Chapter 131: Born Unbeatable
by xennovelXie Bingran lifted her gaze to the flag and the warm smile of Xu Chen behind it.
The cameras caught the moment and flashed it onto the big screen…
Maybe it was because she’d just finished a race, but her chest still rose and fell gently.
Delicate beads of sweat dotted her neck and collarbone.
A sudden breeze stirred the wisps of hair at her forehead.
Bing Ge’s lips pressed into a thin line and his eyes flickered before he finally cracked a smile.
Teacher Chen Ming ran over from afar, greeted Xu Chen with a wave, then whispered to Xie Bingran:
“Time to go collect your medal!”
Xu Chen swept the red flag forward and laughed:
“Drape it on…”
Xie Bingran frowned, revealing a reluctant pout:
“This is too flashy. It’s not me…”
She said it, yet reached out and took the red flag, draping it over her shoulders.
Xu Chen burst into hearty laughter…
Xie Bingran followed Teacher Chen Ming, striding toward the podium.
As Bing Ge crossed the arena, the stands erupted in applause.
“Ice out of its sheath, born invincible.”
Such a boastful line, yet somehow…
It fit perfectly.
……
Xu Chen turned and headed back to the stands, where students from Tonghai University and Huahai Normal University shot curious looks his way.
He gave an awkward grin and obediently slid back into his seat.
“Hey, is that girl from your school? Which school are you guys from?”
“Hi!”
“That girl is so cool. How did we never hear of her… Does she have a boyfriend?”
“Never heard of her!”
“Do you have her contact info? Or can I give you mine to pass along…”
“What’s the point?”
“To outrun Bai Miao like that—she’s never been left in the dust before, right?!”
“That doesn’t even make sense…”
……
In front of the podium.
Xie Bingran, Bai Miao, Dong Jiajia.
They had just taken first, second, and third place.
Xie Bingran clinched gold in 13.28 seconds, breaking the National Youth Games record.
With that 13.28, she also met the standard for National-Level Athlete.
Bai Miao from Tonghai University finished second in 13.50 seconds.
She too shattered the old 13.51 record…
Had Xie Bingran not appeared, Bai Miao would be the champion now, shining brightest among the Shanghai Twin Stars.
But there’s no room for “what if” in this world.
There is Bing Ge.
And Bai Miao, proud daughter of Shanghai, couldn’t rise to the challenge…
Dong Jiajia of Huahai Normal University took third in 13.61 seconds.
Yet in terms of disappointment, hers was less than Bai Miao’s.
After all, Bai Miao lost gold.
Potentially even a spot on the national team…
Five Star Sports host Duan Yong finally got the stats.
In the broadcast booth, he drew the microphone close, gathered his thoughts, and began in a resonant, commanding voice:
“Ice out of its sheath, born invincible.
The genius girl from Wen Province’s Tiancheng has defeated the home-field favorites, the ‘Shanghai Twin Stars’…
She emerged as a dark horse, creating the ninth miracle of the National Youth Games with absolute dominance!
All Shanghai spectators, as hosts, let’s once again offer our heartfelt congratulations to the genius girl Xie Bingran from Tiancheng, Wen Province!”
“We’ve just received word from the Provincial Team. This quiet champion, Xie Bingran, is only seventeen!
She’s still a senior in high school, nearly two years younger than runner-up Bai Miao and third-place Dong Jiajia!
To everyone here and watching at home, not only did she break the National Youth Games record in the women’s 100m hurdles…
She also shattered the national junior women’s 100m hurdles record!
In other words…
Xie Bingran is the best under eighteen!”
……
The announcer’s voice still echoed across the field.
In the stands, gasps and whispers of astonishment rippled through the crowd.
She’s only seventeen, younger than Bai Miao and Dong Jiajia, yet she crushed the ‘Shanghai Twin Stars.’
Xu Chen recalled the online novels he’d read in a past life—this must be what they called ‘unrivaled at the same level.’
On the big screen, a middle-aged sports bureau official from Shanghai hung the medal around Xie Bingran’s neck and reached out to shake Bing Ge’s hand.
For a moment, Xu Chen felt a weird sense of dread, fearing Bing Ge might—by muscle memory—swoop in and throw the official over his shoulder.
……
Xie Bingran stood atop the podium, her icy silence hiding the storm beneath.
This was her usual mask but didn’t fully reflect how she felt.
In the breeze, her eyes flickered—a fleeting thrill of joy.
Not from winning her first national title, but from that unexpected warm smile.
……
Clear blue sky.
Massive, heavy white clouds shielded the blazing sun.
The wind shifted the clouds, causing them to overlap.
A single sunbeam slipped through.
Illogically, it shone solely on Xie Bingran.
In that instant, the ‘Shanghai Twin Stars’ standing beside her dimmed into shadows.
……
……
The rest of the National Youth Games schedule rolled on.
Cheers rose from the field again.
But with the women’s 100m hurdles over, today’s main event had concluded.
Half of Bai Miao and Dong Jiajia’s cheering squad began filtering out of the stands…
Xie Bingran, flanked by teammates, headed toward the sideline changing room.
She skipped the post-race interviews; two Provincial Team coaches spoke with the reporters instead.
Inside the sideline lounge, Xie Bingran changed quickly and grabbed her bag before stepping out.
Xu Chen was already waiting there.
“Congratulations!” Xu Chen said with a smile.
Xie Bingran: “Why are you here?”
Xu Chen: “I happened to have a project in Shanghai, so I came to watch you win!”
Xie Bingran: “Oh.”
Xu Chen laughed and added:
“I actually came just to see you take gold—and to work on that project.”
Xie Bingran: “Oh.”
Xu Chen: “…”
As two groups of athletes passed by en route to the locker rooms, they all called out:
“Congrats, Bing Ge!”
Xu Chen glanced around; they wore different provincial uniforms, meaning they were from other teams.
“Your ‘Bing Ge’ title has completely spread.”
Bing Ge said nothing, only offering a domineering, cool smile.
……
Teacher Tian Fangfang raced over, excitement and nerves shining on her face.
She reached for Xie Bingran’s wrist:
“Coach Chen of the National Track Team wants to chat with you…”
Xie Bingran froze, momentarily speechless.
Xu Chen knew exactly what that meant and said:
“What are you waiting for? Go on…”
Xie Bingran looked at Xu Chen, hesitating.
Tian Fangfang: “Hurry with me! Coach Chen has lunch with the Athletics Association at noon—don’t keep him waiting.”
Xu Chen looked at Xie Bingran:
“This is big. Go now!”
Xie Bingran thought for a moment, then said:
“You don’t have to come. Wait here for me.
I’ll be back right after I talk to him!”
Xu Chen smiled:
“Don’t worry. I won’t go anywhere. I’ll stand right here until you’re done!”
Xie Bingran: “You don’t need to stand here. There’s a lounge over there…”
Xu Chen: “Oh.”
…