Chasing the Wind Episode 9 Recap
> Chasing the Wind Recap
Feeling the intensity of the national team selection process, the athletes understand the high stakes; only a quarter will remain. Welcome to the national team. Lin Ge speaks with her teammate Shan, inquiring about Xie Lingwei's relationship history and preferences in boys. Shan suspects Lin Ge is asking on behalf of Nie Chi and agrees Nie Chi has decent looks and family background but finds his personality poor, stating Xie Lingwei shouldn't suffer such a partner.
Lin Ge defends Nie Chi, saying he's easy to get along with once you know him. Shan questions if Lin Ge is trying to set them up, which Lin Ge denies, claiming she was just chatting casually. Shan concludes there's no suitable match in the team and Xie Lingwei is not suitable for dating for a long time. Shan is jokingly called Xie Lingwei's "real mother."
Later, Lin Ge talks with a senior teammate about their competitor Yang Xiaofei, known for her fast start, explosive power, excellent route control, and race strategy. Lin Ge admits she thought Yang Xiaofei was just physically strong and had been trying to increase her weight and food intake during training. The senior teammate points out Yang Xiaofei's low body fat and the futility of gaining weight just through carbohydrates.
Lin Ge is told to weigh herself and is shocked to find she has gained six pounds. She begins working hard to lose weight, later reporting she has lost five pounds and is trying to lose the last one, feeling dizzy from hunger. Coach Li announces the upcoming Huarong Cup Invitational Tournament, a non-scoring world competition organized to promote winter sports.
He lists the participants, including Nie Chi, Fang Chao, Xie Lingwei, and Lin Ge, noting it's a chance for new players to find their competition goals and display team spirit. As they travel, Lin Ge ponders her goal. Upon arrival, the team is visibly exhausted. Lin Ge reflects on the coach's words about goals, wondering if she can realistically aim for a good ranking.
Seeing Nie Chi diligently assisting Xie Lingwei, Lin Ge remarks on her exhaustion from taking care of Xie Lingwei and reveals she has passed the task to Seven Gold, reasoning that since Seven Gold likes Xie Lingwei, he'll be happy to do trivial things with her. Fang Chao then asks Lin Ge who she wants to do trivial things with, making Lin Ge nervous about the upcoming competition and facing Yang Xiaofei.
Fang Chao reassures her that she now understands Yang Xiaofei well, while Yang Xiaofei knows nothing about her. Lin Ge considers the possibility of ending up as a training partner, recalling previous instructions to imitate Yang Xiaofei. In Final A, Xie Lingwei, Lin Ge, and Nie Chi represent China. Coach Li briefs Xie Lingwei and Lin Ge on their key opponent, Yang Xiaofei. The race begins with Xie Lingwei in first, Yang Xiaofei second, and Lin Ge third.
Lin Ge makes a move and overtakes, putting two Chinese skaters in the top two positions. In the final turn, Yang Xiaofei gets very close to Lin Ge, and Lin Ge falls, crashing into the barrier. Xie Lingwei finishes first, securing the gold. Commentary expresses regret for Lin Ge. The referees review the incident. Coach Li appeals on Lin Ge's behalf, but the appeal is denied.
Lin Ge insists Yang Xiaofei pressed on her knee, but Coach Li explains the bodies overlapped in a blind spot, and the camera didn't capture it, making the appeal useless without evidence. He tells Lin Ge there is no absolute fairness on the track, only absolute strength, highlighting the sport's cruelty. In the men's 500m final, Nie Chi is in second place. Commentators note an opening appears for him to overtake Wu Dingwen but he hesitates and misses the opportunity.
He fails to advance and finishes last. After the race, Coach Li asks the team for their thoughts. Nie Chi apologizes. Coach Li questions if Nie Chi's "program" or mindset is rigid. Nie Chi apologizes again. Later, teammates discuss Nie Chi, noting his unusual stillness and that he's not eating dragon fruit, concluding he is more troubled than he appears. Lin Ge finds Nie Chi and urges him to talk about what's bothering him.
Nie Chi reveals his struggle stems from facing unknown international opponents. Unlike domestic races where he knows his competitors, the unfamiliarity makes him hesitant to overtake, fearing collision and injury. He acknowledges Coach Li is right that his "core program" is stuck and worries the problem will worsen, potentially preventing him from competing. He explains his aversion to the unknown, how it causes him to become stagnant.
Reflecting on his past, where he was always in the lead and mocked those who chased recklessly, he now realizes he was the most cowardly for lacking that courage. Lin Ge offers words of reassurance. Later, Fang Chao asks Seven Gold how he knew he liked Xie Lingwei. Seven Gold initially denies it but then confirms the team knows.
He explains that liking someone means thinking about them, feeling happy seeing them, wanting to spend time with them, and hoping they only want to spend time with you. After this conversation, Fang Chao contemplates whether he likes Lin Ge. He then asks Nie Chi why Lin Ge had taken him aside in the restaurant previously. Nie Chi says she wanted to comfort him after he lost his race. Fang Chao seems relieved by this explanation.
Coach Li speaks with Nie Chi, acknowledging his intelligence in analyzing his technical issues but emphasizes a more critical point: the national team does not keep idlers. He contrasts Nie Chi's situation with peers pursuing academics and stresses that time is fair to everyone, suggesting Nie Chi consider studying if he's not committed to fighting for results in skating, especially given his family's resources.
He reminds Nie Chi of the fierce competition to reach the national team and the expectations placed upon him, stating that without results, he will be eliminated. Fang Chao tells Lin Ge that Nie Chi went to see the coach to get a "ticket," implying he was being sent back home, a possibility Fang Chao had heard about from Gao Kai. Lin Ge, along with Shan, rushes to the coach's office, with Fang Chao following, worried.
They find Nie Chi is fine; Coach Li was merely admonishing him and stopped because of the noise outside. The scare was a false alarm. Nie Chi confirms he's temporarily safe but notes everyone in the national team is only temporarily secure. Lin Ge asks if he will stay now that he has a chance. Nie Chi says his mental hurdle is difficult to overcome and asks if he needs help. Lin Ge offers assistance if he commits to staying.
Fang Chao, frustrated, challenges Nie Chi, saying overtaking isn't that hard and questions his courage and talent if this causes him to give up. He challenges Nie Chi to practice overtaking on the ice, to which Nie Chi dismissively replies that Fang Chao isn't qualified to be his training partner.
