After waiting for a long time without any action, Xie Shi'an turned to the side and raised his head slightly: "What—"
Before he could finish speaking, he was slapped back down.
"Lie down."
Jian Changnian came to her senses, bit her lip, and then gently massaged her shoulders, neck, waist and back to relax the muscles.
Xie Shi'an was about to curse when she realized that the massage was really good, with just the right amount of pressure and the right spot. Most importantly, she felt very relaxed in front of the massager, and she felt no pressure taking off her clothes. She comfortably closed her eyes and felt a little drowsy.
She thought about it and decided not to bully her today, considering she had given her a massage.
"You said your back hurts, where does it hurt?"
Xie Shi'an pointed out the approximate location to her with his hands behind his back.
"That's it."
The dimples are the area near the end of the coccyx.
"Really, why didn't you tell the team doctor sooner?" Jian Changnian poured some essential oil onto her hand, intending to apply it.
Xie Shi'an lay there with his eyes half-closed.
"It's not a serious problem."
The air conditioning in the room was set low, and her fingers were a bit cool. When she first touched the sensitive skin on her waist, Xie Shi'an shuddered and couldn't help but clutch the sheet beneath her, letting out a soft moan.
Jian Changnian's scalp tingled with fear, as if she were some kind of monstrous beast. She scrambled off the bed and rushed into the bathroom.
"You can press it yourself, I... I'm going to take a shower!"
"Hey, hey, at least put a plaster on my wound before you leave!"
Xie Shi'an called her name several times from behind, but the only response was the sound of running water from the bathroom.
She shook her head helplessly, then sat up, rummaged through the bedside table for the plaster she had brought from China, walked to the dressing mirror, put her hands behind her back, twisted her arms, and worked up a sweat before finally managing to apply the plaster in the right place.
"Seriously, what's wrong with you all of a sudden?"
When Jian Changnian returned from her shower, she was already asleep on the bed. For some reason, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief, tiptoed past her, went back to her own bed, and turned off the bedside lamp.
As the tournament progressed into its second half, Wembley Arena was packed with people every day. Today was the round of 16, and Xie Shi'an finished his match with ease. Kim Nam-ji also defeated another Chinese player 2-0, successfully advancing to the quarterfinals.
When she returned to the rest area, her teammates were all gathered around her. The girl who had just lost the game was sitting in the middle, crying her heart out.
"What's wrong?"
She asked a question, and someone immediately retorted indignantly.
"It's all Kim Nam-ji's fault from the Korean team. They lost the game, so what? Xiaoting wanted to ask her for an autograph, but she got a lot of sarcastic remarks. It's a shame that she was so nice to her when Captain Yin was around!"
This Lü Xiaoting was just promoted from the second team this year. She is about the same age as Jian Changnian and it is also her first time participating in the Olympics. Clutching the autograph book, her eyes were red, and she was sobbing.
"It's okay... It's all my fault... I'm not as good as others."
"She can't treat people like this! A shutout, not even letting us score a single point, and look at this! You kindly asked her for an autograph, and this is what she drew!"
If the two sides are too mismatched, especially in a 2-0 game, the winning side will usually give up one or two points as a token gesture to avoid embarrassing the opponent. This is an unwritten rule on the field.
Xie Shi'an took the notebook from Lü Xiaoting's hand, flipped it open, and saw that not only did he not sign it for her, but he also drew a huge turtle, subtly mocking her for playing timidly in the competition.
Although he wasn't particularly close to the national team players, they had trained together for quite some time. Overcome by his youthful impetuosity, he threw down the autograph book and went to confront Kim Nam-ji.
Seeing that things were not going well, a group of people grabbed her and pulled her back. Jian Changnian held her arm tightly: "Shi'an! Don't go. The referees are watching, and the media is taking pictures."
Cameras were still set up on the sidelines, and the audience had not yet left.
The South Korean team also noticed the commotion. Several players whispered something in Kim Nam-ji's ear. She was packing her bag, stopped what she was doing, chewed her gum, turned around, and gave a wicked smile. Her mouth clearly said: "Come and hit me if you dare."
Xie Shi'an shoved Jian Changnian's hand away, gritted his teeth, and said, word by word, "Since that's the case, when we encounter the South Korean team again in the next match, we don't need to be polite to them. Let's not hold back, let's fight them to the death."
***
"Let's congratulate Canadian player Anton on becoming the first to advance to the semifinals."
"Let's congratulate Kim Nam-ji on her undefeated record in this Olympics and her advancement to tomorrow's quarterfinals."
"It has to be said that since the World Championships, Hsieh Shih-an has shown tremendous dominance in the badminton singles event."
"I just did a rough calculation, and from the World Championships to the Asian Cup and then to the London Olympics, she hasn't lost a single match. Her winning percentage so far is 100%."
"She will face Canadian player Anton in tomorrow's match, while Kim Nam-ji will face the Indian player Katia, who won the last match and is currently ranked fourth in the world. Let's wait and see!"
As the commentary ended, Kim Nam-ji, who had just finished the match, surprisingly took the initiative to come and talk to her.
The moment she opened her mouth, her tone was full of sarcasm.
"What a pity, I thought I could beat you in the group stage."
Xie Shi'an packed his golf bag, not intending to pay any attention to her.
"Even if we meet in the group stage, it just means you'll be eliminated early. If it goes to the finals, the result won't be any different."
"You—" Kim Nam-ji was furious and stepped forward to block her path: "Don't think that just because you drove away Yoon Jia-yi, you're number one in the world!"
Upon hearing her mention Yin Jiayi, Xie Shi'an was also furious. She suddenly looked up and curled her lips in contempt.
"You know perfectly well why she retired. Besides, I've beaten her twice, what about you?"
Her words were ambiguous, and Kim Nam-ji thought she was referring to Yoon Jia-yi breaking up with her to get married, which hit a nerve. She immediately gritted her teeth, wishing she could tear her apart.
"I will surpass her points sooner or later, and I will surpass you too, becoming the true world number one!"
After a day of competition, Xie Shi'an was a little hungry and too lazy to argue with anyone anymore, so he simply pushed them away.
"Get out of the way, don't block the way. Save that for the finals."
***
After the match, to celebrate the South Korean team's successful entry into the semi-finals, Park Min-heon hosted a simple party in his room. The other members of the coaching staff also came and sat cross-legged on the floor, cooking army stew.
He was drinking heavily, his face flushed and his neck thick, while the other coaches flattered him: "Thanks to Coach Park, Nam Ji has achieved such good results. Nam Ji's entry into the semi-finals means that our Korean team has entered the semi-finals. Come on, let's toast to the semi-finals and to Coach Park!"
A group of people clinked their glasses together. Park Min-heon, his face flushed, waved his hand, saying he couldn't drink anymore, but then accepted every drink offered.
During the meal, the topic of the competition inevitably came up, and someone started a conversation.
"Nan Zhi should have no problem beating that Indian player. It would be great if Xie Shi'an lost to Anton in the quarterfinals. That way, we wouldn't have to face her in the finals, and the gold medal would be a sure thing."
"Didn't Xie Shi'an beat An Dong? I think it's unlikely."
"Oh dear, we can only pray that our Nan Zhi performs exceptionally well."
"Haha, then I'll pray that Xie Shi'an makes a big mistake, and it would be best if he couldn't play in the finals."
Park Min-heon poured himself another glass of wine, raised it to clink with theirs, and smiled knowingly.
"I heard that Xie Shi'an's head coach didn't come with her this time. They were inseparable during the World Championships, but they won't be coming to the Olympics."
;＊＊＊
After returning to the Olympic Village, the two went to the cafeteria for a meal.
Jian Changnian: "What did Kim Nam-ji just say to you?"
Xie Shi'an picked up some food from the plate.
"It's the same old routine, they come here to show off their power before the game, just like always."
Jian Changnian thought for a moment: "I watched her compete this time, and her strength has improved a lot compared to before. She should have no problem in the finals, right?"
Xie Shi'an choked up and tapped her head with the other end of his chopsticks: "Are you alright? I beat her even when I had appendicitis and a high fever during the World Championships, let alone now."
Jian Changnian covered her forehead and smiled sheepishly, "I was just worried about you."
"Don't worry, as long as there's no major mistake, like me having a heart attack or stroke and suddenly fainting and unable to continue fighting, beating her will be a piece of cake."
"Pah, pah, pah, what are you saying!" Seeing that she was talking more and more outrageous, Jian Changnian quickly stopped her.
"That makes sense. You can beat Captain Yin, so you can beat her too. I need to call Coach Yan and tell him the good news that you've made it to the semifinals."
As she spoke, she placed her phone on the table, pressed speakerphone, and it rang twice before Coach Liang answered.
"Oh, it's Chang Nian. What can I do for you, Lao Yan?"
Jian Changnian smiled and said, "It's nothing. I just wanted to let him know that Shi An has made it to the semifinals. If nothing unexpected happens, he should have no problem playing Kim Nam-ji the day after tomorrow."
A hint of joy finally appeared in Coach Liang's voice.
"Old Yan is coaching right now. He left his phone with me. I'll tell him after training is over."
"Okay, sure," Jian Changnian replied crisply.
"Then I won't tell you anymore. You and Coach Yan should take care of yourselves. We'll show you what the gold medal looks like when we get back."
After the call ended, Xie Shi'an said, "Why are you speaking on my behalf again?"
Jian Changnian smiled, her eyebrows curving upwards.
"Because I know that's what you really think."
Xie Shi'an ate his meal with a hint of emotion in his eyes.
"I just thought that Coach Yan has had such a hard life, dedicating his whole life to an Olympic gold medal, and I must make this dream come true for him."
Jian Changnian put the chicken leg from her bowl onto her plate.
"Eat quickly, and I'll practice with you again after you finish eating."
At that time, Xie Shi'an was still immersed in her dream of winning the championship. She did not know that the moon wanes after it is full and water overflows when it is full. Fate made her stumble badly at the London Olympics and almost made her give up.
While they were training hard in the training room, Kim Nam-ji didn't rest either. After finishing her physical training, she started hitting the ball against the wall again.
The teammates packed up their things, and everyone was ready to leave.
"Nan Zhi, you have a match tomorrow, go home early."
Kim Nam-ji didn't even turn his head: "You guys go back first."
"Let's go, let's go first."
Before his teammate could say anything more, he was pulled away.
"Don't you guys think that Nan Zhi seems like a completely different person?"
“She’s been like this ever since she came back from China. I don’t even dare to talk to her much anymore.”
"Didn't she make a girl from the second team cry that day, just because the girl mentioned that Yin Jiayi was her idol?"