7. Wang Chuqin

Jakarta Asian Games.

Previously, Duan Nanzhou and Wang Chuqin had been practicing mixed doubles mainly for this competition.

The coaching team, observing their usual training coordination and playing form, was almost certain that the mixed doubles championship would inevitably belong to them.

Especially during this recent joint training, whether Wang Chuqin himself realized it or not, the coaches clearly noticed how Duan Nanzhou was subtly guiding him to improve by experimenting with different playing styles.

At the same time, Wang Chuqin’s style was increasingly blending with his own personality during this period of training, prompting the coaches to nod in satisfaction—they were confident that the next generation’s left-handed main player was essentially set.

Ultimately, the coaching staff unanimously agreed that Duan Nanzhou’s “usage” could be further developed. She was no longer just a simple player; she had become the national team’s versatile “utility,” moved wherever needed.

Wang Chuqin, on his side, was visibly excited about competing alongside Duan Nanzhou. At that moment, he had already disregarded other teammates, wholeheartedly viewing this as a duo trip—an idea that made him increasingly joyful.

However, since learning they'd be heading to Indonesia for the Asian Games, Duan Nanzhou felt her life had lost hope. She had been looking forward to a change of scenery, tired of the cafeteria food, which, ironically, was even better than what awaited her in Indonesia.

The national team’s cafeteria chef scoffed, thinking, “So you didn’t appreciate us before; how about now?”

Thus, Duan Nanzhou felt rather down on the journey, unable to lift her spirits. This kind of misery rivaled the days when the system forced her to eat kimchi in her home country—no good food was the greatest blow to her.

Sun Yingsha, sitting next to Duan Nanzhou, clearly sensed her close friend’s unhappiness and roughly guessed the reason but could do nothing about it. Still, she found the picky Nanzhou adorable and wanted to pinch her cheeks, especially now, with that pouty, sulky face.

With this thought, Sun Yingsha sneakily reached out her “mischievous hand,” only to be met with a glare. Eventually, she relented—best not to provoke Nanzhou when her culinary desires were unmet.

Across the aisle, Wang Chuqin quietly observed the entire scene. Initially, he had wanted to sit next to Duan Nanzhou—the two-seat arrangement seemed made for them. But someone else was quicker. Since Wang Chuqin was still just an ordinary friend in Nanzhou’s eyes, he naturally lost out to Sun Yingsha, Nanzhou’s best friend, losing his coveted seat.

Left without his first choice, Wang Chuqin quickly settled for the second-best option: a seat just across the aisle, close to Duan Nanzhou. He kept silently watching her, earning the nickname “Wang the Watcher.”

Unbeknownst to him, this rather pathetic demeanor did not go unnoticed by other teammates nearby. Fan Zhendong, Lin Gaoyuan, Chen Meng, and Wang Manyu exchanged glances and confirmed they were all frontline spectators of the “drama.”

Having trained daily with Duan Nanzhou and observed her carefully, Wang Chuqin had long noticed her picky eating habits. While most in the national team found the cafeteria food quite decent, Duan Nanzhou quickly grew bored and often complained quietly.

Those little expressions of complaint were so endearing to Wang Chuqin that he vowed to collect more delicious treats in the future to bring to her.

Knowing they would compete in Indonesia, where the food was generally mediocre, he anticipated Duan Nanzhou’s quiet grumbling. So, he proactively packed a suitcase half-filled with her favorite snacks and other treats he thought she might like.

Before, during their training in the national team, as they grew closer, Wang Chuqin often packed snacks in his training bag and handed them to Duan Nanzhou after practice. He recalled the surprise in her eyes the first time she saw them and chuckled to himself—she was really easy to please!

Witnessing Wang Chuqin’s considerate actions and indulgent smile, the first “victim,” Lin Gaoyuan, wanted to ask:

“Without a prize, guess this: if his best buddy’s snack stash filled at least half a suitcase, then where did his daily essentials go?”

Gritting his teeth, Lin Gaoyuan said, “Of course, they’re in his suitcase too—he refuses to bring a second one and stuffs the heaviest stuff in there! Does he want to kill me with the weight? The worst part is this guy’s slightly obsessive-compulsive and neat freak self actually separates his stuff from his buddy’s in bags, but still has the nerve to put his own things with me? Shameless!”

Next to him, the second “victim,” Xue Fei, agreed because Wang Chuqin also stashed some things with him. That’s how best buddies roll, right?

Wang the Big Head replied proudly, “Of course! Only this big brain could come up with such a clever plan!”

...

The Asian Games schedule progressed swiftly. The participating players were generally average, without any particularly strong contenders. Thus, from the national team’s perspective, there was little concern about the international matches.

Ultimately, the competition almost became an internal battle within the national team—an international contest turned domestic, with familiar faces vying for the championship.

At this time, table tennis hadn’t yet captured widespread attention; most eyes were on the national team’s big stars like Ma Long, Xu Xin, Zhang Jike, Ding Ning, and Liu Shiwen. The younger players participating in the Asian Games hadn’t yet gained much exposure.

This made the event an important “archaeological” match for many new fans later on, as they could discover fresh content and adore the pairs, causing fans to cheer loudly.

But for now, the focus remained on the competition.

From the mixed doubles matches onward, Duan Nanzhou and Wang Chuqin faced virtually no real opposition. They dominated their opponents so thoroughly that the rival pairs questioned their own lives, their teamwork, and even their coaches.

The mixed doubles opponents groaned, “Avoided them in singles, but can’t dodge them in mixed doubles? Do we have to take the worst beatings before they’ll leave us alone?”

Unlike their suffering opponents, Duan Nanzhou and Wang Chuqin were at ease and blissfully happy.

During breaks, Wang Chuqin was always the first to open a bottle and hand water to Duan Nanzhou, offer towels promptly, and enthusiastically analyze the recent plays and upcoming strategies.

The coaching staff nearby muttered, “What’s our role here? We can’t even get a word in, right?”

When the match resumed, Duan Nanzhou never had to retrieve stray balls; even when the referee tossed balls her way, Wang Chuqin caught them and passed them directly to her.

The opposing female player thought, “So considerate? Look at my partner, disgusted!”

The opposing male player worried, “Uh-oh, this guy’s coming for me! This rivalry is intense!”

Yet this surprising scene was completely normal for Duan Nanzhou and Wang Chuqin, because in training, it was the same—they always passed the ball directly to Duan Nanzhou, never making her fetch.

Duan Nanzhou expressed great satisfaction with this arrangement.

Thus, the two fought their way all the way to the finals, defeating the pair of Wang Manyu and Lin Gaoyuan to claim the championship.

Seeing their smiling faces, even their national teammates couldn’t help but curse them—playing while simultaneously “showing off their affection” was simply inhuman!

“Zhouzhou, here,” Wang Chuqin handed Duan Nanzhou some snacks right after the match to replenish her energy.

Seeing her favorite treats, Duan Nanzhou accepted them gladly, smiling and saying, “Thank you!”

Noticing her smile and contentment, Wang Chuqin sheepishly scratched his head and replied, “It’s nothing.”

“Want some too?” Duan Nanzhou asked, then without waiting for an answer, brought the snack to Wang Chuqin’s mouth.

At this moment, Wang Manyu and Lin Gaoyuan witnessed the following scene: Wang Chuqin’s face flushed a deep red, he hesitated for a second, then cautiously opened his mouth and accepted the offered snack.

“This new flavor’s not bad,” Duan Nanzhou remarked naturally afterward, as if feeding him was perfectly normal, and she didn’t think their closeness was inappropriate at all.

Seeing how natural Duan Nanzhou was, Wang Chuqin kept reassuring himself silently that she meant nothing by it.

Yet he couldn’t help but think, “But she fed me! Does she really have no other intentions?”

On the surface, Duan Nanzhou appeared calm, but inside she was smiling. She knew perfectly well that her action crossed the boundary between ordinary friends and teammates, but she had done it on purpose!

After seeing their somewhat intimate behavior, Sun Yingsha had teased Duan Nanzhou in the dorm that night, asking what she thought of Wang Chuqin—could there be something between them?

At the time, Duan Nanzhou brushed it off, saying her career was the priority.

But during their time together, Duan Nanzhou found Wang Chuqin genuinely adorable, always cautiously nurturing and advancing their relationship.

Duan Nanzhou was not oblivious when it came to feelings; on the contrary, she quickly caught onto others’ small attentions toward her but usually ignored or outright cut off those she wasn’t interested in.

If she was interested, she would decisively take the initiative.

Right now, she had no initial feelings for Wang Chuqin but gradually found herself growing fond of him—different from her usual “love at first sight” approach. She was now clearly interested.

So she decided to take the initiative a little, then let things unfold naturally.

That was her plan.