Chapter 86: Champion’s Alma Mater

Everyone on the school leadership team knows that with Xie Bingran’s grades and potential, she’ll go far.

Winning the City Games was just the beginning for Xie Bingran.

Now, First High School’s promotion of Xie Bingran will eventually reflect back on the school itself.

“Alma Mater of a Champion” will be a proud title…

On the podium, a vice principal was delivering an uplifting speech.

Behind him stood over a dozen “medal winners” from the City Games.

Naturally, Xie Bingran stood among them.

Tian Chaorui, nicknamed “Biaozi,” also stood beside Bing Ge but now merely played second fiddle to her.

After her baptism at the City Games, Biaozi seemed completely convinced. The fierceness that once marked her face was gone as she stood by Bing Ge’s side.

The vice principal’s speech on the podium was filled with congratulations and praise for the Games’ athletes.

Yet every time he wrapped up a point, his praise unconsciously landed on Xie Bingran.

In fact, this ceremony was mainly held in her honor.

It might sound exaggerated, but for a future national champion—or even an Asian Games contender—the school pulling out all the stops made perfect sense.

Xie Bingran’s talent on display at the City Games had already silenced all doubt.

Her selection to the provincial team was a formality; soon she’d join the national team, and that was only natural…

All the students and teachers stood below, looking up at Bing Ge on the podium, each wearing a different expression.

Not long ago, on the very same athletic field and in front of everyone, the round-faced Discipline Office Director had announced Xie Bingran’s expulsion.

The contrast between that moment and the school’s current “praise” felt absurd in its irony.

From expelled and made an example out of to now being treated like a treasure…

At last, the vice principal finished his flowing congratulatory remarks. Amid applause, he said,

“Now, let’s invite outstanding athlete representative Xie Bingran to the stage to speak!”

Applause rose, then gradually subsided.

Everyone tilted their heads up, waiting for Bing Ge to step forward.

Xie Bingran showed a hint of nervousness as she walked slowly to the microphone.

She brushed back her short bangs. Her cold, slightly dark eyes swept over the crowd.

All eyes were fixed on her.

Ever since she was little, she hated being stared at.

That hatred sprang from deep-seated insecurity and fear.

Now she had to face even more gazes, cameras, and flashing lights.

But unlike before, these eyes, cameras, and flashes held no scorn, disgust, mockery, or contempt…

Only admiration, envy, reverence, even jealousy.

Xie Bingran raised her arm and unfolded a speech manuscript.

It had been written in advance, but not by Bing Ge herself.

The Publicity Department Director and the Discipline Office Director had together polished this eloquent script—two full pages of it.

Standing at the mic, Xie Bingran flipped through the papers.

Actually, the publicity teachers had given her these two pages ahead of time and made her memorize them over the past two days.

Below, the lined-up teachers and students remained quiet, as did the leaders and coaches on the podium, all waiting for Bing Ge to speak.

A light breeze tousled her bangs.

She paused, flicking through the text-filled pages, her brow furrowing.

Maybe she thought there were too many words—after all, Bing Ge had always been the type to let her actions speak.

Her gaze landed on the bottom of the pages, and she began to read:

“I also wish the seniors taking the college entrance exam every success and top scores…thank you!”

With that, she folded the papers, tucked them into her pocket, bowed slightly, and stepped down.

The leaders on the podium looked utterly bewildered.

Especially the Discipline Office Director and Publicity Department Director—they exchanged glances, speechless.

They had wracked their brains over every word, yet Bing Ge had only read the last line…

Meanwhile, a roar of applause broke out below.

The leaders and teachers laughed and joined in the clapping.

Xu Chen looked up at Bing Ge, genuinely happy for her.

That frail, timid deskmate who had barely enough to eat was finally experiencing a true turning point in life.

She had once been bullied for her timidity, her fists hardening her into someone no one dared to provoke—Bing Ge.

From now on, those long legs of hers would make her an idol for countless youths on the track…

Xu Chen recalled his past life: once Xie Bingran became famous, even old classmates like him couldn’t get an autograph.

Not like now—Bing Ge’s “Servitude Contract” still remained in his hands.

…

Second period’s break in the afternoon.

Homeroom teachers entered classrooms and turned on the TVs hung beside the blackboards.

Students looked up at the screens to find the city TV station’s news broadcast.

The report featured highlights from the City Games.

In the latter half of the clip, students finally saw “Bing Ge” dominating the track.

It turned out the phrase on the bulletin board—“A Legend Emerges, a Heavenly Frost Descends”—was no exaggeration…

Reverence and envy erupted in excited chatter across classrooms.

Afterward, homeroom teachers delivered another round of guidance.

Next, under the joint direction of the Discipline Office and Publicity Department, the school would launch a “Learn from Xie Bingran’s Spirit, Strive to Be a First High School Role Model” week.

They even required every student to write a weekly journal about the City Games athletes…

Xu Chen sat in class, recalling the absurd contrast of not long ago—Xie Bingran expelled and used as a negative example—and felt its intensity.

This world’s rules will always make way for the strong.

Lost in thought, Xu Chen felt his phone vibrate in his pocket.

He pulled it out and saw a message from Xie Bingran.

【See you at the school gate after class. I’ll treat you to a meal.】

Xu Chen smiled and, mimicking Xie Bingran’s brevity, replied with one character:

【Okay.】

He opened QQ and saw NetAffairsLikeSmoke’s (Guo Liang’s) avatar blinking.

【Mr. Xu, our Shenbao ad will air on the local TV station this weekend.

Feedback from all channels over the past two days has been excellent!】

【Haha congrats, General Manager Guo, on your big sales!】

【We have to thank Mr. Xu for the ad strategy! This pilot in several cities worked so well we’ll roll it out nationally!】

Xu Chen half-joked in reply:

【Then my 150,000 yuan bonus will seem too small haha!】

NetAffairsLikeSmoke (Guo Liang) replied:

【Our pharmaceutical industry has plenty of ad-planning needs—I’ll keep an eye out for you!

Of course, many brands hold pitch contests. I hope you don’t mind.】

Xu Chen thought for a moment and replied:

【Not at all, as long as there’s money to be made!】

He expanded his horizons.

There’s no shame in making money.