Cycling: Racing into the Headwind

After the dinner with the Windward Team, Huang Chong’s association with Wang Qiang and the others came to a close.

He went home and shared the news of joining the provincial team with his good friend, Dewey.

"What? You’re joining the provincial team? This fast?"

After hearing the news, Dewey’s first reaction wasn’t how he did it, but how it happened so quickly.

After all, only a month had passed since Huang Chong had declared his ambition to become a Professional Cyclist. It had truly caught him off guard.

He had thought that no matter how fast Huang Chong progressed, it would take at least half a year, or even a year or two, of training before he’d have a shot at an amateur team. He never expected him to get straight into the provincial team.

"Old Huang, be honest with me. Back when we were riding together, were you holding back to spare my feelings? Otherwise, I just can’t believe someone’s cycling ability could improve this fast!"

Huang Chong just smiled calmly, not wanting to over-explain.

"You can think of it that way."

Hearing this, Dewey playfully punched him on the bicep and said, annoyed,

"I knew there was more to you than meets the eye! Alright, since you’re joining the provincial team, this is fantastic news. Let’s have a proper get-together before you leave. I’ll call Wu Fang right now!"

Huang Chong had no objections to this arrangement and nodded in agreement.

However, before their dinner, Zhang Yi first took him to the Provincial Sports Bureau for a physical assessment. Then, following the special talent recruitment channel provided by Zhang Guowei, he registered as a cyclist and joined the China Bicycle Association as a member. Everything went smoothly.

"Huang Chong, as of today, you are an official Professional Cyclist.

Although you’re still a reserve cyclist for now, I believe that if you train diligently and build up your muscle weaknesses in the coming months, your abilities will definitely rise to the next level.

When that time comes, the coach will most likely have you participate in the Provincial Games, which are held every four years and happen to be this year.

And as long as you can get good results in the Provincial Games, you’ll be promoted to a full member, and you might even be designated a Level 1 Road Cyclist.

After that, you’ll be able to represent the provincial team in the National Road Cycling Championships, which have been postponed until the end of the year.

Remember, our province is just starting out in road cycling. We’re definitely not as strong as the traditional powerhouses from other provinces, like the Longjiang Team or the Shandong Team. You’re currently assigned to train with the track cycling program, but you must still take it seriously.

Track cycling is basically the equivalent of ITT in road cycling. Both are endurance-based training. If you want to go far in your professional career, ITT is something you can’t avoid no matter what, so keep up the hard work.

In the future, if you run into any difficulties—like if the training gets too monotonous or you start to lose confidence—you can contact me anytime. I’m pretty experienced in that area!"

After completing all the procedures, Huang Chong was now ready to report to the Cycling Management Center at any time. Holding his official Professional Cyclist identification, he felt a surge of excitement.

The path to the dream that had been unattainable in his past life was now laid out at his feet. All he had to do was lift his leg and step onto it.

He gave Zhang Yi, who had spent nearly the entire day rushing around different departments for him, a deep, formal bow and said with heartfelt sincerity:

"Thank you, Captain. They say great kindness needs no thanks, but after receiving so much help from you, I feel I have to thank you in person.

Also, don’t worry. I will seize every opportunity to prove myself. I won’t let you down, and I won’t let the coach down.

Since our province is a latecomer in road cycling, I’ll be the underdog who comes out on top. I will definitely win a gold medal in a national competition and give it to you as a souvenir!"

Zhang Yi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when he heard Huang Chong’s last statement.

But on second thought, for someone like him who came from an athletic background, this promise was the greatest form of romance—even greater than the love between a man and a woman.

After all, during his years as an athlete, the best he had ever achieved was a provincial bronze medal.

A national gold medal was something he had never even dared to dream of.

"Alright, then I’ll be waiting for your good news. I’ll be at home waiting for CCTV-5 to broadcast the news of you winning an award. Until we meet again!"

With that, Zhang Yi got into his private car and slowly drove away.

...

「Three days later.」

Wu Fang, who was always engrossed in her work, finally found some free time to attend Huang Chong’s send-off dinner.

Along with Wu Fang came her best friend.

Huang Chong had met this girl once before but didn’t know her well, so he found it a bit strange that Wu Fang brought her to his farewell dinner.

But since she was already here, it was just a matter of adding another pair of chopsticks. He couldn’t really say anything, so he just offered a polite greeting.

Huang Chong wanted to treat everyone, but Dewey absolutely refused to let him, so he didn’t insist.

’I’ll just have to wait until I get good results, make a lot of money, and then repay my good brother.’

"Old Huang, there were over 40 people in our university class, almost 30 guys living in five different dorms, but you and I were the closest. Do you know why?"

After a few rounds of drinks, Dewey, whose face was flushed, began to get sentimental again.

Huang Chong knew he got like this as soon as he touched alcohol, so he replied with a deliberately narcissistic comment:

"Because I’m handsome?"

"Get outta here! I’m not gay, so what’s the use of you being handsome?

The reason we’re good friends is because I can see that you have your own convictions.

Whatever it is you like to do, no matter how hard or difficult, you’ll put in the effort to learn it, figure out the path, and then accomplish it bit by bit.

Take now, for example. Neither I nor Eldest Young Master Zhou dared to walk the path of a Professional Cyclist, but you charged ahead without a second thought, and you actually did it. That’s why I admire you!"

Huang Chong could only laugh it off. It was really awkward to talk about these things with a stranger at the table, so he deliberately changed the subject:

"Cut the crap. You think I don’t know what you’re really thinking? You’re just grateful to me because I helped you with so much of your coursework in college that you didn’t have to retake any failed classes!"

Dewey: "..."

Seeing Huang Chong’s humorous remark, Wu Fang and her friend both smiled.

Afterwards, the dinner ended and everyone went their separate ways. Wu Fang’s friend drove herself home, while Wu Fang went to stay at Dewey’s place.

Although they were still just dating, they were having their engagement banquet at the end of the year and were already no different from an old married couple.

After the young couple returned to their room, Dewey, who had seemed so drunk at the table, immediately sobered up and asked his partner:

"So? What did your friend think of my buddy?"

Wu Fang, who had brought her friend specifically to check out a potential boyfriend, heard the question, shook her head, and replied:

"Not great. She talked to me for a bit when she was leaving. Said that Huang Chong is indeed handsome, but he’s too skinny. An adult man being that thin doesn’t give a sense of security.

I thought so too about Huang Chong. Wasn’t he a little chubby just a month ago? How did he suddenly get so thin?

I was shocked when I first saw him, too. I thought he might be sick or something!"

"Bullshit! My brother just deliberately cut fat to become a Professional Cyclist. Have you ever seen a professional Road Cyclist who’s a big fat guy?"

"It would’ve been better if you hadn’t brought that up. To be honest, I think his build and all that is just an excuse.

My friend mainly feels that at his age, becoming a Professional Cyclist—especially a cyclist—what kind of future could there be in that?

So she probably thinks Huang Chong is unreliable in terms of career development and was just looking for an excuse to say no!"

When Dewey heard this, he flew into a rage and immediately started ranting:

"Fuck! She’s fucking blind, daring to look down on my brother!

No future as a Road Cyclist?

Does she have any idea that top-tier cyclists have annual salaries in the millions of euros? Even just for winning an Olympic medal, the province will award you anywhere from hundreds of thousands to a million in prize money.

Isn’t that way better than her earning a fixed, dead-end salary for the rest of her life?

And she has the nerve to look down on Huang Chong? Fine, fine, fine. A person like her is just completely clueless. Tell her to get lost!"

Wu Fang had a gentle exterior but a strong will. Seeing her boyfriend get emotional, she didn’t argue back, but simply looked at him with a reproachful look.

But in reality, she couldn’t help but feel the same way as her friend.

A woman’s way of thinking is naturally more grounded in reality.

’Huang Chong has already graduated from college, and he wants to be an athlete? Is that really feasible?

Let alone becoming a top-tier cyclist and winning some Olympic medal—’

It was just that she was looking at it from a friend’s perspective. It wasn’t *her* dating Huang Chong, so even if he really had no future, she wouldn’t react too strongly.

After all, true human nature is to remain aloof when something doesn’t concern you.

She could never be like Dewey, caring so much for his brother. The two of them were practically like twins.