Retired.

Walker thought it would be very difficult, but he didn't expect to say it easily, and the smile on the corner of his mouth couldn't help but rise lighter.

"It's great. The school and the team will no longer make things difficult for you. I was the player who should have been fired, and now I just solved all the problems: you can stay, I can relax, and the team can continue to strive for the championship, which is great. Really, Coach Archie, this is great."

As he was talking, Walker kept talking to himself, but he didn't know whether to convince Lu Yiqi or himself, a big smile appeared on his face, but the slightly red eyes revealed his embarrassment. He raised his hand in embarrassment and rubbed his eyes, then scratched his head awkwardly, concealed his movements, laughed out loud, and performed the feeling of "removing the burden".

"Coach Archie, don't worry about me. I mean, this is not a big deal, this is not the end of the world, my life will not be affected. You know, many professional players cannot live normally after retirement, but I don't, I can still work and live normally, so... this... this is good... just... uh... just... sorry, please apologize to your teammates on my behalf..."

With a word of "sorry", there were too many mixed emotions hidden. Walker had already started to stutter. The surging thoughts interrupted the rhythm of his speech. He turned his gaze in panic, staring at the ceiling, concealing the surging emotions in his eyes, and shakingly controlling himself.

"Reggie." Lu Yiqi interrupted Walker's words, "Listen to me, don't think too much. You are a member of the Wildcats. Before graduating from college, you were always a member of the Wildcats. Now all you need to do is take a good rest, listen to music and read books, and prepare for the final exam - you don't want your graduation exam to be failed, right?"

The unwarranted joke made Walker giggle, but the laughter pressed into his chest in a muffled manner, rolling like thunder.

"This season is not over yet, we are all fighting, and you should continue fighting. There is no reason you are watching us sweat while you do nothing, right? You need to complete your homework, you need to read the tactical manual, you need to persist in recovery."

Lu Yiqi's voice was tough and determined. He went over Walker and issued an order directly, then stood up and stared at Walker's eyes condescendingly.

"Reggie, do you still remember? You don't have to worry about other things. It's the coach's responsibility, and your responsibility is to fight with the team and complete your own studies. So, you need to focus and persist in rehabilitation training. I check every day, do you understand?"

Walker looked at Lu Yiqi's eyes, and his resolute and focused expression never wavered.

"Walker! Do you understand?" The stern voice sounded in my ears, asking again.

Walker nodded and said solemnly, "I understand!"

Lu Yiqi gently said with his head, "Then, let's do it now, you can rest here." After that, he did not stop and turned around and left the ward.

Walker quietly stared at Lu Yiqi's back as he left, opened the door and closed the door. Finally, his figure disappeared into the bright lights of the corridor. The corners of his mouth remained in a rising curve of a smile, but the tears in his eyes could no longer bear the weight.

The hot tears fell down. He raised his right hand in a panic and wiped the tears, but he didn't expect that the more he wiped, he couldn't wipe them clean:

But... he can no longer follow the team to compete for the championship. Oh, so unwilling to accept it. He thought he could finally win the bowl championship this year; he thought his dream could finally capture some light; he thought that things had finally turned around... But now... he really was really unwilling to accept it, as if he had not done anything, the finale had been declared.

In the cold ward, silent.

...

Pushing open the ward door, Lu Yiqi saw Coretta sitting on the bench in the corridor.

The little girl straightened her waist stubbornly and proudly, opened her shoulders, and sat there in a straight posture, refusing to compromise or give up, and even refusing to surrender. The tender face was filled with a sturdy light, and her calm and calm expression was even stronger than Walker.

However, the fists with hands that trembled slightly due to excessive force revealed the little guy's true emotions.

"Korita?" Lu Yiqi called out in a low voice.

The little girl suddenly raised her gaze and looked over sharply and toughly, just like a little leopard who was alarmed, showing off her minions and posing in a defensive posture.

Lu Yiqi stood not far away, and asked in a soft voice, "Where is your mother?"

"Work." Coretta replied, his voice a little stiff, "She's working the night shift tonight." Jimmy's damn guy couldn't find him at all, so she was the only one who followed him to the hospital and guarded Walker.

"Korita." Lu Yiqi slowly approached slowly. He could sense that Korita became alert, and the spikes all over his body stood up, which made Lu Yiqi stop slightly, "Korita, Reggie will be fine. The knee injury is not very serious, and the ligament is only slightly damaged. This will not affect his daily life. He will be well, please rest assured."

The gentle voice made Coretta slightly lower his guard, as if he realized who the person in front of him was at this moment, and his eyes showed a little confusion and helplessness. "But he may never be able to return to the court to play again. If he missed this season, he may never have a chance."

After the words were spoken, the fragility broke through, his eyes were filled with tears, and his pupils were full of grievances and unwillingness flashed deep in his pupils. "Coach Archie, Reggie is really working hard. He really wants to continue playing, but he has no chance, right? He can't become a professional player, right?"

Lu Yiqi's voice couldn't help but suffocate slightly. He stopped in front of Coretta, squatted down, keeping his vision parallel to Coretta. "There are many choices in life. Professional players are not the only choice. This is not the end point, far from it. If Reggie still chooses this path, he can continue to try. He still has the chance. As long as he has enthusiasm, he still has the possibility. Hope still exists."

"Really?" Coretta stared at Lu Yiqi with wide eyes, and asked carefully, fearing that the faint light of hope would be extinguished again before it was ignited.

"Really." Lu Yiqi said firmly.

A ray of light lit up in Coretta's eyes again, and the curve of the corners of his mouth rose up, "I will pray devoutly for Reggie."

Lu Yiqi also nodded and expressed his affirmation, and then asked, "Is it okay for you to stay alone in the hospital? Do you need me to be here to accompany you and wait for your mother to arrive?"

Coretta shook her head, "Don't worry about me, I have already agreed to the hospital, I will rest in the ward tonight and accompany Reggie. I have also called my mother and told her that she will come directly after the night shift." In a panic, Coretta, the young man arranged everything early.
Chapter completed!