Wang Chuqin

"What? You're retiring?"

Wang Chuqin could not wrap his head around it. The Olympics had just ended, and his Zhouzhou had dropped such a "major bombshell" on him.

The national table tennis team had just swept the gold medals in both the men's and women's team events, and everyone had gathered for a celebratory dinner that night. Just as the dinner wound down and Wang Chuqin was looking forward to sharing the joy of victory with his girlfriend, he was floored by this news.

"Baby, how could you? You’re so young, you're still in your prime..." Wang Chuqin truly couldn't understand. He had always imagined they would play for another decade or more, becoming an enviable power couple in the world of table tennis.

"I’m just retiring from being an athlete, but I can still be a coach..." Duan Nanzhou had no choice but to explain her decision and future plans to her boyfriend.

Knowing his girlfriend well, Wang Chuqin realized that the outcome was not something he could change; all he could do was accept it. Fortunately, Wang Chuqin was quite adaptable. After some persuasion, he began to fantasize about the scenario where he was competing as an athlete while his girlfriend guided him as his coach.

Thinking about it, being able to be together every single day from now on—that didn't sound so bad, right?

Once Wang Chuqin finished processing the shock, it was the turn of their teammates on the national squad to be stunned. Sun Yingsha, in particular, felt as if the sky were falling. How could her best friend just leave her behind after a single tournament?

"Shasha, there's no need for that..." Duan Nanzhou hugged her friend, speaking softly to comfort her and explaining that she would still be working for the national team, so they would still be together.

Wang Chuqin, watching from the side, couldn't help but curl his lip. Why wasn't his Zhouzhou this gentle and considerate when she comforted him? He felt like an abandoned boyfriend, while Sun Yingsha seemed to be the true love.

After the initial shock, the members of the national team began to chime in with questions one after another. When they finally realized that Duan Nanzhou would be transitioning to a full-time coaching role, they all scattered in a panic.

The team members swallowed back their nonexistent tears, sensing that dark days were ahead. Previously, because Duan Nanzhou was busy with her own training, she hadn't been too harsh as a practice partner. But if she were to coach them full-time? It would be a living nightmare!

With that thought, everyone decided they needed to cherish these remaining days. Once the "Great Devil" officially retired and took the helm, the tough times would truly begin!

...

After the Paris Olympics concluded, the national table tennis team remained a hot topic on social media for a long time. In particular, discussions surrounding Duan Nanzhou and Wang Chuqin were incredibly lively, with the hashtag #AreSisterDuanAndBigHeadDating reaching a fever pitch.

When Wang Chuqin saw this topic, he even sneakily used a burner account to comment "Of course they are" before happily reading the romantic fan fiction written by "CP" fans about them. As soon as Duan Nanzhou walked in, she saw her boyfriend giggling at his phone.

Duan Nanzhou: What’s going on? Why does he seem to have lost his mind again?

"Baby, come look at this!" Wang Chuqin finally noticed his girlfriend's arrival and quickly pulled her over to watch. He thought the fans were incredibly talented and that the writing was just superb.

After reading the content on the phone, Duan Nanzhou gave her boyfriend a look that defied words. It was one thing to read fan fiction about their relationship, but he had specifically shown her a kissing scene—did he really think she didn't know what that meant?

Sure enough, Wang Chuqin had impure motives. Seeing the romantic scenarios written by the fans made him want to try them in reality, so he had deliberately shown her the parts he had hand-picked.

"By the way, baby, if the news of your retirement drops, the internet is going to explode..." Wang Chuqin quickly changed the subject when he saw his girlfriend’s "I see right through you" expression. Although he did indeed have those thoughts, being caught was still a little embarrassing.

"There’s no other way..." Duan Nanzhou had already anticipated the storm that would follow and the increase in hateful comments, but that wouldn't affect her decision.

As everyone had expected, once the news of Duan Nanzhou’s retirement was made public, the internet erupted. However, since the Olympics had just ended, the coaching staff chose not to release this explosive news immediately, fearing that the Sports Bureau and the Table Tennis Association would be overwhelmed.

It wasn't until fans noticed that Duan Nanzhou was absent from every tournament following the Olympics that they began to wonder what was happening. At first, they assumed she was just resting after the Games, but after she failed to appear for several more events, they realized something was wrong.

At that point, the coaching staff, realizing they couldn't delay any longer, finally announced Duan Nanzhou’s retirement. As soon as the notice was issued, the internet was in shock, followed by waves of questioning and confusion.

After all, people couldn't understand why a "Great Devil" of the national team in her prime would choose to retire at such a young age. Fans couldn't accept it; they still wanted to watch her dominate on the court.

Seeing the gravity of the situation, the national team quickly issued a statement clarifying that this was the athlete’s own choice and plan. Unfortunately, that didn't satisfy everyone, so they finally approached Duan Nanzhou, hoping she would record a video to explain, or else the national team’s public social media account would be finished.

Seeing the bitter smiles and helplessness of the operations staff, Duan Nanzhou agreed. Mostly, it was because the fans' anger seemed greater than she had imagined, with many even speculating that the national team was forcing her out.

Ultimately, with Duan Nanzhou’s video explanation and her clarification that she would remain as an external coach for the national team, the online uproar subsided significantly.

Although most fans didn't understand, they respected her decision. They just couldn't watch her compete in public anymore, so they could only re-watch old match footage until the files were worn thin.

Once the retirement news faded, Duan Nanzhou officially began her journey as a coach for the national team. Otherwise, dealing with the constant inquiries and confusion from seniors and outsiders alike was leaving her completely exhausted.

However, Duan Nanzhou’s "coaching" role was unique. Unlike the official, assigned coaching roles of Liu Guoliang, Ma Lin, and Wang Hao, Duan Nanzhou only accepted the title of "external coach." She knew all too well that if she were officially integrated into the team, she would never be able to leave again.

So, no matter how much Liu Guoliang and the others tried to talk her into it, Duan Nanzhou wouldn't budge. In the end, they had to accept her as an external consultant, though they did assign her coaching duties, which was a compromise for both sides.

Duan Nanzhou’s coaching career officially began, marking the start of a nightmare for the national team. Because she fully embraced her role as a teacher, she drafted specific plans for everyone, meaning no one could escape.

Wang Chuqin’s dream of having his girlfriend as his personal coach was shattered, as it was impossible for Duan Nanzhou to dedicate herself to just one person. She had to oversee nearly all the core players, along with athletes from the first and second teams. At most, she gave him a bit more guidance as a favor for being her boyfriend.

Wang Chuqin curled his lip as he watched his girlfriend’s busy figure: he had thought that once she became a coach, they would be able to spend more time together. This was even less time than when they were mixed doubles partners!

But Duan Nanzhou still gave her boyfriend a surprise: she specifically requested to be his coach whenever he participated in major tournaments.

When Liu Guoliang and the coaching staff first heard her request, they were stunned. How had Nanzhou started learning to be "love-brained" from Big Head? But under her coercion and persuasion, they eventually agreed.

So, after some time, fans noticed that Duan Nanzhou, who hadn't appeared in the public eye since the Olympics, was back—this time standing on the sidelines as Wang Chuqin’s coach.

"Baby, why are you here?" Wang Chuqin, preparing for his match, saw his girlfriend accompanying him. He thought she was part of the coaching staff for the tournament, but he hadn't expected her to be preparing with him.

"Didn't Coach Xiao tell you? I'm responsible for you alongside him this time?" Duan Nanzhou glanced at Coach Xiao, who looked away the second she turned, suddenly finding the surroundings very interesting.

Fine. Duan Nanzhou realized Coach Xiao had done it on purpose.

Coach Xiao: Of course I did. If I’d told him earlier, who knows how cocky this kid Big Head would have gotten? I just didn't say it, so what? (Tsundere).

In the subsequent matches, opponents and spectators noticed that Wang Chuqin was keen on taking breaks during the match, and he would obediently listen to his coach’s strategy. A closer look revealed that the coach was none other than Duan Nanzhou.

Opponents and spectators: Case closed. No wonder Big Head is so well-behaved this time.

It was only then that the fans realized the two were openly and honestly telling everyone that they were indeed dating.

Because they didn't hide it at all, the fans almost felt like they had missed a public announcement or lost a piece of their memory. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case; they were just so natural and intimate with each other that nothing felt out of place. For example:

During a timeout, Duan Nanzhou would naturally take a towel to wipe the sweat from Wang Chuqin’s face before beginning her tactical analysis.

Or, after Duan Nanzhou took a sip of water, Wang Chuqin would naturally reach out and take it to finish it himself.

Or, after the match, Wang Chuqin would follow obediently behind Duan Nanzhou as they left. After walking and chatting for a while, Wang Chuqin would reach out to hold her hand as they continued on.

The fans, who had been waiting for them to officially announce their relationship, were left confused: It seems I’ve suddenly confirmed that the couple I ship is real? But why does this feel so strange?

[It must be that they are so natural that we are the ones who feel unnatural!]

[I must have amnesia. How did we jump straight to such a natural dating phase?]

[They must have been together for a long time; this is too natural! They definitely didn't just start dating!]

[So even after Sister Duan retired, I can still get such sweet sugar! I love it!]

[Big Head must be thrilled. His girlfriend is his coach; he’s playing like he’s on steroids on the court, absolutely ferocious!]

[Relationship confirmed! Now I’m dreaming of their wedding!]

[Get married, get married! I’ll donate ten thousand on Dragon Team’s tab!]

[Dragon Team says the only one hurt is him—before the announcement he was the scapegoat, and after the announcement he has to pay for the banquet, hahaha.]

[Then I’ll donate a hundred thousand on Little Fat’s tab! I want to sit at the table with Dragon Team and Little Fat!]

[Childhood sweethearts, mutual admiration, growing together, reaching the peak together, and then entering the hall of marriage—the couple I ship is just too lovely and wonderful!]