A story about the gifted ping-pong player Yu Ke Nan, who is forced to leave the first national team, and how he works his way back to the pinnacle.
Xu Tan keeps playing despite injury in 2015 Worlds final. At 16, he was mocked for poor skills. Parents wanted him to quit; he got Xiamen training chance.
Yu Kenan tried to escape training but remembered childhood promise, stayed. Xu Tan recalls losing to him in 1999, sets goal to "catch up." Training is intense; he is made dorm leader.
Xu Tan trails behind; Yu Kenan's skill motivates him. They search for missing teammate, delaying match. Xu proposes one-set fast match; coach agrees
Xu Tan and teammates are punished for slacking. Dorm tensions flare; Yu Kenan criticizes secret scheming. Exam scores affect points. Training pressure drives growth.
Competition starts: Xu Tan wins, Yu Kenan beats past rival. Both join National Second Team. Team photo marks progress. Xu Tan faces parental friction; Yu Kenan returns home early.
Xu Tan and Yu Kenan room together; Yu Kenan is cold, proud. Training uneven; coach emphasizes teamwork. Three new Second Team members face strict training, including Xu Tan.
Past records reset; last place may be eliminated. Xu Tan struggles despite effort. Yu Kenan excels but is punished for attitude.
Yu Kenan must train with girls, loses, arrogance tempered. Sent to football for discipline. Minor conflicts in practice lead to punishment.
Coach criticizes pride; Liu Shi mentors Xu Tan. Yu Kenan learns teamwork. Skill and mindset are challenged. Teammates grow technically and mentally.
Yu Kenan reveals old betrayal, fights, expelled. Xu Tan and he reconcile. Liu Shi seeks mentorship. Xu Tan undergoes strict gear-room training, testing limits.
Xu Tan hones skills in gear room. Yu Kenan trains seriously with girls. Relations improve; mutual recognition forms
Yu Kenan's return depends on girls' opinion; Xu Tan excels, resumes training. Pressure and friction drive improvement. Individual goals and team expectations clash.
Xu Tan and Yu Kenan train together, complementing strengths. Chocolate mix-up causes minor misunderstanding. Coach focuses on confidence. Cooperation fosters growth.
Liu Shi trains under new coach; Xu Tan supports him. Promotion matches involve injury and betting strategy. Xu Tan confident; teammates trust him.
Yu Kenan starts romance with Zhang Caiwei; Xu Tan comforts Lei Lei. Love and training affect performance. Relationships shape emotions and motivation.
Yu Kenan's romance hurts performance; Xu Tan also affected. Encouragement restores focus; coach notices strategy. Emotions directly impact results.
Coach warns Yu Kenan career and love conflict; he is sent to raise pigs. Xu Tan faces harsh boxing training.
Xu Tan learns boxing spirit, improves skills. Yu Kenan saves sick pigs, gains responsibility. Lei Lei struggles; Xu Tan comforts.
Yu Kenan leaves rural training reluctantly. Xu Tan returns; they are paired for doubles. Awkwardness forces cooperation.
Xu Tan and Yu Kenan quarrel during doubles training, and Teng Biao angrily punishes them, then removes their handcuffs and leaves.
Teng Biao asks the pair to compete in doubles, but their poor coordination results in cancellation of their round-robin participation.
Lei Lei celebrates her birthday and reconciles with Zhu Meiwei. Zhang Caiwei is disappointed about missing the Olympic roster and considers leaving for Singapore.
Xu Tan and Yu Kenan win the first set, lose the second, and change tactics in the third but still lose. Coach Fu tells them they have qualified for the first team, and they celebrate.
Xu Tan and Yu Kenan are assigned to Zheng Hao’s group for Olympic preparation, placed in the elimination team. Their rankings drop, increasing pressure.
With the ITTF banning organic glue, Xu Tan reminds Yu Kenan about serving adjustments. Xu Tan fights for Yu Kenan’s P-card and leaves technical notes, moving his teammate.
At the Beijing Olympics, Xu Tan, Yu Kenan, and Liu Shi watch the opening ceremony together. Fang Yue defeats a Korean rival, avenging past losses.
Yu Kenan insists on changing coaches for opportunities, Xu Tan fears being removed but agrees. Fuchen Jin’s injury leads to Yu Kenan replacing him.
Yu Kenan faces Japanese opponent Liu Benzhi, initially struggling with defense. He adjusts tactics and wins decisively, earning the nickname “Fierce Tiger Yu Kenan.” Xu Tan vents alone due to coaching conflicts.
Xu Tan begins university, meets Lin Haozhi, and is invited to join the school team. He injures his ankle, cared for by Wang Siheng.
Lei Cheng visits Xu Tan at university, encouraging him to join the school team. Xu Tan worries about his father’s hidden illness.
Teng Biao joins the first-team coaching staff, Yu Kenan excited, Zheng Hao unhappy. Liu Shi aggravates a back injury, slowing training, while Xu Tan organizes relaxation activities.
Xu Tan and Wang Siheng enter a romantic relationship. Xu Tan negotiates a club contract, facing pressure to play against Yu Kenan next round.
Under Lei Cheng’s guidance, Xu Tan improves his backhand counter, earning entry into the university games. Liu Shi appeals for Yu Kenan to compete; Yuan Ran is touched.
Liu Shi’s friend opens a restaurant; Xu Tan attends with teammates. Both Xu Tan and Yu Kenan still have unresolved tension, reconciliation fails.
Xu Tan continues intense training, surpassing Yu Kenan in rankings. Yu Kenan’s commercial activities reduce his ranking, leaving him frustrated. Xu Tan’s impatience is tempered by Fang Yue’s guidance.
Xu Tan loses at Shijiazhuang Invitational, but Lei Cheng encourages experience accumulation. Xu Tan travels internationally for competitions; Siheng overworks and gets injured.
Yuan Ran introduces Liu Shi to her mother; Liu Shi decides to retire for their future. Xu Tan wins the Japan Open, defeating Yu Kenan.
Xu Tan is appointed national team captain; Yu Kenan is conflicted. Liu Shi withdraws due to injury. Xu Tan’s romantic surprise ends with Siheng breaking up.
Liu Shi faces Song Min, recalls his journey, wins the decisive point, and proposes to Yuan Ran. World Championship roster is confirmed; Xu Tan’s knee is injured, threatening World Championship participation.
Despite needing surgery, Xu Tan insists on competing in the World Championship. The coaching team is concerned, but Fang Yue defends him.
World Championship roster announced; Xu Tan and Yu Kenan are included. Tension arises during press events.
Yu Kenan sees his father, regains confidence, and returns to play. Xu Tan strains his knee, prompting medical timeout advice, but insists on continuing.
Xu Tan invites his parents to Beijing, placing his medal under a page marked “Tan Tan’s First World Championship.”