Jian Changnian's video successfully brought Gao Jian down, but it also sparked more speculation about their relationship.
Someone dug into their experiences in detail and found that they had been teammates since the provincial team in Binhai, and could be considered childhood sweethearts. After going through hardships, they finally met at the top.
Someone watched their match video frame by frame, and they noticed that not only did they have great teamwork, but even their eyes conveyed affection.
Xie Shi'an protected her in front of the media cameras during the interview.
At the post-match press conference, Jian Changnian looked at her partner with sparkling eyes: "Xie Shi'an, like my grandmother, is one of the most important people in my life."
They went to the amusement park on Valentine's Day.
Xie Shi'an returned carrying flowers.
Some netizens photographed them going home together for the Chinese New Year at the airport.
Kissing at a concert.
They entered and exited the hotel together.
The Olympics, held once every four years, is the world's highest stage. In order to allow Xie Shi'an to advance to the finals, Jian Changnian was willing to give up her competition.
A Tsinghua University alumnus spoke out.
“Jian Changnian, she comes to school to see senior Xie Shian almost every week. When senior Xie plays ball, she cheers for her and brings her water. I often see them studying together in the library. Senior Xie patiently explains problems to her. The two are inseparable and stick together wherever they go.”
The male employee of the 4S store also posted about it online.
"I have solid evidence! Jian Changnian and Xie Shi'an are a gay couple. When Xie Shi'an came to our store to buy a car, the first thing she asked was what Jian Changnian liked. In the end, she chose a Mercedes worth over a million yuan according to her wishes. Isn't that giving it away as a gift? My colleague didn't know she was Xie Shi'an at first. He only found out after seeing her ID card. Don't believe me? I even have her autographed photo here. You'll see for yourselves."
The rumors intensified, blurring the lines between truth and falsehood. Even the person involved, looking at the photos and videos online, had a vague feeling that they had actually spoken with the other party.
Xie Shi'an, in a wheelchair, had just been pushed out of the car when reporters swarmed over.
"Contestant Xie Shi'an, please respond to the rumors about your relationship with contestant Jian Changnian!"
"Some netizens have taken photos of you two appearing together at Jay Chou's concert not long ago, and interacting intimately. Do you have any explanation for this?"
"Not only that, you and contestant Jian Changnian were also seen entering and leaving a hotel together late at night. Are you really a same-sex couple?"
"So, is this why Jian Changnian willingly withdrew from the quarterfinals?"
Wan Jing pushed her along, with airport security personnel clearing a path, but people kept crowding in.
They picked up their phones, pointed them at her face, their smiles ranging from excitement and curiosity to amusement and disdain.
People of all races, with all sorts of different looks.
A passionate fan broke through the defense and rushed over, shouting, "Xie Shi'an, you've always been able to play through injuries and win championships, why can't you do it this time?!"
"Do you know how many years I've waited for you to achieve this Grand Slam since your debut?!"
"Have you forgotten what you said in the interview? You wanted to win a Grand Slam for Coach Yan. Why, why, why aren't you participating in the rest of the tournaments? I'm so disappointed in you!"
"Because of you, the Chinese team didn't win a single gold medal this year. Don't you feel ashamed?!"
"If you're not up to the task, you should retire early. Don't hold Jian Changnian back. If you hadn't affected her mentality, how could she have lost to Anton and Kim Namji?"
...
After Coach Yan passed away, she experienced similar things: being confronted at the entrance of her residential compound, having glue poured into the lock cylinder, being knocked on the door in the middle of the night, having her black and white photos posted in the stairwell, and having her social media screen filled with vulgar language. These images swirled in her mind like a movie.
She had thought she had fully recovered after a long period of psychotherapy.
But now that familiar feeling has returned.
As their mouths opened and closed, Xie Shi'an gradually lost his hearing, experienced tinnitus, blurred vision, and a tightness in his chest, as if he were drowning and couldn't breathe.
She gritted her teeth, her eyes were red, and she was breathing heavily. Suddenly, she covered her ears with her hands, fighting against the sounds coming from all over the world.
The security guards cleared the way ahead, and Wan Jing, fearing someone might rush over and hurt her, stood at the front as well.
"Xie Shi'an, you homosexual, go to hell!"
A cold glint flashed by.
A figure rushed over from the opposite side, holding a utility knife in his hand, and headed straight for Xie Shi'an.
Wan Jing's pupils contracted; she was entangled and unable to break free. At the critical moment, a familiar figure rushed forward and shielded her with his body.
Blood, warm blood, splattered onto her face.
A scream erupted from the crowd.
Xie Shi'an was stunned for a second or two before he realized what had happened. Jian Changnian's snow-white shirt was soaked with blood.
She smiled weakly, her face pale.
"Are you... alright?"
The assailant was quickly subdued and taken away by the crowd. Jian Changnian was also lifted into an ambulance before her eyes. Just as the vehicle was about to drive away, she suddenly woke up from her dream.
"Chang Nian, Chang Nian..." She stretched out her arms to reach for it, wanting to stand up and chase after it, but she suddenly fell to the ground, clenched her fists, and helplessly shed tears.
Wan Jing put Jian Changnian into the ambulance, turned around and saw her, rushed over and helped her up.
"Shi'an, Shi'an, are you alright?!"
Xie Shi'an gripped his arm tightly as if it were a lifeline: "Coach Wan, I often think of her...she..."
"She's fine, she just cut her shoulder with a razor blade and has been taken to the hospital for treatment."
"How could this be... She's lost so much blood... so much... blood... I... I need to go to... the hospital..."
Xie Shi'an spoke incoherently, pushed away his hand, and tried to stand up, but his knees buckled and he fell to the ground.
Wan Jing swiftly caught her, gripped her shoulders, and, with red-rimmed eyes, shouted in a harsher tone.
"Xie Shi'an, she's alright! It's just that the razor blade was very sharp, so she bled a lot. If you keep doing this, you'll be the one who gets hurt!"
Xie Shi'an's gaze shifted from being lost and unfocused to fixing on his face again.
Wan Jing knew that she had "come back to life," and helped her back into the wheelchair. Just as he was about to take her to the boarding gate, Xie Shi'an suddenly turned her head and said...
"I...I want to make sure she's alright before I leave."
***
After learning about her accident, her teammates rushed over and surrounded her bedside. Jian Changnian's shoulder had just been bandaged and wrapped in bandages, so she could only wear clothes on half of her body.
"What were you thinking at the time? You blocked a knife with your bare hands. Luckily, it was your left shoulder that was injured. If your right hand had been injured, would you still be able to play basketball?"
She just smiled in response to her teammates' complaints.
"I didn't care, I didn't think that much about it."
"Aren't we leaving tomorrow? Why are you going to the airport today?"
When a teammate asked, Lü Xiaoting noticed Jian Changnian's expression immediately darken and gave the speaker a shove.
"Why ask so many questions? As long as everyone is alright, that's all that matters."
"How is Sister An?"
Jian Changnian looked around the room. All her teammates were there, except for one person who was missing. She smiled again.
"It's nothing... He should... be back in China by now."
Xie Shi'an peered intently through the crack in the door at her, watching her face and every move, and Wan Jing urged her on.
"Let's go. Your surgery can't be delayed any longer. Chang Nian is here. I'll arrange for someone to take care of you. Don't worry."
Xie Shi'an moved his lips, withdrew his gaze, and finally slowly turned his wheelchair and left.
Back in Beijing, the doctors were also at a loss when faced with her injuries, and Xie Shi'an looked at their expressions.
"Doctor...can I still play ball?"
The same old professor, somewhat reluctant, carefully chose his words: "Without a knee replacement, it's hard to say whether he'll ever be able to stand up again. Even with a replacement..."
Xie Shi'an didn't want to listen anymore and pressed on urgently, "If it's changed, there's still a sliver of hope, right?"
The experts and professors present looked at each other.
"We can't guarantee anything for you; it all depends on how well you recover."
Xie Shi'an didn't hesitate for a moment: "Then I'll do it. As long as there's even a sliver of hope to return to the competition, I'll give it a try."
Back in the ward, Xie's mother called, her voice filled with anxiety: "Have you returned to China? How badly are you injured? When are you having surgery? I'll come to Beijing to be with you."
Xie Shi'an slightly curved the corners of his lips.
"No need, I'm really fine. It's just a minor surgery. I have a coach with me. If you come, what will happen to Youyou at home alone?"
"How can it be considered a minor surgery? The media is saying..."
"Do you listen to the media or to me?"
Mother Xie paused for a moment: "Ever since I saw you injured on TV, I haven't been able to eat or sleep properly these past few days. Hearing you say this, I feel a little relieved. You must listen to the doctor, take your medicine when you need to, and rest when you need to. You're still young, don't let it cause any lasting health problems."
"Okay, I understand," Xie Shi'an replied casually.
But then Xie's mother suddenly said, "Shi'an, there's something I've never asked you before, about you and Chang Nian..."
Mentioning Jian Changnian, her heart clenched, and her voice returned to its usual coldness.
"If there's nothing else, I'll hang up now."
After saying that, he hung up the phone without waiting for a reply.
Hearing the dial tone, Mrs. Xie sighed and put the phone back.
The man next to him muttered, "See? I told you, she's definitely that kind of girl! She even brought someone back for the New Year. I could tell back then that the two girls were exchanging glances, what a mess! Let me tell you, you should go to Beijing less often, and don't let anyone come back for the New Year, or you'll corrupt Youyou!"
Mrs. Xie's eyes reddened: "Can't you just say less?! The most important thing right now is the child's injury..."
After hanging up the phone, a notification popped up in my phone's message bar.
Zhou Mu: "Shi An, have you returned to China? Which hospital are you in? I'm currently filming in Beijing and would like to visit you."
Lü Xiaoting: "Sister An, Chang Nian's injury is nothing serious. I'll stay here with her, so don't worry."
Cao Rui: "No way? You and Jian Changnian are really...?"
This was followed by an emoji of someone covering their mouth.
Coach Liang: "Shi'an, come back and rest if you're tired. The Binhai Provincial Team will always be your home."
Scroll down to see the missed calls; several of them are from my grandmother.