A hint of a smile appeared in Xie Shi'an's eyes.
"Okay, I'll tell you everything. She's amazing; she saw through almost all of my feints..."
The boy explained in detail, and Qiao Yu listened attentively.
After listening, she touched the autographed jersey in her hand again, a hint of envy in her eyes.
"That's great. Before I retire, I'll definitely have a good, satisfying game."
"People usually retire at forty-five, you're still too young." The smile on the young man's lips faded.
"Besides, didn't you say you'd help me win the championship? We haven't even won the championship yet, and you're already thinking about retiring?"
The surgery was successful, and Qiao Yuchu felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her heart. She generously put her arm around Xie Shi'an and pulled him into her embrace.
"When have I ever lied to you, sister? If I say I'll win a championship with you, I will definitely do it."
After her match with Jiang Yunli today, she was a little worried that Qiao Yuchu might retire due to injury, so after getting the autograph, she didn't go back to rest and immediately went straight to the hospital.
She wanted to see her, to see if she was alright, and to hear her say with her own ears that the surgery was successful. She wouldn't lie to her; she would continue fighting alongside her.
Having received a satisfactory promise, the young man slightly curved the corners of his lips, slowly raised his hand, and gently embraced her.
After Jian Chang read it aloud, he stood in the corridor with his hands in his pockets, looking at the scenery listlessly. Not far away, Yan Xinyuan and Jin Shunqi were talking quietly.
Her gaze inadvertently drifted downstairs and she saw a purple-haired girl enter the outpatient building; the girl's back looked vaguely familiar.
Of all the people she had ever seen, only one had such a blatantly bold hair color—
She shook the arm of her teammate beside her.
"Look, isn't that Kim Nam-ji with purple hair?"
"Where? Where?" The teammate craned his neck and peered out into the corridor, but saw no one.
"Are you seeing things?"
"Hey, they're already inside. They were just there a moment ago."
"You must have been beaten up so badly that you're hallucinating and thinking that anyone with purple hair is Kim Nam-ji, right?"
When his teammates teased him, Jian Changnian scratched his head and whispered.
"But I really think it looks a lot like it."
Meanwhile, Yan Xinyuan and Jin Shunqi's conversation was also coming to an end.
"Now that the surgery was successful, I can rest assured."
Just as he was about to turn and leave, Jin Shunqi called him back.
"Coach Yan, I consider Miss Qiao a friend, so there's something I must say. If possible, please don't schedule any more high-intensity training for her. This will put a huge strain on her wrists. Once bones are damaged, it's irreversible, and any medical treatment will only treat the symptoms, not the root cause."
"I couldn't persuade her, so I had no choice but to ask you for help."
Jin Shunqi lowered his head slightly and said.
Yan Xinyuan sighed.
"I understand, I'll keep an eye on it, thank you for your help."
The group returned to the ward to say goodbye to Qiao Yuchu.
Xie Shi'an was feeding her water, steadily supporting the bottom of the cup with one hand, lifting her head, and watching her sip it slowly. He even gently wiped away any water that accidentally spilled from the corner of her lips with a tissue.
"Shi'an, we should go back now," Yan Xinyuan said, knocking on the door.
Xie Shi'an put down the water glass, tucked her hand under the covers, and stood up despite the reluctance in his eyes.
"Then we'll be going now. Take care of yourself and don't let your wound get wet."
Qiao Yuchu smiled and nodded.
"Okay, got it. Good luck in tomorrow's game."
"good."
Jian Changnian also waved goodbye to her.
"Goodbye, Sister Yu Chu, we'll wait for you to come back."
Okay, bye-bye.
Bye-bye.
After everyone in the room left, the nurse changed her dressing. Jin Shunqi looked at the water glass on her bedside table and the autographed team jersey on her pillow. He recalled how the girl had rushed in earlier, acting as if she would fight him to the death if he dared to hurt Qiao Yuchu. He said thoughtfully.
"She seems to care about you a lot."
Qiao Yuchu was taken aback before she came to her senses; he was referring to Shi'an.
“Although we are not blood sisters, we grew up together and our friendship is much stronger than that of sisters. If she were in the hospital today, I think I would be more anxious than she is.”
Qiao Yuchu smiled at him with a slight hint of apology on her face.
"So, Dr. Jin, please forgive her for her recklessness today. She's not usually like this. Although she's aloof, she's very polite."
Kim Soon-sik shrugged.
"Of course, I wouldn't get angry with a little girl."
No sooner had he finished speaking than his cell phone rang in his pocket.
As soon as he answered the phone, a bright female voice came through.
"Uncle Jin, didn't you say you were going to treat me to dinner? I'm already in your office, where are you?"
Kim Nam-ji sat in his office leather chair, turning around and fiddling with his pen, talking on the phone with his shoulder and head between his body.
Jin Shunqi smiled.
"I just finished surgery and will be there soon. Wait for me in the office for a while. If you're hungry, ask the nurse to get you something to eat."
He rarely spoke so gently; it was a tone different from his businesslike manner when dealing with patients.
Qiao Yuchu was a little curious.
"Dr. Kim, aren't you...single?"
Jin Shunqi thought she had misunderstood and hung up the phone.
"No, it's my niece. She's studying in Beijing alone. My brother and sister-in-law are very worried about her and asked me to take care of her. She had dinner with someone a few days ago, so she came to collect a debt."
Jin Shunqi's expression was rather helpless; it seemed that his little niece was quite arrogant and domineering.
Qiao Yuchu burst out laughing.
"Then Dr. Jin should go and keep her company."
Before leaving, Jin Shunqi said again.
"By the way, she's also a professional badminton player. I can introduce you two sometime; you should have a lot in common."
Chapter 52 National Competition (16)
In a high-end Western restaurant, a waiter plays the violin melodiously.
The steak was served, and Kim Nam-ji spread out a napkin, his mouth watering as he looked at the red wine in front of him.
"Uncle, just one sip, please?"
Jin Shunqi moved the red wine a little further away.
"No, you have a competition tomorrow. Waiter, a glass of lemonade, please."
When the lemonade was served, Kim Nam-ji buried his head on the table.
"Ugh, I'm about to burst! Every day during training I can't eat this or that. I finally get to come out, and you won't even let me drink alcohol. I'm going to tell my dad that you're restricting my personal freedom."
Kim Soon-ki was cutting his steak with a knife and fork, seemingly oblivious to everything else.
“Okay, then I’ll go tell my brother that you’re spending your days in Beijing partying and not studying or training properly, and I’ll have him cancel your credit card.”
Kim Nam-ji raised his head, gritting his teeth.
"Jin Shunqi!"
Kim Soon-ki placed the sliced steak onto her plate.
"Sweetie, don't be so disrespectful, call me uncle."
"Is there any uncle like you?! Other people's uncles love their nieces dearly and give them whatever they want. But you, from childhood to adulthood, have only ever bullied me and told bad things to my dad. I finally managed to run away from South Korea to China, and you, you've come back from America."
"Did you come back to work, or did my dad send you to spy on me?"
Kim Soon-sik shrugged.
"Both are true, but the international hospital pays more. Of course, your dad also gave me a large sum of money."
Kim Nam-ji was furious and almost overturned the table.
Kim Soon-ki remained unmoved, with a sly smile.
"Relax, relax. Once you finish the competition, your year-end bonus will come in, and I'll buy you whatever you want."
"That's more like it." Miss Jin finally felt better and snorted through her nose.
"Then I want a car."
“You are not yet eighteen years old, according to Chinese law…” Jin Shunqi cleared his throat, just as he was about to launch into a long speech.
Kim Nam-ji glared at him fiercely.
"Jin Shunqi, my birthday is next week!"
The doctor immediately changed his tune.
"Okay, then I'll give you a car as a birthday present."
The uncle and niece chatted while eating. For some reason, the image of Qiao Yuchu kept popping into Jin Shunqi's mind. Both were professional players, but how come his niece was so different from her?
Look at that burly sitting posture, the exaggerated hair color, the super short shorts and crop top in the dead of winter, and the two huge silver earrings on her ears. She looks like a rock youth, and all she cares about is eating, drinking and having fun. I really don't know how she made it to the national competition.
Jin Shunqi put down his knife and fork and looked at her intently.