Chapter 129: Miracle from Lane Nine
by xennovelSilence fell across the stadium.
Even breaths seemed to stop.
On all nine lanes, the athletes crouched low, their spikes pressed firmly against the starting blocks.
Above the stands, the big screen opened with a wide shot of all nine runners before zeroing in on Bai Miao in lane four and Dong Jiajia in lane five.
The others felt like mere background figures in comparison…
The announcer cut the live PA feed.
These dozen or so seconds belonged solely to the track and its nine contenders. No noise could intrude.
On television, however, the broadcaster’s voice still rang out, heightening the tension.
…
Xu Chen sat in the second-tier stands, eyes fixed on Xie Bingran in lane nine.
She crouched low.
At the very edge of the track, the camera could barely catch her in its frame.
Gravity tugged at the wisps of hair over her forehead, hiding the icy focus in her downcast gaze.
Her hands pressed on the maroon track, fingers splayed, palms hovering just above the surface.
From so far away, Xu Chen couldn’t see much of those hands.
He only remembered them two months ago, covered in bandages and faint bloodstains from fights.
She always shoved those hands into her black jacket pockets, as if terrified someone might notice them.
Especially Xu Chen…
On that afternoon when storm clouds gathered above the rundown field’s edge…
It was those same hands clutching a pair of red running shoes tightly.
And all that had passed in just two short months.
Everything had changed.
But for the better.
She’d moved from the coal-scorched dirt track of a shabby town middle school…
To this state-of-the-art, internationally certified stadium in the country’s premier metropolis.
Watching her, Xu Chen felt deeply moved.
…
…
Clear sky. Fluffy clouds.
A gentle breeze.
Then, in an instant—
“Bang!”
The starting pistol cracked.
Bodies sprung from all nine lanes simultaneously!
Under the cameras, Bai Miao and Dong Jiajia shot ahead by half a stride at the start!
The “Shanghai Twin Stars” had built their reputation on raw power and results…
In the stands, countless spectators leapt to their feet, cheering uproariously!
“Bai Miao!” “Dong Jiajia!” their names rang out over and over!
With commanding poise, the Twin Stars stormed toward the first hurdle…
They ran almost perfectly side by side.
Their hurdle-clearance was in perfect sync.
First hurdle, second… third…
…
Moments passed.
Reaching the fifth hurdle.
Then the cheers and shouts abruptly faded away.
As if someone hit a giant mute button over the arena.
Now even the sound of nine pairs of spikes striking the track was crystal clear to every ear.
Faces in the stands turned puzzled, then alarmed.
Because the Shanghai Twin Stars were suddenly overtaken and left behind.
…
In a blink—or a brief lapse in attention—
It happened on lane nine.
A flash of icy blue light erupted!
From the very edge of the track, it surged forward like a blade.
It was lightning incarnate, or a sword forged from frozen steel.
That streak of blue…
Came without warning, cutting straight through without hesitation.
It swept across the lanes in a roaring rush.
It gouged through the maroon track, leaving behind a straight trail of frozen afterglow.
…
She crossed the finish line.
The race was over.
And everything stopped.
…
…
What should have been the loudest, most triumphant moment fell into stunned silence.
Because the crowd—those who’d come to cheer for the Shanghai Twin Stars—were in shock.
Their favorites hadn’t won. They’d been beaten by an entire stride.
They’d pictured Bai Miao or Dong Jiajia taking gold, but nothing prepared them for this.
At that moment, the big screen switched back to show Bai Miao and Dong Jiajia.
They panted, eyes wide with disbelief, even anger and fear.
Yet the camera never panned to the champion—it stayed locked on the Twin Stars.
Because the cameraman…
He’d been as stunned as everyone else.
Despite seeing the result through his viewfinder, he couldn’t believe his eyes.
So he instinctively followed his director’s orders to keep filming Bai Miao and Dong Jiajia.
…
Suddenly, cheers and cries erupted again at trackside.
Several figures dashed onto the field.
Xu Chen looked down: it was Tian Chaorui, Chen Ming, Tian Fangfang, and other Provincial Team athletes and coaches.
They rushed to Xie Bingran.
“Bing Ge!” Tian Chaorui cried excitedly, sweeping Xie Bingran into the air!
Others crowded around, hugging, shouting, celebrating!
Joy burned bright among them.
Coach Chen Ming followed but hesitated two steps away.
Perhaps recalling the pain of the time Bing Ge flattened him, he stood aside, awkwardly cheering.
…
After what felt like forever, the PA crackled to life with the announcer’s flustered report:
“At the National Youth Athletics Championships, Women’s 100m hurdles final—
Champion from Wen Province team, lane nine… Xie Bingran!
“13.28 seconds! 13.28 seconds!
She’s broken the U20 national record for the 100m hurdles!
Not only did she win gold, she rewrote the record!”
As the announcer’s excited, breathless voice filled the stadium, the big screen finally cut to Xie Bingran, raised high in triumph.
“Ladies and gentlemen watching here and at home!
This is a miracle—an unexpected wonder!
Seeded into lane nine with no prior accolades, Xie Bingran has defeated the nation’s best and the famed Shanghai Twin Stars to claim victory as the dark horse!
Let’s congratulate her!”
The screen lingered on Xie Bingran’s close-up.
Lifted by her Provincial Team, her short hair floated, and at last a spark of joy lit her refined, brooding features.
Meanwhile, applause rippled through the stands.
The screen switched back to Bai Miao and Dong Jiajia.
They turned to watch Xie Bingran’s celebration, applauding in genuine respect…
Xu Chen couldn’t help laughing out loud.
He stood and went to the railing of the second-tier stands.
Under the gaze of Tonghai University and Huahai Normal students behind him,
He pulled a large red banner from his backpack.
He’d had it printed the night before when he got his business cards made…
He unfurled the banner, gripping its corners.
He held it aloft like a flag.
He became its pole,
Raising it high for Bing Ge.
Eight bold characters ran across it:
“Ice Drawn from Sheath, Born Unrivaled.”
…