Looking at Jian Changnian, she suddenly felt a little envious. She envied her straightforwardness and her ability to say whatever she thought. It turns out that those who are ignorant and naive are the ones who live the most enlightened lives.
“I understand. We rarely argue like this. Once we've both calmed down, I'll apologize to her.”
Qiao Yuchu helped the woman lie down and tucked her in.
"You should get some sleep. We'll go back once your fever goes down."
***
It was a rare night without a match, a night when Xie Shi'an could have had a good rest, but for the first time, he couldn't sleep.
She tossed and turned in bed, then got up and did a whole set of floor exercises, but still couldn't fall asleep.
The boy looked at the empty bed on the other side and sighed silently. She probably wouldn't be coming back to sleep tonight.
Xie Shi'an thought for a moment, then picked up his keys and wallet and went out.
She swiped her card and left the gate right under the gatekeeper's nose. A little while later, she came back carrying a bag of beer and some snacks.
The security guard called out to her several times, but Xie Shi'an, wearing headphones, ignored him and entered the apartment.
I went back to my room and locked the door.
Xie Shi'an sat down against the edge of the bed, casually dragged over a chair, put the snacks on it, and took out beer from the plastic bag, opening one can, two cans, three cans... and placing them beside him.
Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, she quietly admired the night view of Beijing in the distance, enjoying this rare yet somewhat lonely time alone.
The clock hands ticked away, and I don't know how much time had passed.
Xie Shi'an had all the empty beer cans beside him.
A soft sound came from the door.
Before Qiao Yuchu even stepped inside, she smelled a pungent odor of alcohol. She turned on the wall lamp and was immediately horrified. She threw her bag on her bed and rushed over.
"Shi'an! Shi'an! Why did you drink so much?!" Qiao Yuchu was both angry and distressed, shaking her shoulders, trying to wake her up.
Xie Shi'an was still holding an empty can of beer in his hand, his head was tilted on the edge of the bed, and he was frowning, as if he was in some discomfort.
Qiao Yuchu took the beer can from her hand, and the moment she touched her fingertips, it was chillingly cold. She had no idea how long she had been sitting there.
She sighed and used her strength to lift the person off the ground.
"I just can't do anything with you, Xie Shi'an. When will you give me a break?"
The person lying on the bed was oblivious, only a few tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. Qiao Yuchu took off her coat, covered her with a blanket, turned on the air conditioner, and then picked up her keys and went out.
The infirmary was already empty at this hour, and besides, it wasn't exactly something to be proud of for athletes to drink heavily late at night. After thinking it over, Qiao Yuchu decided to go to a pharmacy a little further away to buy some hangover medicine.
She rushed back carrying a plastic bag; the water had been boiled before she left, and the temperature was just right.
She helped the person up a little and leaned her against her chest, carefully bringing the glass to her lips.
"Come on, Shi'an, drink this and you won't feel bad anymore."
Urged on by her, Xie Shi'an took a small sip, then frowned: "Bitter..."
Qiao Yuchu picked it up and tasted it herself. There was a little bit of sugar in it. Fortunately, she was prepared. She took the leftover white sugar from the bedside table, poured a little in, stirred it with a spoon, and then brought it to her lips.
This time, Xie Shi'an did not refuse.
Qiao Yuchu watched her finish her drink, sip by sip. Although she was already an adult and a remarkable champion, she always seemed to have the heart of a child and never grow up.
"I shouldn't have let you come back alone. If Coach Yan had found out, I would have seen how he would punish you. Luckily, the game is over. Otherwise, you would have been crying before you even had a chance to play.
As she spoke, she put down her cup and was about to get up when she was suddenly grabbed around the neck. Xie Shi'an hugged her tightly, as if he were holding a precious treasure that he could lose completely if he wasn't careful.
She closed her eyes, but tears welled up in her eyes.
People whose brains are controlled by alcohol often speak incoherently.
"Qiao Yuchu! I'm in pain... my heart aches... I was so naughty when I was little, and you were terrified of bugs. I even caught an earthworm and put it in your schoolbag, and you never hit me."
"Why...why...why are you yelling at me for someone so insignificant? I don't...understand..."
Hot tears fell into the crook of my neck.
Xie Shi'an choked up.
"I don't want you to leave me..."
"They all reject me..."
"It's only you...it's only you left."
In that instant, the words Jian Changnian had said to her flooded back into her mind.
"But no matter how old a person gets, they still need family."
“I have my grandmother, Sister Yu Chu has her parents, Coach Yan has us, but Shi An has nothing.”
Qiao Yuchu should have realized this long ago: how insecure must someone who has been abandoned by their parents feel?
For this reason, Xie Shi'an has been taciturn since childhood, not good at expressing herself, and has few friends. She has rarely seen Xie Shi'an cry, let alone be in tears like this now.
Qiao Yuchu felt a mix of emotions. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes before pulling her into her arms.
"I'm sorry... I was just saying that in anger. How could I not care about you? You are one of the most important people in my life."
The boy buried his head in her arms and sobbed, and Qiao Yuchu patted her back intermittently until she gradually calmed down.
The medicine finally took effect, and Xie Shi'an relaxed his brows and his breathing became even. Qiao Yuchu moved slightly, trying to get up, but was tightly hugged by someone.
Two more tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.
"No...don't leave me..."
"Sigh..." Qiao Yuchu sighed helplessly and patted her head.
"Then move over a little."
Xie Shi'an obediently moved back a little.
Qiao Yuchu lay down and covered herself with the blanket.
The two of them squeezed onto a small single bed.
She reached out and turned off the desk lamp.
"Are you satisfied now? Go to sleep, goodnight."
***
When Xie Shi'an woke up, it was already broad daylight.
She struggled to open her eyes, her head still spinning, her temples throbbing, so she closed them again.
But soon she realized something was wrong; she was being held in someone's arms.
Qiao Yuchu's arm was draped over her waist, and her face was very close. In the dim morning light, even the fine downy hairs were clearly visible.
Xie Shi'an's breathing suddenly became rapid.
This distance is just too close.
The boy was a little embarrassed, but a sweet feeling was growing in his heart. She gazed at him for a long time, from her forehead to her eyebrows, to her long eyelashes, her straight nose, and her lips as pale as cherry blossoms.
He used his eyes to describe the appearance of his beloved little by little.
When his gaze fell on her lips, Xie Shi'an swallowed hard.
As if possessed, I moved forward a little bit.
Their breaths mingled, they were so close.
Qiao Yuchu stirred and turned over.
Xie Shi'an immediately closed his eyes, his heart pounding like a drum.
When she heard rustling sounds coming from the other side of the bed, Qiao Yuchu seemed to have woken up. She sat up, shook her shoulder, and whispered.
“Shi An…”
Xie Shi'an stood frozen, not daring to move an inch.
Seeing that she was still asleep, Qiao Yuchu gently lifted the blanket and got out of bed to wash up.
Xie Shi'an breathed a sigh of relief. He had originally wanted to sleep a little longer, but then the doorbell rang.
The sound of running water came from the bathroom.
Qiao Yuchu is probably taking a shower.
She got up and went to open the door.
It is a simple and common way of speaking.
"Coach Yan asked me to come and call you..."
Before she could finish speaking, she saw beer bottles scattered all over the floor and exclaimed in surprise, "Shi'an, you're actually drinking in your apartment—"
That's incredibly audacious.
Xie Shi'an covered her mouth and pinned her against the wall.
"Don't tell anyone, or else—"
Jian Changnian nodded frantically.
"Ugh... I know, let me go!!!"
Hearing the noise, Qiao Yu peeked out from the bathroom.
"Why are you fighting again so early in the morning?"
Xie Shi'an then reluctantly withdrew his hand.
"No, I am..."
Jian Changnian's fever had subsided, but her cold hadn't gotten better yet. Startled by her, she coughed a few times and almost couldn't breathe.
"Cough cough... Xie Shi'an, you're trying to murder me!"
Xie Shi'an turned around and went to tidy up the house.
"Who told you to start yelling as soon as you came in?"
"Coach Yan said we'd go for a stroll around the vicinity of □□ this afternoon, and we'd be flying back to Jiangcheng tomorrow morning. I kindly came to call you, but as soon as I walked in, I got a beating. My good intentions were completely wasted."