The slow-motion video of the scene has been released.
It turns out that at the very moment she jumped off the ground, she suddenly switched the racket in her right hand to her left, using Kim Nam-ji's style to complete the final kill.
The entire stadium cheered when the white meteor fell to the ground.
Kim Nam-ji suddenly plummeted from the heights, staring in disbelief at everything that was happening before her eyes.
The narrator's voice rang out.
"Let's congratulate Xie Shi'an on winning the women's singles championship at this year's National Badminton Championships! We also wish Kim Nam-ji even better performances in future competitions."
Amidst the deafening cheers of the audience, Xie Shi'an stepped forward to shake her hand.
"Actually, what you did today was already..."
Before he could finish speaking, his hand, which was raised in mid-air, was slapped away.
Kim Nam-ji, racket in hand, eyes red, turned and ran.
"Who needs your fake comfort? Get lost!"
***
As the competition came to an end and the crowds dispersed, the lights in the empty stadium went out one by one, and some people sat in the darkness for a long time.
Kim Nam-ji was scrolling through her phone when a South Korean netizen commented on her social media account:
"You've been training in China for a year, and I really don't know what you've learned. You don't deserve the title of 'genius girl'."
"Today's game was very disappointing."
"You should go back to inherit the family business and stop playing ball."
"Did you travel all the way to China just to embarrass South Koreans?"
"I'll never like you again, you trash."
...
Comments like these filled several pages.
Kim Nam-ji sniffed and wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. Amidst the barrage of insults, only one person left a message encouraging her.
Yin Jiayi: "Keep it up!"
The message consisted of just two short words, followed by a encouraging gesture.
Looking at her profile picture, Kim Nam-ji burst into laughter through her tears, and her phone vibrated again.
Uncle: "Want to go out for dinner? I'll take you to eat army stew."
Kim Nam-ji thought about it and still refused him.
Because she has more important things to do now.
The girl wiped away her tears, stood up in the darkness, and ran wildly out of the venue, finally managing to stop Xie Shi'an before they got into the car.
She was out of breath, her chest heaving, and tears still clung to the corners of her eyes.
"I...I want to ask..."
Xie Shi'an picked up where she left off.
"You want to know why we lost today, right?"
Kim Nam-ji nodded frantically.
The young man stood tall and elegant, his hands in his pockets, a picture of refined grace.
"While you're out having fun, I'm training; while you're eating, I'm training; while you're sleeping, I'm still training."
"In order to defeat you, I haven't had a full night's sleep in a long time. No success is accidental."
"You've been in China for quite some time now. Think carefully about why you came here."
After the boy finished speaking, he turned and left, leaving Kim Nam-ji standing there deep in thought.
Just as she was about to get into the car, Kim Nam-ji suddenly snapped out of his daze, ran a few steps, and shouted at her retreating figure, "Next time, next time we fight, I won't lose to you again!"
Xie Shi'an turned his head slightly, a smile appearing on his lips.
"I'm really looking forward to it."
Chapter 54 National Competition (18)
After the singles match ended, the whole team was finally able to catch their breath. Yan Xinyuan was so happy that he decided to take them out for a celebratory dinner. The group went to a famous lamb spine hot pot restaurant in Beijing.
Winter is the perfect time to enjoy this kind of boiling hot pot. The fragrant lamb bones are soaked in broth, and just one bite is enough to make you feel completely satisfied.
Everyone enjoyed the meal, and the room was filled with laughter and joy.
Xie Shi'an's phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number. She answered, "Hello?"
"It's me, Dad." A familiar voice came through the receiver.
Xie Shi'an's expression turned cold, and he got up and walked out.
"I have nothing to say to you."
The man chuckled awkwardly twice.
"Don't hang up yet. I just saw on the news that you won the championship. You're in Beijing, which is far away, so your dad can't go to the game to watch you play. I can only call to congratulate you."
Xie Shi'an remained silent for a long time.
The only sound in the quiet corridor was the wind.
"Didn't you disagree with me becoming a professional player before?"
“Oh, that was all in the past. When your grandpa took you to play, Dad thought you were just playing around. Who knew you would get such good grades now? My daughter really makes me proud.”
Xie Shi'an's lips curled into a mocking smile.
"So, you're short of money again?"
The man cleared his throat and coughed twice.
"It's not that I'm short of money, it's just that I lost some money in a business partnership, and the bank is pressing me for repayment. You have that tournament prize money, right? Lend me 20,000 yuan first, and I'll pay you back once the business is profitable."
"Don't worry, this is definitely a legitimate business deal. You just wait and see how your dad gets rich. Don't even mention 20,000, even 2 million, just ask and I'll give it to you. You can be that kind of... chaebol princess."
When Xie Shi'an heard this, he couldn't help but laugh out loud. Other parents, when their children's careers have made some progress, the first thing they do is praise and commend them. Even if their children are struggling outside, they will still care about whether they are doing well and whether they are dressed warmly.
Only he did it; the first thing he did was call me and ask for money.
The emotions that had been suppressed for decades burst forth at this moment, and Xie Shi'an roared with red eyes.
"Xie Bin, are you ever going to stop?! After Grandpa passed away, you took all of his inheritance. The only thing Grandpa had the foresight to put in my name and have it notarized by a lawyer is the house. You can't take it, and you don't want it because you think its location is too remote and has no appreciation potential!"
"Besides his estate, there are all his works! You've sold them all, and it still won't fill your bottomless pit?!"
"All these years you've indulged in drinking, gambling, whoring, taking out high-interest loans, and living a life of debauchery. Have you ever cared about me? Not even for a single day?! You've spent money on your girlfriends, buying them cars, bags, and luxury goods, but have you ever spent a single penny on me?!"
"I... Shi'an, listen to what Dad said..." The man laughed awkwardly twice, still wanting to explain something.
She decisively hung up the phone.
"Don't call me anymore. I'll change my number. I won't go back to live in the house in Jiangcheng. Also, our father-daughter relationship ends here. I don't have a father like you."
After hanging up the phone, Xie Shi'an gritted his teeth, gripped his phone tightly, leaned on the railing, and suppressed the urge to throw it away.
“Shi An…”
Someone gently called her name from behind.
Xie Shi'an quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand and turned around: "I'm fine..."
Before she could finish speaking, Qiao Yuchu patted her head and said softly, "The champion shouldn't cry. Let bygones be bygones."
Xie Shi'an's eyes welled up with tears, she sniffed, and almost shed a tear.
"Um."
"If he harasses you again, I will protect you."
That's what she always said, and she really has been like a big tree sheltering her from the wind and rain for decades.
Even though she was just a child at that time.
Xie Shi'an's eyes welled up with tears, but she held them back and choked out, "Okay."
Her teammates heard the commotion and stepped forward as well.
Jian Changnian: "And me."
"Yes, and so are we."
"If he dares to come to the training base to find you, we'll beat him to a pulp."
Yan Xinyuan also came over and put his arm around her shoulder.
"Let's go eat first, the food's getting cold."
On the bus back, Qiao Yuchu gently covered the sleeping Xie Shi'an with her coat, got up, and sat in the empty seat opposite Yan Xinyuan.
"Coach Yan."
Beijing is very congested at night, and the train carriage was swaying back and forth. Yan Xinyuan didn't rest, but instead watched the game video by the dim light, while holding a stack of reports in his hand.
Qiao Yuchu knew that it was the team roster that was about to be submitted to the competition organizing committee.
"What's wrong?" Yan Xinyuan took off his glasses and looked at her.
"I want to be on the roster." Qiao Yuchu looked down at the bandage wrapped around her hand and finally told him everything.
“I know you will definitely arrange for a substitute just in case, but I want to be on the roster.”
She repeated it softly but firmly.
Yan Xinyuan placed his glasses on his lap and looked at her intently.
Is it because of Shi'an?
"Yes and no. She has suffered so much on her own. Also, Jiang Yunli's match helped me regain my confidence. I was thinking that I would stop after this match, but Jiang Yunli was able to fight until she was 45. I don't think I have reached the end of my rope yet. If that day really comes, I can retire then."