Chapter 194: Stadium Shadows

Xu Chen sat in the stands, peering down at the track below.

Xie Bingran was on the inner lane, warming up with her teammates. They had their backs to Xu Chen as they jogged toward the starting line.

They jogged for a bit, then slowed to a brisk walk along the inner track.

Everyone had their own unique way of walking or running. As years passed, you could still catch glimpses of their younger selves.

With familiar people, you didn’t need to see their faces. Even if their bodies changed, their posture gave them away in an instant.

Xie Bingran’s walk was just like it had been back in middle school—that of a petite, frail girl.

Looking back, that shy, skinny kid had a feisty edge to her stride, full of raw energy.

Xie Bingran and her group quickened their pace to the edge of the field, turned, and headed into the rest area, vanishing from sight.

Huang Qianqian nudged her chin toward the field:

“There goes Bing Ge again, out of sight.”

“She must be changing clothes,” Wu Feifei said. “It’s almost time for her to get ready for the event.”

Xu Zhiquan had slipped in beside Xu Chen without a word and slung an arm around his son’s shoulders:

“So busy watching Xie Bingran you didn’t even notice your old man arrive?”

Xu Chen chuckled with a “hey hey.”

He rummaged through his bag and pulled out a box of delicately packaged snacks.

He’d picked them up yesterday at the dim sum counter on the first floor of Yangcheng Restaurant before leaving.

Xu Chen opened the box, revealing round, exquisite little cakes.

“Dad, try one! I think you’ll like it.”

Xu Zhiquan smiled, picked up a piece, broke it open, and spotted the reddish-brown filling inside—but couldn’t quite place it.

He popped it in his mouth and chewed, his face twisting into a mix of pain and confusion.

“This is neither salty nor sweet—such a weird taste!”

Xu Chen just grinned without replying.

Xu Zhiquan chewed a couple more bites and said:

“You know, it’s growing on me… actually pretty good!”

With that, he grabbed two more pieces.

“What’s this called?”

“Wife cakes.”

Xu Zhiquan: “……”

In his past life, after Xu Zhiquan’s business failed, he moved to Dongguan in Guangdong Province for work.

One Chinese New Year, he had to work overtime at the factory, so Xu Chen took a full day and night on a hard seat train to join his father.

In a cramped rental room, Xu Chen reunited with his dad after a year and saw how much weight he’d lost.

Xu Zhiquan pulled out a box of wife cakes from the cabinet and said excitedly:

“Son, try these strange Southern sweet cakes. I’ve gotten used to them and think they’re pretty tasty.”

……

Right now.

Xu Zhiquan held the box of wife cakes, sharing them with Director Feng and Wu Feifei behind him, boasting loudly:

“My son bought these!”

Xu Chen watched his father’s back and felt a wave of emotion and relief.

The person was the same, the cakes were the same.

But the circumstances and stories had changed dramatically.

……

……

Taojin Metro Station.

Li Rui, Zhao Feng, and about twenty others rushed toward the metro entrance.

After arriving in Guangzhou, they’d boarded a reserved bus to the Sports Center, but hit massive traffic.

They’d been stuck on the overpass for over half an hour, and everyone was getting restless. They couldn’t even get off the bus up there, or Li Rui would have jumped out.

The bus finally left the overpass, but after less than two kilometers in downtown, it jammed up near the Garden Hotel.

They were stuck.

Then Wu Yue contacted Fang Jun, and they decided to get off and take the metro to the Sports Center.

……

At the metro entrance.

The escalator was packed, so the group dashed down the stairs, weaving around and bumping into other commuters.

Wu Yue was out of breath but kept up the pace.

In the metro hall, crowds surged everywhere—tall black people, bearded Middle Easterners. As they brushed past, a sharp, overpowering scent of perfume hit them.

The area around Taojin had two large black communities, which had posed challenges to Yangcheng’s security in those years.

As for the Middle Easterners, most were traders doing business in Yangcheng.

Li Rui scanned the scene, his brows furrowing.

Just buying tickets and going through security would take at least fifteen minutes.

Zhao Feng broke the silence:

“This doesn’t look good. Even the metro’s this crowded!”

“What now? We’re not going to make it,” Cheng Yong said.

Wu Yue stepped forward, panting:

“Hurry up! We’re cutting it close!”

Li Rui: “Wu Yue, how far to the stadium from here?”

“About four or five kilometers. We’d have to take the metro and switch lines. Even after getting off at Sports West, it’s still a walk to the venue.”

Li Rui glanced at the clock on the wall near the ticket booth, then headed to the information desk without a word.

When he returned, he had several maps of Yangcheng in hand.

He spread one out and pointed to Wu Yue:

“The Tianhe Stadium is right here, yeah?”

Wu Yue nodded.

Li Rui waved his hand, and the group of twenty-plus people crowded around.

Without a word, he handed out the maps to a few of them.

“Split into three groups. The fastest ten with me!

Middle group with Zhao Feng, and the rest with Cheng Yong.

Leave two to go with Wu Yue on the metro!”

The group answered in unison.

A few knelt down to adjust their shoelaces and pants.

Wu Yue wiped sweat from her face:

“What are you all planning?”

Li Rui explained quickly:

“The metro will take too long—over thirty minutes, plus waiting for tickets and security, and switching lines. That adds up to an hour.

It’s only four or five kilometers. We can run it and make it in time!”

Wu Yue: “……”

She found it unbelievable—this was four or five kilometers in blazing heat.

Li Rui raised his hand, and ten people gathered around him.

Zhao Feng and Cheng Yong did the same, and the others fell into their groups.

Li Rui glanced at Wu Yue, about to pick two to stay, but she spoke first:

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll take the metro slowly.

You guys go ahead! Watch out for traffic!”

She paused. “Wait, do me a favor…”

Wu Yue slipped off her shoulder bag, pulled some cash from her wallet into her pocket, and handed the bag to Li Rui:

“There’s banners and materials inside. And with Yangcheng’s security issues, I’m worried about getting robbed.”

Li Rui nodded: “I’ll take it and get it to you at the stadium.”

He signaled to the group, and they bolted up the stairs toward the exit.

Zhao Feng called out: “We’ll try to keep up with Li Rui!”

His group echoed and hurried after.

……

……

Tianhe Stadium.

The announcer’s voice boomed:

“Up next, the event everyone’s buzzing about this morning: the women’s 100-meter hurdles final!”

Xu Chen checked the time on his phone and glanced at Fang Jun standing nearby.

Fang Jun clutched his phone and shook his head at Xu Chen.

Feng Siliang looked back at the empty seats and said to Xu Chen in front:

“Mr. Xu, we might need to activate the backup plan!”

Xu Chen smiled calmly: “No rush. I’ve got it sorted with Teacher Chen Ming. He’s rounded up a dozen provincial team members not competing today—they can join us in a flash!

Once Bing Ge hits the track, if Li Rui and the others haven’t shown, we’ll set up then.

We’ve got time!”

Feng Siliang frowned, clearly on edge.

Wu Feifei couldn’t stand it anymore and said:

“Director Feng, if Xu Chen says it’s fine, it is. Let’s just stick to the plan and not worry.”

Feng Siliang hesitated, then forced a smile: “Alright… we’ll go with Mr. Xu’s lead!”

Xu Chen glanced at his phone and sent the same message to Li Rui and Zhao Feng:

“Stay safe—that’s priority one.

We’ve got a backup, so no stress if you don’t make it.”

……

……

Another seven or eight minutes passed.

The massive LED screen above the stands started replaying the women’s 100-meter hurdles prelims.

“Look, it’s Bing Ge!” Huang Qianqian exclaimed, excited, pointing at the big screen.

Xu Chen looked up as Xie Bingran’s image flashed by.

Her cool, confident pose left a lasting impression in that brief moment.

The announcer’s voice filled the stadium again:

“Ladies and gentlemen at the venue and watching at home, the women’s 100-meter hurdles final is about to begin!

Last Asian Games gold medalist and track legend Feng Youping returns to the track! She’s dominated the domestic hurdles for nearly a decade—can she keep the streak alive?

And last Games bronze winner Chen Lan is at her peak—will this be the start of a new era in women’s hurdles?”

……

On the section 12 stands, Teacher Chen Ming hurried over.

He sat next to Xu Chen and whispered:

“Everything’s set. Just say the word, and they’re ready.”

……

Huang Qianqian spotted her first: “There she is—Bing Ge!”

Everyone turned to see the finalists stepping onto the track.

Xie Bingran wore black shorts and a blue-and-white tank top, striding with cool confidence to lane seven.

Bai Miao followed, taking lane eight.

Xu Chen caught sight of Xie Bingran from afar and smiled.

It had been a while, and she looked even more toned and sharp.

Definitely the kind that turned heads for all the right reasons.

Wu Feifei stared, lost in thought. “That’s what you call youthful energy, right?”

……

Feng Siliang stood up and scanned the field:

“Cameras are in position—they’ll catch both Xie Bingran and us here.”

Xu Chen rose. “Alright, let’s not wait any longer!”

Teacher Chen Ming nodded, pulled out his phone, and sent a quick message.

In a minute or two, a dozen provincial team members dashed up and took their spots in the stands behind them.

Feng Siliang glanced back at the group and relaxed a bit with a smile.

Xu Chen fished two banners from his bag.

Teacher Chen Ming jumped in to help unfold them.

……

On the track.

Xie Bingran crouched, adjusting her starting blocks.

Bai Miao hesitated beside her and whispered, “Bing Ge…”

Xie Bingran turned and saw Bai Miao pointing ahead.

She looked up.

In the stands opposite, two banners unfurled.

One read ‘Tiancheng Fan Group’.

The other: ‘Bing Ge, I miss you in Tiancheng’…

……

Xie Bingran froze, staring.

A breeze stirred the stray hairs on her forehead.

In that moment, she saw the familiar figure, imagined the warm smile she couldn’t quite make out.

Xie Bingran pressed her lips together and murmured to herself:

“I miss you too…”