Chapter 109: Expectation

“Just let it all out,” Jian Ying said, gently stroking Ning Xi’s head. “Then calm yourself and prepare for the surgery in Europe… You have to maintain an optimistic attitude if you want the surgery to be more effective. Once you recover, you can still play football. Even if you can’t, you can start learning to become a coach or an agent now. You won’t be leaving football behind… I promise you, I’m the best example of that.”

Jian Ying’s words successfully persuaded Ning Xi. Nothing convinces more than a personal example from one’s idol. She helped Ning Xi realize that even if playing was no longer possible, football could still be her career—if not as a player, then as a coach, an agent, a commentator, or even in club management. Ning Xi was still young, with endless possibilities ahead.

With that burden lifted, Ning Xi gradually regained her former vitality. The small hospital room once again echoed with cheerful singing.

“Ah Long, thank you for staying with me all this time. It’s been hard on you,” Ning Xi said softly one day, about a week later, as Long Bisheng was feeding her.

“It’s nothing,” Long Bisheng shook his head. “You’re being too formal—we’re deskmates after all. Taking care of you is only natural. Besides, I feel responsible too. If I’d known earlier how much strain those moves put on your knees, I would have warned you.”

“That’s got nothing to do with you,” Ning Xi smiled. “I’m just too strong-willed. No one could stop me, not even Coach Jian when she talked about this. I guess I brought this on myself.”

Long Bisheng had no argument. He knew Ning Xi was always headstrong. Even if he’d tried to stop her back then, it probably wouldn’t have worked. When Ning Xi gave him a sharp look, he just obediently kept quiet.

“In a few days, I’m going to Europe for surgery. My parents have taken leave to go with me, and the club is covering the expenses. It’ll be my first time in Europe, though I never imagined it would be under these circumstances,” Ning Xi said with a smile. “I wondered if my first trip would be to play a match there with the national team.”

“You’re overthinking again,” Long Bisheng said helplessly. “You’ll have plenty of chances to go to Europe. We’ll watch games together—the Milan Derby, the Italian Derby, the Match of the Century. London derbies, whatever’s exciting, we’ll see them all. Deal?”

“Deal! Someday I’ll be a coach or an agent. A beautiful coach or agent—lots of people will like that. I can shoot commercials and earn loads of money. You’ll be a big star with a multimillion salary. We’ll travel all over Europe, South America, and the world!” Ning Xi laughed as she imagined it.

They shared a laugh for a while before Ning Xi suddenly said, “Ah Long, you should go back today. You’ve missed a whole week of training. If you stay any longer, you’ll fall behind everyone else.”

That was true. Since joining Yun Jia Football School, Long Bisheng had never missed a week of formal training like this. But he shook his head. “It’s okay. I’ll wait until you go to Europe to head back… Besides, I haven’t really wasted time—I run laps around the hospital every day. This place is huge; I calculated it’s about three kilometers for one lap.”

Ning Xi pictured Long Bisheng running madly around the hospital each morning after bringing her breakfast, and she couldn’t help but smile. Perhaps those early morning patients lining up to register wouldn’t feel so lonely, seeing a tall kid running three kilometers around the hospital like Forrest Gump, without any particular reason.

“No, Ah Long, you really have to go back,” Ning Xi said seriously after smiling. “Running every day can’t replace training. There’s no equipment or proper facilities here. I know what it took for you to stand out at school. If you lose too much time, do you want to be cut from the team next year? I’m fine now. The surgery is in a few days. Trust me, go back to school. I have people to take care of me.”

Long Bisheng knew she was right and finally nodded. “Okay, Ning Xi. I’ll head back tonight. Promise me you’ll tell me how the surgery goes.”

“No problem,” Ning Xi smiled. “Once the surgery’s done, I’ll have my parents call the school right away.”

That night, Long Bisheng left Beijing. Ning Xi’s father insisted on escorting him back to Yun Jia, as he was still young and traveling alone could be dangerous. Jian Ying, after talking with Ning Xi, had already left Beijing to lead her team elsewhere.

Ning Xi’s father traveled by train all the way to Wuhan with Long Bisheng and only left after seeing him board the bus to Yun Jia. They were deeply grateful for all the help Long Bisheng had given Ning Xi during this difficult time.

“You’re a good boy, truly a good boy,” Ning Xi’s father said as he saw Long Bisheng off. “Your loyalty to Xi—we will always remember it. No wonder you grew up in a military compound. You’ve got honor.”

Long Bisheng smiled sheepishly. He didn’t think he had done anything extraordinary. Helping Ning Xi was only natural—she had helped him plenty back at school.

Returning to school, Long Bisheng caused quite a stir. Every student was eager to know how Ning Xi was doing, as most had witnessed the moment she collapsed. Their hearts ached for her.

No matter the questions, Long Bisheng answered simply, “She’s heading to Europe for surgery soon. In a year, she’ll be back with us.”

Back at school, Long Bisheng quickly resumed his old routine: sleep, wake, morning run, breakfast, training, study, lunch, extra training, more study, dinner, extra practice, rest, sleep—his days were as precise as clockwork. Growing up in a military camp had ingrained such discipline in him. Even after a week away, he slipped right back into it.

He spoke little, though. Friends and roommates knew how close he was to Ning Xi and understood his mood, so no one bothered him.

Half a month later, Long Bisheng’s spirits lifted when news arrived from Europe—Ning Xi’s surgery was a success. The surgeon had taken a small section of ligament from her lower back to repair her knee. Though the scar on her waist would never fade, she wasn’t a model, so it didn’t matter.

But a few days later, his mood darkened again, still because of Ning Xi. More news came from Europe: although the surgery was successful, Ning Xi had never properly examined her knees before. Both were severely damaged. Surgery would restore them enough for walking or light running, but participating in intense official matches or heavy training was nearly impossible. Miracles aside, there was a risk that after retiring, her knees might fail completely, leaving her confined to a wheelchair for life.

Upon hearing this, Ning Xi’s parents strongly opposed her continuing to play football. While they wished for her to shine in the sport, the risk of ending up in a wheelchair was too great. They’d rather she take a more stable job, even if that meant becoming a worker like them.

Jian Ying flew to Europe once again to persuade Ning Xi’s parents. Even if Ning Xi couldn’t play anymore, she could still be a coach or an agent. Yun Jia Tianyu Football School had already begun offering courses in these areas. Once Ning Xi recovered sufficiently, she could return to school to study coaching and sports management instead of training on the field, and then figure out which path suited her best.

Ning Xi’s parents were convinced. After all, what job wasn’t a job? If their daughter could become a football coach or agent, she’d be no worse off than the white-collar workers in the big cities—maybe even better! No risk of injury, and still involved in football. They had no more objections. Ning Xi herself was even less willing to leave football behind.

When the news came back, Long Bisheng and the others sighed over Ning Xi’s inability to continue playing but rejoiced that she wasn’t leaving football altogether. They would remain classmates and share many more years together.

Time flew by, and the semester soon ended. Long Bisheng stayed in touch with Ning Xi through messages. The school’s computer game room had upgraded into an internet café, and QQ had become popular. Every weekend, Long Bisheng would spend an hour at the internet café chatting with Ning Xi.

After the new term began, Long Bisheng learned that Ning Xi had started to get out of bed and walk slowly. According to her, she would soon return home for rehabilitation and be able to attend classes again, letting her legs recover gradually. She’d need regular MRI scans, which the club could arrange.

Long Bisheng eagerly awaited Ning Xi’s return. Jian Ying and the entire school looked forward to the day she would come back and become part of their circle once more, even if she could no longer play competitive matches.