Jian Changnian nodded and wolfed down his food.
"Anyway, I've got nothing else to do, so I'll just treat it as exercise. Oh, by the way, I came to tell you that the review results are in..."
Xie Shi'an's lips twitched. Young people really have great stamina.
She listened while eating.
"I thought it would take several more months."
"It's been three months already. If the investigation results aren't out soon, we'll be celebrating the New Year. It's a good thing that Park Min-heon stepped down, but why is Choi Hye-hee only banned for half a year? That's too lenient on her!"
Jian Changnian was indignant when she talked about this. After returning to China, she was worried about her eyesight every day, wondering if it could be restored to what it was before. After the swelling in her eyes subsided, she underwent a long period of rehabilitation training. Fortunately, God was still kind to her and did not let her career be ruined at such a young age.
Xie Shi'an snorted coldly.
"Half a year is a bit too lenient for her, but she won't be able to make it to the World Championships next spring. If she doesn't get a ranking at the World Championships, her qualification for the Rio Olympics is probably in jeopardy."
For a young athlete who is on the rise, not being able to participate in the World Championships and the Olympics is already a form of being sidelined.
While eating, Xie Shi'an glanced at the newspaper. Park Min-heon and Choi Hye-hee had both received their punishments, but in this lengthy news article, there was always one person whose name was invisible. He hoped that she really hadn't done anything, or that the chaebol behind her had protected her.
Seeing her expression, Jian Changnian put a piece of meat on her plate.
"If it's not mentioned in the news, then it definitely doesn't exist."
Xie Shi'an gave a slight twitch of his lips, remaining noncommittal.
Are you free this afternoon?
Jian Changnian shook her head.
"No, I'm on vacation today."
Xie Shi'an gave a thoughtful "Oh".
"So you came all this way just to tell me this, and you said it wouldn't work over the phone?"
"I..." Jian Changnian choked on a few grains of rice, her face turning bright red. She didn't know when it started, but she would miss her when she couldn't see her. Maybe it was just a long-standing habit and dependence.
She had no way of explaining it, and with Xie Shi'an's seemingly expressive eyes staring at her, she became even more flustered.
"I wanted to tell you this good news in person, but I've finished eating and I'm going back now."
Xie Shi'an pulled the person back.
"No, you're on vacation, right? I'll take you on a day trip to Tsinghua University."
***
The two rode their bicycles along the Ginkgo Avenue, swaying back and forth, as sunlight filtered through the gaps in the treetops, casting dappled shadows.
Students carrying schoolbags played and frolicked on both sides of the road.
Boys playing football on the playground.
A couple taking a photo under the Tsinghua University road sign.
A lively and engaging classroom.
A tranquil library.
Jian Changnian followed Xie Shian step by step, traversing a time she had never experienced before.
Until dusk fell.
The two sat down by the pond, and Xie Shi'an pointed to the landscape in front of them and said with great interest.
"This is Jinchun Garden, the original site of Mr. Zhu Ziqing's 'Lotus Pond by Moonlight.' It's a pity it's winter now, there's not much to see. Come in the summer..."
As she spoke, the afterglow of the setting sun bathed her in its light, and the smile in her eyes was as gentle as a breeze and drifting clouds.
A string in Jian Changnian's heart was gently touched again. She mentioned summer, which meant that there would be another time for such a good time.
"See you next time" and "See you tomorrow" are the best phrases she has ever heard.
Just thinking about it made her smile broadly, and looking at her, she couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"I'm talking to you, what are you laughing at?"
Jian Changnian got up, walked to her side, and cupped her hands into a trumpet shape as she faced the pond under the setting sun.
"I've made up my mind, I want to go to Tsinghua University too!"
She didn't know when it started, but she was no longer satisfied with just "next time". From badminton to university, she wanted to be with Xie Shi'an, standing beside her, watching the moonlight over the lotus pond in summer and the snow falling into the pond in winter.
Xie Shi'an couldn't help but smile slightly.
"Hey, do you know how much effort I put into preparing for the exam?"
Jian Changnian came over and grabbed her arm.
"Oh, I know you're good at math and English, teach me."
"Come on, have you paid your tuition yet?"
"We're such good friends, why are you still arguing with me about this?" Jian Changnian shouted, grabbing a fallen leaf from the ground and throwing it at her. Xie Shi'an retaliated by throwing it back.
Even close brothers need to keep clear accounts.
She thought Jian Changnian was just having a whim, but she didn't expect that after going back, she would actually borrow high school textbooks and attend tutoring classes in her spare time.
The person who said "even close brothers should keep clear accounts" couldn't help but snatch her test paper after seeing her messy homework and became her tutor.
"What a hassle."
Xie Shi'an muttered to himself as he wrote out detailed solution steps for her on a piece of paper.
From that day on, Jian Changnian became a regular at Tsinghua University. Sometimes she would go with Xie Shi'an to audit classes, and sometimes she would go with her to the library to do practice problems.
Sometimes, alumni from Tsinghua University would invite the two of them to play ball together. Xie Shi'an would play doubles, and she would play alongside her.
When Xie Shi'an played singles, she stood on the sidelines and brought her water.
When the weather is nice, Xie Shi'an will sit on the lawn of Jinchun Garden to read and sunbathe. She will lean against a tree trunk, wear headphones, and do English listening exercises.
The afternoon sun made people feel lazy and drowsy. Jian Changnian dropped the book in her hand to the ground, tilted her head, and leaned it on her shoulder.
Time flies, and the Lunar New Year is almost here. The team has done well this year, so the holiday has been extended from New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival.
On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, the team members packed their bags and prepared to go home to visit their families.
"Sister An, we're leaving now."
See you next year.
Xie Shi'an stood in the corridor saying goodbye to people.
A teammate rushed out and shouted, "Coach Wan said he won't be coming home for the New Year. We're having a get-together tonight, so he'll treat everyone to a good meal!"
Xie Shi'an was the one who never returned in previous years.
"Sister An, you..."
Before her teammate could finish speaking, Jian Changnian, dressed in pajamas, jumped out of the room, holding a toothbrush in her hand and with foam on her chin.
"Sister An isn't going; she's coming home with me!"
A burst of laughter erupted in the corridor.
Xie Shi'an raised his foot and kicked it.
"I know you'd better hurry up and get ready."
Xie Shi'an went home with her for the New Year once again. Grandma Jian treated her as kindly as ever, holding her hand with tears in her eyes and asking about her well-being. She also made her whatever she wanted to eat, which earned her countless eye rolls from Jian Changnian: "So she's the real granddaughter, and I'm the adopted one?"
The day after they returned home was Lunar New Year's Eve. The two of them set off early in the morning to sweep Yan Xinyuan's grave.
Jian Changnian took two bottles of Moutai and his usual cigarettes out of his bag and placed them in front of the tombstone.
Xie Shi'an gently placed the flowers in her hand beside her, and Jian Changnian took a step back and bowed deeply with her.
The wind blows through the pines and cypresses, which remain evergreen for thousands of miles.
In the brazier in front of the tombstone, newspapers carrying their glorious championship achievements were burning brightly.
The elderly man in the photo has a dignified yet kind expression, with a slight smile on his lips, quietly watching them, just as always.
Xie Shi'an's eyes were slightly red.
Coach Yan, can you see this? You once said that Chang Nian and I would be the future twin stars of the world badminton scene, and now the twin stars are standing right in front of you.
A gust of wind blew by, causing the candlelight to flicker and crackle.
Legend has it that this is because the heavenly beings heard the longing of their loved ones.
Chapter 115 Returning to the Capital
After paying respects to Yan Xinyuan, Xie Shi'an went to pay respects to his grandfather. By the time the two of them returned home, it was already evening.
Grandma was busy around the stove, and Xie Shi'an was also busy adding firewood.
Jian Changnian helped her grandmother knead the dough to prepare fried meatballs.
I forgot to mention, the puppy they found that year, named Wangfu, had another litter of puppies. The training center couldn't keep so many, so Jian Changnian brought one home to keep her grandmother company and also to guard the house. She named it "Shuncai" (meaning "good fortune").
Shuncai was wagging its tail, circling around them, and biting Xie Shi'an's trouser leg.
Xie Shi'an reached out and patted its head.
"Why did you give the puppy such a corny name again?"
Jian Changnian smiled and casually tossed a piece of meat to Shuncai.
"Sixes bring good fortune and wealth; what a wonderful meaning, right? May your wealth flow in smoothly."
Shuncai received the food and, as if echoing her, barked excitedly several times, making everyone in the room burst into laughter.
Jian Changnian was busy when her phone rang again in her pocket. Her hands were covered in flour, so she couldn't answer it easily and kept complaining.
"Shi'an, Shi'an, the phone, see who's calling."
Xie Shi'an put down the firewood in her hand, stood up, took out her phone from her pocket, saw that it was a video call from Zhou Mu, and immediately pressed the answer button.
"Oh, so you're celebrating the New Year together again."