Chasing the Wind Episode 8 Recap
> Chasing the Wind Recap
Lin Ge was captivated by a large pink plush bear at a game stall, but it was expensive to try and win. Knowing how much she liked it, Nie Chi bought many rings, costing 100 yuan. He managed to win the bear, and Lin Ge was overjoyed, calling it the most special gift she had ever received. Later that night, back in their dorm, they found themselves unable to sleep, still replaying the happy moment in their minds.
Back home before heading to the national team, Fang Chao heard his parents discussing how the three friends would look after each other. He bristled at the idea of being looked after, insisting he wasn't cared for and that Lin Ge and Nie Chi had actually abandoned him earlier.
His mother voiced concern about the three of them spending so much time together, worrying how Lin Ge might choose if she realized both boys had feelings for her, and that her son might get hurt. Upon arriving at the national team base, Nie Chi immediately challenged Gao Kai, the team captain, asserting he would be able to challenge him. Lin Ge warmly greeted her new roommate, Wei, and other senior teammates, who found her very enthusiastic and cute.
In the dorm, Fang Chao was amused when their new roommate, Jin Xinxin, explained how his name, meaning 'plenty of gold,' came about. He was originally supposed to be named Xingxing, meaning 'star,' but a registration officer with poor pronunciation heard 'Xinxin' instead. Fang Chao teased him about the mix-up and about being from Zhejiang, where such pronunciation issues might be common.
Fang Chao then messed up Nie Chi's neatly folded clothes, leading to playful bickering about whose clothes were where. Later, Gao Kai arrived to inform the female athletes about the physical fitness test the next morning, warning that failure would result in no scores. Gao Kai, observing the male athletes' test, noted that Nie Chi was the only newcomer who didn't collapse, assessing him as smart, calm, and not to be underestimated.
Head coach Li Haifeng, now a national team coach, addressed the athletes selected for the trials, explaining the intense competition for the few available spots and the need to change their skating technique to use hip-driven power. He reviewed the physical test results and called Fang Chao, Nie Chi, and Lin Ge over. He assigned Nie Chi to lead Xie Lingwei (Wei) in practice sessions on the ice.
To Lin Ge, he gave the task of solely imitating the technique of their rival, Yang Xiaofei, suggesting she might later become a training partner for the women's team. Hearing Nie Chi would be practicing with Wei and feeling she might have fewer chances to see him, Lin Ge was disheartened. As she practiced trying to mimic Yang Xiaofei, she became distracted and fell, injuring her leg.
Nie Chi was very concerned and quickly took Lin Ge to the medical room. He stayed with her, helping her analyze Yang Xiaofei's skating videos and offering insights into technique, encouraging her not to rush the process. Lin Ge felt a confusing, unspoken emotion towards Nie Chi in that moment. Meanwhile, Fang Chao heard about Lin Ge's injury secondhand from his roommates and was visibly disappointed that he was the last to know.
Back in the women's dorm, Shan, Lin Ge's roommate, demonstrated immense dedication to Wei, helping her manage daily tasks and catering to her fear of the dark by agreeing to always wait for her to shower before turning off the lights, even planning to buy smart bulbs for convenience. A television documentary crew arrived to film the team. During interviews, Lin Ge was captivated by the reporter, Yu Siyang, a former provincial teammate.
When Nie Chi and Wei were called for an interview together, Lin Ge watched, feeling a strange pang of hurt as they appeared comfortable and smiled sweetly together, particularly Wei. Fang Chao noticed Lin Ge's distress and came over to comfort her, then somewhat mischievously commented that Nie Chi and Wei looked quite compatible.
During a break, Fang Chao and Gao Kai engaged in playful banter, comparing themselves and Nie Chi/Wei in terms of looks and performance, with Gao Kai jokingly saying Lin Ge's appearance was fine, but Fang Chao lagged behind.
Later, Lin Ge ate a large amount of food, and when Nie Chi questioned her, she responded sharply, stating it didn't matter how much she ate since her path seemed to be limited to imitating Yang Xiaofei to stay on the team, needing to be as "strong" as her. Lin Ge asked Shan about Wei's background, noting she didn't recall seeing her in domestic competitions despite her talent.
Shan explained that Wei, being a rare talent from their province, had been deliberately shielded from competition to avoid injury and was essentially fast-tracked to the national team, with Coach Li Haifeng having recognized her talent years prior. Shan admitted she was staying to help Wei transition but couldn't stay long-term due to her own performance level, prompting Lin Ge to point out that Shan's constant care might hinder Wei's ability to adapt independently in the future.
Shan acknowledged this but felt obligated to protect Wei during the crucial trial period, reinforcing Lin Ge's earlier assessment of Shan's dedication as immense. Meanwhile, Gao Kai spoke with Yu Siyang, mentioning that Mingyuan had gone for an X-ray and wouldn't return until later. He discussed Mingyuan's recurring back injury and his hopes for him to finally compete in the Olympics after missing two cycles, asking Yu Siyang not to mention he had asked about him.
