Chapter 278 I Should Have Listened to You

Noon on the 17th, Pudong International Airport.

After an hour or two of struggling, Xu Chen finally completed the messy procedures and processes for customs clearance and security check.

The outbound flight procedures these days are really complicated and serious…

After walking a long distance, we finally arrived at the designated boarding gate.

There was still plenty of time, so I found an empty seat and checked my phone while waiting for the flight.

Nie Fei contacted Xu Chen this morning to confirm the location, meeting time and arrangements for tomorrow’s game.

Sister Fei will take the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka today, and will go directly to the venue to meet Xu Chen tomorrow morning.

Nie Fei also sent a few photos, which were some TV footage, newspaper pages, etc. that she took in Japan these two days, all about tomorrow’s game.

Just like the online links Wu Feifei sent yesterday, tomorrow’s game is also a hot topic in Japan.

In an eight-person final across East Asia, Japanese players took seven seats, which is indeed worthy of their pride and discussion.

At the same time, Xu Chen also reported some hot discussions on the domestic Internet to Nie Fei.

Nie Fei seemed to have already known the popularity of the issue in China, and replied in the message:
[It seems that there is no need to wait until the Asian Games. After this competition, Xie Bingran’s popularity and reputation will rise…]

Xu Chen had to admit that the current popularity was indeed beyond his expectations.

The main reason is that it happened to fall on September 18th, and it faced the extreme situation of “One China versus Seven Days”, which was bound to attract heated discussions and attention from the entire network.

Nie Fei also mentioned:
[Our CEO Chen sent me a message today, saying that he should have listened to Teacher Xu Chen earlier…

After listening to the report that day, we should have quickly signed Xie Bingran.

After tomorrow’s competition, Xie Bingran’s reputation and fame will rise, and it will be difficult to negotiate the price. 】

Xu Chen smiled and thought about it, and realized that it was indeed the case.

When the proposal was made that day, Xu Chen said that Xie Bingran should be signed as soon as possible.

But at that time, Chen Jinru was not particularly confident in Xie Bingran’s tracking ability.

That’s why we decided to wait and see the results of the Osaka competition before pushing for the signing…

After the current popularity, Xie Bingran’s commercial value has already fully qualified him as a “popular sports star”.

Moreover, with the topic exploding, the commercial value of some domestic Olympic champions may not be as good as that of Brother Bing in Tomorrow.

Of course, the premise of all this is that in tomorrow’s race, Xie Bingran can achieve a good result with “strong persuasiveness”.

……

Sister Fang Jun also sent Xu Chen a few photos.

Xu Chen clicked it and took a look, and couldn’t help but look speechless.

The Morning Breeze Technology Park was actually filled with banners cheering for Xie Bingran.

It goes without saying that this was the work of father Xu Zhiquan.

It seems that the enthusiasm for Xie Bingran’s game tomorrow has already spread to his hometown Tiancheng.

Fang Jun also mentioned in the message:

[Your dad has arranged a factory-wide event tomorrow. Let’s watch Brother Bing’s game together in the auditorium…

Sister Yue is almost worried to death. This is a big impromptu event, and it is not easy to organize. 】

Xu Chen: “…”

He thought about it and replied in the message:

[Tell Sister Yue not to be too stressed out and not to be too meticulous about every detail.

My dad is actually a rough person and doesn’t pay much attention to details.

Just get everyone together, watch the game and that’s it, no need to bother with anything else. 】

……

Director Feng Siliang of the Municipal Propaganda Department also contacted Xu Chen:

[Led by Secretary Xia Gang, the city’s media need to urgently launch a round of publicity.

Currently, we are working on the corresponding planning proposals, manuscripts, etc.

When it comes out today, I will need Teacher Xu’s help to check and give me advice! 】

Xu Chen: [No problem, Director Feng! But I’m on the plane and won’t be able to reply in time.

You can leave me a message first, I will reply after I land! 】

Feng Siliang: [Thank you, Teacher Xiao Xu! ]

We must try our best to meet Director Feng’s needs.

Later, when “Morning Breeze Ice Power” was launched for promotion, as long as Director Feng Siliang said a word, at least all the media in the city would be able to cooperate.

At least, we don’t have to worry too much about local publicity and promotion in Tiancheng.

……

……

On the plane, Xu Chen fell into a drowsy sleep and was awakened by a burst of noise around him.

I opened my eyes and saw that the people in the cabin were looking out the window.

“Look! Mount Fuji!”

“We are so lucky. The weather is good today and we can see it so clearly!”

Xu Chen opened the sunshade, turned his head and looked down, and saw the highest peak in Japan, which is also one of the most famous active volcanoes in the world.

The round hole on the snowy mountain top is connected to the hot lava deep in the earth…

In his previous life, Xu Chen had been to the “Oshino Hakkai” and had seen the mountain from afar beside the clear spring formed by the melted snow of Mount Fuji.

It’s like an eternity.

……

……

Afternoon, Osaka Kansai Airport.

Xu Chen staggered around with his backpack and decided to have a meal at the airport.

Kansai Airport is not big but it is fun to visit. There is a place similar to a “food city” on the second floor.

Fried pork cutlet, sushi, udon, gyudon…

Everything is available.

Even the McDonald’s here is very famous and is said to have delicious surprises that you can’t find anywhere else.

But Xu Chen was still not interested in McDonald’s, so he found a store that sold various snacks such as okonomiyaki, fried pork chops, and octopus balls.

After we sat down, a Japanese girl in uniform came over and asked about food in Japanese.

Japanese people generally don’t speak English well, but fortunately the menu pictures and prices are clearly marked. Xu Chen just pointed a few times and the order was successfully placed.

While waiting to eat, I vaguely felt someone looking at me from behind…

Xu Chen turned his head and took a look, looking confused and speechless, but then he put on a well-behaved smile:

“You’re here too…why didn’t you tell me?”

Wu Feifei was sitting at a table inside. She smiled awkwardly and walked over with a tray.

“It’s because you always dislike me that I don’t dare to tell you.”

“…”

Wu Feifei smiled:

“I’m just kidding! I’m just afraid of disturbing you and Brother Bing.

I came here to cheer for Brother Bing and to have fun in Guanxi for two days…”

Xu Chen looked around: “One person?”

Wu Feifei: “I’m alone. Japan is not bad. It’s actually very safe.”

Xu Chen: “…”

The waiter came over with a tray, which contained the fried pork chop and udon noodles that Xu Chen had ordered, plus an additional portion of octopus balls.

I just ate some nuts on the plane and I’m really hungry now.

The fried pork chop is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, which is also very satisfying…

Xu Chen took a few bites and said:

“Brother Bing and I are both taking a flight back the day after tomorrow. Are you sure it’s okay for you to stay here?”

Wu Feifei: “Don’t worry! I have a classmate studying in Tokyo. I will go visit her the day after tomorrow.”

Xu Chen smiled and said, “That’s good!” Wu Feifei took out her phone and suddenly said excitedly:

“I’ve read a lot of Japanese reports these past two days and done a lot of research!”

Xu Chen: “Oh?”

Wu Feifei looked serious:
“Among Bing Ge’s seven opponents in the finals, there are two who may pose a threat to her.”

……

Wu Feifei was flipping through the information on her mobile phone while analyzing it for Xu Chen.

It turns out that there are indeed many outstanding players in this generation of Japanese women’s short track events.

In tomorrow’s finals, there are two girls who are both 12 years old, and their PB (personal best) has been under seconds…

One is called Akabane Kaoru, whose personal best is 12 seconds.

Another one is Colorful Sanji, with a personal best of 12 seconds…

Wu Feifei continued:
“Although these two are only 20 years old, they are already among the top performers in Japan.

And according to Japanese media, their current ranks are both among the top in Asia…

Brother Bing ran 12 seconds in the National Games, which is a better result than both of them.

But I read some professional analysis from Japanese media, as well as some professional comments from domestic media, and they all said that there is still a lot of suspense in the final.

12秒62和12秒89、12秒94，已经是在相同的竞技段位了。

And the difference is actually very small. Some accidental factors such as starting point, wind speed, and mentality may reverse the results…

So now the Japanese media and the Japanese people are still very optimistic about their two players!”

She paused, revealing a trace of worry:
“The main reason is that Brother Bing is playing away from home, and everyone in the live audience tomorrow will be cheering for the other seven contestants.

I wonder if Brother Bing’s mentality will be affected…

I’ve read a lot of professional analysis, and at the top level, the difference in pure competitive ability is actually minimal, and what really matters is mentality!”

Xu Chen chewed the fried pork chop with big mouthfuls and just smiled indifferently.

Wu Feifei: “You seem to never worry about Brother Bing’s game!”

Xu Chen was eating something and mumbling:
“As long as Brother Bing doesn’t run away with it, there will be no problem.”

……

……

After finishing their meal, the two of them went together to take a taxi.

Both are staying near the Nagai Stadium where tomorrow’s game will be held, but they are in two different hotels.

As soon as Wu Feifei got in the car, she told the driver the locations of the two hotels in her not-so-fluent Japanese.

The driver had gray hair and looked to be in his sixties or seventies.

He was driving a black Crown Comfort, which was scrubbed so clean that it could be used as a mirror.

This classic Toyota old model is the same model as many taxis in Hong Kong Island…

Osaka is the second largest city in Japan, and its transportation is well-connected.

The taxi was speeding on the highway, and on both sides, buildings that looked very Japanese were whizzing backwards.

During the chat, Xu Chen learned that Wu Feifei had been to Japan with her father when she was a child, but she didn’t have any specific memories of it.

So this trip to Osaka still had a sense of freshness, like “first time here”.

Xu Chen couldn’t help but say:

“You are so brave, going on a long journey like this by yourself!”

Wu Feifei didn’t say anything, just smiled generously.

……

It’s better to send Wu Feifei to the hotel first. It happens to be next to the Changju Stadium, so it will be very convenient for her to walk there tomorrow.

After turning the car around and crossing two roads, we arrived at the “Yasaka Hotel” where Xu Chen was staying.

The old driver didn’t speak English, but he pointed to the meter very skillfully.

As Xu Chen paid, he calculated in his mind that it was about 500 RMB…

This was 06.

Taking a taxi in Japan is really expensive!
……

The room is not spacious, but it is exquisite and clean.

Xu Chen rummaged through the small refrigerator and took out a bottle of iced brown rice tea.

He sat lazily on the fabric sofa and turned on the TV with the remote control.

I randomly switched to a few local TV stations and sure enough, I saw reports about tomorrow’s game.

I also met several players that Wu Feifei had just mentioned, including Akabane Kaoru, Tada Miyoshi, etc.

Xu Chen didn’t understand Japanese, but from the news reports, it seemed that the seven finalists were being promoted as “Japanese heroes.”

Especially Akabane Kaoru and Tada Miyoshi, the shots are also extremely cool.

After waiting for a long time, Xu Chen finally introduced the opponents of these seven people tomorrow, the only “foreign” player who made it to the finals.

It was indeed very brief, without even a dedicated shot.

Only simple information is listed in words on the screen.

Mainly Xie Bingran’s individual qualifying data in the group stage and semi-finals…

Judging from the data from the group stage and semi-finals, it was indeed not too “eye-catching”.

Xu Chen took a sip of the cool brown rice tea, but couldn’t help but smile.

Brother Bing, it’s obvious that he’s running away again.

……

……

Tired from the journey, Xu Chen decided to take a hot shower first.

When I lay down comfortably, it was already completely dark outside.

But the lights were bright, and shadows filled the large glass windows.

Some messages popped up on Xu Chen’s phone. He opened them and saw that they were from the class’s QQ group.

In the group, people were actually discussing the “East Asian Youth Games” to be held in Osaka tomorrow.

Obviously, tomorrow’s game has spread across the campus of Tonghai University.

Perhaps it is related to Senior Sister Bai Miao, so the topic is easier to penetrate.

What’s more, this competition is already causing heated discussions across the Internet.

……

In the class group, “Little Prince of Jiangsu and Zhejiang” Qian Xin really became Bing Ge’s “little fanboy”.

He forwarded all the previous news reports about Xie Bingran to the group and proposed seriously:

“Let’s find a place tomorrow and watch this classmate Xie Bingran’s game together!”

Huang Hao quickly responded in the group:
“Do you want to go to the lecture hall in the Little Yellow Building? It’s empty in the morning, and there’s a big TV and a projector…”

Then a few other boys started talking to me.

Obviously, during the day today, several boys had already had several rounds of heated discussions about tomorrow’s game and the “ruthless girl”.

Even the deputy monitor Huo Dashan took the initiative to say:
“I’ll go talk to the academy teacher and I can borrow the lecture hall!”

In the group, some girls still didn’t know the situation, and the message asked:

“What kind of game is this?”

“Who is Xie Bingran? Why haven’t I heard of him?”

“Women’s 100-meter hurdles? Why isn’t Senior Bai Miao here?!”

……

Qian Xin and Huang Hao immediately acted as “popular science experts” and exaggerated the causes and consequences of tomorrow’s competition.

When they heard information such as “One to Seven” and “September 18th”, even a group of girls who didn’t care about current affairs and sports were instantly interested.

And when they saw Xie Bingran’s cool and sassy look through the link that Qian Xin transferred to the group, they were all shocked:

“This ruthless lady… is so cool!”

(End of this chapter)