Chapter 19 — Medals Are Not For You

"I know." “Then sign it.” “Knowing does not mean agreeing.” Luc Thua Da pulled out a chair and sat down, his back straight. “Whether you agree or not, I'm still going.” “Then there's no need for you to sign.” “Kieu Tranh.” He placed his hand on the file. "In the past, every match, you looked at my physical condition to decide whether I could play or not. Now I bring an injury to the competition, and you don't even bother to ask?" “I have already written a request to stop practicing.” “That is the opinion of the restoration expert.” “So what do you want?” “My opinion.” I looked at his hand supporting me behind my back. “Don't go.” The frustration suppressed under Luc Thua Da's eyes dissipated a bit. "Reason." "If your right back cannot exert normal force, you will unconsciously shorten the support time of your right leg. The higher the speed in the match, the more obvious this compensation will be. The left Achilles tendon, which has just recovered to the point where it can withstand the intensity of an official tournament, will not be able to withstand this kind of load distribution." “I won't run the whole journey, just participate in the 50 meter relay.” “The launch and ramp-up phase is when the risk is highest.” "Tong Han said you can use muscle tape and blockade..." "Blocking medicine only makes you feel no pain, but does not help the damaged muscle area recover." Luc Thua Da looked straight at me. “You really understand.” “These are basic judgments.” “In general, I'm still worried about you.” I do not respond to your statement. “If you only came to listen to advice, you would have heard it by now.” “I will withdraw from the tournament, three days later you will move home.” I raised my head. “Are you using your own injury as a bargaining chip with me?” “Do you think this is a condition?” “Like intimidation.” He suddenly smirked, a very short smile. "How do you threaten me? Your back, your legs, your career. I've abandoned you, what else can you use to threaten me?" He folded the confirmation paper. "The sponsor was extremely dissatisfied with the revision of the documentary. If you still withdraw from this event, the club will have to pay compensation for breach of contract, and next year's cooperation may also be canceled." “Then let the club evaluate which is more important, compensation or injury.” “Easy for you to say.” "When you had surgery three years ago, the sponsor withdrew two contracts and canceled four brand representation contracts. Didn't you still overcome that?" Luc Thua Da's face darkened. “You had no choice then.” “Now you have.” “Is choosing to let everyone think you just came back out of date?” “Choose to rest for another week.” He stuffed the documents into his pocket. “I don't understand anything at all.” “You were in the hospital bed with me for seven months.” “So what?” His voice suddenly rose. "So every match you have to consider how much I sacrificed in the past? Every decision has to prove that you don't disappoint me?" The light in the office was blindingly white. I stood next to the treatment bed, watching him gently lift his right shoulder because of the pain. “Go home.” Luc Thua Da also seemed to realize that he had said something wrong, his lips moved. "Just now..." "Before competing, tell Tong Han to do the movement test again. If during the warm-up process the left leg's support time is shortened, immediately withdraw." “Aren't you coming to the scene?” “Not coming.” “You've never been absent before.” “Will be absent this time.” He picked up his bag and as he walked to the door he stumbled and had to hold on to the wall. His hand quickly withdrew, as if afraid of being seen by me. I didn't step forward. The day of the commercial challenge tournament, I was in my office watching the live replay. The tournament is scheduled for seven o'clock in the evening.