Chasing the Wind Episode 14 Recap
> Chasing the Wind Recap
Coach Li Haifeng held a strict view on athletes, believing they should be isolated and focused solely on training, with recognition only coming from winning gold medals, not from publicity or outside distractions like phones or relationships. He felt athletes, supported by national resources, should not be interested in the outside world, even suggesting retirement if they desired a life like others. Another person, likely a manager, disagreed strongly, arguing that ice sports were gaining popularity and needed publicity.
They felt athletes shouldn't be shielded from the world, especially when they all had phones. This led to a heated disagreement, with Coach Li's stance labeled as extreme. Separately, Gao Kai extended an invitation to a variety show, mentioning that Wei would be participating. Nie Chi expressed willingness to join if Wei was going. Later, Coach Li Haifeng commented on Fang Chao's performance in the 1500m race, acknowledging his second-place finish but questioning the method.
Fang Chao explained his strategy, admitting it wasn't entirely his own. It was revealed that Nie Chi had provided the tactical advice indirectly, asking for his involvement to be kept secret. Coach Li found the explanation confusing and emphasized that while helping each other was good, Fang Chao needed to develop his own independent tactical thinking and flexibility for races like the 1500m.
Following the revelation about the tactical help, Fang Chao confronted Nie Chi, stating that he no longer needed Nie Chi's assistance and preferred to handle his strategies himself, even if it meant admitting he wasn't as quick-minded. Nie Chi apologized, suggesting Fang Chao was overthinking the situation. Fang Chao insisted he could accept help from anyone "except" Nie Chi.
Despite acknowledging that neither Nie Chi nor Lin Ge had done anything wrong, he expressed his sadness about the situation, to which Nie Chi responded that he also felt he wasn't at fault. The conversation highlighted the strained relationship between the former close friends. The list for the Youth Championship was released, including Lin Ge in the 500m event. Initially, Lin Ge hoped this competition, without senior members, would allow her to race freely.
However, during a briefing, Coach Li Haifeng informed her and Wei that the final strategy would involve Lin Ge covering for Wei. Lin Ge expressed significant disappointment, reflecting on her hard work since a previous competition and feeling she was destined to always play a supporting role. She recalled a past conversation about facing stronger competitors and felt she now understood another athlete's past feelings of despair.
Nie Chi offered encouragement, telling her that competing against stronger athletes was a way to improve and assuring her that she would find her own path and that he would be by her side. In the Youth Championship finals, Nie Chi won the Men's 500m. In the Women's 500m, Lin Ge successfully provided cover for Wei, who secured the gold medal and broke the event record.
At the subsequent press conference, Coach Li Haifeng commented on Lin Ge's strong second-place finish, noting her skill in holding position but also her apparent exhaustion towards the end. Wei spoke about her victory, attributing her leading strategy solely to her speed, a response that caused some quiet dissatisfaction among observers who knew Lin Ge had covered for her.
When asked about his win, Nie Chi mentioned wanting to thank someone who had encouraged him, with subtitles implying he looked toward the audience. After the formal proceedings, Nie Chi helped Lin Ge find a lost charm rope, sharing a brief moment where Lin Ge commented on his importance, and he reassured her she was always important. This moment was interrupted when Wei and others called Nie Chi over for photos.
Nie Chi and Wei posed together as champions, and Lin Ge watched from the side, visibly affected. Back at the dormitory, Lin Ge overheard teammates excitedly discussing media photos of Nie Chi and Wei, labeling them the "national team's golden couple" and even reading online comments that portrayed Nie Chi's efforts as being for Wei.
The teammates teased Wei about her preferences, and she indicated Nie Chi in various hypothetical scenarios, causing Lin Ge increasing distress before she quietly left the room. Distraught by the dormitory conversation and the perception that Nie Chi and Wei were a more suitable match, Lin Ge felt overwhelmed.
She expressed her deep insecurity to Nie Chi, feeling she lacked the "qualification" or "stage" to be with him, citing differences in achievement, family background, and financial status, and believing she didn't deserve him compared to someone with gold medals like Wei. Nie Chi found her and firmly denied having any feelings for Wei, assuring Lin Ge that she was the only one he liked.
He strongly urged her not to look down on herself, expressing absolute certainty that she would achieve her own success and reach a greater stage one day, emphasizing, "because you are Lin Ge." When she asked if he could wait for her to reach that point, Nie Chi refused to wait, instead proposing they announce their relationship publicly right away to show everyone she was his girlfriend and reassure her.
Following their decision, Nie Chi and Lin Ge's relationship became known to their close friends and teammates, who reacted with surprised acceptance and advice to be discreet, particularly around the coaches. Nie Chi, visibly happy, worked on an apology video for Fang Chao, showing it to Gao Kai. Gao Kai then showed it to Fang Chao, who reacted awkwardly before announcing he would go home for the holidays instead of joining them to visit Ms. Han.
Nie Chi interpreted this as a sign of slow progress in their strained friendship. Upon returning to the provincial base, a security guard referenced their relationship by combining their names, calling them "Nie Ge," though Lin Ge gently corrected him. Lin Ge later spoke with Ms. Han, discussing her enhanced training regimen and her experience competing with Wei. While she expressed admiration for Wei's talent, she conveyed her strong reluctance to remain in a permanent supporting role.
Ms. Han provided guidance, suggesting that Coach Li Haifeng's tactical decisions, even requiring her to cover, could be seen as valuable opportunities for gaining experience and improving her skills, a perspective Lin Ge found insightful.
Meanwhile, at his home, Fang Chao was visibly unhappy, prompting his parents to guess he was heartbroken, likely over Lin Ge and Nie Chi, after observing his demeanor and looking at his phone, where they commented on a photo of a girl (presumably Lin Ge) dressed lightly in the cold, suggesting it was during a date.
