Chapter 121: Sunshine, Rainbow, and the Little White Horse

"Why was your sprint team so happy this morning?" Juno asked while eating lunch in the cafeteria.

"Were we?" Tian Shiwei felt it was just like any other day.

"You were. The laughter was loud enough to almost blow the roof off, coming in waves," Juno said.

"Probably because Old Lu told a few jokes," Tian Shiwei recalled before answering.

"Rousseau tells jokes?" Zheng Ni looked over at Lu, who was burying his head in his meal. She wanted to ask, can this block of wood even laugh?

"Old Lu, give us one," Tian Shiwei urged.

Lu remained silent.

"Old Lu, don't be like that. Let’s share the joy," Tian Shiwei insisted.

Lu sighed and said, "Sunshine, Rainbow, Little White Pony."

Hahaha! Everyone burst into happy laughter. Zheng Ni laughed so hard she almost spat out her food, Tian Shiwei pounded the table, and Juno covered her mouth, trembling with laughter.

Lu watched them, feeling that they weren't quite normal.

Of course, the real reason was that the new title provided by the status bar was just too ridiculous.

Then, Lu couldn't help but laugh too—that kind of contagious laughter where you didn't intend to, but the sound of everyone else drew you in.

As he laughed, Lu noticed his stamina was actually increasing.

Happiness really is beneficial to human physical and mental health.

To digest the final two attribute points before the Universiade and reach his peak state, Lu had to play the "funny guy" for a few more days.

...

After Lu started acting like a comedian, the atmosphere in the sprint team became much more lively. Consequently, the psychological pressure on the team members eased, and their performance improved as well.

On January 11, the team held a 100-meter test in a race format.

Lu was the permanent first place, but this time he didn't wear the "Glass Crown" title; instead, he ran with the "Little White Pony" title. Using his full set of techniques, he clocked in at 10.30 seconds.

If he had worn the Glass Crown, he could likely have improved to around 10.15 seconds, or 10.10 if he didn't fear injury.

Lu felt confident, but Lu Jinrong couldn't see Lu's inner certainty. Although he was worried about the result, with the competition date approaching, he didn't want to put too much pressure on Lu and could only offer words of encouragement.

Lu, meanwhile, was pondering that the "Little White Pony" title might be suitable for 400, 800, or even 1500-meter races. If he trained properly, he might even have a shot at a triathlon.

Just think, reducing stamina consumption to one-third meant Lu could retain more energy than other competitors. When they were exhausted, Lu could still launch a sprint.

If Lu told his opponents a joke mid-race, it would be even more effective at breaking their psychological and physical defenses... absolutely not!

Lu couldn't imagine what the media would say if he won by telling jokes. Surely they wouldn't call him a stand-up master on the track, would they?

Back to the Shenzhen Sprint Team's results.

Lu took first in the 100-meter, and Tian Shiwei took second with 10.38 seconds, matching Zhang Zhen's performance at the East Asian Games. It was impressive and showed significant progress. Tian was truly talented; national team training had opened his eyes, but unfortunately, he was born in an era overflowing with "cheaters."

Third place was surprisingly Qian Feng. Although his time of 10.65 seconds was a steep drop from Lu and Tian, it showed that his 100-meter speed was above the team average.

Fourth was Lin Lishuo at 10.80 seconds.

Fifth was Wang Peng at 10.95 seconds.

Currently, only these five were competitive within the team; everyone else was over 11 seconds.

Compared to July 2004, the performance of the Shenzhen provincial team had undergone a sea change. Back then, only Tian Shiwei could break 11 seconds; now, even Lu was pushing toward 10.20 seconds.

The 100-meter rankings were set.

In the afternoon, they would head to Guangzhou for the provincial selection.

Once they passed the selection, the final roster for the 4x100-meter relay would be locked in for the National Games.

Besides Lu and Tian, who else should be selected?

"I won't mention the ones running over 11 seconds. If we pick by results, we take Qian Feng and Lin Lishuo. If we pick by technique, we take Lin Lishuo and Wang Peng," Lu Jinrong told Lu.

Although Qian Feng ran fast, his baton-passing technique was inferior to the other two.

But Lu had been through these baton-passing drills personally. Qian Feng's technique was slightly worse, but not enough to significantly impact the overall result. Lu Jinrong couldn't have missed that, so...?

What did the coach want Lu to choose?

"I will follow the coach's decision," Lu said.

"Don't push the responsibility onto me, kid," Lu Jinrong patted Lu on the shoulder. "The issue now is who you think coordinates better with you, or rather, who you want to take to win that 4x100 gold."

Hearing this, Lu looked toward the team members.

They were all looking at him, too.

Tian Shiwei, who was already guaranteed a spot, and the members who knew they wouldn't be selected were not very nervous, but they were waiting for the result.

As for Qian Feng, Lin Lishuo, and Wang Peng, who had a chance of being selected, their expressions were tense.

They knew Lu Jinrong and Lu were discussing the lineup.

They also knew what this hopeful National Games gold medal meant.

To say it would change their lives was no exaggeration.

Lu thought for a moment and asked Lu Jinrong, "Coach, it's up to me?"

"Yes," Lu Jinrong said.

"How do you want me to choose?" Lu asked again.

"Choose to win," Lu Jinrong said.

"Alright, then..." Lu made his choice.

...

In the afternoon, the Shenzhen Sprint Team went to Guangzhou for the provincial selection trials, determining the rosters for the 100m, 200m, 400m, and 4x100m events, and deciding which sprinters would represent Guangdong Province at the National Games.

It was essentially a duel between the Guangzhou and Shenzhen provincial teams. In other provinces that only had one team, this selection didn't exist.

The result was as expected: led by Lu and Tian, the current competitive level of the Shenzhen team in sprinting was far superior to that of the Guangzhou team.

The Guangzhou team members looked at Qian Feng, the "traitor," with sour expressions, but the situation was such that they were soundly defeated in every event.

...

Lu chose Qian Feng and Lin Lishuo for the 4x100m.

If it were up to him, results were the top priority. Qian Feng trained the hardest and had the best results, so he was naturally chosen. This result was beyond doubt.

Of course, if Lu Jinrong wanted to look after the veteran and include Wang Peng, Lu wouldn't have objected, but Lu Jinrong had handed the choice to him after all.

...

The 12th.

Training continued.

Lu spent an especially long time in the training room.

It was so long that Lu Jinrong began to worry.

...

The 13th.

Lu continued to immerse himself in the training room.

That day, he trained until midnight.

Lu Jinrong waited at the door until midnight.

When Lu finally emerged from the training room, exhausted, he said to Lu Jinrong, "Coach, it's done. The Little White Pony."

Lu Jinrong felt a sense of heartfelt joy.