The Prince of Tennis Episode 13 Recap
> The Prince of Tennis Recap
Xu Ziping fought fiercely against non-main players from Xingyao, his win determining his team's survival. The Yuqing team watched, recognizing his strong will and formidable skill as he quickly defeated his opponent. Zhuo Zhi later encountered Zhuo Yu, agreeing that if they both made it to the national competition, they would have a chance to play each other.
Zhuo Yu, initially believing Zhuo Zhi had used his full strength to defeat Guan Yue, inquired if it was due to Guan Yue teaching Zhuo Zhi a particular move. Zhuo Zhi clarified that defeating Guan Yue didn't require his full effort, which opened a conversation about playing all-out and mended the rift between the brothers. Zhuo Zhi lightheartedly offered Zhuo Yu braised pork at home, and after some playful back-and-forth, Zhuo Yu agreed to go.
Meanwhile, Tang Jiale, upset by his loss, retreated to a shipping container to reflect. Lu Xia and his teammates waited for him to treat them to a meal, only realizing he had left when the court emptied. Chi Dayong, familiar with Tang Jiale's habits, found him and helped him analyze his game. Zhang Baiyang, on his run, paused to care for a stray cat.
Mu Siyang returned to his office to diligently research their next opponent, impressing Qiao Na, who expressed concern for his still-recovering hand, urging him not to worsen his injury for the sake of the game. Qi Ying and Peng Xiang diligently practiced tennis, tying balls to their rackets and marking them. Qi Ying often found her thoughts drifting to Lu Xia. Lu Xia, passing by, spotted Qi Ying practicing and offered some pointers.
During their session, Shen Qianshi from City No. 3 Middle School approached, criticizing Lu Xia's technique. Lu Xia then effortlessly hit a shot left-handed, snapping the string of his racket and showcasing his true skill, impressing Shen Qianshi. Lu Xia's father, Lu Xiangqian, observing Lu Xia's interactions, believed Lu Xia was interested in Qi Ying but lacked social graces. He took Lu Xia shopping for clothes, hoping to help him.
Lu Xia reluctantly tried on clothes he disliked and, in an awkward moment, bumped into Zhuo Yu who was also trying on clothes. Zhuo Zhi joined them, playfully mocking Lu Xia's usual style. Lu Xia retorted by teasing Zhuo Yu, who admitted he was "forced" to try certain outfits. Lu Xia then cast a glance at his father, indicating his own predicament.
The next morning, Lu Xiangqian woke Lu Xia early, only to inform him he wanted Lu Xia to teach his friend's niece tennis. Lu Xia initially refused but conceded under his father's insistence, citing familial obligation. At the tennis court, Lu Xia discovered his students were none other than Qi Ying and Peng Xiang, which eased his reluctance. Under Lu Xia's guidance, Peng Xiang improved quickly.
Qi Ying, eager to do well, hit a powerful serve that flew into an adjacent court. As she went to retrieve it, Xiang Jing Tian from Yingcai Middle School deliberately stepped on her ball. Despite her polite request, he mischievously hid her ball and kicked over an entire basket of balls, forcing her to search through them. Lu Xia intervened by hitting a tennis ball directly at Xiang Jing Tian's face, provoking the Yingcai students.
A confrontation ensued, which Lu Xia proposed to resolve with a match to retrieve Qi Ying's ball. To his surprise, thirty Yingcai students showed up to challenge him. Undeterred, Lu Xia quickly overpowered all thirty "rookies," swiftly defeating them and reclaiming Qi Ying's ball.
Meanwhile, Yan Zhiming, visiting Yingcai School to assess their strength, saw the defeated players sprawled on the ground and mistakenly concluded they had undergone intense training, prompting him to plan a more rigorous training regimen for Yuqing. He Xinglong received a mysterious phone call that visibly flustered him. The next day, photos of him meeting a girl named Chen at a convenience store circulated throughout the school team, sparking rumors of a romance.
Tang Jiale had discovered them and taken the pictures. Lu Xia tried to cover for He Xinglong, claiming they met nightly for practice, leaving no time for dating. His words were partly true, but He Xinglong had indeed been repeatedly skipping their practice sessions to meet the mysterious girl. Qiao Chen and Tang Jiale continued to gossip about He Xinglong, with Yan Zhiming overhearing and taking their speculation seriously.
When Tang Jiale and Qiao Chen went to confront He Xinglong, they found only Lu Xia, who casually stated that He Xinglong had been meeting him for nightly practice. This statement temporarily quelled the team's gossip, but later that night, Lu Xia was stood up by He Xinglong and saw him with the girl again, confirming He Xinglong's true secret.
