When Love Is Trapped in Its Prime

☆ Bright and decisive rehabilitation doctor vs. table tennis prodigy ☆ Second chance at love | The one who lets go first regrets it first | A story about reflecting and growing through setbacks, then returning to the top Synopsis: When He Pan meets Chu Ningge at the J.H. Rehabilitation Medical Center, Chu Ningge has just had surgery on her wrist and ankle. She can’t hold chopsticks, and can barely manage a single step. The summer sun blazes overhead. The former world number one, once showered in glory, now has eyes as cold as a frost-darkened sky. She asks He Pan hesitantly, “Dr. He, where can I find something to look forward to?” So He Pan quietly puts away her paddle and pen, and buries the affection she has cherished for Chu Ningge for years. All she says, firmly, is, “I’ll help you.” For three months, He Pan is almost never away from Chu Ningge’s side. She stays with her through rehab, helps her regain her confidence, and supports her as she returns to the court. When the tournament ends, Chu Ningge doesn’t rush to accept interviews about her comeback. Instead, she takes He Pan’s hand and asks softly, “Dr. He, will you be the one I look forward to from now on?” Those words sum up the beauty of He Pan’s entire summer. But before long, Chu Ningge leaves He Pan, along with their relationship, behind in the hardest part of summer. The three months He Pan devoted to her can be summed up in one phrase, as far as Chu Ningge is concerned: best forgotten. During an interview, a reporter asks, “We’ve heard that Chu has found the love of her life during her rehabilitation. Is that true?” “The love of my life?” Chu Ningge pauses for a moment, then denies it with a faint smile. “Love has never interested me as much as winning a championship.” With effortless ease, she denies everything He Pan ever meant to her. If she doesn’t love you, then she doesn’t love you! He Pan ends things cleanly, tossing everything connected to Chu Ningge, along with years of unrequited love, into the trash. From then on, Chu Ningge no longer has a place in her heart or her thoughts. Later, it is Chu Ningge who stands holding an Olympic gold medal, her eyes full of desolation. The athlete who has won every major title tells reporters from home and abroad about her regrets. “I selfishly kept the person I loved trapped in the prime of her career. Now I’m not even worthy of sharing my honors and happiness with her, because... she stopped wanting me a long time ago.” A few days later, He Pan opens her door and calmly replies to the person standing there, refusing to leave: “You’re right, Chu Ningge. I stopped wanting you a long time ago.” Chu Ningge meets He Pan at the lowest point of her life. He Pan not only leads her through the hardest period, but also illuminates her whole life. Reader’s guide: [1] The story features a unique pairing. Gender is gender. [2] One-on-one, both are each other’s first and only, happy ending. [3] A modern alternate setting, with my own take on the sports world. No real people are used as models. Don’t nitpick the details! [4] About table tennis: the author loves watching but can’t play. Feel free to point out any technical errors, and I’ll fix them. [5] The writing is amateurish. I hope you’re here to enjoy the story, so please don’t attack anyone personally or make snide comments~ Theme: Hold on to what you love and embrace the good things in life.