"Cough cough cough... Why is it... alcohol!"
Hahahahahahahahahahaha!
"You knew I took the wrong one but didn't tell me!"
"Hey, hey, hey, it's not my fault! I don't know Japanese!"
"Alright, consider this a celebration for you. Our Shi'an will definitely be the most, most, most, most amazing athlete in the future, and maybe we can even surpass Jiang Yunli to become the world's number one!"
"And also, you will definitely meet someone really, really, really good in the future. You will love each other, just like the prince and princess in a fairy tale... no, the princess and the princess, and live happily ever after!"
"What a nuisance, getting this drunk even with sake."
"The fireworks...are over?"
"Um."
“Shi’an…”
"Um?"
Summer will end, and so will the fireworks.
"I...will not leave you."
This time, however, it was she who had to break her promise first.
Jian Changnian slowly approached. The gymnasium was in disrepair for many years, and vines were climbing all over the walls. She looked inside through the rusty iron window.
Xie Shi'an buried his face in his palms.
Soft sobs could be heard from the quiet stadium.
With red eyes, she took out her phone and called Wan Jing, whispering, "The person has been found."
"Hey, hey, where are you guys right now? Hey?!"
Before he could finish speaking, the receiver went dead.
Jian Changnian hung up the phone, leaned against the wall, tilted her head back, pursed her lips, and tears silently streamed down her face.
"I've struggled my whole life, but I couldn't win a Grand Slam for your teacher's wife. I'm getting old, so I had to retire. I was hoping to raise my daughter to be successful, but who knew..."
"Coach Yan, don't worry, I will definitely fulfill your and your wife's wishes!"
Later on.
"Coach Wan, please explain yourself clearly. What do you mean by 'in the ICU, being resuscitated'? He was perfectly fine when we left!"
"He was diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer, and he kept it from you all because he didn't want you to be upset!"
"Stop right there! There's still one game left in the match, where are you going?!"
"My grandfather passed away the same way. I was busy with a competition and didn't get to see him one last time!"
"You think he'll come back to life just because you go back and see him? Let me tell you, my senior brother is beyond saving!"
"His biggest wish in this life is to see you win an Olympic gold medal and fulfill his dream of achieving a Grand Slam!"
"He has fought for this dream for forty years. Xie Shi'an, don't let him down again!"
Later, she lost the competition and even lost her most respected mentor.
"Shi'an, you're back... Did you win the competition...?"
"Coach Yan, I won... I brought the gold medal back to you... Feel it... Touch it..."
Coach Yan!
Sitting in the darkness, Xie Shi'an bent over deeply and finally let out his first wail from deep in his throat.
"When are you going to die, you rigged race dog?"
An egg was thrown from behind.
"You pushed Yin Jiayi out of the competition, and then you beat yourself up like that. Do you even deserve to stand on the Olympic stage?"
The glue blocking the keyhole.
"Tell me, how many times did you sleep with the boss to get this opportunity?"
Black and white photos scattered everywhere.
"That's settled then. Our national team absolutely cannot allow players with blemishes. Let's suspend them for a while first, and then we'll talk about it after everything is investigated."
Flames rose in the living room.
The flames engulfed her, yet also warmed her.
Why did you save me?!
"Coach Yan is gone, I only have you left!"
For Xie Shi'an, Yan Xinyuan and Qiao Yuchu were both people who lit lamps for her in the darkness and illuminated her path. But Jian Changnian was different; she was a fellow traveler groping in the dark. The two of them stumbled and fell, but have stayed together until now.
“Shi’an, you wished everyone a Happy New Year today, what about mine? I want one too.”
"I hope you are happy every year."
"Hey, a fan gave me two amusement park tickets, and they're going to expire if I don't go soon. Do you... want to go?"
"Go, let me change my clothes."
"I'm giving you these flowers as an apology, and also... Happy Qixi Festival!"
Happy Qixi Festival.
"After watching the whole match today, I can only describe their teamwork in two words."
"What word?"
"Flowing like clouds and water, seamless as heaven and earth."
"The security check duo is invincible!"
"I can't comment on today's match. If I had to say something, I would say they are the uncrowned queens, and they are glorious in defeat!"
"Here, take it. I have plenty of those things."
"Sister An isn't going; she's coming home with me!"
"Hsieh Shih-an and my grandmother are the most important people in my life."
"I've been a fan of his for so many years, and this is the first time I've ever been to see him in person at a concert!"
"What did you say?!"
"I said I like it—"
"That profile looks like Xie Shi'an."
"Isn't that Jian Changnian next to her?"
The music that abruptly stopped mirrored their relationship that ended without a trace.
"The patient plays ball for many years, so the pressure on his knees is already greater than that of ordinary people. This time, the X-ray showed that the meniscus was completely torn. There is no point in suturing it."
"Doctor, no matter the cost or the method, please, I beg you, you must cure her!"
"The best solution is of course a knee replacement, but... the surgery is possible, but can she afford the recovery period of more than six months?"
"Coach Wan, I don't want to have surgery, I want to participate in the Olympics."
"Xie Shi'an is competing with an injury at this Olympics."
"Due to the competition format, only one of them can advance to the semifinals."
"Xie Shian will definitely be under more pressure, after all, he is still one Olympic gold medal away from achieving a Grand Slam."
"As a newcomer, this is Jian Changnian's first time participating in the Olympics. If she can win gold, she will make new history."
"Referee, I forfeit."
"Xie Shi'an, you homosexual, go to hell!"
"Shi'an, be careful!"
"I don't want something like what happened at the airport last time to happen again. For her sake, let's not play ball together anymore."
"If she doesn't get an artificial knee implant, she won't be able to walk at all!"
"The patient has been diagnosed with moderate depression. Sometimes, a major surgery brings not only physical changes but also psychological effects..."
"Coach Wan, I want to try one more time, just one last time."
"Xie Shi'an, stop embarrassing yourself and get out of here!"
"Homosexuals, get out of the world of badminton!"
"You can lose to anyone, but why did you have to lose to Kim Nam-ji, you traitor!"
"I've said it before, no matter what you become, my heart for you will remain the same as before, Xie Shi'an, can't you even look at me?!"
"It's nice to meet you, but I'm also... really unable to keep going."
"Finally, I wish Jian Changnian a bright future and a splendid life ahead."
...
Through the door, the sounds inside went from suppressed sobs to low weeping, and finally to utter grief.
Her cries sounded so heartbreaking, so desperate, so hysterical.
All the passion, all the grievances, all the resentment, all the pain, all the regrets over the years.
It was nothing but a fleeting dream, a passing cloud.
Xie Shi'an burst into tears when no one was around.
All she could do was cry loudly when no one was around.
Jian Changnian stood outside, not disturbing her, but simply sharing her tears.
She put the back of her hand in her mouth and bit down hard until her skin bled, before she could stop herself from crying out.
***
"Oh, you're back?!"