The stadium.
The excitement and noise continued in the stands as people chanted A-Train's name.
In the locker room.
The air was thick with the cloying sweetness of expensive cologne mixed with champagne.
Chen Mo sat on a leather couch, head bowed as he wiped his signature blue-and-black goggles.
The door swung open.
High heels clattered against the marble floor in quick, crisp taps.
Ashley hurried in with a thick stack of documents clutched in her hand, unable to contain her delight.
"Fifty million, A-Train, do you know that? And that's just your signing fee for the first year!"
She slapped the documents onto the glass coffee table and braced her hands on her knees, her eyes shining.
"The representatives from those sports brands are lined up outside waiting to see you. Your market value has tripled since before the race."
Chen Mo lifted his eyelids, his gaze full of mockery.
He shot to his feet and punched the metal locker beside him.
The sheet metal caved in around a frightening fist-shaped dent with a deafening boom.
"You screwed up my promise, Ashley. I promised her! You promised me too! I was supposed to announce today that she was the woman I love!"
Chen Mo's chest heaved as he paced the locker room, acting out how A-Train might have reacted.
"I shut my mouth like an idiot in front of the whole world, and you didn't even tell me!"
Ashley wasn't afraid of his act. She straightened up and adjusted the collar of her business suit.
"Come on, A-Train, will you spare me that boring devoted-lover routine?"
"You want fame, I want results, Vought wants profits. That washed-up Female would only drag down your popularity. Think about it: how many of your female fans would have their hearts broken?"
She tapped the contract on the coffee table, her tone patronizing.
"Sign it, and you can take your pick of any supermodel you want. The company will foot the bill."
Chen Mo stared at the contract for a moment, then gritted his teeth, sat back down on the couch, and picked up a pen to sign it quickly.
Well, this is pretty convenient. I don't have to worry too much about The Female, and my position in the company is more important now. It's all good.
Ashley gathered up the documents in satisfaction and walked out, her hips swaying in her high heels.
The locker room fell quiet again.
The phone tossed onto the bench vibrated, Charlotte's name flashing on the screen.
Chen Mo's lips twitched as he answered.
"Baby, let me explain."
Chen Mo spoke first, keeping his voice low, husky and angry.
Sobbing came from the other end of the line. Charlotte seemed to be hiding in a corner somewhere.
"They turned off your microphone, didn't they?"
The woman choked out the words, her voice full of hurt.
Chen Mo pinched the bridge of his nose with one hand, leaned his head back against the couch, and let out a long breath.
"It was the company's decision. They threatened me with the contractual penalties and my place in The Seven. I did too well today, and they don't want to let their new cash cow go."
"Baby, I know you're hurting right now, but I still need some time, okay?"
He softened his voice, sounding like a lover forced to give in.
"Once I collect these endorsement fees, I'll take you away from New York, somewhere nobody knows us, where we can face the sea amid the warmth and flowers of spring."
The crying stopped on the other end of the line, leaving only rapid breathing.
Women were always like this.
As long as they were given enough emotional support and an empty promise of a future, they would willingly continue flying into the flame.
"I understand. I understand everything. You ran so well today."
Charlotte's voice softened, full of affection.
"Will you come over tonight? I'll be waiting for you in your favorite outfit."
Chen Mo chuckled, tapping his fingers on the leather armrest.
"Be good and wait for me, baby."
After hanging up, Chen Mo tossed the phone aside, the affection in his eyes vanishing in an instant.
Acting is fucking exhausting. The Seven really earn their money.
Evening.
Vought Tower.
The private elevator came to a stop on the ninety-ninth floor, and the metal doors slid open.
With both hands in his jacket pockets, Chen Mo strolled toward the lounge.
Just past the corner, he ran into Annie, dressed in casual clothes.
The small-town girl had changed back into simple jeans and a sweater. She held a stack of documents and looked as though she had just been scolded by the PR department.
The two stopped in the middle of the hallway.
Annie looked at A-Train, her expression somewhat complicated.
That kick in the meeting room yesterday had shattered her rose-colored view of superheroes, but it had also shown her a faint glimmer of the dream she once had.
"Congratulations, A-Train. You ran really well. You even broke the world record."
Annie brushed back her long blonde hair, sounding less reserved.
Chen Mo chewed his gum, his gaze sweeping over her somewhat dowdy outfit.
"Already changed out of those rags?"
He blew a pink bubble, his voice full of teasing.
"I thought you'd wear that plunging V-neck suit to save the world and give your fans a little extra eye candy while you were at it."
Annie blushed at the crude joke and rolled her eyes at him without restraint.
"Shut up. You're no better yourself."
She stepped forward and looked up at Chen Mo, staring him down without backing off.
"I saw them cut off your speech on TV. Does A-Train have a secret he can't talk about too?"
Chen Mo paused in his chewing.
This blonde has gotten sharper. She knows how to use words as weapons.
"In this godforsaken place, everyone has secrets."
Chen Mo bent down, bringing his mouth close to Annie's ear, his warm breath brushing her neck.
"Mind your own business, rookie. Curiosity can get you killed."
Annie stiffened slightly. The faint scent of tobacco from the man reached her nose, and her heart skipped a beat.
She took half a step back and was about to retort.
A long, slender cigarette with a glowing red tip appeared from the shadows around the corner.
Maeve leaned against a support pillar, her long legs crossed, her amused gaze moving between the two of them.
"Am I interrupting your flirting?"
Maeve exhaled a cloud of pale blue smoke, her gaze lazy yet sharp.
Annie's face turned bright red. She hurriedly said, "I'm going back to my room," and disappeared down the far end of the corridor as if fleeing.
Chen Mo straightened and looked at the woman with the cold, hard presence.
"You were waiting for me, Maeve."
Chen Mo's tone was flat.
Maeve stubbed out her cigarette on the trash can in the corner and walked slowly over to him.
"Your time today was highly unusual."
She folded her arms, her eyes scanning Chen Mo's muscles like a detector.
"I know your limits. Even if you poked so many holes in your arms they looked like sieves, you couldn't possibly run at nearly Mach two."
Chen Mo's trademark sneer appeared on his face.
"Jealous already?"
"I'm a born speedster. I went through a life-or-death ordeal, so what's strange about unlocking a little more potential?"
Maeve's lips curled in a sneer, as if she saw through everything.
"Whatever trick you're pulling, you'd better keep it well hidden."
She moved closer to Chen Mo and lowered her voice in warning.
"Some people don't like things that are beyond their control."
The temperature in the air dropped to freezing without warning.
The wall lights in the hallway flickered twice, and a heavy, oppressive tread sounded from behind them.
The muscles in Chen Mo's back tensed instinctively, and the black-and-red viral fibers beneath his blood vessels trembled wildly.
That reaction to a monstrous beast from the abyss made even his breathing turn cautious.
"Who doesn't like things beyond their control?"
A gentle male voice that made their scalps tingle exploded beside their ears.
At some point, Homelander had appeared beside them.
He wore his classic stars-and-stripes suit, his hands resting casually at his waist and a gentle smile on his face.
As though he had simply come to chat.
Maeve's back went rigid, the coldness in her eyes masked by wariness.
"We were just discussing the PR department's new plan, Captain."
She lowered her head, her tone impeccably respectful.
Homelander ignored her, his blue eyes fixed on Chen Mo.
He slowly raised his right hand and patted Chen Mo on the shoulder.
His smile was very friendly. It would have been even more perfect if he had used a little less force.
"Your performance today was amazing, A-Train."
Homelander's smile grew brighter, but there was no trace of amusement in his eyes.
"Your final result was 593 meters per second. That number is far beyond the figures in the company's assessment report on you."
"Tell me, how did you do it?"
Chen Mo looked at Homelander with a gaze of 24-karat sincerity and fervor.
"Fear, Captain."
Chen Mo lowered his head, his voice trembling and fervent.
"When that monster attacked me at the club, I thought I was dead for sure."
"But I thought of you, and the glory of The Seven."
He raised his head and met Homelander's probing gaze, playing a believer granted strength by a god.
"The fear of that desperate situation pushed my body to its limits. I just didn't want to bring you shame."
The explanation was watertight.
It accounted for his sudden leap in strength and flattered Homelander at the same time.
Homelander narrowed his eyes and stared at Chen Mo for over ten seconds.
The air seemed to freeze.
At last, the chill in Homelander's eyes faded, and his smile grew warm again.
"Good, A-Train. I've always believed you were a good teammate with potential. Now that's worthy of The Seven."
He let go and straightened Chen Mo's collar.
"Remember, brother, keep it up. Don't disappoint me."
His red cape swept out in a dazzling arc as Homelander strode away and disappeared at the end of the hallway.
Chen Mo continued watching Homelander's retreating figure with the same unwavering expression.
Maeve gave him a long look, then turned and left without a word.
Chen Mo was alone in the hallway.
He lowered his eyes and looked at his hands.
"Things have come to this. I'll eat first."