"The curtains are drawn. It's nice to change places once in a while."
"Ah...but...what is this?"
Kim Nam-ji looked at what she took out from under the coffee table and shrank back a little timidly.
Yin Jiayi pulled the person back.
"It's something to wear. Shall we... try it on?"
"No...it's too big..."
"It's okay, relax, don't be nervous, I'll be gentle."
"Yin—"
Kim Nam-ji wanted to say something, but everyone cut her off, leaving her speechless except for sobs.
While they were recklessly indulging in love and desire, they didn't notice the little red dot flashing by in the spotlight above the living room.
I don't know how much time passed, but everything fell silent. The worst part was that the sofa cover had to be taken off and washed again.
Yin Jiayi chuckled and kissed her forehead.
"Honey, you've worked so hard. Go take a bath first."
After putting the person into the bathtub, she finally had time to remove the sofa cover and throw it into the washing machine.
After coming out of the bathroom, Yin Jiayi picked up the hairdryer to dry her hair again. Jin Nanzhi rested his head on her lap, like a lazy kitten, with his belly exposed, letting her knead and shape it as she pleased.
Looking at her fluttering eyelashes, half-open eyes, pert nose, and thin lips.
Yin Jiayi felt that she had never liked anyone so much in her life.
Kim Nam-ji noticed that the hairdryer had stopped, reached out and touched her face. His fingertips touched a warm sensation, and his sleepiness vanished instantly. He sat up and looked at her.
"Yin Jiayi, what's wrong?"
"No, it's just... I suddenly feel really reluctant to part with you."
Yin Jiayi's eyes were a little red. She smiled, hugged the person, and rested her head on the person's shoulder.
Kim Nam-ji couldn't help but laugh, but at the same time, her heart warmed, and she hugged her back.
"Me too, but we can still meet up after the match."
Yin Jiayi let go of her and pressed her forehead against hers.
"Do I really have to leave right after the exam next Friday? Can't I stay an extra day? Even just one night would be fine."
She rarely spoke in such a gentle yet coquettish tone, and Kim Nam-ji's heart melted. He kissed her nose.
"Hmm? Do you have any plans for next Friday?"
Yin Jiayi smiled too.
"This is my first time dating, and I want my girlfriend to celebrate my birthday with me."
Jin Nanzhi had already bought the plane tickets and had prepared so much for her today, hoping to spend an unforgettable evening with her before leaving. However, he did not expect Yin Jiayi to suddenly pull such a move. She was caught off guard and collapsed onto the bed with a thud, clutching her chest.
"Ugh, how could anyone resist you like this?!"
Yin Jiayi hugged her contentedly and snuggled into the bed, turning off the bedside lamp and planting a kiss on her forehead.
"It's a deal then, Friday night, see you there."
***
At the boarding gate.
Jian Changnian took a few steps, but then put down her luggage and ran back to hug Yan Xinyuan. She didn't know why, but when she turned her head and looked at him standing there, hunched over, waving goodbye to them, she felt particularly heartbroken, as if she would never see him again after leaving.
"Coach Yan, are you really not coming with us? I'll miss you."
Yan Xinyuan patted her head, speaking with a mixture of affection and sternness.
"They've all participated in the World Championships and the Asian Cup, yet they still cry so much. There are so many people watching, don't make a fool of yourself."
Jian Changnian then wiped away her tears and let go of him.
"Then please take good care of yourself and wait for us to come back."
Xie Shi'an, pushing his luggage, nodded to Yan Xinyuan.
Yan Xinyuan thought for a moment and then gave Xie Shi'an a word of advice.
"Remember, health comes first, competition second. Don't get stuck on the details. Whether you win a prize or not, in my heart, you are the best."
Xie Shi'an smiled.
"No, since I've decided to participate, I'm aiming for the gold medal. Besides, I promised you I'd win the Grand Slam."
Yan Xinyuan was somewhat irritated and glared at him.
"You silly child, how could you take his drunken nonsense seriously?"
This was the last time Xie Shi'an smiled like a child in front of him.
"Even if you don't say it, the Grand Slam is my goal."
The boarding announcement had already started.
Yan Xinyuan waved helplessly.
"Alright, alright, go ahead and go. Give me a call when you get to Beijing."
As soon as the two of them turned around and walked into the boarding gate, Yan Xinyuan started coughing violently, and Coach Liang helped him steady himself.
"Old Yan, are you alright?!"
As soon as his forced composure crumbled, Yan Xinyuan swayed precariously. When he removed the handkerchief from his mouth, he saw specks of blood on it.
"Old Yan!" Coach Liang's eyes immediately welled up with tears.
Yan Xinyuan grabbed the man and gestured for him to keep quiet. He gave a wry smile and clenched the handkerchief in his palm.
"No, it's nothing. Let's go to the hospital."
When they arrived in Beijing, Wan Jing personally came to pick them up and helped them put their luggage in the trunk.
"The apartment has been prepared for you. Get a good rest tonight, and train with the team first thing tomorrow morning. Chang Nian will also be there."
"This treatment is many times better than before," Jian Changnian said sweetly after exchanging a glance with the other person.
"Then I'll have to trouble Coach Wan."
Wan Jing started the car and turned around with a smile.
"No trouble at all, come on, I'll take you to eat first."
With the shadow of the previous World Championships defeat looming, the national team is determined to win back the gold medal in the team event this time. Therefore, the training schedule is very tight. Basically, they get up at six o'clock every day for a morning run, have breakfast at seven o'clock, and then start physical training at eight o'clock. In the afternoon, they play training matches. Those who have individual events, such as Xie Shi'an and Yin Jiayi, have to train until the evening.
Jian Changnian joined the training of the first team this time, and no one complained anymore. Firstly, she did not take up a competition spot and had no direct conflict of interest with them. Secondly, on her first day in the team, Wan Jing organized a training match, and she beat a member of the first team 2-0, which can be regarded as giving these people a warning. Thirdly, Xie Shi'an is now known for her fierceness, and no one wants to go up and provoke her.
After all, she's good at playing ball, and she's just as ruthless when it comes to hitting people.
Therefore, Jian Changnian's life became much easier.
While they were training hard, Qiao Yuchu's life returned to its former tranquility. She is now temporarily staying in Jin Shunqi's apartment in Beijing, taking turns with him to visit her mother in the hospital.
That evening, he still hadn't come to the hospital. Qiao Yuchu was worried, so she called him, but no one answered.
She thought for a moment and, seeing that her mother was already asleep, decided to go home first. To her surprise, there were guests at home.
She could hear the heated argument inside the house through the door. Although she couldn't understand Korean, she could still make out a few simple words.
Olympic Games.
Kim Nam-ji.
Yin Jiayi.
Qiao Yuchu frowned. What was all this about? Just as she pushed the door open, the sounds inside abruptly stopped.
The guest stood up, looking apologetic.
"I'm so sorry to bother you today."
Jin Shunqi had no intention of keeping him. He escorted the man to the door, and as the man was about to leave, he switched from Chinese to Korean and mumbled a long string of words that Qiao Yuchu couldn't understand. But Jin Shunqi's brows furrowed deeper and deeper.
Park Min-heon nodded slightly in acknowledgment and said goodbye.
"Time is running out, think it over."
Jin Shunqi didn't say anything and closed the door.
Qiao Yuchu noticed that he looked somewhat tired.
"What's wrong? What happened?"
Jin Shunqi cheered up and smiled.
"No, I just had a fight with a friend over some business matters, and I'm not in a good mood."
He snapped out of his reverie and looked at the time on the wall clock.
"Oh, right, I need to go to the hospital to take care of Mom, so I'll be going now."
Qiao Yuchu stopped the person.
"You haven't eaten yet, have you? I'll make you something simple, and you can eat before you go."
After seeing Jin Shunqi off, Qiao Yuchu returned to her bedroom and felt something was off. He said they had argued about business, but she clearly heard the word "Olympics".
She hesitated, picked up her phone from the bedside table, found Xie Shi'an's name in her contacts, stared at it for a long time, and then put the phone down, choosing to believe Jin Shunqi.
Time flies, another week has passed, and the opening ceremony of the Olympics is getting closer and closer, and everyone is feeling a bit of urgency.
The sound of balls being hit in the stadium never stopped, all day long.
Yin Jiayi jumps up to smash the ball.
"Not bad, it's been a long time, you've improved again."
Xie Shi'an quickly went online and drew a line.
"If I beat you at this Olympics, I might overtake you in the world rankings."
Yin Jiayi was not to be outdone, and quickly ran to attack her backcourt.