Chapter 48: The press conference (1/2)
Chapter 48: The press conference
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: 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.