Ping Pong Episode 38 Recap
> Ping Pong Recap
Liu Shi formally met Ranran's mom, appearing nervous despite his formal attire. Ranran's mom, aware that Liu Shi is an orphan, kindly offered to take care of all the wedding arrangements. She gave Liu Shi a valuable watch, a wedding gift from Ranran's grandfather to her parents, as a symbol of their blessing. She meticulously planned everything from engagement to marriage, asking only that Liu Shi take good care of Ranran.
Throughout the meeting, Liu Shi mostly listened, taking every word to heart. Later, while talking with Ranran, he explained that seeing how much her parents loved her made him realize he was no longer alone. He decided to retire at twenty-five, believing his professional table tennis career had no further prospects. He felt that by retiring now, he could pursue other skills and careers to ensure Ranran's happiness and provide a better future for them.
Ranran, touched by his sincerity, urged him to always make decisions that genuinely reflect his inner desires, without compromising for anyone, including her. Su Shun met Jia Yu again at Su Chang's request. Su Shun expressed his disapproval of Jia Yu's character, noting Jia Yu's history of making empty promises and sowing discord among players. He pointed out that Song Min, a promising player from the Universiade, had good skills but seemed naive, always following Xu Tan around.
Su Chang, however, was impressed with Jia Yu's resources and money, suggesting Jia Yu could package Su Shun into a sports star. Once Jia Yu left, Su Shun pleaded with Su Chang to distance himself from him. Su Chang revealed that his difficult years after leaving regional training, working various odd jobs like a courier, waiter, construction worker, and security guard, had made him pragmatic.
He confessed he had supported Su Shun's table tennis dream and now wanted to see him succeed by any means possible, including leveraging Jia Yu's connections. Su Shun, however, argued that true success in table tennis comes from becoming stronger through honest effort, citing Xu Tan's diligent rise as an example. He insisted on winning based on his own merit, not through underhanded methods. At the 2014 Busan Asian Table Tennis Championships, the host nation employed unfair tactics.
After Xu Tan's spare paddle was deemed illegal and his main paddle was sabotaged, he was forced to use Su Shun's paddle. Undeterred, Xu Tan declared that the player, not the paddle, was what mattered. He mounted a fierce counterattack, securing a crucial victory in the fourth game and rescuing the Chinese team from a difficult situation. This unprecedented comeback garnered him significant popularity.
Due to his rapid ascent in the world rankings, the ITTF awarded him the Breakthrough Star award. In a team meeting, Fu Chuanzhi praised Xu Tan's performance and his embodiment of the "spirit of ping pong," which involves having the country in one's heart, aiming for the world, bringing glory, and never giving up. Xu Tan, in his speech, thanked his teammates, especially Su Shun, for helping the team win the championship.
Meanwhile, Xu Tan's success prompted Yu Kenan to re-evaluate his own path. Su Chang, watching Xu Tan's triumph on television, reflected on his past arrogance towards Xu Tan, a tear falling on a table tennis paddle. Yu Kenan's agent brought him new endorsement opportunities and informed him that singer Chen Fei'er wanted to meet him for dinner.
Yu Kenan initially dismissed these offers, but later, while on a phone call with Liu Shi, he declined Liu Shi's invitation to a celebration dinner for the Asian Championships victory, claiming he was meeting Chen Fei'er. Soon after, news broke on mobile phones that Yu Kenan and Chen Fei'er had been spotted together at a Japanese restaurant. Despite this distraction, Yu Kenan recommitted to his training.
Although his physical test results showed a slight decline compared to his London Olympics peak, his overall condition remained top-tier within the First team, earning praise from Fu Chuanzhi for refocusing on his training. With Ye Zhen Xin's retirement, the First team captaincy became vacant. Fu Chuanzhi decided to hold a small retirement party for Ye Zhen Xin at the Garden Restaurant, also using it as an opportunity for the team to relax after strenuous training.
He then instructed the coaches to consider candidates for the new captain, emphasizing performance both on and off the court, and to gather opinions from the players. Fu Chuanzhi summoned Yu Kenan and Xu Tan, informing them that the exclusive glass training room, a symbol of immense importance within the national team, was now open for their use, urging them to cherish the opportunity.
He also announced the format for the upcoming Suzhou World Table Tennis Championships direct tournament, which would be a best-of-three match, with the top four players qualifying directly. Wang Siheng initiated a meeting with Xu Tan, and an unusual tension hung between them. Wang Siheng had changed her internship three months prior without informing Xu Tan, contributing to the awkwardness. She felt that their demanding schedules and inability to consistently support each other were straining their relationship.
During their conversation, Xu Tan expressed his feelings, stating that while everyone else expected him to win championships, she was the only one who truly cared about him. Observing Song Min's intense training session as Yu Kenan's sparring partner, Fang Yue noted that Song Min, though exhausted, refused to quit. Fang Yue believed that Song Min, who shared a similar playing style with Yu Kenan, possessed great potential.
He suggested that if Song Min could refine his technique, his skill ceiling might even surpass Yu Kenan's. Fang Yue also mused that Xu Tan could significantly enhance his own abilities by training against formidable opponents like Yu Kenan or dedicated sparring partners like Song Min.
