Ch98 - Li Cheng deserves to be the world champion!!

Li Cheng reported the incident to coach Yu, who took it extremely seriously and quickly informed the delegation’s leader. The delegation’s leader complained to the organizing committee and denounced Australian athlete Alexander’s behavior.

However, just as Li Cheng anticipated, because Li Cheng did not report the issue to the referee when it occurred, there was no evidence at all now that the match was over, and this matter could only be left behind. 

Not only that, but the organizing committee went so far as to add insult to injury: they issued a notice, summoned the coaches and the two athletes from each team to the office, and demanded that everyone communicate in person, adding, “Friendship comes first, competitiveness is second. Resolve any conflicts and clear any misunderstandings as soon as possible.”

When Li Cheng read the notice, he almost burst out laughing in rage. Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding? He had been attacked with pheromones by Australian athletes on the field. This was already blatantly provocative. Were they hoping for him to be generous and say, “It doesn’t matter”?

 

 

The Australian Organizing Committee could only try to smooth things over because of Alexander’s involvement.

Li Cheng simply did not attend the ludicrous mediation meeting. Coach Yu advised him to train hard, and she represented him at the meeting. 

As a result, the coach was blue in the face when she returned. It was then revealed that the Australian swimming team’s coach shouted pompous gibberish, claiming that Li Cheng was purposely framing his athlete! Li Cheng nursed a grudge because the two players had previously clashed. Li Cheng finished second in the semifinal, so he was unhappy and purposefully splashed dirty water to falsely accuse the Australian athletes.

 

The coach even “magnanimously” said words like, “I know, as an omega, Li Cheng has worked extremely hard to get here. But, competition is  the most impartial. He shouldn’t vent his rage on an innocent alpha contestant just because he lost a match, should he?”

Coach Yu chastised him instantly after hearing such ludicrous words.

The Games were held in Australia, and the organizing body favored its own participants, even acquiescing to the coach’s rhetoric!

 

It was, indeed, a nest of vipers and rats. How could Alexander’s coach be a respectable person if he cultivated trash like Alexander?

Coach Yu didn’t keep these reprimands from Li Cheng. Li Cheng was so enraged after hearing them that his hair stood on end.

“Li Cheng, do you know why I chose you as the captain of the swimming team?” remarked Coach Yu calmly as she sat across Li Cheng.

Li Cheng was taken aback because…he hadn’t given this question much thought. 

Li Cheng was an omega and stood out in the pool because of his gender. Everyone was watching him, eager to witness for themselves whether this omega could defy tradition and perform a miracle.

“Isn’t it because of my outstanding performance?” Li Cheng inquired.

Coach Yu: “You are not the only one on the swimming team who has excellent scores.  Zhou Jian’s results are likewise superb. He, like you, is a favorite to win the championship and an alpha. If I wanted to find someone dependable, Zhou Jian is unquestionably more dependable than you.”

“So, why…” 

“Because you won’t concede defeat.” Coach Yu locked her gaze on Li Cheng. “You’re the omega with the most fervent drive to win that I’ve ever seen. Some people who have a great desire to win are sore losers. They get paranoid and proclivity to split hairs. You, on the other hand, will not. Your ambition to win does not engender hate. On the contrary, it strongly persuades people. Everyone will believe you are meant to be a champion as long as they look into your eyes.”

Coach Yu recalled the first day of training camp, when Li Cheng was accepted into the swimming squad. Everyone liked him whether they were alpha or beta. There was a natural cohesion in his physique that made people want to follow him to move forward instinctively.

Coach Yu decided at the time that Li Cheng would be the best choice for captain.

“Remember your current rage and unwillingness, Li Cheng. There will be a swarm of slanderers around you before you stand on the podium… You must continue forward. Don’t give up. You will be the World Champion.” 

Li Cheng solemnly nodded.

I will. I surely will!

 

… …

While Coach Yu and Li Cheng were having a heart-to-heart, the mood in the Australian players’ dormitory on the other side was especially strained. 

Alexander was sitting on a bed in the dormitory when he noticed his coach push the door open and greeted him.

He also failed to appear for the mediation session. The coach ordered him to be well-behaved and wait in the dormitories. He could only spend a long time lazily playing with his phone.

“Coach, how did the mediation meeting turn out?” Alexander inquired.

“I informed the organizing committee that the omega player had previously had a disagreement with you. He had lost the match this time and was bitter, so he falsely accused you.” The Australian swimming team’s head coach responded. 

“Was it believed by the organizing committee?”

“Of course,” the  coach said. “That omega doesn’t have any evidence. Nothing happened, of course, because there is no evidence.”

Alexander laughed and proudly said, “Yes!”

“Come on, hold back a little for me!” The coach reprimanded angrily. “Are you out of your mind? I’m not going to stop you if you fight privately, but why do you want to do it on the field?” 

Alexander expressed his dissatisfaction, saying, “Do I really need an excuse to dislike him? Aren’t the Chinese experts at platform diving? Why, as a Chinese omega, would he want to compete in speed swimming instead of diving? Speed swimming was previously the domain of the alpha. I don’t want a yellow monkey scurrying around me. Am I wrong ?”

“Yellow monkey? Why don’t you go check out that ‘yellow monkey’s’ performance? He’s only 0.03 seconds slower than you!  Alexander, do you know why the organizing committee favored you?” the coach asked, his face ashen.

“Because there is no evidence.”

“No, it’s because the organizing committee’s chairman is an old colleague of mine! And you are the future champion I promised them!” The coach’s face turned completely black. “You’ve caused far too many problems, Alexander. If you continue to be arrogant and lose the championship, I can assure you that the organizing committee will never protect you again!” 

Alexander furrowed his brows, his face turning unpleasant in an instant.

An Asian omega thought he could covet and steal the championship? He’d make the omega, who had an overblown view of his skills, sob his way out of the pool!

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

… …

Ol Jtfcu kjr eqyfja jcv lc ojcajralm rtjqf bc atf atlgv vjs bo atf obgwji mbwqfalalbc. Lf vlv cba ifa  Cifzjcvfg’r tflcber yftjnlbg joofma tlw. 

Ktf tbegr ifjvlcu eq ab atf olcjir oifk ys lc atf yilcx bo jc fsf. Ol Jtfcu kjr yers kjixlcu gbecv jcv gbecv ecvfg atf vlgfmalbc bo atf mbjmt joafg ygfjxojra, kjgw-eq, jcv mbcafrajcar’ mtfmx-lc.

The schedule was extremely tight. The four short individual competitions were all set to take place on the same day. The matches for the men’s and women’s teams would overlap.

 

Li Cheng and several other short-distance competitors sat quietly in a corner of the lounge. They were silently adjusting their states, not speaking to one another.

Not far away, the Australian athletes gathered, presumptuously and noisily cracking jokes. While they were conversing, they pointed to the Chinese sportsmen, and Alexander looked at Li Cheng’s bare physique brazenly, making different obscene gestures towards him. 

Li Cheng turned a blind eye to everything. He was aware that Alexander was purposefully aggravating him, so he couldn’t fall into his trap.

A massive screen was put on the lounge’s wall to broadcast stadium matches.

Other swimming styles’ short-distance competitions were soon over. Li Cheng’s demeanor was tense as he gazed at the amount of medals displayed on the screen.

… The Chinese Swimming Team suffered an unexpected setback in this competition. The players were young, and they were traveling to a foreign country for the first time in their life to compete in such a world-class competition. It was unavoidable that they would be apprehensive, and this hindered their performance. 

They could have obviously made it to the finals in certain events, but they made blunders in the semifinals and failed to go past the qualifying stage; in others, they could have won medals, but they fell short by a fraction and missed the podium.

As a result, the Chinese Swimming Team was not yet “in business”! Not only was there no gold medal, but there was also no bronze medal!

Under these conditions, Li Cheng, as the team’s favorite to win, was subjected to a great deal of pressure.

He was the swimming team’s captain. If he won the championship, he would naturally improve team spirit and become a role model for everyone; yet, if he did not win the championship and instead received a silver or bronze medal, he would be… 

Other members of the swimming squad arrived at the lounge to cheer on Li Cheng as the 200m men’s freestyle began. Coach Yu wore a serious look on her face. She was under pressure from the Sports Bureau’s leaders as the “commander” of the swimming squad. Until that point, the swimming team had a poor record. She had to deal with a lot of pressure and couldn’t let her players feel the same way.

Coach Yu insisted: “Maintain your composure, Li Cheng. It makes no difference how other people swim; all that matters is that you swim according to your own rhythm.”

The squad members lacked the coach’s positive attitude, and their emotions became entangled one by one. Zhou Jian hesitated to speak to Li Cheng, as if Li Cheng were not on the field of play, but on the execution ground.

“Don’t be concerned, everyone.” Li Cheng reached his hand and patted the sobbing head of a female team member. His eyes seemed to glow with a fire, and his words were unmistakably firm: “I’ll win the championship in this match!” 

… …

The phone under Xiao Yiheng’s pillow vibrated gently, ringing an alarm at six o’clock in the morning.

He awoke instantly, his eyes clear, and without any disorientation from just waking up.

He turned off the alarm and rolled over to softly get out of bed without disturbing his roommate’s sleep. 

All students in the Academy of Fine Arts’ winter camp had to reside together on campus, and the upper and lower beds in the eight-person dorm room were quite crowded. It was Xiao Yiheng’s first time living in a student dormitory, but he adjusted well and quickly became acquainted with his roommates.

He’d awoken early, while his roommates were sound asleep. He took out his phone, neglected freshening himself, wore his down jacket, and crept out of the room, heading into the dormitory corridor.

 

Li Cheng’s 200m finals was an historic occasion. Xiao Yiheng had set an alarm and risen early to view the live stream.

The corridor had no heating and was terribly cold. Xiao Yiheng drew himself into the down jacket and cinched the zipper. 

He launched the news video app, plugged in his headphones, and switched to the sports channel. The host had remotely connected with the commentators on the scene to analyze the competition’s status.

The competition’s commentators were a man and a woman. The man was a senior sports analyst, and the woman was a well-known retired athlete. They were discussing the day’s matches, their tone a little somber.

“The Chinese national team performed poorly today and lost in the first match,” commented the male analyst. “It’s really bad that some players who may have won medals made mistakes.”

“Actually, I can understand their anxiety,” added the female commentator. ” I had just recently turned 18 when I competed in my first international competition. I was away from home and spotted very few Chinese onlookers at the scene. After the first match, I sobbed in the arms of the coach as I exited the pool. I’m grateful that the coach didn’t abandon me at the time.” 

“The next match is the 200m men’s freestyle.” The host inquired, “Li Cheng is a player that has received a lot of attention from netizens. What are the odds of Li Cheng winning the championship, in your opinion?”

For a few seconds, the two commentators were deafeningly quiet.

The male analyst took the initiative: “This year marks Li Cheng’s 17th birthday. His age as an athlete is when his physical fitness has only begun to blossom and has not yet reached its peak. A swimmer’s peak age is between 22 and 25 years old. However, this is based on data from alpha and beta athletes. Li Cheng is a one-of-a-kind omega speed swimmer. We don’t know what kind of results he’ll have in this competition.”

Although he did not state it directly, his tone indicated that he was not optimistic. 

The host: “According to the information we have, once the swimming team named the captain, there was a lot of debate within the Sports Bureau over whether Li Cheng could be the captain. However, the head coach of the swimming team persuaded the Sports Bureau leaders to make Li Cheng not only the captain of the swimming team, but also the flag bearer during the opening ceremony.”

The female commentator abruptly stated: “My opinions are completely contrary. Li Cheng has the appearance of a champion, in my view. I almost forgot to mention that the first time I competed in an international competition, I was on a team led by Coach Yu. She is a coach with extensive expertise, vision, and complete faith in the team members. It was improbable that I would have been given the opportunity to compete in another tournament after my initial performance on the field. Coach Yu, on the other hand, remained firm despite popular opinion and offered me another chance. In the end, I won the championship in the second match and gradually made my way to the present… I believe contestant  Li Cheng must have something unique about him.  Since the match hasn’t yet begun, let’s not award him a predetermined ‘result’ and instead wait to see how he performs.”

The female commentator had stated Xiao Yiheng’s feelings. He was well aware that Li Cheng was now the team’s best hope for victory in the championship. He wished for more people to believe in him, to encourage him, and to witness his ascension to the summit.

The match was about to start soon. 

The aerial link between the studio and the commentators was severed, and the entire screen was cut to the competition scene.

The male and female commentators’ voices got more solemn.

“It’s finally time for the athletes to enter the stadium. Australia is a strong country in the sport of speed swimming. Australia is represented by three of the ten finalists. We can see that the entire audience is made up of Australians.”

The director cut to a view of the swimming pool. Just like the commentator said, the entire auditorium was almost completely covered in the Australian flag. 

“In 6 a.m. domestic time, the Chinese swimming team is competing at an away venue. Disruption of the biological clock will have an impact on their performance.” The female commentator took a brief pause. “Li Cheng finished second in the semifinals and is now on the sixth lane. Alexander, an Australian native, is in the fifth lane on the left. Among the newer generation of Australian players, he is a well-known short-distance freestyle athlete. This is not his first time competing in an international competition.”

The camera panned to the lounge’s exit. Despite the fact that the game had not yet begun, Alexander raised the Australian flag in advance, as if he had already won the championship. He went triumphantly out of the lounge, waving to the spectators in all directions, eliciting waves of applause.

 

Li Cheng was the second individual to appear on the field.

Li Cheng was in the “enemy camp,” and there were hardly any black-haired and dark-eyed compatriots in the audience, yet he remained calm and confident. He was dressed in a sports jacket, looking like a general in battle-gear. 

Xiao Yiheng subconsciously stretched his fingers out and stroked the screen, his fingertips running over Li Cheng’s smile at the corner of his mouth, as if he had actually touched his beloved.

Li Cheng came to a halt at the sixth lane’s starting block, removed his jacket and slippers, donned a swimming cap and goggles, and shook his hands and feet.

Alexander, who was standing in the fifth lane, turned to face Li Cheng. They didn’t say anything to each other, but the camera clearly captured the clash of their gaze.

“Oh! It appears that there is a strong smell of gunpowder between the two players,” the male commentator exclaimed. 

The female observer: “Their results in the semi-finals differed by only 0.03 seconds. Li Cheng is a significant threat to Alexander.”

“Is Alexander an alpha?”

“Yes, the Australian swimming team has sent a full alpha lineup this time.”

“I’m sure Li Cheng is under a lot of pressure.” 

Following the topic, the two commenters added a few more remarks. The tournament was finally going to begin.

When the preliminary whistle blew, ten contenders stepped on the starting block and moved into take-off positions, and ten seconds later, the referee officially blew the starting whistle!!

Ten contestants entered the water at the same time in front of the spectators!!

It was difficult to capture the speed with the naked eye! 

The commentators all started speaking at the same moment.

 

“Li Cheng performed extremely well with the quick take-off speed, which is considerably better than his performance in the domestic competition,” said the female analyst.

The male observer: “Li Cheng has his own pace. We can see that he is now in second position, half an arm’s length behind Alexander, who is first, and the third is a Canadian who is not far behind Li Cheng—excellent, Li Cheng has touched the wall and turned around!” 

“Beautiful! That is stunning!” As she continued, the female analyst became more animated, “Li Cheng is an omega, and his explosive force is slightly inferior to that of an alpha, but his technical level is extremely high. His take-off reaction and tumble turn speed are exceptionally rapid, and his technical skill is the highest among players his age.”

The 200m freestyle race was incredibly fast. In the finals, no athlete held back their strength, straining themselves from the start. They demonstrated their true abilities by chasing each other and sprinting to the finish line.

 

Li Cheng hit the wall for the second time after swimming 100 meters and turned around. The upper right corner of the screen displayed the results of the top three participants striking the wall at the same time. At this point, the difference between Li Cheng and first place Alexander was only 0.01!!

0.01, only 0.01!! 

The female commentator exclaimed excitedly: “0.01 second!!! Li Cheng!!! Li Cheng!!! You’ve got this, you’ve got this, you’ve got this medal!!!”

As long as Li Cheng maintained that speed, he could get at least a silver medal!!

It would be the first medal of the Chinese swimming team in this competition!!

The male commentator was also excited: “Contestant Li Cheng has begun to speed up, his legs moving rapidly in the water. He’s going very well, he’s doing wonderful. Li Cheng is accelerating, Alexander is also accelerating, it’s the final 70 meters, 60 meters, the last fifty meters!!” 

While staring at the TV, Xiao Yiheng couldn’t help but hold his breath. He couldn’t breathe, and his entire focus was on the tiny figure on the screen.

From above, the camera cast a wide view of the entire swimming pool. The 10 competitors had already separated, with the two athletes in the fifth and sixth lanes in the middle sprinting to the front, leading with a full body position and opening up a stunning “人” shape with other players!

Too fast, they were swimming too fast.

Li Cheng stroked his arms alternately. He was around ten centimeters shorter than Alexander, therefore his arm length was likewise shorter, causing him to travel significantly less distance with each stroke than Alexander. He could only speed up his hand and foot movements. From the camera, he appeared to be soaring over the sea rather than swimming! He was gliding up and down the water on his arms, which served as his wings! 

It was the final fifty meters, the final fifty meters, and Li Cheng hit the wall and turned around for the final time!

He surpassed his opponent with a furious kick of his legs, demonstrating the skills he had honed through tens of thousands of exercises!!

Yes, Li Cheng was in first place!

“He has surpassed Alexander!!” The female announcer almost screamed, saying hoarsely, “Li Cheng has jumped to first place with this last tumble turn!!! Li Cheng!!! The top spot!!! Let’s go!!! Hurry up!!!!” 

This, however, was not Li Cheng’s only surprise for the crowd.

When Li Cheng was barely fifty meters from the finish line, he had no idea that an invisible yellow line had emerged in front of his arm at the same time!

This yellow line was invisible to the contestants and spectators in the stadium. Only the crowd and commentators seated in front of the TV screen were able to see it.

That—was the record line. 

The yellow record line represented the best results recorded during an event. Each athlete’s ultimate goal was not to win the championship, but to break the invisible record; to break the record line and then update it with their own results! Then, engrave their name in the competition’s history.

Xiao Yiheng tightened his fists and tensed up involuntarily in front of the phone’s screen.

 

It was the official record line… It was the official record line… His ChengCheng was on the verge of breaking the world record for the event!

A European player who had become an overnight star at the time set the record line eight years ago. That athlete was now a world-renowned “champion harvester,” with many Olympic gold medals in his pocket. 

If Li Cheng was able to break his world record, would this suggest that he would continue to rise in the future, eventually stepping onto the podium of the Olympic Games and becoming the center of public attention?

40 meters, 30 meters, 20 meters…

Li Cheng was moving closer and closer to the yellow line…

“Come on, Li Cheng!!!” screamed the male announcer, his voice hoarse. “You’re nearly there!!! Li Cheng!!!!! It’s only half an arm………just one palm, half a palm—surpassed! He has surpassed!!! Li Cheng has broken the world record!” 

Li Cheng—he set a new world record!

Li Cheng pumped on one more burst of speed and pushed himself to the edge, his entire right arm crossing the yellow line. He also touched the wall at the same time!!

Li Cheng broke the world record set by a European athlete eight years ago with a full arm distance and won this hard-fought tournament!!

All of the members of the Chinese swimming team hugged each other in the lounge, and practically everyone was crying. They were happy tears. The Chinese swimming team finally won a medal at the World Youth Games, a gold medal that broke the event’s world record! 

Li Cheng emerged from the water in the swimming pool. Before he could even look at the screen, he heard a chorus of voices yelling, “Congratulations! We have a new world record!”

Despite his poor English, he could understand these three words!!

His eyes widened in disbelief, and he shivered slightly in the water. He had given his all in this match, and knowing that Alexander was gaining ground, he could only strive to catch up.

He not only caught up to and overtook him, but he also broke the world record!! 

He didn’t have time to be concerned about the defeated general’s expression. His entire being was enveloped in bliss.

He… he truly triumphed.

He had really achieved his goal!

… … 

Seventeen years ago, a baby boy was born on the water, with the sea as his home.

Eight years ago, the boy lost his parents forever, but he did not lose his dream of swimming.

 

Five years ago, he took on the task of buying sweets for his baby sister, and competed in a swimming competition to earn bonus money for the first time.

Three years ago, he differentiated into an omega. Despite the fact that no one was optimistic about him, he persisted in his career path. 

That omega boy was now on top of the world. He had dispelled all preconceptions, suspicions, and misgivings. With his own strength, he had demonstrated that he was capable.

His name would be etched in the annals of this event, and his name would stand as an unrivaled record.

New competitors would chase the yellow line he represented in every future competition.

He was deserving of the title of world champion. 

His name would be remembered throughout the world.

—His name was Li Cheng.

… …

The capital of China. 

Xiao Yiheng saw Li Cheng’s results and the glittering gold medal that appeared in front of his name on the large screen.

The alpha chuckled and murmured: “My boyfriend is fantastic. If I don’t work hard, I won’t be worthy of him.”

Ch98 - Li Cheng deserves to be the world champion!!

Li Cheng reported the incident to coach Yu, who took it extremely seriously and quickly informed the delegation’s leader. The delegation’s leader complained to the organizing committee and denounced Australian athlete Alexander’s behavior.

However, just as Li Cheng anticipated, because Li Cheng did not report the issue to the referee when it occurred, there was no evidence at all now that the match was over, and this matter could only be left behind. 

Not only that, but the organizing committee went so far as to add insult to injury: they issued a notice, summoned the coaches and the two athletes from each team to the office, and demanded that everyone communicate in person, adding, “Friendship comes first, competitiveness is second. Resolve any conflicts and clear any misunderstandings as soon as possible.”

When Li Cheng read the notice, he almost burst out laughing in rage. Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding? He had been attacked with pheromones by Australian athletes on the field. This was already blatantly provocative. Were they hoping for him to be generous and say, “It doesn’t matter”?

 

 

The Australian Organizing Committee could only try to smooth things over because of Alexander’s involvement.

Li Cheng simply did not attend the ludicrous mediation meeting. Coach Yu advised him to train hard, and she represented him at the meeting. 

As a result, the coach was blue in the face when she returned. It was then revealed that the Australian swimming team’s coach shouted pompous gibberish, claiming that Li Cheng was purposely framing his athlete! Li Cheng nursed a grudge because the two players had previously clashed. Li Cheng finished second in the semifinal, so he was unhappy and purposefully splashed dirty water to falsely accuse the Australian athletes.

 

The coach even “magnanimously” said words like, “I know, as an omega, Li Cheng has worked extremely hard to get here. But, competition is  the most impartial. He shouldn’t vent his rage on an innocent alpha contestant just because he lost a match, should he?”

Coach Yu chastised him instantly after hearing such ludicrous words.

The Games were held in Australia, and the organizing body favored its own participants, even acquiescing to the coach’s rhetoric!

 

It was, indeed, a nest of vipers and rats. How could Alexander’s coach be a respectable person if he cultivated trash like Alexander?

Coach Yu didn’t keep these reprimands from Li Cheng. Li Cheng was so enraged after hearing them that his hair stood on end.

“Li Cheng, do you know why I chose you as the captain of the swimming team?” remarked Coach Yu calmly as she sat across Li Cheng.

Li Cheng was taken aback because…he hadn’t given this question much thought. 

Li Cheng was an omega and stood out in the pool because of his gender. Everyone was watching him, eager to witness for themselves whether this omega could defy tradition and perform a miracle.

“Isn’t it because of my outstanding performance?” Li Cheng inquired.

Coach Yu: “You are not the only one on the swimming team who has excellent scores.  Zhou Jian’s results are likewise superb. He, like you, is a favorite to win the championship and an alpha. If I wanted to find someone dependable, Zhou Jian is unquestionably more dependable than you.”

“So, why…” 

“Because you won’t concede defeat.” Coach Yu locked her gaze on Li Cheng. “You’re the omega with the most fervent drive to win that I’ve ever seen. Some people who have a great desire to win are sore losers. They get paranoid and proclivity to split hairs. You, on the other hand, will not. Your ambition to win does not engender hate. On the contrary, it strongly persuades people. Everyone will believe you are meant to be a champion as long as they look into your eyes.”

Coach Yu recalled the first day of training camp, when Li Cheng was accepted into the swimming squad. Everyone liked him whether they were alpha or beta. There was a natural cohesion in his physique that made people want to follow him to move forward instinctively.

Coach Yu decided at the time that Li Cheng would be the best choice for captain.

“Remember your current rage and unwillingness, Li Cheng. There will be a swarm of slanderers around you before you stand on the podium… You must continue forward. Don’t give up. You will be the World Champion.” 

Li Cheng solemnly nodded.

I will. I surely will!

 

… …

While Coach Yu and Li Cheng were having a heart-to-heart, the mood in the Australian players’ dormitory on the other side was especially strained. 

Alexander was sitting on a bed in the dormitory when he noticed his coach push the door open and greeted him.

He also failed to appear for the mediation session. The coach ordered him to be well-behaved and wait in the dormitories. He could only spend a long time lazily playing with his phone.

“Coach, how did the mediation meeting turn out?” Alexander inquired.

“I informed the organizing committee that the omega player had previously had a disagreement with you. He had lost the match this time and was bitter, so he falsely accused you.” The Australian swimming team’s head coach responded. 

“Was it believed by the organizing committee?”

“Of course,” the  coach said. “That omega doesn’t have any evidence. Nothing happened, of course, because there is no evidence.”

Alexander laughed and proudly said, “Yes!”

“Come on, hold back a little for me!” The coach reprimanded angrily. “Are you out of your mind? I’m not going to stop you if you fight privately, but why do you want to do it on the field?” 

Alexander expressed his dissatisfaction, saying, “Do I really need an excuse to dislike him? Aren’t the Chinese experts at platform diving? Why, as a Chinese omega, would he want to compete in speed swimming instead of diving? Speed swimming was previously the domain of the alpha. I don’t want a yellow monkey scurrying around me. Am I wrong ?”

“Yellow monkey? Why don’t you go check out that ‘yellow monkey’s’ performance? He’s only 0.03 seconds slower than you!  Alexander, do you know why the organizing committee favored you?” the coach asked, his face ashen.

“Because there is no evidence.”

“No, it’s because the organizing committee’s chairman is an old colleague of mine! And you are the future champion I promised them!” The coach’s face turned completely black. “You’ve caused far too many problems, Alexander. If you continue to be arrogant and lose the championship, I can assure you that the organizing committee will never protect you again!” 

Alexander furrowed his brows, his face turning unpleasant in an instant.

An Asian omega thought he could covet and steal the championship? He’d make the omega, who had an overblown view of his skills, sob his way out of the pool!

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

… …

Ol Jtfcu kjr eqyfja jcv lc ojcajralm rtjqf bc atf atlgv vjs bo atf obgwji mbwqfalalbc. Lf vlv cba ifa  Cifzjcvfg’r tflcber yftjnlbg joofma tlw. 

Ktf tbegr ifjvlcu eq ab atf olcjir oifk ys lc atf yilcx bo jc fsf. Ol Jtfcu kjr yers kjixlcu gbecv jcv gbecv ecvfg atf vlgfmalbc bo atf mbjmt joafg ygfjxojra, kjgw-eq, jcv mbcafrajcar’ mtfmx-lc.

The schedule was extremely tight. The four short individual competitions were all set to take place on the same day. The matches for the men’s and women’s teams would overlap.

 

Li Cheng and several other short-distance competitors sat quietly in a corner of the lounge. They were silently adjusting their states, not speaking to one another.

Not far away, the Australian athletes gathered, presumptuously and noisily cracking jokes. While they were conversing, they pointed to the Chinese sportsmen, and Alexander looked at Li Cheng’s bare physique brazenly, making different obscene gestures towards him. 

Li Cheng turned a blind eye to everything. He was aware that Alexander was purposefully aggravating him, so he couldn’t fall into his trap.

A massive screen was put on the lounge’s wall to broadcast stadium matches.

Other swimming styles’ short-distance competitions were soon over. Li Cheng’s demeanor was tense as he gazed at the amount of medals displayed on the screen.

… The Chinese Swimming Team suffered an unexpected setback in this competition. The players were young, and they were traveling to a foreign country for the first time in their life to compete in such a world-class competition. It was unavoidable that they would be apprehensive, and this hindered their performance. 

They could have obviously made it to the finals in certain events, but they made blunders in the semifinals and failed to go past the qualifying stage; in others, they could have won medals, but they fell short by a fraction and missed the podium.

As a result, the Chinese Swimming Team was not yet “in business”! Not only was there no gold medal, but there was also no bronze medal!

Under these conditions, Li Cheng, as the team’s favorite to win, was subjected to a great deal of pressure.

He was the swimming team’s captain. If he won the championship, he would naturally improve team spirit and become a role model for everyone; yet, if he did not win the championship and instead received a silver or bronze medal, he would be… 

Other members of the swimming squad arrived at the lounge to cheer on Li Cheng as the 200m men’s freestyle began. Coach Yu wore a serious look on her face. She was under pressure from the Sports Bureau’s leaders as the “commander” of the swimming squad. Until that point, the swimming team had a poor record. She had to deal with a lot of pressure and couldn’t let her players feel the same way.

Coach Yu insisted: “Maintain your composure, Li Cheng. It makes no difference how other people swim; all that matters is that you swim according to your own rhythm.”

The squad members lacked the coach’s positive attitude, and their emotions became entangled one by one. Zhou Jian hesitated to speak to Li Cheng, as if Li Cheng were not on the field of play, but on the execution ground.

“Don’t be concerned, everyone.” Li Cheng reached his hand and patted the sobbing head of a female team member. His eyes seemed to glow with a fire, and his words were unmistakably firm: “I’ll win the championship in this match!” 

… …

The phone under Xiao Yiheng’s pillow vibrated gently, ringing an alarm at six o’clock in the morning.

He awoke instantly, his eyes clear, and without any disorientation from just waking up.

He turned off the alarm and rolled over to softly get out of bed without disturbing his roommate’s sleep. 

All students in the Academy of Fine Arts’ winter camp had to reside together on campus, and the upper and lower beds in the eight-person dorm room were quite crowded. It was Xiao Yiheng’s first time living in a student dormitory, but he adjusted well and quickly became acquainted with his roommates.

He’d awoken early, while his roommates were sound asleep. He took out his phone, neglected freshening himself, wore his down jacket, and crept out of the room, heading into the dormitory corridor.

 

Li Cheng’s 200m finals was an historic occasion. Xiao Yiheng had set an alarm and risen early to view the live stream.

The corridor had no heating and was terribly cold. Xiao Yiheng drew himself into the down jacket and cinched the zipper. 

He launched the news video app, plugged in his headphones, and switched to the sports channel. The host had remotely connected with the commentators on the scene to analyze the competition’s status.

The competition’s commentators were a man and a woman. The man was a senior sports analyst, and the woman was a well-known retired athlete. They were discussing the day’s matches, their tone a little somber.

“The Chinese national team performed poorly today and lost in the first match,” commented the male analyst. “It’s really bad that some players who may have won medals made mistakes.”

“Actually, I can understand their anxiety,” added the female commentator. ” I had just recently turned 18 when I competed in my first international competition. I was away from home and spotted very few Chinese onlookers at the scene. After the first match, I sobbed in the arms of the coach as I exited the pool. I’m grateful that the coach didn’t abandon me at the time.” 

“The next match is the 200m men’s freestyle.” The host inquired, “Li Cheng is a player that has received a lot of attention from netizens. What are the odds of Li Cheng winning the championship, in your opinion?”

For a few seconds, the two commentators were deafeningly quiet.

The male analyst took the initiative: “This year marks Li Cheng’s 17th birthday. His age as an athlete is when his physical fitness has only begun to blossom and has not yet reached its peak. A swimmer’s peak age is between 22 and 25 years old. However, this is based on data from alpha and beta athletes. Li Cheng is a one-of-a-kind omega speed swimmer. We don’t know what kind of results he’ll have in this competition.”

Although he did not state it directly, his tone indicated that he was not optimistic. 

The host: “According to the information we have, once the swimming team named the captain, there was a lot of debate within the Sports Bureau over whether Li Cheng could be the captain. However, the head coach of the swimming team persuaded the Sports Bureau leaders to make Li Cheng not only the captain of the swimming team, but also the flag bearer during the opening ceremony.”

The female commentator abruptly stated: “My opinions are completely contrary. Li Cheng has the appearance of a champion, in my view. I almost forgot to mention that the first time I competed in an international competition, I was on a team led by Coach Yu. She is a coach with extensive expertise, vision, and complete faith in the team members. It was improbable that I would have been given the opportunity to compete in another tournament after my initial performance on the field. Coach Yu, on the other hand, remained firm despite popular opinion and offered me another chance. In the end, I won the championship in the second match and gradually made my way to the present… I believe contestant  Li Cheng must have something unique about him.  Since the match hasn’t yet begun, let’s not award him a predetermined ‘result’ and instead wait to see how he performs.”

The female commentator had stated Xiao Yiheng’s feelings. He was well aware that Li Cheng was now the team’s best hope for victory in the championship. He wished for more people to believe in him, to encourage him, and to witness his ascension to the summit.

The match was about to start soon. 

The aerial link between the studio and the commentators was severed, and the entire screen was cut to the competition scene.

The male and female commentators’ voices got more solemn.

“It’s finally time for the athletes to enter the stadium. Australia is a strong country in the sport of speed swimming. Australia is represented by three of the ten finalists. We can see that the entire audience is made up of Australians.”

The director cut to a view of the swimming pool. Just like the commentator said, the entire auditorium was almost completely covered in the Australian flag. 

“In 6 a.m. domestic time, the Chinese swimming team is competing at an away venue. Disruption of the biological clock will have an impact on their performance.” The female commentator took a brief pause. “Li Cheng finished second in the semifinals and is now on the sixth lane. Alexander, an Australian native, is in the fifth lane on the left. Among the newer generation of Australian players, he is a well-known short-distance freestyle athlete. This is not his first time competing in an international competition.”

The camera panned to the lounge’s exit. Despite the fact that the game had not yet begun, Alexander raised the Australian flag in advance, as if he had already won the championship. He went triumphantly out of the lounge, waving to the spectators in all directions, eliciting waves of applause.

 

Li Cheng was the second individual to appear on the field.

Li Cheng was in the “enemy camp,” and there were hardly any black-haired and dark-eyed compatriots in the audience, yet he remained calm and confident. He was dressed in a sports jacket, looking like a general in battle-gear. 

Xiao Yiheng subconsciously stretched his fingers out and stroked the screen, his fingertips running over Li Cheng’s smile at the corner of his mouth, as if he had actually touched his beloved.

Li Cheng came to a halt at the sixth lane’s starting block, removed his jacket and slippers, donned a swimming cap and goggles, and shook his hands and feet.

Alexander, who was standing in the fifth lane, turned to face Li Cheng. They didn’t say anything to each other, but the camera clearly captured the clash of their gaze.

“Oh! It appears that there is a strong smell of gunpowder between the two players,” the male commentator exclaimed. 

The female observer: “Their results in the semi-finals differed by only 0.03 seconds. Li Cheng is a significant threat to Alexander.”

“Is Alexander an alpha?”

“Yes, the Australian swimming team has sent a full alpha lineup this time.”

“I’m sure Li Cheng is under a lot of pressure.” 

Following the topic, the two commenters added a few more remarks. The tournament was finally going to begin.

When the preliminary whistle blew, ten contenders stepped on the starting block and moved into take-off positions, and ten seconds later, the referee officially blew the starting whistle!!

Ten contestants entered the water at the same time in front of the spectators!!

It was difficult to capture the speed with the naked eye! 

The commentators all started speaking at the same moment.

 

“Li Cheng performed extremely well with the quick take-off speed, which is considerably better than his performance in the domestic competition,” said the female analyst.

The male observer: “Li Cheng has his own pace. We can see that he is now in second position, half an arm’s length behind Alexander, who is first, and the third is a Canadian who is not far behind Li Cheng—excellent, Li Cheng has touched the wall and turned around!” 

“Beautiful! That is stunning!” As she continued, the female analyst became more animated, “Li Cheng is an omega, and his explosive force is slightly inferior to that of an alpha, but his technical level is extremely high. His take-off reaction and tumble turn speed are exceptionally rapid, and his technical skill is the highest among players his age.”

The 200m freestyle race was incredibly fast. In the finals, no athlete held back their strength, straining themselves from the start. They demonstrated their true abilities by chasing each other and sprinting to the finish line.

 

Li Cheng hit the wall for the second time after swimming 100 meters and turned around. The upper right corner of the screen displayed the results of the top three participants striking the wall at the same time. At this point, the difference between Li Cheng and first place Alexander was only 0.01!!

0.01, only 0.01!! 

The female commentator exclaimed excitedly: “0.01 second!!! Li Cheng!!! Li Cheng!!! You’ve got this, you’ve got this, you’ve got this medal!!!”

As long as Li Cheng maintained that speed, he could get at least a silver medal!!

It would be the first medal of the Chinese swimming team in this competition!!

The male commentator was also excited: “Contestant Li Cheng has begun to speed up, his legs moving rapidly in the water. He’s going very well, he’s doing wonderful. Li Cheng is accelerating, Alexander is also accelerating, it’s the final 70 meters, 60 meters, the last fifty meters!!” 

While staring at the TV, Xiao Yiheng couldn’t help but hold his breath. He couldn’t breathe, and his entire focus was on the tiny figure on the screen.

From above, the camera cast a wide view of the entire swimming pool. The 10 competitors had already separated, with the two athletes in the fifth and sixth lanes in the middle sprinting to the front, leading with a full body position and opening up a stunning “人” shape with other players!

Too fast, they were swimming too fast.

Li Cheng stroked his arms alternately. He was around ten centimeters shorter than Alexander, therefore his arm length was likewise shorter, causing him to travel significantly less distance with each stroke than Alexander. He could only speed up his hand and foot movements. From the camera, he appeared to be soaring over the sea rather than swimming! He was gliding up and down the water on his arms, which served as his wings! 

It was the final fifty meters, the final fifty meters, and Li Cheng hit the wall and turned around for the final time!

He surpassed his opponent with a furious kick of his legs, demonstrating the skills he had honed through tens of thousands of exercises!!

Yes, Li Cheng was in first place!

“He has surpassed Alexander!!” The female announcer almost screamed, saying hoarsely, “Li Cheng has jumped to first place with this last tumble turn!!! Li Cheng!!! The top spot!!! Let’s go!!! Hurry up!!!!” 

This, however, was not Li Cheng’s only surprise for the crowd.

When Li Cheng was barely fifty meters from the finish line, he had no idea that an invisible yellow line had emerged in front of his arm at the same time!

This yellow line was invisible to the contestants and spectators in the stadium. Only the crowd and commentators seated in front of the TV screen were able to see it.

That—was the record line. 

The yellow record line represented the best results recorded during an event. Each athlete’s ultimate goal was not to win the championship, but to break the invisible record; to break the record line and then update it with their own results! Then, engrave their name in the competition’s history.

Xiao Yiheng tightened his fists and tensed up involuntarily in front of the phone’s screen.

 

It was the official record line… It was the official record line… His ChengCheng was on the verge of breaking the world record for the event!

A European player who had become an overnight star at the time set the record line eight years ago. That athlete was now a world-renowned “champion harvester,” with many Olympic gold medals in his pocket. 

If Li Cheng was able to break his world record, would this suggest that he would continue to rise in the future, eventually stepping onto the podium of the Olympic Games and becoming the center of public attention?

40 meters, 30 meters, 20 meters…

Li Cheng was moving closer and closer to the yellow line…

“Come on, Li Cheng!!!” screamed the male announcer, his voice hoarse. “You’re nearly there!!! Li Cheng!!!!! It’s only half an arm………just one palm, half a palm—surpassed! He has surpassed!!! Li Cheng has broken the world record!” 

Li Cheng—he set a new world record!

Li Cheng pumped on one more burst of speed and pushed himself to the edge, his entire right arm crossing the yellow line. He also touched the wall at the same time!!

Li Cheng broke the world record set by a European athlete eight years ago with a full arm distance and won this hard-fought tournament!!

All of the members of the Chinese swimming team hugged each other in the lounge, and practically everyone was crying. They were happy tears. The Chinese swimming team finally won a medal at the World Youth Games, a gold medal that broke the event’s world record! 

Li Cheng emerged from the water in the swimming pool. Before he could even look at the screen, he heard a chorus of voices yelling, “Congratulations! We have a new world record!”

Despite his poor English, he could understand these three words!!

His eyes widened in disbelief, and he shivered slightly in the water. He had given his all in this match, and knowing that Alexander was gaining ground, he could only strive to catch up.

He not only caught up to and overtook him, but he also broke the world record!! 

He didn’t have time to be concerned about the defeated general’s expression. His entire being was enveloped in bliss.

He… he truly triumphed.

He had really achieved his goal!

… … 

Seventeen years ago, a baby boy was born on the water, with the sea as his home.

Eight years ago, the boy lost his parents forever, but he did not lose his dream of swimming.

 

Five years ago, he took on the task of buying sweets for his baby sister, and competed in a swimming competition to earn bonus money for the first time.

Three years ago, he differentiated into an omega. Despite the fact that no one was optimistic about him, he persisted in his career path. 

That omega boy was now on top of the world. He had dispelled all preconceptions, suspicions, and misgivings. With his own strength, he had demonstrated that he was capable.

His name would be etched in the annals of this event, and his name would stand as an unrivaled record.

New competitors would chase the yellow line he represented in every future competition.

He was deserving of the title of world champion. 

His name would be remembered throughout the world.

—His name was Li Cheng.

… …

The capital of China. 

Xiao Yiheng saw Li Cheng’s results and the glittering gold medal that appeared in front of his name on the large screen.

The alpha chuckled and murmured: “My boyfriend is fantastic. If I don’t work hard, I won’t be worthy of him.”