Chapter 130: An Unforeseen Victory

Stadium Broadcast Booth.

Duan Yong, host at Five Star Sports Channel, yanked off his headset and killed his mic, his face tight with impatience.

He spun to the director behind him and barked:

“Hurry, hurry! Get me everything you have on Xie Bingran—stat! Don’t stop until there’s more!”

“Just a sec, Mr. Duan. We’re still waiting on the Provincial Team. They haven’t sent it over yet.”

“We can’t wait! Send someone down to pull them aside and get the info—ten-thousand-K urgent! Move, move…”

“Director, what about the big screen?”

“Cut to an ad or a promo reel—buy Mr. Duan some time!”

Everyone at Five Star Sports was in full panic mode.

They’d been building up today’s women’s 100m hurdles for ages, banking on the “Shanghai Twins” angle to drive ratings.

They even had two post-championship segments ready to roll.

One for if Bai Miao won, another for if Dong Jiajia took gold.

Because in everyone’s mind, the champion would come from those Shanghai Twins.

But the actual outcome had everyone moments from exploding on the spot.

All the scripts prepared for Bai Miao or Dong Jiajia were now worthless.

They had to rewrite the award ceremony commentary on the fly.

They’d even sunk money into producing a “Champion Spotlight” and a “Shanghai Twins” feature—now both investments went down the drain.

Luckily, right after the ninth finisher crossed, Duan Yong reacted fast and decisively announced the result live.

With the scant details he had, he gave the new champion a brief introduction…

But they couldn’t rush through the upcoming award ceremony.

Both the stadium crowd and TV viewers were brimming with curiosity:

Who was this short-haired girl who stormed in and dethroned the Shanghai Twins?

What was her story?!

…

…

The big screen cut to a promo reel.

It bought the production team and host a few crucial seconds.

They had zero info on Xie Bingran; airing live footage without background would leave the host clueless.

But the moment the promo audio kicked in, the atmosphere turned awkward…

“I’m Bai Miao. ‘Give me strength to meet every challenge’—that’s my creed on the track.”

“I’m Dong Jiajia. Born in the same era as me? That’s your misfortune.”

Whether the switch was the director’s oversight or intentional, the reel they queued was the pre-race taunts from the Shanghai Twins.

Those fierce soundbites now dripped with irony.

On the track, Bai Miao and Dong Jiajia exchanged awkward glances.

Too bad there wasn’t a crack in the crimson turf to crawl into.

In the stands, students from Tonghai University and Huahai Normal quietly rolled up their cheer banners.

…

The promo audio cut mid-sentence.

The director spotted the mistake and snapped back to live footage.

The camera refocused on the champion—the mysterious short-haired girl.

But no host voice came through.

He still hadn’t received any profile information.

This was a live broadcast blunder.

…

Reporters from various media hustled forward, microphones in hand, encircling Xie Bingran.

“We’re CCTV Sports Channel. May we have an interview?”

“We’re with Oriental TV…”

Having been lowered from the finish-line hoisting, Xie Bingran resumed her aloof, brooding demeanor, as if winning meant nothing.

Faced with a forest of microphones and cameras, she frowned, showing no interest in talking.

On camera, she brushed sweaty bangs from her forehead, revealing her delicate, melancholic eyes…

In the stands, spectators fixated on a close-up of Bing Ge on the big screen, voices rising.

“She’s really pretty!”

“Which university is she from? We’ve never heard of her!”

“So cool—what if I were a girl? I’d totally fangirl!”

…

…

Xie Bingran clearly felt uneasy under the flash and lens barrage.

Meanwhile, Tian Chaorui and the others beside her lit up, addressing reporters and cameras:

“This is our Bing Ge!”

“The chivalrous Bing Ge who wins hearts of both men and women!”

…

With Duan Yong still waiting on info, the live feed had no host audio—only ambient recording.

Tian Chaorui’s enthusiastic praise of Bing Ge now reached everyone in the stadium and at home.

“Chivalrous, heart-stealing…this girl is the coolest!”

“What do I do? I’m already a fan—Bai Miao’s campaign’s over!”

…

Xie Bingran naturally couldn’t hear the murmur from the stands.

But at one moment, she sensed something…

Ignoring the crowd and cameras, she turned toward a section of the stands.

She fixed her gaze there, frowning with puzzled brows.

On the second level of the opposite stands, someone had unfurled a massive red banner.

…

As Xie Bingran looked, Tian Chaorui and the rest, along with all the press, shifted their attention.

The big screen camera panned toward it from afar.

Everyone saw the eight bold characters spelled out:

“Han Bing Chuqiao, Born Invincible.”

…

In the stands.

Xu Chen stood silently, holding that flag high.

It was so large he had to stretch his arms wide in a V shape, which conveniently hid his face.

…

Xie Bingran froze, ignored the crowd, and strode toward the banner.

The camera naturally followed her.

Tian Chaorui looked puzzled:

“Who is that? We didn’t plan any banners!”

Teacher Chen Ming behind her chuckled—he’d figured it out but said nothing.

…

In no time, Xie Bingran reached the edge of the stands and looked up at the banner on the second level.

Her expression was icy as she cleared her throat softly.

The banner drooped, revealing Xu Chen’s warm smiling face.

Xie Bingran’s icy, brooding eyes flickered in surprise…

A bead of sweat slid down her temple—probably stung her eye.

Her vision blurred by a single drop of moisture.