host strikes an impassioned tone as she reports on Shanghai’s two superstar women’s 100m hurdlers.

Xu Chen brushes his teeth and watches closely.

These two athletes will be Xie Bingran’s rivals on the track tomorrow.

After a few lines, Xu Chen can’t help but laugh out loud.

The two so-called “stars” are already being billed as gold and silver favorites.

“Shanghai’s women’s 100m hurdles ‘Twin Stars’ face off again!”

“Gold and silver locked in advance: women’s 100m hurdles becomes Shanghai’s ‘Sister Battle!’”

“Bai Miao versus Dong Jiajia—who will claim the top spot in the women’s sprint hurdles?”

“Both could break the competition record; who will make the national team first?”

“National Youth Athletics Championships women’s 100m hurdles final: Shanghai Twin Stars’ epic duel tomorrow—shining bright across the city!”

…

Xu Chen watches a bit longer and gets the gist.

Tomorrow’s women’s 100m hurdles will feature two Shanghai–born “stars.”

Bai Miao from Tonghai University and Dong Jiajia from Huahai Normal University.

Both have risen as the country’s top women’s 100m hurdlers in recent years.

Over the past three to four years, they’ve dominated their event.

From the National Middle School Games to the National Middle School Athletics Championships and now the National Youth Athletics Championships…

Gold and silver have been settled between Bai Miao and Dong Jiajia every time.

Since they’re both from Shanghai and fiercely competitive, they earned a nickname:

“Shanghai Twin Stars.”

They’re both nineteen and freshmen at different universities in Shanghai.

Their 100m hurdles times have dipped under 13 seconds—just half a step from national athlete status.

In fact, based on recent training data, it’s clear…

At this Youth Championships, both will leap from National First-Level Athletes to National Elite Athletes.

That means tomorrow’s race could land them on the national team.

At just nineteen, they have two to three years to break 12 seconds.

That opens the door to the National Games and even the Asian Games!

It’s foreseeable that one of them will claim a national championship in the next three to five years—and eye Asian Games gold.

The TV special profiles the “Shanghai Twin Stars.”

Naturally, their buzz has ramped up interest in tomorrow’s women’s 100m hurdles.

Five Star Sports even produced slick promos for each athlete.

After watching, Xu Chen cracks up.

He can’t wait to see Bing Ge’s performance on the track tomorrow.

These “Shanghai Twin Stars.”

They’re destined to meet a force of ice.

…

…

Early the next morning, Xu Chen heads out.

In the lobby downstairs, he runs into Fang Jun.

She’ll stay two more days in Shanghai but switch hotels and is checking out.

She also needs to follow up on the Renhe Pharmaceuticals contract—she can handle it these two days.

Xu Chen bids her farewell, chats briefly, then leaves alone.

The sky is clear, but big white clouds shield the sun, so it’s not harsh.

Near the hotel, Xu Chen grabs a quick bite and hails a taxi to the Youth Championships venue.

…

Shanghai Stadium.

Flags and banners cover the exterior; the venue buzzes with excitement.

Several media vans line up outside. Besides local Oriental TV and Five Star Sports, there’s even CCTV Sports Channel.

Groups of spectators queue for security—most look like students.

Xu Chen texts Teacher Chen Ming to say he’s arrived.

He gets a reply fifteen minutes later.

【Go to Gate 5. I’ll have someone waiting. Wear the light-blue provincial team uniform…】

Minutes later, Xu Chen, backpack slung over his shoulder, reaches Gate 5.

Barricade tape and black-clad security guards stand watch.

A tall young man in a light-blue tracksuit stands inside the cordon.

“Hello, I’m Xu Chen…”

“Hello! Here’s the ticket Teacher Chen Ming asked me to give you!”

“Thanks!”

“Your seat is in the second-floor stands. Enter through Gate 4 on the left.

First pass security, then head upstairs to Gate 4…

Teacher Chen Ming picked this spot for you—it has a great view!”

“Thanks! Please thank Teacher Chen Ming for me!”

…

After handing over the ticket, the young man turns and walks away.

Xu Chen doesn’t linger; he heads for the security checkpoint.

After passing inspection, he climbs to the second floor and arrives at Gate 4.

He follows a few students through the dim, narrow Gate 4 and suddenly the field and stands open up before him.

A broad track and seating stretch out in view.

The field is divided into zones with athletes, coaches, and referees still competing or warming up.

Xu Chen scans quickly but doesn’t see Xie Bingran, Teacher Chen Ming, or anyone else.

Maybe Bing Ge hasn’t entered yet and is in the locker room.

A massive screen hangs above the opposite stands, replaying the finished men’s javelin event.

He wonders if it ended this morning or yesterday.

With the ticket in hand, he confirms his seat location.

Looking around, the stands aren’t that full.

Some sections cluster spectators; others have just a few scattered people.

After all, this isn’t the National Games or Asian Games—attendance is lighter.

Xu Chen finds his section in the front row of the second floor; the view really is panoramic.

He threads through crowded rows of students and reaches his seat.

Amid the chatter, he looks around—everyone seems his age.

Listening in, he realizes the nearby stands are full of Shanghai university students.

Many tickets were distributed directly to Shanghai’s universities and high schools.

He listens to the excited discussions and can’t help but smile.

“We’ll cheer for Bai Miao later—let’s chant the slogan together! We can’t lose to the Huahai Normal fans!”