245: This...this is too surreal!

Coach Chen was so excited that he burst into tears!

He pumped his fist hard; his judgment was right!!!

However, although he believed in his own judgment, he hadn't expected Lei Jun to be this formidable, defeating so many professional players.

And even winning the women's singles championship!!!

This, this, this... he was so excited he didn't know what to say.

In any case, his judgment wasn't wrong!!!

All the pressure, grievances, and doubts were released at this moment, transforming into unparalleled joy and pride!

This gold medal not only proved Lei Jun's strength but also completely cleared his name!

After the match, the leader who had previously spoken with Coach Chen came to the athletes' rest area immediately.

With unrestrained excitement and a hint of embarrassment on his face, he firmly shook Coach Chen's hand: "Old Chen! Good! Excellent! You've been wronged! Our work wasn't meticulous enough, making you and Comrade Lei Jun endure such heavy pressure from public opinion!"

"On behalf of the higher-ups, I apologize to you! I also offer my warmest congratulations! You've performed a great service by discovering such a genius player for Modu City!"

Coach Chen, on the contrary, calmed down at this moment. He waved his hand and said with emotion.

"Leader, it's fine, as long as the misunderstanding is cleared up. I was under a lot of pressure then, but I just believed in Lei Jun. As it turns out, my persistence was right."

He thought to himself that this heavy gold medal was the best defense and reward.

The leader nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes! Your vision and persistence are worth learning from! Comrade Lei Jun's performance has shocked the whole country! This gold medal of hers is of the highest caliber! Once we return, the city will surely give you both a grand commendation!"

In the stands, those who had once wantonly mocked and ridiculed Lei Jun and Coach Chen were now all speechless, their faces filled with shock, shame, and disbelief.

"My God... she really beat Sun Yingsha? She won the National Games championship?"

"This... this is just too surreal, isn't it? Just over a month ago, she was a college student who had never played an official match..."

"We all misjudged Coach Chen and Lei Jun before... She's no eye candy; she's a nuclear weapon!"

"My face hurts... I even said if she could win a medal, I'd do such-and-such..."

"This is a true genius, right? A single cry that startles the world!"

...The award ceremony was solemn and enthusiastic.

As the national anthem played and the Five-Star Red Flag rose slowly in the center of the gymnasium, Lei Jun stood on the highest podium, tilting her head slightly, her calm gaze following the bright flag.

The gold medal hanging on her chest had some weight, but even heavier were the countless gazes focused on her from both inside and outside the arena.

Excited, gratified, curious, and incredulous.

Lin Xiaoya was crying like a child in the stands, Qin Yu and Tony were frantically waving their small flags, and Zhao Ya, Su Qing, and Su Ya were clapping vigorously.

In the coach's area, Coach Chen was wiping away tears while smiling, his shoulders still trembling slightly.

Lei Jun's state of mind, however, was like a deep pool. During the solemn moment of raising the national flag and playing the national anthem, Lei Jun felt a sense of reverence, out of respect for the national symbol.

When the ceremony ended and she stepped off the podium, the clamor of the mixed interview zone immediately surrounded her.

The first wave of the reporters' firepower, unsurprisingly, focused on Coach Chen Guohua, whose emotions were still running high.

"Coach Chen! Coach Chen! Congratulations to the Modu City Team on winning this precious gold medal! What do you want to say most right now?" the reporters' voices overlapped.

Facing the dense array of microphones and cameras, Coach Chen took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down, but his voice remained loud and trembling—a release of long-suppressed emotion.

"What I want to say most is thank you! Thank you, Lei Jun! Thank you for your trust, and thank you for the miracle you've brought!"

His gaze became sharp and proud.

"Of course, I also want to say that this gold medal proves something! It proves that true talent will not be buried! It proves that professional judgment should not be drowned out by groundless suspicion!"

It was as if he wanted to vent all the frustration of the past few days: "When I first saw Lei Jun play, I knew I was looking at a true genius! Not the kind of unpolished jade that needs slow refining, but a peerless gem already glowing from within, just waiting for a stage!"

"Her feel for the ball, her anticipation, her match intelligence, her innate calmness... these things cannot be trained! They are talent! A one-in-ten-thousand, no, a one-in-a-hundred-million talent!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, gesturing forcefully with his hands.

"Some said I was taking a risk, some said I was being reckless, some even said I took bribes! Was the pressure high? Yes! But why did I persist? Because I trust my eyes, I trust my professional judgment! And I trust this child, Lei Jun, even more!"

"Today, she stands here with the gold medal around her neck; this is the most powerful and resounding answer to all our persistence! This gold medal washes away all the filth; it proves the Modu Table Tennis Team's spirit of daring to innovate and take responsibility! I am proud of our team, and I am even prouder of Lei Jun!"

The reporters recorded quickly, and the cameras captured every one of his excited expressions.

When Lei Jun walked over, the atmosphere in the interview zone shifted.

All the lenses instantly turned toward her.

She was still holding the gold medal, her expression so calm it seemed out of place amidst the surrounding fervor.

"Player Lei Jun! Congratulations on winning the championship! Reaching the top in your first National Games, you must be very excited right now, aren't you?" The reporter's question carried the usual leading tone.

Lei Jun stopped and calmly scanned the reporter who asked the question.

Excited?

"I won the championship and achieved my goal. It feels good."

She chose a more neutral expression that better suited her state of mind.

This answer left the reporters stunned for a moment.

This is way too calm, isn't it?

She didn't seem at all like a young player who had just created a miracle.

"Your playing style, especially your defense, has been called the 'Wall of Sighs' by many. Can you reveal how you developed such skills and such a strong psychological quality? Is there a special training system or a mentor?" another reporter tried to dig for the story behind it.

How did I develop them?

Lei Jun didn't know how to explain it either.

She could only provide a reasonable yet unfalsifiable explanation.

"I usually like to observe and think. I watch high-level matches, analyze their techniques and tactics, and then try things out and ponder them myself. Perhaps I'm just good at simulating and deconstructing these technical movements in my mind."

She focused on observation, reflection, and simulation.

This both explained her comprehensive technique and precise anticipation while avoiding specific training history, and it made her seem exceptionally gifted.

After all, being able to reach a world-class level just by pondering things was impressive enough in itself.