Qiao Yuchu finally showed a relieved smile and touched her fingertips.
Xie Shi'an used his strength to pull the person up.
During the award ceremony, everyone insisted on pulling Yan Xinyuan up as well.
Jian Changnian took the medal off her neck and hung it on him. Holding dried flowers in her hand, she smiled brightly and took a group photo with her teammates.
When a reporter interviewed Kim Nam-ji, who won the silver medal, the girl smiled slightly, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Through the reporter's microphone, she spoke to the audience, and also bid a final farewell to the person who couldn't be there.
“A year ago I came here chasing an unrealistic dream. Today’s game is my last game in China. I’m very happy that my farewell game was so exciting. I’m also very grateful to my teammates and coaches for their care, help and support over the past year.”
"These days have been invaluable to me. See you on the international stage in the future."
After the girl finished speaking, she bowed deeply to the camera.
Her coach and teammates all gathered around her, their eyes red with tears, and they hugged each other.
The commentator was also somewhat moved upon seeing this scene.
"Goodbye, Kim Nam-ji of the Beijing team. After losing to Xie Shi-an one after another, please don't be discouraged, because half of the world's badminton champions come from China. The fact that you are standing here today proves that you have defeated the majority of them."
"A silver medal is not your best result, but it is definitely your worst result, or rather, the worst result for a seventeen-year-old Kim Nam-ji."
"Competitive sports have no borders. Thank you for your contributions to the Beijing team. We will always look forward to the day when you shine on the world stage."
Chapter 57 National Tournament (Final)
"Nan Zhi, I can't bear to part with you."
"Nan Zhi, you must come back and visit when you have the chance."
"Okay, come visit Seoul sometime, I'll definitely show you around."
Kim Nam-ji dragged his suitcase and hugged his teammates goodbye one by one.
Turning around, Xie Shi'an and Qiao Yuchu slowly walked over.
The boy had his hands in his pockets and spoke in a nonchalant tone.
"Are you going back to Korea?"
Kim Nam-ji nodded, a bright smile spreading across her lips.
"Yeah, you're here to drop me off?"
Xie Shi'an: "..."
A genius will deliver this to you.
"Jian Changnian said you're leaving and asked me to pass on a message: when we meet again, I will definitely defeat you."
Kim Nam-ji clicked his tongue twice: "You're such a hypocrite. You just come whenever you want, instead of pushing it onto others."
Xie Shi'an's temple throbbed twice.
Just before she lost her temper, Kim Nam-ji remembered something else.
"I've been busy with training lately, and I forgot to return your jacket after washing it. Since I'm leaving anyway, I'll keep it as a souvenir."
Xie Shi'an readily nodded; it was just a piece of clothing.
"good."
Kim Nam-ji stepped forward, raised his fist at her, and his eyes flashed with a sharp edge.
"The next time we meet will be with Kim Nam-ji from the South Korean team. I look forward to competing with you on the world stage."
Xie Shi'an smiled slightly and bumped fists with the person.
"Me too, anyway, the result is no different."
When asked how a single sentence could break Kim Nam-ji's defenses, the young lady jumped up and down in a scream.
The spectators, hiding in the shadows at the entrance of the stadium, watched them laugh and joke from afar, but none of them had the courage to step forward and hand her the flowers they were holding.
Then, Kim Soon-sik's car pulled up.
The car window rolled down, revealing the owner's handsome face.
"Let's go, Nam Ji, I'll take you to the airport."
Qiao Yuchu stared wide-eyed in surprise.
"Jin, is the niece you're talking about...?"
"Uncle, where's my birthday present?!"
Kim Nam-ji called out sweetly and clung to the car door.
"This is the car. I'll give it to you once you've passed your driving test."
The moment Xie Shi'an saw Jin Shunqi appear, a subtle change occurred in his expression.
The boy's upturned lips slowly faded, his hands in his pockets, watching their polite exchanges with indifference, without uttering a word.
They were no longer as awkward as when they first met, calling each other by their nicknames, so intimate.
"I'd heard Nan Zhi mention it before, that he'd encountered a very strong opponent. I didn't expect it to be Yu Chu's sister. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Xie Shi'an acted as if he hadn't heard and turned to leave.
Kim Soon-ki got out of the car, but his outstretched hand, which he had intended to shake hands with, froze in mid-air, creating a slightly awkward atmosphere.
Qiao Yuchu smiled and tried to smooth things over.
"Jin, don't mind her, she was really tired from the match today."
Jin Shunqi touched his nose and withdrew his hand.
"It's nothing. I just feel that we know each other, which is quite a coincidence. If I didn't have to catch a flight, I would really like to invite you to have dinner together."
Kim Nam-ji opened the car door and got in.
"Uncle, hurry up, or you'll miss your flight."
"It's alright, you guys go ahead, we can reschedule for another day," Qiao Yuchu said.
Jin Shunqi turned around, opened the car door, and waved goodbye to her.
"Well then, Yu Chu, see you another day."
The car hadn't gone far when Kim Nam-ji seemed to remember something and instinctively reached for the car door to get out.
Jin Shunqi was startled.
"Hey, hey, what are you doing? Sit down properly!"
Kim Nam-ji snapped out of his daze, slowly releasing his hand from the car door, looking somewhat lost and dejected.
Jin Shunqi looked at her eyes and asked cautiously.
"Is there anyone else you didn't have a chance to say goodbye to?"
Kim Nam-ji held her phone and nodded slightly.
"Well, a... friend, she said she'd come to every one of my matches, whenever she's free."
Jin Shunqi glanced at her occasionally while driving.
Did she come today?
Kim Nam-ji shook his head.
Yin Jiayi is in Hangzhou; she won't come no matter what.
"No."
This was the first time he had ever seen her look so lost and distraught, so Kim Soon-ki switched back to Korean and comforted her.
“Nan Zhi, it’s not necessarily that a friend broke their promise. There are many things we can’t predict. But there’s one thing I want to tell you: if we miss someone, we must tell them right away.”
"Because you don't know what the future will hold, or whether you'll still be friends. At least at this moment, you care about each other."
As the crowd dispersed, Yin Jiayi picked up a transparent card from the ground; it was a fan gift left behind by an audience member for Kim Nam-ji.
The girl in the photo has bright eyes and white teeth, and a radiant smile.
She stared at it for a long time, and just as she was about to take out her phone, it rang.
Yin Jiayi answered the call in a flurry of activity.
"Hello?"
"It's me."
"I knew it was you."
"I'm going back to South Korea," Kim Nam-ji said softly.
"Um."
"No one will bother you anymore, so you can relax a bit. You don't have to hide from me anymore." Kim Nam-ji's tone was casual, but if you listened closely, there was still a slight tremor in his voice at the end.
Yin Jiayi remained silent for a long time.
Cars came and went around her for a long time, the north wind howled, and she stood there, welcoming the last snow of this winter in Beijing.
"I never..."
The sound of cars rushing by, combined with the wind, made it difficult for Kim Nam-ji to hear what she had said.
"What did you say?"
“I said…” Yin Jiayi repeated.
"Happy birthday."
Kim Nam-ji then broke into a smile.
"You still remember today is my birthday?"
"Mm." Yin Jiayi smiled as well.