When Sun Pan was venting his emotions with curses in his room, Guo Bing, the leader of the National Olympic Team, was in his room, which was filled with a deathly silence.

There were four people in this room, but no one spoke, as if none of them were alive.

Guo Bing, the leader of the National Olympic Team, Blazevic, the head coach of the National Olympic Team, Jiang Xiaojun, Blazevic's translator, and Zhou Yi, the captain of the National Olympic Team.

None of the four people spoke.

Guo Bing looked at Zhou Yi, and Zhou Yi was also looking at Guo Bing. The two looked at each other, but did not speak.

Blazevic closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep, as if the two people confronting each other in front of him had nothing to do with him.

The most awkward person here was Jiang Xiaojun, Blazevic's translator, because he was just a translator, he had no decision-making power, and anything that happened in this room had nothing to do with him. But now he happened to hear some incredible content, which made him a little frightened—if he revealed any of those things he heard to the media, it would probably cause a great uproar in China…

The silence between the four people lasted for an unknown amount of time until Guo Bing spoke and broke it.

"Zhou Yi, this is the decision of the delegation."

Zhou Yi nodded: "I know, Brother Guo. But Sun Pan didn't do anything wrong, so he can't be punished."

Translator Jiang Xiaojun lowered his head, too embarrassed to look—the last words spoken by both sides before the few minutes of silence were these two sentences.

After going around in a circle, they returned to the starting point.

But this time, there was no more silence. Guo Bing was obviously a little anxious. Facing Zhou Yi's calm face, he frowned and said, "Why don't you understand, Zhou Yi? This is not a public punishment, nor is it a team ban. It just requires him to write a review within the delegation and apologize to the public, saying that he was impulsive for a while, and his emotions were a little high after winning the game. They were unintentional words and were maliciously misinterpreted by the media... That's it! See, isn't it very simple... What a big deal? Why are you so stubborn! You have to know that this is already a very light punishment. In fact, it's just a formality, just to show some respect, it's not a big deal... You can understand it this way, Zhou Yi, it's like a step, a step for the National Olympic Team to give to the leaders of the delegation... Actually, this matter has caused quite a stir. Maybe you haven't been online and don't know how big this matter is now. The Korean ambassador has already paid attention to this matter. This is a political event! Can you not be so childish!"

Guo Bing said so much in one breath, without concealing the anxiousness in his tone.

Zhou Yi did not interrupt him, and after listening to him finish speaking in one breath, he smiled and said, "I don't really understand politics, I only just passed my politics class when I was in school, ha! But Brother Guo, I know that if a person hasn't done anything wrong, then he shouldn't be asked to apologize..."

Seeing Zhou Yi say this, Guo Bing became anxious and angry again: "That's not how you say it, Zhou Yi, you're too bookish, but I don't think you're that kind of person, Zhou Yi!"

"Let me finish, Brother Guo. You say I'm childish, but this time I'm really not. Let me analyze it for you carefully. Let's put aside the emotional factors and analyze it rationally. See if what I said is right—first of all, I understand Sun Pan. His temper is actually very stubborn. If the delegation leaders ask him to publicly apologize and conduct an internal review, it's like slapping him hard in the face. Do you think he will accept such a punishment decision? After his bad temper comes up, he can do anything. When the time comes, he'll spout off to the outside world, the media will hype it up, and the netizens will scold him. What will the delegation leaders do? Yes, they can expel Sun Pan from the team, but Brother Guo, do you think there's any benefit in doing so? After Sun Pan is expelled, will the delegation leaders' faces be saved? No, right? The outside world will only scold them more fiercely. Of course, if the leaders are not afraid of being scolded, then pretend I didn't say anything..." Zhou Yi spread his hands and said.

"After Sun Pan is expelled, will the National Olympic Team members be convinced? I don't think so, right? Will the team still have combat effectiveness? I don't think so either. Seeing a team that has a chance to compete for a medal disintegrate like this, then what good will this do for everyone in the end? You said what impact will it have on Sun Pan's personal career? None at all. He'll do whatever he should do at Atletico Madrid and Chelsea. He'll earn his money without losing a single penny, and he'll have the honors and championships he should have. Does he care about an Olympic gold medal? Joining the national team? I think if we really fall out this time, he probably won't care about any national team."

"Brother Guo, do you think what I said is right? Who will this affect? What's the use? Maybe it can only please the Koreans. But will it make the Koreans forgive us? I don't think so. Because even if this didn't happen, the Koreans' attitude towards us wouldn't be very friendly. Of course, of course, the vast majority of the Korean people are friendly, but I've never seen those 'vast majority of friendly Koreans'..." Zhou Yi shrugged, with a wronged expression on his face.

Hearing Zhou Yi's words, Guo Bing frowned and fell into thought, without saying a word.

"The above is the result if we really compromise in order to quell the Koreans' anger. Brother Guo, do you think my analysis is correct? Is this the logic? Will things really develop according to the path I said? But what if we ignore the Koreans? Let them scold us, let them protest? What impact will it have on us? I'll say something impolite, Brother Guo. It's already 2012. The Korean War ended sixty-one years ago. The history of the imperialist powers conquering a country by setting up a few cannons on the coastline is long gone. Can a few protests from their ambassador make us yield? No, right? China is now so powerful that it doesn't need to pay attention to the voices of those petty people, right? If the International Olympic Committee protests, the delegation still has to give them face, I understand that. But a Korean ambassador wants us to kneel down to them with just a few shouts, why? Who does he think he is?"

Zhou Yi's words at the end already carried obvious emotions in them, but Guo Bing did not remind Zhou Yi that he should be calm, objective, and rational in his analysis.

"I'll say something unpleasant, Brother Guo. What qualifications does Korea have to point fingers at us in front of us? In terms of national size, history, economy, and military... which one of them is stronger than China? Okay, football, they are indeed stronger than us in football, but yesterday, didn't we eliminate them? What is there to care about the barking of a loser? Just because of such a trivial matter, we have to let our team's main goalkeeper publicly apologize? If Sun Pan did something wrong, I support him apologizing, but I don't think he did anything wrong. What did he say wrong? Brother Guo, you watched this game too, right? Tell me the truth, were there any problems with those two penalties from the Korean team? When it comes to sportsmanship, when have they ever had it? During their home World Cup in 2002, did they do fewer outrageous things? Did they care about other countries' protests and public opinion at the time? They were shameless, so why should we be unreasonably accused by them? Therefore, I am firmly opposed to making any punishment to Sun Pan, even if it's just a formality. People won't think about whether it's just a formality. They only know that Sun Pan was forced to apologize to the Koreans. We can't set this precedent in the National Olympic Team, Brother Guo."

Then he paused and said, "I've finished speaking, Brother Guo. You can relay all these words to the delegation leaders and see if the reasoning is correct. If you think it's difficult to say, I can go and tell them directly..."

Guo Bing shook his head and waved his hand when he heard this: "You'd better not go..."

"Then Brother Guo, do you think what I said is right? Is this the logic?" Zhou Yi looked at Guo Bing and asked.

Facing Zhou Yi's pressing gaze, Guo Bing sighed: "The logic is correct, but some things... can't be solved by reasoning. Otherwise, why would there be so many troubles in this world?"

"If the delegation leaders insist on punishing, I hope they will punish after all the National Olympic Team's games are over. And don't punish Sun Pan, just punish me. Anyway, I am the captain of the team. If someone in the team makes a mistake, then I should indeed be punished. No matter what, it shouldn't interfere with the team's normal preparations and games. We didn't come to the Olympics just to make up the numbers. We're here to achieve results. I personally don't want this small matter to affect the team's results. If we win a gold medal, Brother Guo, you'll be happy too, right?"

Hearing Zhou Yi say this, Guo Bing's previously furrowed brows finally relaxed, and a smile appeared on his face: "You kid still know how to think about your Brother Guo? You only know how to cause trouble for Brother Guo and let Brother Guo clean up your mess!"

Zhou Yi also smiled: "Brother Guo is the head housekeeper, so those who are capable should do more work, hehe. And no one else can do this except you..."

He and Guo Bing met when they were in the national team, so they had such a conversation. Guo Bing was the deputy leader in the national team and the leader in the National Olympic Team. The two of them had a pleasant collaboration in the Asian Cup. That's why Zhou Yi said so much, and Guo Bing was able to endure and listen to him without interrupting.

He had personally seen Zhou Yi's abilities on and off the field. He knew that this child had a maturity that did not match his age and was definitely a reliable person. He would not talk nonsense.

At this point, everyone present knew that this matter was resolved. Sure enough, Guo Bing nodded: "Okay, I'll help you block this matter. But you must bring back a medal. I won't say anything about a gold medal, the pressure is too great. A bronze medal is fine too! If you bring back a medal, I can also explain it to the higher-ups."

Zhou Yi said with a grin: "A bronze medal is no good! The quality is so poor, it can't represent our determination and sincerity. Brother Guo, don't worry, it will definitely be a gold medal!"

Zhou Yi said so firmly, but Guo Bing only thought that Zhou Yi was trying to please him, and shook his head: "You... but when you go back, you must tell Sun Pan to control his mouth and not cause me any more trouble!"

"No problem, Brother Guo. I won't let him accept interviews with reporters in the future." Zhou Yi patted his chest and made a guarantee.