Everyone knows there's no hope left.
The noise from the stands gradually subsided.
Kim Nam-ji paused slightly while serving.
She felt a pang of guilt.
Xie Shi'an was covered in wounds, her forehead was soaked with sweat, she was panting heavily, and she looked somewhat hysterical.
"Come on, don't you want to beat me?! Don't you want to get rid of the cashier title?! Don't you want to become the world's number one?!"
"Kim Nam-ji, you're not scared, are you—"
She had barely finished speaking.
Kim Nam-ji gritted his teeth and served a fast and powerful serve. Xie Shi-an was not to be outdone and jumped high into the air.
Her hair fluttered gently in the air.
The spotlight shone on her.
As usual, she jumped high, ready to smash the ball, but she couldn't create a miracle as usual.
Xie Shi'an watched helplessly as the white shooting star flew past, and the hope in his eyes vanished instantly when the scoreboard lit up.
A deathly silence.
The ball landed outside the bounds.
Kim Nam-ji won the match 2-0.
The commentator remained silent for a long time, his eyes reddening.
"In that case, Xie Shi'an's theoretical points can no longer surpass any player in the lower half of the draw, and she will be eliminated in the second round of the knockout stage. Tomorrow's match against Jian Changnian will be her last match in this World Championships."
After the referee announced the result of the match.
Kim Nam-ji looked at her through the net, moved his lips as if wanting to take a step forward, but Xie Shi-an took a step back, dropped the racket in her hand, her eyes reddened, and her expression was somewhat unwilling.
"I...did not lose to you, I just lost to myself."
Kim Nam-ji looked at her retreating figure, seemingly wanting to chase after her, but Park Min-heon rushed up and grabbed her.
"She's not the Xie Shi'an she used to be. Everyone hates her, she's like a rat in the street. Why are you still going to get close to her? Have you forgotten how she was called a cashier, how they cursed at you, and all of that?!"
***
Xie Shi'an came out from the athletes' tunnel.
The stadium was already packed with people.
"Mommy, I like her and want to get her autograph." A little girl tugged at her mother's hand, trying to get closer.
The parents grabbed the child and pulled him away.
"Why would he sign his name? He's gay!"
"Xie Shi'an, you're not as skilled as others, you should retire as soon as possible!"
"You can lose to anyone, why did you have to lose to Kim Nam-ji!"
"You traitor!"
"Go to hell!"
A few rotten eggs were thrown from a distance.
Xie Shi'an didn't dodge or flinch, but subconsciously closed his eyes, only to be met with the expected pain.
When she opened her eyes, Jian Changnian was still standing in front of her, and her teammates from the national team had also arrived.
At that very moment, she didn't cry during her surgery, she didn't cry when she was tormented by pain, and she didn't cry when she lost the game, but looking at her back, tears suddenly streamed down her face.
At that moment, Xie Shi'an had a thought, just like the feeling he had when he was locked up at home that year, watching the last leaf fall outside the window.
I'm so tired, maybe... I should just give up.
If she simply stops appearing on the field, will all of this be resolved?
Chapter 127 Goodbye
After returning from the gymnasium, Xie Shi'an locked herself in her room. Her teammates, fearing something might happen to her, stayed outside the door.
After a long while, there was movement in the room. Xie Shi'an opened the door and was taken aback when he saw that they were still there.
"Why are you all here?"
Lu Xiaoting hesitated, "We...we were just passing by...hehe..."
Xie Shi'an, as usual, showed no emotion on his face: "You've played all day, go back and rest."
The crowd looked at each other.
"Sister An, it's so late, are you going out?"
"I'm hungry, let's go to the convenience store to buy something to eat."
Lü Xiaoting replied, "Then I'll go with you."
"No need, it's just downstairs, not far away. I'm really fine, everyone can go home."
After she said that, the group finally gave up.
"Okay then, Sister An, if you're unhappy about anything, just tell us. Don't keep it to yourself, we're all here for you."
Xie Shi'an smiled and nodded, then asked another question: "Where's Chang Nian? I haven't seen her."
"I went straight to my room without even eating when I got back."
Xie Shi'an responded with a sound of agreement and said nothing more.
***
When there was a knock on the door, Jian Changnian turned over and covered her ears with a pillow.
"Stop knocking, I have no appetite. I said I won't eat, and I won't."
Xie Shi'an's voice came from outside the door.
"It's me."
She never dreamed that Xie Shi'an would take the initiative to find her again. Jian Changnian was stunned for a moment before she woke up from her dream and got out of bed to open the door.
The door opened, and Jian Changnian looked at her, moving her lips slightly.
"you……"
Her eyes were also red, as if she had just been crying.
Before she could finish speaking, Xie Shi'an held up the plastic bag in her hand: "I haven't eaten either, let's eat some together."
Jian Changnian tidied the table and watched her take things out one by one: there were kebabs, crayfish, and several bottles of liquor.
There's another match tomorrow.
Xie Shi'an gave a nonchalant twitch of his lips.
"I've done this kind of thing plenty of times before, and besides, I've already been eliminated. If you don't drink, then—"
I'll drink it.
Before she could finish speaking, Jian Changnian snatched the bottle from her hand, unscrewed the cap, and gulped down half of it, his face and neck turning red from the spiciness.
Xie Shi'an chuckled, raised his wine bottle, and clinked it against hers.
"cheers."
After a few rounds of drinks, Jian Changnian started talking.
What made you decide to contact me today?
"No one else on the entire national team, besides you, would dare to do something like this to me before a match."
Jian Changnian chuckled.
"That's true. Do you remember when we participated in the national competition? We were training in Beijing, and we sneaked out to eat before the competition and ran into Kim Nam-ji."
"I remember that the wonton noodles at that shop were delicious. I would buy a bowl every time I passed by."
"And then there was the Asian Cup final in Yokohama. Right after the match, we went out to play and watched the fireworks display at the port. It was the most beautiful and unforgettable fireworks display I've ever seen."
"And you know what? I don't know who it was that time in Yokohama, who didn't know Japanese and mistook shochu for a drink. They got drunk after just two sips, and I had to carry you back."
A pile of empty bottles lay scattered on the table. Jian Changnian was so drunk that tears suddenly rolled down her cheeks.
"Those were the good old days. Coach Yan was still around, and we could talk about anything. Shi'an, I don't want to grow up. Why... why can't time stay frozen in those days..."
Xie Shi'an's eyes also reddened, but he forced himself to hold back, took the empty bottle from her hand, and helped her up.
"You're drunk, go to bed."
Jian Changnian struggled for a moment, then Xie Shi'an said again, "Listen to me, I can't carry you anymore."
So Jian Changnian obediently took his hand off her shoulder and staggered to find the bed.
Jian Changnian kicked off her shoes, and Xie Shi'an helped her up, gently placing her head on the pillow.
"Here, pillow."
Jian Changnian vaguely saw her preparing to leave and grabbed her wrist.
"Shi'an, Shi'an, don't... don't go."
Xie Shi'an sat down by the bed, looked at her red eyes, and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"I won't leave; I'll stay here with you."
She seemed to be too gentle tonight. The gentler she was, the more unreal it felt to Jian Changnian, as if it were all just a dream that would disappear at dawn.
She gripped Xie Shi'an's hand tightly, eager to ask her for confirmation of something.
"Will you... stay with me from now on?"
Xie Shi'an lowered her eyes for a moment, then became anxious and tried to sit up again, but was gently pressed back down.