"Old ginger is spicier."
"I was moved to tears. Jiang Yunli is so hardworking. At an age when she no longer has any advantage among professional athletes, she is still persevering for her dream."
Will Xie Shi'an lose? I don't want to see her lose either.
As this comment flashed before my eyes...
Zhou Mu held up his phone and typed, entering each word carefully:
Jiang Yunli will not lose, Xie Shi'an will not lose either; everyone who perseveres for their dreams is an uncrowned king.
The team doctor and coach ran over and helped Jiang Yunli off the field.
The team doctor was disinfecting the scrapes on her arm, and the coach said anxiously, "Yunli, if you can't take it anymore, let's forfeit. Your body can't handle this kind of high-intensity competition! You've come this far in the national competition, fighting your way from the group stage to the semifinals. Even if you just want to prove yourself, that's enough!"
Jiang Yunli looked down at the racket in her hand; even during treatment, she hadn't put it down for a moment.
Xie Shi'an, who was opposite her, was also looking at her.
Jiang Yunli seemed to sense something, and looked up in that direction. Behind her, the audience erupted in cheers.
People from all directions were calling her name, holding up light boards and banners in her honor.
"Jiang Yunli—"
"come on!!!"
She stood up and said softly, "Coach, take a look at the stands. So many people have come here because they like me. I am the world champion. Even if this is my farewell match, I have to play beautifully. What kind of thing is it to forfeit? I can't let them down, and I don't want to leave any regrets for myself."
Yan Xinyuan took the bottled water back from her hand.
"Go on, it's the last round. This is a battle of destiny for Jiang Yunli, and it is the same for you."
"Climb over this mountain and start your own era."
Chapter 51 National Competition (15)
The past and the future collide in the same space and time; every swing of the racket contains the full power of the two people.
Jiang Yunli has received too many honors. People say that she can't let go of her idol image and can't bear to give up these championship titles, which is why she is reluctant to retire. But only she knows what she is standing here for.
The only thing she can't let go of is the badminton racket in her hand. Her decades of unwavering dedication have made nothing in her life more meaningful than badminton.
This was especially true for Xie Shi'an. The boy's eyes were only on the badminton shuttlecock spinning rapidly toward her, tirelessly repeating the actions of serving, swinging the racket, retreating, smashing, and pushing.
The atmosphere was tense and deadlocked.
Jian Changnian, watching from the sidelines, was also getting a little anxious.
"Coach Yan, who is stronger between the two of them?"
Yan Xinyuan frowned as he analyzed the situation on the field.
"It's hard to say. If we're talking about physical strength, Shi'an is definitely better, but Jiang Yunli is just too experienced. She can see through almost every feint of Shi'an."
Jian Changnian nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
"So, Shi An's attacks were ineffective against her?"
"You could say that."
"Jiang Yunli has saved the ball again!"
"Jiang Yunli pressed on and scored another point, taking a 9-11 lead and reaching match point!"
"Xie Shi'an needs to make adjustments in the second half. If he continues to play like this, the game is likely to be in jeopardy."
Xie Shi'an walked back to the rest area. Although her teammates were no longer playing, they had all come to watch the game and cheer her on.
"Shi'an, keep going! Don't be afraid of her, just do it!"
"Shi'an, in my heart, you are the strongest in our Binhai team."
"Shi'an and Yin Jiayi have both tried, so Jiang Yunli can definitely do it too."
Jian Changnian looked at her expectantly.
"Shi'an, Yu Chu and I are both waiting for your good news."
Yan Xinyuan also put his hand on her shoulder.
"Don't be afraid. If you win today's game, some people will say you don't respect your seniors. If you lose, some people will criticize you for being a newcomer. But you just need to know that you are doing your best in every game."
"If you want to reach a higher stage, then whether it's Yin Jiayi or Jiang Yunli, they are all hurdles you must overcome."
"Go ahead and play to your strengths. She's experienced, so take her by surprise. That's all I can teach you."
Although it wasn't a team competition, Jian Changnian still extended her hand as usual, and her teammates placed their hands on top of each other.
Everyone was looking at Xie Shi'an.
A smile appeared on the boy's lips, and he placed his right hand on it as well.
"Go! Go! Go!"
After three sounds, they dispersed.
She picked up her racket again and walked onto the court, the four words "Binhai Provincial Team" on the back of her blue and white team uniform so dazzling and eye-catching.
While the team doctor was performing acupuncture on Jiang Yunli, she covered her head with a towel, suppressing the groans of pain that came from deep in her throat.
The coach stood beside her, heartbroken and anxiously pacing back and forth.
"You, even in this state, you still want to hit me! You're really driving me crazy! What if something bad happens to me?!"
Jiang Yunli took a few breaths, pulled off the soaking wet towel covering her head, and threw it onto the chair.
"Coach, as you know, I've also been looking for an opportunity, or rather, choosing a suitable opponent, for my farewell match. I don't think that person is Yin Jiayi, nor Jin Nanzhi, but rather—"
Her gaze was fixed firmly on Xie Shi'an across from her.
Xie Shi'an was also staring intently at her. Their eyes met, and both of them seemed to understand something, their fighting spirit surging.
Jiang Yunli picked up her racket again and went back onto the court.
The second half of the game has officially begun.
"Are you ready? If you lose to me again in the second half, I'll win this game," Jiang Yunli said with a smile.
Xie Shi'an raised an eyebrow and received the serve.
"I think you should pay more attention to your own health rather than my condition."
"Haven't you heard the saying, 'Even though Lian Po is old, can he still eat?'" Faced with her fierce attack, Jiang Yunli gritted her teeth and flicked the ball back to her.
The commentator laughed.
"I don't know why, but I always have the feeling that these two people are friends through sports and appreciate each other."
"Just as Bo Ya and Zi Qi in ancient times found kindred spirits in the music of high mountains and flowing water, Xie Shi'an and Jiang Yunli in modern times became friends through competition, which is also a wonderful story."
Joking aside, the competition is still in full swing.
Sitting at his desk, Zhou Mu bit his pen, staring intently at his phone, not daring to blink for fear of missing something.
14:14
14:15
15:15
16:16
"The score is very close."
Every swing of the racket is adding insult to injury for Jiang Yunli's current physical condition.
She had to grit her teeth, taste a hint of blood on her tongue, endure the soreness in every part of her body, and use all her strength to support herself and complete a jump smash.
Xie Shi'an never gave up. Her moves were seen through time and time again, so she launched new attacks, constantly trying new possibilities and using all her strength to break through her defense.
Jiang Yunli fell down again and again, but gritted her teeth and got up again and again.
The cheers for them never stopped, and many audience members covered their mouths with their hands, their eyes filled with tears.
"Jiang Yunli—"
"come on!!!"
"Xie Shi'an—"
"come on!!!"
19:20
Jiang Yunli is currently trailing by one point.
This is the last ball.
Xie Shi'an raised his arm high, and the badminton shuttlecock spun rapidly in mid-air, as the past and the future converged in the same space and time.
Jiang Yunli seemed to see her own shadow in her. When she first stood on the field, she was also the same age as her, so ignorant and fearless, full of vigor.
That was her best era.
Time silently turns its gears, and all world championship honors must eventually come to an end.
Fortunately, one era has ended, and the next one will always come.
No professional player stays at the peak forever, but there are always those who keep climbing to the top.
With a smile on her lips, Jiang Yunli watched the badminton shuttlecock hurtling towards her without dodging or avoiding it, and used the last bit of strength to fight back.
The audience members all stood up.
Zhou Mu nervously pinched her thigh.
The ball is getting closer and closer to the net.
Two meters.
One meter.
Fifty centimeters.