"Senior sister, I want to challenge you next time!"
Jian Changnian turned around and waved brightly.
"Good luck, see you at the national competition!"
When they left Jiangcheng, they also took Grandma to Beijing for a comprehensive physical examination. It took a lot of persuasion to convince her. Jian Changnian told Wan Jing about the situation, and Wan Jing waved his hand and approved a few days off for her.
Xie Shi'an wasn't so lucky; she had to go back to school. Nobody asks for leave right after the start of the semester.
As soon as get out of class ended that day, she rushed to the hospital with her bag on her back.
The doctor pulled Jian Changnian to the side of the corridor.
“The elderly often have underlying health conditions, including cataracts, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Has she been in a car accident or had surgery for a hemangioma? If you have the means, you should bring her to live with you so that it will be easier to take care of her.”
He was being very tactful; as people get older, they might have an accident at any time.
Jian Changnian's eyes immediately welled up with tears.
Xie Shi'an placed his hand on her shoulder from behind.
"Grandma will be alright, okay?"
Jian Changnian turned around, looked into her eyes, nodded emphatically, then held back the tears welling up in her eyes before walking into the ward with her.
Grandma stayed in Beijing for about ten days. After Jian Changnian returned to her team for training, she hired a caregiver for her, but the caregiver still came every day.
Xie Shi'an would also go with her.
In their spare time, the two of them would take their grandmother sightseeing, visiting famous historical sites, and taking photos at the entrances of various attractions.
Grandma in the photos always has a big smile on her face.
On the day she was discharged from the hospital.
Jian Changnian booked a restaurant outside.
At the dinner table, she tentatively began to speak.
“Grandma, it’s like this, I was thinking, maybe… you shouldn’t go back. I’ll rent a place in Beijing, so you’ll be closer to me and it will be easier for me to take care of you.”
Grandma smiled happily and gently refused her.
“Chang Nian, Grandma knows your good intentions, but you’re busy with training and exams, and Shi An is the same, always coming over. How can you train and study in peace with me here?”
"Besides, I'm not used to living in the city. I don't even know how to press the elevator button, and I can't go anywhere I want. It's not as free and easy as living in the countryside. The chickens and ducks I raise at home, and Shuncai, all need someone to take care of them."
“Grandma…” Jian Changnian’s eyes reddened slightly.
Grandma rubbed her head.
"You're a big kid now, don't cry. Just focus on your training and work with Shi'an to win more gold medals for our country."
Chapter 116 The Summit
After her grandmother returned home, the World Championships were just around the corner, and Jian Changnian's exams were also in June. She was busy preparing for both the competition and her exams, and her life was extremely hectic under the double pressure.
I get up at 4:30 every morning to go downstairs for a run, listening to English listening exercises while running. After my morning run, I go back to my dorm, take a shower, memorize some vocabulary, and then it's time for breakfast. After breakfast, it's time for training. The training before major competitions is very intense, and we often have to train until late at night.
After a long day of training, I dragged my tired body back to the dormitory, and I still had to force myself to do my homework.
Fortunately, Xie Shi'an also took a long leave from school and devoted herself to the competition training. She stayed in the dormitory during this period, and anyone who didn't know something could ask her.
Under the dim light of the desk lamp, her head bobbed up and down.
Xie Shi'an noticed the dark circles under her eyes.
"Actually, there's no need to rush. You can take the exam again next year, or... take another one. There are plenty of good universities out there."
Hearing her voice, Jian Changnian woke up with a start, sat up straight, and rubbed her eyes.
"Next year after next, how long will it take? Besides, I don't want to apply to any other university, I just want to be with you..."
As she spoke, she remembered that there were other people in Xie Shi'an's dormitory, and she turned around and glanced back as if possessed. Lü Xiaoting was snoring loudly.
Jian Changnian breathed a sigh of relief and muttered to herself.
"I'll apply to the same school as you."
A hint of a smile appeared in Xie Shi'an's eyes. He tapped her head with his pen and said, "Then hurry up and write. I've gotten dark circles under my eyes from staying up so late to be with you. Is it your exam or mine?"
"Okay, okay, you help me with my homework, and I'll play ball with you. We'll even it out!"
On the field, they are partners who advance and retreat together; in life, they are close friends who work together towards a common goal. Perhaps this is the most beautiful aspect of youth.
That year at the World Championships, Jian Changnian, who had been accumulating experience, began to show his talent in his singles event.
On the day of the competition, the Jakarta Stadium was packed with people, with every seat filled.
Commentator A: "At this year's World Championships, I'd rather watch the singles matches than the doubles matches."
Narrator B: "How so?"
Commentator A: "As everyone knows, in the Rio Olympics next year, only the top 16 players in the world rankings will be eligible to participate in the singles competition. Xie Shi'an goes without saying, right? He is currently ranked second in the world. He is ranked second because Yin Jiayi's points have not been cleared yet."
Commentator B: "I checked the BWF website yesterday or the day before yesterday, and Chien Chang-nien is currently ranked 17th in singles, which is quite an awkward position."
Commentator A and he were working together in a call-and-response style.
"The difference between 16, 17, and 18 points is not large, which means she must achieve a good ranking at the World Championships to secure a ticket to the Rio Olympics next year."
Privately, Jian Changnian had calculated that this relatively good ranking required at least a top-three finish to accumulate enough points, as other contestants might also have an exceptional performance and potentially make it to the finals. She couldn't afford to have one foot on the precipice of 16th place.
But at the World Championships, top athletes from around the world compete. Putting aside others, it's no easy feat to snatch a piece of the pie from the jaws of Xie Shi'an, Kim Nam-ji, and An Dong.
The loudspeaker in the locker room came on.
"The next match will be between Jian Changnian of China and Natiya of Thailand. Please welcome the athletes from both sides to the field."
Even through several walls, you could hear the cheers from outside.
The tense atmosphere of the competition was palpable.
Jian Changnian opened the cabinet, picked up Yan Xinyuan's photo, looked at it, put it back in, took a deep breath, and closed the cabinet door.
Coach Yan, please bless me.
"Let's congratulate Chien Chang-Nian on securing her first victory and advancing to the women's singles round of 48!"
"Xie Shi'an won again! Congratulations to her for advancing to the women's singles round of 32 as the top seed in her group!"
"Kim Nam-ji defeated Indian player Rila 2-1, successfully securing the last spot in the women's singles round of 16!"
"Jian Changnian, keep it up! Keep it up! That last backhand net shot was beautiful!"
"With Jian Changnian defeating her teammate Lü Xiaoting 2-0, the top 8 women's singles players in this World Championships have been determined. She will face Canadian star Anton in tomorrow's match. Whether she can advance to the semifinals depends on this crucial battle."
The semi-final match was particularly tough for her, as it was her first time playing against Anton. Although she had learned some of Anton's common tactics and weaknesses from Xie Shi'an before the match, theory and practice are two different things.
Over the years, Anton's status in the world of badminton has remained unshaken, proving he still possesses considerable skill.
She unfortunately lost the first game 17-21.
Back on the sidelines, Jian Changnian sat quietly wiping away sweat with a towel when someone unexpectedly bumped her elbow.
She looked up and saw that Xie Shi'an, who had already finished the competition, was still there, holding a bottle of water and extending his arm to hand it to her.
Here, take it.
Jian Changnian was taken aback, took the water from her hand, and smiled knowingly.
A sharp-eyed viewer captured the scene and began to scream.
"Aaaaaah! If the security check isn't real, then I'm a fake!"
"Go for it, Jian Changnian! Xie Shi'an has already won a match next door, now it's your turn!"
"Our twin stars will meet at the summit!"
"The best security check must be done together on the podium!"
...
In that match, Jian Changnian lived up to expectations and completed a comeback after falling behind by one game.
When the scoreboard lit up, the boy raised his arms and shouted, tears welling up in his eyes, and the entire audience roared in cheers.
"We won!"
"Jian Changnian won!"
The commentator's voice also carried a hint of amusement.
"Let's congratulate Jian Changnian on her 2-1 victory over Anton and her advancement to the semifinals. She will face German player Britta in tomorrow's match, while Xie Shian and Jin Nanzhi will compete for the only spot in the finals in Group A tomorrow."
"Let's look forward to seeing these two stars meet at the top in the finals!"
The wish buried deep in her heart for many years has finally seen a glimmer of hope. After learning that her opponent in the finals might be Xie Shi'an, Jian Changnian was so excited that she couldn't sleep well for two days.
It was late at night, and she was still doing weight training in the training room.
After finishing a training match with his teammates, Xie Shi'an returned to the sidelines to rest, wiping away sweat with a towel.
Wan Jing handed someone a bottle of water.
"We need to be realistic about our abilities in tomorrow's match against Kim Nam-ji."
Xie Shi'an knew what he was worried about and smiled.
"Chang Nian should have no problem beating Britta, but if I don't take down Kim Namji, she'll meet her in the finals."
During her years with the national team, she broke the record for the highest win rate in international matches previously held by Yin Jiayi. This is how Kim Nam-ji got her nickname "Cashier". However, Chang Nian has never beaten her in international competitions.
"I think Chang Nian would have a hard time beating either of you."
Xie Shi'an watched her lift dumbbells on the field, a meaningful look in his eyes.
“That’s different. I also want to meet her.”
On the day of the finals, even the area outside the venue was packed with people.
The audience members were all holding banners and support items.
"Xie Shi'an, the strongest on Earth!"