"Senior brother, can you leave today?"
"No rush, wait one more day, wait one more day."
"Oh."
Putting down the phone, Wang Chao felt a little helpless.
Three days ago, the Huaping team returned from Budapest, Hungary with great honors and won all the gold medals. They returned to the imperial capital Chinese Table Tennis base. There was no celebration ceremony afterwards and everyone immediately devoted themselves to the follow-up training.
After all, there is a saying in the table tennis world: World Cup is the small test, World Table Tennis Championships is the big test, and Olympic Games is the college entrance examination.
Therefore, time is actually very tight and the tasks are heavy. Athletes are not stars. There are not so many glamorous occasions to attend, and there are not so many complicated interpersonal relationships to maintain. Maintaining combat effectiveness is the only thing they have to do.
But some subtle changes have taken place in Luo Jiu.
Today is October 5th. Three days later, on October 8th, the Peacock Country will have an Platinum leg Open. According to the plan at the cake-sharing meeting at the beginning of the year, the Men's Singles gold medal in this Open will be competed by Luo Jiu.
But after Luo Jiu came back from Hungary, he took the initiative to find Cai Guodong and applied to give up the opportunity to play in the Open. The reason given was that World Table Tennis Championships was too tired from the recent preparations and needed to rest.
Cai Guodong did not force this, and nodded directly in agreement.
After all, the head coach was under a lot of pressure at the beginning of the year because he felt that the Huaping building might collapse, so he was obsessed with every gold medal and every opportunity to prove himself.
But in the next six months, the performance of Wang Chao and Fan Xiaodong has been too good, which has helped Huaping completely get rid of the haze of last year, and even made the world table tennis world more desperate. Therefore, now Cai Guodong is full of confidence and does not care who Peacock Country Open will win.
Cai Guodong is convinced that even if non-Chinese associations wins the championship, he will never dare to publicly question Huaping's strength.
Therefore, sometimes there are very similar qualities between the overall trend and personal style. When you are weak, you need to do your best to prove your strength, but when you are truly strong, you don't care what others think of you.
Huaping seems to be calm and everything is going well.
But Wang Chao was keenly aware that subtle changes had taken place in his senior brother.
The cause of the matter was that Luo Jiu took the initiative to find him and asked him to wait for him and return to Jiangcheng City together.
Wang Chao is thinking about Table Tennis Super League in his heart. He has already promised Fan Xiaofan that he will return to Spade Q as soon as World Table Tennis Championships is over and help the team play well for more than a month. Super League had to help Spade Q avoid relegation no matter what, so he actually planned to buy a high-speed rail ticket and leave the day after returning to Chinese Table Tennis base. He was in a hurry because there was a game the next day, and he could catch up as long as he went back overnight.
But Luo Jiu asked him to wait.
"I still have some personal matters to deal with. Just wait for me and we'll go back together."
Of course Wang Chao agreed, he also hoped to have a companion on the road.
But Luo Jiu told him the next day, "Don't worry, I'm not done yet, please wait for me a little longer."
On the third day, Wang Chao went to the dormitory to look for someone but could not find Luo Jiu. He called Luo Jiu, but Luo Jiu said, "Don't worry, wait one more day, the last day, I promise."
Wang Chao can only continue to wait.
He has not been idle these three days, and has been accompanying Tang Yuanyuan to consolidate his mixed doubles level. The reason is that in the mixed doubles final of World Table Tennis Championships, they did not complete a clean sheet against Taiwan Island Combination, but played 4:1.
Although the opponent only won one game, Tang Yuanyuan still blamed herself very much because she could see that the whole problem was hers.
After Lin Zijun evolved, Taiwan Island Combination is indeed very strong, but no matter how strong it is, there is a problem that cannot be concealed: Lin Zijun is not good at attacking, and Zhen Jing's attack power is obviously insufficient.
So essentially, Tang Dynasty Combination only needs to play according to the previous playing style and stare at Zhen Jing.
But the problem is that Tang Yuanyuan himself is not guaranteed to kill Zhen Jing. On the contrary, he eats many of Lin Zijun's serves in succession.
Although she was careless, she was exceptionally strong in front of Wang Chao. Even though Wang Chao kept comforting her, "This is normal. There is no guarantee of victory when a girl beats a girl." But she still forced herself to practice more, with the goal of fundamentally crushing Zhen Jing.
"Unless Lin Zijun really changes his partner to Che Songxin, I will definitely beat Zhen Jing's mother until we don't even recognize her next time we meet!" In the training ground, Tang Yuanyuan vowed. "In our combination, I, Tang Yuanyuan, will never be the one who loses."
Wang Chao had no choice but to drag Xiao Fei and Liu Wen to be her sparring partners.
On the first day of practice, Wang Chao discovered that senior brother Luo Jiu was not in the gym.
Luo Jiu was still not there the next day, so after practice in the afternoon, Wang Chao went to the dormitory to look for Luo Jiu, and found Luo Jiu lying on the bed playing with his mobile phone, but what was playing on his mobile phone was not a game video, but an entertainment video, which made him laugh out loud.
At noon on the third day, he wanted to go have lunch with Luo Jiu, but found that Luo Jiu had already eaten and still smelled of alcohol.
When he went to look for Luo Jiu on the third night, Luo Jiu was not in the dormitory.
Wang Chao felt something was wrong. He called Luo Jiu and heard noisy background sounds on the other end of the phone.
"Hey, junior brother, I'm fine. I'm singing outside. Don't worry, I'll be back in a while." Luo Jiu smiled and had a big tongue. He obviously drank again. "I asked for leave from Old He. Don't worry, I won't violate discipline. Is your senior brother such a senseless person?"
Wang Chao felt a little uncomfortable when he heard the "click" sound of the phone being hung up over there.
Senior brother is not in a state of depravity. Even if he goes out continuously, he still knows how to ask for leave, which shows that his sanity still exists.
But obviously, senior brother World Table Tennis Championships was really hit hard in the end. Whether he talked about relaxing or having fun these days, in the final analysis, he still meant to drink away his sorrows.
But what Wang Chao didn't understand was why the senior brother made him wait.
If you just want to spend time in self-exile, then what can you do if you just go back to Jiangcheng City first?
He waited until the morning of the fourth day before Luo Jiu took the initiative to call, "Junior brother, let's go, I have booked the tickets."
The two returned to the Imperial Capital on October 2, but it was not until October 8 that they finally arrived at Jiangcheng City. Then Luo Jiu did not return to the Jiangcheng University Club base, but followed Wang Chao to Spade Q training base.
At this time, Wang Chao vaguely guessed some clues.
The gate of Spade Q's base was very solemnly built. The two of them looked at it from a distance across the street. After a long time, Wang Chao said, "Brother, let's go."
"Oh, okay." Luo Jiu responded, but still looked a little timid in his hometown. He hesitated for a moment before crossing the road with Wang Chao.
But after crossing the road, he quickened his pace and walked to a place ahead of Wang Chao. He walked all the way to the gate and smiled at the gatekeeper, "Old Huang?"
Lao Huang was old and had poor eyesight. He adjusted his reading glasses and stared at him for a long time before saying uncertainly, "Xiao Jiu?"
Luo Jiu laughed loudly, "Let me tell you, I was a famous figure in Spade Q back then. You must know me."
He hugged Lao Huang's shoulders hard and turned around to greet Wang Chao: "Come in, junior brother."
Lao Huang was more familiar with Wang Chao, so he smiled at him and hurried to open the door.
Luo Jiu himself is a talkative person, and today he was particularly talkative. From the moment he entered the gate of the base, he kept talking.
"I'm familiar with this place. It was just a sapling back then, and now it's so tall. Haha, junior brother, do you know, I once secretly peed here."
"Oh, junior brother, look, there is an iron gate going around this small pond, and there is an abandoned small garden. There is a stone table inside. Brother Fan originally wanted to learn to play, and I taught him there."
"Hey, has this become a warehouse now? I remember it was still a leisure activity center at that time."
"Hey, Spade Q is developing well. This gymnasium must have been renovated. I remember it was in tatters when I came here last year..."
Luo Jiu spoke more and more and faster, but the more he spoke, the more Wang Chao could feel the tension in his senior brother's heart.
He listened while walking without interrupting. It was not until the two of them arrived at the gate of the base training hall that he said, "Brother, if I guess correctly, Lao Huang should have called Sister Xian as soon as we entered."
Luo Jiu's voice stopped abruptly.
"Sister Xian should be waiting for you inside." Wang Chao smiled and pushed him, "Let's go, I'll accompany you in."
Luo Jiu was silent for a moment and said, "Okay."
No one was practicing in the base, because Spade Q had an away game today, and all the players had gone to other cities in advance. Only Fan Xiaoxian, the coach and team leader, did not go. He was standing alone in the training hall. Luo Jiu and Wang Chao walked in, and what they saw was Sister Xian standing alone under the light.
Mature, glamorous, strong, and royal, this is the consistent image of Fan Xiaoxian, but perhaps the venue is too big and the lighting is too deserted, so at this time Fan Xiaoxian is a little less strong and a little more delicate.
Luo Jiu quickened his pace and rushed in front of Fan Xiaoxian. He smiled brightly and opened his arms. He looked like a domineering CEO with a cool and cool cock. Taking advantage of his height, he glanced sideways at Fan Xiaoxian and said, "Hug?"
Fan Xiaoxian glared at him fiercely, then jumped forward lightly and threw herself into his arms.
Wang Chao stood to the side and clearly saw the surprise, shock and confusion in Luo Jiu's eyes. His domineering CEO style suddenly collapsed and turned into a loss.
Luo Jiu was confused for a long time before he opened his mouth and tentatively asked, "Marry me?"
At this moment, Wang Chao saw Luo Jiu's body suddenly tense. He gently hugged Fan Xiaoxian and gently stroked Fan Xiaoxian's back with both hands. He did not dare to use force or make any unnecessary movements. He was as rigid as a wood sculpture.
Fan Xiaoxian did not hesitate and said naturally, "Okay."
Luo Jiu's whole body relaxed, and he sank down as if his bones had been removed. He sat on the floor until he looked up at Fan Xiaoxian who was squatting down with him, and said, "Why?"
Fan Xiaoxian did not answer, but glared at him fiercely and cursed, "Idiot."
Luo Jiu: "Huh?"
The gymnasium was very quiet at this moment. Luo Jiu didn't ask any more questions, and Fan Xiaoxian didn't answer any more. The two of them sat on the floor, their postures were a little awkward, and Luo Jiu tentatively grabbed Fan Xiaoxian. One of's hands retracted into his arms. Fan Xiaoxian did not refuse. However, in this position, holding hands with force like this made the movements look a bit clumsy and cute. They were obviously a man and woman in love, but they still showed a bit of stupidity that only ignorant boys and girls can have.
As the only bystander, Wang Chao only found it a little funny.
By this time, of course he already knew what Luo Jiu was here to do.
Luo Jiu was probably afraid that Fan Xiaoxian would be angry with Wang Chao about World Table Tennis Championships, so he always insisted on letting Wang Chao wait for him.
He wasn't really drinking to drown his sorrows in the past three days. He was probably trying his best to muster up the courage again and again to come back and do the most important thing.
He drinks just to embolden himself.
He delayed for three days, just adjusting his mentality with difficulty.
But it's really difficult.
He placed too much expectations on World Table Tennis Championships, but lost in the end. He should have been desperate at that moment. He practiced with Wang Chao out of the friendship between his senior and his junior, but in terms of his own career, it had come to an end.
The road ahead is broken.
If you can't even pass the Wang Chao level, then why study Sun Tianlong?
So Luo Jiu gave up Peacock Country Open, and maybe gave up the following Olympic Games, but this matter was too important, and he didn't dare to mention it now, because he was afraid that Cai Guodong would be furious.
Things can only be done one by one.
There have always been two most important things in Luo Jiu's life, one is table tennis and the other is Fan Xiaoxian.
He has been playing table tennis for seven years. Now that the road ahead is blocked, he plans to come back and complete another thing.
But what he expected was an almost unbearable storm.
"You made my sister wait for seven years and this is the result?"
"You made us Lao Fan's children wait for seven years, and this is the result?"
"Why do you?"
"Are you worth it?"
"Are you worthy?"
"Do you know how many people have chased her over the years?"
"Do you know how good my daughter is?"
"Do you know how many seven years there are in life?"
"Do you know how precious a girl's youth is?"
"My sister doesn't like table tennis at all. She stayed at Spade Q just for you and refused the much more glamorous job arranged for her by her family."
"You are guilty!"
Smile just to avoid getting hurt.
The playful smile is just to pretend to be strong.
Luo Jiu followed Wang Chao to the Spade Q base. He had no intention of losing face anymore. He planned to beg for nothing. Even if he was criticized by thousands of people, ridiculed by everyone, and humiliated completely by the seven aunts and eight aunts of the old Fan family, he also had to coax and deceive Fan Xiaoxian.
He would not let down a good girl for the sake of face and dignity.
But he felt that Fan Xiaoxian must be resentful, and might even be angry with Wang Chao. After all, it was Wang Chao who ruined his dream.
So, despite the fact that he walked like a jerk, at that moment he was as nervous as a little sparrow after the rain. He acted like that on purpose, just to give Fan Xiaoxian a trigger so that Fan Xiaoxian could scold him, hit him, reject him, mock him, and vent all the grievances in his heart.
So, he actually came to make a tree hole.
But Fan Xiaoxian's reaction was completely unexpected by Luo Jiu.
So Luo Jiu was confused.
After being confused, he could only continue acting according to the original plan and directly propose. This action itself was used to stimulate Fan Xiaoxian.
It would be even better if uncle Fan Xiaofan is here, he can enjoy a nice mixed doubles game.
However, Fan Xiaoxian said "ok".
Then all hell broke loose.
Luo Jiu found that he could no longer play.
He grabbed Fan Xiaoxian's hand and smiled stupidly for a long time. He didn't look like a smart person who was "the most talented person in Chinese table tennis"?
When he finally woke up from his dizziness, the only light bulb Wang Chao had disappeared.
So Luo Jiu shamelessly asked Fan Xiaoxian: "Don't you blame me?"
Fan Xiaoxian said, "Weird."
Luo Jiu: "Huh?"
"I blame you for underestimating me." Fan Xiaoxian took out his hand, stood up, crossed his arms, stepped on high heels, and squinted at Luo Jiu from a high place. The aura of a big woman returned at this moment. "Do you think I want to take it out on Wang Chao? So you didn't even go back to your home base, but came directly with him to give me eye drops?"
Luo Jiu could only apologize. "How can there be..."
"Do you know that yourself?" Fan Xiaoxian sneered, "Also, I heard that you have stopped training these days and don't plan to play in the Open?"
Luo Jiu: "Huh?"
He was very confused and didn't know why Fan Xiaoxian could know about this kind of thing.
"Is it weird? Coach He called me on the first day. He first tried to persuade me not to be angry with you, and then asked me to persuade you. He called me three times a day and reported your whereabouts throughout. Do you think what you are doing is secretive? Do you think I don't know what you want to do?"
Fan Xiaoxian When he said this, he couldn't hold back the fierce gesture he had deliberately made, and naturally softened. "Xiaojiu, please let everyone worry less."
Luo Jiu blinked, feeling indescribably complicated for a moment.
After returning from World Table Tennis Championships, he quietly adjusted his mood and quietly made what he thought was a great decision. After traveling all the way back with Wang Chao, he felt in his heart that "the wind is rustling and the water is cold, a strong man" The tragic emotion of "Gone and never coming back" made him feel that a real man should make a big show of himself and either wrap his body in horse leather or have his crotch humiliated. But in the end, it turned out that it was all just self-impression. It turned out that his future wife had already seen clearly every move he made.
A 27-year-old middle school boy.
Doesn't she think I'm a fool?
And the teacher, why is he so... nosy... oh no, caring and considerate?
Fan Xiaoxian pulled him up from the ground. "Let's go."
Luo Jiu: "Where to go?"
"Go to my house." Fan Xiaoxian glared at him again. "How can you marry me if you don't propose marriage?"
She paused and added, "To tell you the truth, I got the news as soon as you got on the bus in the imperial capital. All the relatives of our old Fan family are here today, and they are all waiting for you to come to our door."
Luo Jiu was stunned. At this moment, he truly turned into that little sparrow after the rain. Not only his heart, but also his body shrank together.
(Today is just one chapter. I want to relax after the war. You understand, right? Although everyone always criticizes me for my poor daily writing, I still have to write what needs to be written. In addition, World Table Tennis Championships is finished. Those who need to be slaughtered should hurry up and don't raise them. The last part is the eternal vote-seeking session. Brothers and sisters, please donate a few. The child can't even buy ginger slices for tea!)
Thanks to "Also Once Was a King" for the 10,000 coin reward.
Thanks to "Passing by a Giggling" for the 5,000-coin reward.
Thanks to "Qidian Writer Joking", "grtby" and "book friend 20211127031938111" for the 100-coin reward.