Free Web NovelChapter 130: Chapter 105: Entering Plateau Training, System Mission Refreshed
After the fourth race of the professional league, the Wenzhou Leqing Station, Huang Chong had completely solidified his lead in the overall standings.
As the first domestic professional league held since the association’s reforms, it was the prevailing belief among the riders and coaching staff of all the Intercontinental Teams that he would very likely wear the overall leader’s Red Jersey from the first race all the way to the finals.
Of course, with the tour just past its halfway point, Huang Chong himself couldn’t afford to get complacent.
He was simply doing as Coach Li had suspected: widening his lead in the professional league’s overall standings to focus more on the 22nd Tour of Qinghai Lake, which was just a week away. This would prevent any unexpected complications and keep him from being stretched too thin.
The Hengxiang Team would not be participating in the Tour of Qinghai Lake under its own name this year.
Therefore, if Huang Chong wanted to compete, his only option was to rejoin the National Team.
For a Pro Level UCI event like this, everyone knew in their hearts that even though many domestic Intercontinental Teams were participating, the main contenders for the overall victory would undoubtedly be the Pro Level teams from Europe.
The local government had already officially announced the list of all participating teams.
Chen Junyi handed a printed document to Huang Chong, who was packing his bags for the trip to Qinghai, and said:
"Take a look, Huang Chong. I’ve compiled the roster of teams for the Tour of Qinghai Lake."
"A total of 22 teams have registered, with a tentative count of 154 athletes. Each team can field seven riders."
"Among them are five Professional Teams, fifteen Intercontinental Teams, and two National Teams."
"Those two are the Thailand National Team and the Mongolian National Team!"
"As for our own National Team, we’re considered a special guest team from the host nation, so we aren’t counted among the registered teams."
After hearing what Chen Junyi said, Huang Chong took the list and glanced at it, but his expression immediately stiffened.
It was because he couldn’t read the English names on the list...
The curse of being a bad student was laid bare once again.
More importantly, in his past life, he had focused all his attention on the World Tour Teams.
He could recite the names of the 18 World Tour Teams by heart, but he had paid zero attention to the 18 Professional Teams in the tier below them.
Chen Junyi noticed the awkwardness on his face, and the corners of her mouth curled into a slight smile.
But being both beautiful and kind-hearted, she wouldn’t expose his predicament or openly mock him.
She immediately took the document back and said considerately,
"Hold on, I’ll translate them into Chinese for you."
A moment later, she used a pen to add the Chinese translations next to the English team names before handing the document back to Huang Chong.
Huang Chong took the document and looked at it again, only to find that Chen Junyi’s handwriting was also surprisingly beautiful.
They say handwriting reflects one’s character. He hadn’t expected a student who had studied abroad to be so skilled in an authentic semi-cursive script; she hadn’t forgotten her roots at all.
Judging by her proficiency, it was clear she had been practicing since childhood, diligently copying from calligraphy masters.
Semi-cursive script is known for its flexibility, a middle ground between cursive and standard script. It’s more formal than cursive yet more lively than standard, making it one of the most commonly used styles in daily life.
However, achieving a level of mastery that is truly pleasing to the eye is no easy feat.
As one of the classical arts of China, calligraphy also requires innate talent to achieve any real mastery.
Although Huang Chong’s own handwriting wasn’t bad, he could tell at a glance that his self-taught, maverick style was worlds apart from Chen Junyi’s traditionally trained mastery.
In short, he had never seriously practiced by copying from a model.
"Sometimes, I really hate people like you who are naturally good at everything."
Huang Chong sighed, looking at Chen Junyi with a wry smile as he couldn’t resist a sarcastic dig.
Then, his eyes scanned the team names she had translated on the document:
The Italy Bardiani Team and the Corratec Team.
The Spain Basque Telecommunication Team and the Burgos BH Team.
The New Zealand Black Spoke Team.
The Colombia Medellin Team.
The Australia St. George Team.
The Belgium Tarteletto-Isorex Team.
The Norway Coop Repsol Team.
The Dutch ABLOC CT Team.
The Philippines 7-11 Continental Team.
The Indonesia Nusantara Continental Team.
And from China: the Huaxing, Li Ning Star, Qinghai Tianyoude, Henan BDR-Blueprint, Shandong Green Orange, Shenzhen Xidesheng, and Wind Thunder Continental Teams, among others.
Chen Junyi was taken aback by Huang Chong’s sudden declaration of "hate." She froze for a moment before asking, annoyed,
"What did you mean by that? Why would you suddenly say something like that?"
Hearing this, Huang Chong couldn’t help but roll his eyes at her and say, completely exasperated,
"What else could it mean—
"It means a genius like you is better at everything than a mere mortal like me, and you learn everything faster than an ordinary person like me.
"Look at you! It’s one thing that you’re a better student, but even your handwriting is better than mine!
"Are you even going to let the rest of us live?
"Sometimes I really feel that fate is so unfair.
"Why is there such a gap in natural aptitude even before we’re born?
"You’re such a good student, so you must know that the real differences between people—their natural abilities—are determined in the womb."
Hearing such profound words from Huang Chong, Chen Junyi was momentarily left speechless.
She was, in fact, one of the gifted. From elementary school through college, she had always ranked first or second in her entire grade.
