My Soulmate is A Libero
Post-2000 player Qin Chunxiao might have had some understanding of what the 90s generation of senior players went through, but at most, he had a vague idea. After all, when those senior players started competing in major tournaments, Qin Chunxiao was still in kindergarten.
But at this moment, their desire to win was the same.
William stared at the ball’s trajectory, a look of excitement on his face.
The last time the United States played against China, the Chinese team had just finished a tough match against Argentina, and their key players were exhausted. They didn’t put up a full fight against the United States, rotating both starters and substitutes, and Qin Chunxiao even rested the entire game.
William had never experienced China’s strength firsthand, but he had watched them defeat Bulgaria, Argentina, and many other strong teams one after another as a spectator. Among all the players, he was most looking forward to facing Qin Chunxiao.
After all, Qin Chunxiao had defended Roman before. As a player who aimed to surpass Roman, William wanted to prove that he was stronger than Roman by defeating Qin Chunxiao.
However, what he saw now was that a player named Tong Shulan had given the American team a blow with his serve!
Caddy exclaimed in surprise, “What’s going on with the Chinese team? Do they have two left-handed players?”
Tong Shulan adjusted his left wrist and prepared to serve again.
Tong Shulan, with a height of 198 centimeters, was discovered and cultivated by the Shandong provincial team’s head coach when he was only 10 years old, setting foot on the path of a volleyball player.
His height may not be outstanding among attackers, but his jumping ability was exceptional. Before his injury, his spike reach could reach 3.65 meters, and his block reach was 3.72 meters. Moreover, as a left-handed player, he could apply different rotations and power directions to the ball, making his shots more difficult to defend.
Some die-hard fans once said that China had a legendary spike enthusiast who could attack even with three blockers, and he became famous earlier than Qiao Mingming. That person was Tong Shulan, and he was a player who targeted Roman as his goal.
In 2007, Tong Shulan followed the national youth team coach Yang Yun and won the gold medal in the World Youth Championship, earning him a spot on the national team.
Then came the long struggle and the fall at the end of the struggle. When he laid on the ground, holding his knees, Tong Shulan thought his career as an athlete would end there.
But he returned to the court, standing on the VNL finals stage he had never dared to dream of before. It seemed that after the World Youth Championship, every step he took was faster than his old friend. Although he had stumbled along the way, he eventually stood before these world-class strong teams, challenging them.
Bang!
With the second serve, the American libero received Tong Shulan’s serve, but the intense spin sent the ball out of bounds. Caddy rushed to save the ball, but it was too late.
Tong Shulan scored again.
He didn’t have the unique underhand serve like You Ziyu, but his powerful jump serve, known as the “kill shot beyond the nine-meter line,” was his specialty. The Chinese team’s reception had never been a dominant force. If they want to advance towards the championship, they must have someone other than You Ziyu who could produce a strong serve. That was why Tong Shulan worked hard to strengthen his upper body strength, leading to his current level of service power.
With the third ball, the American libero finally managed to receive Tong Shulan’s serve and sent it to Jerome, the setter.
Jerome attacked for the second time, but Qin Chunxiao slid along the floor like a little seal, topping the ball to the back, where Ding Rong was positioned.
Ding Rong set, and Qiao Mingming jumped, but he missed. However, Tong Shulan had already jumped behind Qiao Mingming and executed a beautiful back-row attack!
The Chinese team scored three points in a row at the beginning, stunning fans from all over the world who were watching this game.
Meng Yuling leaned against her sister’s embrace, wearing an oxygen mask, quietly and attentively watching the screen. Her parents were also beside her, just like when they were young, the whole family gathered around the TV, watching the Chinese players win one game after another.
And then she fell in love with volleyball, hoping that one day she could play like the sisters on TV.
Meng Yuqing saw her sister’s peaceful expression, bent down and kissed her forehead, gently caressed her cheek, and Meng Yuling squinted her eyes, as if she smiled.
【I think I’m going to cry again, really! I didn’t cry when Ding Rong became the starting setter for the national team, I didn’t cry when Gao Debi went to ENEL club as a receiving player, but when I saw Tong Shulan return as an attacker, I cried.】
【Who remembers that Tong Shulan was the top male attacker in the domestic league before his major injury? But he sat on the bench for so long to recover from the injury, and I almost forgot how strong he was!】
【His jumping ability is better than Mingming’s, his skills are finer than his, and his style is more bold. Watching him play is so inspiring! I thought I would never see Lao Tong attack at the net again.】
【Although his jumping ability is not as good as before, his strength has increased, and his skills have improved. If Lao Tong hadn’t been injured by Zhao Laogui, he would probably be the number one player under the mythical beasts like Roman and Sebastian, right?】
Injuries and illnesses are the most destructive things for an athlete. Tong Shulan was destroyed by injuries, and Meng Yuling was destroyed by illness.
They were like difficult siblings, and now the half-brother from another mother disregarded his injury to give it all in this game, for himself, and for her.
In the first set, the resurrected Tong Shulan, still one of the Four Main Attackers, demonstrated an even stronger performance. He developed a powerful jump serve that he didn’t have before, enhanced his blocking and receiving abilities, and even learned how to set, assisting Ding Rong as a second setter when needed.
Sitting on the bench, Liu Yuelou’s mouth fell open, “Double, gemini mode!”
The double star mode, also known as the swaying player tactic, in simple terms, was when technically versatile 3D players pass, attack, and defend cooperatively. They constantly switch between their original positions and their teammates’ positions, making it difficult for the opponent to predict who would make the next pass or attack. This increased the difficulty of the opponent’s offense and defense.
In theory, if a team had six powerful 3D players and they all used this swaying player tactic collectively, the team would be unpredictable and formidable.
Therefore, Newton had been committed to cultivating the players’ versatility, and in the initial selection, he brought over the first, second, and third players from the Guangdong provincial team all at once.
The swing player tactic was previously popular in basketball, and Guangdong provincial team was the first to apply this tactic to volleyball. The team’s head coach, Chen Aiguo, had three excellent 3D players, and if he didn’t pick them, who else would he pick!
In order to realize the dream of “the entire team can swing with each other,” Newton let Ding Rong and Tong Shulan, who had to switch from attackers, explore and study in other positions to enhance their previous weaknesses.
Now, they had become 3D players. Together with Qin Chunxiao, there were three swinger players on the court. After a few rotations, Du Xiaofeng replaced Kong Duo as libero, strengthening China’s defense. Tong Shulan and Qiao Mingming exchanged a glance and launched a fierce attack on the American team.
The American team had no idea that it was the first time China used the 3D swing player x3 tactic. They only felt that this team, which had risen from the 18th place in the world rankings to the finals and became the biggest dark horse of this year’s VNL, was indeed very strong.
Tong Shulan’s jumping height was almost 20 centimeters lower than his peak, but with enhanced strength and excellent teammates to support and assist him, his efficiency in scoring points was just as high as before. Almost all Chinese men’s volleyball fans couldn’t help but exclaim, “Yeqing is back!”
In the first set, China bravely won with a “first-time kill” at 25:21.
In the second set, the American team began to adapt to their tactics, and the two sides got entangled in a struggle, reaching more than 30 points, with the American team narrowly winning 33:31.
But in the third set, Tong Shulan was replaced by Li Ling.
This explosive player was of the reckless type; each time he used his full power, he paid the price of his stamina. If Newton didn’t let him rest, by the fifth set, Tong Shulan would be unable to bring out his true strength. You Ziyu was also replaced to rest due to fatigue.
Tong Shulan sat on the bench, with a white towel on his head, sweat running into his eyes, making them sore.
“A long time ago, when Zhao Yude forced me to play five sets again and again, I thought I was finished. Now I wish I could pay the price of dying on the court to win this game.”
You Ziyu was drinking water on the side and choked upon hearing this, and replied with astonishment, “Your words are too terrifying!”
Dying on the court sounds so horrifying, right?
Tong Shulan stared straight at the court and said, “Squid, when do you most want to win a game? It’s now, and I don’t care what it takes to win this game.”
You Ziyu’s hand trembled, recalling his mistake when using Kristian’s high-spin underhand serve earlier. He couldn’t sit still, but he was not much older than Tong Shulan and not in the same generation of players as Qin Chunxiao, who had a close relationship with the Meng sisters. He couldn’t understand Tong Shulan’s determination for this victory, but he was willing to respond to his teammate’s will.
“You, you can rest assured. As teammates, we will definitely support your idea. Rest assured, in this game, I’ll give it my all alongside you!”
With determination in his eyes, You Ziyu felt better about serving. In the third set, when the score was 20:21, You Ziyu was brought on as the server.
He held the volleyball, silently reciting the instructions Kristian had given him.
“Make sure the direction of rotation is stable, determine the landing spot from the beginning, then give it your all to send the ball over. You can use body rotation to drive your arm and ensure a stronger spin…”
The referee blew the whistle, and You Ziyu took a deep breath. At that moment, the American players on the other side of the court seemed like characters from a Jin Yong novel, and he was the gallant hero, ready to deliver the ball near the Emei faction’s leader, Caddy.
He executed a beautiful high toss serve, and because he used his whole body to generate power, his body even turned half a circle with his arm. Many fans thought, “This is going out of bounds for sure!”
Only Kristian and Tim watching the game on TV were pleasantly surprised, “This serve is really good!”
Bang! 21:21, China caught up!
The American libero was amazed, “Wow, did this player have such a powerful serve before?”
In the past, You Ziyu’s underhand serve was difficult to judge, but now it was genuinely hard to receive. Unfortunately, the second serve was successfully received by the American team’s libero. When he was in good form, he could quickly break through many powerful serves. The match entered a stalemate once again.
The pace of the match became tense, and all the players tightened the knot in their hearts. The American team hoped to win the third set as soon as possible, or at least win 3:2. However, they couldn’t accept losing to China, as they hadn’t defeated Russia before. If they lost to China again, they wouldn’t advance to the top four.
China had their reasons to win.
The volleyball, blue and yellow, flew high again. Meng Yuqing hugged her sister and suddenly felt that the yellow color turned gray. She blinked hard and found that the volleyball was still its original color. The hand she held with Meng Yuling seemed to loosen for a moment, then tightened again, just like when they were babies, so intimate.
Meng Yuling’s breathing wasn’t rapid, but it became weaker and weaker.
The score had reached 25:24. As long as China won one more point, they could take the third set!
At this moment, with the help of the second setter, Jerome, William had another good opportunity to attack. Qiao Mingming and Kong Duo were in the back row, and the other two in the front row were deceived by the block, leaving only Qin Chunxiao, who was solely responsible for defense.
An open space!
William didn’t take a run-up and instead jumped off one foot in place. His body stretched taut like a bow, and in an instant, he swung his arm heavily, smashing the ball over the net.
At the same time, Qin Chunxiao resolutely jumped up, but it seemed that he mistimed his jump, and William’s attacking route was on his right side.
Some fans saw this scene and couldn’t help but feel anxious, thinking he couldn’t block it!
Even Newton thought that this ball would be difficult to block. If William’s attacking route was on Qin Chunxiao’s left side, he could use his left hand to block it, but it was on the right side… this left-handed player probably couldn’t react in time.
Meng Yuqing murmured, “He can block it!”
Qin Chunxiao could block this ball!
“He can block it.”
Meng Yuqing lowered her head in astonishment, and saw her sister raise her hand, flipping her wrist and giving her a final smile.
As if in the blink of an eye, Qin Chunxiao’s right hand swung in the air, and the palm perfectly met the ball that William had spiked. He successfully used a right-handed block, which wasn’t his strong suit.
But if it was just a simple block, considering the power behind William’s spike, the ball might fly out of bounds.
Qin Chunxiao remained incredibly calm. A subtle voice inside him told him to adjust his hand position, and as if someone gently pushed the back of his hand, the teenager with the red wristband turned his hand into a downward position.
The American libero dove towards the volleyball, but when the ball landed, his fingertips were still five centimeters away.
26:24, China took the second set first, 2:1!
Qin Chunxiao stood on the ground, facing William, both of them panting. Meanwhile, Tong Shulan watched this scene and seemed to see two people who blocked just now. One was a blue-eyed boy, and the other was a girl with a height of 206 centimeters wearing a red jersey.
William said to Qin Chunxiao, “You really have a lot of energy today. I didn’t see you block so actively when facing Roman.”
Qin Chunxiao wiped his sweat and adjusted his collar, saying, “Who told you that, kid? I just managed to block it.”
William chuckled and grumbled as he walked away. Qin Chunxiao turned around and hugged his teammates. Kong Duojin patted his head and said, “Well-blocked.”
It was now the fourth set.
Newton stood up and said, “Shulan, get ready to go. Win this match in one go!”
Tong Shulan pulled the towel off his head and ran towards the court.
【Inheritance】
You Ziyu stood in the service area, and thousands of miles away, the beach volleyball champion who taught him how to serve nervously watched the match on TV. At this moment, Kristian’s attention to You Ziyu was no longer just for Chang Xiaole but like a teacher’s care for a student.
【Teamwork】
You Ziyu’s underhand serve was received again, and the American team quickly launched a counter-attack. However, Kong Duojin went forward for the block without hesitation, restricting the American team’s attacker’s options. Qin Chunxiao seized the opportunity, positioned himself in advance, and set the ball up.
【Unwillingness】
Among the four main attackers, Ding Rong was the only one not famous for his jumping ability and couldn’t execute strong attacks at the net after a major injury. He now stood in the setter’s position, setting the ball with one hand. He knew that his teammates had already started their approach.
【Pain】
Tong Shulan was running, feeling a slight pain in his knee. He regretted not requesting a nerve block before the match. Nevertheless, he jumped up with determination, swinging his left hand in the air, only to hit nothing. Behind him, Qiao Mingming jumped even higher, roaring as he spiked the ball.
Tong Shulan was no longer the best male attacker in the domestic league. He had suffered too many injuries, the only one on the team to receive nerve blocks more than ten times. His jumping ability had declined, and he had been desperately working to exercise his body and improve his skills just to avoid being cut from the team. Finally, he had the chance to play at full strength, but his playing time was still not as long as others.
However, he still wanted to stay on the court and go further with his teammates.
From that moment on, Meng Yuqing’s vision began to fade. She blinked without stopping, tears streaming down her cheeks, while the instruments beside her emitted a piercing sound.
She thought her sister must have known that these boys would definitely win this match, but her impatience was like when binge-watching a TV series, she would skip straight to the last episode after watching a few episodes at the beginning, not bothering to follow the middle content.
But this was not a good habit, Yuling. This exciting game is better watched till the end, right? But it doesn’t matter; I’ll watch it for you.
Meng Yuqing quietly stood up and let the medical staff continue their final attempts to save her sister. She leaned against the wall, watching the TV.
Twenty minutes later, China won the fourth set with a score of 25:22, miraculously defeating the American team 3:1, advancing to the top four in the VNL finals.
On July 6, 2018, at 2:25 p.m., the doctors announced that the rescue efforts were in vain, and Meng Yuling’s young life came to an end. As she had signed up for organ donation before her death, the doctors came to remove her corneas, the only part of her tormented body that could be given new life.
Meng Yuqing had been staying by her sister’s side. She had now completely lost her color vision and could only walk steadily while holding her father’s hand.
The medical staff stood in two rows beside the operating table, with a female doctor holding a letter of gratitude.
“Thank you, Miss Meng Yuling, for your contribution to organ donation. Thank you for your kindness. Please accept our sincerest respect.”
A bow.
Two bows.
Three bows.
Over the past few years, Meng Yuling had always been left behind by those around her, sitting on the cramped wheelchair and watching them run farther and farther. Now, it was her turn to leave them behind.
Meng Yuqing squatted down and burst into tears. Her mother embraced her, while her father walked to his daughter’s body, took out an old wind chime from his pocket, and placed it beside his young daughter’s hand.
After the match ended, Qin Chunxiao received a message from Meng Yuqing.
【She passed away peacefully. In the end, she took a lot of painkillers and didn’t suffer much. Before leaving, she already knew you would win. Your blocking was beautiful, and her eyes lit up when she saw it. Xiaozi, I know you are the strongest one. Please tell Old Tong for me and comfort him, okay?】
Qin Chunxiao looked at Tong Shulan and handed him the phone.
Tong Shulan read the message and sniffed, “I’m glad she didn’t suffer. Xiaozi, please send a message to Yuqing for me and tell her that I’m fine. She should take care of herself.”
Qin Chunxiao looked at Tong Shulan and reminded, “Tong Ge, your face is covered in sweat. Wipe it off.”
Tong Shulan replied shyly, “Oh, right, okay, I’ll wipe it off.”
He pressed the white towel against his face.
My Soulmate is A Libero
Post-2000 player Qin Chunxiao might have had some understanding of what the 90s generation of senior players went through, but at most, he had a vague idea. After all, when those senior players started competing in major tournaments, Qin Chunxiao was still in kindergarten.
But at this moment, their desire to win was the same.
William stared at the ball’s trajectory, a look of excitement on his face.
The last time the United States played against China, the Chinese team had just finished a tough match against Argentina, and their key players were exhausted. They didn’t put up a full fight against the United States, rotating both starters and substitutes, and Qin Chunxiao even rested the entire game.
William had never experienced China’s strength firsthand, but he had watched them defeat Bulgaria, Argentina, and many other strong teams one after another as a spectator. Among all the players, he was most looking forward to facing Qin Chunxiao.
After all, Qin Chunxiao had defended Roman before. As a player who aimed to surpass Roman, William wanted to prove that he was stronger than Roman by defeating Qin Chunxiao.
However, what he saw now was that a player named Tong Shulan had given the American team a blow with his serve!
Caddy exclaimed in surprise, “What’s going on with the Chinese team? Do they have two left-handed players?”
Tong Shulan adjusted his left wrist and prepared to serve again.
Tong Shulan, with a height of 198 centimeters, was discovered and cultivated by the Shandong provincial team’s head coach when he was only 10 years old, setting foot on the path of a volleyball player.
His height may not be outstanding among attackers, but his jumping ability was exceptional. Before his injury, his spike reach could reach 3.65 meters, and his block reach was 3.72 meters. Moreover, as a left-handed player, he could apply different rotations and power directions to the ball, making his shots more difficult to defend.
Some die-hard fans once said that China had a legendary spike enthusiast who could attack even with three blockers, and he became famous earlier than Qiao Mingming. That person was Tong Shulan, and he was a player who targeted Roman as his goal.
In 2007, Tong Shulan followed the national youth team coach Yang Yun and won the gold medal in the World Youth Championship, earning him a spot on the national team.
Then came the long struggle and the fall at the end of the struggle. When he laid on the ground, holding his knees, Tong Shulan thought his career as an athlete would end there.
But he returned to the court, standing on the VNL finals stage he had never dared to dream of before. It seemed that after the World Youth Championship, every step he took was faster than his old friend. Although he had stumbled along the way, he eventually stood before these world-class strong teams, challenging them.
Bang!
With the second serve, the American libero received Tong Shulan’s serve, but the intense spin sent the ball out of bounds. Caddy rushed to save the ball, but it was too late.
Tong Shulan scored again.
He didn’t have the unique underhand serve like You Ziyu, but his powerful jump serve, known as the “kill shot beyond the nine-meter line,” was his specialty. The Chinese team’s reception had never been a dominant force. If they want to advance towards the championship, they must have someone other than You Ziyu who could produce a strong serve. That was why Tong Shulan worked hard to strengthen his upper body strength, leading to his current level of service power.
With the third ball, the American libero finally managed to receive Tong Shulan’s serve and sent it to Jerome, the setter.
Jerome attacked for the second time, but Qin Chunxiao slid along the floor like a little seal, topping the ball to the back, where Ding Rong was positioned.
Ding Rong set, and Qiao Mingming jumped, but he missed. However, Tong Shulan had already jumped behind Qiao Mingming and executed a beautiful back-row attack!
The Chinese team scored three points in a row at the beginning, stunning fans from all over the world who were watching this game.
Meng Yuling leaned against her sister’s embrace, wearing an oxygen mask, quietly and attentively watching the screen. Her parents were also beside her, just like when they were young, the whole family gathered around the TV, watching the Chinese players win one game after another.
And then she fell in love with volleyball, hoping that one day she could play like the sisters on TV.
Meng Yuqing saw her sister’s peaceful expression, bent down and kissed her forehead, gently caressed her cheek, and Meng Yuling squinted her eyes, as if she smiled.
【I think I’m going to cry again, really! I didn’t cry when Ding Rong became the starting setter for the national team, I didn’t cry when Gao Debi went to ENEL club as a receiving player, but when I saw Tong Shulan return as an attacker, I cried.】
【Who remembers that Tong Shulan was the top male attacker in the domestic league before his major injury? But he sat on the bench for so long to recover from the injury, and I almost forgot how strong he was!】
【His jumping ability is better than Mingming’s, his skills are finer than his, and his style is more bold. Watching him play is so inspiring! I thought I would never see Lao Tong attack at the net again.】
【Although his jumping ability is not as good as before, his strength has increased, and his skills have improved. If Lao Tong hadn’t been injured by Zhao Laogui, he would probably be the number one player under the mythical beasts like Roman and Sebastian, right?】
Injuries and illnesses are the most destructive things for an athlete. Tong Shulan was destroyed by injuries, and Meng Yuling was destroyed by illness.
They were like difficult siblings, and now the half-brother from another mother disregarded his injury to give it all in this game, for himself, and for her.
In the first set, the resurrected Tong Shulan, still one of the Four Main Attackers, demonstrated an even stronger performance. He developed a powerful jump serve that he didn’t have before, enhanced his blocking and receiving abilities, and even learned how to set, assisting Ding Rong as a second setter when needed.
Sitting on the bench, Liu Yuelou’s mouth fell open, “Double, gemini mode!”
The double star mode, also known as the swaying player tactic, in simple terms, was when technically versatile 3D players pass, attack, and defend cooperatively. They constantly switch between their original positions and their teammates’ positions, making it difficult for the opponent to predict who would make the next pass or attack. This increased the difficulty of the opponent’s offense and defense.
In theory, if a team had six powerful 3D players and they all used this swaying player tactic collectively, the team would be unpredictable and formidable.
Therefore, Newton had been committed to cultivating the players’ versatility, and in the initial selection, he brought over the first, second, and third players from the Guangdong provincial team all at once.
The swing player tactic was previously popular in basketball, and Guangdong provincial team was the first to apply this tactic to volleyball. The team’s head coach, Chen Aiguo, had three excellent 3D players, and if he didn’t pick them, who else would he pick!
In order to realize the dream of “the entire team can swing with each other,” Newton let Ding Rong and Tong Shulan, who had to switch from attackers, explore and study in other positions to enhance their previous weaknesses.
Now, they had become 3D players. Together with Qin Chunxiao, there were three swinger players on the court. After a few rotations, Du Xiaofeng replaced Kong Duo as libero, strengthening China’s defense. Tong Shulan and Qiao Mingming exchanged a glance and launched a fierce attack on the American team.
The American team had no idea that it was the first time China used the 3D swing player x3 tactic. They only felt that this team, which had risen from the 18th place in the world rankings to the finals and became the biggest dark horse of this year’s VNL, was indeed very strong.
Tong Shulan’s jumping height was almost 20 centimeters lower than his peak, but with enhanced strength and excellent teammates to support and assist him, his efficiency in scoring points was just as high as before. Almost all Chinese men’s volleyball fans couldn’t help but exclaim, “Yeqing is back!”
In the first set, China bravely won with a “first-time kill” at 25:21.
In the second set, the American team began to adapt to their tactics, and the two sides got entangled in a struggle, reaching more than 30 points, with the American team narrowly winning 33:31.
But in the third set, Tong Shulan was replaced by Li Ling.
This explosive player was of the reckless type; each time he used his full power, he paid the price of his stamina. If Newton didn’t let him rest, by the fifth set, Tong Shulan would be unable to bring out his true strength. You Ziyu was also replaced to rest due to fatigue.
Tong Shulan sat on the bench, with a white towel on his head, sweat running into his eyes, making them sore.
“A long time ago, when Zhao Yude forced me to play five sets again and again, I thought I was finished. Now I wish I could pay the price of dying on the court to win this game.”
You Ziyu was drinking water on the side and choked upon hearing this, and replied with astonishment, “Your words are too terrifying!”
Dying on the court sounds so horrifying, right?
Tong Shulan stared straight at the court and said, “Squid, when do you most want to win a game? It’s now, and I don’t care what it takes to win this game.”
You Ziyu’s hand trembled, recalling his mistake when using Kristian’s high-spin underhand serve earlier. He couldn’t sit still, but he was not much older than Tong Shulan and not in the same generation of players as Qin Chunxiao, who had a close relationship with the Meng sisters. He couldn’t understand Tong Shulan’s determination for this victory, but he was willing to respond to his teammate’s will.
“You, you can rest assured. As teammates, we will definitely support your idea. Rest assured, in this game, I’ll give it my all alongside you!”
With determination in his eyes, You Ziyu felt better about serving. In the third set, when the score was 20:21, You Ziyu was brought on as the server.
He held the volleyball, silently reciting the instructions Kristian had given him.
“Make sure the direction of rotation is stable, determine the landing spot from the beginning, then give it your all to send the ball over. You can use body rotation to drive your arm and ensure a stronger spin…”
The referee blew the whistle, and You Ziyu took a deep breath. At that moment, the American players on the other side of the court seemed like characters from a Jin Yong novel, and he was the gallant hero, ready to deliver the ball near the Emei faction’s leader, Caddy.
He executed a beautiful high toss serve, and because he used his whole body to generate power, his body even turned half a circle with his arm. Many fans thought, “This is going out of bounds for sure!”
Only Kristian and Tim watching the game on TV were pleasantly surprised, “This serve is really good!”
Bang! 21:21, China caught up!
The American libero was amazed, “Wow, did this player have such a powerful serve before?”
In the past, You Ziyu’s underhand serve was difficult to judge, but now it was genuinely hard to receive. Unfortunately, the second serve was successfully received by the American team’s libero. When he was in good form, he could quickly break through many powerful serves. The match entered a stalemate once again.
The pace of the match became tense, and all the players tightened the knot in their hearts. The American team hoped to win the third set as soon as possible, or at least win 3:2. However, they couldn’t accept losing to China, as they hadn’t defeated Russia before. If they lost to China again, they wouldn’t advance to the top four.
China had their reasons to win.
The volleyball, blue and yellow, flew high again. Meng Yuqing hugged her sister and suddenly felt that the yellow color turned gray. She blinked hard and found that the volleyball was still its original color. The hand she held with Meng Yuling seemed to loosen for a moment, then tightened again, just like when they were babies, so intimate.
Meng Yuling’s breathing wasn’t rapid, but it became weaker and weaker.
The score had reached 25:24. As long as China won one more point, they could take the third set!
At this moment, with the help of the second setter, Jerome, William had another good opportunity to attack. Qiao Mingming and Kong Duo were in the back row, and the other two in the front row were deceived by the block, leaving only Qin Chunxiao, who was solely responsible for defense.
An open space!
William didn’t take a run-up and instead jumped off one foot in place. His body stretched taut like a bow, and in an instant, he swung his arm heavily, smashing the ball over the net.
At the same time, Qin Chunxiao resolutely jumped up, but it seemed that he mistimed his jump, and William’s attacking route was on his right side.
Some fans saw this scene and couldn’t help but feel anxious, thinking he couldn’t block it!
Even Newton thought that this ball would be difficult to block. If William’s attacking route was on Qin Chunxiao’s left side, he could use his left hand to block it, but it was on the right side… this left-handed player probably couldn’t react in time.
Meng Yuqing murmured, “He can block it!”
Qin Chunxiao could block this ball!
“He can block it.”
Meng Yuqing lowered her head in astonishment, and saw her sister raise her hand, flipping her wrist and giving her a final smile.
As if in the blink of an eye, Qin Chunxiao’s right hand swung in the air, and the palm perfectly met the ball that William had spiked. He successfully used a right-handed block, which wasn’t his strong suit.
But if it was just a simple block, considering the power behind William’s spike, the ball might fly out of bounds.
Qin Chunxiao remained incredibly calm. A subtle voice inside him told him to adjust his hand position, and as if someone gently pushed the back of his hand, the teenager with the red wristband turned his hand into a downward position.
The American libero dove towards the volleyball, but when the ball landed, his fingertips were still five centimeters away.
26:24, China took the second set first, 2:1!
Qin Chunxiao stood on the ground, facing William, both of them panting. Meanwhile, Tong Shulan watched this scene and seemed to see two people who blocked just now. One was a blue-eyed boy, and the other was a girl with a height of 206 centimeters wearing a red jersey.
William said to Qin Chunxiao, “You really have a lot of energy today. I didn’t see you block so actively when facing Roman.”
Qin Chunxiao wiped his sweat and adjusted his collar, saying, “Who told you that, kid? I just managed to block it.”
William chuckled and grumbled as he walked away. Qin Chunxiao turned around and hugged his teammates. Kong Duojin patted his head and said, “Well-blocked.”
It was now the fourth set.
Newton stood up and said, “Shulan, get ready to go. Win this match in one go!”
Tong Shulan pulled the towel off his head and ran towards the court.
【Inheritance】
You Ziyu stood in the service area, and thousands of miles away, the beach volleyball champion who taught him how to serve nervously watched the match on TV. At this moment, Kristian’s attention to You Ziyu was no longer just for Chang Xiaole but like a teacher’s care for a student.
【Teamwork】
You Ziyu’s underhand serve was received again, and the American team quickly launched a counter-attack. However, Kong Duojin went forward for the block without hesitation, restricting the American team’s attacker’s options. Qin Chunxiao seized the opportunity, positioned himself in advance, and set the ball up.
【Unwillingness】
Among the four main attackers, Ding Rong was the only one not famous for his jumping ability and couldn’t execute strong attacks at the net after a major injury. He now stood in the setter’s position, setting the ball with one hand. He knew that his teammates had already started their approach.
【Pain】
Tong Shulan was running, feeling a slight pain in his knee. He regretted not requesting a nerve block before the match. Nevertheless, he jumped up with determination, swinging his left hand in the air, only to hit nothing. Behind him, Qiao Mingming jumped even higher, roaring as he spiked the ball.
Tong Shulan was no longer the best male attacker in the domestic league. He had suffered too many injuries, the only one on the team to receive nerve blocks more than ten times. His jumping ability had declined, and he had been desperately working to exercise his body and improve his skills just to avoid being cut from the team. Finally, he had the chance to play at full strength, but his playing time was still not as long as others.
However, he still wanted to stay on the court and go further with his teammates.
From that moment on, Meng Yuqing’s vision began to fade. She blinked without stopping, tears streaming down her cheeks, while the instruments beside her emitted a piercing sound.
She thought her sister must have known that these boys would definitely win this match, but her impatience was like when binge-watching a TV series, she would skip straight to the last episode after watching a few episodes at the beginning, not bothering to follow the middle content.
But this was not a good habit, Yuling. This exciting game is better watched till the end, right? But it doesn’t matter; I’ll watch it for you.
Meng Yuqing quietly stood up and let the medical staff continue their final attempts to save her sister. She leaned against the wall, watching the TV.
Twenty minutes later, China won the fourth set with a score of 25:22, miraculously defeating the American team 3:1, advancing to the top four in the VNL finals.
On July 6, 2018, at 2:25 p.m., the doctors announced that the rescue efforts were in vain, and Meng Yuling’s young life came to an end. As she had signed up for organ donation before her death, the doctors came to remove her corneas, the only part of her tormented body that could be given new life.
Meng Yuqing had been staying by her sister’s side. She had now completely lost her color vision and could only walk steadily while holding her father’s hand.
The medical staff stood in two rows beside the operating table, with a female doctor holding a letter of gratitude.
“Thank you, Miss Meng Yuling, for your contribution to organ donation. Thank you for your kindness. Please accept our sincerest respect.”
A bow.
Two bows.
Three bows.
Over the past few years, Meng Yuling had always been left behind by those around her, sitting on the cramped wheelchair and watching them run farther and farther. Now, it was her turn to leave them behind.
Meng Yuqing squatted down and burst into tears. Her mother embraced her, while her father walked to his daughter’s body, took out an old wind chime from his pocket, and placed it beside his young daughter’s hand.
After the match ended, Qin Chunxiao received a message from Meng Yuqing.
【She passed away peacefully. In the end, she took a lot of painkillers and didn’t suffer much. Before leaving, she already knew you would win. Your blocking was beautiful, and her eyes lit up when she saw it. Xiaozi, I know you are the strongest one. Please tell Old Tong for me and comfort him, okay?】
Qin Chunxiao looked at Tong Shulan and handed him the phone.
Tong Shulan read the message and sniffed, “I’m glad she didn’t suffer. Xiaozi, please send a message to Yuqing for me and tell her that I’m fine. She should take care of herself.”
Qin Chunxiao looked at Tong Shulan and reminded, “Tong Ge, your face is covered in sweat. Wipe it off.”
Tong Shulan replied shyly, “Oh, right, okay, I’ll wipe it off.”
He pressed the white towel against his face.
