Chapter 290: Delivery to the Training Grounds

A small truck rattled along and arrived at the main gate of the Xin Zhuang Training Base.

Xu Chen stepped out from the passenger seat.

Looking up, he saw two different signs on either side of the gate.

One read ‘Shanghai Track and Field Sports Center,’ the other ‘Shanghai Second Sports School.’

When he checked the address yesterday, he noticed that the two organizations shared the facilities here.

Athletes like Xie Bingran and Bai Miao, as members of the National Track and Field Team, were borrowing the training resources from the Shanghai Track and Field Sports Center.

Xie Bingran’s head coach, Sun Mouping, was also on staff at the sports university linked to the Shanghai Track and Field Sports Center, so everything was pretty intertwined.

Xie Bingran was a freshman at Huahai Normal University and had already handled her official enrollment there yesterday, complete with a simple welcome ceremony.

She had a dorm there, but as an athlete, most of her time in Shanghai would likely be spent at the Xin Zhuang Training Base.

…

Coach Cheng Hong had already cleared it with security, so Xu Chen chatted with the guard uncle at the gate, registered, and the barrier slowly lifted.

The small truck drove straight to the apartment building for the athletes.

Two sturdy, dark-skinned young workers helped unload the mattress—it wasn’t all that heavy.

Zhao Kai had arranged for them, and they were all from Shandong Province.

Xu Chen handed them a few hundred yuan plus a couple packs of cigarettes as thanks. The guys were straightforward and didn’t refuse.

Xie Bingran was already at the training base but was caught up in an event and couldn’t come over right away.

Xu Chen let the workers head out and bought two bottles of cold water to show his appreciation.

…

Xu Chen waited by the flower bed outside the athletes’ apartment, keeping an eye on the mattress, and glanced around.

As he entered, he spotted the vast indoor track, with fit young people striding by—clearly all athletes.

This area was a hub for sports resources in Shanghai.

Across the street stood the Shanghai Track and Field Stadium and the MH District Sports Hall, with the MH District Sports Bureau right nearby.

After a short wait, he saw a figure running toward him, and Xu Chen stood up with a smile.

Xie Bingran wore a white athletic outfit, a small red national flag on her chest.

She lit up when she saw Xu Chen.

She didn’t slow down.

“Been waiting long?” Bing Ge asked as she approached.

Xu Chen looked around to make sure no one else was coming, then took Xie Bingran’s hand.

Coach Cheng Hong had said the team didn’t encourage young athletes to date, especially the women, so they had to keep it low-key.

Bing Ge earned her respect through sheer ability, so probably no one would hassle her, but she still had to set an example as the top seed.

Xu Chen glanced at the mattress: “It’s still a bit heavy—might need another guy to help me lift it.”

Xie Bingran smirked slightly:

“I can handle it with you.”

“…”

They each grabbed a corner of the mattress, and Bing Ge made it look effortless, without a hint of strain.

“This way, up to the second floor.”

When they entered, the apartment manager aunt spotted Bing Ge and just smiled without a word.

Together, they carried the queen-size mattress up to the second floor of the athletes’ apartment.

They didn’t run into any other athletes—it was right during the afternoon technical training session.

At a room near the hallway, Xie Bingran unlocked the door.

Inside, it was spacious—a two-person setup.

The facilities were better than Xu Chen’s dorm at Tonghai University.

Private bathroom, individual desks, chairs, and cabinets…

“That’s Bai Miao’s side; she’s still on the training field,” Xie Bingran said.

Xu Chen glanced over; it was all pink and cute, matching Bai Miao’s style perfectly.

It looked like she’d just moved in and hadn’t sorted things out yet—the desk and bed were a bit messy.

Bing Ge’s bed was all black and deep gray, just like her—cool and tough.

Her desk and cabinets had hardly anything on them, unlike Bai Miao’s cluttered mess of odds and ends.

The only standout was that big Labrador plush toy, perched on a chair.

“They only provided a mattress here,” Xie Bingran mentioned.

Xu Chen checked it and said with a smile:

“This one’s too thin, not as comfy as mine…

Just layer it on top.”

“Okay.”

They quickly got it all set up.

After covering it with a deep gray sheet, Xie Bingran asked:

“This is the one you slept on, right?”

Xu Chen: “Yeah, just like you asked.

I put a new cover on the outside, but the mattress itself is the one I used.”

“Oh.”

Xie Bingran seemed pleased; she sat down, felt it, and placed the Labrador plush on the bed.

“I’ll take you to eat!” Xie Bingran said.

“Sounds great—the national team’s cafeteria is something I’ve been curious about,” Xu Chen replied with a grin.

Xie Bingran stood, opened her cabinet, and pulled out her brown backpack, like she was grabbing her wallet.

Xu Chen caught a glimpse inside and spotted something familiar.

“Is that mine?” Xu Chen asked.

A dark gray jacket hung in the cabinet.

Back in August in Yangcheng, when they hiked White Cloud Mountain and it was cool in the morning, Xu Chen had worn that dark gray jacket.

Later, when they sent the Labrador plush, Xie Bingran wanted it to carry more of Xu Chen’s scent, so she took the jacket from him.

He never expected to see it here.

Xie Bingran hummed in agreement but added:

“If you don’t need it, can I keep it for a bit?”

Xu Chen smiled and didn’t say anything.

He reached in and noticed another jacket inside his dark gray one.

Pulling it out, he saw it was a dark black jacket.

That was the one Bing Ge used to wear all the time in high school.

Back when Xu Chen and Xie Bingran started talking again, she was always in that jacket, cigarette in mouth, looking cold and brooding, with cuts and bandages on her hands.

After she became an athlete and started wearing team uniforms, Xu Chen hadn’t seen it since—until now, in this way.

The two jackets nested together, maybe symbolizing closeness and embrace…

Xu Chen fell silent, his heart tightening a little.

Xie Bingran stepped over quickly, like she didn’t want him looking, her face flushing slightly:

“I didn’t have enough hangers, so I just put them together…”

Xu Chen didn’t respond; he just pulled her into a hug.

…

…

Xie Bingran showed Xu Chen around the training base.

The outdoor track, the indoor arena, the weight room…

She’d only arrived that morning, so she wasn’t fully familiar with it yet.

In the indoor track, a few young athletes training there spotted Xie Bingran and politely called out, “Bing Ge.”

Xie Bingran kept her cool demeanor and nodded sharply.

Once they walked on, she explained to Xu Chen that the base housed not just national team athletes like her and Bai Miao, but also a group from Shanghai.

Bai Miao and Dong Jiajia had been at the Xin Zhuang Base for a while before joining the national team, so they knew it better than Xie Bingran.

In front of the Shanghai athletes, those on the national team were like role models and seniors.

With Xie Bingran’s status as the top female short-track runner in the country, she held a revered position.

In sports, it’s all about results and performance.

Bing Ge could strut around the base without anyone batting an eye.

…

The weight room.

It was packed with barbells and dumbbells.

Xu Chen was full of curiosity and asked Xie Bingran more about daily national team training.

On training days, mornings were mostly for physical conditioning, including strength work.

Heavy lifts like barbell squats were part of Bing Ge’s daily routine.

Xu Chen couldn’t help but joke:

“No wonder you’re so strong, Bing Ge.”

Xie Bingran shot him a fierce yet playful glare.

Xu Chen laughed, looking genuinely happy.

He thought of the nice muscle lines on Bing Ge’s shoulders and arms—all earned through hard work.

Of course, that included her impressive long legs…

…

…

As evening fell, Xie Bingran led Xu Chen to the athletes’ cafeteria.

The spacious hall was similar to a university dining area.

It wasn’t peak time yet, so it wasn’t crowded, but the young people coming and going were obviously athletes, all in great shape.

Most seemed to know Xie Bingran—some greeted her as ‘Bing Ge,’ while others recognized her but hung back.

Xie Bingran stayed cool, just nodding slightly to those who said hi without saying a word.

She had that boss-level vibe, totally commanding…

They each got their meals, and Xie Bingran swiped what looked like a campus card.

“I thought champions ate for free!” Xu Chen teased.

“We get subsidies every month—more than we can spend,” Xie Bingran replied.

They found a spot by the window and dug in.

Xu Chen looked around and marveled at the athletes’ appetites—everyone’s trays were piled high.

“Got your National Day plans sorted?” Xu Chen asked.

Xie Bingran: “We’re heading to the Provincial Capital, but I haven’t gotten the schedule yet. I’ll let you know when I do.”

Xu Chen: “Great! You’re going to the Provincial Sports University, and Chen Dahai’s waiting to meet you.”

“Oh.”

Xu Chen added: “Chenfeng Electric Vehicles needs you for some ad shoots—maybe half a day.

I didn’t want to bother Coach Cheng Hong with it; it’ll probably involve Director Li Yue, and that could get complicated…”

Xie Bingran: “I’ll handle it.”

Xu Chen smiled: “Thanks, Bing Ge!”

Xie Bingran seemed to remember something and asked:

“Your East Morning Star Advertising—does it handle all kinds of ads?”

“Huh?”