Chapter 144 The Eve of the Final

In Milan, Italy, at Yang Pan's home.

Yi Lan, who was watching television and soothing the baby in her belly, suddenly felt a tightening in her abdomen, followed by a wave of pain that was hard to conceal. She couldn't help but furrow her brow. Recently, she had been experiencing this kind of pain frequently. She thought it was a normal reaction to pregnancy and didn't pay much attention to it. She didn't expect the pain to become more frequent and last longer.

Vaguely, a sense of unease rose in her heart. She wanted to call out, but her father and Yang Pan's parents were outside. As long as she made a sound, they would definitely come.

But as soon as she opened her mouth, she found that the pain had made her voiceless. Then, everything went black, and she knew nothing more.

Yang Pan's mother brought over the lotus root porridge she had cooked for her daughter-in-law, blowing on it at the door, afraid of burning Yi Lan.

She gently pushed open the bedroom door and didn't see Yi Lan sitting on the bed watching television. The television was still on, but Yi Lan was lying on the side, her head tilted towards the door. No matter how she looked at it, this posture didn't look like she was sleeping.

Because her daughter-in-law was pregnant, Yang Pan's mother had been very sensitive. Seeing this situation, she put the porridge aside and quickly walked to Yi Lan's side. "Lan Lan? Lan Lan?" She called out twice without a response, and she didn't hear the steady breathing of someone sleeping. She began to feel that something was wrong.

"Wei Ping! Wei Ping!! Someone come!"

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When Yi Lan woke up, she found herself lying in a hospital ward. Her father and Yang Pan's parents were surrounding her bed, along with a doctor and two nurses. The faces of her loved ones were filled with anxiety. Seeing her open her eyes, they cried out her name in surprise.

The doctor signaled them to be quiet, as he had some questions to ask the patient.

"Miss, can you tell me how you fainted today?"

Yi Lan looked at her family around her, seeing them nod to her, and then turned to the doctor and said, "I was watching television, and suddenly I felt a pain in my stomach. I wanted to call out, but I couldn't make a sound, and then I fainted."

The doctor continued to ask, "Is the pain you mentioned the kind of tightening pain?"

Yi Lan quickly nodded.

"Have you noticed how long this pain usually lasts, and how often it comes? Is it an occasional occurrence, or is it regular?"

This time, Yi Lan lowered her head and thought carefully: "It comes about every ten minutes, and it's been particularly frequent these past two days. It was fine before. Each time... because I once wanted to grab something to distract myself from the pain, I counted the seconds, about half a minute. It comes very regularly."

The doctor nodded and then said to Yi Lan, "Very good. Miss, you should rest well now. If you have any problems, please press the bell to call our nurses. The three family members, please come out with me."

After speaking, he turned and walked out of the ward.

Da Hu Zi looked at his daughter with pity and then followed him out, followed by Yang Pan's parents.

After the World Cup started, Yang Pan's parents flew from China to Milan, Italy, considering that Yang Pan was not around, and Da Hu Zi would definitely have shortcomings in taking care of her alone, so the two of them came to help, and it would be good for more people to take care of each other. When Yi Lan fainted just now, Da Hu Zi was taking a nap. If he was the only one there, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

The four found a quiet and secluded place. The doctor looked at the three family members. Of course, he knew the identity of the patient who had been sent in.

"Well, according to our examination of the patient and the information we obtained from her mouth... I now have a very sufficient reason to believe that Miss Yi Lan... well, has clinical signs of premature labor. In short, she is about to give birth. She is about to become a mother."

Da Hu Zi was stunned. Yang Pan's parents couldn't understand Italian very well, but they could tell from Da Hu Zi's undisguised face what the doctor was saying.

"Premature birth is very dangerous," the doctor said, "because the mortality rate of premature babies is dozens of times higher than that of full-term babies."

Da Hu Zi staggered. Yang's father next to him was quick and quickly supported his in-law.

The doctor saw the family's concerns. He quickly smiled and cheered up the family: "Of course, if everything is normal at birth and the care process after birth is particularly careful, the baby can still grow up healthily and will not be any different from ordinary babies." Seeing that they were still a little skeptical, he added: "I am a doctor, and I am responsible for every word I say, please believe me. Next, you have to inform Miss Yi Lan of this situation and let her prepare herself mentally for the delivery. At the same time, it is best to also tell her husband who is far away in South Africa."

Hearing what the doctor said, Da Hu Zi was stunned for a moment, and then asked: "Is this a necessary procedure?"

"No. He doesn't need to sign the family signature either, but I think that as a first-time father, it would be a bit of a pity if he didn't know when his child was about to be born. Well, it's okay not to notify him. I'm going to be busy. Remember to contact me and the surgeons immediately if anything happens. If nothing unexpected happens, Miss Yi Lan's due date should be in the next two days." The doctor turned to leave.

"These two days?"

"To be precise, it's July 15th." The doctor looked at the dazed Da Hu Zi, then turned and said goodbye.

"Hey, in-law. What did the doctor say?" Yang's mother asked anxiously.

"The doctor said... Yi Lan is about to give birth, she is going to be a mother, and Yang Pan is going to be a father."

"Really?" Yang Pan's parents looked at each other, seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.

"But, but the ten months of pregnancy haven't arrived yet..." Yang's father quickly reacted.

"Yes, so the doctor said it was a premature birth. He also said that premature birth would be very dangerous."

"Ah?!"

"Don't be excited..." Da Hu Zi smiled bitterly, "The doctor also said that as long as the care is good, the child's survival rate is very high, and there will be no problems with future development. This hospital is the best hospital in Milan, and our ward environment is also the best, I think there shouldn't be any problems."

"That's good..." The two people who were worried breathed a sigh of relief, "Since the doctor said so, in-law, why are you still so sad?"

"Well, I'm considering whether to tell Yang Pan..."

"Such a big thing! Of course, you have to tell him, let him know that he is going to be a father, haha!" Yang's father, who knew he was going to be a grandfather, was in a good mood, he said with a big laugh.

"Hehe..." Da Hu Zi smiled along.

"By the way, in-law, did the doctor say when Yi Lan's due date is?" Yang's mother, who had not spoken, asked.

"Well, he said it, it's July 15th." Da Hu Zi nodded.

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For those who are immersed in the happy world of two, half a day of free activity is too short. That morning, Zhang Jun and Sophie bought a lot of things for their parents who were coming to South Africa, until Zhang Jun couldn't hold them anymore. After the two had lunch, Zhang Jun sent all the things to the hotel where Sophie was staying, and then returned to the team to participate in the afternoon training.

Considering that the opponent was the Brazilian team, Qiu Suhui attached great importance to it, and the training that had always been open to the public was also closed.

Not even one reporter was allowed in, and even Sophie wasn't allowed in this time.

"Today is the 13th, and the 15th is the final. Has Qiu Suhui finally become nervous?" The reporters who were blocked outside the gate discussed, and from time to time sighed at the closed gate.

"That's good, if there's no sense of tension even in the final, then he's not an earthling."

"What is he then?"

"A Martian! Haha!!"

A group of reporters burst into huge laughter. Compared to the team, they currently have no burdens. The Chinese team reaching the final has exceeded everyone's expectations. It would be even better to win the championship, but even if they only win a silver medal in the end, it is worthy of a great achievement in the history of Chinese football.

Behind this closed door, on the Chinese team's training ground, Qiu Suhui was giving the players tactical training.

At this time, any basic training is no longer important. What is needed now is tactical drills, set-piece tactics, defensive tactics, offensive tactics, and then a detailed division of the possible situations under various circumstances. How should the Chinese team respond?

For example, the three central defenders, if Xiang Tao goes up to assist and does not have time to return to defense, allowing the opponent to launch a quick counterattack, how should the Chinese team quickly organize its defense?

For example, after falling into a positional battle, how should the frontcourt players intersperse and run to open up the opponent's defense?

These all need to be practiced well. Qiu Suhui's notebook is filled with the possible situations in the game, and the Chinese team must do targeted training to avoid any mistakes.

Defensive counterattack, being defensive counterattacked, playing more against less, playing less against more, positional warfare, set pieces...

In the two days of training, Qiu Suhui can't ask the team to delve into so many things, and only trains each situation a few times. As the saying goes: sharpening your spear before the battle, even if it's not sharp, it will still be bright.

Now, the Chinese team's training has been changed to dusk and evening due to the adjustment of the final's time, in order to keep the team's state at its best during the game.

Every time they finish training, it's already past eight o'clock in the evening. So, with the adjustment of training time, the usual meal times have also been adjusted. Lunch is put at three o'clock in the afternoon, and dinner is changed to nine o'clock in the evening.

When a group of people comes down from the training ground, takes a shower in the hotel room, changes their clothes and comes out to eat, it is completely dark. In fact, after 5:30 in the afternoon, the training ground has to turn on the lights to provide lighting for the Chinese team's training. Only at this time will a group of people remember that South Africa is not a hot summer now, but a winter with particularly short days.

A group of people shuffled in slippers, wearing simple casual clothes, going to the specially assigned restaurant in groups of three or five. Zhang Jun, Yang Pan, Xiang Tao, Ke Lu and others were naturally together, walking together, talking and laughing.

"Damn it!" Zhang Jun suddenly shouted, and everyone looked at him. "What's wrong?"

"I forgot to bring my phone. If Sophie calls me later, I won't be able to answer it."

"Go back and get it, we'll wait for you." Yang Pan waved his hand, and Zhang Jun turned and trotted back to his room.

While waiting for the elevator and Zhang Jun, Yang Pan's phone rang. He looked at the caller ID, it was from his home in Italy.

"I'll take a call, you guys go first, I'll go to dinner with Zhang Jun later." He said, raising his phone and shaking it. Watching the elevator door open and everyone walk in, he answered the phone.

"Hello, Mom? What's the matter?"

※※※

Hurriedly, Zhang Jun was afraid of missing the elevator, and rushed into the room like a whirlwind, then grabbed the phone that he had charged and thrown on the bed, and rushed out again like a whirlwind.

※※※

"Mom? What did you say?" Yang Pan suspected that there was something wrong with his ears and that he had heard wrong. "Say it again..."

※※※

Zhang Jun, who was jogging, saw a familiar figure at the corner ahead. It was Yang Pan. Hey, that's really nice. He said he would wait, and he waited. Unlike those heartless people, they all slipped away. It looks like he'll just have to wait for the elevator honestly.

Thinking this, Zhang Jun slowed down his pace, changing from a run to a walk. He quietly walked behind Yang Pan. Hmm, looking at his back and movements, he seems to be on the phone...

"How is this possible?!" Yang Pan's emotions sounded a little agitated. "She's only eight months pregnant, how could... what? Premature birth?"

Hearing these words, Zhang Jun suddenly stopped. He knew that now was not the time to disturb Yang Pan, and at the same time, he was shocked by Yang Pan's words.

Premature birth? Giving birth... early... Yang Pan is going to be a father? Zhang Jun held his breath.

"What did the doctor say? Is it dangerous?!" Yang Pan's voice suddenly rose eight degrees.

Zhang Jun and Yang Pan had played together since they were young. No matter what situation they faced, he had rarely seen Yang Pan nervous, let alone panic that was even worse than nervousness. But now, from this scream, Zhang Jun clearly heard horror.

Zhang Jun suddenly felt that eavesdropping on someone else's privacy like this, even if it was his best friend, was very immoral, so he quietly turned around and tiptoed away.

Standing alone in the elevator, admiring the splendid night view of Cape Town outside the transparent elevator, Zhang Jun's mind was still on Yang Pan's scream.

No matter how strong the opponent was, no matter how unfavorable the situation was, no matter how tense and critical the moment was, Yang Pan had never shown a trace of panic or embarrassment. He was mature for his age, calm and composed, and had a natural leader's demeanor. He gave Zhang Jun reminders when he was going smoothly, and gave him encouragement when he was frustrated and helpless. He was Zhang Jun's best friend, a friendship like brothers. Before leaving Milan for Florence, he had even unconsciously wanted to rely on him...

All of this was because Yang Pan had a strong heart, a firm goal, and a persistent belief in pursuing this goal.

In everyone's eyes, although for various reasons, he was not the captain of AC Milan, almost no one would deny that he was the most outstanding captain in the history of the Chinese national team.

It was such a perfect person, but because of the possible danger to his wife and children, he was panicked...

The media are desperately mythologizing everyone in this Chinese team, and Yang Pan is no exception. But Zhang Jun felt that the Yang Pan he had just seen was a living person. He would worry about his family, which was a normal expression of a man.

Thinking about how he and Sophie were not married yet, and they were very careful about safety during sex, so they would not have the trouble of having children for the time being. But eventually they will definitely reach that point. Sooner or later, he and Sophie will have children and will have to face this situation. However, he hopes that everything will be safe for the mother and child at that time. He doesn't care whether the baby is a boy or a girl, beautiful or not, smart or not, the key is that Sophie and the child must be safe.

Outside the transparent glass cover is a colorful night scene, but Zhang Jun has no time to appreciate it. At this time, he is thinking about how to give Yang Pan a big gift.

※※※

Walking into the restaurant, Zhang Jun quickly found the location of Xiang Tao and the others, because no matter where Xiang Tao and An Ke are together, that place must be the most lively.

At this time, Xiang Tao and An Ke were arguing about Chinese food culture. Xiang Tao, who came from Sichuan, naturally defended the status of Sichuan cuisine in Chinese food, and unexpectedly, An Ke, who came from Henan, did not mention Henan cuisine, but believed that Cantonese cuisine was the no.1 in Chinese cuisine.

Zhang Jun walked over and asked with feigned surprise: "Huh? Why isn't Yang Pan here? Didn't he come down with you?"

An Ke and Xiang Tao continued to talk eloquently, ignoring Zhang Jun's question. Li Yongle, who was watching the battle with great interest next to him, said to Zhang Jun: "No. He suddenly received a call while waiting for the elevator, and then he said to let us go first, and he would wait for you to come together."

"But I didn't see him at the elevator door..." Zhang Jun continued to pretend to be stupid, he didn't want people to know that he eavesdropped on Yang Pan's call. Moreover, as the captain of the Chinese team, he really can't show his weak side to others. Since he is a good friend with twenty years of tacit understanding, Zhang Jun naturally wants to help Yang Pan maintain his image and prestige.

"Forget it, call him and let him come down to eat." Zhang Jun took out his phone and dialed Yang Pan's number.

Sure enough, Yang Pan was still waiting for him.

"Don't wait, you idiot. I'm downstairs already. I didn't see you at the elevator just now, and I thought you had come down first, so I came along. Come down to eat." Zhang Jun made his voice sound like there was nothing unusual.

"Damn it! I said I would wait for you, so I will definitely wait for you! You kid ran away first, can't you look around? Okay, I'll come down right away, really... making me worry." Muttering, Yang Pan hung up the phone.

Zhang Jun smiled at Li Yongle: "He's coming down soon, let's eat first. That idiot is really waiting for me upstairs..."

However, it's really nice to have such an idiotic big brother.

When Yang Pan appeared in front of Zhang Jun, he could no longer see that this person was worried about the safety of his wife and children. His face was as usual, his tone was as usual, and his actions were as usual. He must have suppressed all his worries in his heart. At this important moment, before the crucial final, he cannot allow himself to have the slightest mistake, and he cannot delay the future of everyone else in the team because of his own personal affairs. Captain, the armband is worn on the arm not to make you look good. Behind the endless glory, it also represents endless dedication and unknown hardships.

Thinking about the captain he was doing in Florence, Zhang Jun realized that he was still far from being an excellent and great captain.