Amidst a Snowstorm of Love | Chapter 61 | The Final Gold | Novela.app

As night fell, Yin Guo, Lin Lin, and Liu Xiran joined forces to secure the gold medal in the women’s 9-ball team event, China’s strongest discipline. This was the team's fifth gold medal. By this point, they had firmly secured the top spot on the gold medal leaderboard. The moment the three of them clinched the championship, they were overcome with uncontrollable excitement. It wasn't just for themselves; it was because this gold medal relieved some of the pressure weighing on the men’s snooker team. While everyone was having dinner backstage, Yin Guo took advantage of the brief break to sit beside Lin Yiyang and feed him a few bites. Lin Yiyang smiled, took the fork from her, and said in a low voice, "I’m not completely crippled. I can eat." She stroked the back of his hand, saying nothing. Since their competitions were over, many team members began browsing the news online. They looked at news from other sports to get pumped up and checked their own events to feel a sense of pride. Although the Asian Games were no longer the most watched event globally, for the athletes, it remained a major and significant competition. Everyone saw the negative comments online, but no one spoke of them. They maintained a total silence, fearing the words might reach the ears of the three snooker players who had yet to compete. But they were all simmering with suppressed anger. Ever since Lin Yiyang began withdrawing from certain events, malicious comments had started appearing: "He’s only been back competing for a little over a year; how could he have an 'old injury'? He’s probably just making it up because he’s afraid of losing." "I think so too. Withdrawing sounds much better than losing." "He was playing matches in the States last year; he clearly looks down on Chinese competitions. Who knows why he really came back?" "He has so many endorsements in the US; he’s been a commercialized player for a long time. He only came back because the Chinese market is huge. Once he makes a name for himself here, he can earn even more from endorsements." "The athlete has lost his original heart; he only thinks about making money." ... Lin Yiyang lowered his head, resting his meal box on his lap as he took a couple of bites. Being so tall, eating while hunched over like that was uncomfortable. "Help me move a chair over," he asked her, a rare show of vulnerability. Yin Guo pulled a chair over and helped him place the meal box on it. Lin Yiyang had always been a fast eater. Before long, he was finished. Seeing Yin Guo staring blankly, he assumed she was simply worried about him and ruffled her hair. "You’ve already won a gold and a silver. Still not happy?" Yin Guo deliberately changed the subject. "Where do you want to go after the competition? My treat." He smiled but didn't answer. The two of them looked at each other. "We'll talk after the match," he finally said. He handed the meal box and fork to Yin Guo, picked up his water bottle, and took two sips to moisten his throat. Tonight, the billiards hall would host its final match—the last billiards event of these Asian Games, and the most anticipated: the men’s snooker team final. Beside the table, three chairs and small side tables for water bottles were set up on each side. As soon as Lin Yiyang entered the arena, he went to the referee along with the Indian captain to finalize the playing order. There were twelve frames in total—nine singles and three doubles. In the singles, each player would play three frames, facing each of the three opponents. In the doubles, each player would play two frames. Each person had to play five frames in total. The first round was singles. Lin Yiyang was the first to step up. He knew this would likely be his best frame of the night, and he had to finish it quickly. Giving it his all, he took only twelve minutes to secure the first point. Jiang Yang faced the opponent's strongest player, their captain, and lost his frame. Meng Xiaodong, fresh off his individual gold, happened to face the same opponent he had met in the semifinals. With that experience, he achieved twice the result with half the effort, securing the second point. At the end of this round, the score was 2-1; the Chinese team held a temporary lead. The second round was doubles. Lin Yiyang and Jiang Yang paired up. As a pair of injured players, they naturally couldn't gain the upper hand and lost, which came as no surprise. The score returned to 2-2, a tie. "It’s a tight race," Jiang Yang summarized calmly as he returned to his seat. "All that work for nothing." "The most useless pair has already been used up. It doesn't matter," Meng Xiaodong said. "It’ll only get better from here." Although Jiang Yang thought the same, he was clearly stung by the word "useless" and shot a glance at Meng Xiaodong. This kid had rarely found an opportunity to mock him and was certainly making the most of it. The second round of singles began. Jiang Yang took the table and won a point quickly. Lin Yiyang fought hard until the middle of his frame, but the physical strain became obvious, and he lost. Meng Xiaodong’s form faltered, and he lost as well. The score was 3-4; the Chinese team was now at a disadvantage. Lin Yiyang knew that after pushing himself through two frames, he would have to step back from the main stage... He had exhausted nearly all his strength on those two singles rounds. The second round of doubles featured Jiang Yang and Meng Xiaodong. In the ten minutes before the match, Meng Xiaodong left his seat and walked to the Chinese team’s rest area to settle his nerves. He knew the next two doubles frames rested entirely on his shoulders... Meng Xiaodong saw Lin Lin. He watched her for a moment, then turned back. The second doubles frame began. Meng Xiaodong and Jiang Yang paired up. Meng Xiaodong found his rhythm again, leading Jiang Yang with steady play and assisting him through one offensive after another. Ultimately, this doubles frame lasted thirty-seven minutes, finally earning the Chinese team another point. The score remained deadlocked at 4-4. Jiang Yang suddenly looked at Lin Yiyang. "After today, how many months will you be out of commission?" The next Open was definitely out of the question. Lin Yiyang glanced at Jiang Yang but didn't say a word. Jiang Yang then said to Meng Xiaodong, "Hurry up. While Dun Cuo is out of the game, crush his ranking points to the bottom." Meng Xiaodong also looked at Jiang Yang, choosing to say nothing. ... The third round of singles. Meng Xiaodong went on a rampage as soon as he stepped up, winning with the most brilliant frame of the night—a 118-point century break. The score became 5-4. Jiang Yang, meanwhile, employed the most grinding, tedious playstyle, winning the longest frame of the night. It lasted fifty-one minutes. The final round of singles... Lin Yiyang sat on the bench for the entire duration and ended up with the most miserable score of the night—0 points. In truth, this was a blessing in disguise. Lin Yiyang was slated against their strongest opponent, and in his current state, he had no chance of winning. It was better to stay on the bench and conserve his energy. "Great sportsmanship," Lin Yiyang commented. "Knowing I’m in the final doubles, they didn't even let me touch the cue this frame." "Of course we can't throw a match," Jiang Yang said casually. "The other guy was just in good form, and you, kid, just have good luck." He admitted that much. Lin Yiyang had always known he had decent luck, especially in the last two years. Perhaps it really did suit his name—first suppressed, then rising. All singles matches were over. The score was 6-5. It could be said that this was the most frustrating night of their lives. After all that effort, they were only leading by one point. They had to win the final frame to win the match; if they lost, it would be a draw, leading to a tie-breaker... Meng Xiaodong appeared calm as he picked up a glass to drink water. "It's empty," Jiang Yang reminded him from the side, pouring some of his own water into Meng Xiaodong’s glass. Meng Xiaodong looked at the water in his glass, his germaphobia kicking in. After agonizing for over ten seconds, he put the glass down. With a complex expression, Jiang Yang watched as Meng Xiaodong picked up his cue and walked to the table. Lin Yiyang wore his waistcoat throughout this match; after all, for the Snooker Association, the dress code was paramount. It was fine to take off the waistcoat for 10-ball in the afternoon, but for snooker tonight, he had to be properly dressed. Lin Yiyang held his cue in his left hand and walked to Meng Xiaodong’s side. "We must win this frame," Meng Xiaodong said. "You and Jiang Yang won't be able to handle a tie-breaker." Lin Yiyang didn't speak, but he understood. For two injured players to have made it this far was a miracle; a tie-breaker would be as good as a loss. The break-off belonged to China. Lin Yiyang and Meng Xiaodong crossed paths, and Lin Yiyang gave the opening shot to Meng Xiaodong. The main offensive would rely on Meng Xiaodong. Lin Yiyang’s job was to find opportunities to lay snookers and force the opponent into foul penalties. Of course, this required coordination with Meng Xiaodong. However, the two had never played doubles together, nor had they ever fought side-by-side; they had always been rivals... Lin Yiyang looked at Meng Xiaodong, who was already leaning down to strike. The best rival makes the best partner. The red balls were scattered across the table, very loose. From the sidelines, Yin Guo watched the live broadcast. Lin Yiyang was truly a master at laying snookers. Seizing an opportunity, he forced the opponent into eight consecutive points of fouls... She remembered what Lin Yiyang had told her at the start of the training camp: even in poor form, you must make your opponent lose. The start wasn't great, but after Lin Yiyang forced the fouls, Meng Xiaodong seized the chance. Together, they took control of the table. When things are going smoothly, finishing the match as quickly as possible is the smartest choice. It was nothing to Meng Xiaodong; if he were playing alone, he would have cleared the table long ago. But with alternating shots, he had to manage Lin Yiyang’s rhythm as well. No one could see that under his waistcoat, Lin Yiyang’s shirt was soaked through, front and back. It was mostly from the pain. He had adopted Meng Xiaodong’s signature focused expression, his brow constantly furrowed. With three red balls left on the table, he was holding on purely through willpower. By the time only the colors remained and victory was in sight, the live camera clearly showed sweat pouring down his face and neck... His fingers felt weak. Three balls left. The penultimate ball was Lin Yiyang’s to take. Jiang Yang sat on his stool, gripping his glass, while Meng Xiaodong stood to Lin Yiyang’s right. Both held their breath. The shot had some difficulty, but normally it would be no problem for him... Lin Yiyang slowly delivered the cue, watching as the tip struck the cue ball. The cue ball hit the pink, which was resting near the cushion. Both balls rolled slowly toward the bottom pockets. During the day, he could have judged whether the ball was going in or not. Now, after the strike, he had no idea. It wasn't until the pink ball dropped and applause erupted around him that he finally stood straight, leaning on his cue, and smiled. Finally, Meng Xiaodong potted the black. In the dead of night, the Chinese team secured their victory in the final doubles frame. The moment the black ball hit the pocket, the applause shook the entire arena. This men’s team gold had not come easily. Compared to the women’s team’s total dominance, this match had essentially been a healthy Meng Xiaodong dragging his two brothers across the finish line. In a double-injury state, they had endured twelve full frames to finally snatch the last gold medal of this venue! It was also the final gold medal for the Chinese Billiards Team in these Games! ... He hadn't yet had the chance to see the cold mockery and sarcasm regarding his withdrawals from the outside world. Before his eyes were only the applauding spectators; in his ears were the cheers and the excited closing remarks of the commentators... After the intense tension broke, Lin Yiyang’s left hand lost all its strength, as did his legs. He slowly wiped the sweat from his face, only to find his hand dripping wet... It really felt like he’d joined the diving team. He tilted his head back, leaning against Jiang Yang’s shoulder. He closed his eyes and smiled amidst the applause. "Can two people carry me to the podium? I really can't walk anymore." The tidal wave of applause, the dazzling podium, the gaze of the entire crowd, the grandeur of the broadcast. It’s all ours. Every bit of it. Did you see that, Teacher? --- | Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 顿挫 | Dun Cuo | Lin Yiyang's online handle/nickname, used teasingly by Jiang Yang. | | 做斯诺克 | Laying a snooker | A tactical safety shot in snooker to obstruct the opponent's path to the target ball. | | 单杆118分 | 118-point century break | Scoring 100 points or more in a single visit to the table in snooker. | | 彩球 | Colors | The non-red balls in snooker (yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, black). | | 底袋 | Bottom pocket | The pockets at the end of the snooker table furthest from the break-off point. | | 加赛 | Tie-breaker / Deciding frame | An extra frame played to break a tie. |