C42 Volume 2 Lin Yichao

The busiest place in the entire Runzhou City is the Gudu Lane by Yangzi River. Although there was no longer the scene of hundreds of years ago, when night fell, the several dozen bars along the riverbank became the base for the young people of Runzhou to release their emotions.

Lin Yichao passed through the narrow but bustling streets alone. His height of 2. 15 meters made him stand out among the crowded people. He even had to pay attention to the signs and lamps of the small shops on both sides of the alley. Fortunately, he was already very familiar with the environment here.

As he passed by a few young girls, Lin Yichao couldn't help but exclaim when he heard the girls behind him.

"He's so tall!"

"Yeah, he's so handsome too!"

"He's a basketball player, right?"

"Yeah, yeah! I think he's the one in the professional basketball league, who, who. . . "

A bitter smile appeared on Lin Yichao's face.

Indeed, his height easily made people realize that he was a professional athlete. However, he was not a professional basketball player, but a volleyball player.

Of course, from two years ago, Lin Yichao's identity had to add the word "before" in front of the "national player. " In the Olympic men's qualifiers two years ago, Lin Yichao, who was the main attacker, saw that the China men's qualifiers had once again fallen in front of the Olympic gate. Anger, sadness, and sadness erupted at the same time, making him shout in front of the media after the game, "Always playing this kind of ball. I don't want to be on the national team anymore! " Such impulsive words. The China Orderly Association, who was also furious, reacted quickly and announced that Lin Yichao was permanently expelled from China. It fulfilled his wish.

He used to be the number one male platoon leader in Asia. At the golden age of 26, he was not qualified to be on the national team. It was undoubtedly a great tragedy. Although Lin Yichao kept saying that he didn't regret it, he had developed a habit in the past two years. As long as the club he was in, Tianning, competed and trained in Runzhou, during his spare time, he would come to a bar called "Memories of Time" in Gudu Alley. He ordered a bottle of beer. Lin Yichao would sit at the window of the bar near the river, looking at Yangzi River as he passed by. It was unknown whether he was thinking about the heroes and old friends that had been washed away by the waves since ancient times, or about the balls that he had played, the sweat that he had shed, the mistakes he had made. . .

Today, Lin Yichao came again.

It was already close to March. Although the river wind still carried a damp and cold humidity, when Lin Yichao pushed open the small door of "Memories of Time," he was still caught off guard by the noisy guitar sound.

This was a small bar. The boss was a waiter, accountant, bartender and so on. Seeing the familiar tall figure of Lin Yichao, he flashed in. He smiled and didn't ask Lin Yichao. He took out a bottle of beer from the wine cabinet and opened the cap. He stuffed a piece of fresh lemon into the bottle and poured a small plate of peanuts into it. He personally sent it to Lin Yichao's table in front of the window.

"Boss, did you change the band?" Lin Yichao didn't mind and went straight to the point, complaining, "Is this band playing heavy metal rock music? So noisy. "

"This band is a punk, they also play a few heavy metal songs. It's a bit noisy, but it's very lively " The boss chuckled. He explained, "So it turns out that band is singing folk songs. As they sing, don't say that the customers are sick of it. They themselves are sick of singing. It was said that the lead singer had a big drink with the band members in the end, and then resolutely ran to Beijing alone. He went to pursue his dream of music! "

"Sigh, I still like the original band. . . " As Lin Yichao speaks, he takes a small sip of wine and no longer speaks.

The boss knows Lin Yichao's preferences and knows that this big guy in front of him is not good at chatting. He likes to quietly watch the scenery and be lost in thought. He smiles and does not speak as he goes back to the bar to busy himself with his own matters.

There were not many customers in the bar. The newly hired band played a few old songs that people were tired of listening to. When they heard the guests coaxing "something new," they were able to relax. They started to sing a few of their original songs. It was unknown whether the young people in the bar were having fun drinking or if they really resonated with the original music of the new band. There was actually singing and harmonizing, making the little "nostalgic" suddenly warm up and lively.

Originally, Lin Yichao did not like fast rock and roll music, but he only loved nostalgic folk songs. But looking at everyone's happy appearance, his suppressed emotions actually had a rare feeling of seeing the day when the clouds parted. Looking at the river outside the window, his fingers were also secretly tapping on the table along with the rhythm of the music.

At this time, Lin Yichao's cell phone rang. He calmly glanced at it. It was an unknown number.

Boring! Lin Yichao pressed the phone. The current harassment and sales calls were really pervasive! He thought.

However, in less than a second, his phone rang again, and it was still the same number.

Lin Yichao was still experienced. He understood that the current sales numbers were no longer the same as in the past. Many of them would be called twice, causing the owner of the phone to mistakenly think that it was a serious call that needed to be contacted.

"You are really persistent!" Lin Yichao muttered to himself and pressed the phone again.

However, the phone rang for the third time.

Lin Yichao did not know whether to laugh or cry at the persistence of the other party. He prepared to face the other party face to face with a "confrontation. "

He picked up the phone, and without waiting for the other party to speak, he said coldly, "I'm sorry, I'm in a meeting!"

"Lin Yichao, Tianning's rehearsal training has ended. May I ask where you are in the meeting at this time?" A female voice came from the phone.

Lin Yichao was stunned.

"Sorry, you are?" Lin Yichao asked back.

"I am Wei Xindi. "

Lin Yichao was surprised.

When he was still a newbie, Wei Xindi, the captain of the China female volleyball team and the second best player, was already a "Big Sis" player in the Tianning female volleyball team.

The home court of the Tianning and Tianning female volleyball was in Runzhou, and the training base was the same. The two teams trained and lived together, so Lin Yichao and Wei Xindi also looked up and didn't lower their heads for a long time. However, the two of them weren't on the same team after all, so there really wasn't much communication between them. Later on, Lin Yichao became the main player of the club. When he made a name for himself in China's male volleyball, Wei Xindi had already left China's female volleyball and went overseas. Thus, Wei Xindi's name was a familiar name to him. A strange existence at the same time.

"Ah, it's Director Wei. Sorry, I thought it was a harassing call. " Lin Yichao explained simply.

"Where are you now? I want to talk to you. I wonder if you have time?" Wei Xindi asked.

Lin Yichao had seen the news recently and knew that Wei Xindi had become the executive coach of China's female rehearsals, but when she said she wanted to talk to him, Lin Yichao was still confused.

"I am. . . Gudu Alley. You must know about this place. " Lin Yichao said, "There's a bar by the river called 'Memories of Time'. It's very easy to find. You'll find it after you ask around. "

"Okay, wait for me," Wang Yao said. Wei Xindi said and hung up.

Lin Yichao's heart was in a mess as he thought. He stared at the river for a while and then heard the bar's door ring. A tall girl walked in. It was indeed Wei Xindi.

Lin Yichao waved at her. Wei Xindi walked over and sat opposite of Lin Yichao.

As usual, the bar owner came over to ask Wei Xindi what he wanted to order. Wei Xindi only needed a glass of lemon water and looked at Lin Yichao without saying a word.

Lin Yichao was a little scared by Wei Xindi's stare. He awkwardly took a few sips of beer and then asked anxiously, "Director Wei, you said you wanted to talk to me. . . What do you want to talk about?"

"You are a player!" Wei Xindi suddenly said, "Lin Yichao, how can you come to a bar after training!"

You are not my coach, why do you care so much? Lin Yichao thought, but he said politely, "Coach Wei, you are right. However, you may not know that I have submitted my retirement application. "

Wei Xindi nodded and said, "I know that you have submitted your retirement application to Tianning Male Racing, and I also know that your retirement this time is not to not play football, but to play football in the Italian league, right?"

When Lin Yichao heard Wei Xindi expose him, he felt even more embarrassed.

A few months ago, Lin Yichao received an invitation from the Italian league's Siena Club. He hoped that he could join them. The invitation from the Pro League rekindled Lin Yichao's passion for volleyball. When he found Tianning volleyball Club to discuss the transfer, The club executives expressed their hope that he would stay overseas and play in the club for another two years. They wanted to help the team play the next National Games before transferring to Italy.

Hearing the opinions of the club's management, Lin Yichao sneered in his heart. Two years later, he was already 30 years old. When the time came, why would the Italian league still favor an Asian player who was older than 30 years old? Unable to reach an agreement with the Club, Lin Yichao simply submitted his retirement application. So this season, While waiting for his retirement application to be approved, Lin Yichao "dawdled" on the team. Although he knew, This was a result of both him and Tianning's men's volleyball, and this was a mess. It was not a glorious thing, but he felt that for the sake of this anger. . . He also endured it.

"Even if you want to go abroad to play basketball, you have to train well and maintain a good condition. You shouldn't even touch these things! " Wei Xindi said and pointed at the beer in front of Lin Yichao.

Lin Yichao listened to Wei Xindi's words and felt that she might have been invited by the club to do ideological work for him. He didn't know why Wei Xindi would participate in mediating the conflict between him and the club, but he had already made up his mind. No matter who tried to persuade him, it would be useless.

Lin Yichao snorted and looked at Wei Xindi. He said bluntly, "Director Wei, if you come this time, To tell me this, then I will let you down. Speaking of which, Back then, didn't you also fall out with the team? So you just went overseas. Now, you were invited back by the China Racing Association's Sangua Tou. How could you understand the difficulties of us men's volleyball players? "

Wei Xindi was stunned when he heard Lin Yichao's sarcastic and sarcastic words.

Lin Yichao noticed that Wei Xindi's body was trembling slightly, as if he was a little excited. He curled the corner of his mouth and shouted at the bar, "Boss, two more beers! Oh right, Bring a glass. "

When the boss brought the wine over, Lin Yichao poured a cup. He gently placed it in front of Wei Xindi and slowed down his tone. He said, "Sister Wei, you can actually be considered my senior sister. I should respect you. I just don't want to involve you in the troubles between me and the club. That way, we won't talk about this anymore. Since we're here, I'll buy you a drink, take it as I'm not paying for it. "

Having said that, Lin Yichao did not care whether Wei Xindi drank or not. He gently touched the beer bottle in his hand and drank half of the bottle. He turned his head and looked at the river outside the window in a daze.

At this moment, the sky was completely dark. Yangzi River was like ink. It was hard to recognize the waves that were rising.

"Lin Yichao!" Wei Xindi suddenly shouted.

Lin Yichao quivered and turned his head to look at Wei Xindi. Wei Xindi took out an envelope from his bag and threw it in front of Lin Yichao.

"I think you misunderstood the reason why I came to find you. " Wei Xindi said word by word, "Take a look at what this is. "

Lin Yichao opened the envelope skeptically. Inside was a document. The content was actually to approve Lin Yichao's retirement application.

"Sister Wei. . . This. . . " Lin Yichao held the document and was even more puzzled about Wei Xindi's purpose of this trip.

"You said to bring my current generation's senior sister, that's good. Then I'll just be an 'senior' for once, "Wei Xindi said. "I understand, two years ago, you suffered a huge blow from the crushing defeat of the China male lead. How disheartened you were. I was also an athlete, although my performance in the China female volleyball was outstanding, However, the few years I was on the national team happened to be the time when China's female volleyball was at its lowest point. As the captain of the main force, do you know how much pressure I have to bear? The game went well. It was the collective effort of the teammates, the highlights of the assaulters; the game was not going well, it was a failure. It was my fault for not being able to pass the ball and not being organized. It was my bad sense of passing the ball and my slow pace. . . Because of our differences in training philosophy, I and Xu Zhenguang left the team on impulse and went overseas. But when we went out. . . I just realized that no one came to help me when I left my hometown. . . What kind of taste is that? "

Hearing Wei Xindi's heart-digging words, Lin Yichao's eyes widened. He could not say a word.

"Lin Yichao, I also understand. How important and meaningful the invitation to join the Italian professional league is to your sports career. Indeed, As an Asian male volleyball player, especially a Chinese male volleyball player, It was extremely rare to be able to win the favor of the world's top volleyball professional league. If you are impulsive and leave this place in such a way. . . Even if you go to Italy, can you play football in peace? You succeeded there. How many people can share your joy? If you fail there, how many people can comfort and encourage you? I am not against you going to play football in Italy now. I just hope you won't take the detours I've taken. "

Wei Xindi picked up the glass of beer in front of him and drained it in one gulp.

"Actually, I came to find you this time. It can be considered to be for your retirement and going to Italy to play football, but also not for this matter. Because. . . I originally wanted to discuss another matter with you, please make a choice. But now, it seems like. . . Whether you go to Italy or not, perhaps it has nothing to do with me. Take care of yourself. "

With that, Wei Xindi stood up and prepared to leave.

"Sister Wei!" Lin Yichao suddenly shouted loudly to stop Wei Xindi.

"Since you are here, why don't you tell me why you are looking for me. . . " Lin Yichao said.

Wei Xindi coldly snorted and said, "You're not worthy! Because your current appearance has disappointed me. "

Wei Xindi's words fiercely stung Lin Yichao's heart. He slammed the table, stood up, and loudly shouted, "Why should I not be worthy!"

Seeing Lin Yichao's eyes flashing with unwillingness and anger, Wei Xindi walked up and reached out his hand to grab Lin Yichao's collar. He slowly pulled Lin Yichao's head down in front of him. The distance between them seemed to be so close that they could feel each other's heavy breathing.

"You look like you have some guts now!" Wei Xindi said coldly. "Well, since you want to know. . . I might as well tell you. I know you are going to retire, originally. . . I wanted to invite you to play as a coach for China's female rehearsals. Because I feel that your ability and your skills can help the China female rehearsals achieve their goals of raising the national flag and playing the national anthem in the Olympic Games. But you. . . Since you got your retirement application as you wish, You will probably have to go to the Italian league to make money and show off! You probably won't be interested in this difficult and unprofitable job. You'll only be able to work behind the scenes. . . "

When Lin Yichao heard this, he was completely stunned.

Wei Xindi sighed and let go of Lin Yichao's collar. He pushed open the door, turned around and left "Memories of Time" without looking back, leaving Lin Yichao who was stunned on the spot.

Lin Yichao seemed to have heard the moment Wei Xindi turned around, he let out a soft sigh.

Lin Yichao sat down and turned his head to look out the window. Yang Zijiang was still rushing silently.

Lin Yichao suddenly thought of the day when he had just started practicing in the junior sports school. The beginner coach let Lin Yichao and the other children line up on the sports field. They greeted the national flag and then let the children say their own dreams.

"I think one day, I can also help my team raise the flag and play the national anthem!" The little Yichao Lin said loudly.

At that time, I was really childish! Thinking, Lin Yichao bitterly smiled as he picked up the bottle in front of him and took another big gulp.

"Raise the flag, play the national anthem. Raise the national flag, play the national anthem. . . " Lin Yichao silently recited it.

Lin Yichao looked at the document on the table. He understood that from this moment on, he was no longer an athlete of Tianning's men's row. He was free to choose the life path he wanted to choose.

He looked at the phone on the table in front of him. He hesitated. Should he pick it up and dial the number he had just picked up?

After a period of silence, Lin Yichao suddenly picked up the phone impatiently, as if he was afraid that it would be snatched away. He pressed the dial button. The moment he dialed the number, he felt his heart beat very quickly.

On the other side of the phone, there was a blank beeping sound.

She didn't answer, she didn't answer!

Lin Yichao smiled bitterly, feeling that he should have already been abandoned. So, he might as well really give up.

But just as his finger was about to touch the red button on the phone screen to hang up, the phone suddenly rang.

"Lin Yichao," Wei Xindi asked over the phone, "do you have anything else?"

"Sister Wei. . . " Lin Yichao timidly asked, "I want to know. . . When can I. . . Report to the team? Can you. . . Give me a chance?"

On the other end of the phone, there was a period of silence.

More than ten seconds passed.

"Next Wednesday. . . You will directly report to the female platoon in Fan City. " Wei Xindi's voice was still as calm as before. "In a while, make up a text and send me your ID number. I'll get the office to book your ticket. Also, give me your clothes and shoe size as well. The team will prepare your training equipment for you. "

"Thank you. . . Sister Wei!" Lin Yichao said, "I will. . . I will do my best. . . "

"Yes!" Wei Xindi agreed.

After putting down the phone, Lin Yichao did not look out the window. Instead, he smiled happily and looked around the small bar. He knew that in the next few years, he would not have the chance to come here again unless. . .

"Help the team raise the flag and play the national anthem!" Lin Yichao silently recited.