"Great job, you guys have a bright future ahead of you." Yan Xinyuan always had a cheerful smile on his face.
Xie Shi'an kicked Cheng Zhen from behind.
"Alright, alright, you're getting all worked up just because I said you're fat. Why are you being so dramatic, you're paying for this meal today."
Cheng Zhen let out a bloodcurdling scream.
"Ugh! Why me again?!"
Several girls said in unison.
"Because you were the one who wanted to come along."
Hot pot is still the best choice for a get-together.
Jian Changnian ate heartily, and when she looked up, Yan Xinyuan had barely touched his chopsticks.
"Coach Yan, why aren't you eating?"
Yan Xinyuan then got up and picked up a piece of green vegetable from the three-delicacy pot.
"Oh, I've had a bit of a cold recently and I'm taking medicine. The doctor told me to avoid spicy food."
"But we can't just eat vegetables." Jian Changnian didn't notice anything wrong at all and poured the plates of meat in front of her into the hot pot.
"I'll put some beef in for you. You can just dip it in the hot pot and eat it. It'll satisfy your craving without being too spicy."
Yan Xinyuan's eyes narrowed into slits with laughter.
"Okay, okay, you guys eat too."
"Waiter, a drink, please." Xie Shi'an was a little thirsty after eating, so he waved to the waiter. Just as he was about to order Yan Xinyuan a bottle of wine as usual, he remembered what Yan Xinyuan had just said.
"Oh, you're taking medicine, you can't drink alcohol, Coach Yan..."
"Just like you, have a beverage."
"Okay, then another bottle of orange juice."
Once all the dishes were served, the group chatted and laughed, except for Cheng Zhen, who had no tact whatsoever and kept bringing up sensitive topics.
"Hey, speaking of which, where is Sister Yu Chu? I thought she was with you guys."
Jian Changnian glanced at Xie Shian and quickly changed the subject.
"Um, Sister Yu Chu went home after the selection competition. By the way, where are you playing in the finals? If we can find the time, we might be able to come and watch your match."
"Hey, it's in Suzhou, which is relatively close to Shanghai, but the competition starts next Monday. You guys probably won't be finished by then."
Jian Changnian counts the days.
"Yeah, but it's okay, we can watch TV and the news!"
The topic was successfully shifted, Zhou Mu said.
"Oh, Monday. I'll definitely be home by then."
Xie Shi'an continued to calmly add food to his bowl, his face expressionless.
By the time the dinner ended, it was already past 11 p.m., and Coach Yan and the others went back to their hotels to rest.
The two were walking back to their apartment.
Jian Changnian looked at her back and said.
“Shi An…”
Xie Shi'an stopped and turned to look at her.
"Don't worry, I know what I need to do now."
A smile finally appeared on Jian Changnian's face, and she quickly followed.
"Shall we play ball tonight?"
"Go ahead and hit me. You've eaten so much, how can you sleep without digesting it?"
Jian Changnian rubbed his stomach, his face scrunched up in a bitter expression.
"Ah... I can only sleep when I'm hungry."
"That's why your body fat percentage is always above the limit every month."
Jian Changnian became furious and embarrassed.
"Shut up!!! Do you think everyone's like you, eating all the time but not gaining weight?!"
The two returned to the training room, where their teammates had just finished playing and were about to leave. They greeted the two of them naturally.
"You're back just in time. I have something to do, so I'll be going now. Bean Sprout, you can stay and clean up later."
Jian Changnian opened her mouth and muttered softly.
"I've been cleaning ever since we arrived in Shanghai..."
Seeing her reluctance, the other person gave a mocking smile.
"Isn't this what substitutes do? Besides, not just anyone can get into the national team to clean up. Making you sweep the floor is giving you face, you know?"
"Let's go, let's go, stop wasting our breath on them."
As the group was about to leave, Xie Shi'an blocked their way like a wall.
“Say what you just said again.”
The boy's gaze was icy, his tone devoid of warmth. He simply stood there with his hands in his pockets, yet he exuded an extremely strong sense of oppression.
The girl remembered the punch she had received, and unconsciously took a step back, mustering her courage to speak.
"What...what do you want to do?! Our team has rules against physical violence..."
Xie Shi'an stepped forward and looked down at her.
"If I remember correctly, there are also rules in the national team that prohibit bullying newcomers and that all team members are treated equally."
"She...she's a substitute...what's wrong with the seniors asking her to do something?!" The girl was still arguing, relying on her status as a veteran player, raising her voice and bluffing, but she didn't see that the teammates who used to be close to her were gradually distancing themselves from her.
Xie Shi'an chuckled.
"Substitute? What's wrong with being a substitute? Does being a substitute mean you're not a person? Do you think you're so great? You keep calling yourself a senior. Only athletes like Senior Jiang, who are both virtuous and talented, deserve to be called seniors. What about you is even remotely related to that word?"
The girl blushed, and seeing that everyone else was also hesitant and dared not speak up, she became angry and embarrassed, pushed her aside, and tried to storm out.
Unexpectedly, Xie Shi'an stood there, firmly holding the door, not moving an inch.
"Stop! You can only leave after you finish cleaning. Chang Nian, bring her the mop."
Jian Changnian excitedly even brought her a bucket of water.
"Give!"
Seeing this, the others chuckled dryly and made their escape.
"Well... Shi'an, you guys go ahead with your work, we'll be going now."
Xie Shi'an nodded, stepped aside, and opened the door. The group ran away without looking back.
She closed the door and locked it.
The girl watched her movements, then looked at the empty training room, and kept backing away, finally feeling a little scared.
"What...what do you want? Isn't it enough that I apologize to you?!"
“It’s not about me, it’s about her. You can apologize, but whether she accepts it or not is her business.” Xie Shi’an turned his gaze to Jian Changnian.
Jian Changnian looked at Xie Shi'an, then at her, and thinking of the bullying and disdain she had suffered these past few days, she pursed her lips and slowly but firmly shook her head.
Xie Shi'an shrugged, indicating that he was powerless to help, and then tossed the key to the training room to Jian Changnian.
"Here, I'll go warm up first. You watch over her and you can leave only after you've finished cleaning."
"besides--"
She turned to the side and looked at the girl.
“She has her own name, and she’s not called Bean Sprout.”
Jian Changnian, holding the key, was startled when she heard her say those words. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on welled up in her chest.
It was bittersweet, yet also heartwarming. In her friendship with Xie Shi'an, she was always the one who took the initiative. The boy had a strange temper and an unpredictable personality, which sometimes made her feel uneasy.
Hearing her say those words with her own ears at that moment, her heart felt as if it had returned to the ground. She knew that from now on, there was one more person in her life who would unconditionally support her, believe in her, encourage her, and stand firmly behind her to protect her.
Jian Changnian watched her retreating figure, slowly grinned, and smiled brightly.
After the girl finished cleaning and left, she dawdled over to play ball with someone, casually bringing it up as if it were nothing.
"Why don't you let them call me bean sprout? You yourself are..."
Xie Shi'an raised his hand and served a ball.
"That was..."
"What is it?" Jian Changnian picked up the ball and returned it to the person, persistently asking.
Xie Shi'an jumped up and slammed the ball down on her head.
"Let's play ball!"
"Ouch! That hurts!"
Her screams echoed throughout the stadium.
Xie Shi'an's voice carried a hint of amusement.
"Who told you to always be so inattentive, asking all sorts of questions?"
***
Inside the detention center.
Mr. Joe's idea is the same as last time.
"I'm going to divorce your mother this time too."
Qiao Yuchu sat here looking exhausted.
“I know, I’ve been trying to persuade her, but you know my mom’s temper… Can’t we wait a few days, resolve the car accident first, and then consider the divorce?”