Chasing the Wind Episode 3 Recap
> Chasing the Wind Recap
Ms. Han spoke with another coach about Lin Ge, describing her as a talented prospect but concerned that her training lacked a solid foundation, likening it to forcing a seedling to grow too fast. She noted that while Lin Ge skated quickly, her basics were a "complete mess." The other coach mentioned Lin Ge had personal difficulties and wasn't initially aiming for high ambitions, adding that Ms. Han's approach had made Lin Ge more strong-minded and difficult to manage.
Ms. Han asked the other coach to help discipline Lin Ge. After a particularly intense training session, Lin Ge, Nie Chi, and Fang Chao felt exhausted. Lin Ge commented on how tired they were, especially because they had to adjust their squatting angles, a change she felt responsible for. She noted that Fang Chao, who did the same drills, was also tired, but wondered why Nie Chi seemed unaffected.
Nie Chi told Fang Chao that the coach had been observing his endurance for longer distances, suggesting he might be suited for the 1500m event. Despite Fang Chao's worries about staying on the team, Nie Chi reassured him that the 1500m was a good fit for him and they shouldn't compare. They agreed to finish the conversation back at the dormitory.
Back at the dormitory building, Lin Ge expressed extreme exhaustion, unable to climb to her upper bunk, and asked a teammate, Zhou Yao, if she could rest on her lower bed. Zhou Yao teased her, assuming she was going out to meet a boyfriend, which flustered Lin Ge. Lin Ge leaned heavily on Nie Chi. Noticing his face was red, she asked why. He deflected, saying it was from the effort of supporting her.
He then asked if she was going into her room. In the dining hall, Lin Ge envied those eating Type I meals. Fang Chao was particularly focused on getting chicken legs, admitting he'd been food-obsessed since he was a child and feeling the provincial team's food wasn't as good as their old sports school. He worried about how long it would take to solidify his training foundation.
They discussed the possibility of reaching the national top eight to qualify for better meals, with Fang Chao feeling he was currently at the bottom. Fang Chao approached Liu Yang for chicken legs, but was told to ask Huang Han. Fang Chao then buttered up Huang Han, who explained that Type I meals were reserved for those in the national top eight, implying Fang Chao needed to improve his performance.
Huang Han relented and gave Fang Chao two chicken legs, which Fang Chao thanked him and Zhu Zhu for. Fang Chao later bragged about his perceived popularity in the Type I dining area, dramatically calling himself titles like a "prince in the ice rink." Lin Ge, however, expressed a desire to truly earn the right to dine with top athletes like Zhu Zhu based on her own ability, not by asking for leftovers.
Lin Ge asked her teammate Zhou Yao why she relied on the relay event to reach the national top eight when she also competed in individual events and had good endurance. Zhou Yao explained that her explosive power was weak, making securing a top-eight position in individual races uncertain. The relay allowed her to rely on stronger teammates to safely reach the finals and thus qualify for the Type I meals, without having to "waste effort" improving her weakness.
Zhou Yao described her role as a "rabbit," serving as support or back-up, and stated she was satisfied with securing a position in the provincial team, earning rankings, and ensuring a path to university after retirement. Lin Ge initially agreed with this mindset but declared that she was no longer content with just a secure position; she aspired to become a top athlete like Zhu Zhu. Later, Huang Han gathered his teammates to confess his feelings to Zhu Zhu.
He stated he had waited five years and felt validated by winning the national championship that day. He gave her a pair of limited edition sneakers and openly confessed he liked her and wanted her to be his girlfriend, kneeling down as he did so. Zhu Zhu appeared uncomfortable and asked him to get up and take the expensive shoes back, noting his family's financial situation.
When he refused to take the gift back, she urged him and his friends to leave, suggesting she would pretend it hadn't happened since the coach wasn't aware. Huang Han persisted, mistakenly believing she was only hesitating due to fear of the coach. Zhu Zhu then firmly and clearly rejected him, declaring, "Huang Han, I don't like you. I won't accept your gift. I won't agree to you either. Can you understand?"
Meanwhile, Lin Ge, Nie Chi, and Fang Chao were eavesdropping near the dorm, discussing Zhu Zhu's reaction. Lin Ge felt it was clear Zhu Zhu wasn't interested in a relationship, while Fang Chao wasn't convinced. Seeing Zhu Zhu cornered by Huang Han and his friends, Nie Chi stepped out to intervene. He approached the group, saying he needed to speak with Zhu Zhu.
When Huang Han dismissively told him to get lost, Nie Chi directly stated that Zhu Zhu had just said she didn't like him. This escalated the tension, and Huang Han's friends confronted Nie Chi, suggesting a fight. Nie Chi warned them against causing a scene that would reach the coach. He then escorted Zhu Zhu away while Huang Han's friends grumbled about future retaliation.
Afterwards, Zhu Zhu thanked Nie Chi for intervening, noting that Huang Han was the boys' captain and might seek trouble. Nie Chi said it was fine, explaining that he, Lin Ge, and Fang Chao had all wanted to help, but he was the quickest to act. Zhu Zhu offered her help if Huang Han retaliated. Nie Chi politely declined, mentioning that Lin Ge admired Zhu Zhu greatly and saw her as an idol and goal.
Zhu Zhu acknowledged that she often saw Nie Chi, Lin Ge, and Fang Chao together and knew they were close friends from the same sports school. As thanks for his help, she promised to "treat Lin Ge better in the future." Back in her room, Zhu Zhu was immediately questioned by Zhou Yao, who had heard about the confession from the boys and was eager for details, although Zhu Zhu was hesitant to share.
Meanwhile, Fang Chao expressed his worry to Nie Chi about him having potentially made a difficult enemy in Huang Han. As Fang Chao predicted, Huang Han soon sought out Nie Chi. Under the pretense of helping them relax, Huang Han gathered Nie Chi, Fang Chao, Lin Ge, and some of his own teammates and led them to a sauna room.
Referring to Nie Chi and his friends dismissively, Huang Han initiated a challenge to see who could endure the heat the longest. As the temperature rose, Lin Ge complained about the heat. While Huang Han and his group struggled, Nie Chi remained composed. Eventually, Huang Han collapsed from the heat and demanded water, alarming his friends. Nie Chi calmly instructed everyone to give Huang Han space for air, assuring them he wasn't in mortal danger.
He then declared Huang Han's group had lost the challenge and ordered them to run laps on the playground as a penalty. Following the sauna ordeal, Fang Chao was astonished that Nie Chi had outlasted Huang Han and six others by himself. Nie Chi explained his simple strategy of hydrating beforehand and letting Huang Han's group's closeness exacerbate the heat. Fang Chao called him cunning, acknowledging that the incident had solidified a conflict with Huang Han.
Later, Lin Ge was visibly stressed, pushing herself intensely in training due to worries about her slow progress and the risk of being sent back. She ended up straining her leg. Fang Chao tried to reason with her, comparing her years of training to Zhu Zhu's, but this upset Lin Ge further, making her feel inadequate. Fang Chao quickly apologized, and they reconciled, though Fang Chao playfully accused them of ganging up on him.
Nie Chi found Lin Ge good-natured, prompting her to tease him by suggesting he should just say she was good-looking, which he agreed to, giving her goosebumps. Fang Chao remarked on their easy banter, teasing them about their closeness. After straining her leg, Lin Ge realized she was out of kinesiology tapes, having given the last ones to Zhu Zhu who had trained late the previous night.
Nie Chi offered her some of his, promising to get more if she ran out. When Nie Chi brought the supplies, Zhou Yao intercepted him, taking the tapes he brought for Lin Ge and assuming they were for general use among the roommates, thanking Nie Chi for them. The assessment results were posted, and Lin Ge, feeling anxious, checked the list with Fang Chao and Nie Chi. She found her name listed, indicating she had passed.
All three were relieved and excited. Ms. Han congratulated Lin Ge on her significant recent progress, noting her strong performance in the test placed her in the top tier and she had even skated faster than Zhou Yao that day. She confirmed Lin Ge would officially remain with the provincial team and move to regular training and assessments. Overjoyed, Lin Ge asked if she could hug Ms. Han, who agreed.
Ms. Han then addressed Nie Chi, whose consistent good results meant he would continue training in the 500m event. She informed Fang Chao that his excellent endurance meant his main event would be switched to the 1500m. The three thanked Ms. Han for the news. To celebrate, Nie Chi suggested they go out the next day, which was their day off. Lin Ge and Fang Chao eagerly agreed, letting Nie Chi make the plans.
As they left the dormitory, Lin Ge carried a potted plant. Her older brother, Lin Feng, saw her, glanced at an identical plant on a windowsill nearby, and returned to looking at his phone without saying anything to her. Later, Lin Ge called Nie Chi aside privately. She gave him 1200 yuan, a partial repayment of the 2000 yuan sports school registration fee she had borrowed from him.
She explained she had received her allowance and felt she needed to pay him back quickly to stay motivated. She offered to pay the remaining balance at 50 yuan a month. Nie Chi told her there was no rush and she could pay him back slowly, but she insisted. He finally agreed to a plan where she would save the full 2000 yuan first, show him the balance, and then start paying him back at 50 yuan a month. Lin Ge calculated that at that rate, it would take her about two years to repay a significant portion. Feeling a sense of relief, she thanked him and left.
