"Jiangcheng".
"I am a native of Shanghai."
...
"They're all quite far."
The boy was touched, but also felt guilty for losing the game. After signing the autographs, he took out his team uniform, hat, Chinese team badge, and custom-made masks with the national flag from his bag and gave them all to them.
"Oh, right, I have some small gifts here, all Chinese team merchandise. The team uniforms and hats are clean, so I'm giving them to you. Thank you for coming all this way to watch my match. I'll try my best next time."
***
Xie Shi'an had just reached the parking lot when she encountered the large group of the South Korean team approaching. As fate would have it, she was about to turn around when someone called out to her.
Kim Nam-ji stepped forward, marveling at the sight.
"Hey, isn't this our world champion? Shouldn't you still be in the hospital? What are you doing here?"
Xie Shi'an looked up at her, his tone calm and composed.
"Waiting for someone."
"Junior sister is playing in the competition, look how nervous you are, I'm not going to eat her."
"..."
If Yan Xinyuan weren't here, she wouldn't be able to take action right now; she could twist Kim Nam-ji's head off and use it as a ball.
Fortunately, although her words were sarcastic and her expression was ambiguous, Yan Xinyuan didn't think much of it and just took it as a joke.
Seeing that Xie Shi'an's eyes were getting colder and colder, as if he would not give up until she froze to death, Jin Nanzhi had no choice but to wave her hand.
"Okay, okay, I'm not kidding anymore. I was thinking of going to the hospital to see you, but seeing you're all lively and energetic now, I guess you're fine. Here, this is for you, consider it a return gift for the team uniform you gave me last time."
She took a brocade box out of her bag and tossed it to her.
“This is—” Xie Shi’an was taken aback.
Kim Nam-ji shrugged.
"These are the cufflinks from our Seoul regional team uniform. They were specially made by our sponsor for the team's 50th anniversary. Each cufflink has a player's name and logo on it, which is very meaningful. It's the best gift I can think of to give you."
A team uniform jacket and a unique cufflink—it wasn't between the Chinese and South Korean teams, but between the Binhai Provincial Team and the Seoul Regional Team.
On the field they are opponents, but off the field they are good friends who appreciate each other.
Xie Shi'an clutched the brocade box in his hand, feeling that he was indebted to those who offered him food and gifts, and that he could postpone his plan to twist her head off.
"Alright then, I'll reluctantly accept it. I couldn't participate in this team competition, but if we're drawn into the same group at the London Olympics, I'll give you a big gift that won't even get you into the quarterfinals."
"Huh? I think you don't have appendicitis, you're just delusional. Anyway, I should go now, see you on the field."
Kim Nam-ji waved to her as he spoke and ran off.
As she jumped into the car, she caught a glimpse of Yin Jiayi walking over and talking to Xie Shi'an.
A sly smile appeared on the girl's lips.
"You've all worked hard, I'll treat you to karaoke tonight!"
A cheer immediately erupted in the carriage.
"Yay!"
Yin Jiayi walked past Xie Shi'an.
How is your recovery going?
That's what he said, but his eyes remained fixed on her hands.
Xie Shi'an felt like he had picked up a hot potato. To put it simply, accepting a gift from someone else's girlfriend in front of her was a little embarrassing.
"I……"
Just as she was about to speak, Yin Jiayi patted her shoulder and walked away.
"Don't be nervous, it's just cufflinks, I'm not going to eat you."
"..."
Kim Nam-ji, good luck to you.
"Shi'an!" After waiting in the parking lot for a short while, Jian Changnian came running over, panting, and stopped in front of her.
"You...how did you get here..."
Xie Shi'an was very serious.
"I've been discharged from the hospital."
Yan Xinyuan ruthlessly exposed his apprentice's scam.
"Don't listen to her nonsense. She insisted on begging the doctor to give her a discharge certificate. She'll still need to go back to Jiangcheng to change her dressings!"
Jian Changnian drawled out an "Oh".
"So the first thing you did after being discharged from the hospital was to come watch my match?"
Xie Shi'an gave a forced smile.
"Yes, come see why you're crying."
"..."
Jian Changnian was silent for two seconds, then let out a roar.
"Thank you, Shi'an!!!"
Yan Xinyuan couldn't help but chuckle.
Wan Jing looked at them.
"Since we're already here, let's go and have a meal together."
Xie Shi'an stood still, Jian Changnian had been by her side ever since she arrived, and Yan Xinyuan also supported her without moving.
Xie Shi'an: "We won't go for dinner; we're heading back to Jiangcheng."
Wan Jing was taken aback, but still whispered his advice.
"Think it over again. Coming back to Beijing with me is also an option. The medical conditions in Beijing are better, the training base environment is also better, and the London Olympics are about to start. If you're in Beijing, our coaching team can give you comprehensive and systematic guidance and training..."
After spending these days together, her opinion of Wan Jing has changed somewhat compared to when they competed in the national tournament. She feels that he is not the kind of coach who is purely bureaucratic. Coach Yan values each player, while he values the overall performance of the team.
If she joins the national team, Wan Jing will inevitably allocate more of his resources to her in order to improve the team's overall performance.
Even so, Xie Shi'an's expression did not waver in the slightest.
"I have some personal matters to take care of, and I prefer to challenge all kinds of opponents in world competitions rather than playing in the training room. Although I am with the Binhai Provincial Team, I am ready to go to the country at any time if needed."
There are exactly two months left until the opening of the Summer Olympics, and in between, there are also some large and small continental cup competitions.
Wan Jing knew that lofty ambitions meant soaring through thousands of miles, and she longed for a broader, freer, and more unrestrained stage.
He stepped forward and extended his hand to her.
"I look forward to the day when we fight side by side again."
Xie Shi'an smiled slightly and grasped his hand in return.
"must."
***
Once in the car, Yin Jiayi put her luggage in the trunk.
"Teacher Wan, the competition is over. I haven't been home for a while. I want to go home and visit my family, and also take a break for a bit."
As long as she doesn't go looking for Kim Nam-ji, everything is fine.
Wan Jing turned around and said.
"Sure, what time are the tickets?"
"High-speed train at 9 pm."
"Let's have a meal together, and then the driver can take you directly to the high-speed rail station."
Yin Jiayi nodded and sat down.
"good."
***
During the Chinese team's dinner gathering, Kim Nam-ji also started partying at a karaoke bar.
She took off her sportswear, changed into high heels, wore a low-cut crop top and shorts, and swayed gracefully on the dance floor, holding a wine glass.
The lights were bright and the music was in full swing, and then the song ended.
She returned to the sofa, slightly out of breath, picked up her phone, patted her teammates on the shoulder, and gathered everyone together.
"Come on, let's take a picture together."
Because of today's gathering, the male teammates were also invited. She sat in the middle, and the guy next to her naturally put his hand on her shoulder, making the photos look very intimate.
Teammates exclaimed in surprise.
"Namji, you and Yuntae are such a perfect match! You're the pillar of the women's team and the captain of the men's team. You look like a couple."
Kim Nam-ji smiled and brushed the boy's hand away.
"Really? Then I'll pick this one to post on Instagram."
"Hello--"
The boy wanted to say something to get closer to her, but Kim Nam-ji put down her phone after posting the update and went to request a song.
The male brothers shrugged, indicating they had no idea what to do.
"Nan Zhi, don't even think about it. She's just a flirtatious girl. Even if she takes a liking to you, her father won't approve of you. I wonder who will be able to marry our chaebol's eldest daughter."
Because she had to check in half an hour early, Yin Jiayi left before finishing her meal. The driver took her to the high-speed rail station as promised and watched her drag her luggage into the waiting room before calling Wan Jing back.
"Coach Wan, the person has been delivered."
"Did they go in?"