...
The ball landed.
Xie Shi'an took the lead in the first game, and the score was tied at 22-22 in the second game. Wan Jing applauded applause.
"Okay, take a break. We'll meet at the playground at 2 p.m. for the physical fitness test."
After finishing, Xie Shi'an wanted to go over and talk to her, but when he turned around to put down his racket, Jian Changnian was surrounded by a group of people, chatting and laughing. As the newly crowned World Junior Champion, she was naturally very popular. Unlike Xie Shi'an, she was gentle and generally welcomed everyone. She quickly became friends with the national team members and was no longer the bean sprout who just followed behind her.
For some reason, Xie Shi'an felt a little lost after realizing this, so he didn't call her and went to eat. By the time Jian Changnian finally managed to get away from the crowd, there was no one left in the training room.
In the afternoon, since Jian Changnian was a new member of the team and had many assessment items, Xie Shi'an finished first and sat down to rest under the shade of a tree.
Wan Jing walked over to her and handed her a bottle of water.
"What's wrong? You're not happy that Chang Nian is here?"
Xie Shi'an watched her run under the scorching sun, dragging a tire, and observed that her physical strength, endurance, and technique were all excellent.
She smiled, which was rare for her.
"No, it's just that I feel... she's grown up."
They all call her "senior" instead of "Shi'an" anymore, and they're not as clingy to her as they used to be.
Wan Jing sensed a hint of melancholy in these words, and knew that during those most difficult days, it was Chang Nian who had relied on her to get through it all.
"You two have a long time to work together."
Xie Shi'an also knew that Wan Jing was the type who wouldn't come to the temple without a reason. He knew that Wan Jing's recruitment of Chang Nian from the Binhai Provincial Team was definitely not just for the purpose of building the second echelon of the national team.
Chang Nian's current skills are more than enough to make him a main force.
"Are they aiming for medals in all events at this year's World Championships?"
Wan Jing nodded.
"Yes, according to reliable sources, Kim Nam-ji will also participate in the women's doubles competition at this year's World Championships, so I found you a partner too."
When Kim Nam-ji was mentioned, Xie Shi'an's smile faded.
"I see, I understand now."
In just over a year, her dominance in women's singles has been unmatched, even surpassing that of Yin Jiayi in the past. Kim Nam-ji's decision to switch to women's doubles was probably to avoid her sharp edge, but she is already the mortal enemy of the entire national team. Neither Wan Jing nor I will let her have an easy time.
Wan Jing patted her on the shoulder, got up and left.
"Your chemistry with Chang Nian is unmatched. When you work together, it's like 1+1>2, provided you don't keep anything to yourself."
After the assessment, Jian Changnian stayed on the team with excellent results and moved into the athletes' apartment that very night.
The national team training center has expanded with new areas since their last visit. Xie Shi'an swiped his card and led her into the elevator.
"The first floor is the cafeteria, the second floor is the gym and the audio-visual room, the third floor is the self-service laundry room, and the fourth floor and above are the dormitories. Your room is 809."
"And what about you?"
"I'm right next to you."
Jian Changnian seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
Xie Shi'an knew that she had been bullied by her roommates when she was in school.
"Don't worry, they're all two-person rooms, and our team now has eleven people including you."
That means someone will always have to sleep in a single room. Besides her, who else could it be but a surprise guest?
Feeling cared for, Jian Changnian smiled, but then she thought that the two of them could no longer eat and live together like they used to when they went out to compete, and she felt a little sad.
"oh."
"arrive."
The floor indicator lights are on.
Xie Shi'an stopped at the door of his room.
"Get some rest."
Jian Changnian hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.
Xie Shi'an looked at her.
"What's wrong?"
Jian Changnian bit her lip and shook her head.
"N-nothing, I...I'm going back."
Xie Shi'an nodded slightly and then pushed the door open and went inside.
Jian Changnian sighed as she looked down into the empty corridor.
It seems she really forgot about her birthday.
Back in her room, after putting her things away, Jian Changnian went to take a shower. She had just taken off her clothes, slicked back shampoo onto her hair, and turned on the showerhead when the air was silent for a few seconds.
Undeterred, she twisted the showerhead back and forth a few more times with force, and this time the showerhead completely stopped working in her hands.
Jian Changnian looked at the broken shower head, feeling like crying.
Xie Shi'an had just finished showering and hadn't even had time to lie down when he heard someone knocking on the door.
She walked over while wearing a face mask.
Who is it?
"It's me."
Xie Shi'an opened the door a crack and couldn't help but chuckle when he saw her appearance.
Jian Changnian was wearing a tank top and loose athletic shorts, holding a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a mouthwash cup. Her hair and face were covered in shampoo foam.
"What's wrong?"
"The shower head is broken, no water is coming out."
"I'll go downstairs to find the apartment manager."
Xie Shi'an made a move as if he was about to go out.
Jian Changnian quickly blocked the road.
"I accidentally broke the shower head off, and I don't know when it will be fixed. I... I'd like to borrow your dorm room to take a shower first, and we can talk about it tomorrow."
Xie Shi'an knew that she was tired after a long day and wanted to rest early, and that she really couldn't show her face in her current state.
She rarely had a mischievous thought, and teased him.
"Isn't he/she a senior?"
Jian Changnian hesitated and called out softly.
"Senior sister."
Xie Shi'an wanted to close the door.
"Go find someone else."
"Hey, no, Shi'an, okay Shi'an, who am I supposed to go to at this hour? Of the entire national team, you're the one I know best."
These words immediately put Xie Shi'an at ease, and he smiled slightly, making way for her.
"Come in."
"The shower gel is on the shelf to your right. You didn't bring a towel, did you?"
Jian Changnian shook her head blankly; she hadn't had time to prepare it yet.
"Then use mine for now."
Xie Shi'an handed her a light blue towel.
"The hairdryer is in the basket under the sink, and the row of bottles and jars to the left of the mirror are my skincare products. You can use them after you shower."
Jian Changnian glanced at it and saw a wide variety of items, with a complete range of categories.
"You...have so much stuff."
Xie Shi'an curved the corners of his lips slightly.
"There's no way around it, some of them were gifts from the brands. These days I have to be on TV every now and then, so I still need to take care of myself. You go ahead and wash up, I'm going out."
"good."
The water felt warm as it washed over me.
Jian Changnian squinted her eyes contentedly. When she finished showering and picked up Xie Shi'an's light blue towel to dry her hair, a fresh and pleasant scent wafted into her nostrils.
Like summer sea salt and lemon.
So refreshing and invigorating.
It smells like Xie Shi'an.
She unconsciously picked it up again and gently smelled it, when a knock came at the bathroom door.
"It's been a long time, are you better now?"
Realizing what she was doing, Jian Changnian blushed instantly and hurriedly put on her clothes.
"Okay, okay."
Xie Shi'an watched her walk out, somewhat suspicious.
Aren't you going to blow-dry your hair?
"I'm not blowing anymore, it's too hot."
"You'll catch a cold."
Jian Changnian smiled.
"It's okay, I'm in good health."
She didn't want to dwell on the topic any longer, so she turned her head to the other side and saw another empty bed.
Where is your roommate?