Chapter 48: The press conference
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
As the main coach of the Hanbei Provincial swimming team, Zhongyi Xu sat in the center of the platform during the press conference. There were dozens of reporters sitting in front of the stage. Some were from local media outlets and some were here representing each of their respective internet sites.
"Coach Xu, I heard that Feifei Yu was expelled from the national team. Is that true?"
"Coach Xu, it has been said that Feifei Yu gained a few kilograms and that she is over 70kg now. Is that accurate?"
"Coach Xu, as the enlightened coach of Feifei Yu, what do you think of her being less hard-working during training?"
Xu waved at the reporters to signal to everyone to be quiet. He didn't speak until everyone else finished speaking. "I saw the news on the internet. So I'll take responsibility here and announce that those are all rumors. Feifei Yu is still a member of the national team!"
A reporter raised her hand and asked, "Because Feifei Yu hasn't been expelled from the national team, why hasn't she stayed with the Huajing National team? Why has she returned to Qing City?"
"New Year's Day is right around the corner. It's the most important traditional festival, and every person who leaves their hometown should know that the only thing they are looking forward to is going back home to celebrate the festival together with their family! Athletes are also some of those people! Her hometown is in Qing City, it is normal for her to want to come back. Even though she is back here now, she is still training."
After finishing his thought, he began to play the victim and said, "However, such a normal thing is used as a rumor by some people with evil intentions! I suggest those without moral principles and a conscience stop it as soon as possible. It's still not too late to take it back. Don't make up news just to get others' attention."
Going back home to celebrate the spring festival couldn't be more normal. Although the reporters were not satisfied with the answer, they couldn't argue that something was wrong if it was true that she had come back for the new year!
…
In the conference room of the swimming center, the volume was set to the max. Everybody was watching the press conference.
"Zhongyi Xu behaves very rashly, almost like an uneducated person. I didn't know that he was such a good actor. Look at his face. It looks like he has been feeling upset for a long time!" Zhuge bursted out laughing.
"He used to be an excellent athlete when he was young. After all these years being a coach, he knows what to say and what not to say in front of the reporters," Huo explained.
"Right. As long as he doesn't make irresponsible marks, this conference might have been for the better," Jiang said. "I'm just worried about those reporters asking abnormal questions!"
Right as he finished, they saw a reporter raised her hand.
"Coach Xu, it has been said that Feifei Yu gained a lot of weight because of her boredom in training. What do you think about that? Is her reported weight that has spread across the internet true?"
They all looked at Jiang after they heard the question. He shut his mouth immediately because even he himself felt he was the one who had spoken it into existence. A reporter had just asked a very sensitive question, right after he had said he was worried something like this would happen.
The camera shot to Zhongyi Xu. He didn't look nervous. He said cautiously, "Whether it is for the provincial team or the national team, she is always very hard-working when it comes to training. She hasn't changed at all this year, even though she broke the world record. So, the rumor on the internet saying that she didn't work hard during training is a fake story meant to target Feifei Yu's feelings."
He stopped a second and continued, "As for her weight, I need to clarify here. As an athlete, to keep weight in a normal range you should balance your diet so you can absorb various types of nutritional food, It's more than just doing a certain number of exercises. And because the national swimming team has the best training coaches and nutritionists, her weight is not over 70kg as the rumor stated."
"How can you prove that?" another reporter asked immediately.
"There is no need to clarify this. But because it has gotten the attention of so many people, I will ask her to weigh herself right here, right now, in front of everybody, just to prove that it is true!" He waved at the staff. They brought out a scale and put it on the platform. "Let her weigh herself!"
All the reporters stretched their necks waiting to see the result.
…
In the meeting room of the swimming center.
"Asking her to show her weight in front of all these reporters? Is he sure?"
"I think he is. Otherwise he wouldn't do that!"
Somebody began to speak in a low voice inside the meeting room. Zhuge looked at Huo and asked, "What's her weight now, exactly?"
"She was 70kg when she went back to Qing City a few days ago. She might be slimmer now," Huo answered.
"How many days have past since she left?" Zhuge asked.
"20 days." Huo thought about it, then gave a more accurate number. "24 days!"
"Only 24 days? That's too short." Zhuge frowned and asked, "How much weight do you think she could have?"
"Well it's hard to say!" Huo began sweating.
Jiang interrupted, saying, "I've read some papers saying that normally, if a professional athlete can lose about 2kg in a month, it would be massive progress."
"2kg in one month? That means one can only lose 1-2kg, then? Let's say 2kg. Then she should be 68kg now! There is no difference between 68kg and 70kg! Zhongyi Xu is messing around! What will they tell the press if she has only lost 2kg?" Zhuge's voice became very harsh. Everybody could tell he was very angry.
"Xu is not that stupid." Huo frowned and thought it over. He patted his forehead and said loudly, "I got it! That scale! He must have done something with that scale!"