Chapter 276: Library Echoes
by xennovelEvening at Tonghai University Library.
Xu Chen paused as he passed the downstairs propaganda board.
A poster on the board featured Bai Miao, his senior, as the star.
The poster announced Bai Miao’s upcoming participation in the East Asia Youth Games in Osaka.
And Xie Bingran was set to join her in the event.
……
By the window on the 10th floor of the library, Xu Chen sat alone at a wide table.
He was searching for information on the East Asia Youth Games on his computer.
Just as Coach Cheng Hong had said, the event didn’t get much attention back home.
There were only a couple of reports on the major portals’ sports channels.
Yet for many young athletes, it was a crucial warm-up for the upcoming Asian Games, so it still mattered.
The youth category’s age limits kept out Asia’s top stars, opening doors for newcomers to win gold, silver, and gain experience.
For Xie Bingran, this was her first international competition and her debut on the global stage.
The East Asia Youth Games included athletes from several East Asian countries and regions, mainly China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, North Korea, and places like Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
China, Japan, and Korea dominated overall, with most events boiling down to their rivalries.
Xu Chen found details on the women’s 100-meter hurdles in a post on Tianya Forum, where Bing Ge’s name appeared.
The poster, a fan of Xie Bingran from after the National Games, had shared it.
This user, ‘Cang Hai Ri Yue’, dug up an interview with a State Athletics Team coach from early in the month.
It mentioned that five athletes from the first and second teams would head to Osaka.
Naturally, that included Xie Bingran and Bai Miao.
It also featured Dong Jiajia, the other half of the Shanghai Twin Stars.
After the National Youth Championships in May, Dong Jiajia’s form had dipped and never recovered, but she still made it to the State Athletics Team’s second squad.
At just eighteen or nineteen, her future was still wide open.
Dong Jiajia was also from Huahai Normal University, making her Xie Bingran’s senior.
Once Xie Bingran finished her events and returned to Shanghai, she’d join Bai Miao and Dong Jiajia at the Athletics Association’s Xin Zhuang Training Base.
Head Coach Sun Mouping was a local from Shanghai, and the assistants, team leaders, and other coaches would follow.
……
In the forum post, ‘Cang Hai Ri Yue’ seemed really into Bing Ge and even shared extra photos and posters of Xie Bingran.
Most of these came from media coverage after the National Games.
A few were posters Xu Chen had designed for the Tiancheng support project earlier.
……
……
The next day at noon, Xu Chen arrived at the bank on Quyang Road.
Exchanging foreign currency these days was a hassle—it even required an appointment.
Xu Chen had already made the appointment on a previous visit, so now he was there to pick up the cash.
He didn’t exchange much—just Japanese yen worth about three thousand yuan—for small cash-only expenses.
Staying in Osaka for just three days, it would be more than enough.
From his past trips to Japan, Xu Chen knew taxis were the big expense; a ride from the airport to downtown could easily cost hundreds or thousands.
He was also planning to treat Xie Bingran to some kaiseki cuisine.
Back when he visited Tokyo, the high prices of kaiseki—often three to five thousand per person—had put it out of reach on his modest salary.
Now, as a well-off executive, Xu Chen could indulge in beef and kaiseki without a second thought.
After classes that afternoon, he stopped by the mobile service center to activate international roaming, wrapping up all his Osaka preparations.
His flight was tomorrow noon; he’d just pack a few clothes that evening and be set.
……
At the East Morning Star Advertising office.
Xu Chen had just sat down and opened his computer when his phone buzzed.
It was a message from Wu Feifei, the boss’s daughter.
Xu Chen glanced at it—a link.
He paused, wondering why Wu Feifei was reaching out and sending a link out of the blue.
He logged into QQ on his computer and clicked the link.
A page full of Japanese text popped up.
Xu Chen didn’t know Japanese, but a quick scan of the images and familiar characters told him it was about the East Asia Youth Games.
He frowned and replied in the chat:
[What’s this?]
At the same time, he suddenly remembered that during their last meal, Wu Feifei had mentioned studying Japanese at Shanghai Foreign Languages University.
Wu Feifei responded in the chat:
[It’s about Bing Ge’s competition. I’ll call you…]
Right after, her call came through. Xu Chen was still eyeing the article, so he put it on speaker.
“This morning, Bing Ge made it to the finals in the women’s 100-meter hurdles semifinals.”
Xu Chen wasn’t surprised at all—just said “Oh” to tease her for making a big deal out of it.
“Did you read the article?”
“I looked, but I can’t understand it… Haven’t gotten to a translation app yet.”
“Today’s semifinals had two groups, and the top four from each advanced to the finals tomorrow.
Besides Bing Ge, the other seven finalists are all from Japan…”
“Ah?…
That can’t be right…”
“It’s true. The Japanese media is all over it.
This East Asia Youth Games didn’t get much buzz in Japan at first…
But now, with seven out of eight finalists in the women’s 100 hurdles from Japan, their media and public are going wild!”
Xu Chen was stunned—it felt surreal.
Even in a regional event like this, Japan dominating like that seemed off.
Japan usually played by the rules, despite Korea’s shady tactics…
As Xu Chen puzzled over it, Wu Feifei sent more links.
Xu Chen opened them—reports from Japanese media that afternoon.
Wu Feifei translated and explained over the phone…
Apparently, Japan had a surge of young sprint talents in recent years.
In today’s semifinals, strong seeds from China and Korea unexpectedly crashed out, including China’s Bai Miao and Dong Jiajia.
So, the finals lineup was bizarre: seven from Japan and one other.
Eight finalists, seven from Japan…
Once the semifinals results dropped, it exploded in Japan, with everyone talking about it.
For Japanese media and people, it was a point of pride, boosting the event’s popularity overnight.
……
“Bing Ge’s facing seven against one—all Japanese athletes!
And it’s in Osaka, their home turf…
The pressure must be intense!”
Xu Chen frowned at the clock in the bottom right of his screen and muttered:
“Back home, this is probably about to blow up too.”
“Ah?!”
Xu Chen paused before saying quietly:
“The finals are on the 18th.”
Wu Feifei sucked in a breath:
“September 18th…”
……
……
After hanging up with Wu Feifei, Xu Chen messaged Cheng Hong and got the confirmation.
On September 18th, Xie Bingran would face seven Japanese athletes alone in Osaka.
Xu Chen sat at his computer, still processing it all.
The situation was too unreal, like something out of fiction.
But it was happening for real.
……
Xu Chen turned and grabbed a bottle of red wine and a glass from the cabinet behind him, pouring himself half a glass.
After a few sips, his QQ chat lit up with messages.
Wu Feifei sent more links:
“News is spreading domestically now—several media outlets have picked it up.”
Scrolling through, Xu Chen saw reports from domestic portals’ sports sections:
“East Asia Youth Games: Chinese athlete faces seven Japanese opponents in women’s 100-meter hurdles finals…”
“Japan’s sprint dominance rises: Could they claim seven spots in the finals?”
“The lone finalist: Will she become a national hero?”
“In enemy territory, Xie Bingran stands as the only hope against all Japanese competitors…”
“Japanese media celebrates wildly, sparking outrage from Chinese and Korean netizens…”
“September 18th finals: A path to glory or infamy?”
……
……
Xu Chen sat in silence.
What started as a low-key event was suddenly trending across the net.
Reality outdid fantasy…
Seven opponents, all from Japan.
And the date—September 18th…
As one media comment put it, Xie Bingran would either emerge a star or carry the weight of failure.
Xu Chen took a long swig of wine, his emotions mixed.
He should be thrilled that Xie Bingran’s competition was gaining attention—it would boost her fame.
Plus, he had no doubts about her track dominance.
But worry clouded his thoughts.
The sudden twist left him on edge.
Facing such odds, he wondered how Xie Bingran was feeling…
When he checked with Coach Cheng Hong, she’d urged him not to disturb Xie Bingran before the event.
In top-level sports, it’s half skill, half mental strength…
“…”