Ping Pong Episode 32 Recap
> Ping Pong Recap
Xu Tan had been training actively, and his mental state was gradually stabilizing. Coach Feng, noticing his progress, wondered why he was still unwilling to participate in the Universiade. Feng confided in Lei Cheng, who explained Xu Tan's current struggles were akin to a chess player reaching the pinnacle of their game only to have their board taken away, then being asked to play again after a long void.
Lei Cheng emphasized that Xu Tan needed to overcome this emotional hurdle to have a smooth path forward, otherwise he would stop there. He then informed Feng that he would be returning to the Beijing team for a few days and asked Feng to keep a close eye on Xu Tan during his absence. Feng inquired about the reason for Lei Cheng's trip, to which Lei Cheng replied that Feng "can't know too much" and would call if anything happened.
During training, Yu Kenan greeted coaches Fu Chuanzhi and Teng Biao, jokingly asking if Teng Biao was there for a job interview. Teng Biao advised him to stop clashing with Coach Zheng Hao, reminding him that Coach Zheng was a good coach. Yu Kenan, however, felt they would never get along.
Separately, Liu Shi excitedly told Yu Kenan that his childhood friend, Wu Chang Sheng, had come to Beijing after losing his home in an earthquake and planned to open an authentic Sichuan restaurant at the General Administration entrance. Liu Shi intended to invest a small amount, to which Yu Kenan praised his cleverness. However, Liu Shi then mentioned Xu Tan, causing Yu Kenan's good mood to dissipate.
Back on the court, Yu Kenan argued with Coach Zheng Hao about his technique. When Coach Zheng Hao reprimanded him and threatened to make him train with Ma Chuan and Liu Shi if he didn't fix his attitude, Yu Kenan retorted, defending Ma Chuan and Liu Shi and highlighting Coach Qin's excellent coaching. Liu Shi intervened, offering to practice with Yu Kenan, stating that Yu Kenan was simply curious about their training methods.
While practicing with Yu Kenan, Liu Shi's back injury flared up again. In the medical room, Yuan Ran informed him that the injury was a long-standing issue caused by improper chop shot techniques, assuring him they would cure it. Liu Shi, however, was pessimistic, believing the injury was more severe this time and lamenting the potential loss of income if he could no longer play ping-pong.
Yu Kenan tried to comfort him, telling him to prioritize his health over money, and expressed regret for letting Liu Shi play that game, but Liu Shi insisted the injury was not his fault and had been present for a long time. Later, Yu Kenan visited Liu Shi in the athlete apartment, who was struggling to move due to his injury. Yu Kenan had brought souvenirs from Shanghai, jokingly complaining that half his luggage was for Liu Shi's gifts.
Yu Kenan attended a press conference and signing ceremony with the Shanghai Thunder Club, where he was introduced as a rising star in the ping-pong world who had already amassed a large fan base. When asked about the attention he receives outside of games, he acknowledged the pressure of being a public figure but viewed it as a motivation, stating there were both pros and cons.
He shared that he decompressed by playing video games, finding them intellectually stimulating and brain-teasing. He also drew parallels between gaming and ping-pong, highlighting how both foster friendships and team spirit, mentioning the unity and camaraderie of the Chinese national team. He then took the opportunity to advocate for his injured teammate, Liu Shi, a chop shot player, asking for continued support.
He concluded by promising to train hard and fight for the country, striving to become an even better Yu Kenan. Later, he confided in Teng Biao, expressing his fierce determination to achieve a Grand Slam. He felt the weight of everyone's expectations and wanted to prove his capabilities. Teng Biao cautioned him against being too eager for instant success, warning that excessive pressure could become a burden.
Yu Kenan argued that everyone in the national team felt pressure, especially with coaches like Zheng Hao. Teng Biao defended Zheng Hao, urging Yu Kenan to be more amiable, but Yu Kenan countered by bringing up Fu Jingchun's situation, implying that being nice didn't always yield positive results. Teng Biao then reminded Yu Kenan of a lesson from their football days: to slow down and act only when the timing was right.
The Ping-Pong Super League season was about to commence, with the Tianjin Guo Ben Club hosting its home games at the stadium of Tianjin Lvteng Normal University. As the host university, the Lvteng ping-pong team was tasked with assisting the event organizers. After a meeting where tasks were assigned, Wang Siheng, the team manager, suggested a barbecue for everyone to relax after intense training. During the barbecue, Wang Siheng found Xu Tan sitting alone and approached him.
She subtly probed his personal life, asking if he had a girlfriend or had ever been "into someone." Xu Tan, recalling Lei Lei, admitted that he had liked a Beijing girl. He described her as tall, long-legged, with a small face, and "really violent," sometimes spraying people with a fire extinguisher when upset, but ultimately "quite cute." Wang Siheng's smile vanished as she asked if he still liked her.
Xu Tan explained that it was during his adolescence and that she now had a boyfriend. Hearing this, Wang Siheng's spirits immediately lifted, and her smile returned. Xu Tan, oblivious to her feelings, commented that he was starting to find university life quite enjoyable. Xu Tan decided to return a ping-pong paddle to Lin Hao Zhi, declaring that he had "reached the limit."
Lin Hao Zhi, however, refused to believe this was his limit, reminding Xu Tan of their past conversation about finding his own answers and understanding his true potential, not just becoming a world champion. The China Ping-Pong Super League officially began, with the first round featuring Fu Jingchun's Tianjin Guo Ben Club against Leng Yi's Henan Club, held at Xu Tan's university stadium.
Lin Hao Zhi observed that Fu Jingchun, once a prodigy, now played with stability but lacked his former fierce drive. Xu Tan attributed this change to an injury. After the match, Fu Jingchun approached Xu Tan, recalling an earlier conversation where he had proposed Xu Tan join a club, given his current "free" status.
Fu Jingchun, who had already joined the Tianjin team and applied to leave the national team himself because he knew he couldn't become a world champion, tried to persuade Xu Tan to join the Guo Ben Club, emphasizing the good pay and the opportunity to play together. He argued that leaving the national team didn't mean giving up ping-pong entirely, and that choosing one's path, whether as a star or a supporting player, was a personal decision.
Xu Tan, however, was reluctant to play solely for money after being dismissed from the national team, finding it hard to accept. A sudden, urgent phone call from his mother informed Xu Tan that his father, Xu Zhan, was gravely ill and had been hospitalized. He immediately rushed back home. The doctor explained that his father's condition was rapidly deteriorating and the only solution was an immediate liver transplant to prevent it from turning cancerous.
The total cost for the surgery, including liver donation, hospitalization, and post-operative care, was estimated to be 500,000 yuan. Without hesitation, Xu Tan decided to proceed with the surgery, as they had no other choice. While visiting his parents, Xu Tan's father asked about his university life, and Xu Tan reassured him that he was happy playing ping-pong without pressure.
Shortly after, Wang Siheng arrived at the hospital, having traveled from Tianjin to visit Xu Zhan on behalf of their classmates. Her sweet and thoughtful demeanor, including buying porridge for his parents to avoid the standard hospital food, charmed them. Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of creditors, Xiao Li and another man, who demanded payment for a debt of 100,000 yuan that Xu Tan's parents had owed for several months.
Xiao Li emphasized his desperate situation, stating his wife was threatening divorce over the money. Xu Tan intervened, taking the creditors outside to discuss the matter. He promised to repay the debt himself but asked for a ten-day extension, explaining his family's current difficulties. Upon learning of Xu Tan's family's plight, Wang Siheng quickly called her own parents and reached out to classmates to borrow money, believing they could cover the cost of the first stage of the surgery.
She offered the funds to Xu Tan, who gratefully declined, stating he had his own plan. His mother, also trying to relieve his burden, urged him not to worry about the money, suggesting she and his father, along with relatives, could manage. However, Xu Tan insisted that playing ping-pong was his job and he would take care of it. Wang Siheng, supporting his decision, assured his parents that Xu Tan was capable and that she would look after him. It became clear that Xu Tan's "way" was to accept Fu Jingchun's earlier offer and join the Ping-Pong Super League, playing for a club to earn the necessary funds.
