The massive backlash reached its peak when the South Korean team emerged, with reporters swarming around them and angry South Korean citizens throwing rotten vegetable leaves and eggs at them.
"Park Min-heon, step down!"
"Coach Park, is what Xie Shi'an said true?"
"Did you instruct Choi Hye-hee to deliberately lose to Kim Nam-ji in today's competition so that she could conserve her energy and focus on winning the gold medal?"
"Ms. Choi Hye-hee, please tell us about yesterday's match!"
"Kim Nam-ji, if you can't win even like this, you should just retire!"
...
Wearing a mask, Park Min-heon remained silent, protecting their shoulders, and with difficulty, got into the car under the escort of security personnel.
Reporters also interviewed Wan Jing.
"Has the Chinese Badminton Association agreed to Xie Shi'an's decision to no longer participate in world-class competitions? What impact will this have on her career?"
Wan Jing was wearing the national team coach's uniform, and some gray hairs had appeared at his temples. Although Xie Shi'an's performance today was without his consent, he always kept his promise to Yan Xinyuan, no matter when or where.
"The entire Chinese national badminton team unconditionally supports Xie Shi'an's decision and will collectively refrain from participating in any international competitions until the results of the Badminton World Federation's investigation are released."
With the help of her teammates, Xie Shi'an came out through the back door, with Jian Changnian following closely behind.
“Shi An…”
Xie Shi'an turned around; it had been so chaotic that he hadn't noticed her until now.
Why are you here?
Without saying a word, Jian Changnian rushed over and buried his face in her arms, giving her a tight hug.
"Hey...no...there are so many people watching." Xie Shi'an was a little embarrassed, feeling his chest slowly getting wet. He quietly let go of her collar and gently patted her back.
Jian Changnian finally raised her head after she had cried enough.
"Are you... are you in pain?"
"A little bit, so... I have to go to the hospital now. How long are you going to... keep holding me?"
In September, the sky was clear and the air was crisp. Clouds drifted slowly behind her, and fallen leaves fluttered in the air.
As she spoke, she drew out the last syllable, with a hint of teasing, and a faint smile filled her eyes. Her dark pupils clearly reflected her instantly flushed face.
The onlookers chuckled softly.
Just now, she was so caught up in the moment that she didn't care about anything else. Only now did Jian Changnian realize that this was in front of her teammates.
She released her waist, took a step back, her face burning hot, and lowered her head, not daring to look at her again.
"Let's go." The team doctor came forward and helped Xie Shi'an walk towards the parking lot.
She took two steps, then suddenly stopped, took something out of her pocket, and tossed it to her with a flick of her wrist.
"Here, by the way, bean sprouts, this is for you."
The golden object traced a parabola in the air before landing steadily in her hand.
Jian Changnian stroked the gold medal, which was bright and shiny, yet stained with unseen blood and tears, which Xie Shi'an had won with all his might.
A warm feeling washed over her. She wanted to smile, but her eyes welled up with tears: "Are you really going to give me something this important? Don't you want to reconsider?"
Xie Shi'an turned his head away and waved to her with his back to her.
"I have plenty of those things."
Xie Shi'an's pure and innocent heart is truly unique in this world.
Chapter 114 Daily Life
An athlete of Xie Shi'an's caliber has endorsements from several major international brands, making her worth at least 100 million yuan. A single match can bring in millions of yuan in revenue for the organizers. Her boycott has sparked a fierce debate.
When faced with interests, no one will act foolishly, especially since the Chinese Badminton Association, an important member of the Badminton World Federation, is also standing behind her.
The day after Xie Shi'an issued his statement, more players came forward on Twitter, sharing their personal experiences and criticizing the South Korean team for lacking sportsmanship.
In an instant, it was a case of everyone kicking someone when they're down.
#We need to be fair!#
This short sentence even dominated the trending topics for half a month.
Under pressure from public opinion, the Badminton World Federation, the Olympic Council of Asia, and the International Arbitration Commission had no choice but to announce the establishment of a joint investigation team to investigate all of the South Korean team's matches at the Incheon Asian Games.
Three months later.
Winter has arrived in Beijing. The temperature is low, but the sun is still shining brightly. Jian Changnian got up early to go for a run, then went back to her dormitory to take a shower, changed her clothes, and hurriedly went downstairs to ride her bicycle.
The security guard at the gate opened the door for her.
"Oh, so early? Going to see Shi'an again?"
With the end of the year approaching and no competitions scheduled, Xie Shi'an has been spending his time in China, either training or attending classes. Tsinghua University and the training base are in different districts and are quite far apart, so sometimes when his studies are heavy, he doesn't come back to stay.
Jian Changnian rode to the door like a gust of wind, grabbed a newspaper from the newsstand, and turned around to laugh loudly.
"Yes, thank you, sir. I'll take the newspaper with me and show it to Shi'an."
The Sports Daily, placed in the front basket of the bicycle, featured the headline "Park Min-heon steps down as head coach of the South Korean national team; Choi Hye-hee suspended for six months due to match-fixing scandal" on its largest page.
The wind blew down the ginkgo leaves, and a bright smile appeared on the boy's lips as he sped across the long street, bathed in sunlight.
Tsinghua University Gymnasium.
There are some school teams playing a friendly match today.
Before Jian Changnian even stepped inside, she heard a series of screams.
"Ahhh, the senior is so cool!!!"
"Ahhh, how can she play ball so well and be so beautiful too!"
"My senior looked at me! She looked at me! Help! I'm so happy I could faint!"
...
She finally managed to squeeze into the crowd, and Xie Shi'an on the field jumped high, winning the game with a beautiful last-minute goal.
After she landed, she picked up a towel from the sidelines to wipe her sweat, and enthusiastic classmates immediately surrounded her.
"Senior, have some water."
"Senior, could you please sign your autograph?"
"Senior, take a handkerchief and wipe it."
"Senior, this is a letter I wrote to you..."
The girls' beverage bottles were beautifully packaged, and even the handkerchiefs they handed over were pink, with a cute cartoon portrait of Xie Shi'an embroidered on them.
She's very popular.
Jian Changnian, who was holding a thermos, was about to walk up when she suddenly stopped and put her hands behind her back.
"Here you go, you're welcome." After signing his name, Xie Shi'an licked his lips. He was a little thirsty, and casually glanced over.
"That's enough for today, my partner is here."
After she finished speaking, she shoved the things into the hand of the person who handed them to her and walked straight toward Jian Changnian.
"Where's the water? I see it. Bring it out quickly, I'm dying of thirst."
Jian Changnian dawdled, and Xie Shian reached out and snatched the bottle, unscrewing the cap and gulping down two mouthfuls.
"Pfft... What's this? It tastes bitter!"
Jian Changnian scratched his head.
"It's getting cooler, so I brewed some flower tea."
Xie Shi'an smacked his lips twice, looking disgusted.
"You're so young, and you're already starting to focus on health?"
"You're lucky to have anything to drink, why are you being so picky? So many people are offering you drinks, why don't you drink them?"
"You know perfectly well that I can't just drink anything given to me by strangers."
In other words, it means you can drink whatever she gives you.
A smile returned to the boy's face, and the inexplicable jealousy he had felt earlier vanished.
"Oh, by the way, I came to tell you some good news..."
Before she finished speaking, her fans behind her had already moved in, forming a huge, dark mass.
"Jian Changnian, Jian Changnian is here too?!"
"Quick, quick, go get her autograph!"
"Spread the word: as long as you get into Tsinghua University, you can meet your idol!"
"The security check team is always there for each other, no matter where they go!"
"Senior, senior, can we take a picture together? Hey, don't go..."
Xie Shi'an's expression changed, and he hurriedly screwed the bottle cap on, grabbed her wrist, and ran outside.
"There are too many people here, let's go outside first."
The two of them came out of the stadium and ran a long way in one breath. Jian Changnian was clutching her stomach, so tired that she couldn't straighten her back.
"I'm not running anymore, I'm not running anymore. Just sign if you want. I haven't eaten breakfast yet, and I'll run out of breath if I keep running."
Xie Shi'an glanced at the cafeteria not far away.
"Why didn't you say you hadn't eaten? It's already noon."
The two of them slipped in through the back door of the cafeteria and chose a secluded corner to sit down.
Xie Shi'an got two bowls of rice, gave the extra bowl to her, and also gave her some vegetables.
"Did you come by bike again?"