Cycling: Racing into the Headwind

Even for someone as exceptional as her, there were no guarantees when it came to this.

They say love makes a person humble, and that’s absolutely true.

Because love isn’t rational!

It didn’t matter if you were a top graduate from Birmingham or came from a wealthy family; if the other person didn’t like her, they just didn’t like her. There was nothing anyone could do.

But this wasn’t something to rush. It could be a slow burn, something to be taken one step at a time.

Right now, the most important thing was to help Huang Chong with signing a contract with an Intercontinental Team.

Offers from three teams were already in Huang Chong’s hands. And since it was currently the winter transfer window, the matter had to be put on the agenda as soon as possible.

Once he signed, he would have to officially enter the professional league next year. He wouldn’t just have to report to the team’s headquarters but also participate in winter training. The schedule was tight.

Zhang Guowei had even told her that before they returned to Hangcheng, the three teams had been blowing up his office phone, demanding he release Huang Chong immediately so he could join their respective teams.

One team even dropped the name of a high-level leader, the implication being to use their clout to pressure him.

This put Zhang Guowei in a very difficult position.

’Damn it,’ he thought. ’This apprentice of mine I barely got for free... we haven’t even gotten to know each other properly, and now he’s not just a hot commodity, but a hot potato.’

But as a minor director of the cycling program, he knew full well that agreeing to any one team would be bad and easily offend the others. So, he decided to let Huang Chong make the decision himself.

「After Huang Chong’s triumphant return」, Zhang Guowei immediately called him into his office.

Although he wanted to put on his usual stern facade, Huang Chong’s recent double-gold victory at the National Road Cycling Championships made him so happy he couldn’t stop grinning.

After all, the provincial games’ gold medals were for an event their own bureau hosted. It wouldn’t have been that surprising even if he won gold there.

But the National Championships were a different story.

For Huang Chong to win a gold medal in a national-level competition, especially as part of the relatively weak Zhejiang Team, the credit would go straight to him, the head of the cycling program.

Zhang Guowei waited until Chen Junyi had also rushed back from home before speaking to Huang Chong:

"You’ve done really well, kid. Not only have you raised your skill to the top national ranks in just a few short months, but you’ve also attracted a bunch of Intercontinental Teams to actively recruit you."

"So, tell me, what are your plans? Which team do you want to join?"

"You already met with the managers from all the teams during the competition in Changzhou, so I assume I don’t need to give you their information!"

Huang Chong was quite surprised to hear Zhang Guowei say this.

He had originally thought that since he had just joined the provincial team and was now leaving in less than half a year, on top of winning consecutive championships, Zhang Guowei wouldn’t want to let him go.

’Looks like I was overthinking things.’

He didn’t hesitate. He first glanced at Chen Junyi, who smiled and nodded at him, then replied directly:

"Director Zhang, my personal preference is to join the Hengxiang Continental Team!"

After speaking, he repeated the reasons he had previously given Chen Junyi.

After hearing him out, Zhang Guowei was inwardly surprised by his choice but didn’t say much.

The logical choice for most people would have been Huaxing. After all, it was a team with official backing; its resources and training conditions were undoubtedly the best.

But since Huang Chong didn’t want to be far from home or too far from the provincial team, he had nothing more to say and simply nodded.

"Alright, I understand your thinking. You’ve got a good heart, kid. Even though you’re about to join an Intercontinental Team, you haven’t forgotten the provincial team. Zhang Yi wasn’t wrong about you."

Zhang Guowei praised Huang Chong before continuing:

"I’ll arrange for the professional staff on our team to negotiate with Manager Li of the Hengxiang Continental Team first."

"Once the specific contract content and detailed clauses are all hammered out, we’ll have you review it."

"If there are no problems, you will give your personal consent and sign it."

"For now, you and Xiaochen should go to the celebration banquet. I’ve had the cafeteria add a few special dishes tonight to celebrate our great hero properly."

"Consider it a farewell banquet from me, your cheap master!"

"But you must remember, even after you go to the Intercontinental Team, you have to train hard and improve your performance. Strive to fight your way into the World Tour as soon as possible and bring glory to our country!"

Hearing this, Huang Chong nodded heavily and thanked him sincerely:

"Thank you, Master. Don’t worry, once I’m on the Intercontinental Team, I will work twice as hard in training and continue to improve my skills!"

...

After leaving Zhang Guowei’s office, Huang Chong and Chen Junyi went to the cafeteria for the celebration banquet.

As the gold medal winner, he was, without a doubt, the absolute star of the evening.

However, the team had strict rules: athletes were absolutely forbidden from drinking alcohol and could only have soft drinks.

Amid the compliments from his teammates, and after everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Chen Junyi brought over two forms for him to sign.

One was a bonus application form for winning the National Road Cycling Championships, and the other was an application for the title of Athletic Champion.

Looking at these two forms, Huang Chong felt a wave of emotion.

From the time he resolved to become a Professional Cyclist in Dewey’s shop until now, only half a year had passed, and he had already reached the level of an Athletic Champion.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call his growth rate rocket-like.

You had to understand, for a normal cyclist to reach his level, they not only had to start training from childhood but also possess top-tier talent and endure immense hardship.

And starting next year, he would even be going head-to-head with World Tour Cyclists.

As for the highest title, International-level Athletic Champion, he wasn’t capable of obtaining it just yet. After all, that distinction could only be earned at the Olympics or the World Championships.