Ping Pong Episode 3 Recap
> Ping Pong Recap
Su Chang continued to dominate in the provincial team, with Xu Tan consistently falling behind him. Their long-standing rivalry saw Xu Tan lose their latest training match with a score of eleven to four, a predictable outcome. As was his custom, Xu Tan diligently recorded the match results in his ever-present notebook, a practice that other teammates often dismissed as a waste of time.
Having lost seven points, Xu Tan was assigned seven additional sets of multi-ball training, which requires a coach to continuously feed balls of different spins and placements to the player to improve various techniques. Xu Tan, despite his fatigue, felt a renewed surge of energy watching Yu Kenan train effortlessly nearby, pushing himself to break his own limits.
He realized that the regional training camp was vastly different from the Beijing team, filled with formidable opponents, each with unique skills, constantly improving. He acknowledged his own shortcomings in physical fitness and natural talent, knowing that relentless practice was his only path to improvement. With a newfound determination, he set a higher goal: to meticulously observe and relentlessly pursue Yu Kenan's progress.
Unlike Yu Kenan, who aggressively strove to be the first to complete training, sometimes to the point where his hands trembled too much to hold chopsticks at mealtime, Xu Tan was methodical, taking each step with care, focusing on quality and precision over speed in every shot. One morning, Xu Tan and two of his roommates were fifteen minutes late for training. Coach Zheng Hao punished them with a 10,000-meter run after practice.
Yu Kenan, as the dorm leader, was also ordered to run, much to his chagrin. Xu Tan, feeling guilty for dragging Yu Kenan into trouble, tried to apologize, but Yu Kenan, nicknamed "Champion Yu" by another teammate, simply ignored him. Lin Hao Zhi, a consistently underperforming player, accumulated sixty-five sets of multi-ball training. Xu Tan spent an entire morning helping him, growing concerned as Lin Hao Zhi's hands shook from exhaustion.
Lin Hao Zhi, finally gathering courage, approached Coach Zheng Hao to request a break for himself and Xu Tan. Coach Zheng Hao then offered Lin Hao Zhi a condition for rest: win a match against Yu Kenan. Predictably, Yu Kenan showed no mercy, defeating Lin Hao Zhi with a "shaved head" (winning 11-0), causing Lin Hao Zhi to flee in distress despite the coach's reprimands.
He Jin Bao criticized Yu Kenan for his lack of sportsmanship, but Yu Kenan firmly asserted that "winning is sportsmanship." Coach Teng Biao also admonished Yu Kenan for his complete lack of team spirit and inability to take responsibility, explaining that his role as dorm leader was a test from Coach Mo. Yu Kenan, however, remained defiant, rejecting a care package from his father.
Later that day, the coaches decided to cancel afternoon training, allowing the players to retrieve their phones and contact their families. Xu Tan offered to get Lin Hao Zhi's phone but discovered he was missing. Worried by Lin Hao Zhi’s recent poor form, Xu Tan searched the entire base, then asked Yu Kenan to help him find Lin Hao Zhi.
Yu Kenan initially dismissed Xu Tan’s concerns, stating that the evening's cumulative points match was crucial for him and that Lin Hao Zhi’s issues were none of his business. Xu Tan, however, pressed him, reminding him of his responsibility as dorm leader and his earlier harshness towards Lin Hao Zhi. Despite his protests, Yu Kenan eventually joined Xu Tan.
Together, they scaled the training camp wall and borrowed an electric bike to search for Lin Hao Zhi, speculating he might have headed to the pier to catch a ferry. During their search, Xu Tan received a phone call from Lin Hao Zhi, who casually informed them he was already back at the dorm.
Annoyed but also understanding, Yu Kenan reluctantly agreed to Xu Tan's insistence on returning the electric bike to its owner even after it ran out of battery, forcing them to push it back. As they walked, Xu Tan reflected that Yu Kenan, despite rumors, wasn't as cold and unfeeling as he seemed. Yu Kenan lightened the mood with a playful threat to "smash" Xu Tan in their next match. Their late return meant they missed six matches, risking disqualification.
Coach Zheng Hao, emphasizing the importance of attitude, cited Yu Kenan's past absences. Xu Tan pleaded for a chance, and Coach Mo intervened, proposing a five-minute timed challenge: win nine out of twelve games, starting from a 9-9 score, but only if other players agreed. To incentivize participation, winning players would receive double points. Lin Hao Zhi, feeling immense guilt, immediately agreed.
Other teammates joined, swayed by loyalty, the allure of double points, or provoked by taunts, as Su Chang was. The fast-paced games began. Yu Kenan swiftly secured six wins, while Xu Tan managed two wins and two losses, reaching a stalemate in his fifth game.
With time running out, Yu Kenan stepped in to play the final game for Xu Tan, winning the point, but the ball landed a split second after the timer expired, resulting in a loss for their team. Lin Hao Zhi was distraught, blaming himself, but Xu Tan offered him comfort.
Xu Tan's roommates, who called themselves the "New Zealand trio," impressed by his loyalty in searching for Lin Hao Zhi, embraced him as a true friend, even offering him "secrets" to make training easier. Yu Kenan, brooding over the loss, continued to train aggressively. Coach Teng Biao explained to Coach Mo that Yu Kenan was fixated on a promise they made: he wouldn't lose a single match during the regional training if he wanted to return to the national team.
Believing he had lost his chance, Yu Kenan's frustration was spilling over. Coach Mo acknowledged Yu Kenan’s drive as an asset but cautioned Teng Biao to manage his volatile temperament. Later, in a softer approach, Coach Mo and Teng Biao reminded Yu Kenan that "before the ball hits the ground, anything is possible," implying his chance at the national team was not yet over.
Yu Kenan's spirits immediately lifted, his earlier negativity vanishing as he vowed to excel in upcoming cultural and physical training. When Xu Tan apologized again for causing trouble, Yu Kenan playfully punched him in the chest, calling it "retaliation," solidifying a growing camaraderie between them.
