Chapter 191: Echoes in Yangcheng

Huang Qianqian spent at least twenty minutes explaining to Wu Feifei why they called her ‘Bing Ge’.

She also described in detail the origins of Bing Ge’s amazing nicknames.

Righteous as the clouds, my Bing Ge charms everyone; the big boss Xie who wins hearts; the First High School war god; the fierce wolf dog Bing…

And all the bold, legendary exploits Bing Ge had pulled off—acts of defiance that shook the world and ruled with sheer audacity.

Wu Feifei listened intently, letting out gasps of amazement now and then.

“That is just too cool!”

Meanwhile, Fang Jun was hearing these stories for the first time and clearly found them fascinating.

She knew that Li Rui, Zhao Feng, and their crew called Xie Bingran ‘Bing Ge’ and had seen how they acted around her.

But Fang Jun had never heard about Bing Ge’s wild and passionate history before.

More importantly, these fights and clashes sounded like the deeds of a ‘bad kid’ at first, yet each incident revealed Bing Ge’s courage and sense of justice.

Whether boys or girls, everyone harbors that fiery passion deep inside.

Sadly, by their mid-teens, schoolwork, rules, and future prospects start trimming and binding them with adult world’s constraints.

So, a life like Bing Ge’s—fierce, impulsive, reckless, stirring up trouble and stealing the spotlight—makes peers feel both scared and secretly envious.

And since Bing Ge, just like Fang Jun, Wu Feifei, and Huang Qianqian, is a girl, it hits the three of them even harder on an emotional level.

Bing Ge’s youthful adventures are something the three of them could never have.

It’s not about right or wrong; it’s just rare.

Rarity breeds longing…

Only Xu Chen knew that Xie Bingran hadn’t chosen the ‘Bing Ge’ identity or those experiences willingly.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Xu Chen listened and couldn’t help smiling at Huang Qianqian, saying:

“You know more about this than I do—some of these stories are new to me too.”

Huang Qianqian sighed:

“Even though you stole my Bing Ge, I have to admit you two make a pretty good pair.”

Xu Chen: “??”

Wu Feifei: “What do you mean by ‘pretty good’?”

So Huang Qianqian explained how Bing Ge had stepped out to settle things for Xu Chen, got expelled from school, and then Xu Chen pulled her into the athletic field for the city games tryouts, launching her athlete career…

Xu Chen looked baffled: “How do you know all these details?”

Huang Qianqian: “Because I truly love Bing Ge!”

“…”

In his mind, Xu Chen thought, You don’t even know about our middle school days…

Fang Jun spoke up: “I heard you discovered Xie Bingran, but I didn’t realize there were so many twists.”

Wu Feifei: “Fighting for you and getting expelled… Bing Ge is seriously awesome!”

“She’d be perfect if she were a guy, and you’d be perfect if you were a girl.”

Xu Chen: “??!!”

…

…

As evening approached, the car finally pulled up near the sports center.

“How about we grab dinner first?” Wu Feifei suggested.

Huang Qianqian: “Sounds good! I’m starving!”

Wu Feifei turned to the driver: “Any good spots for food around here?”

Xu Chen gazed out the window, reminiscing about wandering these streets in his past life.

Without thinking, he said:

“Let’s go to Yangcheng Restaurant— their rice rolls, boat congee, and all the dim sum are authentic…”

The driver chuckled:

“You’ve been to Yangcheng before, kid? Knowing about Yangcheng Restaurant…”

“It’s been around for years, a classic teahouse where locals go for tea!”

Huang Qianqian looked at Xu Chen: “You’ve visited Yangcheng?”

Xu Chen: “Oh… I did some research before coming…”

…

…

Yangcheng Restaurant sat right next to Tianhe Stadium.

Their hotel was nearby too, just a short walk away.

Wu Feifei thanked the driver, and the tanned driver said:

“If you need a ride the next couple of days, just call me—I’ll be here in about twenty minutes!”

The driver took Wu Feifei and Huang Qianqian’s suitcases straight to the hotel, leaving them at the front desk for pickup later.

Xu Chen and Fang Jun kept it simple, each with just a backpack slung over their shoulder.

…

The four headed upstairs and found a table by the window in the spacious hall.

The server brought the menu, and Wu Feifei took it before passing it to Xu Chen:

“You order!”

Xu Chen smiled and without a word, grabbed the pencil on the table and started marking the menu.

In no time, the table was covered with exquisite Cantonese dim sum.

Xu Chen had picked all the signature dishes from this teahouse.

Shrimp emperor dumplings, steamed pork ribs in black bean sauce, steamed chicken feet with chili and beans, fresh shrimp rice rolls, fresh shrimp boat congee…

Considering the three girls, he also ordered a few delicate desserts.

Custard buns, chilled pineapple tarts, mango sago pomelo…

It looked like a lot of bowls and plates, but each portion was small, just enough for everyone to try a bit.

As for the classic Cantonese soups that locals love, Xu Chen skipped them, figuring the northern tastes of the girls in front of him might not appreciate them.

“Tea’s a must”—a pot of fine Pu’er tea naturally joined the feast.

“Eating in Yangcheng” lives up to its fame; the group sampled a few dishes and were full of surprises.

Especially Wu Feifei and Huang Qianqian, who were trying authentic Cantonese dim sum for the first time—each bite made their eyes light up with stars!

Xu Chen enjoyed it too, feeling nostalgic and thrilled to taste Yangcheng’s specialties again.

He couldn’t help pondering which dishes Xie Bingran could eat and which ones she’d avoid as an athlete.

Luckily, Cantonese cuisine rarely uses beef or lamb, and it’s light on heavy spices—mostly seafood, chicken, and such—so it was mostly safe.

Fang Jun looked at Xu Chen: “Do you know other great places to eat?”

Wu Feifei: “Yeah! Take us!”

Xu Chen laughed: “I’ll make a list for you later, but I’ve got work commitments the next couple of days, so I might not have time to play guide…”

Fang Jun: “You can even make a list… Was it really just prep work?”

Xu Chen: “I take things seriously—that’s how I topped the college entrance exams.”

…

Xu Chen called for the bill; it came to just over four hundred yuan, about a hundred each.

Wu Feifei jumped in, ready to pay like the big spender she was…

No surprise, being the daughter of a high-ranking official…

Xu Chen handed the bill to Fang Jun instead, and she pulled out her credit card to pay.

“We’re on a business trip, so we can claim it back from the client,” Xu Chen explained casually.

Wu Feifei smiled: “Then I’ll treat you the next couple of days!”

She paused for effect: “But you have to bring Bing Ge along!”

Xu Chen: “I wouldn’t dare promise for Bing Ge.”

…

They finished dinner and headed downstairs; the sky was still early.

Stepping out of the mall, the humid heat hit them again, though it was better than midday.

Huang Qianqian was excited:

“It’s still early—let’s find somewhere to wander!”

Wu Feifei turned to Xu Chen:

“Where to?”

Xu Chen: “…”

Fang Jun glanced at Xu Chen, her usually expressionless face breaking into a smile.

Xu Chen said:

“West leads to the sports center, where Bing Ge’s competition is tomorrow.”

“Your Hilton hotel is northwest of the sports center—you can walk there…”

“South takes you to Tianhe City and Zhengjia for shopping.”

“East…”

He’d meant to say east to Taigu Hui, but realized it probably wasn’t open yet in 2006, so he smiled and let it drop.

That left him with a twinge of regret—Taigu Hui had a great Hong Kong-style tea restaurant he’d wanted to try with Xie Bingran, but it wasn’t around yet.

Xu Chen continued:

“Old Yangcheng is west in Yuexiu and Lizwan, but it’s getting late—you can check it out the next couple of days…”

He sketched out some good eats and spots, but really, the nearby ones like Tianhe City were the easiest to walk to.

Huang Qianqian said: “This is tough—I don’t know where to go.”

Fang Jun looked at Xu Chen: “Where do you want to go?”

Xu Chen paused; he hadn’t planned on going out tonight.

If anything, he’d have liked to see Xie Bingran.

But Bing Ge had a competition tomorrow and was in locked-down training, so she couldn’t leave.

Xu Chen thought for a moment and said:

“For me, maybe just stroll around Ersha Island.”

Wu Feifei: “Ersha Island?”

“But it might bore you all.”

“It’s a small island in the Pearl River, basically Yangcheng’s true luxury area—villas there cost over a billion each.”

“Plus, there’s the Guangdong Art Museum, Xinghai Concert Hall, and such.”

“Heading to the riverbank now, you could catch the sunset…”

Wu Feifei didn’t hesitate and pulled out her phone:

“Driver, we want to check out Ersha Island—can you come pick us up?”

Xu Chen: “…”

…

In minutes, the Buick GL8 pulled up.

Xu Chen smiled wryly and opened the back door for Wu Feifei and the others.

Twenty minutes later, the car stopped by the river on Ersha Island.

The driver opened the doors: “I’ll park over east—you all enjoy and just call when you’re done!”

…

…

Twilight settled in, and a cool breeze finally swept in from the river.

On the Pearl River, two cruise boats glided slowly by.

Xu Chen said: “The island’s not big—you can wander freely. The concert hall and art museum are south…”

Fang Jun looked at the river: “Strolling along the bank sounds perfect!”

Huang Qianqian: “Yeah, this river breeze feels amazing!”

Xu Chen: “Let’s head west along the river— that’s where you’ll catch the sunset.”

…

The river wind brushed their faces, and Xu Chen felt utterly relaxed.

Behind him, the three girls chattered away—Huang Qianqian excitedly going on about something.

Wu Feifei chimed in occasionally, while Fang Jun stayed quietly in the background.

Passing a villa district, Xu Chen smiled and pointed out:

“These villas go for one or two billion each—money and connections are key to getting one.”

Huang Qianqian: “They look pretty ordinary from outside—just bigger yards.”

Wu Feifei: “Prime location, though…”

“Real wealthy folks value privacy and like houses that blend in.”

“Look! The sun’s setting!” Huang Qianqian exclaimed.

They’d just reached the western tip of the island.

Huang Qianqian dragged Wu Feifei and Fang Jun to the riverbank to watch the sunset.

Xu Chen chuckled and strolled after them.

He glanced across the road at a sign that read ‘Ersha Sports Training Center’.

He knew Xie Bingran was inside right then.

Just a few hundred meters away.

…

In the indoor training hall’s changing room.

Xie Bingran grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat from her head and face, then changed into fresh training clothes.

She opened her locker, pulled out her brown leather backpack, and checked the time on her phone.

A smile tugged at her lips as she saw Xu Chen’s message.

[Finished training yet?]

[Just wrapped up—heading back to the hotel now.]

[I’ll be there for your race tomorrow!]

[Great, if you’re coming… I’ll run my best.]

…

Someone shouted from outside:

“Bing Ge, hurry up—the bus is leaving!”

“Coming!”

Xie Bingran answered, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and hurried out.

She boarded the bus with the team and headed straight for the back row.

Teammates in the front seats spotted Bing Ge and called out:

“Bing Ge, give it your all tomorrow!”

Xie Bingran just nodded slightly without a word.

In the back by the window, she settled in with her brown backpack in her lap.

The bus started, and the cabin fell silent—no one whispered.

It wasn’t just from the tough training; the upcoming competition weighed on everyone’s minds.

The National Games was the biggest domestic event, pitting them against top athletes.

For many, it was a dress rehearsal for the Asian Games.

The elite opponents here were likely the medal winners there.

With the Asian Games looming, this was prime prep time for those aiming to compete…

Xie Bingran sat back, pulled out her phone, and checked it again.

Xu Chen hadn’t sent more, so she scrolled through their chat history.

The bus rumbled along, slowly leaving the training base.

Xie Bingran leaned her head against the window, her big eyes blinking.

Damp strands of hair fell over her forehead, slightly covering her brows.

She felt a mix of nerves and excitement for tomorrow’s race.

Beyond the competition, she looked forward to seeing someone after.

“Hey, look outside—it’s the salted egg yolk!” someone in the bus yelled.

Salted egg yolk meant the sunset.

Everyone turned to the windows, the fiery glow spilling into the bus.

Xie Bingran stared at the red riverbank, lost in thought.

Her phone buzzed—another message from Xu Chen:

[Silly girl, I think I see you…]

Xie Bingran frowned in confusion.

She paused, then looked out the window.

And there he was—that familiar figure she’d been missing.

Xu Chen stood by the river, smiling right at her.

He raised a hand and waved casually toward the back of the bus.

Xie Bingran froze for a second, then smiled.

…

[You’re the silly one! Why didn’t you tell me earlier?]

[If I did, you couldn’t have come out.]

[If you told me sooner, I could’ve looked at you longer.]

…