Ping Pong Episode 30 Recap
> Ping Pong Recap
Despite recovering from surgery and returning to training, Fu Jingchun's enthusiasm and mental state had drastically changed, making him feel like a pawn abandoned by Mr. Zheng. Yu Kenan felt indignant for Fu Jingchun, but Fu Jingchun himself, though not completely giving up, no longer possessed his former drive and ideals. Meanwhile, Liu Shi had found a lead about his mother and occasionally contacted Xu Tan.
During one such phone call, Xu Tan expressed his sadness about being unable to play and urged Liu Shi to continue playing for him, to which Liu Shi responded hopefully that Xu Tan might be called back. Liu Shi's daily routine consisted of regular training, but both he and Ma Chuan noticed that Yu Kenan had become more silent since Xu Tan's departure. When Xu Tan later called Yu Kenan, Yu Kenan notably refused to answer.
During training, Liu Shi suddenly experienced severe back pain. He received a massage from Yuan Ran, an intern from the ping pong medical team, and was instantly captivated by her gentle demeanor. Ma Chuan, seeing Liu Shi in distress, immediately called Coach Qin Zhen.
Qin Zhen was anxious about Liu Shi's injury, an old wound flaring up during training, and tried to check on him, but the team doctor prevented him, stating that Yuan Ran was giving Liu Shi a massage. Yuan Ran skillfully worked on Liu Shi, first easing the soreness, then performing a bone-setting adjustment. Liu Shi, despite the initial pain, felt much better and, charmed by Yuan Ran, playfully called her a "little fairy."
The conflict between Yu Kenan and Mr. Zheng was irreconcilable. While Yu Kenan had started to consider others' feelings and show care, he still refused to exchange any unnecessary words with Mr. Zheng. He intended to visit Liu Shi after training but was forcibly held back by Mr. Zheng, who insisted he redo the last few points for not being up to standard, despite Yu Kenan asserting he had completed his training perfectly.
Despite their ongoing antagonism, there were underlying similarities between them. Later, Teng Biao came to speak with Mr. Fu about some matters. Yu Kenan, waiting until they finished, arranged to meet Teng Biao and was delighted to learn that Teng Biao was applying for a First Team coach position.
Yu Kenan expressed his hope that Teng Biao would get the role, believing it would relieve him from the pressure of being the top seed and the frustration of dealing with the uncommunicative Mr. Zheng. Yu Kenan also called his girlfriend, Cai Wei, who congratulated him on Teng Biao's potential arrival.
Yu Kenan told her that he wished to be by her side and even offered to pay a contract breach penalty to visit her, but Cai Wei, no longer a "young girl moved by such declarations," insisted she had to get back to her training. At university, Xu Tan maintained a solitary existence.
His roommate, Brother Xiao Sa, a natural extrovert, showed Xu Tan how to use the computer to look up information and often pulled him along for meals and basketball. On the basketball court, Xu Tan initially seemed disengaged, and others, including Brother Xiao Sa, even "disliked" his playing. However, as a new game began, Xu Tan's gaze sharpened, and he adopted a ping pong stance, finally revealing his true skill.
During the game, Xu Tan spotted Lin Hao Zhi, an old acquaintance who had previously left the training camp. The reunion lightened Xu Tan's mood, finally giving him someone to confide in. Xu Tan shared his frustration about Yu Kenan's choice, not because of the decision itself, but because Yu Kenan hadn't told him, making him feel like he wasn't considered a friend.
Lin Hao Zhi, who had found happiness without ping pong, comforted Xu Tan by reminding him of their old math teacher's words: "life doesn't only revolve around ping pong." He urged Xu Tan to embrace this new life, noting that Xu Tan was "kicked out" of the national team rather than just taking a break.
Although Xu Tan preferred to keep his national team past a secret, Lin Hao Zhi had already shared it with his girlfriend, Li Chun, and other friends. As it happened, Li Chun was good friends with Wang Siheng, the university's ping pong team manager. Upon learning of Xu Tan's background, Wang Siheng immediately took an interest in recruiting him.
She had Lin Hao Zhi bring Xu Tan to the school ping pong club under the pretense of a friendly match, staging an "accidental" encounter. Xu Tan effortlessly defeated Lin Hao Zhi. Just as Lin Hao Zhi felt embarrassed, Wang Siheng arrived, feigning a chance meeting, and formally invited Xu Tan to join the team, reminding him that she had offered to help him on registration day. Xu Tan, however, politely but firmly declined.
Wang Siheng, determined, sought out Coach Feng Zhong He, the Lvteng Normal University ping pong coach, who had a strong background from the Beijing team and a history of winning against sports colleges. Despite Wang Siheng's impassioned plea not to "lose such a talent," Coach Feng seemed hesitant. After she left, he received a phone call, muttering about someone finally "not holding back."
Wang Siheng later confronted Xu Tan again, detailing the team's strong credentials, but Xu Tan remained uninterested, claiming he didn't know Coach Feng. With Brother Xiao Sa and Lin Hao Zhi's company, Xu Tan began to gradually adjust to university life, but his past unresolved issues lingered; he considered himself someone "kicked out" by the national team and was unwilling to play ping pong again.
Meanwhile, on the basketball court, a recurring rivalry flared up between Xu Tan's group and Yang Meng's group. Yang Meng was known for playing dirty, and their frequent clashes escalated into a challenge: a game to decide who claimed the court. Xu Tan, now possessing a newfound fierceness, accepted the challenge, using his skill to counter Yang Meng's fouls. However, Yang Meng, cunningly, injured Xu Tan's ankle.
Wang Siheng, witnessing the foul play, confronted Yang Meng, revealing Xu Tan's national team status, only for Yang Meng to taunt Xu Tan about being "kicked out." In a moment of anger, Xu Tan punched Yang Meng to the ground. Given Xu Tan's years of physical training in the national team and a brief period in a boxing gym, his punch ensured Yang Meng would be subdued for a while.
Wang Siheng later brought him ointment for his ankle, which Xu Tan accepted. Learning that Wang Siheng liked Pikachu, Xu Tan reciprocated by giving her a Pikachu-themed power bank. Wang Siheng then apologized for impulsively revealing his national team past, admitting her mistake.
