IBABS Chapter 48

When Su Zhe looked at Shao Xingchen, he caught Shao Xingchen looking back at him too. As their eyes met, Su Zhe smiled at him first.

Since they’d properly gotten to know each other, apart from some initial awkwardness, they had gradually become good friends.

They occasionally chatted on WeChat about all sorts of random topics. Su Zhe knew that Boss Shao had watched a few of his races, but he didn’t expect him to observe his running form so closely.

Just as Su Zhe was about to ask Boss Shao exactly how many of his races he’d watched, he noticed the other man staring at him, as if trying to confirm something.

Su Zhe touched his face in confusion. “What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”
Hearing this question, Boss Shao was slightly startled, then turned his head away, saying casually, “Nothing. Have you gotten taller recently?”

“Oh, can you tell?” Su Zhe was genuinely surprised. “I’ve been training these past few months. I only found out during my physical exam a few days ago that I’ve grown a bit taller. I’m about 180cm now. But there are so many tall people on the track team that I didn’t really notice any change myself…”

As the temporary host, Ye Chichi was responsible for keeping the livestream lively and finding topics to discuss.

After watching their conversation for a while, she unceremoniously thrust the microphone in front of them. “Ahem, Xingchen can even notice changes in Su Zhe’s height. Speaking of which, as friends in the show, you two seem to get along really well in real life too, huh?”

Without hesitation, both Su Zhe and Shao Xingchen nodded to this question.
“Then… as good friends now,” Ye Chichi asked, “what was your first impression of each other when you first learned about one another?”

She held the microphone out to Su Zhe first.

“Huh?” Su Zhe scratched his head, digging through his memories before answering, “I thought he was really imposing and handsome… The first time I saw him was in that photo series, you know, that Italian luxury brand series where he wore a black suit and looked like a commander, with that royal cape behind him…”

“Ah, I know that set! Those photos are super famous!” Ye Chichi immediately recognized which photos Su Zhe was talking about.

That photo series was one of Shao Xingchen’s most well-known works that had crossed over into mainstream popularity. Even now, many bloggers still referenced it when discussing the best photoshoots of past years.

“Ahem, right.” Su Zhe smiled. “I always thought those photos gave off major boss vibes, so I occasionally called him ‘boss’ before…”

Unlike the sports channel livestream, this drama production livestream was filled with Shao Xingchen and Su Zhe’s fans, as well as entertainment industry gossip followers.

After hearing Su Zhe’s first impression of Shao Xingchen, the comment section quickly filled with “+1+1+1” flooding the entire screen.

[_(:з」∠)_What a coincidence, I also became a fan of the boss through that photo series. The one where he’s sitting on the throne is still my phone wallpaper, prpr…]

[Haha, that photo series really did make the boss look powerful, but I can’t believe Su Zhe actually called him ‘boss’ in real life…]

[As we’re talking, those stunning photos of the boss are flashing through my mind again. Ugh, I could love him for another ten years!]

[Only ten years? I’m in for life!!!]

[Speaking of which, are the boss and Su Zhe really that close? He could notice his height change at a glance…]

[I… sisters… I feel like I’m shipping something here. Is it just my imagination?]

While the audience in the livestream chat was busy admiring the screen and reminiscing, Ye Chichi held the microphone up to Shao Xingchen.

“What about you, Xingchen?”

“…” Shao Xingchen was silent for a moment before answering, “My first impression… was that he’s very hardworking. I admired him back then, how he could give his all without hesitation. That kind of perseverance and refusal to give up hope made me feel that perhaps I wasn’t doing enough myself…”

“Huh? When was this…” Shao Xingchen’s response left Ye Chichi confused. “I thought you first became aware of Su Zhe on the set of ‘Chasing the Light’?”

Hearing this, Shao Xingchen revealed a slight smile. “No, it was much earlier.”

Su Zhe naturally knew exactly what moment Boss Shao was referring to. He had heard these words during their actual first meeting. Hearing them again today still made his ears burn.

Fortunately, they just reached the indoor training facility, giving Su Zhe the chance to change the subject. He gestured for Ye Chichi, Director Liu Zhengyan, and Qiu Mingchi to follow him as he began introducing the various training equipment and explaining how everything worked.

Ye Chichi’s attention was successfully diverted as she looked around at the facility. “Wow, all of this equipment appeared in ‘Chasing the Light’! Director Liu always told us how grateful he was for the sports team’s support and guidance, which made ‘Chasing the Light’ much more authentic.”

Unlike the sports channel livestream, for the fans watching this broadcast, simply seeing two extremely handsome men on screen, watching them interact, and listening to them chat with the pretty host was more than enough entertainment.

In fact, what they were touring during the livestream wasn’t particularly important.

The visual appeal of Su Zhe and Shao Xingchen together was undeniable, and the bright and lively Ye Chichi was also quite charming. With this lineup, fans would be thrilled even if they were just walking around casually.

However, this behind-the-scenes livestream was originally scheduled to be brief. After Su Zhe showed the group around some of the training center’s facilities and completed a few more rounds of Q&A, the visit concluded to the fans’ reluctance.

The moment the cameras shut off, Ye Chichi put down the microphone and let out a long breath.

“Ah, finally it’s over! Being a temporary host is so hard.”

A staff member who had been following nearby took the microphone from Ye Chichi’s hand and said with a smile, “You were the perfect person to host today, Chichi! Director Liu, Teacher Qiu, and Xingchen aren’t the type to liven up the atmosphere. Without you, today’s livestream would have been awkward the whole time!”

Liu Zhengyan and the others also thanked Ye Chichi for hosting, then chatted casually with Su Zhe for a moment. Once the staff had packed up all the equipment, it was time for everyone to say goodbye to Su Zhe.

“We should get going now. Before we came, everyone in the production team asked us to visit you on their behalf and wish you success at the World Championships!” Liu Zhengyan said, then added with a smile, “When that happens, our production team will get to ride another wave of popularity!”

This wasn’t an exaggeration. As the actor of an important character in the drama, any new achievement Su Zhe earned now would bring attention and buzz to the series. Liu Zhengyan had mentioned countless times to the production team and friends in the industry that casting Su Zhe as Lu Ming was absolutely the best decision he could have made. There was no doubt about it.

Before the crew left, Su Zhe took a group photo with everyone at the entrance of the training center. Above them hung a large red banner that read: “Train hard for a thousand days, fight for glory in one moment. If not now, then when?”

This photo taken at the entrance of the training center was posted on the official Weibo account of “Chasing the Light,” serving as the finale of today’s livestream visit.

When Su Zhe returned to the training field, Zhao Zhixuan, Wang Ming, and Meng Hao were already warming up, preparing for the upcoming test.

This 100-meter test was more like a reassurance for track and field fans who cared about this event – telling everyone: Don’t worry, we’re still here, we can still do this.

In the livestream chat, track and field enthusiasts who had learned through various channels that the relay team was about to conduct a 4x100m training report test couldn’t contain their excitement. They flocked to the livestream, eager to see how well the relay team was doing after their training, whether their performance remained stable, and if they had the potential to advance to the World Championship finals.

As a die-hard relay racing fan, Huang Wenye naturally wouldn’t miss this report test.

He had been waiting in the livestream room early, while simultaneously discussing with fellow enthusiasts in their relay racing group chat about what the results might be.

In the “Long Live Relay” group chat:

It’s Ye, Not Yeah: [After the last joint practice, the relay team hasn’t run a complete race in public training grounds. We’ve only seen their basic training. Wonder how well they’ve improved over these days…]

Nancheng Tiger Bro: [Looks promising to me. With Old Tiger Su leading the team, I’m confident. If their performance wasn’t good, they wouldn’t be doing this report test today.]

LPH: [During the last joint practice, they still seemed a bit hesitant during baton exchanges. I wonder if their coordination has improved after these two weeks of training…]

Nancheng Tiger Bro: [Overall I’m optimistic. With Su Zhe replacing Chen Zhi as the team’s core, the team has a clear direction. The rest are relay team veterans. Zhao Zhixuan and Meng Hao are in good form this year. Lao Wang’s personal best isn’t great, but he runs consistently with little fluctuation. Once they’re fully gelled¹, I think the final results won’t be bad.]

It’s Ye, Not Yeah: [Let’s hope so… I still feel anxious until I see their test results.]

As various track and field fans and casual viewers waited, the athletes on the training field had completed their preparations.

The relay team’s test officially began!

With the sound of the starting gun, Zhao Zhixuan, who was in the first position, sprinted off quickly. Compared to the last joint practice, after this period of training, Zhao Zhixuan had made some progress in his curve starting technique. As he started, he shifted his center of gravity slightly inward, using subtle balance changes to prevent himself from being thrown off the track due to rapid acceleration while running the curve.

Even the angles of the starting blocks had been minutely adjusted after calculations by the coaching team.

These changes translated into increased speed and improved performance for the athletes!

Zhao Zhixuan himself was naturally gifted with exceptional stride frequency. His body control and awareness of his stride frequency were outstanding. In curve running, this meant he could better control his body throughout the curve, precisely increase the force of his right leg pushing off the ground, maintain his body’s inward lean, and control his arm swings with ease.

With all these advantages, Zhao Zhixuan could release more of his speed while running the curve, rather than having to reduce his pace due to the typical control issues that come with curve running.

Zhao Zhixuan’s stable reaction time at the start, combined with his curve running technique, gave the team sufficient advantage in the starting phase. He truly lived up to Coach Su Yinsheng’s trust, proving himself the most suitable first leg runner on the relay team!

As Zhao Zhixuan approached the second leg position, Wang Ming was already prepared to receive the baton at any moment.

After days of training, the already well-coordinated pair of Wang Ming and Zhao Zhixuan had become even more familiar with each other’s speeds.

The moment Zhao Zhixuan reached the starting mark, Wang Ming took off without hesitation. After completing his initial acceleration and moving beyond the acceleration zone, Zhao Zhixuan had smoothly reached behind him, closing in to the optimal baton-passing distance while both maintained their high running speed!

“Wang-ge!”

“Take it!”

To more accurately distinguish between the timing for extending the hand and receiving the baton, Coach Su Yinsheng had divided the relay team’s baton-passing commands into two phases.

At the shout of the name, the receiver would extend their arm back to prepare for the baton. Upon hearing the word “take,” they must grip the baton without hesitation, then quickly swing their arm forward and sprint, without any hesitation.

During this period of coordination training, baton passing remained the focal point of the relay team’s practice. When the team’s overall strength couldn’t overwhelm other strong teams, they needed to excel in at least one aspect to have a chance to compete against them.

The aspect Coach Su Yinsheng chose was the timing of baton passing.

In fact, in all relay team training, the coordination of baton passing is inevitably the top priority. Su Yinsheng’s requirement for the relay team members was – even if everyone is equally good at baton passing, you must become masters among masters.

Of course, there is no end to perfecting baton passing coordination. In future training plans, Su Yinsheng had clearly emphasized that baton passing would remain the training focus. It was a process of gradually approaching perfection.

The current test was a verification of their intensive training over this period.

So far, the training effects appeared quite impressive.

Wang Ming and Zhao Zhixuan perfectly completed the baton pass at high speed. Throughout the entire exchange, they barely lost any running speed, and the baton pass was quick and efficient.

After securely receiving the baton, Wang Ming maintained his top speed as he sprinted forward. His specialty was maintaining his competitive state. Regardless of whether opponents overtook him, he could maintain his best condition as he pushed ahead.

This psychological advantage ensured his stable performance. Although breakthroughs were difficult, he was certainly a reliable link in the relay team.

Wang Ming held the baton firmly as he sprinted forward under everyone’s watchful eyes. His stability was equally essential to the relay team.

Ahead of Wang Ming, Meng Hao had already prepared himself to receive the baton. During this training period, their coordination had improved rapidly. Wang Ming’s steady running pace gave Meng Hao a clearer understanding of how to synchronize their handoff.

At that moment, after observing Wang Ming reach the starting mark, Meng Hao began his acceleration in the pre-running zone. The two met perfectly in the exchange zone, and with Wang Ming’s verbal cue, they completed the entire baton exchange swiftly and cleanly.

Although Meng Hao had been moved from fourth to third position, his curve-running ability was equally outstanding. Even though running the curve required greater body control to avoid being thrown off track by centrifugal force, Meng Hao’s speed remained impressive despite slightly sacrificing his peak velocity to maintain control.

He swung his arms quickly, maintaining his maximum possible speed as he steadily approached Su Zhe, the anchor leg.

For Su Zhe, who was the final runner in the relay team, baton exchange was no longer an issue after more than ten days of specialized training. His keen sense for speed allowed him to accurately judge Meng Hao’s current pace and condition from behind, while adjusting his own starting timing and speed to ensure they could exchange at maximum velocity.

His sensitivity and judgment of speed amazed the entire coaching staff and earned him increased trust from the other team members.

His sprinting ability was undoubtedly the best on the current relay team. Once he received the baton from Meng Hao, his high-speed running faced no limitations.

After clearing the exchange zone, Su Zhe raced down the straightaway with the baton. Viewers in the livestream could only watch Su Zhe’s wind-like figure and feel his extraordinary mastery of speed!

[The team looks so fluid… there was still some awkwardness during the last joint practice, but today you can see the confidence and chemistry between them!]

[Zhao Zhixuan’s start is awesome, Wang-ge’s steady, Meng-ge’s curve-running is first-class, and Zhe-shao’s straightaway dominance! If they maintain this form, their spot in the World Championship final is practically guaranteed!]

[The current lineup is excellent. As long as they maintain their coordination and stability, this relay team will keep getting better!]

When Su Zhe crossed the finish line, everyone at the edge of the training field spontaneously applauded the relay team. This included the sports channel staff, Wang Qin, Qiu Xinchu and others, including the coaching team.

38.53 seconds. A time already qualifying them to compete in the World Championship finals.

Upon seeing the result, track and field fans in the livestream shouted words of encouragement like “Come on!” and “Awesome!”

This team can be considered a temporary combination formed in the most difficult circumstances. Among them were Su Zhe who suddenly joined training, Meng Hao who temporarily adjusted his position, veteran Wang Ming who had always been a backup relay team member, and Zhao Zhixuan who had quietly contributed his strength to the team.

Facing the pressure of “qualifying for the World Championship final,” this temporary combination withstood the pressure, adapted to each other, and finally earned their ticket to the World Championship final.

After seeing the final result, Zhao Zhixuan, Su Zhe, Wang Ming, and Meng Hao excitedly hugged each other. This was the result of countless hours of sweat and effort, a performance that already demonstrated top-tier strength in Asia. Now, even on the world’s most elite stage, they had earned the right to compete for a spot in the finals.

Even the usually serious Su Yinsheng now watched his team members with a smile as they celebrated together.

The relay fans who had been constantly concerned about the team finally felt relieved – the current relay team, although perhaps not matching its peak era, was already not far behind the team from Chen Zhi’s time.

With such a team, fans only needed to offer their confidence and encouragement, hoping the team would maintain their form and achieve their best results at the World Championships!

With men’s 100-meter sprint and 4×100-meter relay fans now at ease, the last event that concerned them most was the 110-meter hurdles.

Among the short-distance and hurdle events at this World Championship, the 110-meter hurdles stood out, being the only event that secured three qualification spots.

All three qualifying athletes, whether it was Su Zhe, Zhou Tianjue, or Ye Jun, inspired great expectations, but these expectations were mixed with concern.

Currently, the personal bests of these three athletes were: Su Zhe: 13.36 seconds, Ye Jun: 13.37 seconds, and Zhou Tianjue: 13.44 seconds. But even Su Zhe’s 13.36, judging by previous World Championship final standards, would fail to qualify for the finals, not to mention Ye Jun and Zhou Tianjue’s personal bests.

Although the global standard for 110-meter hurdles was at a low point, for China, which once had dominant athletes in this event, the current decline left fans feeling lost.

Unlike Su Yinsheng, Lü Fei rarely published athletes’ training results in 110-meter hurdles practice. Even today, on the final day of the training camp, after Su Zhe and the other two completed their 110-meter hurdles test, Lü Fei simply recorded their results privately and communicated with them individually.

Viewers in the livestream watched the three athletes who had finished their tests, feeling desperately anxious, but besides wailing in the comments, they could do nothing against Lü Fei’s methods.

Finally, track and field fans could only resort to various creative methods to estimate the test results of Su Zhe and the others. But with different approaches and the inability to observe the starting speed and exact finishing time in the video, the estimated results varied greatly. Someone even calculated an exaggerated figure of 12.99 seconds, breaking the 13-second barrier.

The person who calculated this value could only helplessly post online: “What can I do? I’m just as frustrated. It’s all because Coach Lü is too conservative and unwilling to publish their final results, leaving us to calculate secretly on our own… Let’s just take this as our blessing for Zhe-shao, Jue-ge’er², and Coach Ye. May they break through soon and restore our nation’s dominance in the 110-meter hurdles!”

With this atmosphere and these well-wishes, the track and field team’s closed training camp came to an end.

In the final episode of the “Fitness Bar” livestream, each athlete offered their blessings to the fans and invited them to continue following the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Country D, set to open on October 2nd.

After a day of rest, on September 26th, the entire National Track and Field Team officially departed, flying to Country D to prepare for the upcoming World Athletics Championships!