Forty centimeters.
Thirty centimeters.
...
Just as the ball was about to clear the net, it didn't receive a full burst of power from Jiang Yunli and fell like a shooting star.
The white swan feathers were so beautiful, dazzling yet fleeting, just like the match she fought so hard in, burning through all her youth.
Jiang Yunli closed her eyes contentedly and collapsed to the ground.
The entire room fell silent.
After winning the match, Xie Shi'an did not raise his hand to signal to the audience as usual. Instead, he immediately threw down his racket, lifted the net, and ran over to check on her injury.
"Senior, senior, are you alright?! Where's the team doctor? Where's the team doctor?!"
The team doctors from both teams rushed over and helped her into the wheelchair. Jiang Yunli smiled and took her arm.
"It's nothing, I'm just... too tired, I need to rest. I really enjoyed the match with you today, thank you."
Xie Shi'an stood there, stunned.
Jiang Yunli, sitting in a wheelchair, was pushed away by her coach, bypassing the crowd.
"Let's go, hurry up, let's go to the infirmary."
The commentator, upon seeing the footage transmitted back from the live broadcast, was also somewhat moved.
"Veterans and newcomers, past and future—this seems to be an eternal theme. Although Jiang Yunli lost this match, in her more than 30 years of professional career, compared to the Olympics and World Championships, this is just an insignificant national competition. I hope you will always remember her as a world champion, Jiang Yunli!"
"Jiang Yunli deserves our applause and flowers today, and we wish her a speedy recovery so she can return to the competition."
"As for Xie Shi'an, he has a long way to go in his youth."
After the match, reporters interviewed Xie Shi'an.
"Did you feel any pressure playing against Jiang Yunli today? Or did you ever think about going easy on her because she's a veteran and has injuries, since I saw you lost a game too?"
The question was indeed quite pointed, but the boy faced the camera without flinching or avoiding it, his expression open and generous.
"There was pressure, but there was no intention to deliberately throw the game, because giving it your all is the greatest respect you can show to your opponent."
"So, what are your thoughts on your upcoming match against Kim Nam-ji?"
The reporter kept asking her questions, but Xie Shi'an's mind had already flown off the field. She noticed that the Sichuan team was preparing to leave.
"Excuse me, I'll be there for a moment."
After saying that, the boy turned and ran. Jian Changnian and his teammates behind him understood and helped her block the swarming media.
Xie Shi'an finally caught up with Jiang Yunli in the corridor.
"Senior!" she called out to her.
The Sichuan team members looked at her with some wariness.
What are you doing here again?
Jiang Yunli also turned her wheelchair around.
"Is there something you need?"
The boy took off his team uniform jacket, handed it over with both hands, and bowed his head slightly.
"Could you please sign your name for me?"
A smile appeared on Jiang Yunli's face. She used her teeth to pull off the cap of her pen and wrote her name in a flamboyant style on the back of her team uniform.
"I heard you're playing against Kim Nam-ji tomorrow. Good luck and don't embarrass the Chinese national team. Also, watch out for her feints."
Xie Shi'an was taken aback; Jiang Yunli was giving her a hint.
By the time she came to her senses, the person was already far away.
The boy held the team uniform and bowed deeply to her back.
"Thank you, senior."
***
As their competition came to an end, Qiao Yuchu's surgery was also nearing its end. Because she was afraid that the anesthesia would affect the results of the doping test, she insisted on not having the doctor administer anesthesia again when suturing the wound. She endured the excruciating pain, being held down by four people, gritting her teeth, and sweating profusely as she completed the suturing.
When she was wheeled out of the operating room, she was completely exhausted, pale, and listless.
Jin Shunqi followed beside her, looking worried. He glanced at her test report again and gave instructions to the nurse.
"Go back to the ward and prepare for the intravenous penicillin infusion."
Upon hearing this, Qiao Yuchu raised her eyes slightly, as if she wanted to speak, but she simply didn't have the strength to do so.
Jin Shunqi understood what she meant.
"Don't worry, penicillin won't affect the doping test. We need to disinfect your surgical incision first."
Qiao Yuchu reluctantly nodded. After pushing him into the ward, she grabbed his sleeve with her free left hand and looked at the TV.
Jin Shunqi gently tucked her hand into the blanket: "You need to rest well after the surgery."
Qiao Yuchu was concerned about Xie Shian's match result. If she remembered correctly, today was the semi-final, and her opponent was world champion Jiang Yunli.
Seeing that her eyes were fixed on the TV and her expression was somewhat unwilling, Jin Shunqi had no choice but to pick up the remote control.
"Okay, okay, what do you want to see?"
When she switched to the sports channel, Qiao Yuchu finally nodded, a pale and fragile smile appearing on her face.
***
Jiang Yunli sat on a hospital bed while being interviewed by reporters.
Facing the camera, she spoke fluently, her expression conveying a sense of relief after everything had settled down.
"Although I am very reluctant, I have decided to retire after this match. At my peak, I won medals in the World Junior Championships, World Championships, All England Open, and even the Olympics. But unfortunately, I still haven't achieved a Grand Slam. I have been working hard towards this goal all these years, but the long-term struggle and my advancing age have taken a toll on my body. I fractured my knee two years ago, which is when I withdrew from the national team training."
"At the beginning of this year, my cardiopulmonary function has also deteriorated, making it difficult to maintain high-intensity training and competition. However, I still decided to participate in this national competition to give myself an explanation and to give my fans an explanation as well."
"I really enjoyed the match today. I haven't been this excited in a long time. It felt like I had the same feeling when I first stepped onto the court. Although the result was not satisfactory, Jiang Yunli did not lose."
"She was simply defeated by time."
"I am also very grateful to my opponent, Xie Shi'an, for her all-out effort, which gave me an unparalleled and unforgettable farewell battle."
"I think that until the moment I grow old and my life comes to a complete stop, I will remember this match, remember all the joy and excitement that badminton gave me, and add the most colorful stroke to my barren life."
"Thank you everyone." Jiang Yunli bowed towards the camera.
"Please continue to support Xie Shi'an in tomorrow's match. We look forward to the future of our national badminton team and hope that a Grand Slam player will emerge."
As Qiao Yuchu watched, she didn't know why, but tears also streamed down her face.
Jin Shunqi grabbed a tissue and saw that her left hand was connected to an IV line and her right hand was wrapped in gauze, making it difficult for her to move. He wanted to wipe away her tears for her.
Before they could even do anything, the door was kicked open.
Before he could even make a move, he was forcefully shoved off the bed and against the wall.
Xie Shi'an stormed in, his murderous aura palpable, and stood guard in front of the bed like a guardian deity, followed by a large group of people from the Binhai Provincial Team.
"What do you want to do to her?!"
Uh, it seems I've been mistaken for a lecher.
Jin Shunqi was both amused and exasperated.
"I...I'm a doctor, miss, please calm down. I have my employee ID."
Jin Shunqi pointed to the name tag hanging on his chest.
Qiao Yuchu also tugged at Xie Shian's wrist, her voice hoarse.
"Shi'an, he's the Dr. Jin I told you about."
Xie Shi'an looked him up and down a few times before letting his guard down. However, he didn't apologize to her. He just nodded as a greeting and leaned over the bed to ask about her condition.
How was your surgery? Are you feeling better?
"Sister Yu Chu, are you alright? Does your hand still hurt?"
Faced with a barrage of questions from everyone, Qiao Yuchu didn't know which one to answer for a moment, when Jin Shunqi coughed at the opportune moment.
"Um... everyone, this is a hospital ward, and there are limits on the number of visitors. All of you crammed in here..."
Yan Xinyuan also came in and said, "Everyone, go out. Let Shi'an stay here and talk to Yu Chu. Dr. Jin, I also have something I want to ask you."
Jin Shunqi gestured for them to leave and went out first.
"Sister Yu Chu, we'll head out now. You get some rest." Jian Changnian said after everyone had left.
Qiao Yuchu nodded, a smile appearing on her pale face.
"Okay, thank you for coming all this way to see me. I'm fine, I'll be going back in a few days."
After everyone had left, Xie Shi'an took the team uniform out of his bag and handed it to her with great interest.
"Look, what's this? It's Jiang Yunli's autograph! You like her the most."
When Qiao Yuchu saw the three words written in a flamboyant style on the back of the team uniform, her eyes lit up, and she wanted to sit up and touch them.
Xie Shi'an helped her lift the wheelchair up a little.
Qiao Yuchu leaned against the bed, her fingers gently stroking her name, a hint of emotion in her eyes.
"When I first started playing, she was already active on the world stage and was the idol of our generation."
"It's such a pity that I didn't get to see her in person, and I didn't even get to play a match against her before she retired."
"That's what I was thinking too, so I asked her for her autograph and thought I'd give it to you. You... I think you'll like it."
The boy spoke each word carefully.
Although her complexion wasn't great because she had just had surgery, Qiao Yuchu still smiled broadly, hugging the team uniform with complete satisfaction.
"Shi'an, thank you."
"By the way, I've finished my surgery and all my matches are over. Tell me about her, what kind of person is she? What's it like playing against her? Did you feel a lot of pressure?"
A barrage of questions came crashing down on me.