New generations of young people have emerged like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. No one stays young forever, and no one stays at their peak forever. Aren't Jiang Yunli and Yin Jiayi the best examples of this?
Many people are just a flash in the pan, and who can guarantee that she will still be on the field in the next four years?
Jian Changnian's eyes also reddened, and there was a slight sob in her voice.
"If Coach Yan were here, he would never let you do that!"
Xie Shi'an raised his hand and smashed the glass.
Water splashed everywhere, and broken porcelain was scattered all over the ground.
"Don't mention Coach Yan to me. Didn't you hear what the doctor said? Even with surgery, I might not recover to my former state. He wants to see me win the Olympic Grand Slam, not the Paralympics!"
Jian Changnian's tears streamed down her face instantly. Her lips moved, and she was at a loss, speechless.
Xie Shi'an forced himself to look away from her face.
"Go out, let me have some peace and quiet."
***
In the hospital conference room.
The main members of the coaching staff all came and sat down with the orthopedic experts from the hospital to discuss Xie Shi'an's treatment plan. The atmosphere was very serious.
Her MRI images were displayed on a large screen, and a three-dimensional model was also created for easier understanding.
The doctor said, "Even if a normal person's meniscus is injured due to sports, it is usually torn longitudinally or laterally. But the patient's meniscus, as shown in the picture, has been separated into pieces. The structural parts have all disappeared and have moved into the joint cavity. Surgery is not very meaningful."
Looking at the PPT in front of her, you can tell how difficult it has been for Xie Shi'an over the years. These are her scars and her medals.
Wan Jing felt a pang of sadness and took off his glasses.
"But the recovery period for artificial knee replacement is too long. She really can't wait that long. In six months, she'll have to wait for the next Olympics. How many years does an athlete have in their prime? She's still very young and has always wanted to win the Grand Slam and bring glory to the country. I know that everyone here is a top orthopedic expert in the country. Please, help her."
He had already said all that. Xie Shi'an was carrying not only personal honor on his shoulders, but also national interests. The doctors present looked at each other, and it was the old professor who stood up.
"To be honest, doctors are compassionate. Even if she wasn't a national-level athlete, but just an ordinary person, and so young, we would have tried every possible solution. However, given the extent of her meniscus injury and the complexity of her situation, the suturing would be very difficult, and China is far from having such mature technology."
Other members of the coaching staff chimed in.
"We're willing to try anything, no matter how difficult it is, as long as it helps her get back on the field."
Wan Jing nodded solemnly.
Seeing their resolute attitude, the old professor sighed and said, "The latest surgical robot developed by Johns Hopkins University in the United States, da Vinci, may be able to perform such highly precise minimally invasive surgeries, and without the need to travel back and forth due to geographical limitations, the surgery can be remotely controlled and completed from the other side of the world."
After everyone in the conference room had left, Wan Jing leaned back in his chair and pinched his Qingming acupoint to relieve his fatigue.
He knew someone at Johns Hopkins University who taught there, but he didn't know if that person would be willing to help Xie Shi'an. After all, from a certain standpoint, he was on the opposite side of the Chinese team, and he also had some old grudges with Shi'an.
After much deliberation, he took out his phone and made an overseas call.
After listening, Jin Shunqi didn't hesitate much.
"Please send me all her medical records. I need to analyze them to determine if there is any indication for surgery."
The fact that he said that, regardless of whether the surgery can be performed or not, is already a way of helping them.
Wan Jing covered his eyes with his hands, tears streaming down his face.
"Thank you... thank you... thank you so much. There was really no other way in China, otherwise I wouldn't have..."
Jin Shunqi smiled and comforted him.
“I have performed dozens of these types of surgeries this year. The technology is quite mature in the United States. I will review the medical records within 24 hours and then give you a reply.”
A glimmer of hope finally ignited in Wan Jing's heart.
"Okay, okay, then I'll wait for your good news."
Jin Shunqi thought for a moment, then said again.
"Please don't tell Miss Xie about this yet. I'm afraid she might feel resistant if she finds out that I was the surgeon."
At this time of day in the United States, the two had just finished breakfast. Qiao Yuchu was washing the dishes while listening to him talking about work on his phone in the living room. When she heard the words "Miss Xie," she paused for a moment, dropped the bowl in her hand into the sink, and rushed over without even drying her hands.
"What happened to Shi'an?!"
Jin Shunqi hung up the phone and, seeing her worried expression, comforted her, "I've already agreed to review her medical records since she has a torn meniscus. If she meets the surgical criteria, I'll perform remote surgery using the da Vinci diagnostic tool."
“You…” Qiao Yuchu hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Didn't you dislike her? And if you perform the surgery for her, what about Nan Zhi..."
Jin Shunqi shrugged.
"I'm a doctor. Let the athletes settle their own business on the field."
A smile finally appeared on Qiao Yuchu's face.
"Then quickly look at your medical records, I'll go make you a cup of coffee."
***
After Jian Changnian came out of the ward, she didn't leave. Worried that something might happen to her if she was alone inside, she sat on the bench by the door.
After finishing her work on set, Zhou Mu rushed over: "How's Shi'an? How is she?!"
Upon seeing her arrive, Jian Changnian wiped away her tears and forced herself to stand up.
"The doctor said her meniscus was completely torn and she needed a new artificial knee."
With just a few words, she couldn't help but tear up again.
Zhou Mu became anxious when he heard her say that.
"It's so serious, I'll go in and check on her."
Jian Changnian stopped the person.
"We just had a fight, and she finally managed to fall asleep. Let her rest for a while."
Looking through the glass window, Xie Shi'an had her eyes tightly closed, her brows furrowed, and there were tear stains at the corners of her eyes, indicating that she was not sleeping soundly.
Zhou Mu sat down with her, put his arm around her shoulder, and patted her gently.
"It's okay, be strong. It's hard for her to see you like this. Have you eaten?"
Jian Changnian's face fell, and she shook her head.
Zhou Mu handed her the bread he had bought.
"I bought this for Shi'an on the way here. Take care of yourself first, then you can take care of her."
Jian Changnian nodded, took a bite of bread, and then large tears rolled down her cheeks.
When Xie Shi'an woke up, there was a bunch of white bellflowers on the bedside table, blooming brightly, with a small card underneath. She picked it up and saw that it was a hand-drawn sketch.
The girl in the picture is jumping up to hit the ball; with just a few strokes and no color, she is incredibly lifelike.
A line of small print was also written in the bottom right corner:
Get well soon!
Xie Shi'an knew that Zhou Mu had come, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart, causing her to slightly curve her lips.
***
Ultimately, I decided to return to Beijing International Hospital for surgery, where there is the only da Vinci Surgical machine in the country.
On the day he departed from Shanghai, media reporters flocked to him. As soon as Xie Shi'an appeared at the airport, he was surrounded by reporters.
"Athlete Hsieh Shih-an, what is the extent of your injury? Will it affect your participation in the Rio Olympics?"
"What do you have to say about the rumors circulating online that you and contestant Jian Changnian have an unusual relationship?"
"The national team is returning from Shanghai today, but Jian Changnian is nowhere to be seen. Where did she go?"
"Is it to avoid suspicion that you're not traveling with her?"
...
Wearing a mask and a baseball cap, Xie Shi'an sat in a wheelchair without saying a word. Wan Jing pushed her, and with the escort of security personnel, they squeezed through the boarding gate with difficulty.
"Excuse me, excuse me, Jian Changnian has other plans. As for the Rio Olympics, we will participate as scheduled."
The day after Xie Shi'an left, Jian Changnian deliberately chose a flight with fewer passengers in the early morning to return to Beijing.
When she boarded the plane, Xie Shi'an had already entered the operating room. After getting off the plane, she rushed to the hospital as fast as she could, just as the operating room lights went out.
The doctor wheeled the person out, took off his mask, and smiled.
"The surgery was successful."
"Thank you, thank you so much, you've been a great help to us."
Wan Jing excitedly grabbed the doctor's hand and held it tightly, his eyes reddening.
Jian Changnian's face lit up with joy, and she was about to run over when she saw some media reporters waiting outside the operating room, taking pictures with their cameras.
The smile on her face slowly disappeared. Knowing that she was no longer fit to be there, she finally turned around and left the hospital step by step, her back view so desolate and lonely.
After returning from the hospital, she tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep, her mind filled with thoughts of the competition that day.
"Gao Jian hasn't been home for over two years in preparation for the Sudirman Cup and the Olympics. He should have no problem playing against the South Korean team, so you can relax."
"Gao Jian, quick, catch the ball! Don't let it hit the ground!"
"I'm sorry, coaches, I was a little nervous and made a mistake."
"It's all my fault for not winning. If I had won, Sister An wouldn't have had to play."
...
Reflecting on the entire match, she felt something was off, so she jumped out of bed, turned on her computer, and began reviewing the day's game.
Over the next few days, Xie Shi'an was hospitalized, and she continued doing this, casually asking him questions while eating in the cafeteria.
"Hey Xiaoting, you're familiar with Gao Jian, what do you think of his basketball skills?"
Lu Xiaoting was eating when she heard what she said and paused for a moment, a mischievous smile appearing on her face.
"What, you're interested in him?"
"No, I was just asking out of curiosity. You know, I've already rejected him."
Lu Xiaoting thought for a moment before speaking.