"It's all my fault for not winning. If I had won, Sister An wouldn't have had to play. Sigh, it's just bad luck that she got sick at this time. Even though you're the top female singles player, your opponent is Kim Nam-ji. It's just one match, we can come back next year. Health is more important."
His words of comfort sounded so harsh, full of sarcasm and irony.
Jian Changnian jumped to her feet, furious.
"you--"
Xie Shi'an slightly tugged at the corners of his lips, a half-smile playing on his lips. He grabbed her wrist, stood up, threw his coat draped over his shoulder onto the chair, picked up his racket, and shoved her aside.
"Didn't you want to see for yourself? Here's your chance, watch carefully and learn well."
"I would be more than happy if Sister An were willing to show off her skills."
Gao Jian was knocked back a step by the impact, but a smile remained on his face. In his heart, however, he thought maliciously, "How can you possibly win in your current state?"
Jian Changnian caught up with her and grabbed her arm: "Shi'an, Shi'an, let me compete in this match, okay? I swear I will win, I promise..."
Cameras set up on the sidelines.
The audience roared like a tidal wave.
The South Korean team, whose flags were already up and celebrating, were on the other side.
And what Gao Jian just said.
Without a trace of hesitation, Xie Shi'an pulled her hand off his arm and turned to walk towards the arena.
"Stop pulling and tugging, I'm determined to win this match."
Jian Changnian watched the game from the sidelines with bated breath, even more nervous than when she was on the field. Her fingers were tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, and her forehead was covered in sweat.
Lü Xiaoting comforted her from the side.
"Don't worry, Sister An should be fine. She's already won a game."
Jian Changnian stared intently at the red figure on the field, biting her lip, without turning her head.
"You don't know, they've faced each other many times, and none of them have been easy. Shi An is improving, and so is Kim Nam Ji. What's more, she's playing while she's sick."
Lü Xiaoting knew, of course, that the battle between the world's second and third-ranked players was not easy, but all they could do now was pray for Xie Shi'an.
From the moment Xie Shi'an entered the game, she had no intention of dragging the match into the later stages. She kept smashing the ball to keep her on the court, trying to finish the game quickly. In the second game, Jin Nanzhi found a few opportunities and slowly caught up in the score. The two sides remained very evenly matched.
15:15
17:17
19:19
...
Every minute on the field felt incredibly long. She could hear her own heavy breathing, her head throbbed with pain, and her vision began to blur.
Xie Shi'an bit her tongue until it bled, her mouth filled with the taste of rust, to keep herself conscious. She didn't even dare to look at the scoreboard; she had to concentrate all her attention on the shuttlecock flying towards her.
"Great! 20:19! Xie Shi'an scores another point!"
"Xie Shi'an continued her attack. Whether she could turn the tide and save the collapsing building depended on this last ball!" [1]
A white meteor, burning brilliantly, destined to shine brightly even in the moment of its fall.
The moment the scoreboard lit up.
The cheers from the entire stadium shook the heavens.
The referee blew the whistle, and the commentator exclaimed excitedly.
"From a rookie to a mainstay of the national team, Xie Shi'an has come a long way, always using her strength to support the team in crucial moments."
"Congratulations to the Chinese team for defeating the South Korean team 3-2 and winning the 2016 Sudirman Cup!"
"You—can always trust Xie Shi'an!"
We won.
Xie Shi'an felt a sudden sense of relief, a smile curving his lips. The numbers on the scoreboard became double, and he felt completely drained. His racket clattered to the ground and he fell forward.
"Please rest in peace!"
A shout came from the backcourt.
Jian Changnian pushed aside the person in front of her, braced herself on the railing, and leaped over it. She rushed to her side, her eyes red as she turned back: "Quick, call the team medic!!!"
***
Xie Shi'an woke up in the hospital. The sun had just set, and orange light shone on the white walls. She was the only one in the room.
She moved slightly, but the pain wasn't in her head; it was in her right leg, a piercing pain as if a huge rock was pressing down on it.
Xie Shi'an, slightly out of breath, struggled to prop himself up and lifted the blanket to see that his right leg was wrapped in a cast.
She closed her eyes briefly, knowing that her old injury had flared up again.
Faint voices came from the doorway. She pulled out the IV needle from the back of her hand and staggered off the bed.
"Doctor, how is Shi'an?"
"Pneumonia caused by a cold is a minor problem. The antibiotics have already been administered. Just rest in bed for a few days, pay attention to your diet, and keep a positive mood. There shouldn't be any major issues."
"But..." The doctor's expression was hesitant.
Wan Jing said urgently, "What time is it? Stop beating around the bush and just tell me how badly she's injured!"
The doctor sighed.
"Playing basketball year-round puts more pressure on my knees than on the average person. When I was injured before, my meniscus was already worn down. This time, the X-ray showed that it was completely torn."
"Without the meniscus to cushion the impact, every time she runs or jumps, it's like bone grinding against bone, causing unbearable pain."
Upon hearing this, Jian Changnian's eyes instantly reddened, and she grabbed the doctor's sleeve, pleading.
"Isn't there any treatment? It's not a terminal illness..."
The doctor glanced at her and sighed as well.
"It's not a terminal illness, but in some ways it's incurable. At this stage of the meniscus injury, suturing it won't make much difference. The patient also has a sprained cruciate ligament, and the joint is full of fluid. The best solution is to replace the knee with an artificial one as soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, Wan Jing grabbed the old professor's hand and spoke earnestly.
"No matter how much it costs or what methods you use, please, I beg you, you must cure her. She is still young, has a long career ahead of her, and still has to bring glory to the country. She can't just stop here!"
"Of course I will do my best, but... the surgery can be done, but can she afford the recovery period of more than six months?"
All things considered, there's only one month left until the opening of the Rio Olympics.
As soon as the words were spoken, both of them froze on the spot.
Tears welled up in Jian Changnian's eyes quickly, overwhelmed with heartache and self-reproach.
The old professor continued.
"Besides, any surgery carries risks. An artificial knee is, after all, a prosthesis, and rejection is inevitable. Postoperative infection, deep vein thrombosis, prosthesis loosening, wear and tear, and the possibility of having to replace it with a new one every few years are all problems that can be faced. Whether it can be restored to its previous state is another matter."
Jian Changnian took a step back in disbelief.
The door creaked softly, and Xie Shi'an stood weakly against the door frame, his face pale, but his eyes were exceptionally firm.
"Coach, I don't want to have surgery, I want to... participate in the Olympics."
Chapter 120 Time
When the three of them saw her come out, they all tacitly stopped talking. Jian Changnian went over and helped her up: "Why did you get up?"
Xie Shi'an ignored her, but looked at Wan Jing with eager eyes and repeated it again.
"Coach Wan, I... I don't want to have surgery, I want to participate in the Olympics."
Wan Jing avoided her gaze.
"Let's discuss this matter in detail. You should go back and rest first."
Jian Changnian helped the person take a few steps.
"Shi'an, let's go back first, Shi'an."
Xie Shi'an was unwilling to leave and turned back as if to say something, but Wan Jing pulled the doctor away.
"Please come with me for a moment, I have some questions I'd like to ask you."
Back in the ward, Xie Shi'an sat by the bed, watching the sunset slowly sink below the horizon.
Night fell over the city.
Jian Changnian peeled an apple and handed it to her.
"Are you hungry? Have some fruit first."
Xie Shi'an didn't move, remaining silent like a statue.
Jian Changnian put the apple aside and picked up the water glass, placing it in her hand.
"You can eat it later, but the doctor just came by and said it's time for your medicine. I cooled some warm water for you, so it's not too hot anymore..."
Xie Shi'an stared at the ripples in the water glass for a long time, then suddenly looked up at her: "You wouldn't be trying to persuade me to have surgery, would you?"
“I…” Jian Changnian looked into her eyes and finally changed his words, his sincerity evident in every sentence.
"I hope you are well and free from illness and disaster."
Free from illness and disaster—what a wonderful phrase! Who wouldn't want that? But fate is just so capricious.
Xie Shi'an curled his lips in a mocking smile.
"I'll accept whatever comes my way after the Rio Olympics."
Seeing that she insisted on not having the surgery, Jian Changnian's voice became anxious.
"But you can't compete like this. You have to listen to the doctor and have the surgery as soon as possible. If you miss Rio, there's Tokyo, and the 2024 Olympics. With your skills, a Grand Slam is just a matter of time. There's no rush!"
"I already missed the London Olympics. Four years, four years, and four years after four years, how many more four years do I have left to waste!"
Xie Shi'an raised his head, his eyes red, staring intently at her, gritting his teeth.
What's more terrifying than time itself is wasting it, especially for athletes whose professional careers are already short.