Cheng Che wasn't too surprised to win the Champion.
He glanced at the timer as he crossed the finish line.
2 hours, 14 minutes, and 28 seconds. This time is top-tier among domestic amateur athletes and quite good even among professional athletes.
But he knew he hadn't reached his limit yet.
He had only completed the [ Endurance Running Training Pack ] so far.
If he also maxes out the Interval Running Training Pack and the Sprint Running Training Pack, his pace can be improved even further.
For him, marathons are simpler than tennis.
Tennis requires technique, feel, and strategy against your opponent.
Running, on the other hand, only requires running.
His talent is focused on running; it's too straightforward.
He was even a little embarrassed to be told directly.
" Cheng Che! Cheng Che!"
Several reporters rushed over, microphones in hand, followed by camera cameras.
Surrounded by people, Cheng Che bent over and gasped for breath before straightening up.
Congratulations on breaking the race record! Winning the Champion in your first full marathon, what are your thoughts?
Cheng Che thought for a moment and said, "It's quite tiring."
The reporters laughed. Another reporter pressed, "You used to be a tennis player, and now you've won a marathon. Are you planning to change Champion?"
"No." Cheng Che wiped his sweat. "Running is running, and tennis is tennis. I want to do both."
"So, which do you think is more difficult, a marathon or tennis?"
Cheng Che thought about it seriously:
"Tennis is harder. A marathon only requires running. But when you're running, you don't need to think too much."
This answer caused another uproar on social media.
Some say he's faking it, some say he's too modest, and some say this is the true mindset of an athlete.
However, some people asked, "Is he an athlete?"
A bunch of ellipses followed.
The awards ceremony was held on a stage in the finish line area.
When Cheng Che stood on the highest podium, the cheers from the audience were deafening.
He was wearing a red Champion T-shirt issued by the organizing committee, with a gold medal hanging on his chest. The sunlight shone on him, and he looked clean and tidy.
A figure squeezed through the crowd.
Shen Chi.
He changed into clean sportswear, his hair was still a little damp, and the fatigue on his face hadn't completely subsided. He walked up to Cheng Che and smiled.
"Congratulations." He extended his hand.
Cheng Che shook hands with him. "Thank you. You ran very well too."
"What's so great about running well?" Shen Chi shook his head self-deprecatingly. "When you overtook me, I couldn't even keep up with your pace. Later, I looked at the stats: you ran 4 minutes and 50 seconds, and I ran 4 minutes and 50 seconds. A difference of forty-five seconds."
He paused, then held up his phone. "Can we take a picture together? I want to post it on Weibo."
Cheng Che nodded. The two stood together, and Shen Chi took a picture with his phone.
"I'll post one later too," Cheng Che said.
"You don't have Weibo?" Shen Chi was taken aback.
"I have the number, but I haven't used it much."
Shen Chi smiled:
"Then go back and post something quickly. Otherwise, if I post it and you don't respond, my fans will think I'm trying to ride your coattails."
He patted Cheng Che on the shoulder, then turned and left.
That afternoon, Shen Chi posted on Weibo.
[ Shen Chi V: Today at the Spring City Marathon, I ran in 3 hours and 12 minutes, slower than my personal best. But I have no regrets. Because I personally witnessed someone run a full marathon in under 2 hours and 15 minutes on their first try. @Cheng Che, when I was eighteen, I was still running laps on the school track. You're a real monster. Also, you're more handsome in person than in photos.]
The accompanying picture is a photo of the two people.
The comment section was instantly flooded with Cheng Che's fans.
Thank you, Brother Shen Chi, for taking care of our Cheche!
Shen Chi is so courteous!
[Two handsome guys in the same frame, I don't know where to look!]
[ Cheche is amazing! She broke the record on her first full marathon!]
In the evening, Cheng Che had dinner with his parents, Guo Xin, Su Qingyue, Lin Xiao, and Zhou Mingxuan.
The location was chosen by Cheng Che; it was a reasonably priced but delicious home-style restaurant.
Jiang Xue handed the menu to Su Qingyue and Lin Xiao: "You two order, don't be shy."
Su Qingyue took the menu, flipped through two pages, and then handed it to Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao ordered one dish, Su Qingyue ordered one dish, and the two of them kept pushing the menu back and forth until Guo Xin finally grabbed the menu and ordered eight dishes in one go.
"Why did you order so much?" Cheng Che asked.
"You're treating, so I have to give you face?"
"Thank you."
At the dinner table, Guo Xin said while gnawing on ribs:
"The video is all edited, and all the marathon footage has been used. Take a look tomorrow, and if everything's okay, it can be released the day after tomorrow."
Cheng Che nodded. "Okay."
"Oh, right," Guo Xin spat out the bone, "You need to register a Weibo and Douyin account. Posting with your account will be more effective than using mine."
"Don't I have a number?"
"Your account hasn't posted anything yet, what's the difference between it and a new account?" Guo Xin wiped his mouth. "Just use the officially verified account to post. Verify it, the traffic will be better."
Cheng Che thought for a moment and said, "Okay."
Halfway through my meal, my phone lit up.
It's Yan Ruanning.
She sent me a photo.
The photo shows her homemade dinner: a bowl of noodles, two fried eggs, and a few green vegetables. It doesn't look fancy, but it feels very authentic.
This is followed by a line of text.
[ Yan Ruanning: Now that you've eaten, I can't go hungry.]
Cheng Che looked at the bowl of noodles and suddenly found it a little funny.
She's a celebrity, and this is what she eats for dinner.
He types.
Cheng Che: Do you want to come eat at my place? We're outside right now, the dishes have just been served.
There was a silence on the other end for about ten seconds.
[ Yan Ruanning: Are your parents home?]
Cheng Che: Yes, I'm here.
[ Yan Ruanning: Then I won't go.]
[ Cheng Che: What are you afraid of? I've even eaten at your house before.]
[ Yan Ruanning:... Things were different back then.]
[ Cheng Che: What's different?]
[ Yan Ruanning: I had absolutely no feelings for you back then. Going to see you now would be like...]
She didn't finish typing the second half of the sentence.
Cheng Che looked at the ellipsis and smiled.
Cheng Che: Okay, next time.
[ Yan Ruanning: Mm.]
Cheng Che put down his phone and continued eating.
After dinner, Cheng Che went home with his parents.
Guo Xin and the others dispersed.
After taking a shower, Cheng Che lay on the bed and opened the system panel.
[ Stamina Trial - Phase Two: The Able Go First. Mission Objective: Participate in a running race and win first place. Completed!]
[Congratulations, host, you have acquired the talent " Golden Kidneys "!]
[Congratulations, host, you have obtained the item " Ten-Million-Tier Popularity Card "].
Cheng Che stared at the words " Golden Kidneys " and paused for a moment.
He clicked on the instructions.
[ Golden Kidneys: Your kidneys' metabolic, detoxification, and fluid regulation capabilities far exceed those of ordinary people. Recovery speed after prolonged exercise is significantly improved, and your internal environment remains in optimal condition. The effects are influenced by endurance levels.]
After reading Cheng Che remained silent for two seconds.
"Kidneys..." he muttered softly, "Is this system praising me or insulting me?"
He then looked at the prop.
[ Ten-Million-Tier Popularity Card: After use, a public post by the host will receive ten million views. These views will automatically convert into influence. Limited to one use only.]
Cheng Che stared at the line of text, his eyes slowly brightening.
10 million views.
He recalled that the goal of the Charisma Trial: First Stage was to "gain 10,000 points of influence".
He currently has only 254.
However, if this card is used for cultural and tourism videos, it can generate 10 million impressions, and even with only a 1% conversion rate, it can still gain 100,000 points of influence.
He took a deep breath and carefully put the props away.
This is a sure thing.