Cultivating through increasing my stats in America Chapter 235 - 170 The Competition Begins

Peter approached with a marker, extrely excited to get an autograph.

But Patrice just glanced at him indifferently and completely ignored him.

If it had been a while back, he might have been happy to sign an autograph when he saw a fan asking for one.

However, since he had been humbled by Li Ang, he had realized that the most important thing for a professional athlete was their own strength, their tangible results. Everything else was insubstantial, a waste of energy and of no use.

No matter how much you cultivate a public image and pamper your fans, it could never be more effective than winning a championship.

Peter, feeling a bit embarrassed, froze on the spot; but that was normal, and no one said that if a fan wants an autograph, they must get one.

He had only gone up just to try his luck.

Just as he turned around to co back, he suddenly realized that Patrice had actually stopped at the spot he had just walked past.

"The coach says you should get ready to go over, you have to register soon," he said as softly as he could to Li Ang.

Even though Patrice always had an arrogant deanor in front of others, he didn’t dare act that way with Li Ang.

In competitive sports, strength is the absolute rule, equivalent to status.

Li Ang nodded, then smiled and said,

"It seems like these friends of mine are your fans. Why don’t you give them an autograph?"

When Patrice suddenly heard that Li Ang’s friends were also his fans, he felt a bit secretly pleased. This at least ant that in their hearts, he was no less than Li Ang. Now asking for his autograph, of course, he was happy to do it.

"Oh, and this guy behind you as well."

Li Ang pointed at Peter, who had followed.

No help for it, the only marker was still in his hand.

At this mont, Peter was dumbfounded. He had approached so eagerly, yet he was completely ignored, but now, with just a light word from Li Ang, Patrice was even smiling as he signed for him.

This change could only an one thing—that everything Li Ang had said earlier was true.

"Oh no, my signed shirt!"

Peter’s heart skipped a beat; he had attempted to wash the shirt when he got ho, but couldn’t completely remove the signature, so he just gave it to his mom to use as a rag. He didn’t even know if it was still around.

If Li Ang really was that record-breaking prodigy, then with his talent and future prospects, he was sure to surpass Patrice.

When Little Eric spoke of the autograph on the bike fra, saying it would multiply the bike’s value several tis, he had scoffed. Now, it seed there had been no exaggeration at all.

Therefore, even if Patrice now signed his shirt, he didn’t feel as thrilled as before; he even felt a bit heartache.

Of course, even if he were thick-skinned, he couldn’t bring himself to ask Li Ang for an autograph now.

"Alright then, you guys keep chatting, I’ll head over first."

Li Ang waved at them and followed Patrice back to the main group.

It was only then that Peter noticed the garnt peeking out from under Li Ang’s jacket seed to be their team’s uniform, a pity he only noticed it now.

Seeing Peter looking sowhat dazed, Eric joked,

"How about that? Not a bad haul, right? Last ti I got you Li Ang’s autograph, and this ti Patrice’s. Your club friends are going to be jealous to death."

The more Eric talked, the worse Peter felt.

"Hey, that tourist, how did he get into the team area?"

"Have you gone stupid? The guy is a professional cyclist. Didn’t you see Patrice beside him? He was specifically called back."

"A pro cyclist of Asian descent, huh? And from the continental pro team."

After Li Ang had rejoined the team, more and more people noticed the only Asian cyclist in the continental pro team.

Everyone cast curious glances at him.

"This is the first ti I’ve seen an Asian in a continental pro team. I wonder how good he is?"

"If you ask , these Asians just aren’t cut out for this sport. Just look at the Tour de France contenders, how many yellow-skinned participants are there?"

"Shh, keep it down. That’s sothing you can’t talk about in public."

While everyone knew about it, no one dared to publicly express such discriminatory comnts, lest they be targeted by those people; it wouldn’t be fun.

"But he is so handso! Just like those celebrities!"

"It seems like his skill doesn’t matter; just his looks and physique are already miles ahead of the rest."

"I can’t see a single flaw on his face. If it’s him, it seems like having an Asian in the mix isn’t so unacceptable."

"With a body like that, and as a professional cyclist, my darling, you might not be able to get out of bed."

...

Clearly, Li Ang’s appearance had attracted not just the crowd that ca to watch the race, but also many won couldn’t take their eyes off him.

But soon, the spectators realized that Li Ang seed to have quite an extraordinary status within the team. Not only was his position in the center of the team, but the team manager kept coming up to talk to him with a cheerful face.

Such treatnt could only an one thing—that this Asian cyclist was very likely the main pillar of strength for the team.

Soon, there was an outburst of cheering from another group of spectators, drawing everyone’s attention; they noticed that two WorldTour professional cycling teams had entered.