She touched the old man's photo on the tombstone and stood up: "Coach Yan, please don't blame Shi An, I'll come to see you another day."
The driver saw her run back in less than five minutes.
"Where are you going this time?"
Jiangcheng City Gymnasium was not unfamiliar to Jian Changnian; she had competed in her first national competition there.
For Xie Shi'an, this place is where her dream began; her debut competition was held here.
"Good job, Shi'an, well done!"
"It's the last ball, come on!"
While she was playing a game, her grandfather would carry her water bottle and clothes from the sidelines, cheering her on.
When the scoreboard lit up, Grandpa was even happier than she was.
The little girl struggled to lift the trophy, and her grandfather hugged her tightly, lifted her up, and kissed her repeatedly.
"I knew our Shi'an would make it!"
"Old Xie, your granddaughter is amazing! She's only six years old and she participated in the youth group competition, winning first place. Who knows, she might become a world champion in the future!"
"Hey, let the child participate if she wants to. Besides, it's bullying her to play in the junior group!"
"Are you tired today, Shi'an? Come on, Grandpa will take you to buy candy!"
"Grandpa, I want a lollipop!"
"Okay, lollipop!"
...
Xie Shi'an sat in the audience, the moonlight streaming down from the dome illuminating the center of the arena, with tiny dust particles floating in the air.
It seems there was a match held here today; the scoreboard is still there. After the match ended, someone left a racket and shuttlecock in front of the white net.
It all felt like the end of a movie.
"Grandpa, I won't go to the game this afternoon. Let me stay and keep you company, okay?"
The disinfectant smell in the hospital ward was so strong it was pungent.
Grandpa sat up in bed, clutching his chest, and slapped her across the face: "What nonsense are you talking about? Do you know how many people fight tooth and nail to get into the Jiangcheng City team and become professional players every year?! You finally got this opportunity in the selection competition! You have to go to the competition this afternoon!"
The little child stood by the hospital bed, crying loudly.
Seeing her crying so hard, Grandpa's eyes also reddened. He hugged her tightly and took out a lollipop from his pocket, trembling as he handed it to her.
"Silly child, you like badminton and you have talent, why don't you go play? Grandpa is fine. Maybe when you come back with the trophy, Grandpa will be so happy that his illness will be cured."
The child sobbed intermittently, and gradually stopped crying.
"Really? Grandpa, if I come back with the trophy, will your illness be cured?"
Grandpa patted her head again.
"When has Grandpa ever lied to you? Don't cry. Our Shi'an will definitely be a world champion when he grows up."
Perhaps her grandfather knew that his heart condition was serious and that he might pass away at any time. His words implied that he was giving his last words, but she was too young to understand them at the time.
“Your parents are arguing and don’t care about you. You have to study hard and learn a skill so that you can have a good life in the future. As long as you are successful, Grandpa will be more concerned about you than anything else.”
The little child used the back of his hand to wipe away his tears.
"I understand, Grandpa. Don't cry. I'll go to the competition right away and I'll definitely bring you a trophy."
Grandpa let go of her.
"Okay, go ahead, here's the candy."
The child, clutching the candy, left the ward, glancing back every few steps.
Later on.
Later, she lost her grandfather.
Still here.
"Do you even know how to play basketball?! It's all your fault! You lost that crucial point and caused us to lose to another team!"
As the youngest member of the team, he could only stammer and apologize.
"I'm sorry, I... I made a mistake, it's all my fault."
"What's the use of saying all this now?! You piece of trash, kneel down and kowtow to everyone to apologize, and we'll forgive you!"
"I……"
"Then kneel down! Didn't you want to apologize?!"
"Hold her down!"
"What are you doing?! It's just a lost game. Everyone makes mistakes. Is it really necessary to resort to violence?!"
She looked up and saw the girl blocking her way.
"If you don't leave now, I'm calling the coach!"
"Who is it...?"
Someone whispered, "Qiao Yuchu, the one who just reported for duty yesterday..."
"Go away, go away, bad luck!"
Are you alright?
The girl turned around, wanting to help her up from the ground, but before she could finish speaking, the child pushed her hand away, got up, and ran away in a flash.
Some time has passed.
"Coach, coach, my stomach hurts and I have diarrhea. I'm afraid I can't play in this game."
Before the game, a teammate clutched his stomach and sat in a chair, groaning.
"What's wrong with you? Didn't I tell you not to eat anything before the match?! If you're not playing, what about the doubles match? Who's willing to temporarily partner with Shi'an?"
The coach looked around, and everyone looked away.
Xie Shi'an held the racket, pursed his lips, and his eyes gradually reddened: "Coach, I... how about..."
The girl stepped out from the crowd.
"Coach, I want to give it a try."
"Alright, then it's the two of you. Qiao Yuchu and Xie Shian, go for it. It's the last match, so do your best."
Before joining the provincial team, Xie Shi'an played almost all of his matches here. In the blink of an eye, both of them have grown up.
"The provincial team is here today to select promising young players. There are only three spots available, so the opportunity is limited. You all better play your best, understand?!"
"I heard you!"
Xie Shi'an and Qiao Yuchu lightly bumped fists.
"come on."
"come on!"
Xie Shi'an wins 2-0.
"Qiao Yuchu wins 2-1".
Liu Wen wins 2-1.
"These three people come with me, the rest of you can leave."
The two of them excitedly hugged each other, shouting and jumping.
"Shi'an, I've made it into the provincial team!"
"You've made it into the provincial team!"
After years of devoted companionship, a strange feeling finally grew in the young girl's heart. She couldn't tell if it was dependence or love, but in her youthful impetuosity, she was so eager to keep him by her side.
She finally spoke up.
"Qiao Yuchu, I like you! I love you..."
What I got in return was...
"Xie Shi'an! I'm not gay! I've always treated you like a younger sister, don't you understand?!"
"I don't understand! If you don't like me, why are you so good to me, taking care of me, showing concern, and tolerating all my shortcomings and bad temper? When the whole world is speaking ill of me, you are the only one standing by my side!"
"Enough! Don't you think what you're saying is disgusting? Just think of it as me being nice to you only because I'm kind, but that kindness ends here."
Later, she didn't have a sister either.
Coach Yan pulled her out of the abyss, and was the first person who didn't feel disgusted by her after learning she was a lesbian.
"Coach Yan, this feeling is strange, isn't it? Sometimes I can't even face myself. I... am a monster."
"It is indeed a bit strange to an old-fashioned person like me, but when I think about how you are my apprentice, it's not strange at all."
"Shi'an, you still have a long way to go."
"One day, you and Chang Nian will become the future twin stars of the world badminton scene."
"Coach Yan... Coach Yan... I... I want to play in the Intercontinental Cup, is it... is it too late?"
"There's still time. Once you've recovered, I'll take you and Chang Nian with me."
Chasing and playing around in the airport.
"Coach Yan, where's your hair? You're not completely bald, are you?!"
"You brat, do you think I don't know what you guys call me behind my back?! Shave it off, this is called starting over!"
"That's a good idea! In my opinion, Shi'an should also get a shave!"
"You fucking stop right there!"
"Asian Cup, here we come!"
Fireworks I saw at Yokohama Port in the summer.
Those were her last carefree days.