21 Wang Chuqin

2022 passed by in the blink of an eye. The year was spent entirely between tournaments and recovery, making it feel as though time had sprouted wings and flown past.

The relationship between Duan Nanzhou and Wang Chuqin remained as steady as ever. Although they had been together for about three years, they were still very much in the honeymoon phase. One day, after training, everyone sat on the floor, stretching and chatting. As the conversation flowed, the topic inevitably drifted toward teasing the young couple.

Ma Long, for instance, finally asked about something he had been curious about for a long time: "Datou, is your name printed on your headband? Why are you so narcissistic?" It was something the Captain had noticed ages ago, but he had never asked.

"Zhouzhou had it custom-made for me!" Wang Datou replied proudly.

Duan Nanzhou, sitting nearby, was nearly amused to death by his expression; she knew Wang Chuqin would never miss an opportunity to show off their relationship.

Ma Long: "I really shouldn't have asked."

Seeing the Captain rendered speechless, the others burst into laughter. In truth, it wasn't just his headband; most of his sports gear—like his patellar tendon straps—was custom-ordered by Duan Nanzhou, thoughtfully embossed or embroidered with the nickname "Toutou" that she had designed for him.

It all started when Wang Chuqin went through a phase of obsessively buying couple’s items and daily necessities for Duan Nanzhou, determined to leave his mark on everything around her. Eventually, he began hinting that she should get him something, too. To Duan Nanzhou, it wasn't even a hint; it was written all over his face.

Seeing how enthusiastic he was about buying things, she had started the process of ordering the custom gear. However, the customization took time, and the impatient young man had started dropping hints before the gifts even arrived. When he finally received them, his eyes crinkled with joy. He swapped out all his gear for the items his girlfriend had given him and made sure to show them off to everyone on the national team. It reached a point where it was impossible to ignore, which meant Wang Chuqin had been waiting a long time for today’s inquiry.

The Captain’s "failure" led the others to believe they needed a new strategy; Wang Chuqin was becoming too arrogant and needed to be taken down a peg. Everyone began wracking their brains for a trap. Chen Meng took the lead and asked, "Datou, what would you do if one day Nanzhou was swept away by some handsome guy and didn't want you anymore?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she received approving looks from the group. It hit Wang Chuqin right where it hurt, as he was indeed insecure and kept a constant, watchful eye on her, terrified that she might spend too long admiring some other handsome man.

"Wow, Sister Meng, you’re setting me up!" Duan Nanzhou realized things were taking a turn for the worse and hoped to stop it, knowing she would be the one to suffer the consequences!

"Impossible! Our Zhouzhou only has eyes for me!" Wang Chuqin retorted, his logic shaky but his tone defiant.

Deep down, however, he felt uneasy. He had once caught Duan Nanzhou watching videos of handsome men with Sun Yingsha. At the time, he had been pacified by her sweet talk, but the question brought the memory rushing back.

Duan Nanzhou and Sun Yingsha: "Who doesn't love looking at handsome men?"

While Duan Nanzhou wouldn't go out of her way to seek them out, if her best friend Sun Yingsha invited her, there was no reason to refuse.

Sun Yingsha: "Great minds think alike."

Watching Wang Chuqin’s forced composure, the national team members saw right through his anxiety. After all, he was the bona fide "King of Staring"; whenever they traveled for tournaments, he seemed to have his eyes glued to his girlfriend. How could he not be afraid? Especially whenever they encountered attractive athletes from foreign associations, or good-looking reporters and staff, he would keep a tight watch on her, terrified she might spare them a second glance.

All of this was common knowledge within the national table tennis team, and his teammates enjoyed watching the drama. It was a testament to Duan Nanzhou’s patience that she could tolerate such a jealous soul.

Duan Nanzhou: "Actually, sometimes I don't understand my boyfriend's way of thinking, but I choose to let him be. Usually, he manages to soothe himself."

The conversation soon shifted to the upcoming tournaments. "I heard the coaching staff is thinking about reshuffling the mixed doubles pairs," Lin Gaoyuan mentioned, sharing some gossip. Internally, he just hoped they wouldn't break up his own pair; anything else was fine.

"It seems they want to explore more possibilities," Fan Zhendong added.

"Is it for the Durban World Championships?" Sun Yingsha asked.

"Probably."

"So, does anyone have a preferred partner for mixed doubles?" Ma Long asked. As the senior, he was just there to watch the show, knowing he wouldn't be involved in the mix.

One look at the person next to him, lost in deep thought, revealed how pointed that question was. Various answers were thrown around, including some from Duan Nanzhou, who spoke despite the "deadly" glares from Wang Chuqin. After all, partnering with her was beneficial for anyone’s performance; everyone wanted to pair with her for both mixed and women's doubles.

Wang Chuqin: "What do I do when my girlfriend is too popular?"

To everyone's surprise, the casual banter after training became reality: the coaching staff truly intended to break up and reorganize the mixed doubles pairs.

After hearing the arrangements, Wang Chuqin was furious but dared not speak out, as the coaches had already anticipated his reaction and warned him: "Some people shouldn't spend their days just staring at their partners; they need to focus on improving themselves."

"This decision is final. Making a scene won't help. Go back and train properly."

It ended with a firm, "Or perhaps none of you should play mixed doubles at all."

Everyone went off to train with their new partners. As Duan Nanzhou’s new partner, Lin Gaoyuan felt as though he were being pierced by an icy stare. He didn't want this either! He didn't want to split from Wang Manyu—he was a victim too! (He mentally pretended to throw his racket.)

Duan Nanzhou had no strong opinions on the coaching staff's decision; she could cooperate well with anyone. She only knew she would have to soothe her boyfriend that night, as he was clearly taking it to heart.

To Wang Chuqin, however, it looked as though Duan Nanzhou had gone to train with her new partner without a shred of hesitation. That departure, devoid of any reluctance, made his anger and sense of grievance feel utterly ridiculous.

Deeply hurt and frustrated, Wang Chuqin swallowed his emotions and went to train with his new partner, Wang Manyu.

Wang Manyu looked left and right: "Why does something feel off?" (She scratched her head.)

After training, Wang Chuqin went for a walk with Duan Nanzhou, wanting to say something but finding himself unable to get the words out. Seeing the emotional turmoil on his face, Duan Nanzhou took the initiative to comfort him. "Toutou, don't be angry. There will be other opportunities for mixed doubles later."

After a good deal of coaxing and pampering, Wang Chuqin finally calmed down and opened up, until he asked, seemingly offhandedly, "Babe, is it true that you don't mind who you play mixed doubles with?"

"Trying out new partners is good too," Duan Nanzhou said, her mouth moving faster than her brain. Under normal circumstances, it would have been fine, but today it was like pouring oil on a fire. Although she quickly added, "But playing with you is the best," it was too late. Wang Chuqin’s face was filled with accusation, shock, and anger.

"So, it really wouldn't matter if you weren't with me, right?"

Wang Chuqin had been feeling particularly sensitive lately, and under the weight of pressure and spiraling thoughts, he had cornered himself. He began to magnify every instance of his girlfriend's perceived "lack of concern," her watching handsome men with her friends, and his own fears that she was tired of his constant monitoring. He sank into a cycle of self-torment, and the words he spoke became sharp and unreasonable.

Duan Nanzhou, who had been regretting her earlier words, was left speechless by his inexplicable outburst. Still, considering his recent stress, she didn't take it to heart and tried to explain patiently.

But to Wang Chuqin, in his current state, her emotional stability felt like cold indifference. He felt that other than her initial confession, she was always "distant" and uninterested in him. Caught in his own delusions, he spoke without thinking.

"Do you even like me at all? Why are you even with me? Are you tired of me watching you? Are you sick of me interrupting you while you check out other guys?"

After unloading his grievances, he added a final, harsh ultimatum: "Well, I’m not breaking up with you, so don't even think about finding someone else!"

Duan Nanzhou, on the receiving end of this outburst, was left with a face full of questions, not knowing how to respond. Receiving no reply, Wang Chuqin took her silence as an admission. Furious, he decided to return to his dorm. He wanted a cold war! He would make her realize his importance!

And so, the argument between the young couple ended abruptly, marking the beginning of a one-sided, inexplicable cold war.